#Norway is also one of the happiest countries in the world so I think they appreciate that

[askblueandviolet]

I remember yall said you've already gone around the world- so! Favorite country outside of china?

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[tkbrokkoli]

I've been thinking about this again. So like. Let's say after Sherlock's relapse he found fresh and exciting work again, working abroad, being a detective, being undercover. And yet, he had to leave his home, his friends, his support system behind. Everyone he cares about thought he was dead (except Joan), so there was little chance that he could reunite with them. On top of that, he travelled; lived in Italy, Tibet, Norway, France, Iceland. Maybe even more countries. I think he couldn't have made too many friends then, especially since he had to conceal his true identity. Could he really have been happier in those three years than he was ever before? Especially since he had to break off contact with Joan after one year? I can't really see it. He may have said to Joan he's happy and he might've been to some extend. But happier than ever before?? He hides the fact that he relapsed from Joan, just as Joan hides her cancer diagnosis from him. I think either of them didn't want to jeopardize each other's happiness, so they kept these things to themselves. Also. I think it must've been hard. For both of them. To truly be separated. This is not like it was when Sherlock moved to London to give Joan some space. Here he had to pretend to be dead and they lost contact for 2 years. I'd even say they might be a bit estranged, so they didn't want to intrude into each other's worlds with bad news.

What I think is interesting to consider here, too, are Sherlock's clothes when he returns. He wears a new coat. A black shirt. A vest. Black pants, black socks, black leather shoes. And a tie. He only has ever worn an outfit like this to formal occasions. But never with a black shirt. He looks formal in a dark way. To be honest, he almost looks like his father -- long coat, vest, tie, shirt. New life, new clothes. And even when he meets with Captain Gregson later, he wears the same outfit, except now he's wearing a dark shirt instead of a black one. Maybe that's just his current persona in Iceland and he doesn't have any other clothes, but this Sherlock Holmes is very visually distinct from the Sherlock Holmes we used to know. After settling for his Signature Look, aside from him changing his outfit for formal occasions or for pretending to be someone else for a case, he has never worn different clothes when he was out and about. This is not the Sherlock Holmes we used to know! However, when he and Joan return to the precinct to ask Marcus if they can consult again, he looks more like he used to again. The light colored shirt buttoned all the way up with no tie is back. Still he wears black pants and black shoes. He's kind of returned to his former self, and yet he has changed a bit. As would be expected after three years of being away and out of contact from your home, friends, and support system. Despite the change in his life, indicated by his wardrobe, he is now so content that he says nothing matters as long as he and Joan are together.

So I think that despite what he said, he probably was not his happiest during his dead time. I think he said it to ensure Joan that he's been ok and that it's absolutely fine for him to return to that life.

just thought about that sherlock relapsed without his support system after being "dead". he's not wearing his sobriety pin anymore. he hasn't told watson about it. watson says he seems happy and he says that working as a detective abroad but not as himself was the best time of his life. I'm not sure if that's actually true????

[neapolitanadonna]

★ - sad headcanon, ♦ - quirks/hobbies headcanon, ■ - Bedroom/house/living quarters headcanon, ☠ - angry/violent headcanon, and ൠ - random headcanon for Norway, Denmark, and Iceland? Sorry if it's too much! I love your blog

I’M LOVING THE NORDIC CONTENT HELLO THANK YOUUUU 

Norway 

★ - sad headcanon

For most of his life, he’s lived in really brutal poverty. Of course he thrived during the days of the Vikings, but his cold, barren country suffered extremely during the Middle Ages, and part of why he tends to be more stoic in modern times is because of how much he lost and suffered through for centuries. He never liked the pity, though. 

♦ - quirks/hobbies headcanon

He’s super, super, super into witchcraft, and no, not the type that summons real life demons on your doorstep. He very much believes in horoscopes, superstitions, the law of attraction (which he more or less lives by, and has gotten him pretty far), tarot readings, and the powers in crystals. Since most countries believe they’re bigger than pagan religion, he gets judged for it quite a bit by some countries (cough America cough cough.) He does tarot readings for other countries at world meetings, especially when things start getting boring. North Italy, South Italy, and Lichtenstein always ask him for readings. 

■ - Bedroom/house/living quarters headcanon

Remember how he used to be poor? Yeah, not anymore. He’s actually living his best life as one of Europe’s richest countries. He lives in a large house in Oslo, something a bit like this, except in a light blue color. He keeps the interior fairy modern, and a little bit on the brutalist side. He has a lots of whites, grays, and blacks, and almost looks a little bit like a modern art museum. But, he takes his breaks in a small cottage in Reine (most countries have mountainside homes) and it closer resembles the places in which he resided for the mass majority of his life. Yunno, except with running water and modern plumbing. 

☠ - angry/violent headcanon

He doesn’t get very angry much nowadays, but when he does, he’s very good at internalizing it, to the point where it’s almost a little bit scary. He doesn’t need to vent, or yell at anybody, or show that he’s angry. He takes his anger out on himself, and gets over it pretty fast. He’s only a little bit emotionally stunted because of this. 

ൠ - random headcanon

He has three identical Norwegian Forest cats, and only he knows who to differentiate between them. Ironically, their names are Thor, Loki, and Hela. And no, he has no idea what a “Marvel” is, stop asking.  

He hates iced coffee with a burning passion. He thinks anybody who drinks iced coffee is a fake coffee fan and hot coffee is the only acceptable way to drink coffee. Don’t even get him started on frappuccinos. He also drinks around ten cups of coffee a day.

Denmark 

★ - sad headcanon

Since he’s often considered the happiest country in Europe, he feels like he has to keep that facade up a lot. He doesn’t have much to stress about, but even countries feel human emotions. On his had days, he doesn’t know how to handle being sad, so he just drinks to make himself feel happy. He knows it isn’t healthy, but its a centuries long habit he can’t break. 

♦ - quirks/hobbies headcanon

Wherever he goes, there’s a human who knows him on a personal level. He prides himself on being very anti-problematic (take that, America) and doesn’t have a lot of political and social issues going on in his country most days out of the year. He uses all his free time to go traveling around his country and other countries in Europe, and unintentionally makes a lot of human friends along the way. He’s just lovable like that.

■ - Bedroom/house/living quarters headcanon

His main place of residence is in a cute little yellow house on Nyhavn harbor. His place is right on top of a bar, which is both really good for him, and really bad for him. He’s got his things together for the most part, but he can’t help but make a little bit of a mess from time to time. He has everything dusted and washed, he’s not that dirty, but if you can’t find something scattered across the floors of his living room or bedroom, then you’re not in his house. Sometimes it’s legos, other times it’s paperwork he’s putting off until later. He’ll get to both eventually.

☠ - angry/violent headcanon

In his “prime” as he likes to call it, he had the highest kill rate in Europe, especially when Rome began to crumble. He isn’t proud of it today, and certainly would never go back, but being a country, he still feels a sick, twisted sense of pride over how feared he was at one point. 

ൠ - random headcanon

He could write a well detailed, MLA format Yelp review on every single bar and club in Copenhagen. Every. Single. One. He’ll mourn all the good bars from the 1970′s which have since been closed, and will sometimes get mad if a new place opens in the place of an old one. When your political climate in unproblematic, all you can really do is have fun. 

Iceland 

★ - sad headcanon

It’s not that he isn’t proud of who he is and his culture, but there’s many times where Iceland can’t help but feel a little bit useless as a country. He’s sure his people would survive just fine without a humanoid representative, especially since he’s had little to no conflict in recent centuries. He needs Norway and Denmark to cheer him up about his role as a country sometimes. 

♦ - quirks/hobbies headcanon

Whenever he’s in a room by himself, he’ll start singing or talking to himself. It’s not that he’s a fan of singing or anything, it’s just that, if he finds himself alone, he will externalize his thoughts, or whatever song is stuck in his head. If its just him in his house by himself, why does he need to keep his thoughts in his head, you know? 

■ - Bedroom/house/living quarters headcanon

He lives in a small house in Reykjavik by himself, which looks a little something like this. Sometimes his house is completely spotless, but that’s usually only when he has Norway, Hong Kong, or Seychelles over. He isn’t messy, but he also forgets to be organized sometimes. It’s really easy for him to loose presentability in his home, especially when it’s only him and Mr. Puffin living there. He wouldn’t really consider Mr. Puffin to be a person though, so it’s really just him. He could do well with a roommate. 

☠ - angry/violent headcanon

He has this meme/spam account he runs while secluding his identity. He uses it to vent when he needs to, but keeps the more private information censored so nobody finds out that their country has angry, pissy, teenage emotions. Sweden found the account, but promised to keep it a secret. Sweden’s a real one. 

ൠ - random headcanon

On many occasions, he has considered dyeing his hair. Hong Kong has made a big impression on him, and Hong Kong will always mention how envious he is of Iceland’s platinum blonde hair, and how easy it would be to dye it whatever color he wanted. While Iceland is pretty confident that he would never have the bravery to dye his hair blue, he’s considered it. 

[hetalia-high-school-au-ask-blog]

Introduction!

This is all the information you need to know for this AU thingy!

So this AU is gonna be huge. All the hetalia characters I can think of will make an appearance. Now this will be mature, so if you are not comfortable with DARK topics, do not read it. This is my warning. 

Ships that will be in this (in no particular order):

Alfred x Arthur

Matthew x Gilbert

Ludwig x Feliciano

Lovino x Antonio

Yao x Ivan

Kiku x Heracles

Roderich x Vash

Feliks x Toris

Matthais x Lukas

Berwald x TIno

Emil x Li

Vladimir x Milen

Romeo x Anthony 

Some ships may be added or removed.

World Academy is a school in Washington D.C. It strives to be very accepting and very open, having many different people from many different countries. It has amazing sports programs, as well as art and drama programs. It's a huge school filled with different people, all with different interests. Because of this, the school has many sports from all over the world, such as soccer/European football, American football, and Australian football. The school has the highest grades in the area, and most students are well behaved, thanks to the high discipline by students and teachers.

Now I will give a little blurb about each character in the context of this AU.

Alfred F. Jones(America)- Alfred is an energetic young boy, your classic jock. He is a big sweetheart, with a heart of gold, and would die for his friends. He loves to cook, but enjoys some good chicken nuggets from McDonald's every once and awhile. He is also a VERY big fan of American football, and loves to play with his buddies. Despite being a popular jock, he would never bully someone for anything, especially for their sexuality, since he himself was bi. His life seems perfect, but is there something dark under the surface?

Arthur Kirkland(England)- Arthur is a prim and proper young man, with a bright future ahead of him. He is the student council president, and is feared throughout the school, since he holds the power of a staff member when it comes to punishing misbehaving students. He also has a secret sporty side, not playing on the school's official teams, but for fun on club teams. No one knows about this side of him, and he'd prefer to keep it that way. Very very gay for all the jocks in the school but refuses to admit it.

Matthew Williams(Canada)- Matthew is timid. You could tell from a mile away, if you could spot him. He was shorter than his older brother, Alfred, and is outshined by him in every way. The one thing he had a better grip on were his grades, which mattered very little to his parents. He too had a secret that even Alfred didn't know about, and he knew if he revealed this secret, Alfred would be pissed. Likes to refer to himself as demi, but is more gay than he realizes.

Gilbert Beilschmidt(Prussia)- Gilbert is a very loud and obnoxious boy, constantly harassing both boys and girls about numbers and flirting relentlessly. He hated following rules and would often disobey dress code, and be disruptive during class. Sometimes he'd straight up ditch class and waltz back in the food with no care in the world. He's protective though, especially of his little brother, and who he thinks needs it. He's pansexual, like the entire BTT.

