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May 18, 2005

Hash Pipe

Wanna hear somethin' funny? I studied for a summer in Amsterdam and got college credit for it. AU offered a study abroad program through the University of Amsterdam called "Sexuality & Culture in Society." Are you still laughing?

I was walking aimlessly around campus one day, and saw this little brochure posted to a wall that mentioned the program. I thought, hmmmm, I could go to Europe for the first time (more importantly, Amsterdam), get credits towards my degree AND have my parents PAY for it? Where do I sign up!?!

I scheduled an appointment with the head of the anthropology department (who the program was really meant for) to express my interest. He was a nice guy. I knew he was gay so I tried to work it (so I put my thang down, flip it and reverse it). He made sure to mention that if my motives to attend were for fucking and getting high (his exact words) that I should just forget it; this was serious study. Of course, sir. I wouldn't think otherwise. I found out later (after we became friends and went to leather bars together) that he thought I was some obnoxious frat boy. I could understand the obnoxious part but a frat boy! That's funny. Must be those baseball caps I'm always wearing. Men who wear baseball caps are routinely misjudged. I'm gonna start an awareness organization. Anyway, I had to apply to get into the program. I did and a few weeks later got my acceptance notice.

It was kind of a scary experience for me once it sunk in that I was going. I had never been to Europe. I didn't know a single person in the program. I didn't speak a foreign language. I had no idea what to expect.

The whole drug thing wasn't a big lure for me. I really wasn't that into pot. I always ended up coughing my brains out. I couldn't figure out what the big deal was. I also still kinda felt the stigma of drugs as a big no-no. I used to be very anti-drug (stop laughing).

Fast forward, I get there, take the tram to my temporary apartment, meet the professors, meet the students, get my class silly-bus and let the games begin.

I felt kinda weird though; I was not an anthropology major and most of these people were graduate students, so I got a few "what does HE think he is doing here" stares. I was surprised there were only about 25 students in the whole program. They were also mostly from different schools (only a few of us were from AU) but it was nice to see some foreign students in the program as well.

It was crazy fun though. We did tons of field trips (sex change clinics, condom stores, gay history tours, etc) and heard from some of the most unique people (sex workers, transsexuals, women who refer to themselves as "boys," etc).

Some of the difficult class assignments involved comparing and contrasting sex shops. A couple classmates and I took our notebooks to the Red Light District to do some serious research. It was very interesting; this store has a lot of scat videos; this one does not. This one has a lot of woman on dog videos; this one does not. This one has sounds; so does this one!

Each school day would usually close with a party involving lots of beer. I remember stumbling through the streets of Amsterdam with a straight Italian guy that I had somehow met, who did not speak a word of English. We played pool and just drank all night long.

I didn't smoke much pot but I did (like so many of the tourists) eat the space cakes. I did this mainly to avoid all the coughing. They have since banned space cakes because too many foreigners (read: Americans) were getting really sick on them. Eating marijuana can be somewhat potent to delicate tummies.

Me and this guy Andy also tried mushrooms one sunny day. We went to some pizza place, ate them and sat there 'til they kicked in. I remember hearing "The Girl is Mine" by Michael Jackson, looking at Andy and busting out laughing. We decided it would be best if we moved somewhere less confined. We went to Dam Square and sat on some steps and just people watched for 3 hours. It was incredibly intense, surreal and awesome at the same time. I have tried them a few times since, but nothing comes close to that time with Andy. I wonder where he is.

I met some amazing people on that trip and honestly learned a lot from them. A group of us would sit around and just shoot the shit after school. We were so completely different in every way. I think every type of person was represented. I learned all about S & M and B & D from lesbians. I learned all about the leather scene. I learned all about limits and safe words. I learned about darkrooms. I learned that straight people can be kinky motherfuckers. I learned about butch and femme. I learned about Gender Identity Disorder. I learned that we are all so freakin' different and not to judge so quickly (unless, of course it is something said or done by George W Bush).

I also learned that this experience raised my GPA a smidge. ;-)

Posted by durban bud at May 18, 2005 01:23 PM

Comments

Posted by: TOS at May 18, 2005 04:00 PM

Posted by: durban at May 18, 2005 04:52 PM

Posted by: TOS at May 18, 2005 05:06 PM

Posted by: Chris. at May 18, 2005 11:19 PM