Dear reader,

I have the urge to tell you a long story filled with my hopes and
ambitions and dreams and experiences. And I have a responsibility to
not bore you with details or take up too much of your time. So the
long and short of it is:

I am a member of the Olympia, Washington, USA Food Not Bombs. Food Not Bombs is a non-organization run by whoever is willing and is dedicated to feeding the poor, homeless and basically anyone who is hungry. I love
the work, and I love this city, but i want to start taking the next
steps in my life. I feel like American society is stifling what I could be realizing about myself and the world at large.

Thus, Two friends, my half-brother, and I are going to europe. The four of
us are leaving on April 1st. We plan on going from one Food Not Bombs
chapter to the next, doing volunteer work wherever we are needed, and
living as much without money as is possible. We've decided to try to
start in Amsterdam for a few reasons. Friends of mine that have
travelled before have told me that the vast majority of people in
Amsterdam speak english, that they love bicycles, and that they are
friendly to outsiders.

But we're definitly not planning on staying there. And are looking for opportunities any/everywhere.

We are english speaking outsiders who love bicycles and are willing
to do as much work as we can find for any Food Not Bombs chapters, other equally revolutionary groups, and/or communal houses, organic farms... etc. etc.

So the spring is far off, but I'd love to start building relationships now. If anyone in the European community has a place for four young, strong zen-seeking foreigners to lay down a tent and help out wherever a hand is needed for a few days up to a few months, please feel free to contact me.

May starry skys and warm winds carry you through life.

Tony Pliska
[email protected]

Have a great trip, Al.

Could you repeat the question?

I have old friends in Germany who run an organic farm and have housed a few of our American friends over the years, in exchange for some work on the farm. Have a look at their website. You would love this place, the work they do there, the people who commune there and the nearby village of Rosstal and city of Nurnberg.

http://www.kernmuehle.de/english/index.html

Good luck!

Interesting! Please understand I am not being facetious. Have you considered volunteering for service in Mississippi or Louisiana?

Don't go. Charity starts at home. Take the money you save on airfare and give it to the many poor folks here. If you think you are stifled, I'll show some shacks in Georgia that will make you feel you are one empowered dude!

Come on, you guys! He is already volunteering at home. he wants to combine it with experiencing another culture. Is that so difficult to understand?
Good for you. Stepping out of your own society is a huge growth experience.

I don't think Europe is short on food, how about going somewhere help is really needed?

Hi! I'm from Olympia too and have been living in Switzerland for over 20 years.

Good luck with your plans and I hope your organisation is as well organised in Europe as it is in Olympia. I've never heard of it here but that doesn't mean anything.

Does it have anything to do with Evergreen State College?

http://www.foodnotbombs.net/

"May starry skys and warm winds carry you through life."

Sounds a LOT nicer than coach class on your average airplane.

If you want to help the hungry and desperate - I'd suggest you go to Africa or some parts of South America.

Not a lot of starving folks in Amsterdam . . . . . .

Alhaq works for a charity and wants to continue the work abroad at various Food not Bombs chapters. If he wants to start in Amsterdam then move on elsewhere, good for him. Don't suggest Africa or Louisiana if that's not part of the itinerary. If I came out with a suggestion for a Europe vacation I wouldn't expect people to suggest completely different continents to visit, whether I was a charity worker or not. Alhaq is obviously wanting a new cultural experience generously combining it with charity work and using Amsterdam as a spring board for further travels. Just because he works for a charity some of you seem to think he HAS to go to Africa!!
Alhaq, land at Schipol, head down town, get yourself a bike, visit the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh gallery, Anne Frank House and the Beguinehof and good luck with the rest of your travels.

There is no chapter listed for the Netherlands...
http://www.foodnotbombs.net/europe.html

Travelnut: the agencies are listed under Holland

Well, that's silly. I'll go get another cup of coffee - thanks.

SloJan, he can get quite a huge culture/society change by moving from Washington State to the rural South - perhaps much more than the difference between Amsterdam and Olympia.

Make your own revolution. Shun communes and strike out on your own. Bikes and dope can be found anywhere.

Okay

You know, degas, I wish you would lighten on on this fellow. The OP may sound a bit naive, but the point of the trip is coming from a good place, and he clearly asks for valid advice.

I don't live in the rural South, but have lots of family in various Southern states, including Georgia. Have spent six months in and around the Delta country near Oxford and Holly Springs, Mississippi, so I've seen some of those "shacks" and living conditions you refer to in a sort of sarcastic, Southern macho way. You are right, we have some areas here in the states that desparately need alot of work.

Why not quietly jump in and set an example in taking personal action on this issue in your backyard, instead of flag waving at a young man who stated clearly that he wants to explore other cultures, and volunteer at the same time?

You are usually so entertaining on this board.

Something must have hit a sore spot with Degas.

Good luck, Alhaq:

You might check out Servas.org and see whether its network would help you connect to some like-minded people en route.