Ludwig Beilschmidt(Germany)- Ludwig is serious and tough, not taking shit from anyone. He is the student council's vice president. He doesn't hold as much power as Arthur, therefore is less feared, but he makes people aware that they shouldn't break rules. He's a hunky man, and attracts many suitors, but he only has his eyes on one boy. A certain art student with a cute curl, and adorable smile. Demi sexual (or felisexual)

Feliciano Vargas(N. Italy)- Feliciano was an art student with an uncontrollable love for pasta. He is a bubbly and happy boy, and is rarely seen without a smile. He is one of the best artists in school and is commonly tasked with making murals and posters for events. He is quite popular for it. His best friends are Ludwig and Kiku, though he feels guilty about Ludwig. He won't deny that Ludwig looked a lot like his old crush from middle school, and kept him around for the fuzzy feeling. Though, he loves Ludwigs company either way. Gay for Ludwig, but doesn't really know yet.

Lovino Vargas(S. Italy)- Feliciano's meaner and more aggressive brother. He is considered by many to be an "evil twin," since his and his brothers personality clash. He does have a few soft spots though. He loves tomatoes, and his love for pasta is almost as big as his brother's. He is outshined a bit by his brother's artistic skill, and his ability to speak to others. It made him feel he was lesser, and he lashed out because of it. He still loves his brother, despite the fact he feels inferior to him.

Antonio Fernandez Carriedo(Spain)- Musical nerd. He loves the classic musicals, and the new musicals as well. Often found singing in the drama room and will no doubt perform any musical song you ask him too. He can play the guitar, and likes to learn his favorite songs and Lovino will play tambourine along with him. One of the happiest and positive boys in school. Pansexual, like all of the BTT, but really likes Lovino.

Yao Wang(China)- Secretary of the student counsel so he is very serious about rules. One of the oldest kids in school, but pretty short. Most people know not to mess with him though, because he takes karate classes, and already has a black belt. He's kind of a neat freak, and wants everything to be perfect. Spends most of the time in the library organizing books and gossiping with the librarian.

Ivan Braginsky(Russia)- Ivan is one of the tallest and scariest guys in school, but is honestly very sweet. He doesn’t try to scare people, but ends up accidentally doing so because he is bad at anything social. He has a few issues, but is genuinely trying to fix himself, and understands people’s views of him. He has a big attachment to his sister, Katyusha, and keeps the scarf she made for him when they were children.

Kiku Honda(Japan)- Kiku is an odd boy. He has a fascination with art and mythology of all cultures. He also values his own life and culture and will happily tell people about it. He is the treasurer of the student council, and is pretty closed off, thanks to his massive love of anime. He tries to not let it bother him too much. His favorite mythology to learn about is greek mythology, since it is so far from his home country and is so different .

Heracles Karpusi(Greece)- A quiet and reserved boy, but incredibly horny all of the time. Often thinks of his friend Kiku in sexual ways, but is often unfazed by it. He quite enjoys these thoughts. He is Kiku’s main source of mythology information, since he himself is greek and they share a mythology class. He hates this guy named Sadik, and has hated him for a really long time because they were an item at one point. He doesn’t like to think about it.

Roderich Edelstein(Austria)- One of the most snobby rich kids you’ll ever meet. He thinks he’s better than everyone else and really only cares about himself. He was the previous president of the student council, but lost the election to Arthur this year. He is still upset about it. Now he spends most of his time playing the violin and piano. At this point he is only concerned about his image to colleges and nothing else.

Vash Zwingil(Switzerland)- Gun crazy, and very protective of his adoptive little sister. He has been in love with Roderich for years, ever since they were children, but has started to hate the person that Roderich has become, but is still madly in love. No one except his sister knows, and he would like to keep it that way. He does get it through to Roderich that he should treat people a bit better.

Feliks Lucasiewicz(Poland)- Very… comfortable with himself. His family is very christan, and he knew he was gay from an early age, and knew his family wouldn’t be supportive. So to give a gainate middle finger to his family, he began to cross dress, and ended up really enjoying it. He often gets mistaken for a girl, and is flirted with. He finds this cute, but usually tells them there’s no point. He is quite desirable among gay boys in his school.

Toris Laurinaitis(Lithuania)- The main writer of the newspaper club, and very shy. He was abducted by Feliks, and has grown a weird crush on him. He thought he was straight for the longest time, but this boy confuses him. He is slowly opening up more because of Feliks, and they go horse riding together a lot. He loves these rides because it’s an excuse to get even closer to Feliks.

Matthais Kohlar(Denmark)- A literal crackhead. He is often caught either in the middle of something bad, or about to do something dangerous. Whether he is always high or just reckless is never clear. He has broken practically every bone in his body, at least once. He is a massive headache to take care of but he's a pure hearted guy who loves his friends. Like this dude should jump off a cliff for the sake of friendship.

Lukas Bindevik(Norway)- Reserved and closed off. He is very mysterious and is often caught talking to himself. He grew up without siblings or friends, and his parents are divorced. He had no contact with his father, and only grew up with his mother, and therefore grew mother-like tendencies. He can be very protective, and is good at talking people through their problems, even with his minimalistic speech.

Berwald Oxenstierna(Sweden)- The tallest and most terrifying guy. He's 6'4 muscular and has this resting bitch face that could strike fear into the hearts of WWE wrestlers. But he is actually a giant teddy bear when it comes to the people he cares about. He's big and buff, his hugs are great. He likes to sing to himself while he's working or lost in thought, and many find this charming, earning him many suitors in the process. He's too dense, and too gay for a certain Finn to realize how popular he is.

Tino Vainamoinen(Finland)- One of the most positive and loveable boys in the world. He is only 5'2, and a little on the cubby side, but he is very confident, not afraid to show off his body. He may seem innocent, but on the inside is one of the most kinky shits. He loves a good pounding and will let you know. He will go into heavy detail about his sex life when he's drunk, making people laugh, or be uncomfortable. He's got his eyes on a certain Swede though. He’s also on the hockey team.

Emil Stielsson(Iceland)- Emil is a new kid. He had lived with his single father since he was an infant, not knowing anything about his mother. His dad never told him. But he came to this school this year. He was very awkward around new people, but found comfort on social butterflies talking to him. He is lowkey kinda emo and is stuck in his emo middle school. He is learning how cringy he had been.

Li Xiao Chun(Hong Kong)- A social butterfly. He somehow ended up being friends with every clique in his school from his broad range of interests and friendly personality. Though he does sometimes get fought over because of just how loveable he is. All the different cliques he's friends want to hang out all the time, but because he has so many friends, his schedule is usually filled. He never fails to make time for his newest friend, Emil.

Francis Bonnefoy(France)- The. Biggest. Man. Whore. He has been with practically everyone in school. Most notably his friend with benefits for 2 years, Arthur. Francis had fallen in love, but Arthur never returned the feelings. He always pressed a bit, to see if there was a chance Arthur changed his mind, but never forced him into it.

Alory Kirkland(N.Ireland)- In college. He’s the oldest of the Kirkland siblings (26). He’s very annoyed most of the time, the simple sound of people talking can make him angry. His little brother, Arthur, is the worst. For some reason that boy in particular could be breathing too hard and it would annoy Alory. He’s so glad to have moved out, away from his loud chaotic family. He loves them but he prefers it quiet.

Allistor Kirkland(Scotland)- The second oldest of the Kirkland siblings (24). He's also in college, but constantly visits, unlike Alory. He’s also much happier and peppy. He was never a role model though, always getting in trouble when he was a kid. But, he was the fun one for sure. He also likes to take his siblings golfing, since that is something that he does love to do. He can get competitive with everyone there.

Reuben Kirkland(Wales)- The most chill of the Kirkland siblings. He’s 22, and will visit every once and awhile. He doesn’t talk a lot, and really only spoke after he turned 16. He and Allistor got into all kinds of trouble as kids. He is an actual role model though and would apologize. When he doesvist, he likes to cook for the whole family, since he’s the one who can do it correctly in their family.

Dwight Kirkland(Hutt River)- He is LOVED by his grandparents and aunts and uncles because he sucks up to them when he’s with them.Because of this he is always sent piles of money, and ends up with about ~1000 dollars a year. He loves to flaunt his money in front of his other siblings and spoils himself with it. This is why no 16 year old should have this much money. They’ll use it on stupid things.

Jett Kirkland(Australia)- The athletic one of the family. He loves to swim, surf, and to play australian football. He has broken too many bones to count and has almost died multiple times thanks to being reckless. Kaelin had to perform CPR one time because he almost drowned. He still continues, even if he almost dies. He is quite dumb and will tag along with Alfred. They have many… misadventures. Let’s hope he doesn't die before he goes to senior year (hes 18)

Kaelin Kirkland(New Zealand)- One of the only people who can keep Jett from actually killing himself. He is a movie review youtuber, and spends most of his time in his basement, researching and recording for videos. He is also lowkey obsessed with sheep. His entire room is sheep themed, and it has caused every friend he’s invited over to laugh and call him cute. He doesn’t like being called cute. Acts older than he is (17).

Peter Kirkland(Sealand)- In middle school(12). He is still obsessed with disney and princes. He is convinced that Alfred is a hidden prince and will try to expose him. Also crushing hard on Alfred. He tries his best to be recognised by his peers, but his efforts are futile, since he just annoys the people around him.He trie ]s to ot let it bother him but he’ll be the first to admit that it did hurt him a bit. 

Wendy Kirkland(Wy)- She is quite aggressive. Jett taught her different ways to pin someone to the floor, and she’ll test these ways on Peter. Arthur tries to stop them, but Jett and Kaelin will make bets on these kids. Wendy always wins, because Peter doesn’t know how to fight back. Other than that, Wendy is very artistic and draws a lot in her free time. She impressed the people around her.

Romeo Vargas(Seborga)- Similarly to Matthais and Jett, he can’t keep himself out of trouble. He got stuck in a tree, and the fire department had to get called to get him out. He may have done this on purpose just to get carried by buff firemen, but that’s unclear. He’s the youngest and most reckless Vargas brother, but spends his time volunteering at the middle school as an assistant, and met Peter and Wendy through it.

Im Yong Soo(S. Korea)- He’s sorta a perv. He can get a little touchy at times, and will constantly flirt with any living breathing human. Kiku finds this annoying,but he knows Soo means nothing by it. He has a tendency to grope when drunk, resulting in a hard slap to the face from Kiku, who was not so nicely touched. Soo apologies\es profusely after he sobered up, knowing that what he did was wrong.

Natalya Braginskaya(Belarus)- Very creepy and has… incestous tendencies towards her brother. She is the one personwho can scare him and is constantly pestering Ivan to date her in secret. She hates Yao’s guts since she knows that Ivan has a crush on him. Thankfully weapons aren’t allowed on campus, otherwise Yao would not be alive. Seriously the girl is unhinged and needs help.

Katyusha Braginskaya(Ukraine)- She’s a very loving and caring big sister, but after a long series of events, she barely speaks to Ivan anymore. She knows he still loves her though thanks to him wearing the scarf she made for him when they were kids everyday. They are slowly working on rebuilding their relationship, but it’s a slow process. She desperately wants that relationship with her brother back.

Sadik Adnan(Turkey)- He absolutely hates Harecles’s guts from some stuff that happened in middle school. They constantly fight, usually behind the school, but sometimes find hospitality while bathing. They have normal conversations in the showers, but are at each other’s throats any other time. He breaks the dress code a lot by wearing a hat to hide his face most of the time, and refuses to take it off.

