5 Easy Peasy Ways to Enjoy Your Flight
More than ever before, holiday-makers are choosing to take their vacation and travel during the "-ember" months, which means Autumn has totally snatched Summer's thunder! Sorry, Summer. Traveling in Autumn is a great way to save on your trips, with reduced travel fares and relatively reduced accommodation rates- one less reason to be sad about the end of Summer!
If you are back from your travels, don't feel bad and there's absolutely no reason why you should feel left out of this post; let us know if you tried any of these 5 points during your flight. Also, let us know if you have been meeting "people of interest" on your travels like I have:
5 easy peasy ways to enjoy your flight
1. Bring your own stuff (BYOS): No matter what class you will be flying, nothing makes a trip better than personalizing your experience. Using your own stuff during a flight adds a layer of increased comfort. Items that are always a good idea are: I) Chewing gum/breath mint II) Socks III) Headphones IV) Tea, coffee, hot chocolate in a sachet V) Snack e.g cashews, gummy bears VI) Sleep gear**
2. Chat up your neighbor: You never know who you might be seating next to on a flight. I once sat next to a regional director for one of the largest Pharmaceutical Multinationals. Hello, LinkedIn bestie. The easiest way to initiate a chat with your neighbor is by showing kindness. A great way to engage your neighbor is by offering them a snack or gum. Gum/breath mints are the most important items on a journey, as you can see.
3. Plan your inflight activities: Planning your inflight activities ties everything up nicely. It ensures that you create time to walk around, which helps your blood flow; also you get to plan your rest times, work and entertainment: watch in-flight movies, solve puzzles, play two dots or whatever games you enjoy, talk to your neighbor with your new, improved minty breath. At the end, your journey feels well-rounded and productive-ish.
4. Moonwalk down the aisle: It always feels like a good idea to take the potato-couch status on board a plane and just sit all through the flight, binge-watching movies, binge-eating weird airplane food and binge-sleeping. However, being docile on a flight, no matter how short, is never a good idea. Flights lasting 8-10 hours pose the greatest risk of the formation of blot clots (aka Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)). Ensure you make as many trips down the aisle, to the rest room or just moonwalk down the aisle and stare awkwardly into people's faces... just because you can.
5. Hug the free seats: On long haul flights when fatigue makes you anti-social, and you want to skip chatting your neighbor up and you are just content the way your breath smells, ask the flight attendants about free seats. They usually ask you to wait until take off, by which time you might be asleep anyway. If you stay up, move to your new three-seat empire! Oh and don't forget to tell them to wake you for dinner.
4 Interesting people I've met on a plane because I offered them gum
(1) a girl who apparently detests flying and wouldn't stop talking about death *side eye*;
(2) a chef who worked on a rig and missed his family all the time;
(3) an Israeli with the clearest blue eyes who hates Tel Aviv and doesn't speak with his relatives;
(4) a man who told me the history of Nigeria for 5 hours, straight, until I started dozing, which didn't stop him. You'll be amazed the kind of information you'd be privy to with just one act of kindness!
What's your absolute must-have on a flight? Headphones and gum for me. Do you do in-flight exercises? **Do you change into pajamas on long-haul flights? Any interesting people you've met on-board a flight?
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4 Things To Do When You Don't Have WiFi
Have you ever been somewhere without WiFi and you've been forced to stare into thin air or at the springy tendrils of a stranger's nose hair? If you haven't, good for you. This is about to be the situation of my day on this wonderful, sunny Friday and I have come prepared with 4 things you and I could get around doing, during that situation that gravely threatens human survival- the moment you have no wifi!
Here are 4 things to do:
1. Empty your e-mail box
Argh! So no WiFi, huh? Don't despair, there's always a sunny side to everything. It's time to finally open those 6,547 emails that you have ignored all this while! No Wifi means more free time to organize. [Why do I feel you don't think that's sunny?]
2. Finish that book you've been reading since the year before
We all have that one book that stares at us from our night stand or that sighs every time we take it out and instead of reading it, spend all our time on our phones. Read it! [Note to self]. I still don't know if Evie ends up with handsome, melancholy heir Robert McAndrew in Hester Browne's Vintage girl. And I haven't known since I started reading it last year. Lol.
