#I am so excited for this opportunity and grateful to live in Germany to experience this

[thasorns]

Like not only I’m going to meet BillyBabe on the 24th of November at the Berlin fanmeeting, no. I also bought a ticket for this event which means I’m going to meet all of these amazing people who created the most wonderful bl’s what exists.

Yuan, Pepzi AND Bee worked together on ‘my stand in’.

Bee alone wrote for many bl’s the script I consider my favorite such as ‘bad buddy, a tale of thousand stars, vice versa, my school president… etc.

Pepzi directed kinnporsche and is the director of the upcoming bl ‘sweet tooth, good dentist’ with Mark Pakin and Ohm Thipakorn. Helped (assist) to direct Bad Buddy, Voice in the Rain, Dark Blue Kiss and one of my faves ‘Great Men Academy’.

I’m meeting Yuan a second time (first one was at the ifylita special screening in Berlin). She produced my stand in, manner of death, after dark and was an executive producer for I feel you linger in the air which is one of my ult faves probably 🥰

And then we have Aof the one who directed and wrote (giving some examples of my faves): a tale of thousand stars, dark blue kiss, our skyy2: a tale of thousand stars, our skyy2: atots x bad buddy. Produced Wandee goodday, hidden agenda, only friends, 23.5, never let me go, my school president, the eclipse. Is an executive producer for p.s. I hate you also is the director of the upcoming bl sweet tooth, good dentist and US the series

Like do you get what I mean… 😭 such inspirational people who created some of the beautiful bl’s I know and identify myself with some of the characters they created 🥹

[drstrangefictions]

One-Shot

Bucky Barnes x Female Reader

Word Count: 3,995

Spoilers: Not that I know of?

Warnings: Changed a little bit of certain scenes for story purposes. Some Anti-Steve, Pro-Tony propaganda lmao. Mention of Tony’s funeral. OOC Bucky. Absolute trash. Make your own assumptions about readers life kinda thing lmao.

“So, we’re supposed to trust him? Just like that?” Sam stood between her and Steve, eyeing Bucky. “Because Steve –.”

She shrugged, cutting Sam off. She wasn’t really interested in hearing the rest of what he had to say. “Steve’s the one you need to complain to, not me. Besides, I’m not even here for Steve. You are.”

Sam looked at her, he was under the impression she was here for the same reason he was, it seemed now that he was wrong. “What does that mean?”

She put her hands in the pocket of her pullover hoodie and kept her eyes forward. “Sorry to break it to you, but my loyalties lie with Stark. He is reasonably upset, for a lack of a better word, with Steve and his decisions and beliefs. I’m not here to agree with Steve, “oh boo-hoo the Sokovia Accords! Wah!” I signed them.” She scoffed, glancing at Sam. “I’m here for the former Sergeant Barnes and I’m here for you.”

Sam took a step back, visibly shocked. He glanced at Steve, who wasn’t giving them so much as a passing glance, but it was apparent he was listening to her. Steve carried on with his business off to the side, pretending he wasn’t the impacted by her words. Sam then glanced at Bucky, who was looking at them as they spoke. Bucky looked as though he was trying to understand them, specifically her and her reasonings for doing things. He wounded her and she still aided Steve in finding him. She had found him moments before Steve to warn him about what was to come and insulted the not-so-safe safe-house. She had successfully confused him. She didn’t seem to care that they could hear her speak either. It was almost as if she wasn’t trying to hide it, Bucky wasn’t entirely sure if that was her intention.

Sam pointed at Bucky. “Him? They guy that tried to kill us?” He looked at her, with his eyebrows raised.

“Meh, I wouldn’t say tried, more like failed to.” She watched a vehicle pull up. “But… yes, Sam. Him. Not Steve and his self-righteous morals. This is the god damn 21st century, this is not a war against Germany or a society you should be conforming to. This is – excuse my language, Rogers – fuckin’ stupid.” She looked past Sam to watch Steve’s reaction.

Steve glanced at her, partially amused and partially sick of the running joke. “Still not living it down I see.” He muttered to himself. He approached Clint, Wanda, and Scott who emerged from the vehicle.

She took her hands out of her pocket and slipped out of her pullover. “It really is stupid and there are not enough words in any existing and dead language to describe it. Swearing like a sailor doesn’t even help! I’m not here for Steve. I won’t keep it to myself anymore, he is self-righteous. Everything he does may be fine back in the ‘40s where he comes from and thinks he still lives, but not here, not now. Not in the 21st century. I’m here for you, Sam. A pararescue who walked back into this life because Captain America asked him to! You know loss, you lost a colleague – a friend. You are a great man and a good friend, Sam.

“I’m here for Clint, who has a family and shouldn’t be fighting this fight because of them and for them. For Clint who I’ve worked with and known for years. I’m here for Wanda, who is rightfully angry that Stark, my true ally, used to produce weapons – those of which were the reason she ended up where she did! I’m here for Scott, who I barely know. He has a kid! Why is he here?! I’m here for the former Sergeant Barnes who didn’t ask to be experimented on, to be “saved” from the fall, to be brainwashed.” She turned to Steve. “I’m here for everyone that isn’t named Steve Rogers because they gave me a reason to help you.” She walked up to Steve.

Bucky was ready to intervene, to pull her away from Steve if he had to or even try to punch her. He seemed to be the only one willing to do so. She approached Steve as if she would punch him or something of the sort. Instead she just stood in front of him. Bucky let his guard down seeing as he was wrong about what she would do to Steve.

“I’m not here for someone who thinks he is morally above everyone in this room.” She put a finger to his chest. “You think Stark is self-righteous? You think Stark views himself above everyone? He does it to hide the fact that he is insecure. You don’t have a reason to do it. Not saying Stark is correct, but neither are you.”

Steve grabbed her hand and removed it from his chest. He seemed unphased with her outburst. “And I am grateful that you are here for them.”

She pulled a small key out of her back pocket and unlocked the gauntlets on her arms. She threw the gauntlets and key at his feet. “Is this the part where we suit up? Because it looks like you all are slacking.”

“You sleep in that suit.” Steve took a step back. “Everyone that doesn’t sleep prepared – suit up.”

“Stand down, Captain!” She raised her voice at Steve, she had never truly raised her voice before that moment. She held Steve’s shield in one hand and had her other hand against Tony’s chest plate. She wasn’t pushing them a part; she was simply keeping Steve from continuing to hit Tony with the shield. “I will do it; you know I will.”

Steve stood up and stared down at her and Tony, seeing how serious she was with her threat. “Why did you come here?”

“It definitely wasn’t to babysit the three of you. I turn my back for five seconds and it all goes to shit, I feel like. Tony should be thankful I decided that following him was the best course of action.” She stood up, keeping her eyes on Tony. Tony kept his eyes on her, even after knowing her for so long, she was still unpredictable. He was on the ground it such a depressing state, she wondered what would have happened had she not stepped in. “You can’t beat the shit out of all of your problems, Steve. I’m taking Tony home, Get Sergeant Barnes out of here, NOW. And don’t you dare contact me unless it is about him.”

Bucky looked at her upon hearing his name slip past her lips in such an aggressive tone. He still was not sure why she kept doing what she was doing or why the only reason she be contacted was for him, but he did appreciate that she was willing to concern herself with him. Ever since Steve figured out the Winter Soldier was Bucky; she had always followed Steve to try to help. He watched her as she tried to hold Tony back from attempting to land another hit on Steve.

“Don’t do it, don’t do it.” She repeated in a low voice, trying to block him without using her powers.

“Steve.” Bucky said, not loud enough to be heard over Tony.

Tony stopped fighting against her and instead pointed a finger at her. “I don’t even know where the begin with you. You signed the Accords and you still ran off with Steve for his buddy over there. Did you know too? Do you know what his friend did? My parents are dead because of him. Do you have any idea what you’re fighting for?”

“Don’t do this now.” She took a step back, keeping herself between Tony and Steve.

“That shield doesn’t belong to you. My father made it.” Tony pushed her out of the way and approached Steve.

She glanced at Bucky. For a brief moment they locked eyes. She looked away from him quickly and turned her attention back to Tony and Steve.

Steve pushed the shield towards Tony. “Take it.”

Tony passed her the shield. She took it but not without glancing at him, she didn’t exactly want to be the one to carry it, but she was prepared to. “Stark, let’s go before I drag you myself.” She clipped the shield to her back and walked past them with Tony in tow.

“I’m sorry about…” Bucky started.

She stopped him. “Don’t.” She turned to look at him. Her eyes looked dull compared to the last few times Bucky saw her. They had always been filled with some kind of rage, excitement, or they were just bright. “I know you mean well, but this is the last thing I want to talk about, Sergeant Barnes.”

“Bucky.” He finally corrected her.

She barely nodded. “Sorry – Bucky.”

He kept his distance from her. Neither of them are very personable nor do they enjoy being close to people. Bucky did it more so out of respect for her, uncertainty of how close to her is too close. “Steve wanted to know if you were going to join us for dinner. He thought it was best that Sam or I ask you because well...”

She exhaled, amused. She figured Steve would send someone other than himself to fetch her. She looked back at the water for a moment, she wanted to stay for a while longer and let her emotions out in the only way she had ever known, but for the first time in a long time she craved interaction and distraction. “Steve is paying, right?” She flashed Bucky a grin. “Only way I’m going is if he pays.”

“I hope so, that’s how he got me.” Bucky smiled, joking along with her. “C’mon, I don’t want to get left behind.”

She followed Bucky. “Is it just us four?”

He shook his head. “Scott and Wanda are joining us.”

“What I’m hearing is, I get to pick a single person to ride with me in my car and Sam gets everyone else?” She jogged to catch up to walk beside him. “If that’s the case, I’ll take either you or Wanda.”

“Is that so?” Bucky looked over at her. “Would it be wrong if I grabbed that seat first?”

She thought about it for a moment. “I don’t believe so. Wanda doesn’t know she had the opportunity to ride with me.”

Bucky sat across from her, he dressed as thought he were trying too hard to blend in. She looked like she had this down to a science, she didn’t look as out of place as he did. Each time he had seen her she had some kind of suit on and was prepared for anything. This time, she looked very casual and relaxed, something he rarely saw from her. She also seemed a bit different than the last time he saw her, but he couldn’t place the difference.

He was silent, trying to figure her out as he has been since he had met her. She disappeared from everyone’s radars almost immediately after Tony’s death. She was untraceable for the following five months. Bucky was concerned, from what he knew about her, she wasn’t the type of person to leave without saying anything – Bruce had confirmed that for him a few months back. He did worry about her, not that he would admit it to anyone.

“You’re staring. I didn’t call Sam to bring you out here for you to stare at me with an expression like that, Bucky.” She said, pulling him back into reality. She had a cheeky smile plastered on her face. “I just wanted to check on you. Steve apparently got old, you’re stuck with Sam, you’re…” She motioned to his entire person. “…you.”

Bucky looked down at the table and nodded, taking some offense to what she had said, but also understanding what she had meant. “I’m me, so you had to check on me.”

“I couldn’t find the right words, I’m sure you know what I really meant though.” She slid him a catalog envelope that he seemed to have overlooked.

“What’s this?” He asked, picking it up.

“Nothing to worry about. I would wait to open it, though.” She flashed him a genuine smile.

Bucky looked at his name on the backside, beautiful calligraphy. She clearly planned to give this to him for whatever reason she had. She also took her time in writing his name across the back.

“I have something else for you.” She handed him a flip phone. “Sam mentioned something about it in the event you need some help. You need a way to call for it. I got everyone you would need from Agent Hill to that spider kid. These aren’t necessarily traceable either.”

Bucky took the phone from her. “You didn’t –.”

“But I did.” She leaned back, cutting him off. “Look… I’m sorry for disappearing on you two for a few months. I had to take care of something that took precedence over everything else. When I spoke with Sam, he mentioned that you had asked about me while I was gone. So… I did this.”

Bucky looked at her, almost feeling guilty for asking about her. Had Sam not told her that he asked about her maybe they wouldn’t be here talking. He couldn’t decide what was a better feeling. “You don’t seem like the type to just leave without saying anything.”

“You’re right, but sometimes it just has to happen. If the Falcon and the Winter Soldier need a hand from now on, I’m available.” She picked up her hot coffee.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Bucky said. “I’ve been meaning to ask, what do you call that power of yours?”

“Ferrokinesis. Or if you’ve ever watched Avatar: The Last Airbender, Metal-bending.” She set her elbow on the table and rested her chin in the palm of her hand.

Bucky sat back. “Remind me not to piss you off, then.” He chuckled.

She smiled. “I would never use your arm… although I did think about it years ago. Never got the chance because of the gauntlets. Had to stick with being thrown onto a car.”

Bucky sunk in the seat; remembering he did toss her onto the roof of a car like a ragdoll. He would have preferred to not have been reminded. “Why did you even have them in the first place?” He asked.

“They were created out of fear. Pierce was one of many who feared what I could do, and it eventually made sense. S.H.I.E.L.D was compromised, had Pierce not been H.Y.D.R.A, I wouldn’t have had them at all. The man who made the gauntlets though, he didn’t fear me. He made everyone believe there was one way to remove them, through Pierce.” She looked at the table with no readable expression.

Bucky understood what she was saying. “You’re telling me, as long as you had the time to remove them –.”

“Yessir. It was one hell of a game I played. Imagine if I fought you without the gauntlets.” She kept her gaze on the table, barely keeping a smile on her face.

Something was bothering her, and he could tell now.

Bucky sat down staring at the envelope. She told him it was nothing to worry about, yet the contents did worry him. He slowly opened it and pulled everything out. A chain slipped out from between some of the papers and hit the floor. A few small photographs slipped out as he picked up the necklace. He grabbed the photographs and looked at them. A few were of his family, and a few were of him and Steve. He placed the photographs next to him and looked at the chain, his military dog tags. He wasn’t sure if he should be angry with her for going out of her way to get the things he has seen so far or be thankful for someone like her doing something like this.

He flips through the stack of papers, some are far more important than others such as a list of living relatives, confidential files on him, documents stating that he is no longer a criminal and instead considered an Avenger, and a check. He had everything laid out around him, he wasn’t exactly sure what he was feeling or should be feeling now. Possibly angry, believing that this is what took precedence over everything else. Possibly happy. Grateful for the trouble she went through to do all of this for him. Skeptical and unsure of what to do about his living relatives and why that was included. Concerned if she had spoken to them and they know. Furious with the check – she has no business giving him that much money – which makes him wonder how she could afford to even do that.

He sits in silence, thinking it over and taking it all in. He doesn’t get the chance to considering making a phone call as his phone starts to ring. He doesn’t look to see who is calling him, instead he just answers.

“Hey, Buck – sorry for calling. I was just calling to make sure the phone actually works! Stupid of me not to test it out before giving it to you, right?” She came up with an excuse on the spot.