Gupta Muhammad Hassan(Eygpt)- Selectively mute. He can hear just fine but he doesn't talk at all, preferring to speak over text and emojis. Even then, his monotone personality shows through his texts, where he gives single word responses only. He's very reserved and all that's known about him is that he had something to do with the Heracles and Sadik drama that happened. He refuses to talk about that, text and all.

Lillia Zwingil(Lichtenstein)- Vash's younger sister, and the light of his life. She is very loving to her brother, making food for him every day and seeing new clothes for him in home economics. She also likes to go hunting with Vash, despite her dainty and cute persona, she has a wicked aim, thanks to Vash teaching her. She's also the only one to know his crush on Roderick.

Eduard Von Bock(Estonia)- Hacker man. Well sorta. He likes to work on computers but he'll admit that it's hard for him to work. Not necessarily because he's bad at it, but because his internet is slow. He does his best, but sometimes downloading a file tha tag takes three days only to be told you don't have enough space makes you want to punch a hole straight through the computer.

Ravis Galante(Latvia)- He small and just pushed around by the bigger boys a lot. He is often bullied for his height and shy stutter, and had no way to stand up for himself. He'll begin to speak, but either get shut down or chicken out. So he spends most of his time in the library, sitting in the loneliness. He did like friends, it just made it hard when the entire school hates you.

Gianna Bonnefoy(Monaco)- She's Francis's half sister and is just as flirty. She loves to make everyone around her blush in her presence, either by radiating beauty or making inappropriate comments. Francis will tell her to stop, which is really code for, keep going it's entertaining. She liked to braid people's hair, weather they're boys, girls, or anything in between. If you had hair she wanted to do it up all nice.

Vladimir Popescu(Romania)- Obsessed with everything paranormal. 100% believes in ghosts and likes to go out ghost hunting. He will go to abandoned asylums or hospitals to try and find spooky activity. He can get extremely jumpy and scared when it comes to ghost hunts, and has screamed like a girl on multiple occasions. When he's not doing that, he plays D&D, and is very good at it. He DMs.

Milan Hinova(Bulgaria)- He really likes yogurt. He and Vladimir go on ghost hunts and he is actually very calm. He doesn't believe in ghosts and will brush any sort of paranormal activity off as wind or the state of the building they're in, and is like Vladimir's protector. They'll often record and post videos of these ghost hunts. He doesn't play D&D, but will come to the sessions to hang out with Vladimir.

Anthony Gunner Jones(Molossia)- A sweetheart around his parents and when he's alone, but foul mouthed and angry with his friends. Alfred and Matthew's cousin, who they really like. He will get very flustered and embarrassed if he's complimented, and will punch people in the arms when he feels it's appropriate. He also volunteers at the middle school as a gym assistant, and has a GIANT crush on Romeo.

Thank you for reading.

[poisxnyouth]

Omg give me a guide to Disney pls

omg omg omg okay okay okay

magic kingdom:

LISTEN HERE, BITCH. I KNOW YOU WANT TO SUCK DICK ON HAUNTED MANSION. I KNOW YOU MIGHT THINK, 'IT'S SO DARK THEY CAN'T SEE!' GIRL. THEY CAN SEE. THEY CAN SEE EVERYTHING. THEY WILL STOP THE RIDE. suck dick on CAROUSEL OF PROGRESS, IF ANYTHING. suck dick in EPCOT - ITS THE MOST IDEAL.

people will try to talk you out of riding carousel of progress. DON'T LET THEM. they say it's a "20 minute time commitment" but you know what? that "20 minute time commitment" is the happiest 20 minutes of ur life and produces so much seratonin you will be happy for WEEKS. AND it's in the A/C. (suck dick there if you must) AND there's almost NEVER a wait time. i will love that old robotic man until the day that i die. there's a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day✨

space mountain is lit but i have an irrational fear of getting decapitated on it so like. um. just vibe, i guess?? u should probably get fast passes for this one

thunder mountain GOES HARD. don't ride it if you don't want to look ugly in front of your disney date.

teacups are almost always essential but if you don't want to vom maybe don't?

pirates of the caribbean is ESSENTIAL for ur pleasure. yo ho yo ho the pirates life for me. i'm convinced that when i was little i actually saw johnny depp in the chair but that's another story for another time. there is a specific smell when you're riding by the boat and the canons are going off. i think about that smell every day of my life

splash mountain is slow. until it's not. prepare yourself.

get a dole whip by pirates. you'll thank me later.

there's so many candy shops on main street please don't give in

EPCOT

is my favorite park.

get a fastpass for test track, and get a fastpass for soarin. you'll need it.

only pussies ride misson space green. rise mission space orange. there's a vom bag in there if you need one, my love❤️ be confident.

ON TEST TRACK THERE IS A COMPETITION THAT GOES ON ALL DAY WHERE IT PUTS YOU UP AGAINST THE MOST POWERFUL CAR OF THE DAY (you build your own car, for anyone unfamiliar). make. that. shit. 99. power. DO IT. it's so much fun.

three amigos in mexico is 🥺❤️ that's all. ride it!

there used to be an ellen degeneres/bill nye (? was he there???) ride with the dinosaurs but they're replacing it with whachamacallit. guardians of the galaxy. smh.

norway used to have such a fire fucking ride about the norweigan folk tales but they replaced it with frozen and i've been so mad at disney for it that i have not stepped foot in epcot's norway since.

epcot also has something online where you're perry the platypus and you go on missions around the park and get secret shit to happen. (so much fun) in the same vein, there's something called kidcot where u start in canada and end in mexico and u go to every country, find the kidcot stand, and the person there will give u something related to the country!!! had to do it for a school trip one time. super fun!!

soarin is epic don't be afraid of the height thing it's a whole vibe but try kicking tinkerbell when she's on the eiffel tower (be prepared for SMELLS)

spaceship earth is the best ride in the entirety of disney world (coupled with carousel of progress...in my humble opinion) and THIS IS THE RIDE TO SUCK DICK ON!!! beware that once you get to the top and you're circling the earth YOUR CART DOES SPIN AROUND and EVERYONE CAN SEE YOU so just. beware of that. i got finger blasted on here and there was an old lady behind us while we were making out and i still feel super guilty for it.

there's a ride about the environment (the land) in the building called. the land. and its super fun and interesting if ur into that stuff!

best snack in epcot is the chocolate mousse in france. they closed the colonial restaurant thing in america and i'm mad at disney for that shit too. they had the best chicken tenders UM EVER and i'm so pressed

nemo & friends goes hard and is better than the little mermaid ride in magic kingdom.

ANIMAL KINGDOM

expedition everest is the only thing that matters here

but i went before the whole pandora thing was there so idk what its like now

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

...sucks

sorry...tower of terror is fire. havent been since galaxy's edge opened so i couldn't tell u about it even if i wanted to

[sanoysims]

so i love your creations I think they are gorgeous! I wanted to ask you though about norway because I recently found out I am part Norwegian and would love to know cool things about the culture! Hope you don't mind this question :)

Hi, thank you so much! ♥ How fun to find out about your ancestry! Do you know how much part Norwegian you are, or where in Norway your ancestors came from? I love these kind of things! A part of my family emigrated to the U.S in the 1800s, we don’t know who their ancestors are and where they live. That would’ve been amazing to find out!Here’s a little list of things I think is fun:1. We are born with skis on our feet.2. A Norwegian invented the cheese slicer. 3. And the aerosol spray can…

4. Norway introduced salmon to sushi in the 1980s.

5. Voss water is just water from the municipal water supply in Iveland.6. We love a party before we go to the city to… party. And then we go home and party even more. (Vorspiel and Nachspiel).7. You can literally visit Hell. It’s in Stjørdal, Trøndelag.8. If you visit northern part of Norway in the summer, it will never get dark because the sun never sets. It is pitch-black all the time during winter. 9. Make sure to visit Geiranger fjord, Lysefjord, Hardangerfjord, The Nærøyfjord and The Sognefjord if you ever travel to Norway. Beautiful places!

10. We have two official written languages. Bokmål and Nynorsk.11. From October to March, it’s possible to get a glimpse of the magical and natural light show, also known as Aurora Borealis or the Northern Lights. (But only in the north, it’s rare to see it in Oslo for example). 

12. A common thing people think of Norway is that it’s always cold. That’s false. Last year we had about 25-30 degrees celcius every day from around May to August. 

13. The formal name for Norway is actually Kingdom of Norway (Kongeriket Norge).14. Norway is ranked the most happiest, least corrupt, best life expectancy rate, and best functioning democracy in the world. Norway has also one of the lowest crime rates in the world and it was voted as the best country to live in by the UN.

[lindoig4]

The Last Post for this time.

I have just posted lots of photos and a few videos through to the end of our adventure so this will probably be my last post to this blog.

On Friday the 13th (Black Friday), we took a streetcar to the ferry terminal and a ferry to Larkspur, a town across the Bay in Marin County.  I love larkspurs (but we didn’t see any there) and I am not sure what other attractions are around the town of Larkspur, but that is where San Quentin prison is - a big forbidding fortress of a place.  Pretty horrible really, not at all larkspur-ish, but so was Alcatraz in its day.  A good place to avoid, I think!!

It was not much more than filling in a day, but we had a slow lunch in a pub out there and returned to San Fran 2 or 3 ferries later.  When we got back to SF, we decided to take the Castro streetcar to the end of the line just for a look and then stay on it until it brought us back to our hotel.  We had (good) vague memories of Castro in 1995 and thought a visit might be nice.  Alas, our streetcar driver had completed her shift and was returning streetcar vehicle to the depot, so tipped everyone off a few stops early.  We decided to just catch the next streetcar back to downtown which she assures us would be along shortly. ‘Shortly’ turned out to be just over 55 minutes with us and a few others standing around the bus-stop in the blazing sun - not at all the sort of thing we expected.

Saturday, we had booked to go on a 9am whale-watching tour and we were up early and out at the Pier 39 meeting place almost an hour early.  We wandered around the precinct and watched the sea-lions and birds for a while until it was time for the tour. We saw a few harbour seals and glimpsed some small porpoises, but the anticipated dolphins eluded us.  And as soon as we reached the Golden Gate Bridge, the fog rolled in and we were enveloped in it for the rest of the tour. Visibility ranged from about 50 to 150 metres and although those on the bridge reckoned they sighted one (or maybe 3) whales, they quickly got lost in the fog so none of the tourists saw anything.  Having said that, I enjoyed it greatly, not for the whale-watching, but as a pelagic birding excursion and added nine more birds to our trip list.  I suspect I was the happiest person on board by a mile!

Back at Pier 39, we had fish and chips and a cold drink for lunch, then sat and watched the world go by for an hour or so before catching the trolley back.  We broke the journey halfway to visit the Friday market that sets up not far from the ferry terminal but it was generally disappointing - a lot of junk jewellery, some artwork and not a lot else.  There was some sort of parade or military drive-through that delayed traffic and the streetcars for quite a while.  Not quite sure what it was, but there were lots of military vehicles, historical and more modern, with lots of personnel waving to the crowd and a dozen police bikes having a great time hooning up and back in some sort of escort but whatever the occasion, it remained a mystery to us.

Needless to say, the parade delayed the streetcars so we had another wait of well over half an hour, thankfully in the shade, until we got our ride the rest of the way home.

We went out a bit later to get some food to-go and ate in the room again with a bottle of local fermented grape juice of the cab sav variety.

Then Sunday was our last day in San Francisco!   We fly out tonight and it will be a long uncomfortable trip so we decided to go easy on ourselves.

We caught a trolley bus (by far the best form of urban mass transport) out to the beach, just for the ride.  It took us out along McAllister, a long road with all those wonderfully quaint colourful Haight-Ashbury houses - just love them - and along the full length of the Golden Gate Park (North America’s largest urban park) to Ocean Beach.

