Desperate Operawife

Tag, I'm It

2008-05-19T12:14:00.004+02:00

Thanks, I am Chorus, for my very first tag. I hope I can live up to the bloggers who've gone before me :)

Rules:

The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.

Each player answers the questions about himself or herself.

At the end of the post, the player then tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

Ten years ago:

Ten years ago, I was about to graduate from high school and move off to the University of Georgia to be a music education/voice major. I worked 5 days a week, had senioritis, and just knew I had it all figured out. I was "wise beyond my years" (something I am still quite fond of believing, although I don't think that is cute when you enter your 30's. Perhaps it's already not cute.)

Five things on today's "to do" list:

Move out of my apartment temporarily, to include washing sheets, cleaning bathrooms, and organizing the fridge, so that big time singers can move in for 10 days.

Babysit my girlfriend's baby so she can go buy a house.

Twist hubbies arm to go eat a big salad with me at the local Italian place.

Call my mother.

Follow up emails from my recent trip to Berlin.

Things I'd do if I was a Billionaire:

Pay off Hubby's student loans.

Volunteer for non-profits to do with music, kids, etc etc.

Purchase every single expensive handbag that I have ever wanted to buy. Ok, and the shoes too.
Have an apartment in NYC, Germany, and a house in California. And Chicago, perhaps.

Travel with my mother.

Three Bad Habits:

Eating food in bed, whilst watching tv on my computer.

Leaving the caps off of soda bottles, toothpaste, and anything else that involves screwing on a top. Worse, sometimes I put the cap on to the bottle but don't turn it at all, giving the impression that the cap is screwed tightly on, when really it is just waiting for an accident to happen. All of you out there who also have this bad habit know this isn't a problem unless you live with someone else. Most often, it involves diet coke all over the kitchen floor.

Eating Subway Sandwich 4-5 times a week for lunch. I frequent this establishment for several reasons.

1. They have unlimited refills of diet coke (that, in itself, is another bad habit)

2. They have something called the "sub des tages" which includes at 6-inch sub sandwich for 2.50 euro. The sub des tages can be found as follows:

Monday Italian BMT

Tuesday Meatball, my personal favorite

Wednesday Turkey

Thursday Chicken Fajita

Friday Tuna

Saturday Turkey and Ham

Sunday Roasted Chicken Breast

The employees of Subway also never make fun of my bad German, or act like they don't understand, and greet me with a "Wie gehts?". I could swear everytimeI walk through the door, that I had presented my American passport and entered a world of entrepreneurs, free thinkers, and 'Labor Day-Biggest-Blowout-Sale-Event-of-the-Year' Land. True Paradise, all found at your local Subway Sandwich.

Five places I've lived:

Peachtree City, GA

Athens, GA

New York, NY

Germany

Jackson, Michigan

Five jobs I've had:

Secretary at the local Orthodontist, my first job

Camp Counselor at Truitt Cathy's Summer Camp. Camp Winshape.

High School Chorus Teacher

Famous, Fabulous, and often petrified hair model on Home Shopping Network

Personal Assistant/Nanny/Chauffeur/Basic slave for two children and their adorable parents

Five People I'm Tagging:

Zauberwelt

The Concert

Snickollet

Wolftrap

Yankee Diva

You want to hear something grand today?

2008-05-16T07:37:00.002+02:00

Get over to the Berlin Philharmonic tonight or tomorrow and see the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus and Berlin Philharmonic performing the Berlioz Requiem.

Believe me, something to behold.

If only I knew my ABC's this well...

2008-05-07T13:17:00.001+02:00

Cupcakes and Spray-On Tan, Nuh-uh

2008-05-03T10:52:00.013+02:00

I found this on the German help site this morning:

"Hi, I just moved from NYC 2 days ago. I am totally excited that I found this webpage. I am starting my new job on Monday and would like to bring some cupcakes to work. where can I find some? Also I love spraytan, instead of damaging my skin with UV rays and hope that it exists in Germany as well. Thanks for your replies. "

1. Everyone will stare at you like you are crazy when you show up to work on your first day with cupcakes (homemade cupcakes, no less). Five dollar cupcake specialty shops, like the ones found in NYC, do not exist here in Deutschland. (Germans are not that creative.) And, if you took these "cupcakes that shall not be named or found" to work, they would all scoff at you for having something too sweet and American brought in. This will all play out after you field a million questions about why you even brought the cupcakes to work...