Bucky knew who it was as soon as she started speaking. “That’s not why you called.”

She was silent for a moment. “No, it’s not. I just wanted to see if you opened the envelope.” Her voice trailed.

“I did… was this why you left?” He asked. After looking at what was included, he understood why she said to open it later.

“No, like I said, it took precedence. This was kind of just a detour on my way home.” She was shivering, he could tell she was outside somewhere. “Thought you would appreciate some kindness and rewards. I mean… being Sam’s friend probably doesn’t come with rewards. Eh… it definitely doesn’t, I would know, I’m still waiting for my rewards!” She laughed.

Hearing her laugh made him smile. “Why don’t you just do something nice for yourself then?”

“That’s absurd. Oh! I have one more thing for you and I left it outside, I wasn’t able to give it to you earlier unfortunately. You can actually see it from your window because I am the master of this shit!” He could hear her grinning.

The curiosity she fueled compelled him to look out his window… only to find her outside. He pressed his forehead against the glass, disappointed and amused. “You.”

“Me! Yes! Hi!” She waved violently. “I’m the thing outside. And I’m on the phone with you! Bet you didn’t see that one coming!” She laughed to herself about her own genius.

Bucky opened the window. “Aren’t you cold?”

She hung up the phone and resorted to yelling to him. “I would’ve been fine if I didn’t decide to have ice cream before I got here! Do I regret my decision? I’ll do it again! Oh, I have a question for you.” She stuffed her hands in her coat pockets.

“Ask away.” He enjoyed this side of her. Very… interesting.

She swayed slightly. “So… a friend of mine told me you usually ask the girls out. How does it feel being on the other side?”

Bucky was surprised. “Are you asking me out?”

“Well, yeah. I tried to come up with a pickup line when I was planning this. Uh, yeah, I ended up with a wack ass plan of confuse the Bucky, give him things, and freeze to death as I scream at him. I mean, it’s working right? Am I even doing this right?” She smiled.

She definitely is interesting.

“Listen… I might be a little too aggressive, I might come off too strong, and I very much go overboard. Can you tell? And it’s scientifically proven that I also don’t know much about anything. But I do know that I care about you and I would do anything for you. And I do know Sam actually bullied me when I was just crushing on you. Listen, Sam is a terrible wingman off the field… I was so afraid he’d call me out and ruin my life. I – anyway – I absolutely know for a fact that I fall fast and hard and my feeling are wrong 99% of the time. This has got to be the 1% where I’m right.” She was nervous and cold which was an awful combination.

“You inherited the stupid. I’m letting you inside.” Bucky thought about what she said on his was down the get the door for her.

She was already inside. “Door was unlocked, I’m guessing Sam…” She had slipped her arms in her coat and left her sleeves dangle. “You know what made it worse?”

“You did not drive with the windows down.” Bucky sighed, knowing she did.

“I like to feel cool. I will freeze to death before I admit I am lame.” She brought her coat up to her nose and shuddered. “Are you free Saturday evening?”

Bucky looks at her. “You’re working tonight?”

She nods. “Nothing too bad. I changed before I came here. I don’t sleep prepared; Steve is a liar.”

Bucky chuckles. “I wouldn’t think sleeping prepared would be comfortable.”

“I have to disappoint you, by the way. I’m not staying here much longer either. I have to go home sometimes.” She smiled. “I’d like to be home long enough to have a pet. How cool would it be if I just had a whole god damn lizard?”

“A lizard?” Bucky questioned it, even though he knew that was no good.

She perked up. “You never answered what I said outside or about Saturday! We keep avoiding it!”

“As long as you drive with the windows up Saturday.” Bucky said.

“Deal!” She would give him a thumbs up if her hands were not in her coat.

“I don’t agree with most of what you said. You do go overboard… and I have witnessed Sam bully you.” He paused.

“At least you’re honest!” She shuddered. “Fuck!”

He ignored her outburst as he was sort of used to it. “I don’t believe your feelings are always wrong either.” He told her.

“So, am I right?” She squinted.

He looked at her as though she were a special kind of stupid, which in his own opinion she was not. “Did I not just agree to go out with you on Saturday?” He watched her try to be warm.

“I have to confirm.” She slipped her hands back through her sleeves.

“You are right.” He said, giving her a slight smile. He almost felt awkward standing in front of her. He wasn’t sure what he should be doing with himself in her presence. He would invite her to sit down if she weren’t on her way to work.

“Awesome! This is great! Can you believe I’ve never actually done something like this before? I was going to change the whole plan and say something earlier, but I failed and used just used the time in between to work up the courage to do this. I have to go! I will see you Saturday! At… uh… well I didn’t think that far!” She gave him a quick hug. She wasn’t a hugger; she hasn’t been for a long time. Bucky has honestly never seen her hug anyone except for Tony a total of one time. She went to leave and walked straight into the door as she didn’t full the door open. “I meant to do that!”

“Just letting you know; you have to turn the door handle to open doors.” Bucky demonstrated in air, chuckling. He sure as hell wasn’t going to let her live this down.

She swung the door open. “Saturday! I’ll give you a time by tomorrow!”

[bloomsburgu]

Bloomsburg University Father-Daughter Benefit from the PA Family GI Bill

BLOOMSBURG — When Army National Guard Master Sgt. John Paul Karpovich of Hunlock Creek, Pa. learned of the new Military Family Education Program (MFEP), also referred to as the PA Family GI Bill, reenlisting for six more years to the Pennsylvania National Guard (PNG) was a no-brainer for him. MFEP allows spouses and children of PNG members to attend college at no cost or a reduced cost. For Karpovich, it would help his daughter Georgia with her tuition to attend Bloomsburg University, so he signed on the dotted line.

The program provides for 10 semesters of tuition-free education for family members, which must be at a Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency-approved educational institution, and at the tuition rate set by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

Karpovich is no stranger to BU as both he and his brother attended the school in the mid ‘90’s. “At BU, I majored in sociology/criminal justice,” said Karpovich. “My plan was to become a police officer or work with law enforcement in some capacity. As it turns out, I left BU to become an active-duty soldier with the PA Army National Guard.”

“I had joined the PA Army National Guard as a junior at Hanover Area in Luzerne County and took a leave of absence from BU to serve with the Guard in Germany. “My plan, when I got back home, was to go enroll again at BU, but the semester had already started. After being offered a full-time job with the PA Army National Guard and due to multiple duty positions and starting a family, I just couldn’t find the time to continue my education.”

Fast forward to 2018, when Karpovich’s oldest daughter, Georgia, was going through the college search process.

“I encouraged Georgia to attend Bloomsburg University," said Karpovich, who has served in Germany and now the Middle East. “I was overjoyed when she said it was one of her top choices after attending an open house. The faculty treated us great and gave us the type of information we were looking for during our visit. We even got to tour the floor of the dorm that my brother stayed in during his freshman year.

Georgia Karpovich is a sophomore at BU, majoring in education in dual early childhood/special education.  

“A major factor in my decision of BU were the special education clubs the university has to offer,” said the younger Karpovich. “I am on the executive board for the Trinity Learning Community, an organization that works with adults and individuals with disabilities who live in an independent living home in Bloomsburg. Many schools I had toured did not have clubs specifically for special education or any educational clubs at all.”

“My dad has always talked my ear off about Bloomsburg,” said Georgia. “When I told him I was applying to BU, he was thrilled. He came on my tour of campus and was most excited to show me was the tonal sculpture outside of the Haas Center, due to the auditory distortion that happens when standing between the two large discs.”

One of the surprise outcomes of Georgia attending BU was her father deciding to re-enroll at BU, taking advantage of the University’s Military Academic Credit-Review Board (MAC-RB) program. The MAC-RB process determines appropriate, but only academically justifiable, BU credit equivalencies for military training.

“I first heard of MAC-RB when I took Georgia to meet with the Veterans

Affairs representative, Bob Heckrote,” said Karpovich. “It was exciting to learn that BU would consider my military training toward academic credits. I now have a path to completing my degree, which I would not have had without MAC-RB.”

Georgia was naturally thrilled for her dad.

“His decision surprised me when he said he would resume his education,” said Georgia. “I think it’s a really fun opportunity to go to college at the same time as my father, even though he is not on campus with me to experience it together. I found it humorous that we both have BU email addresses.”

Of course, none of this would be possible without the PA Family GI Bill.

“Many thanks to state representatives and all those who worked to make this benefit possible for the families of the soldiers and airmen who serve in the PA National Guard,” said John Paul Karpovich. “Using the PA Family GI Bill allows Georgia to concentrate on her studies without having to worry about how she is going to afford it. When she got accepted, I made the decision to begin looking into finishing up my degree. Bob Heckrote has been very helpful. He has helped my daughter with her paperwork and also helped put me on track to degree completion. For that I am grateful.”

[loveisbraveandwild]

hi so i’ve gotten a lot of messages and asks/anons about attending the city of lover concert and i just want to tell my experience and explain how it happened, as well as address some things like my “views” on international fans and class. a lot of people are excited for me but i also came back tot some really really really hateful anons so i just wanted to clear everything up. the post is very long but it basically talks about being abroad, going to sessions, and then this weekend in paris.

as you may or may not know i’m currently doing a semester abroad in germany. i’m really fortunate to go to a university in the states that has a strong study abroad program allowing me to study in germany without paying an additional cost from what i already pay my uni. knowing i was going abroad, i saved as much money as possible because i knew i wanted to travel. because of my visa, i am not allowed to work in germany. i haven’t not had a job since middle school. as a full time student in the states i also work three jobs. during the summer i was working around 50-70 hours a week. i’m privileged and fortunate enough to be able to take out a lot of student loans and what i can’t take out, my parents pay. aside from my education, i fully pay for everything. traveling while abroad was a priority for me so i was able to save a good bit a money.

in addition to saving for abroad i was pocketing about $10/week for what at the time i knew to be the ts7 tour. when i got my call to go to rhode island and then nashville i spent every dollar i had for tour on a plane and airbnb in nashville. other people stayed in hotels, i stayed in a $34/night airbnb and while i always imagined my dad would be there when i met taylor, he couldn’t come. i was lucky that many of my friends who i met up with in nashville had parents generous enough to pay for multiple meals of mine. despite all of this, i recognize my privilege of being able to go to sessions. i was saving for things that definitely aren’t necessities because i have the means to between my babysitting, sales associate, and paid internship jobs. while i havent spoken about it much because i honestly don’t know how to talk about it without getting backlash, i want to make it very clear that i do not for a second take for granted the fact that i was able to fly to nashville with 8 days notice as a result of the class and financial situation i am currently in. 

going back to abroad, i knew i was going to paris. i didn’t know when but its been a dream of mine since i started learning french at age 11. i imagined a short weekend with a few abroad friends to site see. when taylor announced the city of lover concert, i reached out to a couple of my international fan mutuals with the hopes of being able to meet up with them. i knew this concert was for international fans and i never for one second considered taking an opportunity away from an international fan. when yas and i discussed going to paris together it was clear that had she won tickets, she was going to go with someone else despite us staying together because we know there are people who have never seen taylor because of where they live. my plan was to go to the venue and meet up with friends and maybe catch a glimpse of scott or tree if we were lucky. i got a round trip flight for 97 euros and stayed in a hostel and explored paris alone for a few days until yas came to paris. my program doesn’t allow friday classes so i left thursday evening and then flew back to germany at 4am this morning because i had class at 9am. i did skip class on monday though, something i am eternally grateful for being able to do. 

the day of the concert we arrived around 3 and met up with the handful of people we knew were going. the day of the concert i learned that doors opened at 6:00pm and the concert started at 8:30pm. i didn’t know this until i was in paris. i also got pickpocketed the day before the concert so wasn’t able to access social media with the exception of a few times because of yas’s generosity and willingness to let me use her phone. had i had full access to my phone, i would have posted when and where the concert was.

when we arrived there was a barricade section of people without tickets but with the hopes of going in. there were about two dozen of them and almost all, if not all of them were european swifties. we found it odd that they were holding these people considering staff said multiple times that there were no more tickets. however, yas and i were still planning to leave at around 6:15/6:30 after everyone was let into the concert. at around 5:45 we were still there, people were getting excited, and i said to yas “i want to get into the barricade. what’s the worst that can happen.” after they let the first group of people into the concert venue they opened the barricade and gave us all bracelets. i was about fifth from last to get my bracelet and they still had what looked to be 20 or so more bracelets to give out. i was shocked. i was crying, shaking, smiling, all the good things. i could not believe what was happened. i never went to the venue with the intentions of getting in even for a second but i knew that if i got into the barricade with literally fifteen minutes until the doors opened i wouldn’t be taking a spot from anyone if they did distribute tickets. there’s no way anyone could have predicted they would let us in because staff made if very clear both day of and days leading up to the event that all the tickets were won or bought. me being there did not take a spot away from anyone. if i hadn’t gone in that would have been one less person at the concert, not one more spot for an international fan. i recognize my privilege of being able to go to paris at all, let alone with someone i had never met before for an event i wasnt even going to. 

i spoke a lot about the concert leading up to it, in addition to the experiences i’ve had since being abroad the last few weeks. i had no idea what its like to be an international fan and im frustrated that it took me walking a mile in international fans shoes to actually speak about it. i should have said something sooner, and i know that. i still stand by every single thing i said or reblogged about the injustices of being an international fan. again, my experience at the concert was not in spite of international fans. i want to continue to be an ally for international fans if welcomed to, but many of the anons i got suggested i should never talk about it again. additionally, i got a lot of asks about my privilege. this is something i know i need to address more directly and its honestly one of the hardest issues for me to talk about. the school i go to and the people i am surrounded by often puts me on the lower class side but in the real world and in this fandom i know i am extremely privileged. im not well educated on how to talk about my class privilege but its something i very much want to learn and so i am actively trying. this fandom has already taught me so much.

i’m sorry this is so long but i needed to get my story out because i’m still very distraught by the dozens of hateful asks i got about the concert. this was easily the second best weekend of my life and i boarded my plane back to germany shaking over the anons i knew i would come back to. i understand all the anger and frustration because i know there are people who have been here for years without even a notice let alone the opportunities i’ve gotten over the past month and a half. i want to talk about it but only in a constructive manner. i still dont have my phone to replies will be delayed but please feel free to comment, send me asks/anons, or messages if you took the time to read this post. 

[nctinfo]

[TRANS] YOHOGIRL interview with WayV’s Ten, Lucas & Yangyang!