We watched the crows and gulls for a while, then decided to walk up to Cliff House, a bit over a kilometre along the beach.  We visited it back in 1995 and didn’t remember a lot about it other than that they had a big Camera Obscura set up just below Cliff House itself - and I do have vague memories of doing that tour then.

Cliff House has featured in a number of movies, usually as a desolate hideaway miles from anywhere, usually with a gale blowing, thunder and lightning, a storm raging and the baddies on the brink of some dastardly deed that will pour treasure at their feet - until the hero turns up, rescues the maiden and captures the evildoers just before their wicked plan succeeds.  The truth is somewhat different with at least two upmarket bars and three restaurants.  We had a wonderful lunch in the bistro.  They even had a version of a Caesar so we both had one of them - each a meal in themselves and pretty healthy at that.  We shared half a dozen deep-fried dumplings (gyozas by another name) and the most delicious baked meatballs I have ever enjoyed.  The gyozas were also tastier and more substantial than those we have had before.  We sat over the meal for an hour or so then strolled back to the trolley bus and thence back to our hotel.  It was a really delightful day, warm and sunny, great for a visit to the beach, to enjoy a superb lunch and we loved every minute of it.  As they say, somebody has to do it.......

We sat in the foyer of the hotel for an hour, writing and identifying a couple more birds and suddenly, the shuttle was there and we were on our way to the airport.  We got through reasonably easily, although Heather lost a few utensils out of our picnic bag because we forgot to move it into our checked baggage before sending it on its way along the great conveyor belt that will hopefully deliver it to Melbourne tomorrow - whatever day that is (Monday here, Tuesday in Melbourne).

We stocked up on the makings for quite a number of homemade Caesars as we went through the Duty Free clip joint and sat in the lounge for an hour and a half until they called our flight. I intended doing a lot of stuff on my PC - but once again, the beast wouldn’t boot when I turned it on. Fortunately, I backed up most stuff a couple of days ago, but it would still be nice to wake it up and strip the hard drive before tying a brick to it and throwing it into the ocean.

One cute thing that happened as we sat there waiting for the very last episode of our Arctic Odyssey to conclude was that we both got emails starting the formal part of our next adventure to the Antarctic in February - what could be more appropriate?

The long flight home was predictably as dreadful as we imagined.  I just don’t know how people endure such flights on a regular basis – I am in awe of them!  But obviously, we made it through the very long night – we left SF (30 minutes late) in darkness and we arrived in Melbourne (an hour early) shortly before dawn. Our wonderful driver (Nick) who our more wonderful travel agent (Bev) provided as a freebie for us gathered up our bags and delivered us home in style, quick and comfortable after our overnight ordeal.  The rest of the day was a bit of a blur, starting the elongated unpacking process, wading through the mountain of mail Nath had collected for us, making a few urgent appointments and planning the schedule for attending to the 30-odd tasks that had accumulated on our to-do list while we were away.  After no sleep the night before, we were in bed before 10pm and asleep about 15 seconds later.

Some statistics…… Our trip took us to 6 countries (depending on how we count them) with 9 border crossings, including 13 US States (a quarter of all of them) and all Canadian Provinces except Prince Edward Island. In total, I calculate we travelled close about 80000km.

And perhaps more important (for me) was our bird count.  I identified 148 discrete species, but some were seen in more than one country – so my country stats were as follows:

     USA                     55      Canada                64      Norway                30      Iceland                30      Greenland           20      Denmark             10       (Total 209)

We had previously seen some of these before, either in Australia or our other trips, but of the 148 species we saw this trip, were 78 species we had never seen anywhere before.

So what were the highlights of the trip?  Very hard to say, but perhaps some narrative would help me to get a clearer picture in my own head.

It is hard to rank my experiences on this trip, but some of the highlights so far are as follows:

*     In the US, the Zephyr train, specifically the romance of the buttes, mesas and arroyos of the Cowboy Country, mainly in Colorado, took me right back into so many hundred Westerns and cowboy books I read when I was just a young buck trying to emulate John Wayne. Then it was the Canyons - truly majestic scenery in the Cascades and particularly the Rockies.

*     In Svalbard, the close wildlife encounters with Arctic Foxes, Reindeer and Walruses - and to a lesser extent, the Polar Bears.  My favourite birds have been the beautiful white Ivory Gulls and dainty Arctic Terns. I was also delighted with the miniature flora in the tundra.

*     Being in the Arctic Circle, right up to 83 degrees, only about 1000-odd clicks from the North Pole, was an experience I only ever dreamed about.  Seeing so many dozen glaciers, watching them calve icebergs, and navigating through the resultant ice fields was wonderful. Even more so, being in the pack ice, leaning over the bow and watching our mini-icebreaker crunching through a metre of ice was mind-boggling.  But actually standing on and walking on a glacier topped even that - simply thrilling!  (Not sure why that was such a big deal, but it was unforgettable for both of us!)

*     The Polar Plunge – insane but absolutely an experience of a lifetime.

*     Then the extreme challenge of climbing the moraine and finding a fossil for myself was an achievement of which I am quite proud.  The fossil is less than spectacular but getting there and back alive was no mean feat.

*     In magical Greenland, the splendour of the mountains, cruising up close and personal with the magnificence of the mighty icebergs, the dramatic scenery in stark contrast with Svalbard, the dearth of birds that barely outnumbered the musk ox, were all issues that made us think about so many things in a new way.

*     Iceland was simply gorgeous with the waterfall, the geyser and spectacular coastline.  I want to go back and explore a lot more widely.  Standing with one foot on each of two of the world’s great techtonic plates was another ex\perience of a lifetime.

*     Newfoundland was beautiful and Cape Spear a tick to mark the start of our cross-Canada journey.

*     Niagara – not something I would do again, but like Uluru, the Pyramids, the Eiffel Tower or the Grand Canyon, an iconic tourist destination that one has to endure if one is passing.

*     The birds and other uncommon (for us) wildlife and flora – especially the tiny Arctic trees and other plants.

I could probably replace several of these with other wonderful sights and experiences, but that is at least a sample of the things that will stay in my mind for the rest of my life.

I think that is it for this time but we are already well into the planning for our next trip – already booked and paid – so roll on February and the Antarctic!!!

[gfiedlerbi214]

Unit 5

Mental Health and Basic Needs, What is Stress?, Stress Management Techniques

Browse the Overview and Lecture pages.  How much/what do you already know about this topic?  What are you interested in learning about/initial questions.

This topic hits close to home with me. I struggle with my stress and how to manage it on a daily basis. I have anxiety and have a history of practicing different techniques to manage both my stress and anxiety. A lot of what is being discussed in this unit is going to be more like a review for me. Any new information that I may use to improve my mental health will be extremely beneficial!

Go through the lecture.  For each item, take general notes.  What facts seem important to know?

Maslow’s Hierarchy: The bottom two tiers--Physiological and Safety--are considered maintenance needs.  These are the basic things everyone needs to live in this world.  The top three tiers--Love & belonging, Esteem, and Self-Actualization--are considered growth needs, which help us have a better life experience, but are not necessary to keep our bodies alive.  

Types of Stress:

Acute stress. Those quick triggers that raise our blood pressure, get our heart to race, and instantly affect our mood.  These generally resolve quickly, even if you continue thinking about them for a few days.

Episodic Acute stress. Frequent mini-crises cause us to live in a state of tension.  These usually can't be solved quickly, and often make us worry a lot.  People talk about this as "going through a rough patch".

Chronic stress. Grinding stress that wears us down over the years and never really goes away.  Often caused by big picture problems with no resolution possible.  Trauma and adverse childhood experiences, as well as chronic illness can also be at the root, as well as world issues like poverty, war or racism.

Some links to pages with examples of stress management techniques:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/six-relaxation-techniques-to-reduce-stress

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000874.htm

https://blogs.psychcentral.com/always-learning/2010/01/three-kinds-of-knowledge/

What was the point of the videos? What are a few things I learned on the websites, and might the site be useful in the future? What questions do these resources bring up?  If you were telling someone else about this class, what would you share from this unit.

These videos were helpful in highlighting some important issues many of us struggle with. Many of us are struggling in silence even. I personally am always looking for different outlets to battle my own personal stress. If there could be only one unit I was able to share with a peer regarding this class it would be this unit. I believe everyone benefits from learning about ways to keep their stress at bay.

As/after you engage in the Discussion: Can you summarize the question and the conclusions you and your classmates found? How do you feel about the issue now?

Discussion:

The United States fall behind most other countries when it comes to paid leave from work.  Many countries have standardized paid vacation, or paid national holidays.  Some have guaranteed paid maternal (and paternal!) leave when a new child comes into a home.  Americans can benefit from the Family and Medical Leave act of 1993 (FMLA), but it is unpaid, and only guarantees someone cannot be fired due to taking qualified leave.   Further, think of breaks throughout the day.  Some companies are good at allowing breaks, but others are not.  Some people only get breaks if they smoke.  How can employers (or companies!) use leave or breaks to improve the mental health of their employees? Can you find information on specific countries' leave policies to share with your classmates? Can you find any interesting things  companies are doing to improve the health of their employees? What would be an ideal work environment for your mental health?  Cite any information you get from any source outside your own head.  In your classmate's responses, you might want to look at some countries' health outcomes/happiness indicators to see if there might be a connection.  You may want to (kindly) play devil's advocate for someone's idea. What obstacles would make it hard for a company to implement that?

My response:

Companies that ensure employees are taking advantage of the leave/ breaks policies ensures that they care about their employees. It fosters a culture of caring. I believe that the ideal work environment can respect personal time and empathize with employees regarding life outside the workplace. Doing so, ensures a positive retention rate amongst employee hires and a positive reputation for that company! I personally have experience working in management positions and understand the importance respecting this employee-benefit. Allowing employees their entitled time to themselves to mentally relieve themselves momentarily from their day’s work can have benefits for everyone and not just the employee. According to the Center for Workplace Mental Health, “With consideration [of the] employee's needs, breaks can boost attention span and increase mental ability” (Reasonable Job Accommodations). This means the company receives a happy and productive employee! I’m positive the majority of the working population feel happiest when they can take breaks and schedule leave when they need them.

         Thanks to technology, new ways have been created to increase productivity through technology. Companies have been searching for new innovative ways to adjust an employee’s work-life balance. There is an idea being researched and tested in numerous countries like New Zealand, Norway, and Germany known as The Four-Day Work Week. A company in New Zealand ran an experiment that reduced their work week from 40 hours to 32 hours for all employees while paying the same salary. Researchers were brought in to observe and record their findings and were able to discover, “24% more employees felt they could successfully balance their work and personal lives, stress decreased by 7% among everyone involved, and overall work satisfaction increased by 5%” (Ellis, 2020). Jarrod Harr, human resources professor from Auckland University of Technology who jointly oversaw the experiment, said the biggest takeaway from the experiment was that the employee job performance did not improve nor worsen. Meaning job performance did not change when working four days instead of five. The studies completed in these foreign countries have resulted in promising ideas. “Supervisors [from these studies] said staff were more creative, their attendance was better, they were on time, and they didn't leave early or take long breaks” (Ellis, 2020). Do you think that if companies followed concepts like The Four Day Work Week along with respecting entitled breaks and time-off like sick leave, would they produce the same amount of work?

