now!
July 11, 2007 at 11:01 pm 
Life, Travel, Puerto Rico, News by Reggles 
I wrote a book while I was in Europe. It’s the story of the trip, it’s really great haha. You’ll read it someday. In the beginning of the book, on the very first page, I decided that it would be appropriate to write something… a dedication. And I chose my father.
“To my father… for making dreams into realities… because there aren’t enough words of grattitude, I dedicate this to you.”
Without him, I would have never been able to do everything I did, see everything I saw, and live everything I lived in my month in Europe. How many people in the world are lucky enough to be able to spend an entire month in Europe with their best friend? The things you learn there, the things you experience… last a lifetime. I am forever in debt for this opportunity and I will never forget it.
I went to Europe, hoping to find more clarity; hoping to find an answer to whether I would like to live there and study there. But here I am, one week after I returned home, and clarity is nowhere to be found. Everything is a blur to me.
Oz and I went through so much in a month of it being just us two in Europe. And I miss him… For those of you who don’t know, the trip was supposed to end by me saying goodbye to Oz in Manchester airport and flying back home. But it didn’t end this way. Oz surprised me and bought the seat next to mine and flew back to Puerto Rico with me for 5 days. The best surprise he could have ever given me, so unexpected, so thoughtful, so meaningful. Seriously, goodness gracious. He left on Sunday morning to go sailing with his dad.
And so, I find myself back home without my best friend, whom I have seen everyday for the past 5 weeks, whom I have eaten breakfast, lunch, and dinner with, whom I have shared tears and laughter with, and I find it so strange. Through the entire month our friendship was tried and tested by different obstacles, and in the end we ended up closer and better friends than we could have ever hoped or imagined. At least, that’s how I feel. I don’t know about oz, he’s probably forgotten about Europe all together, that boy forgets everything, I swear.
I told oz, “If we’re going to keep on being friends, we’re going to have to be rich with quickness.” And it’s true, because seriously now, this is the world’s most expensive friendship. We have to fly halfway across the world in order to spend time, and Lord knows that it isn’t cheap. However… these obstacles make me value our friendship that much more, they make me realize how special “the easy vibe” is. It makes me incapable of ever taking this friendship for granted.
The mixture of all these things made Europe into what it was. Much more than an architectural enrichment opportunity, much more than a cultural exposure trip… it was the perfect European adventure. Every city different than the last; every morning, a different adventure for us. We saw everything, went to so many places, but all these things wouldn’t have meant as much if it weren’t for our friendship. Going up to the Eiffel Tower is an amazing thing… but going up to the Eiffel Tower with your best friend for the very first time… that is priceless [well not literally, because you still have to pay a million dollars to go up]. I could have gone by myself, just like he could have gone by himself, and the same monuments would have been there, the same buildings would still be there, the same galleries would still be open… All equally as impressive to a person who is alone, than to a person who is accompanied. You go there not expecting the things that you face, Europe takes control of everything and it has a funny way of surprising you. Europe will give you the time of your life. It just does that. But one’s first time in Europe is never forgotten and is always special. It’s who you’re with that fully makes the experience. And I’m glad that my first time in Europe won’t be forgotten not only for everything that I saw… but furthermore, because of who I went with and what we made Europe out to be.
ps. The pictures are incredible aren’t they?!
June 30, 2007 at 12:05 am Life by Reggles
Well hello :)
The trip is almost over now, it’s gone by so fast, it’s incredible. We are now in London. After that, I go back to Chester with oz for a few days before I fly back home. I miss all my friends and family like what lol. Yes, that’s right, I miss you guyssss :)
I haven’t seen the queen yet, and I think she better make an appearance soon cuz I flew all this way and I want to see the queen. I also want to have lunch with her, though I doubt I can make time for that. Also, meeting her will be harder because of the little bombing attempt the british had last night in a club here in London or something. Security is like high now.
Many people I’ve seen dress like no other. They are beautiful. You know what was also beautiful? Paris. God LOVE Paris. It was magical, seriously. Oz and I got seperated in Notre Dame the day after we arrived. He totally dumped me and we could not find each other. So of course, you know I befriended someone random. Turned out it was a really really nice German guy named Uwa, it is pronnounced Uva. Like GRAPE.
