While I’ve written about my various trips with Aga-Boom on here, my personal blog, before, this time I’m writing about the trips for someone else. My latest David Magazine piece, Clown Trip: Breaking the Language Barrier One Smile at a Time, takes the wider perspective and involves what it means to make people laugh without language.
Tag: aga-boom
2018 Year in Review
Another one in the books…
Again, the year was marked with new and exciting things for all of us, including some new travel destinations and some interesting work things.
A Day in Spain spent Mainly on the Plane – Aga-Boom in Barcelona October 2018
The theme for my weekend getaway with Aga-Boom was “Late.”
Here’s how it all went down: Continue reading “A Day in Spain spent Mainly on the Plane – Aga-Boom in Barcelona October 2018”
Disneyland Shanghai – March 22
Aside from the shows, though, Shanghai was a fun city, even though we didn’t really get the chance to see a lot of it. On Thursday, with one show under our belts, Zack and I headed out early in the morning to go to Disneyland Shanghai. To be perfectly honest, this was the one thing I was really looking forward to. Knowing we were going to have a heavy schedule, I was hoping to get at least a few hours to explore this version of the Happiest Place on Earth. I had already asked Zack if wanted to go with me and we invited Anton (our sound guy) to also come along, but he had “studying” to do (which is like kryptonite for teachers – can’t argue him out of it). Continue reading “Disneyland Shanghai – March 22”
People’s Grand Theater – March 21-26
We left Zengzhou on another bullet train (top speed 302kph) and 4 1/2 hours later we were pulling in to the Shanghai train station. Everyone remembered their tickets so we could get out, and we were off to our hotel for the night – A one-night stop kinda on the outskirts of town. The following morning, we went to the hotel where we would spend the bulk of our time in Shanghai, a nice, older place called the Pacific Hotel just across the street from People’s Square (and next door to the Radisson and Madame Tussaud’s). Continue reading “People’s Grand Theater – March 21-26”
This is China – March 15-20
It started when I got off the plane. Sure, the ride itself was normal – the long side, heading from Helsinki to Shanghai, I was seated next to a guy who decided my armrest was his property, but I just watched some movies and stared out the window. The flight itself was only 8 1/2 hours (it’s ten going back) but then going through customs and immigration was a bit tricky. I didn’t know the name of the hotel I would be staying at (the info was in my bag). When the officer asked, I just explained I was there with a clown show. “Then just put that,” he said. So yes, my official entry form states my residence is “clown show.” Continue reading “This is China – March 15-20”
Immigration and visas
Living as a foreigner in a foreign country has certain pluses and minuses and these are going to be different for everyone involved, but one thing remains the same for everyone – dealing with immigration to ensure your resident status.
In the seven years I’ve lived in Lithuania, I’ve had to deal with it every year and every year, it’s been a different experience. This year was the most harrowing of all, though. Continue reading “Immigration and visas”
Aga-Boom in Tenerife – The Shows (October 20-23)
Once again, leaving Lithuania requires me getting up ridiculously early. This time it was the need to get to Vilnius airport by a little past 6am for an 8:10 flight, which, after changing planes twice, would ultimately land me in Tenerife later that day where I would meet up with the rest of the Aga-Boom gang for a series of shows in the FIC clown festival. The nice thing, though, was that I had a ride this time. Simas, Monika’s brother, kindly offered to give me a lift, so he was at our place at 5. So, while Rasa and Monki slept, I headed out the door for a 6 day trip. Continue reading “Aga-Boom in Tenerife – The Shows (October 20-23)”
Aga-Boom in Spain
For those of you wondering what it is I do when I run away with the clowns… here’s a good overview. What a great office to have.
Kuwait – Show days
We really started our work on the 28th of February. After resting from long flights and taking in the sites, we headed to the theatre to get down to business. The theatre is a government owned place, and the home of the Sesame Street show, which, it turns out, would be the source of a few technical hiccoughs. Continue reading “Kuwait – Show days”
Kuwait Day 3 – Like a Fish-Market Cat
Monday morning started bright and early with the call to prayer from the mosque across the street. Thankfully, I could fall back asleep afterwards and finally got up around 8, showered and headed up to have breakfast. The small restaurant is on the 12th floor (as is the pool and weight room) so I was enjoying my yogurt and honey while deciding what to do with the day. The rest of the Aga-Boom crew was due to arrive this morning, in fact, they should already be here and… Continue reading “Kuwait Day 3 – Like a Fish-Market Cat”
Kuwait Day 2 – Scientific (Center and the) American
Whether I forgot or just didn’t think about it, I was awoken early on Sunday morning by the sun streaming in through the window I had left uncovered. Not a huge deal, to be certain, but all in all I knew I wasn’t going to get more sleep. So up I jumped, took a shower (and mentally thanked the Corniche hotel for providing beach size bathroom towels!) and headed upstairs for breakfast. Continue reading “Kuwait Day 2 – Scientific (Center and the) American”
Kuwait Day 1 – “You’re now official!”
You know how we all have dreams for our future? Right now mine involves living somewhere that travel doesn’t have to start a day or two in advance of the actual trip. Case in point, the trip I’m on in Kuwait for Aga-Boom started on Thursday, even though my flight wasn’t until Saturday. On Thursday I took a train to Vilnius to borrow a car from my friend Rokas (thanks, Rokas!!) so that on Friday, I could drive Rasa and Monki the 250km or so up to Mažeikiai, drop them off, then drive back to Vilnius where I could return the car, then meet up with friends for coffee, different friends for dinner, including my friend Gaby, on whose couch I would crash so I could get up at 4:00 to catch a cab to the airport for a 6:20am flight.
2016 In the Rear View Mirror
So we’ve finally reached the end of 2016 and are starting a whole new trip around the sun. I started writing a post about life and looking at things in retrospect, disseminating politics and personifying the year but honestly, who cares? There were some bad times (Like this and this) but there were also some amazing times (for instance there was this and this). Continue reading “2016 In the Rear View Mirror”
Fishes and the Sea (12/12-12/18)
Starting Monday, we were on our own for two days. We had packed up the show after the Sunday performance since we were moving for two shows to another theatre in another city later in the week. The thing about being here was that we weren’t exactly tourists, since we were working, but we weren’t exactly locals, since we were just visiting. So after doing our sightseeing during the first two weeks, going out and doing a tour just didn’t seem like the thing to do. But then, for me, sitting at home wasn’t the thing to do, either. I did that on Monday while grading papers and writing my article. So I knew I had to do something different on Tuesday. Continue reading “Fishes and the Sea (12/12-12/18)”
Getting the Hang of Thursdays 