Citations:

Ellis, M. (2020, March 25). The Four-Day Work Week: Why It Works.  Retrieved April 15, 2020, from https://zapier.com/blog/four-day-work-week/

Reasonable Job Accommodations. (n.d.). Retrieved April 15, 2020, from http://workplacementalhealth.org/Mental-Health-Topics/Reasonable-Job-Accommodations

I thought this discussion was interesting because I was able to read everyones perspective about the rights of the employee to breaks and leave in the workplace. New employees spend so much time in HR periods of their employment, it’s commonly highlighted as a topic for discussion. 

After you complete the Homework: What did you learn? What do you want to know more about?

Assignment Directions:

Time Management Activity : One way many people deal with stress is by gaining a better understanding of how they spend their time. Write a couple of paragraphs:

Nature Activity: Much research has validated the connection between spending time in nature and an improved stress response in the body.  Read the article 10 Ways to Relax in Nature and Stress Less (Links to an external site.).

Assess your current time management.  How well do you think you spend your time? How much of it is in your control?  Does this lead to any stresses in your life?

Choose one of the Strategies listed in this brochure.  How could you use one strategy to improve your time management.  Write a SMART goal that you could implement.

Spend 20-30 minutes (minimum) engaging with nature, however you choose.  Write a reflection paragraph about what you expected the experience to be like, what you did, and how it made you feel.  Would you want to try it again?  [If you have severely inclement weather during this assignment, you may choose to watch a nature video or do some guided imagery.  But understand, there is no substitute for actually being in nature!]

This homework was an excellent practice for myself to implement healthy strategies towards time management. As a mother I feel that it’s very important that I am familiar with as many ways to manage my time. I would like to learn more techniques and possibly look into different literature regarding different methods. I believe giving myself options and ideas to manage my time against uncertain circumstance is an important ability as a mother. Especially a mother trying to manage her household during this quarantine.

After you complete the Project: How was the experience? Any take-aways?

Project directions:

List the name of stress management technique you wish to practice.  Why did you choose this one?  What do you expect the experience to be like?  Have you tried this before?  What do you usually do to manage stress?

Find three (3) resources like websites or media that instruct you on how to use this technique.  Cite the URLs or book/authors.

Optional: Take the technique for a test run to see if there's anything you'll need to change before your "practice" next week.

Similarly to my takeaway from the homework, I found the experience working on this stress management project helpful. I would like to learn more techniques and possibly look into different literature regarding different methods. I believe giving myself options and ideas to manage my time against uncertain circumstance is an important ability as a mother. The resources I found were very insightful and had actually led me down various other rabbit-holes of sources of information.

General reflection on the unit--is there anything that feels important that you didn't mention above?  If you had free time, what topics might you want to look into further?

If i had free time I would continue my research on beneficial strategies towards managing both my time and my stress. This will be a battle with no end unfortunately. But I believe going into this unit, I was prepared to finish the assignments with better confidence going into channeling through my day-to-day.

[hetmusic]

A conversation with Dagny | HumanHuman

Thanks to a discovery by The Indie Curator, we’ve had one eye on rising Norwegian star Dagny for almost two years now. However, things really started hotting up 8 months ago when her debut single “Backbeat” was premiered by Beats 1. The launch of her punchy, high-energy pop hit was swiftly followed by a string of live sessions, festival bookings and of course agrees by our community who know something promising when they hear it.

The sheer vitality of that first single isn’t only a product of the recording studio, as Dagny radiates confidence and excitement as we talk about her sudden rise to popularity, not only in the HumanHuman community but amongst the music world as a whole.

So, I heard you signed a record deal?

Yep!

Can you tell me about that?

Well, it’s a deal with Republic Records in America, which is obviously in my opinion the best company in the world. They’re one of the top record labels, so I’m in company with really great people. It’s a massive compliment! It’s kind of mind-blowing, even when you’re in it, I still sometimes have to pinch my arm. I also signed with Island UK and a company called Propellor Recordings in Norway, which is also amazing and more of an indie record label. It’s really, really exciting and I have a good team.

I feel like everytime I check in on your social media, you’re jetting off to another country or doing something equally cool in the music studio. What has this year been like for you?

Thinking back to a year, nothing was really happening. Around this time last year we recorded “Backbeat”, and we really had no plan whatsoever other than to record music and put it out. I was actually going to go back to Norway and go to school in July, but then at last minute I changed my mind. We ended up staying in London and we released “Backbeat” in September - then everything kicked off! It’s amazing to see how quick things can turn around. Suddenly, we were spending two days in LA and three days in New York and meeting all these people and…. I don’t know, it was really weird! Since then, it’s been an absolute adventure. I’ve been travelling, writing, recording and meeting amazing people. I’m one of those people who is at their happiest when they’re super, super busy. Jumping around from one thing to the next and never really sitting still, so I literally feel like I’m doing what I want to be doing. I’m in the right place at the right time and I’ve learnt so much. I feel like I’m using my whole self and that’s a really good feeling.

Have you had a highlight from the year?

Oh, it’s been good. I think that the trip to LA and writing every day was amazing! Getting up in the morning, going to get a bagel, going to the studio for twelve hours, meeting up with some people and then going home. It was so creative and I was so inspired and meeting all these other creative people; that’s probably a highlight. I mean, there’s been many highlights but that felt like it changed me. It opened up a whole new world that I had never visited before. It’s crazy, but it’s good.

You mentioned “Backbeat” there, did you know you were onto a hit when you first wrote or recorded it?

I get this question a lot actually. Did I know? No, I didn’t. I knew something was different with it. It was the second song that we did that was more this new direction; it was like I had finally taken control and getting a lot more energy into it, which is much more me. I wrote it and I knew that I loved it - it made me excited! The other day I found an email to my management team being like, “here’s my new song, I hope you like it and don’t worry about the title, it’s just a working title.” I had no idea what people were going to think! It was so different from the rest of my music and I knew there was something about it, but I didn’t know it would kick off or anything. At the end of the day, it’s the audience that will either like it or not.

It’s obviously a really upbeat pop song, are all of your songs so positive?

We do a lot of different stuff, but I think they all have that slightly energetic thing about them. Music hits me when it has that sense of hope. It doesn’t have to be a hopeful song, but it just needs to make me feel like something is good. I like those kinds of songs that make me feel uplifted, so yeah, I think there’s probably a recurring theme and I think my outlook will be a part of the soundscape.

“Music hits me when it has that sense of hope.”— Dagny

We’re talking about your new material here, but you were previously known as something of a folk songwriter. What made you change to pop?

I think it’s getting older and taking more control. I did a lot of songwriting with a lot of people and I learnt a lot, but it was all taking over my own sound.

When you were doing the folk stuff, you didn’t feel like you were in control of it?

I was in control, because I was obviously doing it and writing it, but I don’t know if I knew exactly what I wanted. I love folk and country music, and I love a lot of really mellow stuff, but playing that live, it never made me lose myself in any way, like it does when I go on stage now. I’m still learning, but I think I’ve taken more control over this new stuff.

You said that you’re still learning, so what do you think is the most important thing you’ve learnt so far?

Sometimes you have to stick with your own instinct, but also in songwriting, just be honest. Don’t be scared, because they might be stupid ideas, but they also be great! I’ve met some people that made me more confident. Yeah, I met some people that I really vibed with and suddenly we found ourselves in this studio just fucking vibing stuff out and being so excited. It’s like when “Backbeat” happened, we just made a backing beat, put up a mic and I just started singing something! It just came out. It wasn’t so precious in any way.

You’ve changed a lot in that sense then, but have your listening tastes also changed?

Not really, no. Obviously, five, six, seven years ago, it was a different time and Jason Mraz was the biggest thing and I was really inspired by songwriters. I also listen to a lot of pop-heavy stuff though. I think your music tastes naturally develop and grows with you as a person. You discover new things and maybe that inspires you. I used to listen to a lot of folk and country and americana, and I still listen to that. I’ve never really been into what’s current, sometimes it hits you and sometimes it doesn’t, and sometimes you realise that this is your new favourite song and you listen one hundred times on repeat! I think I’ve always had quite a broad music taste.

Do you have a current favourite artist?

Oh, I love Børns! I’m kind of obsessed with him. I actually wrote with the guy who wrote and produced his album with him. I really like his stuff. I secretly want to be a female Børns! [laughs]

That’s a good aspiration! You’ve already said that you’re diverse in your listening tastes and I guess diverse in your career too, as you’ve done folk, pop and you also sang of tracks by Kohib, which is very much EDM.

Oh yeah! I’ve had a lot of projects. When I lived back in Tromsø, I used to pop over to Kohib’s studio and he would play me some tracks and I would vocals for it. It’s nice that you mentioned that, I didn’t expect that at all!

Well, you know I had to give it a listen! Do you think it’s important for an artist to be diverse in their creativity?

Absolutely! You have to challenge yourself. I don’t think you should set so many limits on yourself. I think for me it’s been crucial to find what I want to do now, to try all these things. Sometimes people from a very young age know exactly what they want, but I was never that person! I’m twenty-five and I’m still figuring everything out. I don’t think there’s any shame in that, because some people find things early and for others it takes time. For me, going through all of those phases of doing different music and on top of that growing up in a household with jazz and Brazilian music - it’s been really diverse. For me, that’s all been crucial to land here, to become more confident and to know what I want. It’s been such a learning curve. If you have a project that you love, that doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself to that forever. You’ve got to change, to develop, and I think that’s healthy.

“Sometimes people from a very young age know exactly what they want, but I was never that person! I’m twenty-five and I’m still figuring everything out.”— Dagny

If you could learn from and work with anyone, who would it be?

Ryan Adams. I just love him - his lyrics, his voice, his everything. I’m kind of obsessed with him too. I also really like Feist too. These are people I’ve been listening to for years.

So, you’re currently based in London, what’s your favourite thing about the music scene there?

There’s always stuff going on! I love that. People in London just seem to be playing and playing and playing. You know what, where I come from we were used to the fact that whenever you played, you got paid, and I think that’s really good that musicians are getting paid, that people see the value of music. Then I came here and people are doing five shows a week, and it’s also important to do shows, because you learn so much. There’s so much music in London, it’s very cultured and I love it.

What other differences have you noticed between the music scenes in the UK and Norway?

Obviously, London is much bigger and you can go out and meet people you know at the shows, because it’s a fairly small community, but when I first got here, oh my god, it seemed so massive! I’m still getting used to the fact that when big artists go on tour, they will always visit London, because where I grew up it was maybe once in your childhood. When Spice Girls were on tour, we were lucky that they visited Oslo, which is two hours away from where I lived. Here, you can just pop down to big shows and that’s kind of hard to get used to. Other than that… well, you find that musicians are pretty similar anywhere in the world.

People often use to term “scandi-pop” to describe Northern European artists, but do you think growing up in Norway has influenced the music that you make?

I don’t think I’m typically scandi-pop, because a lot of that is more electronic and it has that Nordic sound. However, I think I’m definitely inspired from being in Norway. You know, when I was growing up most lyrics had something with nature in it or was inspired by the nature around you. I see that with a lot of artists back home, and I pay attention to what people are doing, they lyrically have something about their surroundings and nature that is definitely reflected in their music. I’ve probably moved a little bit away from that now. I’ve also realised that even with the happy songs, there’s something melancholic in it, which is quite Nordic.

Do you have any other key influences? You’ve said nature and melancholy so far.

Well, I was just saying those things in general, I’m not sure how much at the moment my music is inspired by that. For me now, if I was going to narrow it down, I’ve been inspired by chemistry between people and by energy. I know that sounds super pretentious, but I honestly believe that when you meet someone who blows you away, there’s very few feelings that are as strong as that. The whole thing, you know, how you obsess about them, think about them, feel about them. I always write better when I have recently experienced that feeling, and not just like relationships, but also if someone becomes a very close friend. I find that chemistry between people very interesting.