Anyway, I spent the day with Uwa instead. I’ll never see him again but he is deeply engraved in my heart. He saved my life that day, he did. I didn’t know how to work the Metro and he totally saved me and told me how to use it so that I could get back to the hostel. If not, I’d still be inside Notre Dame. Cold and crying and alone and almost dead.
Oz and I found this incredible place yesterday in Calais, France that served me like… the first real meal I’ve had in YEARS it seems. It was this RIDICULOUSLY sized meal with ribs and french fries, oh my God. After feasting on pizza, pringles, sandwiches, water and burgers, it was nice to finally have a REAL animal be digested in my stomach, you know? Not like the fake meat in McDonald’s. I’m so sick of McDonald’s really… but sometimes it’s the only choice. Cuz you KNOW what they sell, it’s less expensive than the other places, and you can eat fast and keep going. Whatever, it works. But I don’t ever want to eat there again.
And I really shouldn’t even if I wanted to, seeing as to how I’ve probably gained 80 pounds since I’ve been here. Oz says he’s lost weight, which is like … weird, cuz I eat less than him and walk more than he does, and I haven’t lost a single ounce. I think my body simply will NOT lose weight. I’ve been FAT all my life, ever since I was little, so wtf. I’m used to it but it’d be nice to know that I could lose weight if I so CHOSE to.
I tried that don’t-eat-after-6pm diet. Yeah, that didn’t work. I starved myself every day for like a month, and nothing happened. I’m not even kidding. Every night I would go to bed thinking -I can’t wait for tomorrow to come so i can eat something:( - It was frustrating, but at least I now know that my only solution is Liposuction…. Excercise, low carbs, and STARVING doesn’t work, so yes. Lipo it is.
Why I ended up talking about this, and not the trip, is beyond me.
xRegner
June 14, 2007 at 12:06 pm Life by oz
The last of our sketchy plan was Florence. We were going to head to Bologna on the way up to Switzerland, but as we have discovered euro tripping will never be how you expect it. The people you meet definately pull you to the next location, which sometimes you’ve never even heard of.
So for 2 nights we were in Genova, staying with a lovely Italien/English girl - Helena - and her friends Sophie and Louise, not to mention the rogue Ukranians. We went out both nights, staying out til 3am last night disregarding the fact we needed to wake up at 7am. But we made the 9.10am train to Milan and that’s where we are now, waiting for 3 hours to catch our next leg to Bern before hopefully reaching beautiful Interlaken. We’ll see how this goes…
Lots more photos & videos to come so please check back in a few days :)
Love from us both x
June 9, 2007 at 10:35 pm Life by Reggles
Oz exaggerates. I had to use the bathroom and our lovely hostels toilet does not work properly. Forgive the spelling but this keyboard is different and i donàt have much time lol. Also I cant sleep at night… i seriously cant. i just toss and turn cuz everyone goes to bed so freaking early. like at 11… everyone knows im nocturnal. at 11 im at my prime, and i just cant live like this! i was telling oz that i hope we meet some nocturnal people who can stay up with me, cuz i just… yeah. cant continue life like this.
today was supposed to be our -easy day- and we freaking walked more than yesterday lol. we were trying to find me a special church i studied and it only took us about 8 hours to find it. im not even kidding. tomorrow florence, so well see how that goes…more italians who cant communicate with us… and hostels with faulty toilets. this is the life lol. no but seriously, this is amazing. you wish you were here, and so do iiiiiiiiiii. i love you guys.
xoRegner
June 8, 2007 at 9:14 pm Life by oz
… we didn’t do what the Roman’s do. At all. Instead we took a €16 flooded audio tour bus which took us around the city - to all the Must sees. I would like to say 80% were not Romans and the rest who were, were just trying to con us into uncomfortable territory. Like I don’t want to pay for 2 ketchups being lead into thinking they’re complimentary and automatically have a Large Big Mac meal. They don’t say. They just assume. I wonder what the real Romans do. Maybe they move out of Rome ever since Ryanair starting flying in with £30 tickets. You can’t blame them. But neither can you blame us - it is an amazing city. Every thing is huge, impressive and glorious.