2. Cupcakes symbolize children, hope, joy, the fun found in bringing something to share with your school mates in 2nd grade. Germans don't like kids, don't want to be bothered with kids, and will do anything they can to avoid them. On the other hand, if your 80 pound weimaraner wants to lie under the table at your favorite restuarant, and you want to feed it food from your table? THAT CAN BE ARRANGED. You may also request a bowl from the waitress, which they will kindly fill with tap water, for your thirsty monster dog to drink from. Please don't even hesitate to ask how many times I have pondered requesting one of those bowls just so I didn't get stuck with a 10 euro bill JUST for the water. Oh, and if your kid needed water, that would take 7 to 8 questions for them to finally, perhaps, give in.

3. The sunshine you have experienced is a fluke. Perhaps in your first two days of blessed Deutschland, you experienced what will be the ONLY TWO DAYS OF SUN we will have this season. No need to worry with those bad, horrible, UV Rays. Spray tan? Probably similar to the coveted mani/pedi I received twice a month at home. These items cost a bundle. We are talking 40-50 euros for just the manicure. Do the conversion. My at-home kits are holding up nicely.

4. Now that I have suffienctly rained on your Ich Liebe Deutschland motto, you will be fully prepared when you try to get on the U Bahn first thing Monday morning (with a smile on your face and a to-go latte that you will have gone to five different cafes to find) to be trampled by an elderly woman who has to be first at the door so she can make sure she is nearest to the door when it stops next. Mainly, because she wants to be the one to press the little green circle that opens the door. Your cupcakes that were balancing oh-so-carefully in your arms, are all over the floor of the subway, as well as your latte.

5. Finally, by the time your birthday rolls around and you have mastered your at-home cupcakes, you will be thrilled to know that here in Deutschland you get to pay for your own birthday party. This means, that if you want to acknowledge your birthday at work, be prepared to bring the plates, napkins, forks, prosecco, cake, water with bubbles for those that don't drink, and a crate of beer.

You understand why I stopped celebrating at 23.

Desperate Operawife...

2008-04-06T15:50:00.003+02:00

needs a break.

Back in Germany..and back to blogging in another week.

Tweenagers, Nanos, Gameshows and Cruises

2008-03-14T04:28:00.006+01:00

1. I am the most bad ass substitute teacher in the entire world. Tweeners are pretty cool. They teach you about all the newest fads, give you compliments, and are very impressed when you speak a few lines of German. Don't think for a minute I don't make them mind the rules, because I am (first) the meanest substitute teacher and then (next) the coolest. (but only on day two or three when they've proven they won't be chewing gum or talking back.)

2. Thanks to those tweenagers, I am now dancing around my parent's kitchen to Gwen Stefani, KC and the Sunshine Band, and Kool and the Gang with my new Ipod Nano attached to my arm. I'd like to think my dance skills are pretty radical. You see, I have lots of free time to practice in front of the mirror and my darling husband. If he laughs or even breaks a smile, I know I have found a new, soon to be famous, move.

3. I am on the Price is Right tomorrow (March 14th). You will probably see me frowning because I was so sure they were going to pick me and the longer it went on, the more ticked off I became. I think Gigi might have even wanted to nap by the end of it. Hell, I was ready to walk out. Sorry if it looks like I'm pouting when they zoom in to see what I think the all new-and-improved weed wacker costs.

4. I'm now in Atlanta because coolio husband is working like crazy in Germany, and we all know I have limited social experiences there. Turns out, you can take a cruise from Galveston, Texas all the way to Barcelona right now for $449 dollars on a major cruise line...last minute, of course. That pretty much costs the same as buying a ticket home. If I knew that I wouldn't be abducted and thrown over the side of the ship (like that guy who was on his honeymoon) I would totally go and begin my highly anticipated autobiography. I bet if I made friends with elderly people, they could keep an eye on me. Hmm. Well, that's assuming they don't kick it on the cruise too.

Hey, I'm not name dropping, but this is an official shout out to my girlfriends Karen and Betsy. We'll be gallivanting in NYC this Summer, well...with Patti LuPone, naturally.

