Fleppensteyn

Well I was glad to finally earn over 2000 euros in Czechia, a salary I never achieved in the Netherlands. I don’t know anyone who earns over 4000. Averages are nonsense.

I’m just visiting the Algarve.

Luckily I found some store that had a free open wifi network (they had a server room so still had power). There were people lining up to use payphones (interestingly they still have them here).

Otherwise, no wifi, no data, no phone network, so no information on the whole situation. Can’t pay by card. Had a bag of chips for dinner because I can’t cook. Couldn’t book accommodation or a bus. Shops used pen, paper and calculator but took only cash. People barely have cash at hand and ATMs were out too.

I don’t know what I could’ve done without money if this would have lasted even longer.

Once, our classroom (early teens) had to get changed in a large, shared changing area for a swimming pool. One of those clingy volunteering mothers walked around, pointing out where we didn’t dry wel enough, touching, “helping” boys etc. But, she had two boys of her own and “there was nothing she hadn’t seen before”. Very uncomfortable.

Somehow I don’t think it would be accepted for me to walk into little girls changing saying “don’t worry, it’s nothing I haven’t seen before”.

Same for those cleaning ladies cleaning right behind me while taking a piss in a urinal. It feels weird.

Oh well, we’re just men, right? So who cares?