#+ doing anything fun fucking costs money if not the thing itself the travel expenses. and if i spend money i just have to work to make that

[nomaishuttle]

I'm gonna be so open and honest with you guys right now i fucking rly dont want to go to work tomorrow .

[popculturebuffet]

Green Eggs and Ham: “Train” Review or A Little Better Now (Patreon Review for Emma Fici)

Hello you happy people and all aboard! We’re back on the Green Eggs and Ham Train for a Train themed episode. Train. As you can tell I like trains... admitely I don’t see enough episodes et on them and I don’t buy books or obess on them but I like the idea of a train, the comfort, the use of a mode of travel that was once common but is now simply used on occasion with the dawn of air travel, and it confining our heroes to a smaller space with limited room to move. it’s good stuff. I even tolerae the band train... I mean yes their music is okay at best, but the lyrics.. are wonderfully delightfully insane. Who else would use a garbage bag as a genuine romantic metaphor?

When last we left off things ere a bit ehhhhhhhhhhh: Sam went from delightfully quirky with some issues ot adress to annoying, and Michelle went from kin dof a bitch ot ENTIRELY THAT BITCH. Outside of Guy’s mental breakdown/heatstroke episode involving hallucinations of green eggs and ham, yes that did in fact happen, it wasn’t much to write home about and I worried the series simply had a good PILOT but the series itself wasn’t going to be fun sit through.��

If I was right or I was rilla.. will have to wait till after the cut. But first as always i’d like to thank the person who payed for this episode Emma Fici. Emma is one of my closest friends and one of two patreon patreons. If you’d like a reivew of your choice eveyr month guarnateed, then please hop over to patreon.com/popculturebuffet and back me at the 5 dollar level. You also get access to my exclusive discord where I ocasoinally post about work in progress stuff and tlak to my falns, to pick a short any time I do one and EXCLUSIVE review, as well as helping me hit my stretch goals. So line up, sign up then join me under the cut. 

So we pick up where we left off with Guy hurtling into a lake. Eh I dunno i’ve heard being naked ina  lake is pretty neat. 

All you’d have to do is take off the hat and your there. But Sam saves him wiht the weird train of hats he put at the end of the car for some reason, and our heroes are saved.. but down a vehicle. Oh and Sam’s vehiclular neglgence costs a bunch of fish their home.

And our heroes are without a car and Guys at the end of his rope with Sam.. I mean granted he’s been there since he met the guy but it’s down to like the tiniest thred, not helped by Sam casually stealing his wallet to pay for train tickets depsite Guy , UNDERSTANDABLY, not wanting to hang out with the guy who has stolen with him, gotten him implicate din animal trafficing and dosen’t really respect personal space. Also it’s taken me embarassingly long to remember Micheal Douglas played my boy Hank Pym in the Ant Man and the Wasp films. Seroiusly I don’t know HOW I forgot that, him being aged up and thus unable to do ANY of the things he is constnatly denied credit for in canon (Founding the avengers, being the first ant man.. and the first goliath and the first yellow jacket and the first giant man.. and the only doctor pym...).. but instead the film kept his troubled nature and ego, but removed the domestic abuse (which is something I will not go into but needless to say the comics version went above and beyond to try and make up for that and redeem himself soley because it was the right hting to do) and by making im older still gav ehim a roll as Scott’s mentor. What i’m getting at is I freaking love Hank Pym and I could’ve been making hank pym jokes for several episdoes now. That’s a mistake I itned to recitfy.. right away as Guy looses his suitcase as a result of it and whie he lcaims not to be bothered his voice says otherwise. Eh i’m sure the world can wait for ultron Guy. 

So anyway, Guy reluctantly agrees to the train travel idea and being parked across from Sam on the grounds he has no real other options. Meanwhile the BAD GUYZ.. and i’ve also decided to drop spoilers as the series is two years old, most people reading this have probably seen the series, and it makes analysis rough when I have to dance around spoilers. So yeah the BAD GUYZ aren’t villians.. kind of a dickhead on the blue guys part, but not EVIL. They figure out their going by train it’s a whole thing.

ON the train we run into michelle again...

Yeahhh for the first half she’s as inusfferable as she was the last two episodes and it lead me to believie the rest of the series was going to be constant suffering as she’d be in every episode, likely because they DID get Diane Keaton for this and you don’t waste Diane Keaton. You just don’t. But while they got their money’s worth in having her on screne wise they just..w asted her for the first 2 and a half episodes: Michelle is a judgemental, unpleasnt suffocating bitch and it’s going to take a lot , even if this episode helped, to make me truly like her as a person. 

Case in point her first two scenes this episode are just.. dragging her daughter past a play place uncarring about her feelings because while I DO get she cares about her child’s saftey and is terrified afte rloosing her husband.. it dosen’t EXCUSE her actions. It dosen’t forgive her locking her daughter up constanlty, not talking to her like a human being and oh yeah PUTTING A FUCKING LOCK ON HER SHE CAN CONTROL.  I mean my god I don’t think they INTENDED for her to come off as abusive as she does, and i’ve seen far worse inteitonally and untietionally, but it’s still not remotely plesant. There is a larger issue baked into that the episode brings about, but we’ll get to that. 

And naturally at breakfast.. she procedes to top herself. ONCE AGAIN she treats guy like trash as guy UNDERSTANDABLY didn’t want to talk to her after her previous layers of bullshit which, just as a refresher, involved insulting his invention constnatly (even if it turned out ot be dangerous she did not know that till the last second) then refusing to help a man BAKING in the desert and mocking him to his face. 

So yeah unsuprisingly instead of you know, APOLOGIZING for that episode or anything else she mocks him again and calls him sad. I just.. I get they were trying to have her come off as a jerk and then slowly develop.. but you can’t overdue the jerk part. It has to be juts the right amount and if it is this much there has to be a commpuance. There is none as far as I can tell because god is a spiteful two faced prick. 