What did the WayV trio who can speak 7 languages in total say to us before they watched their first fashion show? About two weeks ago, after we saw the celebrity guest list for FENDI's grand fashion show in Shanghai, our editor buddies all immediately said in the Li Jiaqi  (a guy who became known after recommending a lipstick) tone: Interview them! And we landed the interview. Na (a sound to express something being shown to someone else), here they are - WayV trio's only been half a year since brand new boygroup WayV debuted, but how popular are they already? Before the FENDI show, I posted on Weibo, attaching photos of them, and within a minute, it had garnered hundreds of shares and comments. If you still don't know who they are, I suggest you listen to the title track they just released in May - Take Off. Members Lucas, Ten, and Yangyang were the three who came to watch the show, and their average age is 20 years old (Lucas and Yangyang are both born just before and after 2000~), but in our interaction, I found a profound maturity with politeness and adorableness like the spring wind. After the interview, this old sister thought: how nice it’d be if my future sons were just like them. Alright, hurry and come and see what we talked about with the WayV trio, seeing as when this heavenly group gains even more popularity, we’ll probably take half a year before they have time for another interview with us...

Q: Tonight is your first time watching a fashion live, right? Isn’t it very exciting for you right now? Yangyang: Yes, yes, it’s the first time for all three of us~ In the past, I’ve only watched videos of fashion shows, this will be an unforgettable first experience. Lucas: I really want to watch the show soon! This is a really important show, I believe it’s been decorated and furnished grandly inside. Ten: I really like fashion myself, so I really look forward to viewing tonight’s collection.

Q: What will you look out for during the show? Yangyang: I’ll probably pay more attention to the matching of their pieces because the designers’ way of matching will be different from what typical people wear on the streets, I want to learn from them. Ten: I think it’ll be color, FENDI’s clothes have lots of basic colors, and they’re really nice to look at. Lucas: I’ll probably pay more attention to the models, since I learned to model before, and walked a show too, so it’ll feel very different as an audience watching the models walk the show~

Q: As a group who has debuted for about half a year, how do you think you grew and changed in this half a year? Yangyang: I think we can better face the camera now, and gained some stage experience. Ten: I think it’s our teamwork! Lucas: Mmhm, we were already very good before, but we seem to have more motivation now, and really feel that we are one team who can’t go on with even one person’s absence, we cherish very much the time we have together, and often gather to have fun, feeling one another’s spark.

Q: Out of the 3 of you, who has the best fashion sense? Yangyang: About this, I feel that the three of us have vastly different style! For example, Lucas has a tall and strong physique, so he suits more tight-fitting clothes; Ten is someone whose clothing matches his emotions, he is quite good in the sense that clothes that don’t look good on other people somehow looks very good on him! As for me, I prefer more street, sporty styles, like today’s hairband, which I personally picked out, haha.

Q: Usually, what kind of products do you like to buy? Ten: I like to buy accessories like necklaces, bracelets, ear studs. Lucas: I have many jackets, so no matter what you wear on the inside, as long as you add a jacket on top of it, the feeling will become totally different. Yangyang: I just like to buy shoes. (Lucas: Yes haha, the dorm is just filled with your shoes.....) Haha, as for the shoe I bought recently, I liked it for a long time and bought it after much consideration. Strangely, I don’t really care about joints, as long as I like it on the first look then I’ll buy it. I used to queue up and take queue numbers to buy shoes, but now I don’t have the luxury of time, so I can only buy resale shoes, haha

Q: You three’s backgrounds are all so international, so how many languages can you each speak? Yangyang: I can speak 5—Chinese, English, German, Korean, and a little bit of Spanish, because it was a mandatory class in Germany. Ten: I speak Thai, English, Korean, and a little bit of Chinese...... (Lucas & Yangyang: Your Chinese is already really good!) Lucas: My living environment was really complicated, as my mom is Thai, but I grew up in Hong Kong, so I can speak Mandarin, Cantonese, Thai, Korean, and have recently been diligently studying English. Background Information: Lucas is a Hong Kong-born mix of Chinese and Thai; Ten is Chinese-Thai; Yangyang is Chinese-German.

Q: Then do Lucas and Ten often use Thai to communicate? Lucas & Ten: Haha, sometimes, but really rarely, maybe we will suddenly say a sentence or two. In actuality Chinese is spoken more often, to help Ten practice more Chinese.

Q: Lucas recently began appearing on entertainment show “Running Man,” and are there any thoughts of it in particular? Lucas: My dream is to become a traveler, so the best part about the show is its ability for me to learn more about China. Our country is really big, so through this show, I was able to interact with the language, culture, and food of different places across the nation, when not everyone is able to get the opportunity to experience these places, so I am very grateful. 

Q: Are there any goals WayV want to accomplish for this year? Yangyang: This year’s goal...... We hope to be able to meet our fans more often! Lucas: Yes, and actually if we’re not talking about just this year, us 7 all have one common goal, and that is to have our own concert. Ten: Yeah, that is our ultimate goal!

Q: We just heard that Yangyang said he hopes his follower count could hit over 10 million. Yangyang: That’s a dream, but if it’s accomplished, there will be a bonus treat for the fans—I will sing German children’s song “The Little Crocodile” for you guys! Hahaha.

Translation: Jess, Angela, Seol @ FY! NCT (NCTINFO) | Source: YOHOGIRL — Do not repost or take out without our permission!

[parniarazi]

2 0 1 9

A few days into the fresh energy of the new year, I’m still processing a lot from 2019 because it was a huge year for me. I think it’s a big missed opportunity for self-growth if you don’t take some time to reflect on your year, what it taught you, how it shaped you, and what your goals are moving into a new year. Resolutions can be cheesy and cheap, but serious self-reflection and actions towards your goals are what will move you forward.

In 2019, I got to experience a lot of things I love. I photographed one of my favorite artists, I went to 6 music festivals (including my first SXSW and EDCLV), I traveled to Vegas, Italy, Germany, France, Colorado, and Mexico (not to mention a few weekends away in the lovely Austin, Texas). I connected with many different people this year, a few of whom have stuck around to be good friends. I graduated college surrounded by the support of my amazing family, started my first semester of grad school and my first real job, and I fell even more in love with Pavel after we made the decision to move in together.

Whew. Talk about self-growth. Years like this that are filled with change are definitely among the most difficult ones I remember, but getting older is cool sometimes because I recall other similar times when I felt challenged, pushed, and even frustrated, but then ended up getting through it and life being way better on the other side. For example, when I first moved to Houston in 2016. Another similarly big transition year, 2019 didn’t come without its struggles, but those have been incredible learning moments and just as important as my highs. 

Overall though, growing up is hard. I think this is something I say often, but I really feel that in my soul. Sometimes I feel like I have a grip on adulthood, I’m now financing larger trips and travel plans for Pavel and I, I’m seeing more of the world, I’m less afraid of doing adult things alone and less afraid of the unknown general. At the same time though, so much of my identity is rooted in my youth. Young, wild, and free, you know? Nothing is better. So in many ways, feeling this slip away from me year by year as I get older and have to handle more and more of my own responsibilities really sucks. Not being able to be as carefree or have as much free time can be a challenge that comes with adulthood, but fortunately having the level of self-awareness I’ve developed, I’m also realizing that I don’t actually have to buy into that narrative anymore. Can I be a fully responsible, independent adult and still create time for myself and give myself breaks to play, dance, and rest? Absolutely. Can I be a smart, professional, respectable person while still being funny and quirky and myself? Hell yeah. Getting settled into adulthood by moving out and going through all these changes I did this year has helped me realize that my life is really my own to shape and create however I want. I’ve learned that no matter what advice others give me or see fit for me, the decisions are mine to make at the end of the day and I’m the one who has to live my life every day. As the indecisive libra I am, this was hard at first but I can literally feel myself growing into my power and that feels fucking amazing. 

Major shifts also happened in my academic/professional life that were extremely difficult to go through, but I have a feeling were a huge plunge in the right direction for me. For most of undergrad (which was only 3 years), I was committed to staying in academia to get my Ph.D. in political science and then working as a professor. This was mainly for 3 reasons — I was always good at school so I thought putting off finding a job to stay in school longer would be an easy solution, I wanted to stay in an area I excelled in and felt comfortable in, and I didn’t explore my other interests/options enough at the time. I also couldn’t see myself dressing in business clothes, working in an office or corporate-type job. Essentially, I settled for something I thought would be more comfortable, but it turned out my undergrad program had not challenged me or prepared me for this grad program at all. Instead of being comfortable, I was thrown to the wolves in classes and material I was completely unprepared for and not even interested in. Not to mention, I felt incredibly alone and isolated from my classmates because many of them were older, already had a Master’s degree, and their lives revolved completely around the department because most of them worked as TAs while being full-time students. Meanwhile, I was working outside of academics, wanted to maintain my personal life and hobbies, and simply could not keep up with the pace and demands of the program. Nor did I want to, because seeing both the Ph.D. student and professor life up and close as a grad student made me realize that’s not the life I want as a professional. Academia can be incredibly stifling of new ideas, very bureaucratic, and has cookie-cutter ways to ‘making it’ in your given field. I learned that it is not an environment where my skills and personality would flourish, and I deserve better than that. I realized it’s unfair to both myself and the people who could benefit from my skills to force myself to fit into a box I simply don’t fit into.

That doesn’t go to say I have it all figured out now because I surely don’t. In fact, I’m on a whole new journey of finding jobs and fields I’m interested in, then gaining the right experiences and connections to get those jobs. Fortunately, I saved my grad school career by advocating for myself. Last semester, I immediately realized I hated the poli sci program, started exploring other related degree options, dropped my most difficult class after midterms, and then pushed and begged my advisors to actually do something to help me do something about my situation. After exploring and talking to people a bit, I realized my skillset would be a lot more applicable for something in Communications, like Public Relations or Mass Communications. I’ve always had a mind for communication, media, and relating to others as a deep empath. With broad applications in the world, I also realized this is a degree that I can make, not one that makes me. I can apply it and use it to do anything I'm interested in — from entertainment PR and marketing, to journalism and writing, to leadership and team management. My advisors were able to transfer me into the Communications MA for this spring, even though technically I would have had to apply and start in the fall. An important consideration about leaving political science was that they had given me a full scholarship covering my tuition, but since I’ve transferred I’ll now have to figure out paying for this semester myself and then finding scholarships or other ways to pay for the next 2 years (because I’ve made it this far and I refuse to have student loans). I’m so glad I didn’t let the money stop me because I would have lost that scholarship anyway since I dropped a class and didn’t get the most impressive grades, plus no scholarship is worth suffering in something you don’t want to be in and that won’t get you where you want to be.

Aside from the whirlwind that was this last semester, I am incredibly proud of myself for getting through all these crazy changes and still managing to be my joyful and best self (at least most of the time). I had my days where I cried hard after school and work, and some dark weeks this semester, but I made still doing things that make me happy a priority. Yoga, music, travel, going to festivals, going out with friends, seeing my family, and just slowing down for self-care. Finding familiarity and comfort in these things that bring me joy, combined with support from Pavel, are what got me through my hardest times this semester. Now I feel more settled into my new life being moved out, I feel more confident and powerful because I made my own decisions, and I feel excited about this new journey and the fulfillment and abundance this new path will bring me. 

Speaking of Pavel, it’s actually unreal how seamless and perfect moving in with him has been. Of course, we are immensely privileged because we aren’t dealing with rent, bills, or even cleaning much. But nonetheless, we’ve dealt with challenging times together but just going to bed together and waking up together makes life better. He’s my best friend in every way, living with him and sharing a space together is so magical and beautiful. I feel so safe, welcomed, and open to create the space and life I want here. I feel so cared for, valued, and loved with Pavel. We work so well together, it feels effortless and deliciously perfect. He grounds me, and this space has become home so quickly because of the way he makes me feel here. Moving out has taught me so much, helped me start overcoming a lot of fear and anxiety, and just allowed me to blossom more into myself. I will be forever grateful for Pavel helping make that happen with me at this point in our lives where it was so perfectly needed. I respect and love him endlessly for being the mature, intelligent, caring, patient partner that I need in my life. 

2019 was also a year of letting go of a lot of friendships, people, and energies that no longer serve me. I realized that I am a wonderful friend who is ready to give support, love, guidance, hugs, and my whole heart to someone who is willing to give all of that back and who is deserving of receiving that from me. Even though I’m in a healthy and happy long-term relationship, I still feel myself holding space in my heart for deep friendships and connections with other people (specifically with women/feminine energy), but I haven’t been able to fill that space since moving to Texas. I miss the friendships I grew up having, and I put a lot of pressure on filling that space for a while, but I realizing forcing it gets me nowhere and a lot of people simply aren’t in a place to be able to reciprocate my energy in a meaningful way. A lot of people are really caught up in their own lives (which is totally understandable), already have other people filling the space for friendship in their lives, or simply aren’t at the level of maturity and growth that I am so they can’t connect with me on a deep level. Making close friends as an adult is way harder, people are just busier, but I really do trust that I will attract the right people and they will come into my life at the right time.

Continuing to expand and grow into my spirituality and spiritual practices by meditating, journaling, listening to podcasts, and practicing yoga has also brought me solace and internal happiness. It’s hard to describe and most people my age/similar to me are really disconnected from having their own authentic beliefs/practices because they either go with what they’re taught or dismiss it altogether. For me, having a career path I find exciting and fulfilling, a stable romantic relationship, healthy friendships, a spiritual practice, and fun hobbies are all areas of my life that I need to satisfy to feel balanced and genuinely happy. Knowing this, and after reflecting on all of these areas within the past year, I’m manifesting the following for each area in 2020, but I also know the Universe knows more than me and things may go differently for a reason (like my poli sci program not working out) so I trust that I will receive this, or something better...

☽ Career — I will get a second job/start a side hustle that will help fund my school and travels this year, I will start learning exciting new things that prepare me for a field/job I’m passionate about, I will secure an internship that pays well and allows me to practice/gain useful skills, I will get scholarships for next school year, I will feel a sense of belonging and make friends in my new program, I will continue learning and exploring different options/opportunities, and I will make connections with people who can mentor me and help me grow into starting my career.  

☽ Relationship — Pavel and I will continue to support, love, and care for each other in all aspects. Our love will continue to grow and flourish as we grow in life together. We will go on adventures that make us feel happy, excited, exhausted and refreshed. We will add to our stories and crazy experiences. We will continue treating each other with love and respect, supporting each others’ growth as individuals while also growing together in a really beautiful way. 

☽ Friendship — I will continue to grow my valuable friendships with people who are on the same wavelength as me. I will have a lot of laughs and good memories with people I care about. I will get deeper into the communities of like-minded people around me (music, yoga). I will find more friends who inspire me and actively support my creative ideas/work. I will develop deeper and more fulfilling friendships with people who reciprocate my energy, and I will extend myself in new ways by being the person I needed for others. 

☽ Spirituality — I will continue practicing meditation and yoga as much as I can. I will also continue to read one book per month and listen to one podcast per week to grow the value in my practice. I will journal and synchronize my self-growth with lunar and astrological cycles, which allows me to tap into my higher power and divine connection with the universe. I will also consider doing a YTT this summer or winter, but regardless I will find outlets to be of assistance to others and give back in this area that has been of such deep value in my life. I will practice breathing, mindfulness, and presence to feel grounded during stressful times. I will get better at protecting my energy and staying rooted in my own positive energy and affirmations (aka, not letting other people’s BS or toxic energy affect me). 