3. Talk about the weather
Slowly but surely, talking about the weather and every other form of necessary, unnecessary subject of small talk is slowly disappearing from our social culture, with everyone hunched, poking and giggling at their screens. Myself, most of all. I miss talking to strangers! Ed and I spoke to a stranger recently and he turned out to be an awesome photographer. He took a "family portrait" of us on the street! Check it out on my Instagram page!
Taking a break from screen time provides opportunities to connect with real people and what's cooler than that?
4. Restore the ancient hobby of people-watching
People-watching is really fun, as long as you don't witness a murder while watching and then have to be on the run. If you think about it, we spend a lot of time on social media "watching" other people. Well, people-watching is like Snapchat without the filters and time-constraints! Also, if you are a creative writer, you and I know that watching people is a great creative trigger.
Another sunny side to not having WiFi is that your battery lasts. *shrug* That's got to count, right?
Hey, do you have any ideas for me? Help! Do you do any of these already?
Travel light: Your Relaxed (Glam) Weekend-Away
At first.....
Conversation with myself as I stand in my closet.
Me: Do you really need a lint roller on a weekend trip?
Me: Yup. Even though, I'm taking zero dark colored clothes.
Me: How many bottles of perfume do you need?
Me: Two
Me(gives me the look)
Me: OK, one.
Me: What else do we need?
Me: Lotion, shoes and bags- for every occasion and there may be 4 or 5 occasions, 2 cameras, a towel and 2 changes of clothes per day and also two changes of pajamas.
Me: It’s just two nights.
Me: *blank look* So?
I don't travel light. It's just not something I do. If you travel light, I'd like to praise your skills of prioritizing and decisiveness-please, be very proud! I'm currently trying to join the club. I've been slowly moving over to the minimalist camp, ever since I married Ed, who is chronically allergic to people bending over at airports, to rearrange their overweight luggage! Lol!
I've embraced minimalism all around- less furniture, less junk in my bag (Yeah, right), less stuff on my desk and in my drawer, less keys and cards on my key-holder, less carbs on my plate (carbs-control), fewer shoes but MORE bags *grin* Can't go minimalist there, sorry. I'm a bag hoarder.
Minimalism is really refreshing. It reduces clutter, provides more space, better time management because I don't spend ages looking for my keys in a near-stark living area and I don't spend the end of ages looking for the right key on my bunch. It also helps you relax and think clearly. When traveling, it helps to have the exact items needed for the trip, no knick-knacks. It makes you feel more organized and less worked-up. A study actually shows that, having too many options for one event may lead to depression.
I'm definitely learning to travel light with the least minimum number of functional items possible. God help me.
I decided to make a weekend-away travel items list, so that I don't have to have this conversation with myself every time I have to go on a trip, convincing myself to take just one bottle of perfume.
Downsized a little...
Relaxed Weekend Away (with no chance of glam)
✔️Comfy shoes
✔️Liners/socks
✔️1 sling bag (how generous of me *pout*)
Bedtime
✔️A pair of PJs
✔️Head scarf (if needed)
Toiletries
✔️Toothbrush
✔️Toothpaste
✔️Mini mouthwash
✔️Mini Floss
✔️1 bottle of Perfume/body splash
✔️Day face cream/ Night cream
✔️Nail hardener (brightens manicure/doubles as plaster/band-aid)
Clothing
✔️Hand towel**
✔️3 changes of underwear (plus 1, just because)
✔️2 bottoms (including a pair of shorts)
✔️2 tops (including a tank)
✔️1 dress
Electronics
✔️Phone charger
✔️Phone
✔️Earphones
✔️Camera
Entertainment
✔️1 book
✔️1 magazine
Personalize your experience
✔️Your favorite snack
✔️5 individual packets of your favorite beverage (mine is mint or berry infusion tea) 😍
✔️3 capsules of your Multivitamins
Relaxed Weekend-Away (with a chance of GLAM) add-on items
✔️Cocktail ring
✔️Earrings
✔️Heels (this kills the "relax" factor, for sure)
✔️Clutch purse
Are you a light traveler? Please share your secret! Are you are heavy traveler? When last did you have to open you luggage and rearrange at the airport? Lol! What items can't you live and leave without? Are you taking your vitamins? (in mum's voice)
** I like to travel with my own towel but a bath towel is frowned upon by light-travelers, so a smaller hand-towel will have to do. Sniff.