So naturally Sam forces the two parties together, and orders green eggs and ham for everyone, except guy who refuses. We do get a really great bit though as EB turns down the idea and we get a tremendous rant from Micheal Douglas as he talks about how a girl in his clash, veyr likely just him, got a rash from tring new things and you shouldn’t and to watch out for the scarlet beetle he’ll steel your ants and try to conquer your planet and is not a guy in a costume but in fact an actual beetle. EB naturally tries it. 

We get a brief interlude with Snerz that’s funny enough: he outright calls his visotrs flunkies, they enter to the song money, and his minon throws dollar bills at their feet. I imagine this is what visitng Mar a Largo is like. They turn up his noses until he mentions getting a chickarffe for his animal crutelty wall. And i’m torn about Snerz. On one hand he can be generally entertaining in his dickery.. but ont he other I do question why he’s in EVERY episode. We don’t NEED him in eveyr one and I feel he’s only in them because Eddie Izzard was expensive so they had to get him as a regular to justify the cost. We really DONT’ need this scene funny as it is and it adds nothing so far. Maybe i’m wrong and these guys end up being important. I don’t know. 

So yeah so far this episode was miserable getting through and I expected it to be another long sit... I was wrong. The second half.. is really damn good and reminded me why I liked this series so much. No really. We get two stories,both really good following one half of each pair teaming up. As for why their split Guy is annoyed with Sam, as well as dosen’t want him letting the chickaraffe out because you know lots of people dosen’t want ot go to jail and leaves to find a quiet place to work on watching paint dry while Michelle tucks a sleeping EB in, her first really truly humanizing moment, which should NOT have taken three episodes but hey, i’ll take it, and goes to find the same.

So starting with Sam and EB, naturally Sam takes all of a minute to let his buddy out and it gets loose on top of the train. EB hears the familiar sound and gives chase and the two meet properly. After Sam covers for his buddy and realizes the creature is asleep in his car safe now, he properly talks to EB and we get a truly magical sequnece: The two talk with Sam whoelheartdly supporting her free spirit and finally giving the girl what she badly needed: someone who treated her not as something to be tied down but you know.. a child who just wants some expression and as she literally lets her hair down, It’s truly adorable and it just has a magical quanitity as they enjoy the beautiful view from the train top. 

Granted this takes at urn later when EB brings up her mom, and Sam.. supports her mom, pointing out she’s just looking out for her.. which she is but in a deeply unehalthy way and I don’t like the show just.. brushing over Michelle’s terrible actions because “she’s her mom”. But it’s also hard to tell if they are: Sam’s mom left him as we’ll find out, so he likely colors his memories of her rosey and simply envys EB still HAVING hers. It’s not BAD stuff but I don’t like a work saying “You should love your family just beacause your related”. Instead of because they lovea nd support you and if they dont’ love you or treat you remotely well or don’t give an ass about you fuck them. Thankfully I DO love my family and have no issues with them, my immediate family at least, but i’ve had friens with downright abusive or neglectful parents. It’s not that black and white. Ducktales also hammered in the family theme but was transparent in how it can me messy, harm each other and that it took true love and consideratoin for it to work at it’s core. 

It’s still not a terrible scene and what comes next is neat as earlier it was shown the train has loops, because Seussworld, and now that’s a problem because their on top of it. Michelle’s jail braclet thing ends up coming in handy the first loop, as while she can’t unstick it means she and sam can suririvie it. They do get it loose, turns out the password was indeed password, because of course, and they end up narrowly suriving a roller coaster bit of track, with the help of MR. Jenkins who I can finally name because EB names her in the next scene. Understanding her need for a pet, Sam deputizes her, and gets her back in bed in time for the next plot. 

Speaking of which winding back a bit as these two go back and forth, Guy goes through two rather hilarious cars: First a bath car that has a bubsby berkely style water number and then a model train car.. with the train on the track showing guy watching guy watchin gthe train etc. 

It’s great. Guy ends up finding the quiet car.. and Michelle. And in her first scene of acting like a human being and not if julie powers was a soccer mom, Michelle, while standosfish as usual, not only unites with guy to shush a loud guy in the car, but is genuinely apricative when Guy helps her get her place back, she was doing some literal bean counting. 

The two genuinely hit it off, first with some adorable silent bits and then by talking, with Michelle appreciating his now safer job and warming up to him. Keaton and Douglas have GENUINE chemestry and it annoys me itt took the series this long to use that instead of wasting Diane Keaton on being 

It’s really great stuff and i’m actually rooting for the two.. once she gets her shit together obviously. Guy does make the mistake of lying abotu knowing about the chikcaraffe.

This ends up being bad as he finds out EB knows the next day and after she leaves the car RIGHTFULLY tears the fuck into same for getting him accused of crime, stealing from him and now puttin ghim in a precarious situation. While Guy DID lie, he idd so well meaningly and trying to impress someone whose ineherntly judgmeental. Douglas also does REALY well in the scene, calling sam out but it dosen’t feel cruel.. it’s justified. While guy is miserable and does need to work on himself.. Sam also needs to work on himself and is putting guy in serious danger just by forcing him into his animal smuggling scheme. 

So Guy leaves.. and naturally given the unvierse hate shim runs into the BAD GUYZ, who aren’t much better. No really they refuse to belieive guy might be innocent, use excessive force on everyone. They have better GOALS than sam but I woudln’t really call them good people. Smash to black and we’re out. 

Final Thoughts:  This one was better. As I said the first half or rather third drags slightly but once we get to the two seperate plotlines it’s REALLY damn good stuff and reminded me what the series was capable of in character in creativity. Hopefully it keeps this up

Next Time on the Blog: We return to mewni for the penultimate chapter of season 3 as Moon and Eclipsa have some fundemtnal disgareemnts on how to handle Meteora that wind up costing both dearly. 