☽ Fun — I will continue going to events that surround me with good energy and good people. I will continue doing what brings me joy, allows me to move and release tension and energy, and that brings me closer with like-minded friends. I will continue to make the incredible trips and experiences I desire a reality by saving money and smart planning. I make more of an effort to bring this good energy with me into my every day by being myself and sharing my laughs and joy with the people around me. I will continue to feed my inner child, my creativity, and my natural human existence on this earth.

I have no doubt that 2020 will continue this amazing momentum and growth that I have cultivated over the past year. I am beyond blissful and grateful for the incredible year I had and all it taught me, but I’m also ready to move forward feeling more prepared, confident, and capable of making everything I can imagine a reality. 

[jonathaniketem]

Coming to Terms

I was the last to introduce myself at my table, comprising four desks facing each other. World cultures—my very first class as a middle schooler. I couldn’t have been more excited. Our teacher sat in the front of the room just surveying her surroundings; her pearly, white smile was about as bright as the hot Texas sun. I still remember Ms. Juarez getting up herself, flattening out the creases from her outfit like she usually does once she got up and and introduction herself. Right after she spoke a few words and while the crowd gasped in excitement, I stared at my table, aghast. “You guys will make a presentation about your own culture by the end of the year, it only seems fair as this is a world cultures class,” she smiled as she always did while stating something that felt similar to a death sentence. How was I to complete something I had so much trouble accepting?

Now let’s turn back in time—back to when I was nine years old meeting some of my closest friends for the first time. I came across a group of kids my age range playing soccer right in front of my house on the street. I was too shy to come out and just ask if they would let me play with them; with the knowledge I’ve amassed now I know children are much easier to congregate with peers than adults who may be a bit pretentious to ever allow anyone foreign join their clique. I only walked away from the screen gate concealing my gazing presence for a bottle of water when I heard a thump against the familiar sound of something hitting the plastic exterior of a car. I ran outside yelling at those rowdy individuals who dared to hit my father’s sedan. They did what kids knew best and ran for their lives, and as a kid myself, I ran after them. We ran and ran until the sun went down only for all of us to collapse from exhaustion. We laughed about how stupid this all was while apologizing for hitting my dad’s car. My summer as a nine year old then on was me going out and having fun with the new kids I met. I started to grow bonds with them and create memories hoping nothing would throw a wrench into the fun I was having. Sadly it’s always those who try to escape bad luck who end up chasing its tail. One day all my new friends came to our friend Tobias’s home for a game day. The environment was much different than it was in my house: R&B music playing in the house, friends of Tobias’s dad in the backyard having a barbecue, and a marathon playing of a show I had never heard of before called Martin. I must have been very tense as Tobias noticed and tried to calm my nerves, and if Tobias noticed my other friends did too. They must’ve realized I wasn’t feeling like my regular self, all from being in a different setting. “Hey why do you look like you’re out of place? You’re Black too, aren’t you?” The question I always felt uneasy about. I stood there and stared at everyone unable to say a thing for awhile. To this day my present self could never understand why I agreed that I was such instead of the truth, but the lie was played and it had to be kept up or my image would’ve been ruined.

I am an African American, an American citizen who just so happens to have African roots. This is what I have finally accepted myself to be ethnically. Though it was never easy for me to accept as a youth. I have parents from the Eastern horn of Africa, born and raised in the country Eritrea. They sadly had to leave their homes to escape the war for Eritrean independence from Ethiopia, later meeting each other in Houston. They were proud of their Eritrean ethnicity, yet they gave birth to and raised a son who was ashamed of who he was. I was surrounded by people who identified as what the average person would imagine to be the Black American. I was constantly seeing myself as fitting into this group without also being apart of my own group. I didn’t have the knowledge to be able to be apart of both the African American community while also being proud of my roots as an Eritrean youth. I saw it as wanting to be able to accommodate myself into this community I was around so long that being a bit different would only make me feel segregated deep within, so my only solution was to lie about who I was. I’ve been questioned continuously as I differed visually from the peers I so wanted to be apart of, the loose curly hair, my bulging eyes, and complexion that made it seem I was from the Middle East. Because other people have continuously made assumptions about my race, I have found myself frequently discouraged. Discouraged to the point that lies flowed smoothly out my mouth like water surging from a faucet. Embarrassment followed me no matter who asked the question I dreaded: “Hey what are you? Are you Black?”, and no matter how many times I was asked my lies never failed to put me at ease. 

A thing about lies I’ve come to realize—they may start out as little white lies, but the constant repetition of a lie breathes life into the lie. The lie starts to become its own entity, an entity I despised but kept molding with the eccentric tales I formed that would’ve put a seasoned politician in awe of what the mind of a youth could conjure in fabrication. My lies started with only a few peers; later, newer mouths would ask the same questions with familiar ones standing close by; my lies couldn't change there or I would be a liar. The lies began to form an identity—latching on to my person like the backpack I so proudly carried through the hallways of the school I spread my lies, instead the lies were a burden to my conscience. The typical person would try to fix something weighing heavily on their mind, but the lies were an addiction that sadly started to rope in others that weren’t supposed to be involved. Since my sister, two years my junior, started to attend my school I’d tell her to start lying about our identities. She could never figure out why it was such a big deal to me, but I started at her just as drug addicts stare at their loved ones asking for a bit of cash to get high one last time. Looking back it was quite repulsive doing something so crude to the innocent minded. I was her source of wisdom as her older sibling, yet I tried to bring her into the darkness I created out of disregard for myself trying to fit in with the groups of people I just happened to want to be a part of. Another thing about lies that I often hear and can confirm for myself are that they most likely will always catch up with their creators no matter how hard they try. As children get to meet others outside their family, they start to bringing them into the homes they were raised in and subsequently meet the ones who did the raising. For the liar I had become I could not believe I made the simple mistake of leaving my parents alone with friends to talk—the same parents who love to represent and share their information about their homeland. To hear one of the many customers you’ve sold your lies to ask what an Eritrea is feels probably about as painful as getting shot in the heart. I was truly grateful the attention span of my peers was about as long as a toddler’s who still hadn’t formed object permanence yet. There needed to be a remedy for the troubles I was causing myself, some soul searching before I was completely branded as a liar and someone who couldn’t come to terms with who they were. Surprisingly, all it took was a summer trip and a bit of contemplation about life to get myself on the right track.

Summer before the start of the nerve-wracking middle school experience, a family trip was presented to the June-born siblings as a gift. I didn’t know how to feel about going to Eritrea to see and experience the environments my parents grew up in. The trip was for the entirety of the summer, coming back only two days before the school year was about to start. We would be taking the German airlines Lufthansa stopping in Frankfurt, Germany and Istanbul, Turkey for gas and once again taking off until we landed in the capital of Eritrea: Asmara. Summer is the perfect opportunity for friends to make a few more memories before they went to different schools and possibly losing contact with each other. It hurt my child heart to know that I couldn’t go out and have fun, but instead I had to go to the place I tried my best to hide the existence of. The constant questions of why I wouldn’t be home got my creative process running, my solution being that I told everyone we would be visiting family in Europe. My lie wasn’t completely far-fetched though; my mother and father both had brothers located in Sweden and Norway, so coming up with this I felt proud of what I conjured up. The trip there wasn’t an easy journey: our first flight cancellation due to the 2011 eruption of the Nabro volcano, TSA possibly giving White House security a run for their money, and the long flight hours accompanied by the sounds of my sister heaving up her airline meals every moment of turbulence. I couldn’t have been happier once I had both feet on the motionless earth. Finally stepping out of the airport, I stood by the entrance waiting on my mother to get her bearings. Hand stretched out tugging at my luggage, I watched in awe at the deep lavender masterpiece in the sky the sun had left once it set ready to rise once again from where I came from. “Not bad,” I thought quietly to myself, “I guess I’m home.”

Asmara is the capital of Eritrea as well as my parent’s birth place. There are many ethnic groups living in Eritrea; my family is a part of the largest group in Eritrea called Tigrayan due to the language we speak: Tigrinya. Because of my delayed learning of English and natural tendency for Tigrinya as a child, my father decided to withhold my learning of the letters my parents grew up with called Ge'ez. They decided the 26 letter alphabet worshiped by this new country they settled in was much more important than millennia of history and culture. Though I regret their decision now I never cared much for it back then, especially during our trip when I had two translators by my side. The air there was very cool, which never made much sense to me until my parents explained how we were many feet above sea level, basically living on top of a mountain. Walking to our grandmother’s house from when the taxi dropped us off, we were headed to where would be staying for the entirety of our trip. I saw that everyone was walking, reminding me much of the climate of New York from various videos and photos I have seen. People walked and talked mostly in Tigrinya and to my surprise English as well. Asmara is much more advanced when it came to popular culture and what was big in societal trends as the capital of this country compared to the more rural cities my great grandparents and so on came from. My father thought it would be best to walk the rest of the way while my mother took the taxi back to her childhood home preparing for our arrival. We walked the streets taking detours walking past the many food stalls and shops out in the open, like shopping at a bazaar. The stained homes and buildings from the sun and style to the colorful, but bleached architecture made it feel like I was vacationing in one of the South American countries. I couldn’t believe what beauty Africa had housed. 

Living in Asmara for just less than three months I started to see what it felt like being more than just American. It wasn’t as big of a difference as I thought, especially not from the rumors about Africa that I heard back in America. Of Course as popular as Asmara was, it couldn’t be used as a standard when comparing all of Africa, as if comparing a mansion to low-income housing provided by the government for struggling individuals. Things like famine, poverty, and horrible living conditions existed, but I was living as lavish as I could in my grandmother’s home. I was woken up to this sad reality when we traveled to my great grandparents village of Maiha, which also served as my grandfather’s burial place. My grandfather died before I could ever meet him two years from when we left to come to Asmara—another reason that warranted this trip. The trip there was suffocating; the advent of the air conditioner seemed to not have reached east of Africa just yet as the bus ride there was unpleasant. The whole ride we were leaving the cool mountains and entering sea level, and humidity was coming at full force that summer. At our stop we walked to Maiha, my mother’s family village where she hugged, kissed, and introduced us to our family. Maiha was a desert from what I perceived it as, almost no vegetation anywhere with everyone’s skin clinging tightly to bone where muscle should’ve been missing. I couldn’t fathom how people could be living here, but these were also my roots. We walked to an area that presented itself as a miniature version of a cemetery I remember once seeing as I joked around with my siblings, holding our breaths until my father drove past it. My father pointed out my late grandfather with his image on a tombstone, I quickly noticed the resemblance he had with my cousin that was back in Asmara. My mother and her sisters circled around his final resting place as their sounds of sorrow hit my eardrums, their wails had hints of grief and sorrow I couldn’t help but feel regrettably sad my mother felt this way. Something in that moment made me think life was fleeting, it wasn’t very normal for a child so young to be thinking about such things. Our journey back to Asmara was filled with reminiscent stories of young girls and their time with their father. A grandfather who would spoiled his grandson every minute he spent with him would’ve been joyful to experience, but loved ones are taken before these moments can even be recorded. I learned that my grandfather had an avid love for language, housing the ability for speaking many languages during his life. It was something about that fact that resonated within me even though at the time it seemed to be just one of the many accomplishments he had under his belt. Once we made it back I remember sighing loudly that we were back home, which made me question my word use at the moment. I was finally comfortable enough to call the place my mother grew up in home, and I wasn’t at all ashamed by it. This new found respect I had garnished upon myself seemed to keep me on a high. In the coming weeks of traveling around the country and enjoying the cuisine, to my surprise was a lot of pasta and pizza, only added to my enjoyment for my summer. I later learned there was more Italian influence in Eritrea than I knew back from when Italy used to control this little country. From words such as eyeglasses and car borrowed from Italian to the architecture and food, Eritreans used their suppressors identity and incorporated it into their own. The love for the language and learning more words in Tigrinya took new heights when I decided it was time I learned the alphabet from my uncle who was a school teacher. It was no easy feat, but the dedication I had for this task was marvelous and quite miraculous looking back. By my age at the time, my brain had most likely already made its last connections with neurons in the language department, cutting its ties with neurons that most likely would’ve made learning these symbols a lot faster. Though with my effort, my plastic brain must have given me a chance to redeem myself from my ignorance as before I knew it I could read small segments from the local newspaper like an infant reading the big text from a picture book. The applause I received from family members in the room during my recital was very heartening and exciting as I showed off my new trick unbeknownst to my audience. 

Before I knew it my first year as a middle schooler was only a few days, just under two weeks. The sorrowful goodbyes and hugs hurt my little heart. I made ties and bonds with people I never knew existed until three months ago and I never wanted to leave. The environment there was very free and fun and I couldn’t fathom coming back to America. The smiles I once had plastered on my face now masterfully painted to express an aghast look. If someone said this was the same happy little boy enjoying his life in eastern Africa, they would’ve been taken as a joke. Ms. Juarez’s words still rang in my ears and my trip playing in my head over and over. Before I knew it the bell rang signaling us to our next class before I could over think how I felt my life was over. The whole school day consisted of trying to distract my foreboding thoughts with the workload I was piling up on my first day, yet I still couldn’t get world cultures to stop taking over my thoughts. This kept on up until I finally made it home after a tiring day of school. I had to come up with something soon as I laid in my best going through every decision I could’ve made about a school project possibly changing my outlook on many things. My thoughts raced back and forth when I suddenly remembered all the fun I had during our trip and remembering the times I struggled learning a new alphabet for the sake of trying to please family who passed on before I even got to meet him. Though I broke my promise of continuously practicing my Ge’ez I couldn’t help but smile at myself struggling to get better at something I had put my mind to. This trip couldn’t have been scheduled at a better time, a time when something as important as a cultural showcase was announced just after my return. I was finally more accepting of something I despised for so long even though I wasn’t going to change over night I was taking the necessary steps and that's reason enough. I hopped off my bed and ran downstairs to my father reading his newspaper at the dining table as usual. I remember him looking up waiting for me to tell him whatever it was I had to tell him, but nothing wanted to come out. I couldn’t just close up now after I finally told myself it was time for a change. I started to hate myself even more for making such a topic embarrassing for myself in the first place when I should’ve embraced it like other Eritreans I knew. This was my time to finally leave my cocoon of hate and emerge as not a full fledged Eritrean just yet, but however far baby steps would take me for the meantime. I took a breath in and out and before I knew out came the words “dad I need help with a project at school.”

