Hello. Welcome to my website. It started while I was in Europe for a semester, and I've kept it up since then. I'm now at the University of Chicago Law School, living in Hyde Park, and the story continues. If you want to say hi or visit me, email cfloyd at uchicago dot edu.
"Life is nothing if not the sum of your anecdotes." -Scotty The Body, on storytelling "But it ain't that bad, man. Just figure out the system before the system figures out you." -T. Matthew Smith, on the 1L year "The beer just doesn't taste as good when you're not drinking it with your buddies." -Anon., on being away from good friends "Somebody has to pay the rent around here. Why the hell not us?" -Cotton, on studying for exams
5/31/2003
Final Score: Graz Giants 49, Team USA 22. Yep, I am sorry to say, we basically got spanked. Here's the deal. The Graz Giants are a cohesive team that imports players from the United States. Their star quarterback and running back are American. They have a good playbook, but, more importantly, executed their plays. Team USA, on the other hand, is a newly-assembled group of amateur American football players. Apparently several of them come from the Oklahoma League, where Chickasha vs. McAlester is a big rivalry. This does not diminish the quality of the players. In fact, Team USA looked, on average, much bigger than Graz, although slightly slower. There were two problems with Team USA. First, they didn't have a quarterback. The original didn't make the trip, and the replacement threw the ball away six times. One was called back for an offsides penalty, but that was still five interceptions, and Graz scored off of four of them. That was the main problem. The other problem, however, was that "Team USA" was closer to "Collection of Football Players from the USA Playing Together." They weren't a cohesive team. With a few more practices, minus the jet lag, we could have beaten Graz. Maybe next time.
Observations from the game: As I said, the Americans were bigger, but the Austrians were faster.
There was a larger concentration of ballcaps than I've seen anywhere else in Graz. Apparently fans of an American sport pick up American sportswear.
Large speakers played music during the entire game. They turned it down for the snaps, but didn't turn it off. It was distracting to me, but I suppose it was to keep the Europeans from getting bored.
The game started with the American, then the Austrian, national anthem. It was good to hear the "Star Spangled Banner."
The cheerleaders at the game were very skilled at their stunts and cheers. I don't know that much about the art, but I know that these girls were at least as good as a squad from a large American high school. And their cheers were in English: "Clap your hands! Stomp your feet! And listen to the rhythm of the Giants beat! It goes..." etc.
I met two women in Team USA shirts who were filming the game near my seat. They ended up being from Norman! I asked them about their stay, and, while they found the scenery beautiful, they were less than enthusiastic about the food. I was sympathetic--though it exists in abundance, it is not a simple task to find the good food in Styria. So they had resorted, in desperation, to eating at McDonalds. Without a guide or any knowledge of German, I don't blame them. I gave them some tips and told them where to buy food, as well as souvenirs and t-shirts.
Overall I enjoyed the experience. It was too bad that the game wasn't competitive, but it was a good time nonetheless.
5/31/2003 11:19:00 AM
Today Jonathon is taking me to another American football game. This one is between the Graz Giants and Team USA. I've been informed by David Bassity that there are several Oklahoma players on the team. This should be a lot of fun. I'll have a full report for you after the game.
5/31/2003 02:53:00 AM
5/28/2003
We have a four-day weekend starting, basically, now, and I'm looking forward to it. I'll catch up on some reading, and there is major grilling potential. I'll let you know how the bratwurst turns out. Plus, there's a big kayaking competition in town, so not only is there sweet rapid-riding to watch on the Mur River, but we get to make fun of all the visiting Canadian hippy kayakers at the bars! It's a win-win situation.
5/28/2003 09:13:00 AM
5/26/2003 Today is Memorial Day in the United States. Don't forget about the men and women who have given their lives for us. I read an article like this, and I am humbled by the bravery of others. So there's my couple euros (it would be two cents, but the dollar keeps dropping). For those of you in the States, enjoy the holiday and think about what it means.
Update: Dad left a better comment than I could write. Check it out by clicking below.