See you at the next rainbow

[sherrybaby14]

The Option I

A/N 1: This is a Dark!Bucky x Naive! Reader story.   While it will contain questionable consent it is not going to be as dark as some of my other stories.  That is not an invitation for those who are not comfortable with the topic to read, as much as it is an update for those who came to this looking for a very dark tale.  

Warnings: This chapter has none, but overall this story will be noncon/dubcon (Please Do NOT read if this offends you) 

Words: 4k

Summary:  While traveling through Europe you meet an unusual man under unusual circumstances. 

A/N 2:  This takes place in the same universe as “The Distraction”. You do not need to have read that to follow this at all though.  It is not canon-compliant but could be interpreted to take place after Winter Soldier and before Civil War.  

Did trains move this fast back home?  You looked out the window at the European countryside.  It was hard to take any of it in since the speed made everything a blur.

                You yawned and debated going back to your sleeping car, but your stomach gurgled and reminded you that you needed food. Besides, you’d been asleep for the last ten hours.  So far, this trip taught you that jet lag was a real thing.  

                From the moment you got off the plane in Paris, you were exhausted.  It took an hour to travel to the station, and three more until you boarded the train. You passed out as soon as you got to the teeny tiny private room your uncle had reserved for you.  

                The time change was messing with you almost as much as the travel itself, maybe more so.  To you, it felt like 10 am, but here the sun was setting and dusk was settling in.  You pulled out your phone and checked the time.  20:26. You did the math and realized it was already after 8 pm.  

                There was a text message from your uncle on the lockscreen.  

                Glad to hear you’re on the train.  My driver will pick you up in Istanbul in three days.  Safe travels.

                Visiting him was a good idea.  You needed family right now, and he was all you had left. The reminder made your heart hurt and you shut your eyes not wanting to relive the last month.  

                You wished he would have flown you directly into Turkey, but he told you that this was less expensive and would give you an opportunity to clear your head and enjoy traveling.  

                Another train breezed by and you jumped as the view of the countryside vanished.  

                “You mind if I sit here?”  A girl about your age slid into the booth across from you. “Sorry if I’m bothering you, but the dining car is starting to fill up.”  

                “You’re American?” You had heard a lot of languages being spoken, but this was the first English, it made you perk up.  

                “Born and raised in Colorado.  How about you?”  She gave a warm smile as she pushed her glasses up her nose.  

                You said your home town and glanced her up and down. She was pretty, with brown hair in a messy French braid, oversized glasses hiding doe-brown eyes, and no make-up to accentuate her natural beauty.  Beauty, it was almost like she was a model trying to dress down in her pale blue hoodie.

                “Never been.”  She held her hand out. “I’m Alice. What’s your name?”

                “Y/N.”  You reached out to shake. “I thought I wouldn’t find a soul to talk to until I got to my uncles.”  

                “Visiting a relative?  I’m studying abroad in Istanbul.  I wish I could have flown into Turkey, but the airfare was outrageous!” She rolled her eyes with over-accentuated movements.  

                “I’m going to Istanbul too.” You did an internal high-five that now you had a friend for the trip.  

                “Sweet, I have a buddy!” She reached out and squeezed your hand. “I’m starving.  Did you order yet?  What’s good?”

                “No, the server hasn’t come around.”  You grabbed a menu from the back of the table. “I’m not even sure what most of this is.  The English translation is off, one of the items is ‘pig in his own sauce’. “

               “Gross.” Alice scrunched up her nose and laughed. “This is your first time abroad huh?”

               “Believe it or not, this is my first time traveling in general.” You glanced around the train. “I was something of a homebody.”  

                “Well relax, enjoy your travel experience.” She nodded over her shoulder. “But if you want to eat on trains you have to go to the window and order.  Why don’t you wait here and I’ll bring us back something yummy?  I promise, no pig sauce.”

               “That would be great.” You reached into your purse and pulled out your wallet. “I have a few Euros.”  

                “Don’t worry.  This one is on me.” Alice slid up from the booth. “I’ll be back in a flash.”

                When she walked down the aisle you leaned back in the booth, a wave of relief washing over you.  If you hadn’t run into her, you probably would have sat in the dining car all night with no food.  

                You turned your attention back to your phone and replied to your uncle.  

                I’ll try. See you soon.  

                If it weren’t for him, you would have been completely alone in the world.  You were lucky he found you.  When he showed up at your parent’s funeral, surprise was an understatement.  The last time you saw him was when you were five or six. Then when he offered to move you to Turkey it blew your mind.  

                You weren’t ready to move away, but an extended vacation sounded nice while you figured things out.  The two of you agreed on a three-month trip. After that, it didn’t take much convincing to put your things in storage and get out of dodge.

                “Alright, the food will be up shortly.”  Alice slid back into the booth and set a glass filled with amber liquid in front of you.  “I believe we are getting a chicken dish with some French fries.  It may be potatoes though.”  

                Your eyes kept on the beer. You hated to be rude.

                “Cheers.” Alice picked up her glass and tilted it towards you.  

                “I don’t really drink.” You winced and pushed the glass away.  

                “Oh, my bad.”  She frowned. “It seems like everyone in Europe drinks.  Beer is cheaper than pop.  I can go get you something else.”

                She wasn’t lying, you figured that out when you were at the train station.  A coke cost three times what beer did.  Alice had treated for the meal.  

                “It’s not a big deal.”  You smiled. “I have drank, I just, it’s not a normal thing.”

                “No really.  I’ll drink yours.” Alice stood up. “Give me a minute.”

                “See?” You grabbed the beer and took a sip, not wanting her to waste money on you. “I’ll be fine.”

               Alice’s shoulders relaxed and she sat back down.

                “So you can drink?  I assumed, based off your age, you didn’t like it or had to quit or something.”  She picked up her beer and took a sip.  “Not that there’s any shame in that. I know a lot of people struggle with addictions.”

                “Like I said, just a homebody.” You smiled. “I always had friends, but small town, small options.   I lived with my parents until recently, they weren’t drinkers.”

                The smile dropped from your face.

