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Is it just me or is everyone angrier?

Over the last couple of years I have been caught in the middle of trying to understand whether people are more angrier because I'm getting older or is it a change in times.  I wanted to just say "oh i'm just realizing this because i'm getting older" but somehow I think there is more to it. 

I had been having trouble with my insurance company constantly canceling my policy because they kept confusing it with my fathers, and vice versa with due dates and exclusion requirements.  So when I called in for the 5th time in the same month, I huffed at the representative and said "look I know this is the first time you are seeing this but you guys keep calling us and confusing the information."  I expected her to say "sorry for the confusion ma'am, let me see why this keeps happening because we don't want to lose a valued customer like yourself or your father" BUT instead I go "Don't yell at me!"  Of course this wasn't the first time that I had to deal with an insecure representative, who thinks the world revolves around her, so I then told her "ma'am, relax, my frustration is to the company and not to you as a person; I'm sure you are a lovely person, but you have to understand that I'm frustrated at this issue because I have been dealing with this problem for over 5 times within the month, and I would like to know that I have coverage when I am driving out on the streets"  (I give myself an A+ for customer service talk back)  She still continued to be a blubbering idiot and so I asked to speak to a manger, who fixed the problem within a minute, and I went back to having insurance (just in case you were wondering, the problem was not officially solved with that call, because I received another cancelation phone call)

Anywho, if this situation was an isolated one, I would call it a day, but quite honestly, I have heard way too many people use the phrase "Do not yell at me" for no good reason.  Either there was a memo sent out to everyone but me as to the new standard decibel to used when speaking to another person, or city/business life has come to this weird juncture where everyone needs to pop in prozac to calm down and not think the world is out to get them. 

I can't let the government/politics get out of this one scott free, because before my statement to disgruntled workers was: if you don't like your job, find another, but unfortunately, times are so difficult now a days, that people need to stay at their jobs, and bring their home problems and frustrations to work. 

Ah! Pharmaceuticals...you win this battle - we are all going to be on medication very soon!

Garo is now married

So my brother got married.  And while I have no shame in saying I miss seeing him on a daily basis...I AM PROUD TO SAY HOW HAPPY I AM TO DEAL WITH 1 LESS PERSON!

I walked out to my driveway just a second ago, and realized, I will never have to deal with my brother parking 3/4s in the parking space.  I go to the restroom, and no longer have to deal with his shaved hairs around the sink (the one's he cleaned but happened to miss)! We make a small portion of food in the house now a days, and that is because usually the only 2 people eating at home are my mom and dad. 

I have graciously taken over his once bedroom, and have transformed it into a full functioning office/study room for myself.  I have to admit, moving out of this house seems like a waste now! Where else, can I have a bedroom all to myself, and a full office to myself.  Sad to say...i am enjoying my existence more than ever now...and while I miss seeing my brother day to day...I can adjust!

YAY TO LIVING SPACIOUSLY!!!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy Birthday to me!

Tonight is my last official night in Holland.  This place was amazing and definitely a must see for all of you.  Out of the 4 countries that I visited on my trip, London definitely takes number 1, Amsterdam number 2, Vienna and Switzerland both tie as to number 3.  I had a lot of fun when I was attempting to have fun. 

It was awesome to see my cousins here, whom I hope to see more often, but honest truth is I probably wont :(  and what tops that was seeing Oshin here in Amsterdam!  We both thought to ourselves that we really should get our group to go on a vacation…but the honest truth is sadly we are all on our own time tables, and something like that probably wont happen until we are much older…or maybe we can surprise one another and make it work out. 

Oshin’s visit, while brief, was very refreshing.  We visited the Van Gogh museum and walked around the streets of Amsterdam.  We bought ourselves some Space Brownies…and boy is that a story that should not be meant for everyone’s eyes. 

Ani, Oshin, and I did get to go to a Gay Pride mini concert here in Amsterdam, and that was an interesting experience.  We heard a lot of songs and saw a lot of people dancing – it was such fun…and there was a moment when Oshin told me a group of women were checking me out, and I was just so afraid – I made Ani my significant other so that people would think we were taken!

Special Note to Nairi and Nora: I will definitely be back on a diet as soon as I get back!

I WANT TO SEE YOU ALL AS SOON AS I GET HOME!  SO MAKE SURE YOU GUYS ARE AVAILABLE!!!

Overall this trip was what it was…School with side touristy visits.  By no means, shape or form would I call this trip a vacation.  As a matter of fact, I need to take a vacation!

