josh
So the big things in my life over the past year are that I’m still in Djibouti, I went to Istanbul in April, a trip to the US in July and a trip to Europe in October.
Djibouti: I’m still living in the wonderful metropolis that is Djibouti! There is nothing like experiencing another country’s electoral process especially when corrupt. In February Djibouti had parliamentary elections and had a large opposition bloc for the first time in several years…So of course the president’s coalition stuffed ballot boxes and still only won by a few percentage points. Several international groups have certified the election as invalid, however the US, French and EU groups in Djibouti sat by because the President treats them well and some of the opposition parties had platforms including their removal from the country. A Co-worker’s wife was jailed for political dissidence after being arrested at a protest following the election, she has since been released but he is now very wary of the police and military. Aside from electoral fun times in Djibouti I no longer get lost on the side roads and am slowly getting more used to the heat (temperatures are only in the mid-90s now that it’s November). Unfortunately much of my time here in Djibouti is spent working and my 24/7 on-call status leaves me unable to sample the great night life so I travel.
Istanbul: I got to go to Istanbul in April. Best street food of any city I’ve ever been to, the quality, quantity and variety surpass all others. I was able to see the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia among the other touristy places and spent a night clubbing in Taksim with people form my hostel. I also cannot stress enough the importance of staying in Hostels when you are travelling alone! You get to meet some amazing people from all over and if you’re lucky stay friends after your travels. My best night was getting drunk with a group of Bavarian guys listening to Flogging Molly and then stumbling from the hostel to a hookah lounge to discuss the merits of facial hair.
State Side: In July I was able to come state side and meet up with some of you, though not all which is a shame. The majority of my trip was spent seeing as many people as I could in the 2.5 weeks I was in the US and also, sadly, moving out of the apartment I had been sharing with Drew as I will not be back full time in the US until July 2014 at the earliest.
Euro-trip: I got to enjoy my own quick version of Euro-trip this October including catching the tail end of October fest. I was able to visit Munich, Germany; Vienna, Austria; Zabreb, Croatia; and Prague, Czech Republic. Highlights include visiting sisters I met in Istanbul in Zagreb, being adopted by a pair of Bavarian guys for the last night of Oktoberfest, seeing AIDA for 3 euros in Vienna; and an amazing hostel experience in Prague.
Djibouti: I’m still living in the wonderful metropolis that is Djibouti! There is nothing like experiencing another country’s electoral process especially when corrupt. In February Djibouti had parliamentary elections and had a large opposition bloc for the first time in several years…So of course the president’s coalition stuffed ballot boxes and still only won by a few percentage points. Several international groups have certified the election as invalid, however the US, French and EU groups in Djibouti sat by because the President treats them well and some of the opposition parties had platforms including their removal from the country. A Co-worker’s wife was jailed for political dissidence after being arrested at a protest following the election, she has since been released but he is now very wary of the police and military. Aside from electoral fun times in Djibouti I no longer get lost on the side roads and am slowly getting more used to the heat (temperatures are only in the mid-90s now that it’s November). Unfortunately much of my time here in Djibouti is spent working and my 24/7 on-call status leaves me unable to sample the great night life so I travel.
Istanbul: I got to go to Istanbul in April. Best street food of any city I’ve ever been to, the quality, quantity and variety surpass all others. I was able to see the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia among the other touristy places and spent a night clubbing in Taksim with people form my hostel. I also cannot stress enough the importance of staying in Hostels when you are travelling alone! You get to meet some amazing people from all over and if you’re lucky stay friends after your travels. My best night was getting drunk with a group of Bavarian guys listening to Flogging Molly and then stumbling from the hostel to a hookah lounge to discuss the merits of facial hair.
State Side: In July I was able to come state side and meet up with some of you, though not all which is a shame. The majority of my trip was spent seeing as many people as I could in the 2.5 weeks I was in the US and also, sadly, moving out of the apartment I had been sharing with Drew as I will not be back full time in the US until July 2014 at the earliest.
Euro-trip: I got to enjoy my own quick version of Euro-trip this October including catching the tail end of October fest. I was able to visit Munich, Germany; Vienna, Austria; Zabreb, Croatia; and Prague, Czech Republic. Highlights include visiting sisters I met in Istanbul in Zagreb, being adopted by a pair of Bavarian guys for the last night of Oktoberfest, seeing AIDA for 3 euros in Vienna; and an amazing hostel experience in Prague.