                “What happened?” Alice set her beer down and took your hand.  

                “They died.” You glanced out the window. “A freak accident, nobody’s fault.”  

                “Oh my God, that’s terrible. You poor thing.” Alice squeezed harder. “I’m thinking you need more than one drink.”  

                “I couldn’t.” Her hand was on your wrist, raising the glass to your lips. “I’m pretty sure my parents would be disappointed over this one.  They were a little overprotective.”  

                You didn’t get the rest of the thought out before the glass was at your lips.  The beer was bitter, but not overpowering.  You were scared of the effects though.  

                “Let loose, have some fun. You need it more than most.” Alice took a drink of hers. “Besides, I’m practically a professional drinker.  I’ll make sure you’re safe.”  

               “Thank you for the offer.” Your stomach let out a grumble.  “But I’m more concerned with eating than drinking right now.”  

                “Foods not ready yet.” Alice looked over her shoulder. “But when it is I’m getting us another round.  And tonight is on me.  I’m treating.”

                “That’s not necessary.”  You reached for your wallet. “I’ll get the next drinks.”

               “See?  You need this.”  Alice cheered your glass again. “Drink up.  I’ll take good care of you.”  

               You glanced at the beer and back at your new friend.  It had been a long month and maybe drowning your sorrows wasn’t such a bad idea.  

                “Alright, fuck it.” You picked up the beer and took a huge sip.

                “Thata girl.”  Alice gave you a wink.  

                It could be time to relax.  After all, this was supposed to be a positive transition.

~~~

               Ice was in your veins. You hugged yourself as your teeth chattered, pulling your legs up to your chest and forming a ball. Your long-sleeved shirt and jeans weren’t providing you enough warmth.  You reached out to grab the blanket but felt nothing.  

               Once the coldness settled in a splitting headache came next.  You brought your hand to your forehead and groaned, slowly opening your eyes.  

                The sky was light grey, the sun blocked by heavy cloud coverage.  You looked down and saw the cement underneath you, as you pushed yourself up you craned your neck and realized you were on a small street, huddled against a brick building. Something of a small downtown area.

                “What?” You asked nobody.

                Where was the train?  What were you doing here?  Was this Istanbul?  You pushed yourself up from the sidewalk until you were on wobbly legs.  

                Istanbul was a sprawling metropolitan city.  This was more like a quaint village.  You brought your face to your hands, knowing you were having a delayed reaction.  

                Alice.  That was the last thing you remembered, drinking beer with her in the train car. How many had you had?  You struggled to think, but everything was coming up blank.  You couldn’t remember anything after the first one.  Did you even eat?  

                Your stomach churned and you turned towards the building, keeling over as you dry heaved, your mouth as dry as cotton. Once your stomach accepted there was nothing to throw up you felt a little better and stood back up.  

                Down the street, you spotted a person walking the opposite direction.  You moved as fast as you could toward them, hoping someone could give you a clue as to where you were at least.  Maybe help you call your uncle.

                Call.  Your phone. You felt down your pockets.  Empty.  Your purse was nowhere to be seen either.  Your passport, money, all your belongings were still on the train.  How the hell did this happen?  

                It was tempting to sit still and sob, but that would accomplish nothing so you moved faster hoping to catch up to the person. It was an older woman.  

                “Excuse me, Ma’am?”  You were almost caught up to her.  

                She stopped and glanced over her shoulder. Her lips pressed together and she shook her head in disappointment at you.  

                “I’m sorry. I know this sounds strange, but could you tell me where I am or how to get to a phone?”  You weren’t even certain of your uncle’s phone number; you never wrote it down only stored it in your cell.  

               “Yaksh imam bradolbo.” The women clicked her tongue.

               “Oh.” You didn’t have a clue what the language was. “Do you speak English?”  

               The woman continued to shake her head.  

                “Do you know anyone who does? Who I can talk to?” You knew how stupid you sounded, but didn’t know what else to do. “Please.”

                “Bradolbo.” She shook her head and turned to start walking.

                “Is it alright if I follow you?” You kept pace with her.  “Is there a train station around here?”  

                “Shalp bradolbo esq quilnton.” The woman walked faster.  

                Shit. You were probably scaring her.  You needed to find some way to communicate.  

                “Choo-choo.”  You moved your arms at your sides in circles.  “Chugga chugga, choo choo?”  

                You hoped that imitating a train was the same in every language.  The woman didn’t stop walking, but the disappointment in her face turned to pity and she shook her head.  

                “No train stop?” You didn’t understand.  “No English?”  

                “Bradolbo.” She turned the corner.  

                A few blocks up there was a large white tent. It was some form of country market and you felt a slight bit of relief.  Someone there would speak English.  You took a deep breath, knowing you had to hold it together for a little bit longer.

~~~

               Bucky pulled down the rim of his hat, hiding his face as much as he could without wearing a mask.  He hated coming to public spaces, but he needed to restock some of his staples and that meant coming into the farmer’s market.  

               He told himself to relax, reminding himself he picked this small country to hide for a reason. Nobody was going to pay any attention to him.  Still, he was quick, moving from table to table buying double of what he needed.  

                The snow season wasn’t due to start for another month but the chill told him otherwise so he aired on the side of caution and over purchased just in case he found himself snowbound until spring.  

                “Please? Someone? Anyone?” The familiar language caught Bucky’s ear.  “Can anyone understand me?  Please!”

                Why was someone speaking English in a place like this? All of Bucky’s nerves flared.  Was this a trap?  Had they found him?  He bent down and pulled off his backpack, placing his purchases in the bag while retrieving the pistol he stashed in there, sliding it up his sleeve.  

                “Please?”  The voice was female, but that in no way shape or form calmed Bucky’s nerves.

                He wouldn’t look at them. That would risk drawing attention.  He would rather observe before attacking in the middle of a marketplace.  

                With the gun in his grip, he tugged down his jacket sleeve and walked away from the pleading girl.