Travel: The Weekend New Yorker
Last weekend, I realized why all Marvel-comics fictional villains try to take over New York City. Asides from the fact that Stan Lee, the creator of many Marvel villains is a New Yorker himself and probably chooses his city as the default setting for villain autocracy, New York is pretty amazing and if I was a villain with the long term goal of taking over the world, let's just say NY would be my 5-year starter project. It's like a mini earth, brimming over with so much activity and diversity!
It seems to run on this self-generating energy that feeds off the charged cloud of dissimilarity caused by diversity. I loved it! My ears perked up as I heard a woman speaking in rapid Italian to her son and a few feet from her, clusters of friends speaking French, German and other languages I couldn't decipher. Of course, I was speaking Yoruba too, adding to the cloud of dissimilarity and coolness-hehe.
What we did in New York
Slept like babies
Our Airbnb was situated in Brooklyn, my new crush. It was a peaceful, newly-renovated home with a minimalist design, where we got a lot of night rest. I didn't pull the dresser across the door this time or stare suspiciously at the sheets, but I did bring jollof rice!
Explored Flea market(s)
The Brookyln Flea market was more fun than I expected. Usually, I go to open markets for the sizzling food served out of the trucks and the tangy fruit drinks but I actually didn't remember to eat during this expedition.
I also bought a frog-brooch, well, my brother-in-law, Kenny bought it for me. I stood there deliberating whether I was eccentric and rich enough to wear it. Then he got tired of waiting and paid for it. I’m still deliberating! We, very well, could have been there at that stall up until this very moment.
Frog in question👀
♥️
Walked the Brooklyn bridge
The 1.1 mile (1.6 km) long bridge was a highlight. We walked from Brooklyn into Manhattan and loved every second of it, even when it began to drizzle. For a minute, I stood on the bridge and watched the cars pass swiftly below.
They always say New Yorkers are on the go, they don't care, they hurry past and ignore you but as I looked down, a woman in her car, of course, bored in the newly formed traffic, blew me a kiss and waved cheerfully at me. I guess they are wrong about the New Yorkers, then?
Bought "impromptu shoes"
After walking on the bridge in block heels. It happened! My feet went to sleep, so I had to find inexpensive flats. We ventured into China town-by now, I'm all but crawling on the floor. Lol. Who sent me? My sister-in-law and I eventually got a pair of inexpensive, impromptu shoes each. We fell in love with our shoes, maybe because they rescued us*shrug* Mine has quickly become my default shoes this season. I guess wearing the wrong pair of shoes out might have its perks. Wish i could buy impromptu handbags, hmm. *Pensive*
Flea market Tea break
I downloaded AirPnp
Guys, Airbnb's bathroom cousin, Airpnp is probably more genius than anything I've ever seen. There I was in our second flea market of the weekend and then *ting* I had to go. It didn't help that I had woken up that morning determined to meet my 3 liter a day target and I'm a bit of an over-achiever at the oddest times! Anyway, I was in the middle of an outdoor market and I couldn't find a public rest room. It was then I downloaded Airpnp with the speed that'll make light give me the side-eye. As I filled in my login details for this app which would direct me to the nearest rented home bathroom, I found a public restroom right in front of me after minutes of loitering and searching frantically! I didn't get to use my app. Anyway, I'm sure I'll get a chance to, on one of my over-achieving days in the near future.
Didn't get to eat out
I know, who doesn't eat out in NYC? Even hot dogs would have sufficed but we didn't get the chance. We walked by all the restaurants and hot dog vendors when we weren't hungry and then we got hungry on Broadway. We also were unanimously hungry for Thai, which made it more complicated. We eventually found a place, which had a waiting time of 2 hours. 2 hours. I blinked once, muttered a "thank you" and spun on my heels. "Back to our Airbnb!" We ordered Thai on the phone (another long story) but we had dinner eventually! Last weekend was an adventure nothing less.