With the aid of our tour bus, today we visited the Colliseum, the Pantheon, the Vatican, the Forums, some Plazas and some nice streets which had some churches. And some McDonald’s. We dipped into the local cuisine - Pizza. It was very nice :] It’s a bit funny, the pizza here is all like square. Yup.
This morning we went to several banks to get Regner some cash which he thought he would not ever be able to get. Surpisingly most people in Rome do not speak English very well. So after being laughed at by the first bank, and told off for going through the teleporter device together, it was the next bank where he was finally able to cash his cheques.
Later Regner deceided to abandon me in the major Train station by spending over 30 minutes in a 70c toilet facility. My God. I had thoughts rushing through my head after 20 minutes as every other user turned out after like 2 minutes. Had he overdosed? Was this all too much? The heat. I had no idea. I went into the shop to get some change for the toilet and then he appears, just after the Poliza pass me. Apparently as Regner had expensed 70c he had to make sure he didn’t need to use it again anytime soon.
He then bought a 330ml can of Coke for €2.50. Honestly.
The hostel is okay. It’s close to the train station and bus stops. The people are cool, just lots of Americans who like to sleep from 10pm. We have 6 other people in our dorm - a pregnant Argentinian and her friend, Gillian and her friend from Utah and two other Americans - one called Andy who has a smelly towel next to my bed.
Tomorrow George Bush is supposedly visiting Rome so everything will be shut and we will not be allowed out of our dorm. No wonder so many Europeans hate him. The Pope is also supposed to give a blessing at midday so we should be there before 9am according to another American. Hmmm… maybe.
We have a gazillion photos already. The laptop broke alread so just give us some time to upload and you’ll be able to share our extraordinary experiences to some extent.
Florence should be next on Sunday. That is all for now.
June 5, 2007 at 7:38 pm Life by Reggles
And here I am. In oz’s computer. I have finally arrived, I haven’t slept in… weeks it seems. lol. This is probably why my sentences are so choppy. Fragments aren’t they?
I wish to write more but I can’t. Oz is teaching me about British soap operas. They’re LIKE hispanic soap operas, but with a British accent.
xo Regner
Pictures to come :]
June 4, 2007 at 5:50 am Utterly Random, Life, Travel, Puerto Rico, News by Reggles
I’m off, my pretties! I’m flying to England this afternoon and I am VERY excited about this trip. I’ve been wanting to do this for a very very long time, and I’m really blessed to be able to finally do so…. and… and… okay, see, I had this whole blog written out in my mind this afternoon but right now I can’t thing straight, man. I just can’t. I’m sleepy and stuff lol. I was completely inspired today when I saw America’s Next Top Model and saw the Puerto Rican girl….
….Jaslene,take home the contract with Elite Model Management, the 100 thousand dollar contract with Cover Girl and the cover and spread in Seventeen Magazine.
I was like “Hey. I might not have won a kick ass competition, and I may not be famous, and I may not have the cover a magazine, but I’m going to Europe, that’s pretty cool.” So I went on this whole mentail trip and started thinking of some really neat things to say, I swear, they were all cool sounding and serious, but I just can’t remember any of it. How horrible is that? I am a horrible person. I am. Only a horrible person would forget his own gratuity speech, sweet Lord.
It’s supposed to be somewhere deep within my heart still or something, I don’t know. lol. I’m grateful man, I’m grateful. I’m going to Europe for a month with one of my best friends who I am lucky to have in the first place. I’m going to be in EUROPE seeing all of the things that I’ve been taught in my history of architecture classes. It’s gonna be fun. It is going to be fun. lol.
I’m going to look like crap when I get out of the plane I’m sure, so I’m not really looking forward to that. Oh, you know you can’t bring toothpaste on board the plane? Ok seriously, what’s up with that, cuz I know we had the whole 911 issue back in ‘79 or whenever it happened, I can’t remember anymore, but shit, it’s an 800 hour flight and people need their toothpaste you know? Are we PROVIDED with American Airlines brand toothpaste? That would seem like the logical solution no? If you don’t let me bring my own tube of toothpaste, then please provide me with one of your own, because seriously. Morning breath, people. Morning breath. And, yeah, it’s called hygiene.
