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Culture & Immersion

Culture & Immersion, Narrative

The Māori Mindset

Travel brings many insights, by hitchhiking, many more. I decided, I’m not going to plan anything in New Zealand. Why should I need to? I’ve come with the belief that, to experience New Zealand, you don’t need to plan anything. All you need is basic preparation: a tent, a bag, a thumb, and a smile. In my first two weeks, I’ve seen countless mountain ranges, sand dunes and stunning beaches, but the most interesting experiences were with the locals, both indigenous and colonist. My first driver was a friendly racist named Peter. He worked his ass off employing a team…

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Culture & Immersion, Travel

I Tried Hating Barcelona

I tried hating Barcelona, it even tried to help me when I arrived. From the six euro fare on the A2 bus into the city, from where I had to walk another half hour, to the 2.72 euro hidden tax at the Sant Jordy Hostel, I thought this city was trying to rip me off. I spent a week and a half year and by the end I made up my mind Barcelona is one of the most authentic big cities I’ve been to. The more I travel, the more I realize, I hate big cities, cities that are renowned,…

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Culture & Immersion, Narrative

Avoid the Area Around the Station

Since the first time I moved here I was told to avoid the area around the station at night. The Vilnius City Train Station is a commanding building with large blue sign shining in blue “GELEŽINKELIO STOTIS”. It stares you dead in the eyes from the bottom of the hill, deep in no-go territory. This place is harmless in the daytime; floods of people flow through here considering most buses end at the Station, and it being so close to the center. What is it about this place that has tantalized my curiosity? What went on here to make my family friends and…

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Culture & Immersion

I Love Day Trips and Here’s Why You Should Too!

I love day trips, I love day trips, yes I do! For some people playing poker or day drinking is all their rage when the weekend comes up. Hell some even get off to putting needles in their arm. I prefer to pretend I’m John Smith and explore my city. It doesn’t matter how you go about doing it whether by bike, camel or unicorn. I’m here to convince you that I love day trips and why you should too! It Doesn’t Require Much Planning Come on, just pick a place! Start with that Timbuktu-like village outside of your city or that cosy town…

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Culture & Immersion

3 Reasons Why I Can’t Imagine Living in the USA Again

Having grow up in a land where you can buy lobster, diamonds and camping gear all in one place, then traveling the world for 2 years, I have met many a person that give me a batshit crazy look when I tell them I’m American born and I don’t-don’t-don’t want to live there. I know I’m batshit crazy, but if there’s a reason they’re going to think that then it better not be for not wanting to live there! Many Americans, including my past self, consider the American way of doing things as the *correct* way, because fuck yeah America! You may be confuddled (confused…

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Culture & Immersion

Jobless and Searching, for Myself.

It’s not everyday you come across another person with the same career path as you when your job involves being jobless and searching for yourself. It’s kinda magical when you do. It’s like dog food for my ego just knowing that there are other people out there just as foolish as me with the same job description. There’s something exultingly enjoyable watching my bank account drain as I live life like most people would feel ashamed to do so. No I’m not ashamed, I’m proud of this decision. I originally wrote this as a post to help you find yourself but something felt way off. I’m in…

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Culture & Immersion

How to Find X in Vilnius

So you moved to Vilnius from out of the country only to realize there’s four grocery stores and they all sell basically the same stuff. Small business is a tiny speck on the backs of giant company’s that sell everything, but that what you’re looking for… I’ll try my best to help you find that vintage record player but you’ll probably become a master accordion player before you find such rarities here. Assuming X is something somewhat common in you’re country, I’ll do my best to show you how to find X in Vilnius. First off, a lot of sites…

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Culture & Immersion

How to be Lithuanian: Eat, Smoke, Drink & Play

God knows why you chose to take up this mission, learning how to be Lithuanian. But you’ve already committed yourself by reading this far. Nope, no going back… It’s your duty now, might as well throw away your Miller Lights, doobies and Mickey Dee’s, ‘cuz we do it different. We have black bread, basically non-alcoholic beverages made from black bread and lots of potatoes, so grab your hoe and shovel, we’re getting Lithuanian! Lithuania is a big farm with two very large farm cities (the capital Vilnius, and Kaunas) and some farm ports, and yea… the rest is legit farmland. To put Lithuania’s…

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Culture & Immersion, Travel

The Immersed Lifestyle

Tourist, Traveler, Digital Nomad, marooned, me? Am I truly any one of these? I’ve had some time to try to figure out life since quitting my startup last January, floating around trying Ayahuasca in the jungle, Acid in the city and flying down mountain tops. I’ve left many people with a confused impression of what exactly I am, some sort of ______ (fill in the blank). To be truthful I don’t know which I am but I’ve realized I’m a disciple of the immersed lifestyle. What is the Immersed Lifestyle? It’s a lifestyle that is none of the above… Not exactly at least. I’m…

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Culture & Immersion

How to Jazz in Kaunas

If you like jazz and you can handle a lot of it, then this post is for you. Hell, this entire weekend is for you, just get your butt over here. It all starts here in the town hall of Lithuania’s second largest city, Kaunas. Every year towards the end of April. [huge_it_maps id=”10″] It’s Thursday, the opening day for Kaunas Jazz, and you know what that means? Of course you do, jazz takes over the city! It’s hard not to walk into any cafe or Restaurant and not see these posters or flyers hanging about. What started as a festival…

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