I think we’re all really exciting to hear the follow-up to “Backbeat”, can you give us a hint of what to expect next? Maybe it’s a song about chemistry?

Ah maybe, well there’s quite a few coming up. We’re doing an EP and I hope that people will like it. It’s not going to be like another “Backbeat”, because that has happened and it has it’s own life. I’m very proud of it, but I can’t focus on “Backbeat” every time I go to do a session. Whatever is vibing at the moment, I’ll probably go for it. The EP is quite a mix of different songs, and it will be really interesting to see what people think of it, because I think there’s some good stuff on it. I don’t think I would release something if I didn’t feel like it wasn’t good enough, so you’re just going to have to trust that! I hope that people love it.

https://humanhuman.com/articles/interview-dagny

[travelguy4444]

The Atlas of Happiness: Discovering the World’s Secret to Happiness with Helen Russell

Posted: 4/4/2019 | April 4th, 2019

A few years ago, I read the book The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell. I think it originally came up as a suggested book on Amazon. I can’t fully remember. But, I stuck it in my queue, ordered it, and it sat on my bookshelf until it was time to read it. I couldn’t put it down. It was funny, well written, interesting, and an insightful look into Danish culture. It was one of my favorite books I read that year.

Last year, I somehow convinced Helen to speak at TravelCon and got to meet her in person. Now, she has a new book out called The Atlas of Happiness. It’s about why people in certain places are happier than others. It’s a phenomenal book (you should get it). Today, Helen shares some of what she learned in researching that book!

Here’s a funny thing: if you’ve been online today for more than a fraction of a second, you may have started to get the sense that the world is A Terrible Place. Even the committed traveler with an open mind could be forgiven for thinking that the outlook is pretty bleak.

And if you’ve seen the headlines today or been on social media and you’re feeling low as a result, you’re not alone.

It’s easy to get the idea that the world is becoming more miserable by the minute and that happiness is a luxury in these troubled times.

But over the past six years, I’ve learned that there are people all around the world finding ways to stay happy, every day. And that happiness is something we’re hardwired to seek out – wherever we are.

I started researching happiness in 2013 when I relocated from the UK to Denmark. I’d spent 12 years living and working in London as a journalist, and I had no intention of leaving, until out of the blue one wet Wednesday, my husband came home and told me he’d been offered his dream job…working for Lego in rural Jutland. I was skeptical to start with — I had a good career, a nice flat, great friends, close family — I had a life.

Okay, so my husband and I both worked long hours, we were tired all the time, and never seemed to be able to see each other very much. We regularly had to bribe ourselves to get through the day and we’d both been ill on and off for the past six months.

But that was normal, right?

We thought we were ‘living the dream.’ I was 33 years old and we’d also been trying for a baby for as long as either of us could remember, enduring years of fertility treatment, but we were always so stressed that it never quite happened.

So when my husband was offered a job in Denmark, this ‘other life’ possibility was dangled in front of us — the chance to swap everything we knew for the unknown. Denmark had just been voted the world’s happiest country in the UN’s annual report and I became fascinated by this. How had a tiny country of just 5.5m people managed to pull off the happiest nation on earth title? Was there something in the water? And if we couldn’t get happier in Denmark, where could we get happier?

During our first visit, we noticed that there was something a bit different about the Danes we met. They didn’t look like us, for starters — quite apart from the fact that they were all strapping Vikings towering over my 5’3” frame — they looked more relaxed and healthier. They walked more slowly. They took their time to stop and eat together, or talk, or just…breathe.

And we were impressed.

My Lego Man husband was sold on the idea and begged me to move, promising we’d relocate for my career next time. And I was so worn out by my hectic London life that I found myself agreeing. I quit my job to go freelance and decided I would give it a year, investigating the Danish happiness phenomenon first hand — looking at a different area of living each month to find out what Danes did differently.

From food to family life; work culture to working out; and design to the Danish welfare state — each month I would throw myself into living ‘Danishly’ to see if it made me any happier and if I could change the way I lived as a result. I decided I would interview as many Danes, expats, psychologists, scientists, economists, historians, sociologists, politicians, everyone, in fact, to try to uncover the secrets to living Danishly.

I documented my experiences for two UK newspapers before being asked to write a book: The Year of Living Danishly, Uncovering the Secrets of the World’s Happiest Country.

Since then, I’ve been humbled and moved to hear from readers from across the globe with wide-ranging life perspectives, but the one constant was a need to share the happiness secrets of their own cultures. Some of the themes that sprung out were universal — such as social interactions, exercising out of doors and finding a balance in life — while others were intriguingly unique.

So I set out to research into unique happiness concepts from around the world, interviewing people internationally until The Atlas of Happiness — my new book-baby — was born. It isn’t a compendium of the happiest countries; instead, it’s a look at what’s making people happier in different places. Because if we only look at the countries already coming top of the happiness polls, we miss out on ideas and knowledge from cultures we’re less familiar with.

Nowhere is perfect. Every country has faults. But I wanted to celebrate the best parts of a country’s culture as well as national characteristics at their finest – because that’s what we should all be aiming for.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Did you know, for example, that in Portuguese there’s something called saudade — a feeling of longing, melancholy, and nostalgia for a happiness that once was — or even a happiness you merely hoped for?

And while Brazil may be famous for its carnival spirit, the flipside of this, saudade, is so central to the Brazilian psyche that it’s even been given its own official ‘day’ on the 30th of January every year.

Most of us will have experienced a bittersweet pleasure in moments of melancholy — flicking through old photos, or caring about anyone enough to miss them when they’re gone.

And scientists have found that this temporary sadness — counter-intuitively — makes us happier: providing catharsis; improving our attention to detail; increasing perseverance and promoting generosity. So we should all spend time remembering those we’ve loved and lost — then practice being a little more grateful for the ones still around.

Finland ranked number one in this year’s UN World Happiness report thanks to a great quality of life, free healthcare, and education funded by high taxes.

But there’s also something else the Finns enjoy that’s infinitely more exportable: kalsarikännit — defined as ‘drinking at home in your underwear with no intention of going out’ — a pursuit so popular it even has its own emoji, commissioned by The Finnish Foreign Ministry.

In common with most Scandinavians, Finns aren’t shy about disrobing, and they all have such enviably well-insulated houses that stripping down to their pants is apparently completely okay even when it’s minus 35 degrees outside. What you drink and crucially how much of it you knock back is down to the individual, but it’s a uniquely Finnish form of happiness and mode of relaxation that we can all give a go.

In Greece, they have a concept called meraki that refers to an introspective, precise expression of care, usually applied to a cherished pastime — and it’s keeping Greeks happy despite turbulent times. This is because having a hobby improves our quality of life according to scientists, and challenging ourselves to do something different also creates new neural pathways in our brain. Having a passion that you take pride can be of extra benefit to those who can’t say the same for their primary occupation.

Because meraki can make life worthwhile if your 9-5 is more of a daily grind. Many tasks that need to be taken care of on a day-to-day basis aren’t particularly challenging or inspiring – from filing, to raising purchase orders or even — dare I say it — some of the more gruelling aspects of parenting.

But we can break up the never-ending cycle of mundane work with our own personal challenges — things that we’re passionate about that we can genuinely look forward to doing. Our meraki.

Dolce far niente — or the sweetness of doing nothing — is a much-treasured concept in Italy — often hashtagged on Instagram accompanying pictures of Italians in hammocks. Okay, so Italy hasn’t exactly topped any happiness rankings in recent years, but the cliché of the carefree Italian still exists – and with good reason.

Italians do ‘nothing’ like no other nation and perfecting the art takes style and skill – because there’s more to it than meets the eye. It’s watching the world go by over coffee and a cornetto. It’s laughing at tourists. Or politicians. And crucially it’s about savoring the moment and really enjoying the present. Many of us search for relaxation by traveling to exotic locations, drinking to oblivion, or trying to blot out the noise of modern life.

But Italians let the chaos wash over them. Instead of saving up our ‘fun quota’ for an annual escape, they spread it over the minutes, hours and days throughout the year and ‘enjoy life’ in all its messy reality.

One of the happiest countries in the world, the Norwegians must be doing something right. And quite aside from their enviable Scandi-lifestyles and the safety net of all that oil, Norwegians have a secret ace card up their sleeves: a concept called friluftsliv. This roughly translates as ‘free air life’ and it’s a code of conduct as well as a life goal for most Norwegians – who like to spend time outdoors and get high, as often as possible.

Anyone who’s ever visited the country will know that if you meet a Norwegian out in nature, their objective tends to be the highest mountain nearby – and there’s a saying in Norway that “You must make an effort before you can have pleasure’.

Most Norwegians believe you have to work for things, to earn them with physical endeavors, battling the elements. Only once you’ve climbed a mountain in the rain and cold, can you truly enjoy your dinner. It’s an old fashioned approach to the good life but numerous studies show that using our bodies and getting out into nature as often as possible boosts mental and physical wellbeing.

Which is all very well, on paper. But how to apply these principles and all the things I’d learned in real life? Well, I took it slowly — dolce far niente style. I had to learn not to be the archetypal Londoner, working all hours. Instead, I had to try relaxing once in a while.

Radical, I know.

Next, I got on the hobby train. I found my meraki in pottery, in cooking and trying out new recipes, often inspired by the countries I was researching. Some weeks, we ate well. Others, not so much (my husband still hasn’t forgiven me for ‘Russian month’). I’m not ashamed to say that I’ve done a fair amount of underwear-drinking, too.

The Finnish concept of kalsarikännit and I are now firm friends. And because I was working less and being more mindful of living well and looking after myself, it was relatively easy to adopt the Norwegian ethos of friluftsliv.

So now I try to ask myself: what did I do today? What did I climb? Where did I go? But the biggest mind shift was the realization that to be happy, we have to be comfortable being sad sometimes, too. That we’re at our healthiest and happiest when we can reconcile ourselves to all our emotions, good and bad.

The Portuguese saudade was a game changer for me — helping me to come to terms with the life I thought I’d have and find a way to move on, without resentment or bitterness. Because when you let go of these things, something pretty amazing can happen.

By learning from other cultures about happiness, wellbeing and how to stay healthy (and sane), I found a way to be less stressed than I was in my old life. I developed a better understanding of the challenges and subtleties of coming from another culture. My empathy levels went up. I learned to care, more.

Optimism isn’t frivolous: it’s necessary. You’re travelers. You get this. But we need to spread the word, now, more than ever. Because we only have one world, so it would be really great if we didn’t mess it up.

Hellen Russell is a British journalist, speaker, and the author of the international bestseller The Year of Living Danishly. Her most recent book, The Atlas of Happiness, examines the cultural habits and traditions of happiness around the globe. Formerly the editor of marieclaire.co.uk, she now writes for magazines and newspapers around the world, including Stylist, The Times, Grazia, Metro, and The i Newspaper.

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the largest inventory. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and that will save you time and money too!

The post The Atlas of Happiness: Discovering the World’s Secret to Happiness with Helen Russell appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

source https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/atlas-of-happiness/

[vidovicart]

The Atlas of Happiness: Discovering the World’s Secret to Happiness with Helen Russell

Posted: 4/4/2019 | April 4th, 2019

A few years ago, I read the book The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell. I think it originally came up as a suggested book on Amazon. I can’t fully remember. But, I stuck it in my queue, ordered it, and it sat on my bookshelf until it was time to read it. I couldn’t put it down. It was funny, well written, interesting, and an insightful look into Danish culture. It was one of my favorite books I read that year.