Would i go back there? Umm yuh-uh, of course! Planned another trip already.
Jaw-dropping experience: I met a New Yorker squirrel, who by the way, is a little bit of a terror and chases humans. These city rodents smh
Were the people nice? In my experience, they were. The uber driver was too nice (and didn't play a harmonica), I got my watch strap fixed for free and I got a kiss blown at me- never gotten that anywhere.
Did I feel inspired by being in New York? Yes, I believe I was inspired. "Concrete jungle where dreams are made of**", yeah?
Have you ever been to New York? Do you live in New York? What's your favorite part and activity?
Related Posts: What happens in Vegas; 5 strange things i do in an Airbnb
**Line from Empire State of Mind-JayZ & Alicia Keys
My Experience with the Intern Mugger (Throwback)
Previously published on old blog space.
Few things to remember while being mugged:
No eye contact, no fidgeting, no sudden movements, no movie stunts(007 is filmed on set and James is not his real name...now you know), most importantly, pray like your life depends on it.....because it does.
I pray younever get mugged, it's the second worst situation ever, right after being on a plane with a malfunction(that you can do without also). If you've never experienced mugging and you wondered a little what the experience might be like...here's my experience!!!
There I was, on a cloudy Thursday morning in Ikeja, Lagos, walking down my street to get a cab to work. I remember the air was fresh and smelt of wet earth (because it had rained the night before). I trotted along, walking on air and happier than a clown (I love rainy days). It was one of those days nothing could even think about going wrong.
"Good Morning, sister", A voice says behind me. I turn to look at him.
"Good Morning", I chirped gleefully.
"Give me your bag."
What??! Wait, what was happening? And then I dropped my gaze and there pointed at me, was a gun. It was such an inelegant gun. If I was going to get shot, definitely not with this ugly gun. It made me just imagine an old blacksmith hitting some metal scraps to make a weapon, including milk tins.
Only in Lagos, would my mugger say 'hey' and even call me "sister". *rme*
At this point, my adrenaline and cortisol is pumping overtime. I quickly look around and there is an old lady about fifty feet away, setting up her roasted plantain (boli) grill. About twenty feet up the road from her, was a man who measures and pumps tires for a living (aka vulcanizer, which I think is a Nigerian word, not a real word by the way lol...they are called foka for short, pun unintended). They both glance at me and continue their morning preparations...this was that moment, that defining moment when I knew the spirit of community was stone dead in Lagos and that I was never buying boli from that woman ever again.
Boli lady had hurt me.
Lagos had hurt me. Lagos hurts everyone who loves it, but we still hang around and love it a bit more. It's a bitter-sweet relationship that only Lagosians can understand.
That's true love, right there.
Back to the story, after being snubbed by "Iya oni boli*" and "foka", I looked down the road for any unjaded passers-by.
No one.
It was 6.30 am, some one was bound to show up, right? Another okada, a fellow commuter, anyone!!! The police would have been nice too...with their station just less than a mile away!
I had to stall, someone would come to my rescue. I looked at him. He was dark and young, wearing a sad brown shirt(not its original color). His face was unsure and I felt like he might just add the word "please" to his demand. Hmmm...a newbie. So I took a chance and decided to appeal to his humane side (Don't do this at home guys, I am a professional lol).
" Please, can I take my work ID? It's all I need,"I asked.
" OK." He says, urging me with a 'go-ahead' gesture with his metal-contraption-gun-thing which I'm sure was Made in Ojota.
Immediately, I dive into my bag and find my ID, then I push it aside, pretending to look for it.
Someone had to come up the road any minute now. They had to rescue me from this intern-mugger and his rickety weapon. Stalling. Intern mugger looks up the road uncomfortably, he was getting impatient but said nothing. He was such a nice guy, really. Lol.
Then, suddenly a bike appears, with a man on it!!!
