Hey again from berlin.... and have to say that things are going really well at the moment. So... it´s been awhile since I last made an update, so I will do what I can to recall all that has happened.
First off, I was in Milano and Bologna the first weekend of Dec. to do some drag shows with my friend Tina (DJ Tony). We got into Milano on Thrusday, took a bus into town, saw our friend who was working at a sex shop off the main shopping strip and then went back to the central station to take a train to Bologna... it really blew my mind though to be in another country with another language, etc. in 2 hours. The train ride was really nice and we were eating great focaccia! YUM! We got into Bologna and got picked up by this girl from Portland named Dannie or Daniela and made our way to the this crazy huge space which is the gay and lesbian community center in Bologna. I kept on hearing that is was a more liberal or ´red´city with the university also there and got to have great conversation about italain culture and living with your parents till you are 30 as a norm... but back to the space. It was also the archive and as you pass through the main entrance we met lots of folks who were getting ready for the show... the space apparently is really great, but you have to pay a membership fee to come to things and then on top of that you have to pay to come to shows and it gets kinda pricey... a little profit off community..? Anyways, we made our way to the back door and then down the metal sheeky staircase to the back area and into the bottom story where there was a HUGE space with a stage and bar and projection booth and really high ceiling. This is where the show was going to be. I then met another person from the US, who of course I KNEW! It was Angelo (or Angela) who made the costumes for ´The Transfused´the rock opera that Nomy Lamm and The Need wrote that I was in when I was 16... and then it turned out the Dannie had seen it and both of them had lived in Oly... and yet again the world was a small place. The performed a peice at the show that was a ´James Bond´ esk thing and then I performed a character that is based somewhat on Napolian Dinomite...oh yeah! I come out and take off my shoes as I am pulling a little tinny rolling suite case that I found for free at the flöwmarket and I take it to the center of the stage very slowly, take out some things and then put on a ´boy´outfit in bright orange and then dance to kris kross.. jump jump, switch back to slow while undressing and then put on purple and white polka dot shirt with a headband and dance to brandy... and then take my stuff and leave the stage.. it was a really fun show and it was great performing. We finally got to bed after Tina and Chira finished DJing at 5am and then I slept! In the morning we went to Angela and Chiras house for an amazing breakfast of potatoes and eggs and pancakes and tea and I was back in the US for a moment.. totally reminded me of pdx and it was very nice. Went back to Milano on the train as we very closely made it to our train on time. That night we went to a house of this woman who has this crazy experimental womens band where they wear alien masks and dresses. From then on it was mainly lots of italian, which was nice to listen to, but I didn´t really catch most of what was being said. The next day I stayed in the apt. and then we went to dinner at the house of the women who was booking out show in Milano and who paid for our tickets there. She had lots of vintage gore posters and black furniture.. we watched some of the movies that Tina had brought and she made us drinks of Absenth and it was so strong I really couldn´t even make myself drink it. Finally we went home and it was snowing so hard... we walked along the water way, under bridges and it was beautiful and quite in the snow and the late night of milano. The next day we went out to the studio of the woman we were staying with and then went out for food...again, amazing focaccia! Met some really nice people and I am so bad at names, so I cannot tell you that much. Went then to the space and figured out the staging, ate some really good oranges and then agelo and dannie came, as they were going to do the performance as well that night. The party was fun, lots of straight guys, but it was in a nice space and people liked the shows... I always think it´s great to be in drag around people who aren´t used to it also. Went home and in the morning got up early to get some food and then tina took me to the main station where I caught the bus to the airport and then finally was back in Berlin and felt at home with the german mentality coming from the sheeky milano fashion state. It was good though to get out and get this breath or fresh air.
The next week was a bit down, not loving my job, but looking forward to the next weekend. We weren´t so prepaired, but we finally caught the train to Warsaw at 6:42am. Catalina and I sat next to these two girl from Australia who were traveling and also saw Petal and Lota on the train. At the boarder Catalina realized she had forgotten her passport and got taken off the train by the boarder control, but promised she was going to work on coming after she went to the house for her passport. A few stops later Petal got off with the police for wanting to pay the originally advertised price since you have to pay more when you are on the trian with no ticket and the ticket office at our station had been closed... then it was me and Lota. We got into town and made our way to the space.. and there was no one there. At first we thought it was because there was a demo that day and then a newly married couple came in and was having their pictures taken... we decided to ask more and we were in the wrong place. we went back to the station to meet up with petal who had gotten his way with the tickets and we went to the new location where we saw familiar faces right away. The space was great.. in a three story builing with great bars, bathrooms and basement...haha, and got to attend a fab DJing working by Prisc from france (where there were dudes... and this is at ladyfest mind....who were all about jumping up on being first to try things). After this we sat at a table and talked and then saw some of the shows. At this point Catalina was not there and I was hoping she was OK and I was thinking about still performing alone. We found out a way for me to perform between DJs and a polish woman who was there said she wanted to take some pictures of me the next day in drag...which didn´t ever really happen, but back to the story. Catalina did show up and we did perform, but the croud wanted people to get naked, but I trying wowing them as a drag king putting on the moves in long underwear and it actually worked quite well. I have to say that the band were not the best but I really love the polish hip hop group of ladies and the hardcore band from Barcelona called ´Drama´with a kick ass singer. We had found a place to sleep .. where 11 other people were staying also and I think we got home at around 5am. In the morning we all had a great breakfast in the living room... picknick style in the PJs with people from Poland, France, Germany, and the US. It was bitter cold as we made our was through the street and on the rickety trolly back to another space for a day of watching films. I had decided at this point that I really liked Warsaw/Poland as all the people I had met were really nice and had a good spirit about them. The films were great and I was able to see a few that I wanted to showcase in Berlin and in the states. Lota and Catalina and I went out to a great vegetarian resteraunt where they were playing enya and it totally reminded me of my mom. We then had some kick ass cakes with tea and then went back for more movies. The night ended and we came home, got up early and ended up catching an earlier train than we had thought we would so we were not able to see more of the city. I would like to go back an visit though, it was very nice there. The train ride back was chill with good converstation and while we were drinking hot water in the resteraunt train an nice older woman came to say hello who was from Minnesoda.
Since then I have been feeling up and down and all around, but have finally landed on the fact that I really am enjoying myself here. Of course I miss people and places, but I´v realized that I have options and am not stuck here, that I can move around to different cities and countries.. that all these things are possible if you just keep your wits about you and decide you are in it for a good time. Last night I got two new tattoos- the one on my left arm is a leo symbol for my passion and strength and being fierce and the one on my right is a needle and with a red thread pointing inward for healing and creativity and mending and for remembering my good friend sailor. I am working on getting my visa, which will be for most likely a year and am looking for more work so I can have some change in my life also. I am hoping to come back and visit some time in the spring... march or so? So, until the next update, which will hopefully be a bit sooner than this one. Big kisses and thinking about you in Berlin...!