You know what I’m not looking forward to? I’m not looking forward to facing the horrible Hostel stories I’ve been fed. I’m hoping the Good Lord will watch over me and oz and simply upgrade us to some Hostel that doesn’t require us to share a bathroom with the rest of the floor or something like that. Oh and I hope no cockroaches follow me to Europe. Can everyone just please say this prayer with me… “Sweet Jesus, I ask that you please not let Regner and Oz stay at a cockroach [and here you may start naming other VERMIN and/or PESTS that may torment my existance] infested hostel when they arrive in Europe. I also pray that they may have their own bathroom, as it is dangerous and disgusting to share a bathroom with 30 people. Amen.”
Catch ya’ when I cross the freaking Atlantic Ocean.
xo Regner
May 31, 2007 at 10:48 pm Utterly Random, Life, Travel, Puerto Rico, News by Reggles
I’m not exactly sure when the fact that I’m going to England on Monday is going to sink in, but there are four days left until my plane leaves and it feels like I’m leaving next month or something lol. But no. No, Regner, you leave in four days. And sometimes when I realize this, I feel butterflies in my stomach.
Not so many butterflies, that I feel like throwing up, though. I speculate that by now, I have 3 butterflies living within me. I also speculate that one of two things will happen come Monday. Either mooooooooore butterflies will move in to my tummy, or the three that live within me currently will go CRAZY and flutter like there’s no tomorrow. But one’s things for sure, Monday will be a BIG day and the excitement will be alot lol. I’m meeting some friends that live in England, so that’s exciting. I’m also meeting oz’s family lol. And that’s a bit scary cuz you know… it’s another country, another culture, another lifestyle and I’m like… Puerto Rican, not British. lol.
I’ve begun preparing the list of items I can’t leave without, and I almost forget to write down the word UMBRELLA. Which, taking my luck into consideration, should be the FIRST thing written down. But don’t worry, I’ve written it down now. I’m not stupid. lol. ~is sure that he will forget to bring the umbrella anyway, and will have to buy yet another 16 thousand dollar umbrella somewhere else~
I haven’t seen oz since September, which isn’t toooooooooo long ago, but still, a considerable time. 9 months it’s been, and alot changes in 9 months and we might even hate each other when the time comes. No, I joke. I’m such a joker sometimes. lol. You can ask my professors.
Did you know that my History of Architecture professor actually asked me to “Please continue coming to my class and making your interventions…” because I’m just that entertaining. He knows that without me, class is a tad less fun. However, this is irrelevant in our current story.
Anyway my semi-charmed kind of life has officially gone into full effect. This summer is supposed to be the most amazing summer of my life so I’m planning on enjoying it whole-heartedly. It’s the summer of dreams, or so it seems, because everything is going right and summers like these… will probably never happen again lol. New dream car, a trip to Europe for a month all expenses paid for by my FATHER [hearts], passing all my classes at school, no need to take summer classes, coming back home after an incredible month to be with my family and friends, sharing what I learned in Europe, Gwen Stefani’s concert with my sisters in July, shortly followed by a week at the Hyatt Hotel with my family…. Yeah, things like that don’t happen often. lol.
This means that summer will FLY.
ANYWAY…. now I leave you with the latest conversation between oz and I. Cuz I want to. lol.
mr says:
u know you arrive on the TUESDAY???
[reggles] says:
i LEAVE on monday
[reggles] says:
i arrive on the 5th. i told you this. over and over and over again.
mr says:
ive been planning on it being monday. i was misled
[reggles] says:
by yourself. you have only yourself to blame.
[reggles] says:
we’ve waited 9 months, a day doesn’t really matter much. plus, that was your fault cuz you didn’t check the calender.
[reggles] says:
WOW, I’m seriously never wrong.
[reggles] says:
Or at fault.
April 24, 2007 at 1:42 pm Life by Reggles
It’s 8:27 am and here I sit in the library awaiting my 8:30 am class. To those of you who know me, you may be asking yourselves “Why are you so ON TIME for your class, when regularly you are at least 20 minutes late?” Now, I will begin to explain why I am so ON TIME for my class.
Last night I discovered that for some reason, my toilet no longer seems to function properly.