O yes!! My Hero was here, though his skin looked a little bleached but "hey, Beggars are not Choosers."
My bleached Hero pulls up beside us. Face, mean and strong like any Hero's face would be.
Intern turns around and looks at Hero... he didn't seem very alarmed.
Hero scowls at him, then me, and says to intern, "Shoot her!!!"
At this point, I concluded that humanity was truly in need of a Savior. He apparently wasn't my hero, he was the intern's supervisor! "SHOOT HER!!", he insisted.
Intern looked pleadingly at me, it was either he didn't want to shoot or his contraption had no bullets and it was all a bluff. Hero-turned-bike-riding maniac kept screaming "Shoot her!" I handed over the bag and intern jumped on the back of the bike and rode away with his manager.
I was more sad about the fact that Hero was NOT my Hero than the loss of my beautiful Guess handbag. I was also sad that Hero was almost purple from incessant bleaching. I saw skin disease in his future. I ran home miserable and void of all my items. Everything was in there; my blackberry, my wallet plus bank cards, my makeup purse, the famous work ID card, my bible, my shoes for work (I had walked down the street in flats to catch a cab), my lunch, even!!!
It was quite the experience.
Have you had a mugging experience? Would love to hear about it! Share below!!!
*Iya oni boli (Yoruba language) : A woman who sells roasted plantain as street food.
Hey, City Bling!
I grew up in good ol' Ibadan with a population of over 3 million people. Ok......sigh.... I'll take all your Ibadan-girl jokes and memes now. Thanks. Lol. Anyway, 3 million people! 7 weeks ago, I moved into the most adorable town with a population of 100,000, still the moment I crossed the borderlines, I fell in love with the city.
Of course, I had given up on finding any Nigerians in such a small town or any Nigerian ties at all. Then two weeks ago, I stumbled on this record store, and there resting languidly against eachother were two records; Commander Ebenezer Obey's Operation Feed the Nation and an album from King Sunny Ade! I was a little too excited. I screamed a little and the guy across from me was mildly worried. Lol! I couldn't believe I found those records here. A piece of my identity as a Nigerian was just waiting there for me to find it. Hello, hidden city-blingy treasure!
Before this, we lived in Madison, Wisconsin, which has about 200,000 people. People still find it amusing that we lived in Madison but, goodness, did we make the best out of it! I can say with all of me that Ed and I ransacked that town; restaurants, fairs, lakes, zoos, rinks, bars, adorable roadside breakfast places, almost snuck into a college party(covering face), almost ice-fished, African parties, Afghani restaurants, street markets, fancy dining, woodsy hikes, gun range shooting...everything! EVERY.
Wherever you are, you are there for a reason and you're probably sitting on a goldmine of experiences. Explore, meet people, dig like a rabbied dog till you find the city's core, till you discover hidden treasure! (I know, rabied dogs aren't cute; they aren't, ok, dig for golden experiences like a healthy dog!)
I've only been in this town for about 7 weeks and everyday has its thrill. I can't wait to find out what else might be hidden behind these brick walls ❤️
Where is your city? Have you found its hidden, crazy gems?!
Source: Wikipedia
Credit: Ian Britton
Source: Alchetron
5 Strange Things I Do in an Airbnb
Ed and I are serial road-trippers. We were on a road trip just last week and as usual we stayed over at an Airbnb apartment.
Being the moderately-adventurous and overtly skeptical traveler that I am, Airbnb and I have had a long, bumpy journey chaperoned by suspicion and distrust. I, initially wouldn't even consider staying over at one but I think at this point (after 4 successful Airbnb stays), I'm a little more comfortable in a stranger's space than I used to be. Here are 5 weird things I do unfailingly at an Airbnb:
1. Stare skeptically at the bedsheets
The first time we ever used Airbnb, we rented this really nice apartment, located downtown in a busy metropolitan city. It was a student's bachelor pad.
Problem: The sheets. They were dark colored; dark grey, almost black and that bothered me a bit. The dirt wasn't apparent and I couldn't tell if it had been used or not. As I stood there, contemplating how I'd sleep on the bed, Ed further exacerbated the situation by making a blue-light joke. No doubt these sheets had been involved in rigorous and energy-expending activities, I could now tell by the micro-creases and what indeed might have been a smear of something. I ended up sleeping on top of Ed. I couldn't imagine sleeping directly on 'the smear'.