5/26/2003 05:46:00 AM
I really like the coffee houses here. At first I didn't like them because they didn't have regular coffee. But after three months, I am almost fully used to espresso. Granted, I still miss a big steaming mug of joe, but there's an air of sophistication associated with sitting at a table with a white cloth sipping an Illy espresso and reading with jazz on in the background. They bring you this whole tray, with the little light cookie or fine chocolate or both, and the glass of water, and the spoon that doens't make sense because there's no cream. I guess you could sweeten the espresso with sugar, but why would you order an espresso if you wanted it sweet? I still drink my coffee too fast, and have to get a second if I'm at a place more than thirty minutes. Then the caffeine hits me. It's just not how I've always gotten my fix, so I haven't gotten my rhythm down. It's all good though. In summary: European espresso=classy. Maxwell House=classic. Over and out.
5/26/2003 04:33:00 AM
5/24/2003
It is early Saturday afternoon. I have to finish some schoolwork today to email to my professor. That's kind of annoying, but of course, it's my own fault for not finishing earlier. Oh well, I'll get it done quickly and enjoy the sun.
5/24/2003 03:44:00 AM
5/23/2003
The sun came in and out from behind fluffy clouds today, and the temperature was perfect. I got up around 8am and ate some yogurt and a banana and had cup of coffee while I checked the news on the internet. Then I decided I was tired and got back in bed around 9, and slept until 10:30am. It can be nice to be a student.
When I got up for good I went to campus and got some books from the library. Then I went to the bookstore and bought a book by one of my professors that I should have picked up a month ago. That's okay--I'll still be ready for the exam. Then I went to my favorite coffee shop, called The Beanery. I had a large espresso and read the Economist. The world economy is facing deflation because of excessive production capacity. The dollar is declining against other currencies. Iran is "detaining" senior members of Al Qaeda. They finally got around to picking up some of the garbage in Baghdad. A bomb went off at Yale Law School. There seems to be little good news in the world. But life goes on for most of us, and it's not a half-bad life either. That in itself is good news, right?
After the coffee shop I went to the Innere Stadt to try to find a watch. Since I've been running, I need to see how long I take and what my pulse is. I haven't worn a watch for more than four years. I found a 15 euro digital watch, so I picked it up. For the first time at lunch this afternoon, I actually timed my pasta! This watch thing could be advantageous. One of the great things about Graz is early afternoon on a beautiful day in the central part of town. Everybody's out shopping or getting coffee or soliciting for various causes. I talked to an Amnesty International representative who blew me off before I had a chance to ask her what AI was all about because I haven't lived here long enough. A large group of little girls approached me asking for money and talking too fast. I told them to slow down, and when I realized they were collecting money for children with cancer I gave them the change in my pocket. I had to get out the dictionary to find that Krebs means cancer. One of the little girls, as I looked in my dictionary, realized I was American and thought she knew the English word already. She said, with a good little British accent, "We need your money for children with crabs!" I laughed at her, and they laughed at me. Then I gave them money.
After I had found the watch I also bought a small clip-fan, because I have realized that there is no air-conditioning here. That's okay. I've gone plenty of summers without air-conditioning. I just need some air movement. Then I went home and cooked my pasta to perfection. I've been cleaning my room and preparing to do a bunch of laundry. Soon I will go run up a hill with people from my yoga class. We are training for the big Graz relay race sponsored by the Sport Institute, called the Kleeblattlauf. It's a relay involving teams of four running a 1.3 mile course through some hills near the university. The top of the hill offers a beautiful view of the city. If you visit me I'll take you there. After the race there's a big festival with hot-air balloons and such. I'm looking forward to it.
I don't know exactly what's going on for dinner, and I'm planning on laying low tonight to prepare for a report I have to make on Monday. Enjoy the weekend, and feel free to share your Memorial Day plans on the comments section.
5/23/2003 08:57:00 AM
5/20/2003
Women's football pics from Sunday. Enjoy. (photo credits, Jonathon Nausner).