Last year, I somehow convinced Helen to speak at TravelCon and got to meet her in person. Now, she has a new book out called The Atlas of Happiness. It’s about why people in certain places are happier than others. It’s a phenomenal book (you should get it). Today, Helen shares some of what she learned in researching that book!

Here’s a funny thing: if you’ve been online today for more than a fraction of a second, you may have started to get the sense that the world is A Terrible Place. Even the committed traveler with an open mind could be forgiven for thinking that the outlook is pretty bleak.

And if you’ve seen the headlines today or been on social media and you’re feeling low as a result, you’re not alone.

It’s easy to get the idea that the world is becoming more miserable by the minute and that happiness is a luxury in these troubled times.

But over the past six years, I’ve learned that there are people all around the world finding ways to stay happy, every day. And that happiness is something we’re hardwired to seek out – wherever we are.

I started researching happiness in 2013 when I relocated from the UK to Denmark. I’d spent 12 years living and working in London as a journalist, and I had no intention of leaving, until out of the blue one wet Wednesday, my husband came home and told me he’d been offered his dream job…working for Lego in rural Jutland. I was skeptical to start with — I had a good career, a nice flat, great friends, close family — I had a life.

Okay, so my husband and I both worked long hours, we were tired all the time, and never seemed to be able to see each other very much. We regularly had to bribe ourselves to get through the day and we’d both been ill on and off for the past six months.

But that was normal, right?

We thought we were ‘living the dream.’ I was 33 years old and we’d also been trying for a baby for as long as either of us could remember, enduring years of fertility treatment, but we were always so stressed that it never quite happened.

So when my husband was offered a job in Denmark, this ‘other life’ possibility was dangled in front of us — the chance to swap everything we knew for the unknown. Denmark had just been voted the world’s happiest country in the UN’s annual report and I became fascinated by this. How had a tiny country of just 5.5m people managed to pull off the happiest nation on earth title? Was there something in the water? And if we couldn’t get happier in Denmark, where could we get happier?

During our first visit, we noticed that there was something a bit different about the Danes we met. They didn’t look like us, for starters — quite apart from the fact that they were all strapping Vikings towering over my 5’3” frame — they looked more relaxed and healthier. They walked more slowly. They took their time to stop and eat together, or talk, or just…breathe.

And we were impressed.

My Lego Man husband was sold on the idea and begged me to move, promising we’d relocate for my career next time. And I was so worn out by my hectic London life that I found myself agreeing. I quit my job to go freelance and decided I would give it a year, investigating the Danish happiness phenomenon first hand — looking at a different area of living each month to find out what Danes did differently.

From food to family life; work culture to working out; and design to the Danish welfare state — each month I would throw myself into living ‘Danishly’ to see if it made me any happier and if I could change the way I lived as a result. I decided I would interview as many Danes, expats, psychologists, scientists, economists, historians, sociologists, politicians, everyone, in fact, to try to uncover the secrets to living Danishly.

I documented my experiences for two UK newspapers before being asked to write a book: The Year of Living Danishly, Uncovering the Secrets of the World’s Happiest Country.

Since then, I’ve been humbled and moved to hear from readers from across the globe with wide-ranging life perspectives, but the one constant was a need to share the happiness secrets of their own cultures. Some of the themes that sprung out were universal — such as social interactions, exercising out of doors and finding a balance in life — while others were intriguingly unique.

So I set out to research into unique happiness concepts from around the world, interviewing people internationally until The Atlas of Happiness — my new book-baby — was born. It isn’t a compendium of the happiest countries; instead, it’s a look at what’s making people happier in different places. Because if we only look at the countries already coming top of the happiness polls, we miss out on ideas and knowledge from cultures we’re less familiar with.

Nowhere is perfect. Every country has faults. But I wanted to celebrate the best parts of a country’s culture as well as national characteristics at their finest – because that’s what we should all be aiming for.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Did you know, for example, that in Portuguese there’s something called saudade — a feeling of longing, melancholy, and nostalgia for a happiness that once was — or even a happiness you merely hoped for?

And while Brazil may be famous for its carnival spirit, the flipside of this, saudade, is so central to the Brazilian psyche that it’s even been given its own official ‘day’ on the 30th of January every year.

Most of us will have experienced a bittersweet pleasure in moments of melancholy — flicking through old photos, or caring about anyone enough to miss them when they’re gone.

And scientists have found that this temporary sadness — counter-intuitively — makes us happier: providing catharsis; improving our attention to detail; increasing perseverance and promoting generosity. So we should all spend time remembering those we’ve loved and lost — then practice being a little more grateful for the ones still around.

Finland ranked number one in this year’s UN World Happiness report thanks to a great quality of life, free healthcare, and education funded by high taxes.

But there’s also something else the Finns enjoy that’s infinitely more exportable: kalsarikännit — defined as ‘drinking at home in your underwear with no intention of going out’ — a pursuit so popular it even has its own emoji, commissioned by The Finnish Foreign Ministry.

In common with most Scandinavians, Finns aren’t shy about disrobing, and they all have such enviably well-insulated houses that stripping down to their pants is apparently completely okay even when it’s minus 35 degrees outside. What you drink and crucially how much of it you knock back is down to the individual, but it’s a uniquely Finnish form of happiness and mode of relaxation that we can all give a go.

In Greece, they have a concept called meraki that refers to an introspective, precise expression of care, usually applied to a cherished pastime — and it’s keeping Greeks happy despite turbulent times. This is because having a hobby improves our quality of life according to scientists, and challenging ourselves to do something different also creates new neural pathways in our brain. Having a passion that you take pride can be of extra benefit to those who can’t say the same for their primary occupation.

Because meraki can make life worthwhile if your 9-5 is more of a daily grind. Many tasks that need to be taken care of on a day-to-day basis aren’t particularly challenging or inspiring – from filing, to raising purchase orders or even — dare I say it — some of the more gruelling aspects of parenting.

But we can break up the never-ending cycle of mundane work with our own personal challenges — things that we’re passionate about that we can genuinely look forward to doing. Our meraki.

Dolce far niente — or the sweetness of doing nothing — is a much-treasured concept in Italy — often hashtagged on Instagram accompanying pictures of Italians in hammocks. Okay, so Italy hasn’t exactly topped any happiness rankings in recent years, but the cliché of the carefree Italian still exists – and with good reason.

Italians do ‘nothing’ like no other nation and perfecting the art takes style and skill – because there’s more to it than meets the eye. It’s watching the world go by over coffee and a cornetto. It’s laughing at tourists. Or politicians. And crucially it’s about savoring the moment and really enjoying the present. Many of us search for relaxation by traveling to exotic locations, drinking to oblivion, or trying to blot out the noise of modern life.

But Italians let the chaos wash over them. Instead of saving up our ‘fun quota’ for an annual escape, they spread it over the minutes, hours and days throughout the year and ‘enjoy life’ in all its messy reality.

One of the happiest countries in the world, the Norwegians must be doing something right. And quite aside from their enviable Scandi-lifestyles and the safety net of all that oil, Norwegians have a secret ace card up their sleeves: a concept called friluftsliv. This roughly translates as ‘free air life’ and it’s a code of conduct as well as a life goal for most Norwegians – who like to spend time outdoors and get high, as often as possible.

Anyone who’s ever visited the country will know that if you meet a Norwegian out in nature, their objective tends to be the highest mountain nearby – and there’s a saying in Norway that “You must make an effort before you can have pleasure’.

Most Norwegians believe you have to work for things, to earn them with physical endeavors, battling the elements. Only once you’ve climbed a mountain in the rain and cold, can you truly enjoy your dinner. It’s an old fashioned approach to the good life but numerous studies show that using our bodies and getting out into nature as often as possible boosts mental and physical wellbeing.

Which is all very well, on paper. But how to apply these principles and all the things I’d learned in real life? Well, I took it slowly — dolce far niente style. I had to learn not to be the archetypal Londoner, working all hours. Instead, I had to try relaxing once in a while.

Radical, I know.

Next, I got on the hobby train. I found my meraki in pottery, in cooking and trying out new recipes, often inspired by the countries I was researching. Some weeks, we ate well. Others, not so much (my husband still hasn’t forgiven me for ‘Russian month’). I’m not ashamed to say that I’ve done a fair amount of underwear-drinking, too.

The Finnish concept of kalsarikännit and I are now firm friends. And because I was working less and being more mindful of living well and looking after myself, it was relatively easy to adopt the Norwegian ethos of friluftsliv.

So now I try to ask myself: what did I do today? What did I climb? Where did I go? But the biggest mind shift was the realization that to be happy, we have to be comfortable being sad sometimes, too. That we’re at our healthiest and happiest when we can reconcile ourselves to all our emotions, good and bad.

The Portuguese saudade was a game changer for me — helping me to come to terms with the life I thought I’d have and find a way to move on, without resentment or bitterness. Because when you let go of these things, something pretty amazing can happen.

By learning from other cultures about happiness, wellbeing and how to stay healthy (and sane), I found a way to be less stressed than I was in my old life. I developed a better understanding of the challenges and subtleties of coming from another culture. My empathy levels went up. I learned to care, more.

Optimism isn’t frivolous: it’s necessary. You’re travelers. You get this. But we need to spread the word, now, more than ever. Because we only have one world, so it would be really great if we didn’t mess it up.

Hellen Russell is a British journalist, speaker, and the author of the international bestseller The Year of Living Danishly. Her most recent book, The Atlas of Happiness, examines the cultural habits and traditions of happiness around the globe. Formerly the editor of marieclaire.co.uk, she now writes for magazines and newspapers around the world, including Stylist, The Times, Grazia, Metro, and The i Newspaper.

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the largest inventory. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and that will save you time and money too!

The post The Atlas of Happiness: Discovering the World’s Secret to Happiness with Helen Russell appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

[ilonavic]

I was tagged by the very beautiful people; @queenofkadaara​, @holy-squirrel-of-death​, @lithialetheia​ and @vattgherncirilla​. Thank you loves! ❤

RULES: 1. answer the new questions given by the previous person 2. write 11 new questions 3. tag 11 people 

Though the questions are quite many now, so I’ll sadly have to get rid of a few if they are too similar or if I feel I have answered them before. :’( 

i. what words would you use to describe your aesthetics?

This blog (@ilonavic) is extremely chaotic. My sideblog @silly-witcher-quotes​ is mainly filled with quotes. So as I have no aesthetics there, a blog of my wish, or for me personally, would be autumn aesthetic. I will explain why, and further, down there. 🍂

ii. favorite tea flavor?

Chai tea! ☕️  It tastes like Christmas, and works for autumn as well.

iii. favorite time period? why?

For personal interest, and because I live in the center of it, I’ve always been fascinated with either the Viking age or the 1600s in Sweden. My father is not Swedish, but my mother is, and we can trace her lineage back thus far. Meaning, I learned runic script when I was little in school, how to translate Nordic language (the common tongue for all Scandinavia at the time) into modern Swedish, as well as my personal connection via relatives to this place, is the reason for my interest I think. My hometown, and the town next to it, plus a town called Uppsala a few miles from here, were the 3 biggest cities during the Viking age in all of the Nordic countries. As my tour guide once said; we have more rune stones, ruins and old graves than the entirety of Norway and Finland has combined. It’s hard NOT to be interested in it then. 🌲🌾

iv. name of your first plushie / stuffed animal? do you still have it? and while we are at it, do you still have plushies?

My first plushie was a brown bear I called Bamse. Of course I still have all of my plushies, I just tucked them away many years ago, but I wouldn’t have the heart to throw them away. 🐻

v. what color do you wear the most?

Black mostly, occasionally burgundy or any dark colors. 👒 

vi. most emotional fictional moment? can be from video games, books, movies, etc.

