European Juggling Convention 2005

We just got back to Copenhagen yesterday, and after a day of relaxation I am now planning on heading home to Århus in a couple of hours to try to sort out what's piled up during the last few weeks. It's kinda sad after experiencing nothing but freedom and joy for the last few weeks to now feel the encroaching needs of society nibbling at my heels.

But the trip has been really fantastic, and we've had nothing but fun and joy all along the way. We've met so many interesting people and shared so much in such a short time that there's hardly been a day not worth remembering for something unique.

To quote the words of someone else fortunate enough to know their meaning.

To travel is to live. (H.C.A)

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.. So much to write

We began our journey by flying to Berlin where we had to stay all night in the airport waiting for the next connecting flight to Ljublijana. We spent most of it juggling and trying out some passing with clubs and balls (and sleeping in shifts next to the escalator).

The following morning showed us slovenia in all it's glory from the skies, with a lot of hills and valleys all covered in lush vegetation and with quaint little houses dotting the landscape like raisins in a bowl of porridge.

My first surprise came as I entered a small kiosk at the local airport in an attempt to obtain something to slate my hunger (Berlin airport only had Burger King). I got a Big sandwich and a 1.l bottle of mixed juice wich together amounted to about 600 tollars (local currency). A quick visit to the info desk to check the local exchange rate had given me the estimate of 1000 tollars amounting to 32 danish kroner, so my delicious (as it turned out to be) meal cost me a grand total of about 18kr.

This would set the standard for the whole trip, that suddenly held the potential of doubling as a luxury cruise of world cuisine.

We stayed some days in Ljublijana at the local youth hostel, touring the city by ourselves the first day, and then the next days in the company of various people we met at the hostel, all from different countries and heading in different directions. The last day we'd seen a slow but steady buildup of jugglers arriving at the hostel, all heading onwards to Ptuj, and in the evening we'd joined a somewhat large group taking direction towards an unknown part of town.

Getting there took only about 4 minutes from the hostel, but as we turned the last corner off the perfectly regular street, it was as if a whole new world was opening up before our eyes. I don't know if you are familiar with the place called "Christania" here in Copenhagen, but in case you do, then that's the closest point of comparison I can reach without bending my tounge (fingers) too far.

A squat, inhabited by as colorful a bunch of people as I've ever met, encompassing an area roughly the size of (as far as I could see) a football field. Buildings in all different shapes and sizes, most in varying stages of dilapidation, but none not touched by a caring hand in one way or the other, so that not even the humblest broken down wall did not carry a decoration of some sort and most offered home to a beautiful variety of plants in all colors.

In the middle of all this, a big crowd was gathered, dancing to the beats of a DJ set up outside the bar, and watching the show of several fire-dancers occupying the middle of the square. They carried and used both staff, poi and ropes to the same beats as the other enhancing the experience of both dancer and viewer alike.

After juggling a bit on the side, we quickly joined up with our newfound friends (from germany) and during the evening I even managed to pick up some new poi tricks. One of them in particular was by far the best poi player that I've ever seen, combining poi and body in a dance of beautiful harmony. Not that the others were bad at all, even without their props they were a joy to behold as they moved to the music : )

We stayed there for several more hours (until 6 in the morning) before heading off to hostel and bed, and the following morning we took a train towards Ptuj (filled to the brim with jugglers). Here we met even more people, and some we ended up camping with at the convention, so that I ended up with a finn, a swiss, one swede, a german, and 3 danes to share my meals with. A fine mix to the bowl : )

As for the convention, ahhh.. It's so hard to describe, and as such I hope that the pictures that I will soon put up on my webpage (update: added now) will better relay the joy of spirit and mind that is found in the company of 3500 open heart- and minded jugglers and wonderful people of all kinds.

It's a feeling of coming home, where you can turn around at any time and share a notion with a neighbor and a friend. The atmosphere created is one of a party, but one lasting long and true and not dependant upon any kind of inebriant (although such were also happily found and consumed in as large a quantity as anywhere else).