That means that this morning, I could not USE my toilet for its intended use. My bodily functions were constrained, and therefore I had to RUSH to school in order to use the public bathroom (that are in very good conditions if I do say so myself, kudos to the janitors). Rushing, under harsh weather is not fun… the weather here is dreadful. It’s been raining non stop for like three days or something. Which reminds me, back in December I lost my umbrella (and then I declared it stolen) and aaaaaaall these months I’ve been walking around without one. So yesterday I decide “I need to buy an umbrella because this week is RAIN WEEK.” So I go to Walgreens and buy, what seems to be, the earth’s most expensive umbrella. So $16 poorer, I am now fully equipped for this hurricane weather we’re having this week, and am happy that I don’t have to get wet anymore… “This new umbrella isn’t nearly as cool as my stolen umbrella, but hey, at least I’m ok.” I thought to myself. And that’s when one of my classmates walked inside the library with, what item? My old umbrella. “That’s MINE.”
So now I have 2 umbrellas.. and I find it rather ironic that on the same day I bought the new umbrella (with no hopes of ever seeing my old one), my old umbrella makes it stellar appearance.
Ha. Ha. Nice joke, God. I know you, Lord, and your ways…
OK, so back to the MAIN story. My toilet. So yes, that’s how my day started: RUSHING to school to use a toilet. And then it’s a whole mess, having to poop in a public bathroom. Cuz you really don’t want people to KNOW that you’re pooping inside the stall, so it turns into this whole battle to conceal your identity, it’s ridiculous. Of course, you start formulating new ideas on how to make the room STINK LESS, right? You know you’ve all done it, come on. Just fess up to it. You think “If I just POOP and immediately flush, the bathroom won’t stink!” Right, go ahead.
I followed this idea and, no. It’s not efficient; the bathroom still stinks.
So now the bathroom stinks. What do you do? CLEAN HOUSE AND RUN obviously. So you do whatever you have left to do, you rush and wash your hands, grab yo’ stuff and leave that bathroom ASAP, because you really don’t want people to catch you in the stench infested bathroom, while you’re still washing your hands. You also head out that door as fast as you can, because you REALLY don’t want people to see you leave the bathroom as soon as THEY go in… cuz they WILL know you just pooped there and that you’re trying to leave as fast as you can, to save yourself the embarassment of knowing that people know you pooped. You KNOW this is true.
Anyway, it is now 8:45 am. And I am 15 minutes late for my class.
RIGHT ON TIME :]
xRegner
April 6, 2007 at 5:53 am Utterly Random, Life, Puerto Rico, Rants by Reggles
Did you know I cannot speak French? I pretend like I can, because I pronounce made up words with a French accent and proceed to tell people that I’ve been studyin French since I was little, but really I’m just a tease. Also, did you know I’m officially going to Europe this summer? I shall be arriving in Manchester airport on June 5th if all goes according to plan. Right now oz and I are at what I like to call The Planning Stage. Not a very original name, but it’s clear and speaks for itself.
Obviously this is a very important stage because hell… it’s the trip itinerary. lol. Enough said. But also we begin to see small and subtle indications of what are going to be, in my opinion, potential obstacles. Things like “Are we allowed shampoo on our carry-on luggage?” and being replied to with a simple “No.” is a surefire indication that we’re going to have a problem. I won’t get into details, but let’s just say that high altitudes make my head oily. I thought I would be able to kind of SHOWER in the plane, but let’s be realistic. Not even I would go through the trouble of that, even if I was allowed shampoo on board.
Other things like this following conversation, forces one to re-evaluate the necessities [and I do mean necessities] in this trip:
oz says:
u can only bring ONE bag ok?
[reggles] says:
One big bag? is this a RULE?
oz says:
yes for the flight
[reggles] says:
seriously?
oz says:
well u can take a small one on the plane
[reggles] says:
so i can’t bring a messenger bag with stuff ON me as well?
oz says:
its 15KG the main bag
oz says:
and a very small bag like a rucksack
——————————————–
Shelly… says:
LOL reg only 2 shoes
[reggles] says:
i can’t really wear the chocolate ones cuz you know they make my feet bleed
Shelly… says:
2 pairs!! and thats the law
[reggles] says:
3?
Shelly… says:
nope 2…one for walking one for pretty stuff and okay ….sandals
[reggles] says:
we’ll see
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