5/20/2003 03:06:00 PM
Today was a rainy day. I stayed in and studied, then I took a run. A friend of mine, Andy Who's From Wisconsin But Sometimes Sounds Like He's Canadian, invited me over for some tasty chili. It was the perfect dinner for this day. Thank you, Andy. While at fake-Canadian Andy's I met a real Canadian, Sheila, who is traveling. We talked about movies. After dinner I went home and found that Friends was on. Some of you more enlightened readers may be asking a couple of questions: 1) TV? I didn't know you had a TV. 2) Friends? I didn't know you had Friends (in the TV sense. Please).
Answers: 1) Mirza bought a TV card for his computer, so there is now what amounts to a television in his computer. You just click the mouse instead of the remote. 2) Friends comes on in Austria, but dubbed into German. My personal opinion is that it is damn near as funny as in the original format. But that may just be because it's been 3 months since I've watched TV at all.
Since he let me watch Friends, I gave Mirza some of my crackers. But I told him not to get any ideas.
5/20/2003 02:32:00 PM
5/19/2003
Next Monday I am making two different presentations. I am a little nervous about speaking German in front of my classmates, because I have kept quiet for most of the semester. But I had a bright spot today when I found a great book of secondary source material in the library. In English! All you college research-paper authors out there know how dense some secondary sources can be in your home language. So I am apprehensive about combing through German journals and so forth. It was great to find this book.
The other notable event was when Mirza tried a saltine cracker for the first time. He was really, really excited about it. "You can put anything on it! Is so tasty!"
5/18/2003
I saw two things today that I had never seen firsthand before in my life.
The first is a hedgehog. Strangest thing--little bugger crawled out of the bushes in front of my apartment as I walked up. I tried to startle it into a ball, but it just scurried away.
The second is American football played by women. My friend Jonathon, the same one who took me last weekend to Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium, gave me today an altogether different experience. We saw an eight-on-eight football game between the Black Widows of Graz and the Lady Vikings of Vienna. It was, in a word, spectacular. The ladies played an excellent game of football, which featured grinding-up-the-middle runs as well as misdirection sweeps, tight end out-routes and wide reciever posts, and even quarterback draws and sneaks on fourth down. There was exactly one punt in four twelve-minute quarters. It reminded me of intramural flag football at the University of Oklahoma, because of the smaller teams, the refusal to surrender on fourth down, and the endless two-point-conversion attempts. Except they wore pads and tackled each other. Hard. The spectators numbered about one hundred, and we sat on the grass. Oh, and did I mention the "Cheerboys" at halftime? The whole thing was surreal. Except the competitive nature of the game. There was no doubt these "chicks" came to play, and enjoyed watching them immensely. Like last week, I'll hopefully post pictures tomorrow.
5/18/2003 02:30:00 PM
5/17/2003
There's a good discussion going on on the comments from yesterday. I encourage you to join in!
5/17/2003 12:58:00 PM
5/16/2003
Hi folks. I am being lazy, so enjoy this first "guest post." This is an email I received about a month ago from a friend also visiting Europe. I find her observations particularly apt.
"I dont know, there is just something about sitting in the park napping and eating ice cream, casually watching a 'football' match and then realizing I am sitting in the middle of London by the Tower and enjoying a warm spring afternoon 50 billion miles away from everything... there is just so much... do you ever just look at where you are and feel so surreal? Like, is this really happening? I find myself comparing where I am to what it feels like in something of my memory, sort of, this feels like so and so... and this feels like... only to really now know that no matter where i am it really is wonderful, and this trip really fulfills me in a way. It is clear now that getting caught up in the States isnt a bad thing... I love America, and i don't mind spending the rest of my life there. Europe might have more culture (among other things) but it really isn't that much different then everywhere else. Where I want to be just has to be comfortable..."
Are you hungry? Stomach growly?
Step down to the place called Jakomini.
Döner Kebaps: pita and meat,
Slow-cooked on a spit over direct heat.
