reframe

Searching for the Connection

// December 2nd, 2005 // Travel

Around the world there are a couple of houses so incredible that they become institutions of their time. I lived in one such house in Ditton Avenue, Jo’burg; between ten and fifteen people from all over the world whose various journeys crossed paths in the surreal experience of living together. This morning I woke up in another one- unsure of how exactly I got there. Club Andel is a trainee house in Praha, an institution no less. Various generations of the residents have left their mark and messages upon the walls as testament to their countless adventures here, a combination of emotion and scandal that a year in Praha certainly offers.

Anyway, enough context. As I said I woke up unsure of exactly how I got there. Last night I was partying with some Club residents- and partying in proper Czech style. Now I’ve been living in Egypt for a while and Egypt falls on the opposite end of the beer spectrum, so the effect of several delightfully delicious beverages was somewhat amplified. When I awoke I had to begin the process of regeneration starting with a long hot bath and the search for terrible food. One of the Club residents returned home and regaled me with a story of the previous evening. Apparently (and in accordance to some vague memories I’ve managed to keep) I burst into his bedroom at around 5:30 AM and started looking around on the floor. Startled, he asked me what I was looking for. I replied, and I quote myself here, “I’m searching for the connection between Socialism and Materialism”. He replied that he didn’t think I would find that right now. I shrugged, chuckled to myself and responded, “Don’t worry man, Ill be quieter than Socialism ever was” before bowing and leaving the room.

This wasn’t a topic of conversation, in fact I don’t think I’ve ever thought about this before, or at least not in those terms, so now I find myself provoked by myself to even contemplate an answer, thus fulfilling my early morning inebriated prophecy. Life is hilarious, cyclic and wonderful. And now… A tram party.