                “Is there a payphone?  US Consulate?  Can you tell me the name of this city?  Even what country I’m in?”  The girl’s voice faded as Bucky put distance between them.  

                When he was confident he was far enough away he turned to assess the situation.  If she was an assassin sent to draw him out it was a convincing decoy.  She was beautiful, even with the pained look of terror on her face that she was trying to control.  Frustration filled her eyes as she frantically blinked away the tears.

                She was underdressed too, wearing far too little for the cold air.  She didn’t even have a jacket.  

                “Please, can anyone help me?”  She spun in a circle looking at the other shoppers.  

                Every person kept their eyes down, avoiding her at all costs.  It was like she may as well have been a ghost.  Why wasn’t anyone reacting to the poor girl?  Even though she was speaking in a strange language Bucky was surprised nobody tried to help her.  

                “They’ve seen this before,” Bucky whispered to himself.

                There was a reason they ignored her.  Bucky knew what sort of country this was; it was a big reason he chose it.  He bet the poor lost woman didn’t have that choice.

                He pushed the thought down. She had nothing to do with him.  He needed to ignore her and leave her to whatever the fates had in store.  

                “Please?”  She was struggling to keep the tears out of her voice as it shook.  

                Bucky turned to leave, but he felt a pang of guilt. He had two options: go home and forget about the woman or try and help her.  He didn’t like either.  

                It was early, not even nine am, he guessed whoever was on their way to collect her was minutes away.  They wouldn’t let their catch roam free for too long.  

                By the time they arrived, she would be so desperate and scared she wouldn’t question getting into a car with a stranger.  Bucky knew the dangers of falling into the wrong hands, having your life taken away.  

                “Why won’t anyone talk to me?”  The girl sounded frantic. “Can I just use a phone? Can someone call the police?”  

                Every voice in his head told him it was a bad idea. Leave.  Forget about her, but Bucky still wasn’t sure if it was really him in charge of the voices.  