Leberkäse on a Semmel roll is tasty, certain to please--
Just try to forget that it's liver cheese.
Feel like fries? Say "pommes frites"
And request mayo to get your kicks.
Oh, Graz! You've got so much
That I can eat when I'm ravenous.
A frankfurter, two bratwurst, three schnitzels from Wien,
Serve it all up and I'll make the plate clean!
Just send any awards or publishing requests to Ghegagasse 11/39 8020 Graz, Austria, Europe.
5/15/2003 11:55:00 AM
Yesterday I went to a football match here in Graz between the two pro teams in the city. The match determined which club would get to play in the Champion's League. The exciting game was held at Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium in front of 12,000 fans of both teams. It was kind of like a Bedlam match. Passions were up, but not quite like big rivalries in college football. This was like a really big game of minor league baseball, but very exciting. I had a couple pictures taken by Jonathon, the Austrian who took me to the game, and I should post those soon.
In other news, check out this link to a video of a tornado taken by Reed Timmer, meteorology student at OU. Reed came to OU from Michigan, and I used to drive him around to look at storms when he first arrived, We saw some funnels from a distance, but nothing like the video I'm linking to. Check it out--it's insanely cool.
5/12/2003 05:01:00 AM
5/11/2003
I am Hannibal
Cool and dangerous Hannibal is a soldier for life. He was a well respected colonel in Vietnam who was forced to hide in the underground after being charged for a crime he didn't commit. The leader of the A-Team, Hannibal is a crafty tactician and as he always said "I love it when a plan comes together."
5/10/2003
If you look on the left you will see a link to some photos. Click there to see Paris and Brussells. More coming.
5/10/2003 01:53:00 PM
Mirza (my roommate) is now officially drunk. He's had five or six beers and his face is really red. I guess he's one of those people who reacts really strongly to alcohol because he's dancing around the room to Bosnian music. His friends are laughing at him. I've never seen him drunk before. This is very entertaining.
5/10/2003 12:01:00 PM
Just chatted with Jordan Jones. Today is his graduation. The thought of it takes me back to commencement last year. That was a really great day. The future was wide open. It's a good feeling--a little bittersweet, because you're leaving school, but on balance really awesome.
Congratulations to Ted Downing, Jordan Jones, and everybody else I know who graduates today. And no worries about the future. As a wise man once said: "You know, it just keeps getting better."
5/10/2003 10:56:00 AM
Wow. Super Mirza and his Bosnian Buddies are rocking out to some loud Balkan music and drinking beer. Forecast: it may get rowdy.
5/10/2003 10:46:00 AM
McDonald's was my lunch today. I don't know what came over me, but I got a sudden hankering for crappy American food. It took me back to Saturday afternoons in Norman, piling into a car to go to the McDonald's in the Homeland parking lot. Nothing like those fries. I'll have to go back and see if they have breakfast. Anybody who knows what time it is knows that McDonald's breakfast is one of the great achievements of mankind. If I were to plan the ideal day, there's a good chance I would kick it off with an early McDonald's breakfast on the way to go fishing. Of course, that same day there would be an OU football game, and I would be back in time to barbecue at a tailgate party...
5/09/2003
Today at a coffee shop I ordered a café au lait. The waiter decided I was from France and proceeded to speak to me in broken French. I said, "Merci." Then he brought me my café au lait and told me the price in French. Since I don't understand French numbers I told him that I was not French, and that I was actually American. He seemed very confused, and told me I had a French accent. So I'm an American speaking German but sounding French. Interesting...
5/09/2003 08:29:00 AM
This makes me sad. It means my purchasing power is taking a real hit. But this really cheers me up! No wonder the Germans love him.
Cody, you can tell the board that the weather here is very nice. People complain about it being too hot, though, when it gets above 80 degrees. I think they're wusses. Basically it's like a milder Oklahoma, without the tornados. I miss the electricity in the air when an Oklahoma thunderstorm rolls through, but I don't miss storms that always target Moore. Thank God nobody died in the most recent one.
