Get To Know Me Tag

1. Do you have a middle name?
Yes; it’s Anne!

2. What was your favorite subject in school?
German and French

3. What’s your favorite drink?
Green tea or water

4. What’s your favorite song at the moment?
Sparks by Reuben Hudson *-*

5. What would you name your children?
I’m not really sure. I love the names Audrey and Josephine

6. Do you participate in any sports?
I like running and dancing?

7. What’s your favorite book?
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami

8. What’s your favorite colour?
Green

9. What’s your favorite animal?
Owls!

10. What’s your favorite perfume?
Petrichor

11. What’s your favorite holiday?
I’d say Christmas

12. Have you graduated from High School?
Yes, last November

13. Have you been out of the country?
Yes, I’ve been to the Torres Strait Islands and Germany, but I need to travel more!

14. Do you speak any other languages?
Yep; German and French

15. Do you have any siblings?
One younger sister who’s 10

16. What’s your favorite store?
Ummm Kinokuniya?

17. What’s your favorite restaurant?
Somewhere I can get nice vegan stir-fries and pad thai

 
18. Do you like school? 
I did like it, but in terms of the learning content, I prefer uni.

19. Who are some of your favorite YouTubers?
Carrie Hope Fletcher, Zoella, and Hannah Hart

20. What’s your favorite movie? 
Maybe something by Wes Anderson

21. What are some of your favorite TV (or web) shows?
Parks and Recreation, Carmilla, Nothing Much To Do, Pushing Daisies, and Bee and Puppycat

22. PC or Mac?
PC

23. What phone do you have?
No idea it’s some Nokia. I’ve never really been interested in spending heaps on something newer.

24. How tall are you?
163cm (about 5’3-4)

25. Any pets? 
A cat named Lily, lots of nameless fish and snails, and two guinea pigs named Sarah and Josie

Summer Bucket List ’14

Things I’ve Learnt From My Parents (And Other Influential Adults)

• Alcohol isn’t something to rely on. It’s fun to occasionally get tipsy/a bit drunk, but regular drinking can affect relationships and make a big hole in your wallet.
• Be physically affectionate. When you’re really close to someone, you can tell they love and care about you, but it just feels tense if there aren’t hugs and the like.
• Fuck traditions. Listen to the younger generations. They’re not stuck in routine and far more willing to learn more, especially if it goes against the norm. You obviously don’t have to take everything they say to heart, but contemplate and research it.
• Form your own beliefs and stand by them.
• Look after your mind, body and soul. You’re not a fitness nut for valuing exercise. The energy from a healthy lifestyle feels amazing.
• Make new friends and stay in contact with old ones you still value. Friends never go out of style.
• As long as it’s what you want, do whatever to your body. It’s yours and you should be happy with it.
• Talk to people. Be it calls, internet, doesn’t matter. Keep in touch with friends and family on Facebook, greet strangers on the street, just connect with people.
• What is offered on the internet doesn’t stop the need to travel. The world is huge; explore every bit of it.
• Stay true to who you are, but also accept that time moves on and things change.
• Continue to enjoy the things associated with kids. You’ll find they’re wiser than you think.
• Educate and be honest with your children. Tell the truth about how babies are made, explain that body hair and pimples and all that are completely normal and even that sex is more than baby-making and is pleasurable when done right.
• Teach them to be assertive and to say no when needed. Don’t let them think that they have to do things just to make a person happen.
• Don’t use schoolyard bullying as an excuse for fancying someone. If you’re into a person, be nice; don’t pull their hair and stab them with pencils.
• Rather than going for the easier option, always consider that no one is the same. Punishing a boy for wearing a dress may discourage him from being himself (or even her/themselves), emphasising that little girls should dream of finding their handsome prince charming not only forces them to believe that they are nothing without a man, but may also label a girl interested in other girls as a freak.
• Laugh. Loudly. Laugh huge crazy guffaws. You’re happy; show it.
• Don’t sexualise everything. Girls are not “sluts” for wearing shorts and singlet tops. Rather than bitching about your sisters, try being nice. Or at least don’t say anything mean.
• Keep reading. Time goes a bit crazy sometimes, but always make time for books.
• Go on adventures. Big, like trying a new sport or travelling, and small, such as eating new food or changing your walking route.
• Continue to love yourself. You’re a majestic human and deserve to treat yourself with as much kindness as possible.

Belly Boogieing and Delicious Dinner

A slightly late post (thanks, uni), but last Saturday I had the pleasure of going out to a fantastic Lebanese restaurant for my best friend’s 19th birthday. It was located in a cute small-town area and had the most spectacular interior design.

                          

I was worried at first, but the restaurant offered so many meat-free options that I was completely full. There were hommos and tahini dips, bread, vine leaf wraps, roasted cauliflower, radish and eggplant, and the most wonderful falafels in the world!!! In the middle of opening presents, we were treated with a belly dancing show, and even got to get up and join in.

 

Afterwards we went to the shopping district and got ice cream for dessert. Out in the open, we may have gotten a bit crazy and sang Wannabe and ran around. Yes, we’re adults.

Hectic Life Update!!!!!!!!

Hello fantastic Earthlings! I’m very sorry; I have been very busy preparing and doing my prac teaching, so I haven’t had much time for updating here. As of now, I’ve had one observation day, and 5 hours of teaching over 3 days. (We were meant to do an hour per day but pfft…)

The first day I came back was amazing. Many of them couldn’t remember my name, but when they saw me, they kept shouting “I know you! I know you! I like you!” It completely warmed my soul. I’ve received a few artworks this week and they made me on the verge of tears with happiness.