                “Shit.” He cursed to himself as he moved from behind the table and made a beeline straight for the girl.  “Option two it is.”  

~~~  

               You were seconds away from screaming at the top of your lungs.  It didn’t matter that these people spoke a different language, how could none of them be attempting to speak to you at all?  Maybe call the police over the crazy lady screaming in the market?  

                Right before you sucked in the air an arm flung around your shoulder, pulling you in for a hug.  

                “Act like you’re happy to see me.  Like this was all planned,” a voice spoke from the top of your head.  

                “Oh, you speak English thank God.” You sighed and pulled away from the chest. “Can you help me?”  

               Your breath caught in your throat as sparkling blue eyes looked down at you, he wore a grin that to everyone else was shielded by a baseball hat.  

                “We have to move.  Remember, act like you were waiting for me.”  He kept his arm around your shoulder and guided you to the back of the market.  

                “Move? Where are we going?”  You weren’t about to leave the man’s side.

                “Away from the crowd.  Keep your eyes down. Try and blend.”  You didn’t know how you were supposed to do that when a few minutes ago you were causing a scene.  

                Most people continued to ignore you, but others gaped at the man who was walking you out of the tent.  Almost like he was doing something forbidden. It should have made you uncomfortable, but someone finally agreed to help and you weren’t about to take that for granted.  

                “I was on a train, and then I woke up on the sidewalk. Where am I?”  When you left the area of the market his arm dropped from around your shoulder.  

                “We have to keep moving.”  The man walked to a small bike.

                “Wait.” You’d never been on a motorcycle before and weren’t sure this would seat two. “Can you take me to the police?”  

                “We don’t have time for this.”  He took off his backpack and held it out to you.  “You have two options, stay here and see what happens or come with me.”  

                You glanced behind your shoulder at the market. The awful feeling of invisibility making you almost convulse.  Without hesitation you walked over to him, taking the oversized backpack and throwing the straps around your shoulders.  He had made it look so light, but it was heavy enough you almost thought your back would throw out.  

                He kicked the bike on and you wrapped your arms around his waist as you took off.  The sound of the engine filled the cold air and you tried to bury your head into his back, hoping to block the wind.  

               How could things have gone so wrong so quickly? Your teeth started chattering and as your exposed hands froze around the man’s stomach.  You focused on the cold, telling yourself this man would help you. He would get you in touch with the authorities and you would be on your way to your uncle in no time.  You were sure of it.  There was nothing to fear.  You wouldn’t allow yourself to think anything else.  

[marystudies]

A LONG ASS LIST OF TIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL: FRESHMAN TO SENIOR YEAR LETS GO

Disclaimer: This is just from my experience, so these might not all apply to you! 

Freshman Year

ok, ok, freshman year can be scary but don’t let that get to you

dont worry about upperclassmen being rude/teasing you 

it’ll most likely happen, but I’ve never seen an upperclassman tease a freshman with the intention to really hurt them

one day you’ll be them so dw

on the topic of upperclassmen, make some older friends!!! (through classes, sports, etc.) it’s so nice to have someone give you tips and help you through high school

dont expect your friend group to stay the same lol

BUT ITS A GOOD THING I PROMISE YOU

I was scared of changing my friend group, so even though I wasn’t being treated too well, it wasn’t until senior year when I really made a change and I wish I did it earlier

be open to meeting new people, everyone is scared just like you and looking for more friends

I don’t think its neccessary for freshman to become sUPER involved in clubs and all that but at least get a feel for whats out there

try out for a sport if you play one!

this goes for all of high school, not just freshman year, but I regret not being as involved as I could’ve been 

Go to school events like football games and dances! School spirit is considered weird in middle school but its cool in high school

take your classes seriously, your teachers are right - high school is much harder than middle school (but it’s not too bad if you stay organized!)

my freshman year GPA was my lowest like english really caught me off guard (properly formatted, 5 paragraph essays being 50% of your grade??? a concept.)

so my cumulative GPA was brought down

I think most freshman don’t have access to AP classes to boost your GPA or anything, but if you’re looking to push yourself take an honors class or 2! (if available)

Sophomore Year

wooohooo ur no longer a freshman

I’d take at least 1 AP class if you can

my sophomore year I took AP Human Geo - which I really loved, and it also wasn’t too hard

a lot of sophomores take AP World which is a BITCH of a class

BUT I wouldn’t recommend taking Honors World because you don’t get the GPA boost, you don’t get college credits (unless you take the AP Euro test or something), and it’s almost just as hard 

this is a bit random - but when you’re taking Algebra 2 (which was my sophomore year) PLS PAY ATTENTION math builds on itself don’t fuck yourself over

take the PSAT if you want (I honestly don’t remember if I took it freshman year too but eh), but seriously its not required

start thinking about college (I know it’s the last thing you want to do)

just little things like

when do I want to take the SAT/ACT?

would I like a small school or a big school?

What will I be able to put on my college applications?

like if you do community service through a club/church/etc then great!!! sports? YEs

can’t think of anything? Join a club! Try out for a sport (it’s not too late) Find something that interests you

you’re probably pretty situated socially now but never be afraid to get to know those classmates/”school friends” better! 

Junior Year

so junior year is commonly thought of as the hardest year of highschool

which is partially true (we’ll get there later)

but anyways, seriously buckle your seatbelt and get ready to work your ass off because THIS YEAR COUNTS, LADIES AND GENTS

Take AP classes if available

I took AP Psych (WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND) and Honors PreCalc (coming from regular Algebra 2)

Psych gave me college credit and a GPA boost

HPC gave me a GPA boost for UCs 

It was a bitCH of a class but it made AP calc a breeze 

If you haven’t started already, start prepping for SAT/ACT and then take them

tutoring is very helpful, but it can be expensive

I’ve seen studyblrs post about free prep through Kahn Academy and other stuff, so you might have to do a bit of digging but there are tons of resources out there

TAKE PRACTICE TESTS

take one of each first - then focus on the test you did better on 

one of my biggest regrets is taking SAT prep instead of ACT prep because my ACT (which I didn’t do specialized prep for) ended up equivalent to my SAT (which I did prep for)

the more you take em the better you get

Studyblr is gr8 for finding test taking tips

If you’re not happy with your score, just take it again! I only took each one once but most people improve their scores if they take it again

I recommend visiting a few universities when you’re on break! Get a feel for what you like and what you don’t like (size, location, public/private, etc) and what kind of school you could get accepted to

you don’t want to end up applying to a billion schools that you wouldn’t even want to go to

private schools like it when you express interest by visiting

so if you’re visiting, make sure you check in so you can be in their system 

END OF JUNIOR YEAR - ASK FOR LETTERS OF REC NOW! BY THE FIRST WEEK OF SENIOR YEAR A LOT OF TEACHERS ARE ALREADY TAKING ON TOO MANY LETTERS!

Senior Year (buckle up this section is the longest)

but YAY UR A SENIOR 