Trip time calculator:

-         train ride from Amsterdam to Switzerland: 8:32p to 8:22a (12 hours)

-         time allotted to get to the airport and on the plane 8:22 to 10:20 (2 hours)

-         plane ride from Switzerland to Philadelphia 10:25a to 1:30p (9 hours)

-         stop over in Phili for International check in 1:30p to 3:55p  (2.5 hours)

-         plane ride from Phili to LA 3:55p to 6:39p (6 hours)

-         arriving at the airport and getting back home (1.5 hours)

TOTAL TRIP TIME: 33 hours

Now that you know how many hours I will be traveling, please excuse what I look like when I get there!

London, England

Hello:

I know I havnt been writing much, but you can imagine how it is going to school and trying to live in Amsterdam would be like.  Well I took a side vacation to London, and I LOVED IT!!!  I desperately want to go back!

Well the night before our trip, we did our packing and started on some hw.  We had to make arrangements for the taxi to pick us up at 4am as our train to the airport left at 4:45.  Obviously we got there early and waited around.  Finally when they opened the doors (or when we found open doors) we went upstair to take the train which would take us to the airport.  When it finally arrived, everyone was either half asleep or drunk. 

One guy was so drunk that he started to pee in an ashtray...that is exactly the image a person would want to see before the sun has even come up! GROSS! So when we finally arrived at the airport, we found our terminal and patiently waited until we could board our plain.  We were flying with British Airways (which along with Air France and Lufthansa, I highly recommend) and when we got on, they were so precise with everything! While my intinerary stated 1 hour 15 min, the plane was in the air for about 35 minutes - the rest was getting the plane to our gate.  We arrived in London at 7:30 am.  So we got breakfast and headed into the city. 

Side note: when asking where our hotel was located, some guy told Ani the street name, and Ani looked at him puzzled and asked, "did you say our street name is Barf????" and he said yes....Bath! his prounounciates was not the American-English bath, rather the English BaaHth...twas a good laugh!

City of London is an amazing place.  I for one took history classes relating to the British Empire and with the guidance of Uncle Sevag, enjoyed seeing all the sites and admiring all the historical aspects of it.  Buckingham Palace was open, but unfortunately it was an hour and half wait, and considering we were only there for a day, we didnt want to waste our time in line.  So we had booked a ticket with the hop-on/hop-off buses, which allowed for us to see the entire city in 2 hours and hop off to get a closer look at things and then hop back on to continue. 

Nora: There was another Salvadore Dali Gallery here, which included more of his drawings and sculptures.  Unfortunately no pictures were allowed here, but still very fascinating.  He has this one sculpture, which is now my favorite...and for obvious reasons: Lady Godiva Aves Les Papillons.  You can see it here: http://www.daligallery.com

For the remainder of the day, we walked around, found a pub where I had apple cider beer - quite interesting I thought and didnt really taste all that bad.  Unfortunately we werent prepared to go anywhere nice, and in addition to that, not properly sleeping didnt help much either!

So we returned back home to our Hotel, at which time we looked down right dead tired.  Some guy offered Ani a hit, because he thought she was high.  Well when we finally got home to our bedroom, we were in love - AN AMAZING BED - grant it we did get the Sheraton - which was about 80 dollars (off of Hotwire)  That sleep alone was worthwhile!

When we woke up the following day and finally left our room, we were only able to do one thing - visit Arsenal's stadium.  They had a game there that day so it was a mad house.  All the supporters were headed there, chanting, singing, dancing, it was great!  I tried to get it on video, but of course everyone stopped the minute I pressed record!

So we saw Sevag's church (the stadium) I said a prayer hoping that they would win, and took the "tube" back to the airport so that we can have dinner, get on the plane and come back home.  We literally used our last pennies to buy a meal and I got the fish and chips - which was AMAZING!!! or I was that hungry!

Alas, our plane then boarded and we came to Amsterdam.  When we got here, it was about 10:30 and another great event happened - I MET UP WITH OSHIN!!!!  We are to spend the day traveling around today, but it was great seeing him!  So I shall catch up with guys once more before I see you all!  I will try to find some time so I can go back around and update Vienna...but eh!

Love you all! Me - by the way - 2 days left until my birthday!!!

Vienna (Work in Progress)

I spent about 4 days in Vienna.  I really wish that I had known more about the history of the country because all the historic information was blowing over my head.  There were beautiful and amazing palaces but still their beauty was glanced over for the lack of knowledge and historical references that were unknown to me. Our hostel was an amazing place but located in a very shady part of town making returning home at night a little tedious.   

Our trip to Amsterdam was an interesting one! We booked our tickets for a 6:00am flight with checkin closing at 5:00am.  We didnt book a hostel that night as we knew we would not be able to wake up.  So we spent the night doing last minute sight seeing.  Then we got to Happy Hostel were we kept out luggage and the guy gave us a room to sit and talk in.  T