Tip : Bring your own sheets along.
2. Find all probable hidden camera hide-aways
I won't lie to you and claim that I'm not a little paranoid in a stranger's space. I spend a significant amount of time eyeing places likely to have cameras stashed in them; in paintings, art carvings, the TV, the lamp. It's thorough search, bureau of investigation style.
3. Tiptoe around house....fully clothed
I just always feel like the owner will be back any minute. I'm fully clothed....because, of course.......the hidden cameras, and all bathroom activities, done with the lights dim or off.
Tip: Try to relax, pop open some windows, find your favorite spot and your least favorite. Avoid the least favorite, be rooted in your favorite spot. Take a breath, there are no cameras, probably.
4. Eat jollof rice and plantain
I, unfailing, bring along on my road trips, a nice food warmer filled with jollof rice, plantain and chicken. I think I learnt this from my mum. One of those fun things I learnt from Ma. It's my instant make-me-feel-at-home drug.
Tip: Take something along that reminds you of home. Make it your own space for the duration.
5. Initiate Barricade
When it's bed time, I pull up a table or dresser across the bedroom door. Actually, I just put my luggage against the door (I'm no light traveler either) Lol. I keep thinking the owner's disgruntled ex will show up or some random person would pop into my room. Sigh. This is just ridiculous but I keep doing it. All that trouble.
Tip: Read reviews of Airbnb hosts and if dragging a cupboard across the bedroom door helps you sleep better, then do it!
Don't mind me, Airbnbs are fun. They are much cheaper than hotels; definitely more flexible on food options; provide a chance to meet new people (or not); you get tips on getting around the city. Try it out on your next trip!
What weird things do you do during Airbnb visits? Do you drag a dresser across the front door? I can't be the only weirdly paranoid person out there!
12 Ways to Hack Culture Shock
Culture shock is an absolute waste of time. Time, which should be spent discovering the wonders and thrills of a new location; time that should be spent mispronouncing street names and getting lost; time that should be spent eating amazing street-food, discovering local art, observing culture; time that should be spent expanding your mind; time that should be spent meeting the locals, who then offer you illegal gifts.............we'll get to that in a moment.
Culture shock robs us of all that awesomeness and the next thing we know it's time to leave! It's even worse if it's a long-term stay, in which case, we just stay within our circles, adhere to the familiar and refuse to burst out to our full social potential! I have been very guilty of this and a part of me thinks ruefully of how much i could have learnt with all the country-hopping opportunities i have had.
True, culture shock is a natural human response to a change and the human mind has never been known to be unresponsive to change, but then again, it doesn't have to rule your relocation process. Right below are 12 ways to own culture shock! Enjoy!
Before you leave for your new destination....
Read! (1)
Wikipedia is my best friend before I travel. It prevents a good amount of culture shock. Reading and getting familiar with pop culture and cultural characteristics helps to figure the new environment. Be careful with media's portrayal though, believe just 25% of what you see on TV and don't make the mistake of classifying people based on a stereotype.
Anticipate Homesickness (2)
While it's true that we're trying to get in on all the fun at our new location, nostalgia almost always creeps in. Homesickness makes culture shock a bit more unbearable, so before you get on your journey, get things that will help you manage home sickness. Get your favorite chips, teas, coffee blend, books, what makes it easier for you to get comfortable in your new space.
Now you are here!.....
Be open (3)
If you've always had prejudice towards the locals, I'd suggest you let go. People are not what you see on TV. For example, the Russians are not always villains! One of my best friends is part Russian. The Germans don't all drink beer. Not all Americans work in the CIA and not all Nigerians have a babalawo on speed dial. Try new stuff and hang out with the locals. Get in on all the street food, ok maybe not all, but good street food that is reputed for not causing diarrhea.
