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I'm so ready to get out of America. When I close my eyes and dream of places to live, the first to come to mind is Antwerp, Belgium. I have friends who also dream of living there. It's a small quiet city with a thriving art scene, beautiful architecture (the central train station is breathtaking), and great transportation. I could prepare my music there and then travel to Holland for the performances... It's a nice dream anyhow.
It's situated within comfortable distance of Paris, Amsterdam, and Berlin. I feel I could really get on with my work there rather than fighting with the constant political and social distractions I feel here in America. This schizoid mess of a country is REALLY getting on my nerves these days.
Maybe I should start a "Free Roddy From America!" webpage, taking donations (via PayPal, of course) to cover my plane ticket and a few months rent (it's cheap there folks!), while I get my feet on the ground. Huh. Maybe I *really* should do this.
Comments
roddy, if you go to antwerp, you should know a few things - maybe you can make a plusses and minusses list to weigh it up.
you can eat the best mussels in the world - I did it this summer
you can rent large appartments in the centre pretty cheap (I hear)
they sell great shoes there
they sound nice when they speak
the worst thing is, it's the home of vlaamse blok - a very large group of rightwingers very much into repatriation of foreigners - they might try and throw you out.
us amsterdammers would like to have you close by though
it is a gorgeous city though.
seamus
Posted by: seamus | November 14, 2004 2:29 PM
your plusses and minuses line up with mine pretty well. i would also add the amazing (anti) fashion scene there as a plus. it's so satirical of the major fashion capitals. i love it.
and i really like the people there, i felt very comfortable just hanging out there. the whole right-wing thing is pretty scary, but i was talking to a friend of mine the other day, and we both came to the conclusion that the right in belgium and holland is about the same as the left in america at the moment. and i also miss you amsterdammers a lot!!!
Posted by: roddy | November 15, 2004 12:14 PM
and another plus: ragna lives there! so get on with it, come back baby! and after 3+ years of medievalonmyass expat conditions in amsterdam, i have a real home in berlin in a big cozy arthouse and you can stay gratis as long as you like!
Posted by: nathan | March 12, 2005 8:12 PM