Amsterdam March 2010

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by monster

Is that turning into a paid job, then?

I sincerely hope it will, and my best shot at this or another school is to show experience as a volunteer as well as commitment and reliability within the role. It's a complete career change so nothing else on my CV is applicable to the position. I wouldn't be an automatic choice if a position came up in this school - I'd be up against anyone who applied from outside. TA positions are highly sought after by mothers with school age children.

Originally Posted by squirell nutkin

Curious about the questions and what opinions you held that may have changed

For example about paying for sex (I didn't, but would I?) I decided "no" unless I could afford a full escort service ie a "boyfriend experience". Having had sex with someone I did not know was exciting, but not something I care to repeat. For me the real pleasure comes from one-on-one interaction. The look in a man's eye, a smile, the first touch.

I always used to daydream about setting up a brothel for women - ie full of men. The front would be a coffee/ bookshop which would function independently although probably at a loss. It would be staffed by friendly, attentive and attractive young men. Some women would come in for expensive coffee just to be flattered and charmed by the staff. Those in the know would be able to come upstairs for more if they wanted. The place would be spotless with dim lighting, scented candles, feather duvets and amazing showers. Services would range from kissing and compliments to massage (with or without extras) to full on rogering. And the man would bring you a cup of tea in bed after and hug you and show an interest in what you were doing for the rest of the day.

Of course it was only ever a daydream, but I now realise that it wouldn't work. That kind of attention would promote an emotional response in women and we'd have weeping and wailing when they realised it was all done for money.

End of digression, back to questions.

How I felt about going into a sex shop. I hadn't thought about my feelings before, it was purely a practical transaction. Also the differences if any between the shop designed for women and a gay sex shop I went into, and how they were the same or different to the non-gender-specific ones.

And what I thought of the prostitutes working in the Red Light District, which was again something I had not really considered. In the same way I've never really thought about my opinion of street sweepers or policemen or other people in visible roles. My eventual response was that they weren't there for me, my attention was not sought by them and they actually made me feel safer as a woman in that location. Although I probably wasn't that concise in the conversation - we talked for nearly an hour and a half.

Also she questioned me on the difference between going to a similar club in this country compared to Amsterdam. I hadn't realised but apart from practical concerns (I'd have to stay overnight somewhere and public transport is expensive from where I live) it just feels different. more seedy somehow. Which is completely unfair. Perhaps because it's so much more open and accepted in Amsterdam.

Those are the ones that stand out anyway.