The lights were off and seats were rearranged so that everyone was facing the front of the room. The student right before me alphabetically decided to make a powerpoint slide about what being Mexican American meant to him. I wasn’t listening closely, only paying attention in little bits before I would stare out the window watching the trees waving hello in the wind. Time kept ticking and I knew soon the 10-minute interval for our presentation would start over again for the next student. My heart ticked in rhythm with the second hand on my watch and I realized my heart seemed to go faster and faster, a heart attack was all I could think of which only sped up my heart beat and didn’t make the situation any better. As I took deep breaths to calm myself I heard the class start to clap, my time was up. I wasn’t going to let 10 minutes ruin my life, this was going to be nothing but a simple speech to a bunch of people I met during my sixth grade year. I got up with the most confidence I had in awhile once I heard my name, tri-fold board in my right hand, a garment worn by women from Eritrea and Ethiopia in my left hand, and a traditional drum given to me by my late grandmother on my father’s side slung across my shoulder. I stood in front of my audience with my presentation set up, like I was at a science fair nervous to explain my booth. I took a deep breath, yet this time it wasn’t going to be used to spew lies any longer. I was standing my ground against all my demons ready to release myself all by giving a presentation. To many it may have looked like a child talking to his school friends about how he grew up, but to me it was a life changing moment. In that moment as if all at once my lies seemed to disappear into thin air relieving the stress I made for myself all those years; I was finally ready. “Hello my name is Jonathan,” I smiled a nervous, toothy grin, “and this is my presentation on what it means to be Eritrean.”

——————————————————————————————

Afterword

My thoughts were built selfishly upon self-love that was never present. I owned information that many peers I share my skin color with would never get to know. I couldn’t accept something that many could try to search for after it was stolen from them centuries ago, but I was ignorant to that fact. I was ignorant to the culture I was blessed to have information about and in my selfishness pretend to have no such knowledge. I am thankful for this gift many of my brothers and sister will never get to know: another language, another culture, another home. I care for my roots ever greater now since I’ve learned the significance of where I came from. I am African American with known roots from Africa. I am able to speak my African tongue. I am proud to say my heritage lies in another continent. I am me. 

[xoruffitup]

2 Years On

Here comes one of those sentimental, reflective posts I make now and then. My life is a whole lot different than it was 2 years ago, and this past month I had the most wonderful opportunities to reflect on exactly just how.

I always tell people the best years of my life were when I lived in London for grad school. Beyond my Human Rights master’s studies being the most engaging and fascinating academic work I’ve ever done, I took to London like I never have anywhere else. I had a part-time job, I had an internship, I had friends from all over the world, I traveled regularly and easily, I saw world-class theater on the regular, I went to movie premieres and red carpets, and not a boring day went by. I did a determined job search there as my grad program ended, and afterwards also in Germany where I have family and other ties, but in March 2017, I finally accepted that I needed to move back to the US.

2 years on, I’ve passed the one-year job landmark at an international development organization whose goals and people I absolutely love. And 2 years on, I was able to get myself back to the UK, Germany, and Italy on my own dime to revisit the friends and family scattered between them.

I missed London like a physical ache. It’s hard to put to words what the period of my life spent there meant to me - How much I felt I grew, and how convinced I am that it’s where I belong. Just getting to visit meant the world to me, as did seeing my 10-year long best friend there @threatepidemic, after our paths miraculously converged with us both moving there the same year to study at different Universities. I was nervous beforehand that being back in London when my life is now elsewhere would make me depressed, but fortunately the opposite happened.

Last month I visited London, Hannover Germany where my family lives, and then Rome and Florence with a good friend studying in Italy. Instead of depressing, every day and minute of the trip was completely joyful and fulfilling. It didn’t feel like trying to grasp at or recreate a period of my life gone to the past - It all just reminded me that that period is ongoing. All these places are still there, and all these people are still in my life. Yes, I’ve changed a bit since then and started down a US-based career path for now, but nothing has changed so irreversibly that I can’t tap right back into that treasured part of my life, when the time is right.

Although my long-term dream is eventually to move back to London or even somewhere in Germany, the trip also prompted me to take appreciation for the progress I’ve made since leaving London. At the most basic level - I’m earning a paycheck that lets me take the trips I want. At the deeper level of walking past the London cafes where I used to spend whole afternoons working on my dissertation, I can appreciate that all that work was worth it, and I followed it through to a relevant job I hope will lead me to engaging with those same issues I discovered and became so passionate about during my studies. Although following my career goals led me back to the US for now, my favorite London museums and cafes are still there for me to slip into, Cursed Child is still playing at the Palace Theatre (yes, I went to see it again and grinned through every moment!), and just as before - I still felt that same implacable excitement walking through the streets.

Blessedly, I came back from this whirlwind trip feeling fulfilled and at peace with practically everything in my life. My favorite cities abroad are waiting for me when the time and the job is right; I got to see my family and little cousins in Germany and see how they’re growing up; I got to spend quality time with my best friends in London and Rome, and those friendships are the kind that help the whole world make sense, when you spend time together in person. So - Instead of making me feel like I’d lost anything, this trip just reminded me of all the richness in my life to be grateful for. <3

It happened to be my birthday week when I got back, so to counter any post-trip sadness that might have come, I returned to the warmest flood of reminders of how lovely my life, friends, and coworkers are here in DC. This weekend I’m still working my way through cake and chocolates (People who know me cater to my sweet tooth :’)) and still trying to process that my friends colluded to get me Adam Driver throw pillows I’m definitely not obsessed with or anything...

From here on, there’s only more to be massively excited for! I’m going to the first Burn This preview performance in LESS THAN 2 WEEKS and I’ll be meeting up with amazing fandom friends in NYC! Next month, I’m lucky enough to be going to the Opening Night as well! @umkylo and I are thinking of a December trip to London for the Episode IX European premiere! So many landmark awesome things; and they’re all on top of the day-to-day life I can now say - 2 years on - I’m so much happier with than I could have imagined. :)

And of course.... My new ridiculous/amazing Adam pillows! (Probably the best birthday gift ever lolol)

PS: I’m maybe a bit more self-conscious making these posts now than I used to be, considering that I have a few more followers it’s not like I’m exactly talking to myself anymore. (Still not a ton by any means, but just cracking 200 was crazy) Posts like this might seem like “Wow great for you, cool story bro” but it’s really not supposed to be social media bragging or posturing. Now and then, I always try to pause and take stock of everything in my life - Especially after certain landmarks like this recent trip. It’s far too easy to let everything rush by without taking time to think about where we’ve been and how far we’ve come. It’s therapeutic, really, to type out something like this and take the time to put into words all the positive emotions and experiences in life. Of course, not every day is great or perfect, and it’s far too easy to focus on the frustrating or negative aspects of life. That’s why I take the time now and then to revel in the positives - To choose to focus my outlook on these aspects of life, and commit them to words and posterity while the feelings are fresh.

[wildlyplanted]

Part 1 of 3: “The Paris of Eastern Europe” – Budapest | Prague | Berlin Travels

Hello! Grab yourself a cup of coffee or tea and if you fancy, a treat too. I hope you enjoy this blog post (the first in a three-part series) about my trip to Budapest, Prague and Berlin. In the series, I share my hosteling and general overall experience in all three cities, the challenges, randomness and realizations I came to along the way of this splendid journey.

Hosteling. Anyone who truly knows me, knows that me, staying in hostels, means I have come a long, long way. During my recent trip to Budapest, Prague and Berlin, this past February, my travel buddy and I opted for the hostel life.

After staying in a hostel for the very first time, while traveling solo around Ecuador in 2017, my fears melted away and I understood the many benefits of hostel life, especially for those traveling alone and for extended periods of time.

Here are my top 5 reasons to hostel: 

The PRICE! Hostels are cheap, leaving extra cash to spend on excursions, day trips, and experiences that interest you. Also, you can have that nice dinner and evenings out on the town while staying in or under budget.

It puts you among fellow travelers. You can get great tips and the low down on where to explore, especially off the beaten path. Additionally, they can offer tips for one or more of your next destinations because some may have already visited where you're going.

A number of hostels offer free walking tours, their staff are highly knowledgeable and usually have time to provide you with extensive information on things like public transport, touristy areas to avoid when wanting to dine or shop, and they can point you to more authentic experiences.

You can socialize with people from different countries and backgrounds without having to seek it out.

You can team up with other travelers for day trips outside the city or to another city or region. While staying in Quito I joined 5 others on a day trip to Mindo Valley and I am so grateful I had this opportunity; I know I would not have visited that gorgeous region if I hadn't been staying in a hostel.

With all of that said, I must point out that however great the benefits of hosteling can be, it's not for every destination, and it must make sense depending on where you’re traveling and why. For these three cities, it made sense because my friend and I wanted to be among other travelers. This leads me to where I stayed; which first begins with an unplanned overnight in Berlin.

That morning, Feb 20th, it began to snow and our evening flight (Newark to Berlin) was delayed, by more than 5 hours! We had a connecting flight to Budapest two hours after our scheduled landing in Berlin, and needless to say, we knew we would not be in Budapest by the next afternoon, as planned. We landed in Berlin, late afternoon, to ultimately discover that we would not be making it to Budapest at all that day.

Our Budapest hostel was more than accommodating and moved our check-in and check-out dates. This is another great thing about hostels. As long as they are not fully booked, they are super flexible to change around your arrival and departure dates, even lengthen or shorten your stay, with no hassle or added fees. More on Budapest in a moment.

Once we agreed to stay the night in Berlin, we checked Hostelworld for the cheapest hostel within city limits. I learned during my travels in Ecuador that the price is not an indicator of what the hostel will be like—additionally, Hostelworld breaks down how travelers rated things like cleanliness, atmosphere, location, etc.

The cheapest hostel I stayed in, during my Ecuador travels, was my best experience, so, I was not surprised when our choice, PLUS Berlin, turned out to be great!

They had thousands of reviews, a great rating and we liked what we saw in the photos. We did not book or make a reservation; we saw that they still had a decent amount of available beds, so we just headed there. If you want to be on the safe side, you can always call or email the hostel and let them know you’re on your way and how many beds you need. I feel like most hostels would be fine with same day reservations without asking for payment until you arrive.

PLUS Berlin is located in east Berlin’s Friedrichshain neighborhood, a short walk from the Warschauer StraBe (Street) S-baun stop. From TXL airport we took the airport bus (TXL) to Hauptbahnof station (Central Station) and from there we took the S-baun to Warschauer StraBe station.

*Tip: If you have a suitcase don’t take the short-cut down the stairs. Take the walk along the wall and make a left under the bridge and then another immediate left (or take the 2nd set of stairs leaving you closest to the hostel). Our suitcases were light and small, so we were ok to carry them over the cobblestone until we reached smoother ground.

PLUS Berlin has an artsy, cool vibe. It matches the neighborhood and attracts guests with those similar qualities. We stayed in a 6-bed mixed gender dorm with an en-suite separate bathroom and separate shower room.

The atmosphere is relaxed and social. The lobby area is large, yet comfortable, and the building looks like it used to be some sort of campus at one time. The front desk is staffed 24 hours. Also, they have a restaurant and bar on premises, and get this, they have a pool and sauna (which unfortunate for us, they were closed by the time we returned from dinner).

We got to check out a bit of the neighborhood while looking for a restaurant to have dinner in, and I couldn’t be more excited about returning to Berlin, in the future, to see more. The best part about our unplanned stay was how nicely we connected with two of our roommates. The conversation about our travel plans, and about life in general was wonderful. For me, that human connection, however brief, is the best part of traveling and something money can’t buy.

PLUS Berlin is a thumbs up, and I plan to stay here on my next trip to Berlin.

Finally, we made it to Budapest the next day, where we stayed at Hostel One Basilica. Getting there from the airport was very easy. We took the 100E bus to Deak Frenec stop and walked a block to our hostel. I booked our stay here through Hostelworld a couple of weeks before our trip, but I could have also booked directly with the hostel.

The location is very central, across the street from Budapest Eye, and we were able to easily walk to other areas of the city. The hostel is housed within a large courtyard apartment building where they have an entire floor. There are tons of eateries and bars nearby which came in handy for our first night there.

Hostel One Basilica is a very social hostel, but it’s not noisy. They have created a very friendly environment that starts with the staff. Everyone said hello and I had nice chats with several other travelers and a couple of the staff. They have a 24-hour desk, a common area and a large open plan kitchen with tables and chairs. Use of the kitchen is open to all and it comes with free coffee and tea. 

Something great about this hostel is that they have a free family meal every evening, to encourage socialization, and it’s delicious. I ate family meal two out of four nights – Vegetarian goulash and a Vegetarian Colombian stew. You should still plan to eat before or after since the portions aren’t huge, although, we got lucky the night of the Colombian stew because not as many people showed up to dinner and we got to have seconds.

Our room was a spacious 10-bed female dorm. With people arriving and departing often, the room was never fully occupied during our stay. There were six of us at the most during its fullest (with two being myself and my friend). The bathrooms are all full, private rooms with toilet, sink and shower.

Our first night in Budapest, we had dinner at Drum Café, about a 15-minute (or less) walk from the hostel. The atmosphere was lively, the food was just ok, nothing to return for; however, the service was good. They serve typical Hungarian dishes such as goulash. I had a whole fish (I don’t remember what kind), along with pickled cabbage and vegetables.

After dinner we ran into a group of travelers from Netherlands, Germany and Israel and spent the rest of the evening at a nearby bar talking about everything under the sun – life, relationships, family, love. It’s something quite remarkable, to travel thousands of miles from where you live, to find that people can understand and relate to you, and you to them; and for people to share with you, a stranger, their fears and wishes. The best conversations I’ve had in a very long time was with them and it was special. My first night in Budapest was one of the best experiences of 2019 so far!

From the evening and afternoon walks across Szechenyi Chain and Szabadsag hid bridges, seeing the Hungarian Parliament building lit up at night, watching the sunset over Hosok tere (Heroes’ Square), enjoying great coffee at Madal Coffee Co., to dancing the night away at Froccsterasz Telikert and Szimpa; Budapest was a wonderful experience and I loved every moment. We ended up extending our stay by an extra day.

Coincidentally, during our visit, my friend discovered a friend of hers was also in the city, and we met up with him. He described Budapest so perfectly, “it’s like the Paris of Eastern Europe.”

Final Notes:

The bathrooms in our hostel could have been cleaner. They weren’t gross, but they weren’t the cleanest. I’m always prepared for this scenario and I share my tips in part 3 of this three-part blog post series.

Currency exchange – The money exchange just around the corner from the hostel (Valutavalto) has some of the best rates, and there’s often a line. We were warned to go at least a couple of hours before closing because they’ve been known to run out of money since they’re popular.

Szechenyi Hot Springs – This place, for me, was disappointing. Although they had 18 pools (2 huge outdoor ones), none of them were actually hot. They didn’t even range in levels of hot. They were all either just warm or very warm at best. Maybe this has to do with its popularity and needing to be comfortable for just about anyone who visited, I don’t know. Next time, I’m going to seek out one that isn’t so popular with tourists. They do have a steam room and sauna. Very small, but nonetheless, they have them.