It's A Small World

2008-03-09T19:00:00.000+01:00

I've only slept 4 hours, with the combination of the time change and the excitement of meeting new people yesterday. I didn't go to the final show, so decided instead to pop up to the coffee shop and sit outside by the fountain beforehand, so hubby and I could have one last dinner (after the show) with his colleagues before he heads back to Germany.... and re-enters "fest servitude." (that is code for 13 performances by the beginning of April. Aren't we already on day number 9 of March?) An elderly couple** was alongside me, struggling with the containers that were holding their $15 dollar turkey sandwiches, and I offered to help. I asked if they were going to the show and I explained that I had seen it, they would love it, and that my husband would be the one wearing a fat suit, brought in on a cart. Seats were limited at the cafe, so we decided to sit together.

**Isla and Lee were ANYTHING but elderly and genuiely some of the kindest people I've met in a long time.

Turns out, Isla's family fled Germany when she was 9, and found themselves in LA. Upon asking her why they chose LA, she said, "Well, my uncle was a composer, so that's why we came." Her uncle was not just any composer, but rather Franz Waxman, the 12 time Academy nominated composer, taking home the award for Sunset Boulevard and A Place in the Sun.

We exchanged phone numbers and will meet up in Burbank the next time I am here. I'm just saying, you never know who you'll meet pouring a $4.00 cup of coffee in LA.

that last post

2008-03-09T18:14:00.003+01:00

I wrote about the classic movie just a couple of days before it was announced that Patrick Swayze has pancreatic cancer..such a tragic diagnosis.

One can only remember the influence, passion, and love that Edgar Baitzel brought to opera companies throughout Germany and here in Los Angeles, whose life was lost too soon a year ago this week to cancer. I was not fortunate enough to get to know Edgar before he passed away, but I can tell you from only speaking to his colleagues about his life here, that he will forever be missed...

Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner

2008-03-02T00:12:00.003+01:00

Does this ever get old when it comes on TBS on Saturday afternoons?

I don't think so.

Donor Parties

2008-03-01T08:15:00.006+01:00

Opera in America does not run without donors. It is our job, as singers and spouses, to be present at parties, cocktail hours, parties in homes, etc etc during the rehearsal process and once the show is up. Meeting the people who choose to spend their money on opera, and essentially, my spouse, continues to amaze me. I'm in love love love *with talking to these individuals about their jobs, kids, grand kids, hobbies, their complete adoration of the art itself. They aren't all people who have come from generations of wealth, lots still work, aren't musicians themselves, but have to have this passion in their lives.

*three loves because I'm desperate from living in Germany and no one will speak English with me. Well, that and we are state funded in Germany, so the getting-to-know-donors does not exist there.

Here is my two cents for young singers. The opera world is small. Much smaller than you would think once you sing in a few places. Be a nice colleague. When you meet a donor and they tell you their name, say it in your head three times so you will remember. At the end of the night, call them by their name again. Be positive about your experience at Peachtree Poplar Opera Community House. This is not the time to brag about all the places you have sung, will sing, or all the people you know. Their opera house is what is important to them. People give because they are interested and believe in something. People keep giving because they see a difference in what their money is going towards. Maybe you all know this and I'm just that arrogant that I think I should bequeath you with my limited knowledge as an Operawife.

Getting hired at an opera house because you sing a great audition is fantastic. "We've only just begun though" as skinny little Carpenter once sang. Being prepared, working hard, not complaining when they show you the costume that will make you look 100 pounds heavier; these are the things that get you rehired.

I predict I work in development one day, where I would actually get paid to organize and cultivate the relationships with these individuals and corporations. I mean, who remembers names better than DO? I'm like the girls on Devil Wears Prada who studied the pictures before the big benefit and whispered into Maryl Streep's ear the entire night. Only difference, Maryl Streep is named Husband, he doesn't throw his bag on me when he walks through the door, and I don't starve myself to fit into the latest Valentino gown that is hanging in my very own Vogue closet.

Just today

2008-02-28T19:38:00.002+01:00

DO thinks Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam this Summer is a great idea. DO will stop talking about it and just book tickets.

DO is sad to leave California in a week. Somehow everything seems better in life when there is sunshine for more than 40 seconds a day, as is the case in Germany.

DO wants to be thrilled with being a housewife and not really having many opportunities to work in the next two years..