The last two nights (it rained a lot for the first 3-4 days) finally allayed the weather gods and paved the way for the fire-gardens / chill-area to open up. These had been planned and set up by a crew of fire-people (http://www.jongart.de/projekte.html), and provided the perfect setting and mood, once the last shows had ended in the evenings. A beduin style tent, with blankets and pillows, hot and cold drinks sold for low prices. Directly in front, the stage area was set for anyone in the mood for fire swinging in the night, backlit by glowing torches and amazing sand sculptures of dragons the size of small cars.

But as many good things come to a stop, a convention is set to end. Yet I feel certain that I will once again meet my friends, old and new, come next year. And I will strongly advocate its merits to all those I feel would enjoy such and experience.

My many thanks to Tajo, Elin, Rasmus, Johannes, Palmar, Tjorbjørn and Jonas for their wonderful company and spirit.

(Next year the convention will be held in Dublin Ireland - http://www.ejc2006.net/)

I went home that last day with a spark of creativity lit in me that I hope to nurture into a flame to will carry me through the cold and lonely winter of scandinavia.

Purchasing the Cash Cow, Part 2

Back to the future, or past that is as I still need to complete the big roundabout before getting to the matters at hand.

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So there I was, all ready to throw in the proverbial paddle, when out of the blue, sales lady #447809 takes it upon her to ask something as personal as "So, what are you studying".

In my mind, no doubt reigned that her next words in response to mine would be something along the lines of "Ah, then I'm sure you'll be coming back in a few years to look for something nice outside of town".

So I shoot... and score!

The next few minutes went something like this:

Her: "Now why didn't you say so right away? This changes everything!"

Me: "Humh?"

Her: "We have an understanding with our bank, that requires we forward them all potential customers as splendid as yourself. In exchange for your buisness they'll be more than happy to stretch the numbers as far as they'll go, to ensure that together we'll able to serve your habitatial needs.

Some more gluteal lip-fondling ensued, but as I find that details often tend to blur the image, I have decided to skip ahead instead, to the rest of the story and it's interesting parts.

EDIT: Stuff, will finish this post later (read: everpost)

Purchasing the Cash Cow, Part 1

As some may know, last year just about this time ( june 15th to be exact), I purchased property for the first time in my life.

Recently, some events have taken place, that demand that I review my motives for said purchase. But for anyone not precent at that time to be able to relate to my reasoning, I think that a short jump back in time would be in order.

So, to better be able to explain myself, here follows my recount of those days:

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It all started out with my living by myself in Tilst. After Carmen had found a place of her own, I was next in line, and while dorms were available (15km outside of town), something told me that I was no longer going to play the happy serf, serving lien to my lord and master (aka. the landlord).

So I looked around, spoke to real-estate dealers and tried my hand in the time-tested game of equity. Here I quickly learned that while leasing may not the be the best hand to play, purchase demands that you fold in the first round, handing over your trousers on your way out.

Being on a the tight budget of State Educational Support, which amounts to no more than 4618kr a month, nary a monylender would much inclined to lend me his ear, let alone his funds in trust. Or so I had thought.

One day, during a random sweep through my local brick-dealer, I am approached by a female salesperson, asking if I require assistance, to which I reply that I am only browsing. Not to be discouraged by such a simple rebuttle, the woman then politely inquires as to the limitations of my funding (under the guise of better serving me as a customer, of course). Not yet having dared to present my plans to the bank, I simply told her so and was rewarded with a kind smile and an invitation to set up a meeting with their "partner" in finance.

Not one to be sent away without a treat, I asked her what her estimate would be for a student with little income and a sick puppy to nurse at home (sobbing up the story for emotional support). One blink of an eye later (not sure wether it was the puppy love or just the sadness in her heart from having to break apart a sad dreamers hopes), she regretfully informed me that not much brick would be available to a pauper such as myself, and suggested that I try my hand at praying instead...

- And there but for a chance, might have ended all my dreams.

First Post

Something of a challenge to write about oneself for everyone to read...

Not too personal, not too shallow, and what about other people? Do you mention them, cordially, vaguely or just get down low and dirty, spilling the beans on everyone, from your local greengrocerdown the street, to your latest 15-year old conquest sleeping off the drug induced coma that it took to get her to your lair in the first place?

Maybe I'll just keep it simple, and not worry too much about recruiting my own angry mob before I've even had the chance to burn eat a flag or two.