*Important mention: I purposely took this trip with no concrete plans. Although I looked up main attractions and browsed through blogs, I wasn’t tied to any particular thing I needed to do or see. The only thing I wanted, was to walk around and see as much of the cities, and their architectures, as possible. That I did.

Look for the next blog post in this series:

Part 2 of 3: “Bus Station? Dog Bar? What ever happened to Eagle Eye Cherry?” – Budapest | Prague | Berlin Travels

Where you can find me/how to contact me:

IG: wildlyplanted (check out photos)

YouTube: Wildly Planted ( I uploaded short video and photo reels)

Email: wildlyplanted@zoho.com

[salvatwhoree97]

Life Update :)

Hello! It’s been a little while. I don’t know why I decided to log on to my Tumblr again, but I am really glad I did. I read over some of the things I had written in the past, when I was in a bad place mentally, and it was emotional and overwhelming to read it, and to also relive those moments. But I found it made me really realize how far I have come as a person, and that I am strong, and I am in turn actually really proud of myself for getting through all the shit, and coming out the other side. It’s made me realize that writing about life really helps me to feel better within myself and see that I am progressing. I don’t really think anyone reads these, but if anyone does, hi and i hope my posts help you in some way :) . 

So basically when I last wrote I was still in Australia and battling with Depression, Anxiety and coming off of Anxiety medication. From then to now a lot has changed. I moved to the UK to be with the love of my life, things have turned out so much better than I could have ever imagined. To have this person in my life, I am so blessed. I love him so much and truly adore him. I feel different now that I am in the right relationship. How different things can feel when you realize that you just are in the place you are meant to be. I now know why things where so tough before. There is really so much to update you on. Since living in the UK, I have traveled to some beautiful places around England, Wales and Scotland. I have had the pleasure of travelling through France, Czech and Germany, which was so special and life changing for me, such an amazing and enriching experience, to see how others live, in other countries. So different to Australia and even the UK. I am so fortunate to have done these things, I am grateful for the opportunities life has given me at my age. I have worked in 2 different jobs in the Mid West and now am working and living in London. Life is great and I meet different people every day from all different walks of life, serving coffee to the young, old from all over the world. People love London and come here to make it their home. I have made some really nice friends in my colleagues, they make me laugh and smile every day, I love them. The UK has become like home to me. But i still feel the pull of Australia, it’s deep in my bones, I will never not miss my sun burnt country, I am an Aussie at heart, and this will never change! 

We plan to return home to Australia together, as one, at the beginning of December. It is so insane to think how soon this is! I think about it every day, when i wake up, from a nap, or just in a passing moment of slowly waking up. It’s in my dreams, my sub conscious. I feel like I am in two places at once. This has never changed for me, in the 2 years of living abroad. Sometimes I wake up and there is a slight sense of panic as I forget how far i am from my home, then i remember. It feels like when you wake up some days, you are in your bed in your home town, then you realize you aren’t, and it’s like you get this weird feeling, I can’t really explain it! It’s special, strong and powerful. I really appreciate Australia for all that it is, my hometown and my friends and family. Oh gosh I miss them so dearly. But I know we will be re united soon. This is the next chapter of our lives, all the serious things are coming up, as i approach the other side of 25 next year. We want a family one day, it is strong in both our hearts and desires. We don’t know when that time will be, but I know that it is on my mind often. I read books about babies and looking after yourself and your newborn, It excites me so much, and I just couldn’t imagine not being a mother now. I never used to be like this, until I met someone I loved so dearly that it just felt right to feel this way. I want all of the things that people do; to get engaged, married have kids, (in no particular order). 

I don’t really know where this blog will go, but i intend to write more frequently. It makes me happy and even if it doesn’t reach anyone, that’s enough for me.

Have a great day :) 

Isy x

[cpblaylock-blog]

A Trip for Healing 🇮🇪🍀

Life is unpredictable and so are the choices our loved ones make. We can navigate our path with such certainty until we are given the opportunity to change directions, offer grace and forgiveness and be grateful for the chance to demonstrate God’s love.

Divorce is hard, destroys your self worth and dignity but it offers and incredible opportunity for self-reflection. Months of time by myself in the car, at home and in hotel rooms have completely clarified what I really already knew - my boys are the center of my universe and the best of what a 25 year marriage produced. I am confident that God designed them perfectly for me to be their mom to raise, teach, and love.

I also know that we love to travel and have been fortunate to do so since the boys were very young. I am a firm believer that the best way to teach my boys about different cultures, religions, foods and people is to experience them through travel. They have already been to countries such as China, Korea, Austria, Germany, Italy, Canada and more.

Recently the boys and I took a trip to Ireland 🇮🇪. They have always wanted to go to the Guinness Storehouse, go to a traditional Irish pub and see the beautiful countryside. Our trip started in Dublin and circumnavigated the southwest part of Ireland along the Ring of Kerry back to Dublin. We stayed at a beautiful B&B in Kenmare, played golf at Waterville Golf Club and toured cities like Galway, Cork, and Kilkenny. My sides hurt from laughter watching Jackson try and drive a manual on the left and Stiles imitating the locals. If they thanked me once, they thanked and hugged me 100 times for an amazing trip.

For me, this trip served a different purpose - that of healing. Travel has always provided an outlet from the stress that life as a parent and spouse brings. It envelops me like a good book where the narrative burns through the pages with anticipation at what comes next. It is my absolute favorite thing to see my boys eyes light up with wonder at what they are experiencing. I can only compare it to what us parents see on Christmas morning when our kids tear through countless presents. The excitement at what Santa has left under the tree is palpable from the moment they wake up to the rip of paper on the very last gift. This is what it’s like to travel with my boys.

What I take away from this trip and the last 6 months is this - we can offer grace and forgiveness to live a life of love and happiness which the boys and I have chosen to do. People make mistakes but that does not define them. Our path may have changed but the destination is still the same and God’s grace will be our ticket for admission.

[kristenkaisinger]

Consumers Eager to Travel and Escape Isolation

The coronavirus pandemic has had a multitude of impacts on consumer culture as people's daily lives experienced dramatic changes. In the beginning of the pandemic, and about one-year-ago to date, the world was forced into isolation. Stores were required to close their doors, restaurants and social hubs became inaccessible, and many individual's plans to travel became impossible overnight. As I think back to the beginning of this global pandemic, I am in awe of how everything seemed to change so rapidly. Last February, I remember sitting in my off-campus home listening to my roommate in distraught as the possibility of her travel-study cancellation was quickly becoming a reality. A few short weeks later, her trip had been terminated, my family had postponed our Summer 2020 international travel plans, and many other people around the globe traded in their plane tickets for a spot on their home couches in order to stay safe during these troubling times. 

During the same time period of these initial cancellations, I had registered for one of the most exciting courses La Salle University's marketing department has to offer. I had purposefully decided to wait to enroll in International Marketing until the second semester of my senior year in order to "save the best for last", if you will. The class combined interesting international marketing curriculum with the opportunity to travel to Germany to further immerse with the material. Despite the seriousness of the pandemic, I personally was not prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic to be so detrimental and continue to persist a year later. Sadly, along with many others' who were eager to travel, plans to engage in this opportunity for Spring 2021 became impossible.

Due to the extensive period of the COVID-19 pandemic and its corresponding regulations, it does not surprise me that consumers' desire to travel is beginning to increase. Restrictions are beginning to be lifted and numerous Americans are receiving a COVID-19 vaccine each day. It appears that people are beginning to become more comfortable with leaving their homes as restrictions lighten alongside the consistent implementation of safety precautions. I recently came across the American Express' Amex Trednex, which is a tool that measures consumers', businesses', and merchants' responses and processes regarding their spending, saving, traveling, and other factors. Specifically, this index is able to measure consumer attitudes of those within the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Mexico, and Canada. In a recent study, the tool deciphered that around the globe, many individuals are beginning to make travel plans. A year ago, plans were being postponed or cancelled, and consumers were concerned with unnecessary travel due to the deadly disease that was taking over. A year ago, airlines, cruise ships, travel agencies, hotels, and other travel-related companies were experiencing severe declines that were unprecedented and did not provide a clear opportunity for growth on the horizon. However, as time continues, vaccines become available, and consumers become more comfortable with travel-related activities, these businesses may be coming back to life.

Research conducted in this study found that 34% of Americans are prepared to spend $800 or more on travel in the coming month. Meanwhile, in Canada this value hits a promising 49%, and in Japan it has been reported that 57% of respondents are preparing to take-off in the near future. Specifically, in the United States, it was found that the majority of respondents plan to travel domestically with only a small percentage making travel plans to international destinations. These numbers are likely influenced by continued safety regulations and travel-bans that have been put in place by some international countries which restrict United States citizens from traveling into their area. Further, it has been found that the current climate of the world indicates a consumer culture that is most comfortable with road travel at this time. 63% of respondents in the study noted that in the coming months, road-trips will continue to be the mode of travel that they feel is the most safe. On the other hand, only 1 in 10 respondents are comfortable and willing to embark on a cruise ship.

Due to the consumer response to cruise ships during this pandemic period, the cruise industry has been faced with making important decisions regarding their offerings in order to encourage people to set sail. The cruise industry faced one of the hardest-hits during the pandemic and seemed to have the most difficulty remaining profitable. The chart below shows how drastically cruise line revenues declined during the pandemic period. The three largest companies within the industry experienced more than a 70% revenue decrease in 2020. It is likely that such fate was set for this industry due to initial COVID-19 outbreaks that occurred on cruise ships when the pandemic first began. After consumers received word of these outbreaks, the industry faced a severely negative reputation. 

As restrictions begin to lift and vaccinations become available, businesses within the cruise industry are looking to pursue opportunities to reclaim growth and become profitable once again. Specifically, Royal Caribbean Cruises has recently announced that they will be implementing fully-vaccinated sailings. This company is the first in the industry to announce this type of decision. Royal Caribbean’s announcement was introduced at the one-year mark of the pandemic after experiencing many months of difficulty in terms of conducting operations within the COVID-19 world. The cruise-ship company’s decision will require all staff and guests to be fully vaccinated before boarding. Royal Caribbean is making a strategic decision in attempt to regain profitability and continue operations in the near future. I am curious to see whether the cruise-line’s competitors follow suit in the coming weeks in order to attract consumers this summer. Based on consumer preferences, it appears that cruise lines will need to implement similar processes in order to continue business. Consumers are still uncomfortable with embarking on a cruise-ship due to COVID-19 dangers. By requiring all individuals on board to have a vaccine, Royal Caribbean is providing a way to once again enjoy a vacation on-board their facility while simultaneously staying safe. I think that this decision will encourage consumers to return to cruise-ships in the near future. Meanwhile, companies that do not introduce such processes and regulations will likely continue to see declines in their revenue streams. It is important for businesses to constantly adapt to the changing world in order to appeal to consumers. During the pandemic, consumer behavior has changed drastically, and businesses need to do the same! 

Earlier on in the pandemic, consumers were hesitant to travel unnecessarily. More recently, consumers have been beginning to plan escapes from their homes. American Express's index was able to analyze consumers’ reasoning behind the increasing desire to make travel plans for the near future. It was found that the majority of consumers are looking to travel because they either miss the overall experience or are eager to find a method of relaxation. Currently, I find myself in agreeance with the majority of these respondents as I am eager to return to traveling in order to unwind after these difficult times. I am grateful to see that travel-related services and business are continuing to implement safety precautions, as this has definitely become a factor of increasing importance. 

When discussing the idea of traveling during this pandemic period, I am not only curious about what new processes travel-related businesses will introduce to regain consumer attention, but I am also intrigued by the potential for long-lasting consumer changes. I wonder, will this new process of traveling introduced during the pandemic have a lasting impact on consumer behavior? Will these traveling practices permanently alter the way we are able interact and immerse with other cultures? I ask these questions as I think back to what I was most excited for in-regard to the Germany trip I was scheduled to attend. My eagerness for this journey derived from my desire to learn, understand, and immerse myself in a new culture. I was excited to speak with citizens of Germany, engage with the country’s businesses, and other aspects of daily-life in order to fully experience a new country. With restrictions, and safety-concerns in mind, traveling currently seems to have limitations on how consumers can interact internationally. Will these new behaviors persist even after the pandemic settles? Once again, these inquiries can only be understood with time, but I am curious, what are your thoughts on potential long-term behavioral changes in regards to travel?

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/features/new-study-reveals-consumers-growing-desire-to-spend-on-travel.html

https://www.statista.com/chart/22530/cruise-line-revenue-amid-the-covid-19-pandemic/ 

[rockrevoltmagazine]

INTERVIEW: LAJON WITHERSPOON OF SEVENDUST

Interview by Ace Sims

Hear the interview now or read on below

http://rockrevoltmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Lajon-Witherspoon-2-Edit.mp3

RockRevolt:  This is Ace with RockRevolt Magazine I am talking with Lajon (Witherspoon) of Sevendust.  How are you doing today?

Lajon Witherspoon:  I am fantastic.  Trying to be as positive as I can living in this obscure world we are living in now.

RR:  Well you’ve got some positives, you just released your thirteenth album, wow.

LW:  It’s pretty crazy to believe that, the word that I’m trying to use is relevant.  I can’t believe we are still relevant in the music industry today.  It’s a dream come true to still be relevant.

RR:  Released about a month ago, I’ve seen some good success.  You’ve got the Chris Cornell cover on there.

LW:  Check this out can you believe for the first time we went number one on Billboard for the album and I get to have a Billboard Award, which I’m excited about (laughs).

RR:  The first time after thirteen albums.  Sevendust has been one of them bands, you guys are road dogs.  You put on this amazing, energetic live performance. 

LW:  We said at the beginning Sevendust is like a sport.  I feel like a seasoned athlete, maybe now and old athlete (laughing).  It’s something that when we go out on stage we leave it all out there.  That’s where we don’t worry about the bills, regular life stuff.  It’s a world where we can take that hour or two to not only release our energy but the people that come to see us they don’t have to think about all the crazy stuff going on.  Music is a healer.  I’ve always said that.

RR:  I don’t think there is anyone who has seen one of the thousands of shows you have put on that could deny that you bring it every night.  I’m sure there are nights some of the guys aren’t feeling it but nobody would ever notice it at a live show. 

LW:  That’s funny I just got off a Zoom from Germany and he asked how many shows we’ve done and have I ever been sick on stage.  I can’t say how many shows we’ve done but its been a lot.  But if someone is under the weather, like you mentioned, once we get on stage I think that energy from everyone that’s out there that under the weather feeling goes away.  If we could bottle that up I think that would solve a lot of problems (laughing).  If we could bottle that up we might have a cure for Corona. 

RR:  Hell with the vaccine we’ve got the Sevendust! With this being your thirteenth album, with COVID was the recording process a little different for you? Was it harder, did it change any of your normality’s of recording?