5/07/2003
Today was a regular day. After being woken up several times by my roomate before my alarm (like I said, a regular day), I got up, took a shower, and went to class. I rode my bike to campus, as I've done for the last week or so. My bike is borrowed from an Austrian student mentor of one of the other Americans. The guy offered it to me to use for free until July, when I leave, and I was very intrerested. Of course, when I went to pick up the bike, he asked me for a 50 euro deposit. Now, maybe people in Oklahoma are just more trusting, but that seemed kind of bait-and-switch to me. If I don't get my 50 euro back, well, I'll be upset. So this bike was pretty dilapidated. I had to tighten several bolts and replace a tire and both tubes. It still squeaks. And the headlight doesn't work, so it's illegal to ride after dark. It's painted a nice flat black, of which I though little until some told me that the paint is to cover up the previous paint job. Previous meaning, prior to when the bike was stolen. I'm not sure how this old stolen bike ended up being loaned (with a security deposit) to an American, and I don't think I want to. It gets me where I need to go and that's it.
Right, so enough about my bike. I got to Public International Law 1 about 15 minutes late because I left the apartment about 15 minutes late. Strange how those things work. I sat in class for about 20 minutes, attempted to take notes, but then I got tired of that and I left. It was okay because I was sitting in the back because I had come in late. I'm not sure I'll even bother going back. I loaded up courses just in case I got tired of one or two, so I think I will drop Public International Law 1. After all, I'll be learning law until 2006 so I don't think I'll be missing much. After I left the law class I went back home and I fixed a sandwich. I made the sandwich with a third of a baguette I bought yesterday, ham, swiss cheese--technically Austrian, but white with holes--lettuce, tomato, and mayo. It was a good sandwich. Then I checked my email, read for a bit and got tired and took a nap. Most days I don't take naps, but I hadn't gotten enough sleep because of early-morning sources of noise emanating from from my roommate's vicinity, and from the vicinity of my roommate's friend who came to hang out at 7:50am, and from the vicinity of both of their mouths and they had a loud conversation in Bosnian until I asked them to go into the kitchen.
After my nap I woke up with a acidic taste in my mouth. I think that was because I had eaten a sandwich with mayonnaise and then gone to sleep. I drank a glass of water to get the taste out. Then I lifted weights. Then I went to my Human Rights and its Philosophical Justification class. I was on time for that class and stayed the entire time. I like the course because the prof is easy to understand and I know a lot of the basics like social contract theory. Todays lecture was on the basic rights (right to expression, right to property, right to travel, etc.) expected in a liberal society based on contract, which translates to any western democracy. I realized, though, that there is a book associated with the class that I don't have. I'll have to pick that up. After my class I went home and checked my email. To move my email I had to move a stack of clothes off of my desk chair. They were on my desk chair because I had moved them from my bed to the chair to take my nap earlier. They were on my bed because I had taken them off of the drying rack but was too lazy to fold them. And yes, if you are curious why they were on the drying rack, look on the previous post.
After I checked my email I decided it had been too long since I had updated my blog so I pulled up the updater site. But then I realized I didn't have anything profound to say, and I didn't have the energy to fill an update with platitudes about how wonderful it is in Europe. So I decided to describe the details of my day in all their banal glory. And you, privileged reader, have just found out all about them. Enjoy!
5/04/2003
Gripe of the Day: European laundry. Honestly: it's worth the extra gallon of water to get the stank out of a shirt, and it's worth a vent in the wall and an extra few watts of electricity to have an efficient dryer that doesn't wrinkle every article of clothing you have. Hmmmph.
5/04/2003 11:53:00 AM
OK, if you happen to be looking at the page at this moment, I am in the middle of a nice Sunday afternoon redo. I'll be putting links up to the left, but there's a fair bit of coding (for me, anyway) in order to keep things streamlined. Well, just check back in a few to see my progress. Eventually there will be pictures of Paris...
5/04/2003 04:43:00 AM