I started teaching with a very challenging rainy day sport lesson, but I didn’t let the negatives deter me and have only gotten better. I’m especially looking forward to my final lesson, which will be a music lesson based on a uni assignment I have due soon.

Yesterday I got some more teacher outfits, so I don’t have to be a dreaded outfit repeater, like Lizzie McGuire on graduation day. The one in the photo is a lovely, and extremely comfortable, light blue floral button up.

Even though the uni (and government) is against it, I’ve gotten heaps of hugs from the kids and have loved pretty much every moment so far. (They have their bad times, but they’re kids; not much you can do.)

I am currently enjoying a relaxing Friday evening, reading Isla and the Happily Ever After and digesting a delicious rosemary potato pizza, hoping everyone is having an enjoyable life.

 

 

Happy Sunday #8

Hi friends, happy Sunday! This week has had its ups and downs, but it has ended nicely! Have everyone else’s weeks been nice?

• On Tuesday and Wednesday I was rather sick with a bit of a flu and headaches. I got heaps of sleep though, which made for a quick recovery.
• I’m rather introverted, but am feeling myself become more open with my uni friends. I just feel like carrying a banner saying “Sorry, not good at being open with people until I’m good friends with them” sometimes >.<
• I got my best friend’s birthday present sorted – just need to wrap it
• I received a high distinction (>90%) on my music assignment!!!!!
• I told my mum that I plan to go vegan and while it was a bit difficult at first, she’s come to terms with it. She’s going to give me a $40 weekly budget for what I get/do so I’m glad with the outcome.
• I finally watched Percy Jackson Sea of Monsters last night! it was alright; much better than the first film (:

I really wish everyone a fantastic week and has lots of fun! xxx

Happy Sunday #7

Hello lovely friends; happy Sunday! I’m incredibly sorry I forgot to do this post last weekend. Life has been rather busy. I have barely started an assignment that’s due in a fortnight and it’s worth 40% but just need to stay calm and get it over and done with. In the last two weeks I…

• went on a picnic with my best friends. We chatted, took lots of photos, and ate “Asian salad” by the handful.
• made two new friends and they’re absolutely lovely. One of them almost shares my name.
• learned how to do NSW Foundation cursive.
• started on one of my best friends’ 18th birthday present.
• have tried really hard to convince myself to transition further into veganism.
• procrastinated on assignments >.<
• met some lovely tourists and got to practise my French skills.
• cooked some really yummy dinners.
• fangirled about the release of Isla and the Happily Ever After on the 14th.
• watched a bit of the Doctor Who Q+A in South Korea.
• drew pictures.

I hope everyone is feeling fantastic and has a lovely week!

Remain Curious and Explore

As you get older, you feel the need to restrain your curiosity and desire to go and try new things. You tend to feel that, once you reach a certain age, you can no longer make mistakes.

I need to learn to get out of that zone, and into one that encourages adventures, both big and small. I want to phase out my need to stick with the familiar. Sure, there’s nothing wrong with a routine, but when the weekend, the source of joy and relaxation, becomes rigid, something’s definitely wrong.

I was always curious and enjoyed exploring when I was younger; it’s something that I really want to hold on to.

“How To Be An Explorer Of The World
1. Always Be LOOKING (notice the ground beneath your feet.)
2. Consider Everything Alive & Animate
3. EVERYTHING Is Interesting. Look Closer.
4. Alter Your Course Often.
5. Observe For Long Durations (and short ones).
6. Notice The Stories Going On Around You.
7. Notice PATTERNS. Make CONNECTIONS.
8. DOCUMENT Your Findings (field notes) In A VAriety Of Ways.
9. Incorporate Indeterminacy.
10. Observe Movement.
11. Create a Personal DIALOGUE With Your Environment. Talk to it.
12. Trace Things Back to Their ORIGINS.
13. Use ALL of the Senses In Your Investigations.”
– Keri Smith

Back To Uni…

Uni is… tiring. But it’s excellent to be back. Half of my classes are psychology focused, which is fascinating, and I’ve also made some new friends. One of them is named Mads, so I feel we’ll get along swimmingly.

My 4.30am wake ups are already taking their toll on me, but in time for my break, I found my childhood queen of pop had released her new single. I feel it’s a sign for me to not let the tiredness get me down and enjoy everything instead.

(Also I apologise in advance for infrequent blogging)

Happy Sunday #6

Hi lovely friends; happy Sunday!

After 6 weeks, it’s finally looking like winter. It’s good that the weather is being normal, but I could go for a long walk and some sunshine right now. This week I’ve…

• Finished the Heroes of Olympus series.
• Finalised my timetable for next semester (it involves a fair few early mornings -_-).
• Had a sisterly bonding park exploration day. We even rolled down giant grassy hills.
• Learned how to make stickers (I’ll make a how-to when I’ve gotten better at it and can make decent ones).
• Hopefully cemented a basic understanding of grammar within my tutee.
• Received a postcard from my best friend who’s on holiday in Germany.

I hope everyone’s had a brilliant week and that next week will be just as great!

P.S. Good luck to everyone starting their next (or first) semester of uni.

Edit: Yes, I am an idiot and posted this on a Saturday.