DO will not be swayed when previous subject comes up and EVERYONE ON THIS PLANET SAYS, "Why don't you just have a baby?" Umm, no.

DO knows how hard it is to take care of a baby and does not want to do that in a foreign country where they have to pay people to have kids, thus probably not making it a very fun experience for said kid, or mommy, based solely on how they will be treated by the kind, **nosy citizens and neighbors. Not to mention, who am I going to talk to when husband works 100+ nights a year?? Oh wait, who do I talk to now? Scratch that last part then. (Thanks for calling me everyday, Mom.)

**Do was asked if kids were in the plan when we moved into our new building and when I gave the "not anytime soon" answer, relief ensued on the faces of the upstairs and downstairs 75 year old neighbors, who probably couldn't hear a kid if we had one anyway.

DO is actually quite grateful for her husband's successful career and understands that it will probably continue to be less and less about her individual dreams, ie. being a contestant on Mrs. America, and more and more about which city we are going to relocate to for the next two months and where is the best place to sign our non-existent kid up for swim class and tae kwon do.

DO is happy for today, happy for health, still ticked off that she didn't make it on Oprah's Big Give, or the Price is Right.

Seattle

2008-02-27T06:51:00.007+01:00

before we were all struck with the most horrible virus of the year.

Pictured: Two Granddaughters, one great granddaughter, my Mom and, the Legendary GiGi. Monica, my cousin, is expecting the 5th great grandchild in August.

You are not supposed to get the flu in California..

2008-02-27T06:19:00.005+01:00

Alas, here I am.

We went to Price is Right last week. If you've ever thought, "Oh, yeah. I'd love to go on that show and win the big RV, taking the showcase showdown by storm." Think again.

Let me inform you, you will not be picked or paid any attention to if the following apply:

1. Come from anywhere that is quasi-metropolitan, ie. NYC, Los Angeles, Atlanta, of God forbid, Germany...

2. Have all of your teeth.

3. When asked what you do for a living, you say "I'm a Desperate Operawife."

I guess they don't think Desperate Operawives really need an RV. What he didn't know is that my entire plan of getting to move back to America is built solely on getting my hands on one of these.

Getting a seat on the Price is Right involves getting in line at 5:45AM the day of the show and then waiting on ice cold metal benches until 12:30 PM when they finally let you in the 55 degree studio for the 1PM taping. You are so tired, hungry, and annoyed with all of the rednecks surrounding you, that you could give two s&%*s about getting picked to "come on down." Let me add, that we even put that cute picture of all of us at Air Force One the day before on a hot green t-shirt that said "Drew's Crew" across the front.

I can only guess that when Bob Barker was the host, it had to have been run more smoothly as far as audience behavior is concerned. People were getting out of their seats running down to the stage to have the t-shirt they were actually wearing autographed. Gag. I would NEVER EVER EVER go back!!!!! I wish I could say it was totally worth it because Drew was really funny and entertaining, but that isn't even the case. He just kept going on and on about how cold it was in the studio and, when a prize involved food, he would say, "Oh, I like that." (IE, DONUT MAKER).

We all (with the exception of strong, tough Opera Husband) have had the flu for the past 4 days, making much of our trip to Seattle really sad and passing all of our germs to the family there too.

If it wasn't a bad enough week, I had to cancel the two dinners I was looking most forward to. One, at "Studio" with my former boss and husband at the Montage Hotel in Laguna Beach, California...and the other with our movie director friends overlooking the Pacific at their home.

Bummer week. This is the kind of karma I usually muster up in Germany, not in the land of "anything is possible."

I'm thinking positively about our last 1 1/2 weeks here.

The girl who ended up winning the showcase showdown was from North Dakota, probably making that day, in which she won a jet ski and jukebox, the biggest day of her life ever.

President's Day...

2008-02-19T05:16:00.005+01:00

was spent at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley. If you can make it to the Library by next November, you will be lucky enough to see First Lady Nancy's wardrobe on display. After that, it will go back to their private estate. It was a special day at the Library where President Reagan is buried, with cars were parked nearly a mile down the hill. The library land, 100 acres, was donated by a local developer. Only 30 is being utilized at the Library, but the large donation ensures the possibility of always being able to see all the way to the Pacific on a clear day. The highlight, for me, had to have been touring Air Force One where the debate took place a few weeks ago.