LW:  Luckily we were able to do this album before the pandemic and not having that cloud anything.  I promise you if we were in the studio and this was going on and somebody sneezed we would have shut it down.  So we got very lucky.  When it got weird, when COVID hit and all of a sudden we were getting asked by certain people to not put the album out until 2021.  Are you kidding me? Sevendust, we are musical people we had this album sitting we felt like it would have been ridiculous not to put this album out.  That what people need right now is music.  It’s something that’s going to get us over this hump.  Hopefully we can look back at this time, reflect and realize that music was something that got us through it.  Not seeing the bands, I know it’s crazy everyone having to be at home.  That’s why we did that live stream to kind of bring back some type of normalcy.  It was important for us to bring this album out even though we were asked not to.  Looks what’s going on, people seem to be enjoying it and I’m very happy that we had this opportunity.  God knows what’s going to happen in the future.  We don’t know.

RR:  I can tell you myself and many others are glad you didn’t take the advice that was giving.  When it came out my Facebook timeline was nothing but oh my god new music from Sevendust.  So when it comes to my friends they were very grateful you did not take that advice. 

LW:  I’m so glad we didn’t either.  You know I feel like at this point in our career we’ve done it long enough to know right from wrong.  What should be done and the way it should be done.  I think it was a very good decision amongst all of us. 

RR:  Like you said what the world needs right now is an escape from all of the nonsense and chaos.  With this second wave hitting we have a little something extra to knuckle down and listen to while we are getting through this second wave.

LW:  Absolutely, you said it right.  Nobody says that, second wave.  We’ve got all these knuckleheads running around not believing it, how could they not believe it. 

RR:  Like we were talking about earlier you and I live in almost the same neighborhood, not sure if you say the viral video referring to the mask mandate as Nazi Germany? It just came out in the last couple days here in Johnson County.

LW:  Oh my god I’m going to look it up.  I have not seen it, wow.  It’s ridiculous, if we could just get those people on a boat and let them hang out in the middle of the ocean that would be better.

RR:  You’ve done a lot of other cool stuff throughout this.  Labor Day weekend I was driving and that Friday I had Octane (Sirius XM radio) on and you hosted a virtual festival.

LW:  How did you like that?

RR:  I thought it was fantastic.  It was super cool hearing the stories.  Kind of like being backstage.  Hearing the stories of festivals.  It made my five and a half hour drive awesome. 

LW:  Man, thank you.  That’s really cool, no one has said anything about that.  It was so fun for me to do even though I recorded that in my studio at home.  It was really cool because they said it was going to sound like we were really backstage.  It made it fun for me to do even though I wasn’t there.  It didn’t sound like it you know what I mean.

RR:  Yeah, it was super cool I enjoyed it.  Me and my girlfriend always go on a canoe trip each year and listening to the stories I was like I remember that.  It was very nostalgic. 

LW:  Cool, thanks so much man.  I told them lets do that again, so hopefully we can make that happen.  I’ll let you know.  It was a cool experience.

RR:  That would be great, I’ll definitely be tuning in.  That’s actually been my lifelong dream to be a radio DJ, so I listen to all that stuff.  I love hearing all of that.  Just different off the wall stuff that isn’t just music being played on the radio.  I enjoy the hell out of it. 

LW:  Right on man.  So how are you and the family doing during crazy time.

RR:  You know we’re doing good.  In real life I’m in the transportation industry so I have not been affected that much.  We’re in an office of about 50 people and all but 4 of us have been coming in everyday.  I live three miles from the office so I said I’m not packing up and going home.  There’s 4 of us, we can stay socially distanced.  We are enjoying the things we can.  We are having football parties every weekend with just us at the house.  Cooking up a big old feast every week watching the Chiefs do what they do. 

LW:  Yeah that’s what we are doing.  We’ve only been to a couple places out.  We haven’t been to a restaurant to sit down.  We’ve only done curbside.  It’s been weird but I feel like I guess we don’t really have to go to a restaurant to sit down.  I told my wife you know what when we go to a restaurant nobody wants to talk anyway (laughing).

RR:  I think I’ve been out once to sit down at a restaurant since this whole thing started.  And it was like yeah everything seems cool but lets not do this again.

LW:  Lets make our home the most fun we can have.  That’s what we try to do with our kids.  Try to make it so they don’t want to leave.  You know what it’s not that bad here. 

RR:  Since the Chiefs play Sunday night I’m getting up at 6am Sunday morning firing up the smoker and putting on 4 pork butts and about 5 slabs of ribs and have a nice little family get together at home for the game.  It’s going to be a good time. 

LW:  I might swing by and get one of those butts for my grill.

RR:  Come on by.  I have this giant smoker and I’m like I’m going to smoke 1 pork butt so I tell all my friends come over drop off whatever you want and I’ll cook it. 

LW:  That’s a good plan.  Last time I smoked something I was up at 5am and I told my wife I’m going to have to be really focused to do that again because the only people that ate it was me and Nico from Sidewise (band).  I did all this work just for Nico to eat it. 

RR:  Lets talk about the solo album you are working on.

LW:  Absolutely I’ve working with my very good friend Sahaj from Ra.  We’ve been working on this for probably over a year.  We started working on it in California for fun.  Then it started turning into something, a sound I’m very excited about.  Now we’ve moved back to the mid-west, came out to the farmhouse and we finished up three more songs.  I think I have an albums worth of material.  At the beginning of the new year we will be shopping for a record deal.  I can’t believe I’m saying I’m looking for a record deal for my solo stuff, I never would have thought that I would say that one day being in Sevendust.  But it’s definitely been a beautiful outlet for me to be able to do something different. 

RR:  What brough this on.  Are you just trying to explore a different side of you musical inspiration?

LW:  I’ve always done different music.  It’s just the first time in my life to be able to sit down and focus on it.  Sevendust is the most important thing.  Now the opportunity to get my music out there is very important.  At the age I am now and the way things are going on in the world.  I like to say this, I feel like life and music is like a chess game and so I’ve just been kind of waiting to make the right move.  It might be a boring game to have to wait but at the end of the day hopefully it will work the way I want it to. 

RR:  What would you say are some of the differences are between your solo and Sevendust?

LW:  I’m not afraid to get a little country and a little bit of rock n roll.  And a lot of soul.  There’s also some dance beats, this album will be able to be played on the radio and clubs.  I think it will be a universal thing.  That what I want my music and voice to be heard as.  Not just as, I love Sevendust and that’s my thing but I want to be known as a singer and remembered as a singer, voice and artist.  Someone who loves music and not just one type.

RR:  Sounds like you are putting a lot of your personality in there.  I know the times I’ve met and talked to you, you’ve always been this fun, vibrant, full of energy, happy, always with a smile on your face.  That’s kind of sounds like that’s what you are going to put into this album. 

LW:  Oh absolutely.  There’s some sad stuff but I’m definitely happy to. 

RR:  I’ve enjoyed being able to talk some music with you.  Congratulations on the new Sevendust album Blood and Stone, everybody go get that.  Released on October 23rd.  I know I can’t wait to hear what you’ve got on this solo album.   

Connect with Sevendust(click icons):

INTERVIEW: LAJON WITHERSPOON OF SEVENDUST was originally published on RockRevolt Mag

[aminuorg]

Aminu Initiative weltwärts volunteer service in Ghana - Intercultural exchange and change of perspectives

weltwärts - the development volunteer service by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) 

Those interested in doing a weltwärts volunteer service with us can apply online at join.aminu.org. Our weltwärts platform is providing vital information about our work in as well as the volunteer service itself. 

Our weltwärts volunteer Jan W. is reporting

My first few weeks in Ghana

When I first got on a plane going to Accra, I obviously only had a vague idea what things would be like in the south of Ghana. However, what I was well aware of, was that a lot of things would be very different from what I was used to. This turned out to be true in many ways. To begin with, I entered Frankfurt Airport at a temperature below zero outside and while it was snowing and left the airport in Accra a good half day later in the evening at 30ºC. The  people I met were treating me in a very unusually open and friendly way.

I live in Tuba, which is rather rural, but still cannot be compared to any German village I know: goats, sheep, chicken as well as cats and dogs roam freely on the sandy ground and seem to feed on whatever they can find. 

A wide range of crops are grown in a small space and - from a German point of view - there are a huge number of children and teenagers in the area. 

As I grew up in a city, before coming here, I was slightly worried about living in a rural area. For that reason, I very much enjoy that there is always a lot going on and to some extent you do not have the feeling of being in the countryside at all. So far, I have never felt bored. What certainly helps, is being close to the capital and having access to the public transport network, which in my opinion is surprisingly good. Fridays are particularly busy days as it is a predominantly muslim area, where people go to the mosque on Friday.

Well, this is a pretty good summary of the impressions I was able to get from Tuba during the first month of being there. All in all, everything is going very well, which also shows in the way I feel at present. I am really happy and enjoy having been given the opportunity to be here. I am grateful for every experience I make and hope that it will stay that way.

A smile makes all the difference

Getting to know a different culture is part of volunteering abroad. However, at the same time you also get to know your own culture a lot better, as you have the chance to look at it from outside with a certain distance. I found it very remarkable, that in comparison with most of the Ghanaian people I have met here so far, many people in Germany pass their days without smiling or having any particularly positive attitude. 

This seems slightly paradoxical to me, as in Germany we enjoy a much higher standard of living, and also as some Ghanaians on the other hand hope to fulfil their potential in Europe. While there are some problems here, people sing, dance and laugh together a lot, which is something I really enjoy very much. I hope that I will be able to take this skill of seeing things positively and appreciating my own situation more with me to Germany, and that I will not lose it again too quickly once there. Smiling is not just lovely for yourself but also for the people around you.

Our Day

The Ghanaian school system is modelled after the British one, and thus the school year is divided in three periods, so called “terms”. Each period is a good three months and concludes with an exam in each of the subjects, which tests the course content of the previous term. After the term, the children have a term break and on the last day before their break they will get their reports. This day is called “our day”, and it does not only take place at school but also in kindergarten, i.e. in the creche where I work. 

On 11 April, I experienced “our day” for the first time and it was a surprise in many ways. As a volunteer in the creche I was told that I should dress slightly smarter. But I was very surprised when I saw how the children arrived at school. Nearly all of the girls, none of whom was older than six, turned up in long dresses; some of them wore makeup or jewelry, and some even high heels. 

But the boys too wore really beautiful and mostly Ghanaian clothes. No matter whether smart or in their everyday clothes, there was one thing which all the children had in common: each of them arrived with a smile and all of them were very excited. There were special drinks, sweets and small toys, such as balloons, for sale and the children were danced with and played with all day. Lunch too was particularly delicious and each child got an ice cream. Only at the end, the school reports were handed out and the children carried them home unopened. 

Personally, I find it very nice to spend the last day at school like this. You could see clearly, how the children enjoyed the day, and I must have heard the sentence “Today is our day,” at least a hundred times from the little ones. 

[dailyaudiobible]

07/08/2020 DAB Transcript

1 Chronicles 5:18-6:81, Acts 26:1-32, Psalms 6:1-10, Proverbs 18:20-21

Today is the 8th day of July welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I’m Brian it is a joy and a privilege and an honor to be here with you today as we take the next step forward. Hopefully you had a good long walk yesterday. I love seeing all the pictures. I had a wonderful time myself. Feeling refreshed and ready to hear from the Scriptures today. So, we’ll go back into the book of first Chronicles that we’ve been working our way through. And we’re reading from the English Standard Version this week. First Chronicles chapter 5 verse 18 through 6 verse 81 today.

Commentary:

Okay. So in the book of Acts today, Paul is again given the opportunity to share the message of Jesus and he does it while he's offering his own defense against the accusations that the religious leaders of the…of the Jewish people had…had leveled against him that had kept him incarcerated. And, so, like today he's defending himself while sharing the gospel with the new Roman governor whose name was Festus before King Herod Agrippa the second and the king's sister Bernice. And there’s a ton of speculation that the king and his sister Bernice were involved in an incestuous relationship and they were both the children of Drusilla who was the wife of the previous Roman governor, Felix. And Paul spent a lot of time with Felix. The book of Acts tells us the Felix sent for him often, was even kinda hoping for a bribe. So, it's important to just see. You know, Paul traveled all over the Roman Empire, establishing churches among the people, but now, because of his incarceration, because of the things that have happened that have got him under arrest and because he's defending himself, he's now sharing the gospel with the most influential people in the world at least this time and in this region. I mean since he was arrested in Jerusalem, he has shared the gospel with two Roman governors, the Jewish high Council, a king and two of the king's sisters. And he just he just shared the gospel. Like he didn't try to work it, you know, like to work it so he can get free. Like he just shared the gospel. It was his imprisonment that had opened the door to him even being in front of these people and he's facing all kinds of opposition. This is the same way Jesus was treated. This is the same way Jesus told His followers that they would be treated and for that matter that we could find ourselves being treated. So, you know, things come against you, come against you, come against you, knock you down, knock you down, knock you down. You start throwing your hands up in the air going, “like, what do I gotta do to have a single day of smoothness.” I gotta confess I have I have done this. So, I'm speaking from experience. But what we see in the New Testament is the long view, a greater view an eternal view - eyes that are open to the fact that even if human life is taken away it's not going to end life, this greater view that God's will is going to be done and He's going to do it through His people, and if it takes a long time that He is merciful and patient but we’re all participating in the march forward and we have to march ourselves forward so that we can collectively be marching forward. We all have a role to play. We all have a part in this, and with the greater view, God's intention is to restore all things, to make all things new and we are marching forward on that path than that allows immediate circumstances to have context that still allows for hope even in the darkest of times. And we’re seeing this in the life of the apostle Paul as he goes really through his prison ministry, prison years.

Prayer:

Father as we continue this journey we invite Your Holy Spirit to continue to apply Your word to our lives, giving us awareness, opening our eyes, giving us context because we lose it all the time, ever day, all the time we lose the plot of the story. And yet Your word continues to show us the narrow path and return us to it and we are grateful. And, so, come Holy Spirit and plant the words from the Scriptures in our hearts and minds so that they become a part of our lives today. We ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is the website and that's home base for all things around the Global Campfire, all the things that are going on around here. So, check that out.

We had the Daily Audio Bible long walk yesterday and it's been beautiful as it is every year to see the different long walks that have been posted up to the to the Daily Audio Bible Facebook page and enjoy that. And O, I had a great time myself so needed, so needed. So needed, to just mark a day on the calendar and go like, “this day right here I have nothing to do but be with God and just let the day unfold. So, I trust that was a beautiful time for you as well. And you can see all…all that I’m talking about on the Facebook page for the Daily Audio Bible.