DO FUN SENIOR YEAR THINGS like my school has all kinds of events for seniors and it’s so great 

Remember when I said junior year is the hardest? Yeah well no... 1st semester senior year is SO MUCH WORSE ur in for a lot of fun

Ok seriously - don’t let senioritis get to you first semester

Still take challenging classes! Schools are looking for progression in difficulty

Those mid year transcripts REALLY DO MATTER! 

College apps, man

Make sure you’re communicating with your counselor to make sure you have everything ready and on track 

like file the FAFSA and CSS (used for lots of privates)

tbh I didn’t think it would help me a lot but it (the CSS) actually did so just do it even if you think you’ll get nothing

Ok so hopefully at this point you have a feel for what schools you are interested in

Things to consider: location, price, size, public/private, difficulty of the application, ranking, program/major you are applying to, campus, overall vibe

I didn’t do any interviews but maybe look into it

Don’t get too comfortable and set reasonable goals - apply to several safety schools, a few good options/could go either way schools, but also a few “reaches”

ESSAYS

I’m no college counselor, but don’t just wing your essays without having an adult/professional look over them

I got lucky - my mom is a professional writer so my family didn’t pay for a counselor

Do your research - you can find so much information about what schools are looking for in essays

If an essay is “optional” DO IT it’s really not optional lol

Keep in mind - these essays are nothing like what you’ve been taught. You don’t have to (and often SHOULDNT) write a 5 paragraph essay with topic sentences relating back to the thesis and evidence, etc. its much more free

think “What is the story I am going to tell?”

get creative - this is hard and takes some time

Think: How am I going to separate myself from thousands of applicants? What is a story that ONLY I can tell?

DO EARLY ACTION FOR AS MANY SCHOOLS AS POSSIBLE!!! 

such a relief to knowing you got in somewhere in like,,,, november

acceptance rates are higher for EA 

the order from highest to lowest is ED > EA > RD

Early Decision scares me (schools will say they give equal scholarship consideration but lol thats a lie) 

but if you have your heart set on a school go ahead

apply to other school just in case, you don’t want to get stuck starting all your apps when a lot of students have already turned them all in

Now that you’re done with applications (whew), the acceptances (and rejection) will start coming!! yay!

ok first for acceptances

those first acceptances are so cool like YAY YOU GOT INTO COLLEGE IM PROUD OF U

as soon as you get your first acceptances really start researching the school more and deciding if you’d REALLY want to go there or not

i know this is hard bc you haven't heard back from all your schools but it’ll make choosing a school so much easier

sadly, not all acceptances are happy tho

like I got accepted to my #1 school but they gave me no money so it was impossible to go

I was so emo for a couple days there

BUT! If you’re serious about it, try appealing for financial aid but keep your expectations low

ok now waitlists

these can be a bit nerve wracking

PLEASE apply for the waitlist right away

at some schools if you dont within a couple days, your application might get thrown out

aaaaand rejections

i dont have a lot to say about this but please dont be too hard on yourself

sometimes its just not meant to be and thats ok!

NOW PICKING A COLLEGE

def the most difficult and mentally draining part for me lol

make sure you really map out everything to consider

net cost (tuition, room & board, books, travel, personal expenses, etc.), size, location, etc.

I personally had this idea that I’d end up at a big school far from home but I’m going to a small school close to home and I’m still super excited!!! So make sure you give every school a second look 

APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS!

the essays aren’t usually too bad and sometimes you can just rework your college app essays

you can find them online, your school might have some (like PTA scholarships, band scholarships, etc.)

ok this is the time everyone really gets senioritis

i almost didn’t get senioritis at all lol just because slacking off stressed me out

but please be smart about it dont get rescinded 

and lastly have fun! high school really does fly by, it’ll be over before you know it

[justforustravel-blog]

If Homesickness Gets In The Hands Of 20 Things - #APhillyCheesesteak, #Eggplant, #FreshPretzelBagels, #Homesickness, #NationalComfort, #Peppers, #Tomatoes, #TurkishMarket

New Post has been published on http://justforustravel.com/2017/10/12/if-homesickness-gets-in-the-hands-of-20-things/

If Homesickness Gets In The Hands Of 20 Things

Homesickness homesickness is hard… like a leaf driven away from there stricken the winds of her life in a new land and trying to hold on despite all this, the homesickness, attract, in our opinion, a hat is an art in itself to be issued. You to satisfy that longing we have listed 20 beautiful things you miss. Let’s see which one you miss the most from you? I mean come on now, longing for those who wish to resolve.

1. There’s the main course?

Photo: Gabriele Galimberti – if delicates with love project

Drop the country you live in a foreign land,if you travel to the world’s highest quality restaurants you miss mom’s food. Forced many of them when I was little ‘a spoon, a spoon’ he ate even if he was once again out of the throat, the flavor is not forgotten. Keep in mind that a lifetime of each flavor, even if you don’t understand, only what you put into your mother.

2. Oh Were a pita…

How Vollkornbrot nor Ciabatta… Never right around the corner it wouldn’t cost us anything out of the oven sesame, warm pita our place. Especially in Ramadan’tu; tables and rejoices with pita. Sometimes four, sometimes five is divided into, but always combine, everyone at the same table. Already beauty, sincerity, isn’t it? So the crown of the head of the table, cut the dough into ozlenmi.? What a warm butter that have been driven on while…

3. No brother I don’t pay I wouldn’t pay

let’s face it, generous, well-mannered and friendly nation. Whoever’s on our side, let us share something we would like to accompany us who you are, let’s order. Come to that abroad, are a different story. Note that this does not discard into your hand in your pocket and also self-Muslim foreigners, even as she offered to pay immediately I accept pay pay, they don’t and that’s fine brother, I’m not yaptirtmiy arbitrary. If you’re abroad, even if you’re going to miss it.

4. Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant!

Country paved with gold, we agree with you about this. But the stone, what grows above the ground if they are there. There really aren’t like out there; what tomato tomato, cucumber cucumber nor looks like he’s on vacation. That fragrant fruit and vegetables of our country; it’s hard to find here in the flesh like a marshmallow. Antalya Tomatoes of homesickness that makes me miss this man’ni, Çengelköy Cucumber’ni.

5. Simiiiiiiitciiiiyeeee, fresh pretzel bagels!

Oh a nice brewing tea, cheese and bagels had… we are sure that we like the name from often said. Germany’s a bit lucky maybe a Turkish market you’s the Germans, or you can find te’s Pretzel’ini you can try. But whatever you do, the taste of fresh bagels in the air, the other one, I forget her? Especially if it’s freshly baked and warm, the smoke still if it keeps the bagels on the counter, I don’t taste it.

6. National Comfort

we have to accept that we are a nation pretty comfortable. Our vacation to travel, to play and to have fun; we’re fond of being together as a family. How far we go, this we can’t give up our passion. Abroad for even a minute value, and there is not a shortage of social activity here on holidays you know. Go for coffee and backgammon throw, or stand up in front of the door the five o’clock tea and chat you longing to escape to the neighbors he’s on vacation. After eating, sleep, work, coffee in between, the legendary breakfast at the first light of day we love very much.

7. Yay The Freedom Toilet.