By the way, although I can't take credit for much of the success of hubby, my life does really reflect all the charm of those photos. (accept for my weak terrible moments in Germany)! I'm a lucky lucky girl.

The last few days

2008-02-18T06:56:00.008+01:00

Family arrived, the premiere went well, and we are off for a few days. Next up: Reagan Library, Grilling out with other opera friends, The Price is Right (yes, you heard me..we have tickets for this week) and a trip to Seattle. Look out World, there are two more women just like me in our house this week. God Bless my husband! Nothing like an In-N-Out burger in LA.

Colleagues....

*Insert Shout Out to JDawg and Susan*

The Ladies Who Lunch before the Opera.

GiGi and Mommy. You remember her (mommy) from the broken neck days of Summer. Apparently, she's made a recovery. (The view of LA from our house in the backdrop.)

Fun with the girls in Santa Monica.

Romney is Out

2008-02-07T19:17:00.000+01:00

See ya!

My New Camera

2008-02-04T18:55:00.000+01:00

What do we think? Not too shabby.

These are in the garden at the house in Los Angeles. I really want to be good at taking pictures, so this is my attempt. We'll see.

PS, My husband says you can click to enlarge.

Dropping Like Flies

2008-01-31T08:19:00.000+01:00

...but it's a good thing he fixed his hair. You'd think with a $200.00 haircut, you wouldn't have to primp for quite so long.

You better watch out...

2008-01-26T16:42:00.000+01:00

'I DON'T REMEMBER MEETING REZKO'
Fri Jan 25 2008 07:40:02

Photo surfaces of smiling Clintons with Tony Rezko.

Clinton injected the indicted developer's name this week in debate with Obama: 'I was fighting against those ideas when you were practicing law and representing your contributor, Rezko, in his slum landlord business in inner city Chicago.

'Clinton tells NBC 'TODAY' show on Friday: 'I probably have taken hundreds of thousands of pictures. I don't know the man. I wouldn't know him if he walked in the door.' Developing... (from drudge)

...somebody is getting frantic.

Personally, I liked Obama's slam on the corporate wal-mart bit way better than this slumlord Rezko jargon she pulled out of her ass. Aren't we sick of the Clintons yet? Nothing will change!!!! They are naughty.

Groove is in the Hizzy Shopping Network

2008-01-25T16:48:00.000+01:00

Ever wanted to see what your favorite operawife has done in her free time in Germany? Fantastic tunes compliments of hubby. Just watch as she YANKS as hard as she can on my head.

PS, Got fired for making ugly faces at the camera. But, I will have you know, for two years I was the most inspiring hair model in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Lichtenstein. Who else could smile while having their hair look like complete crap and not cry as she put the scorching hot hairdryer right against my fragile scull. ?!?

The Saga of the Scrunchie

2008-01-16T21:02:00.000+01:00

I'm at Starbuck's south of Atlanta. Three people have had scrunchies in their hair. Are we still wearing these, ladies?

And, do we wear sweatpants with gathered ankles in public, only to do crocheting together? One hair implement is enough. You don't get a clip and a scrunchie. And you certainly cannot have both a scrunchie AND gathered sweatpants, IMHO.

The Journey

2008-01-15T19:46:00.000+01:00

Let's go through what has happened briefly since last post.

Finished said items in Atlanta, to include dental work and taking care of mommy one last month.

And, let's be honest, avoiding going back to Germany with no real idea of when I would return.

The dental work was an implant for one of my molars that I was born without. I'd been living with the space in the back of my mouth since the baby tooth fell out years ago. Several procedures into it, the tooth was finally finished with a rod sticking out of my jaw (that had been drilled in) and an implant crown placed on top of that.

Got back to Germany in early November. Back to groceries, cooking, and caring for Hubby and our newly acquired roommates, trying to find a Fest contract in Deutschland. Boy, were they happy when I showed up and, all of the sudden, they had something to eat besides goulash,(canned soup and rice) spaghetti, and sandwiches on quasi-hard 'German's attempt' on sandwich bread.

Arranged a dinner party with Hubby's teacher, Sir Donald McIntyre to include a plethora of fantastic food..all found at the local market. I cut all of the veggies and set them to roast in the oven while I cut the baguette to insure homemade croutons in the soup (Ina Garten's Family Style Cookbook) What does everyone do while they make the food they are preparing for their guests? Try it along the way, of course. I bit down into the baguette and heard the most terrible, horrific, God-awful crunching of my life.