And we released a resource called Heart, a contemplative journey yesterday. That the certainly was a conversation starter for the long walk but it is really meant to be that at any point in time that we need to step away and we need an oasis that we need a reminder that we need to remember the goodness of God and His presence in all of the things that we feel and to help us interpret how we’re feeling as opposed to just feeling like we live in a washing machine on spin cycle all of the time. So, that resource is available, and you can get it at the iTunes store or at the Google Play. So, certainly check that out. Search for…you can search for my name or you can search for Hearty, a contemplative journey. And let's keep the conversation going.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, thank you humbly, profoundly for your partnership as we move into and through the summertime. There is a link on the homepage at dailyaudiobible.com. If you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or the mailing address, if that's your preference is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And, as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement, you can get the Hotline button in the app, which is the little red button at the top or you can dial 877-942-4253.

And that's it for today. I'm Brian I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Hello everybody this is Carmen from Germany. I haven’t called in for a while, but I do continue to listen daily. I start every morning with Brian and also the Chronological and I…I think I hardly ever miss a day. Sometimes I hit rewind and listen to parts again. Anyway, I just wanted to say I am so looking forward to the long walk. I’ve got…had this day planned for a couple weeks since I heard about it. I preordered a copy of Heart and hope since we’re ahead of you that it will download before I leave the house in the morning. I have planned to take a nice walk out by a lake around noon time. So, it’s just exciting. I’m…it’s almost like I’m looking forward to a date, not that I’ve been on a date for years and years but it’s just this excitement, you know, me and God we’ve got this date planned. And I’m going to go out cycling this morning because I have a little time before I have to work in the afternoon, but the long walk is just something different. It’s something I’ve been planning now. And, so, I’m just so looking forward to it. The sun is shining here in Germany. We have a beautiful summer day. And, so, I’m just…just…yeah…full of full of emotion and…and excitement to spend this time with God alone and get away with Him knowing that all of you guys are doing the same thing. So, yeah, it’s almost like a date with you guys too because we’re all going to be praying on that day and have an extra special intense time. Anyway, I just wanted to say greetings to all of you. I’m doing well and love you all. I love this ministry and I’m just so happy that we’re a family. Have a great day and look forward to uniting with you in prayer. Bye.

Good morning DAB family this is Oligna I’m a five-year consistent listener of the DAB and Chronological with China and I’m calling to ask for prayer for my family because of the passing of our daughter roughly about a week ago on Tuesday the 23rd and she passed away then but she had a…our grandson, Djai, but we previous to that, the passing, and she had him two months early. So, he was due in August, but she had him, like I said, a week previous to her death. So, we called to ask for prayer for our family so that we can continue her legacy through Djai when he comes home from the hospital. He is in the hospital right now in the ICU and he is gaining health and growing. So, we called to ask for prayer for that situation and for his continued health and for our continued support of him as he comes home from the hospital. Thank you and God bless.

Dear DAB family this is Dorothy out in California and I learned a lesson today and I’m wondering if someone else can benefit from it to. I’m gonna read what I wrote in my journal. I am not less than because of the bad experiences I went through. I am still a flower no matter what stage it’s in, whole, complete. God wants you to live life. He gave you life so you could live. He who is the son sets free is free indeed. Do not enslave yourselves again to a yoke of bondage. If God says you are free, God is not…then you are free, God is not a liar. Do not be held captive by your thoughts, painful memories, yokes other people made for you. For you were bought with a price, Jesus’s blood who set you free. In Jesus’ name. Live in freedom as Christ has set you free. He…His plans are greater than your plans. The walls are in your mind. Don’t be afraid to live because God’s get you back. [singing starts] I am not alone. I am not alone. You go before me. You will never leave me. I am not alone. I am not alone. You go before me. You will never leave me [singing ends].

This is Trusting God in Texas and I have in urgent prayer request for my son. It’s been a really, really tough week. He…he’s my only child and he has been healthy until now and now he is hospitalized with what appears to be his first manic episode and he’s refusing to take medication and we really need help. Please pray for God to heal him and for him to open his eyes and give him discernment that he would take the medications recommended so that he can start healing while we wait in earnest expectation for God to completely heal him. This has turned our lives upside down. I pray for everybody that has mental illness and I’ve been praying daily for people to call in for all kinds of things. I’m praying for his little Cherry. I’m praying for On Angels Wings in Canada. I’ve been praying for John in Africa. I’ve been praying for Mina. I’ve been praying for all kinds of people who call in, the woman who couldn’t get her medications that has bipolar disease. But I just ask you right now people, please help us, please pray for my son, please pray for our family, please just help us to get through this, please help my son to take the medication. Thank you.

Good morning DAB family God bless you all I pray in the name of Jesus for each of you and I’m believing that God is going to be working in each one of your lives. Happy birthday Jill! God bless you sweetheart. I just pray that you have an awesome awesome awesome day with your family. All right, this is for the prodigal spouses. I heard Adrian today from Wyoming and her unbelieving husband who is persecuting her and from rubber ducky from Kentucky, your prodigal wife and all the prodigal spouses out there. Father God I come to You in the name of Jesus Father God and Father God I am lifting up these prodigal spouses Father God. Father God Your desire is for our marriages to be equally yoked. Father God it is Your desire Father God that we are to usher in Father God those spirits Father God in the name of Jesus that are gonna unite husband and wife equally yoked Father God in the name of Jesus. May we have the authorities believe in the name of Jesus that as believing spouses that we’re going to be able to have the moment that God is going to ordain to minister to our spouses and it does not have to be just through words, it’s going to be through our actions, through our deeds, that they are going to see the love of Christ Father God in us Father God so that we may be strong in this fight Father God as we fight for their souls Father God in the name of Jesus Father God. We ask You for Your wisdom and discernment Father God and a heart that breaks Yours. This is Esther from Orlando Florida…

Good morning DAB family it’s Sunday, July the 5th this prayer is for Brian the college student. I’ve just been lifting you up. Just wanted to call in and so maybe you would hear that people are praying for you and probably so many more are that haven’t called in. I meant to call in sooner, but I keep putting it off but this morning I just had to stop and do this. So, Brian, keep the faith that has already begun in your heart. You say that you’re just kind of getting back to the Lord. Just remember that the Lord has always been with you. Whatever your story is, whatever your journey has been and just keep hoping and Him and placing all your trust in Him. And we all continue to lift you in prayer. Let us hear from you, let us see and know how things are going. Give us praise report.

Hi this is Sam from Texas stationed in Spain and I am praying for my homeland with this issue as the numbers keep rising from the deaths in people sick from this deadly virus. I…I am a survivor of the virus myself and I know how tough it can be. I am also praying for the gentleman from Fredericksburg Texas. I’m praying for him to find a job, I’m praying for his healing heart at the loss of his wife and also I’m praying that as he visits his family who are nonbelievers the Lord open their hearts and gives Him the words to speak to them about our great Jehovah. And thank you to the lady who sang that __ that song that says you know there’s no one like Jehovah, there’s no one like Jehovah. And that’s what I’m going to stay with today. There’s no one like Jehovah. Thank you in the name of the Lord. Amen.

[theredheadstory]

MY STORY (I): The Redhead behind The Redhead Story

Hi. Hallo. Ciao. Salut. Julia Bell here, founder and writer of The Redhead Story.

It’s wonderful to have you with me; thank you for tagging along as I am on my way to step it up a notch, pushing The Redhead Story to an actual brand level and launching my new, beautiful corner of the internet in just a few weeks’ time. (It’s anything but boring; no, not like this space here, I promise! It will be completely revamped! Eeek, I cannot wait to show you guys.)

Who’s so excited with me?

It’s such a big step with a lot of scary moments, but I am still here.

Now, I know that some of you have been tagging along for quite some time, having seen this blog space changed, tweaked, filled with my personal stories mostly. And I know that there are new faces following, too. That’s why I want to give you more; create more valuable insights and content for you, my readers. Ultimately, you are the engine of what I do.

This is the first entry of an 8-post website/brand pre-launch series called “MY STORY”.

I thought those few weeks before the actual website will be launched and The Redhead Story be presented in a new light would be the perfect time to reflect back on where I have started - just to see how far I have come. Also, since integrity is one of my main values and I always want to stay true to myself, with my personality shining through in everything I do (for the personal touch and approachability, which is super important to me), it might be just the perfect moment to share a little bit about myself. A good starting point for all of us.

Ready? Grab a cup of coffee (I have mine right next to me, with a splash of whole milk), light a candle if you want (I am smelling pumpkin spice right now, my leftover candle from fall, but never gets old), and sit back.

This is why I am who I am.  

A Lesson Learned

A German native, I grew up in a small town north of Hannover, where it’s flat, there are a lot of forests, and also wide open spaces with a lot of horses. Oh, and it’s super close to the North Sea. Going skiing in Austria and vacationing on Föhr (a dreamy North Frisian Island I love) have been my family's favorite annual things to do. And I didn’t complain.

When I was 16, I, for the very first time, felt this desire to go abroad.

It was this time when a handful of people from my high school went abroad for an exchange semester or year.

Combined with my love for languages - especially English -, and my parents’ support, I took the leap and jetted off to America for the very first time in my life, to stay with a host family I had never seen before; to go to a school I had never been to; and to experience a culture I had never immersed myself in. It.was.hard. 

But, spoiler alert: I had the time of my life.

My friends and host family (they are still part of my life and just recently flew out to attend my wedding here in San Diego, for which I am so absolutely thankful) were an integral part in my developing American love story.

Funny, how, now that I am married (expect more posts about how all that happened), the term “American love story” gets such a different meaning.

Then, upon my return home to Germany, I experienced an intense, reverse culture shock. I learned that people moved on without me, that I changed, and that some relationships are not meant to last forever. This living abroad experience should leave its mark on me forever. And I will forever be grateful for that opportunity that literally changed my outlook on life and brought me to where I am today.

As sad and intimidating as it was to see that some people were not who I thought they were, there was a greater lesson to be learned for me:

I’d learned how much more there was to this world. It sparked my fire for travel and new experiences, which has continued ever since.

From a Small Town Girl to a German Expat in London

Education furthered my travel bug. I finished high school. While working towards my Bachelor’s Degree in Germany for Political Science and American Studies, I continually hopped back to my previous host family in New York.

Then, London drew me in for my Masters.

I initially didn’t want to pursue my Masters degree but thinking of combining it with another study abroad experience just made so much sense. I saw this as an immense opportunity, both personally and professionally.

And so I started sending out applications. Goldsmiths College, University of London, is where I should be going; Political Communications it should be.

Fast forward, equipped with one suitcase and a carry on, I began a new adventure back in summer of 2013

While in the heart of the UK, I traversed Scotland, England and Ireland. I was over the moon with all these places I could explore so easily, as they were right at my fingertips.

With these red locks, I fit right in. (I always call specifically Scotland my spiritual home.)

It was my UK travels that launched this blog : The Redhead Story.

Fueled by a love of writing and need for a creative outlet, I began travel blogging to share my experiences. (I am a chatty little ginger, as my mom would say; this hasn’t changed throughout the years.)

As I poured in more energy, my skills and tools improved - like upgrading camera types and image styles (still a lot to learn in that realm, but already looking into a new camera now that a new website will be launching and high quality content is important to me). But that’s the beauty of life; both then and now, there’s always still so much room to grow.

This is also when I began writing for other blogs or even smaller travel brands.

By that time I already knew that this is something I want to do full-time at some point in life. But it seemed unreal. (And here I am now, just having wrapped up my full time job to focus on this little business, so near and dear to my heart.)

After graduation from my Masters, the next chapter was a mystery.  

How an Opportunity Landed Me as a Travel Blogger in California

I returned to Germany in late summer of 2014, deeply unhappy. I wasn’t sure where my life was going but one thing I knew for sure: I needed to be somewhere abroad. I started a job in a marketing firm but day-dreamed of packing my back and jetting off to the U.S. in hopes I would figure life out, or simply back to London. But we all know: both would have been quite costly in the long run.

A new year, and I joined the team at the German American Chamber of Commerce California. Working in their Cultural Exchange program was the melding of my life thus far : bilingual language skills, international collaborations and, specifically, working with the United States, a place so dear to my heart.

I still found myself in Germany but hey, at least I communicated with people from the U.S.

But life is a beautiful thing and even though I am a planner, not knowing what comes next can be quite thrilling.

Then, THE opportunity came : The chance to continue as a part of the organization in sunny San Diego.

It was an immediate YES.

How San Diego Travel Writing Has Empowered a Balanced, Healthy Lifestyle

It was a matter of about what - 3 weeks? And off I was, California bound. This was all so very unreal.

I arrived in San Diego. I had my a room lined up. I knew the office address. The rest was a blank piece of paper. I needed to write my story. More so: I had the opportunity to write it in a place I have never been but dreamed of going for so long.

Being here has fueled my desire to see more of this diverse country. It has given me so many other new opportunities I am so thankful for. It’s not all roses and butterflies, but since I set foot on California’s southernmost city’s soil, I found a base, a home. Certainly, meeting my adventure pal over here who I will be sharing life with from now on (a separate post about that is to follow) plays a huge role in that.

Ever since, I have relished my work, America’s Finest City and pursuing my travel writing.

Throughout my time in the UK, Germany and the States since, I’ve written for a variety of outlets, collaborating with various publications to create content that helps readers to truly experience a place.

Because traveling isn’t just about seeing a site. Traveling :

Expands your mind.

Is a process of personal growth.

Is my favorite way to achieve a balanced life.

With slow travel that is : Diving into one city or area for longer periods of time. Even if very active, it lets us slow down and gain appreciation for our surroundings.

Whether exploring the Arizona desert, hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, or walking small towns in England, I also believe travel is the best way to internal reflection. Especially the more we can get outdoors. The chance to walk. To hike. To ride through a city by bicycle.

I’m passionate about seeing the world up close. Not from a car window. I love going slow, soaking it all in - reflecting.

As I continue life as a German expat in the U.S., I will continue writing, sharing stories of exploring my backyard, going on day and weekend trips, shorter and longer getaways in the U.S. and across borders.

A Journey of Traveling & Personal Growth

I invite you to join me on my very personal journey and see the world through my eyes. It is about personal growth - because that’s what exploring does to you: It changes your perspective on things, in a good way. It allows you to see a broader picture, interact with people, understand more.

By no means am I a travel expert, but I have one thing: passion. A passion for sharing personal experiences, creating my story and ultimately inspiring yours.

I hope the new The Redhead Story corner will be an inspiration for you and I am excited to hopefully hear more about your stories, about how exploring and “going out there - doesn’t matter where - has impacted your life and perspective on life and furthered personal growth.

Thank you for being part of this (life) adventure.

Because adventure is what you define for yourself.

I hope you got to know me a little better and understand where I am coming from. If you have any questions, I’d love to hear from you.

___________________________________________

The next post of my 8-post website & brand pre-launch series will be highlighting my approach to travel and how this has changed. Stay tuned!

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