‘the tourists also learned that learned everything a bidet!’ what he says We don’t hear. Really interestingly, especially abroad in Europe’s also the convenience that it provides and the value of living as foreigners bidet, freedom know very well. We who do not believe in the cleansing without touching the water, the Turks, wet wipes, dry wipes nor alone we know. After all, holding the bleeding wound on the water, on the balcony, even with the hose that cleans we are a nation. So we have returned back to the soil of your homeland, it is their right to the enjoyment of a solid Toilet biggest. Respect!

8. Family bliss

in the ceiling of the family and family values in our country, sometimes being away from family can be devastating. If you live abroad and you left someone behind you if you can’t is you. Hours, minutes, and sometimes seconds count and you to be reunited with their loved ones. The warm arms of the mother, the Father, the Compassionate words of their brother or brother/sister, you’d miss. What is possible to break away from the family, carry them in your heart wherever you go. Our family situation Barber Mustafa’s Yi; Mehmet kahveci’ayse or neighboring I’s even sometimes you can’t forget yi. You’ve been a good friend, they’re like family. Especially if you love the heart you when you go abroad, it just that you can’t fire out and the years pass.

9. The flavor of the sake for forty years

Espresso? It’s very hard. Filter Coffee? It has no taste. Latte? Very Milky. Americano? Like juicy. Mocha? What this all foam, etc., etc… None does not hold our coffee in our place, none of them have to say beautiful country. After lunch, your Turkish coffee foamy huplettim’t what what remains Is stone. You can’t get far enough to taste the grounds. Next to remember this is friendly Turkish coffee. When the shopping center was Espresso, Turkish coffee is the corner drugstore. Pine, especially slow-cooked cream puffs on the side if there……

10. Every door that opens Our Locksmith

when’s the last sneak sips a cup of tea at an altitude of? When was the last time you lifted his glass with your loved ones? Raki, one of the most beautiful cultures, that is. We didn’t say to only alcohol in our cultural situation. Locksmith’s Supper, the sincerity of. Your manager at work buddy you are the other woman, heart and soul you are friends, your father, and confidant that is a table. What Ireland’s whiskey that you could also build it with him, nor Germany’also with beer. Easy to fit, difficult to peel off. If you have a little appetizer, the taste was always to the palate.

11. Available Bi’!

Dolmuşta ozlenir you, sister, I warned you. We miss. There is the comfort of the minibus? The money that extended from the back, gear selector, the Rosary, the Visor posted by ‘praise God, and God, the Most Merciful’s that feeling of safe travel… abroad, especially in the developed countries which you will find the convenience of full? Turkey’s ordeal about call abroad but stay with the candle between short distances. Dolmus such a love love. Let captain somewhere down available!

12. Sun, sea, beach

Advanced triple, great striker. We ever missed, are they? Also if you’re in a rainy climate, call candle Turkey’s beaches. Sparkling Sea, beaches and water sports and the mind to always remain in the background. Ibiza’s or nice’unless you’re from home.

13. Plenty Spicy Adana, Bi’ S Half Alexander

if the culture, taste it, if tastes, lunch, dinner. What we have. If you live abroad, you miss to the left and to the right or longing shawarma joint about the flavors that taste forgot. Plenty of Adana at an angle, bi’ s half iskender, lahmacun and copsise who says no? Once you’ve whiff more, the tastes that will make you feel right at home.

14. Shell gas’s shirt from the waist, come on, SIS General!

Photo: mezitli.gov.tr

the legendary Us our markets our vendor and legend in… Dec EU’s eat in the process of integration, even Europe’s trouble is another factor that makes you feel at home or our Mart. Take your car and you there, the market is saturated runs out to shop to travel. Both AVM’s muffled, dull weather; expensive prices. Enjoy endless shopping, have intimacy and cheaply made. They know Turks who live in more developed countries; shopping is difficult, it is expensive. So we have returned from abroad and Turkey’s eat; in the early days and in the last days, go shopping, and not necessarily robust.

15. They will put the house in the high hills

two beautiful and fancy henna night weddings that are specific to US culture. Transition moments with a cocktail or a simple wedding in the countryside is not our culture never. Henna that will burn, halay will be drawn to cry, the bride, the groom and the bride’s aunt’s aunt’s uncle of the cousin of the children of grandchildren on the scene the two will play. Weddings we know you’re eager for summer to begin even these circumstances. Sometimes it is possible for a wedding or a bridal path of a thousand miles. But truth be told; we are ahead of recreation open to all nationalities from the heart Dec.

16. Move for the sake of

the traffic of foreigners to our country missed. The competition is Istanbul’s attendees dan ‘fuck you’ s hear you say we don’t, but when you go abroad, in order that traffic on the road lines, no pedestrian lights, Bicycle lamp, no people’s China to the top of the beats. You couldn’t handle scissors on the way, you couldn’t open the window what will you do with the traffic? Wipe the glass once the US traffic, selling water, there are even services that don’t even look at Fortune. All Inclusive is the motto the throne of hearts with the Qur’an in our country to traffic in Istanbul traffic-in our opinion-a really fun (!)

17. Sound I need Sound

Abroad silence, calmness of be like out there for you to actually understand and you don’t need to be bored. A two-day short overseas visits, you realize the genius. When you open that window and see if there is anyone walking down the street you’ll be paranoid from unemployment. In some places street lights for electricity savings does not burn, you hold the light in front of it with your phone. Tonight 5’after ten, the orphan-turned-European countries especially, guy pisses me off. However, the country’s in? Night life, fun, likes to gossip go to the park and garden citleyer worst we are a nation to the core.

18. Icy Cold Water As Nails.

water ozlenir foreigners also don’t say, we missed it. Carbonated water in the country, especially in the ceiling of the fresh normal water it can be difficult to find sasal. Also in everyday life, on the outside in a cafe or a dinner if you’re thirsty for big trouble. Interestingly, normal drinking water in most places; more expensive than soda. You’re staying dehydrated as foreigners, so to speak. When she returned to the country, drink and can’t get enough, you’re addicted sasal water. Many foreigners as a sponsor, so Ali Dede’s, Fatma Ana’s sake you can’t drink the water.

19. A Philly cheesesteak, Koko, Koko

a Philly cheesesteak’s not to love they loved and there are many. But love is the greatest meals of meat offal ozletir can receive a even homesickness. Where you’ll find out that Turkey’s from somewhere else? Tell me, You know, how there are many countries where its selling price is reasonable? In our opinion, a complete culture. The smell of it, the texture of your insides, your stomach extending from the adventure… Ok, we got a little carried away, but this offal are eaten so. Lamb, tripe trotters are among the other alternatives also. Like any of them, you’ll find out there, unfortunately. If he’s not on vacation, cherish it while you still have time and 20. go and reward yourself kokorecci proceeding to the nearest item.

20. The best of the corner

a corner of warm bread out of the oven, in our opinion, is at the heart of the corners. Where is the Oven, where the country while in a foreign land? When we were kids go in the oven, warm bread Baker took her hand and stops all the corners until I got home the days you eat comes to mind. Even the longing for fresh bread 70 cents stay away. Crunchy crust, soft like cotton. This place miss you, come back come on now.

Flickr users for photos dirty gorgeous pancake, Başak Ekinci, Dean Sharesk, petit1ze, Context Travel, Longing Ozgobek, a4gpa, Jessica Parker, Berge Gazen, Robert U, sindre Mercedes Drunk, Stu_Spivack, Simon Q, Wijnants Roel, Glasseyes_View, public domain pictures, and Steve Counsell nurettin mert Aydin, Emre and active Wikipedia user.D ‘thank ye.