I may need to back up and let you all know that my greatest fear in life is not being murdered, raped, pillaged, caught in a fire, or drowning, but rather, falling down and somehow breaking ANY or ALL of my teeth. So when I pulled my new implant crown out of my mouth in about 15 pieces, you can imagine the horror.

"Honey, you have to come here. We have a major problem."

Being that I had just paid nearly $4,000 cash to have this procedure done, I decided it best to go back to where it had been done. So much for thinking that the American dentist, with no language better and far superior looking teeth, couldn't screw (no pun intended) it up. So, it was back to the U.S. and A to get fixed properly.

One month later, with the explanation that the lab had sent it to the dentist with a crack, and all of the money I had paid for the crown back in my pocket, it was back to Germany.

December's events will have to unfold tomorrow. Stay tuned.

I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again, "desperate" is taking on a whole new meaning.

Deutschland, Deutschland, Uber Alle

2007-10-31T23:25:00.000+01:00

Should have been posted a couple of months ago. My apologies. I am really posting this in January.

Several things have happened since I returned to the homeland:

1. I started Bikram Yoga. This is a basic way to completely torture yourself for 90 minutes in a 106 degree room, along with 20 other people, thus making the room far greater than 106.

2. I was made fun of at the opera house for the haircut you saw in the picture. As if the German could do it any better than my dear Cindy did. That was on my first day back and I was totally peeved. Perhaps this would have looked better. Or this... What the hell? How about this?

3. I was approached about getting a job as a stripper. What do you say when a man walks up to you while you are enjoying your Italian BMT at your local Subway Sandwich (where they call you by first name) and says, "We're looking for strippers. If you're interested, call me!" I must say, I was flattered. I think that was the first German guy who ever even looked twice at me. Now thinking back, I remember bending over inside the Subway to get a bag of chips and he was sitting there eating. Do you think he liked the bend and snap motion? Mama's still got it!

So I said, "Thanks" and took his card.

We are at a turning point in the career for both Husband and myself. My days of baking cookies and throwing parties seems to want to come to an end. Figuring out calculated risk and what its benefits could be is completely daunting. The German Opera system works with little failure. He could be happy here for a long time as far as money and security goes. But, taking the chance and moving forward with a chance that it could possibly not be the right time, is pretty scary.

Happy Birthday, Baby Rachel

2007-10-23T04:24:00.000+02:00

...who is not such a baby anymore. All grown up at 8 years old today. She told Grandad on the phone that she was officially "21!"

If there are angels on Earth, they are certainly named Rachel and Caleb...

Stop..in the Name of Blogging

2007-10-21T04:42:00.000+02:00

One year anniversary of the blog.

Amazing how time flies when you're living it up.

I've thought long and hard about why I should write this blog. Really, I should be writing about the Fest system.. because that is what I know most about at this point. Somehow, I've found the "living" aspect of being in Germany way more interesting than the actual system my husband works for.

We recently had some new additions to the "DO Household" in Deutschland. Two friend singers who want to audition for a fest contract. So, they saved their pennies, are renting our guest room, taking German classes, and will begin the audition process. I feel a responsibility for their well-being and experience in Germany. As you may or may not know, we had virtually no one to help us to adjust to the HUGE difference in culture and everything else when we arrived 4 years, 1 month, and 13 days ago to Germany.

We found our furnished apartment online before we arrived. After I unpacked the two suitcases, I literally have had 4 years, 1 month and 12 days to spare. No, really...it is a great experience as long as you know that Germans will not act anything like Americans.

They will stare until they can stare no longer, or you tell them off.

They will not, under any circumstances, think outside the box. The term "entrepreneur" is not widely accepted there.

No matter how good your German is, they will constantly ask you to repeat yourself as to make you feel like what you said was entirely wrong..when really, you were right all along.

I digress.

My new roommates agree. The unfriendly stares are the most shocking things to them too.

If you are looking into doing a fest for a couple of years, go for it! Just be aware, that life is not exactly the same on this side of the -no breaking the rules-pond.

PS, the pic above is to remind you that IF you decide to walk at the crosswalk when this man is lit, beware of the flogging you will receive from the little old lady with the cane next to you.