Set fire to your comfort zone (4)
Yup, set it ablaze. You have to get into the crazy street called "experience". It's fun getting to know new things and new cultures. I've come to realize that locals love to tell you about their culture and get you in on it. I remember this very friendly local who I met somewhere who wanted to give me a gift of marijuana! That was some friendly neighborhood.
Be observant (5)
Watch how stuff is done. Ask questions and don't be ashamed of your ignorance. In fact that's a great way to be rid of it. They know just as little about your culture too, so tell them about your culture, don't think they don't care, unless they explicitly tell you they don't. If they don't care, ask them about theirs and then tell them about yours anyway.
Don't overwhelm with your own culture (6)
My tribe generally has no chill, we are loud, bubbly and just off-the-hat theatrical, so I usually have to keep that side of me under wraps in places more tranquil....until I know they can handle it. I am currently learning to appreciate foreign culture by respecting them enough to respond with just enough naija-ness.
Get a steady dose of your supplies (7)
Find ways to get your favorite supplies coming; food, movies, music, books. Listen to music from home. Watch movies and videos. Call family and friends in your home country.
Try one new thing every week (8)
The new thing i did last week and this week was to try new recipes. As a naija babe, i have struggled with eating broccoli and mushrooms. We all know vegetable without leaves would naturally be eyed suspiciously by Nigerians. Surprisingly, they are fast becoming a staple.Try something fun, new and of course, outside your comfort zone!
Don't be awkward because you are different (9)
Different is great! Everything about you just got 1000% unique, embrace everything you are, including your accent. You are a little sprinkle of diversity and everyone loves that. Well not everyone but some people, hopefully you run into "some people".
Document experiences (10)
Write your memories down. Scribble them, tweet them, put them on instagram, blog about them. Social media is great for documenting experiences. Gone are the days we'd document using feather stalks and coarse paper or chisels and rocks. Think about it, if the early men and Eygptians took so much trouble to document their experiences and stories with supposedly primitive tools, what excuse do we have? Preserving experiences keeps a part of our memories alive.
Choose not to see only the negatives about your new location (11)
It's completely normal to see negatives, because subconsciously you might be comparing it to home but every place has its issues. Every place also has its beauty and the ability to evoke wonder. Embrace the privilege of seeing the other side of the pond and focus on the good.
Take it in your stride (12)
If you have huge strides and you like to jump head-first in new stuff, then do, by all means but if easy does it for you, then take in the changes in bits.
If you ever have the opportunity to live among different people, cherish it, usually it might be you are supposed to learn stuff from them. For example, the British taught me to say thank you to bus drivers, danfoo or not. The Americans make me chatty. The Swiss made me observant and made me quite confused with the valuation of currency but that's another post. The Italians made me realize that pasta rocks and dressing up is non-negotiable.
Have you had culture shock experiences? Any new things you've learnt abroad?Please share with us below.
Don't forget to enter for the give-away, ends today!
Foregone
Fiction
It is abominable, that which I do.
But I hurry to it anyway.
I follow the stream by the white light of the moon, stilling myself at every sound of crunching leaves or rustling bushes. I have wrapped myself in the darkest Ankara, on top of it, is my father’s hunting tunic, darker than night. I have smeared his tobacco and spice behind my ears to ward off any strangers or their dogs.
A traveling stranger is less interesting if she smells of tobacco and roots, than of hibiscus and lemons.
In my hand, is my shepherd’s crook. It whacks and chokes, whether it be sheep or person.
This is no man's land, distant from mother's watchful eye. Any assailant would be out of range of father’s arrow.
Now well into the forest, I hear the faint roar of the waters and my heart races. Quickly, I begin to climb the hill.
It is dark but I know where to place my feet, where to grip and brace, where to heave and lift. The darkness amplifies the thunder of the rushing waterfall of Arè. It surrounds, it terrifies. It is enough to fail a heart.
I remove my sandals and wade into the river, she welcomes me and draws me in along the current. I hold unto familiar stones, slippery and some tufty with growth, my feet find ground on the sandy bed. I feel for the rocks and climb out into a cave.
At last.
He is there waiting.
He rises to his feet. My heart thumps, my belly flutters.
Tórę..