I rarely ever cry in movies, but (and without any spoilers) I was most touched during the ending of The Book Thief, King Kong and The Pianist. (when I say ‘touched’ I mean ‘I literary cried rivers for an entire day’)

vii. if you could make one fictional character real, which one would you pick?

I’d make Regis real, he would bless all of us, I’d ask him to help my friends, comfort them and give his loyal support, as well as wonderful advice. 

viii. Who’s your favorite celebrity and why?

Adrien Brody. He’s been my favorite actor since I was 7, and he still is. Because once I do find a person who I really admire for several reasons, I rarely let them go. And Adrien is not just an excellent, underrated, actor who gives great performance in all of his movies - but he’s also a wise, generous and very artistic person. If I had more money, I’d buy one of his beautiful paintings.  

ix. What’s your favorite weather?

This --> ☔️💦☁️  (and fog) 

x. What do you think happens after death?

I’m not sure. But I believe that a person consists of the material; meaning, a human heart, a body, muscles and veins that eventually will grow old and stop pumping. But we also have a soul, which is the immaterial, our personality, memory, who we are essentially. That part cannot grow old because it doesn’t consist of anything material. So when we die, our bodies perish, but our human souls lives on. I think these are what we refer to as “ghosts” or “spirits”, and most simply stay in the material world to watch over loved ones as guardian angels, or moves on, and are perhaps born again into a new body? 

xi. What do you do when you’re sad?

I let myself be sad for a while, close myself in, isolate myself and cries for as long as I’d like. After a night’s sleep, I’m always better the next day. If I don’t feel like crying, but are sad nonetheless, I cuddle with my doggy. 🐶

xii. Which taste do you like best: sweet, salty, sour, bitter or spicy?

Salty I think, though I really like spices, but not TOO spicy. I’d like to enjoy the food without my tongue burning off. 

xiii. Which song describes you the best?

“Old Money” by Lana Del Rey. 

xiv. Do you like classical music? Who’s your favorite composer?

I LOVE classical music, like nothing else. My favorite composer is Tchaikovsky.

xv. In which city would you like to live?

Somewhere in Ireland, it’s very beautiful and it rains a lot, which I love. 

xvii. Who’s the person you desire to meet currently?

Many! I’d like to meet my Witcher squad first of all. Poland is very near so I’d love to meet my loves Sara and Fran, but I’d like to meet my cousin in Hungary too as well as my uncle in Switzerland. ✈️

xviii. What’s your favorite profession?

I would’ve loved to be an historian, an author, an astronaut, a professor or a scientist if my grades would’ve been better. Being an actress was my first dream. But it’s too difficult and I’m not a good enough actor to succeed. 

xix. Who’s the person you admire the most?

My maternal grandmother, she is more alike me than both of my parents. She’s always so cheerful, supportive, generous and kind. A great great woman. 

xx. If you could be a fictional character which movie, book or videogame would you like to be in?

Either Game of Thrones or The Witcher, of course. If I lived in The Witcher, I’d literary run around trying to find all my favorite characters and befriend them. (aka fangirl, start crying and asking them for their autographs) 

xxi. what’s your favorite game and why?

For nostalgic reasons, I’d say Skyrim. Currently it’s The Witcher and The Sims, but Skyrim was my original first love. (Dragon Age pretty good too) I’ve played Mass Effect, but I got a little bored. Which is a shame, cos it was really expensive... Maybe I just haven’t gotten to the good bits yet. 

xxii. why do you have tumblr?

Originally I created it after I fell in love with Regis’ character, then found @bryd-one-brere​ and @vaporeox​ blogs on Tumblr, that got me into it. Now I’m here for the fandom, for posting GIFS and other stuff. 

xxiii. what do you think about this war between Team Triss and Team Yen people?

Not sure. I don’t dislike or hate any character, I appreciate Sapkowski’s handiwork, but I think there are much more interesting subjects to debate than who Geralt should choose. 

xxiv. which team are you: Triss or Yen and why?

I was team Yennefer before I even read the books. I didn’t know much about any character, but I never trusted Triss, I had this feeling about her, she seems untrustworthy, and now I know why of course. Yennefer is very loyal and independent, I think she’s a unique female character we haven’t seen much before. Their conversations are also much more natural and unforced, I think Yennefer and Geralt are yin and yang, they are mirror reflections of each other. 

xxv. which character (from book, game, movie) you appreciate the most?

I appreciate complex, difficult characters a lot. Everything Sapkowski’s ever written is appreciated, such as Eredin and Avallac’h, but I also like Booker DeWitt from Bioshock. 

xxvi. what’s your favorite meal? describe it!

Pickled herring, raw spiced salmon with dill, potatoes and sour cream along with root beer or snaps.  

xxvii. have you met someone on tumblr? If u did, tag him/her here!

Not yet :( But I plan to!

xviii. which season is your favorite?

AUTUMN. 🍁🍂🍄 (lol the road I live on is even called mushroom-forest-road)

xxix. who’s your spirit animal?

Queen Freya. I can relate to no other character from any film/game better than her. ❄️  #5/10 movie #but 10/10 characters

xxx.  What do you think of me? Tell meh tha truth! (@vattgherncirilla​)

I luurv you! I think you’re very easy to talk to, I feel like I can talk about anything with you without feeling judged for it. You’re very open-minded, fun and spirited which I love. You’re even cuter on Skype when we spoke, and I think it’s SO COOL that you dance ballet as well as your major expertise in Gwent. ❤ 

my questions: 

i. what is your happiest and saddest memory? ii. what/who is your most precious possession or person in your life?  iii. what character describes you the most? iv. favorite time period? why? v. favorite meal? vi. what profession will you most likely work as? vii. name of your favorite song? viii. what is your favorite season/weather? ix. why did you originally join Tumblr? x. what movie/game/book has made the most impact on you? xi. what do you wish would disappear from the world?

I’m tagging: @lenkalost @silnaniewinna @coeurouge @vernon-roche @shadanakara @flotosartblog @cirillach @dandelionandbuttercup @ferelden-doglord @lunedin @aledbr only if you want to do it ofc!

[novemberhush]

22. Where would you like to travel? 38. Describe your dream person? 124 do you believe in love at first sight?

Hey! Sorry I didn’t answer these last night, but I needed sleep! Okay, here goes!😊

22) Where would I like to travel? Oh, so many places! I’ll try to give you a quick round-up of the main ones, though.

Argentina (I especially want to see the Iguazu Falls and the Los Glaciares National Park).

Canada (I’ve been to Niagara, but that’s it. I’d love to see more, especially Toronto, which friends who have visited rave about, and British Columbia, which looks beautiful).

Denmark (I have no explanation for this one except maybe watching Danny Kaye in that Hans Christian Andersen film as a child! I was also assigned it as my country when we did a project back in my Primary 5 class, which means I’d have been about 8, where we were each given a country and had to research it and write about its history and produce a ‘travel brochure’ for it. And now I’m obsessed with their crime dramas! But, yeah, I’ve wanted to go there for the longest time. Plus it’s often voted the happiest country in the world, although I think Norway beat it this year, but not by much).

Hawaii (seems like a no-brainer, but I blame 'Hawaii Five-O’ for all those gorgeous shots of the place!).

Iceland (and if I got to see the Northern Lights then so much the better).

Italy, Cyprus, Alaska and New York are also all places I’d really love to explore. Oh, and Egypt! Although I think the heat would kill me! I think that’s enough to be going on with.🙂

38) My dream person? Devastatingly handsome, rich, witty and funny, of course.😂 No, sorry, seriously, I guess kindness would be the number one attribute on the wish list. Sure, those other things wouldn’t hurt, but if he’s not kind then the rest doesn’t matter. Honesty and loyalty are important too. Understanding, or at least the willingness to try to be. Someone I can laugh with. Someone I can do nothing or everything with. And if he just so happens to be about 6ft tall with dark hair and brown (or possibly green) eyes then I’ll know it really is a dream!😉

124) Do I believe in love at first sight? Well, you would think someone as soppy as I am would, wouldn’t you? But outside of some of my OTPs (I’m looking at you in particular, Johnlock!), I would have to say I’m not a big believer in it.

I can understand that immediate attraction to someone, but in most cases that’s lust, not love. Yes, it can sometimes then lead to love (which is perhaps why people say it was love at first sight when it was really just lust that happened to develop into love), but how can you know at first sight what someone is like? I mean, really like?

For me, love comes from getting to know someone, getting to know their personality, and all the little things that go into making them them, and that takes a while. But I’m willing to be proven wrong on this one! Just because I’ve never experienced it personally doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen or exist.❤️

Thanks for the ask, my lovely. I hope the answers weren’t too insufferably boring for you!😘

[ireneatance-blog]

“We are not hippies we are happies”

With these silly title I start this post :) hoping to make you smile and bring a bit of light into your week.

Now let’s get serious...Yesterday was the International Happiness Day like every other 20th of March. The United Nations declared 20 March the International Day of Happiness to recognise the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals. UN offices organized a motivational talk by a company called Belab.

Belab is an Inspirational Leadership Center, which seeks to support people to reinvent themselves in their field of development through the discovery, activation and expansion of people's passions and abilities.I found the talk very interesting what drives me to do a bit more research to find out what happiness looks like from different angles.

What is happiness?

The ancient Greeks were among the first to explore the link between the physical body and our emotional responses. Happiness is like every other emotional experience, the result of electrochemical reactions in the brain brought on by stimuli. Without entering into much complexity,biology or chemistry ,I will present 4 chemicals that once released inside our body make us feel really good:) 

Dopamine,Seroronin, Oxytocin and Endorphin.In case you haven't seen yet ,there is a great video in youtube showing how a happy cell looks like (btw it is very cute) you can find it on this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqYMSKo91eo  where the cute molecules of the protein myosin drag a ball of endorphins along an active filament into the inner part of the brain's parietal cortex, which produces feelings of happiness.

Although that is the scientific explanation ,other approaches biological, psychological, economic, religious and philosophical must be taken into consideration to have a broader perspective.The common denominator is that Happiness is a mental or emotional state of well-being and not always very easy to see or to define.

For example,there are plenty of studies backing up the idea that meditation has a positive impact in our health and well being.But why and how?are our cells so dependent on our state of mind or how we feel?

Whatever happiness is, we know that we want it!we could call it many other ways... and that is just somehow good. Lets dig a bit more on that...

How can we measure happiness?

A 2012 review of more than 200 studies found a connection between happiness and its positive psychological attributes. It is really amazing the power of our brain and how it affects to our general health and well-being but how can we measure how happy we are?????

I found on Wikipedia that Psychologist Martin Seligman asserts that happiness is not solely derived from external, momentary pleasures, and he affirms that humans seem happiest when they have:Pleasure (tasty food, warm baths, etc.)Engagement (or flow, the absorption of an enjoyed yet challenging activity)Relationships (social ties have turned out to be extremely reliable indicator of happiness)Meaning (a perceived quest or belonging to something bigger),Accomplishments (having realized tangible goals).

Dr. Laura Kubzansky, Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Director of the Society and Health Laboratory at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Also she serves as co-Director of the Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness,has published many studies that connects happiness and health.For example some her publications : “The promise of well-being interventions for improving health risk behaviors” or “The prospective association between positive psychological well-being and diabetes” among others.I highly recommend you to look at this link where you will read about keys to a happier, healthier life :

 https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/magazine/happiness-stress-heart-disease/

The number of interesting journals and studies related to the topic are endless.

But how can be happiness measured?how well one likes the life one lives?

Apparently,the way to measure for research purposes, it is to ask the individual to give his or her opinion on one’s own happiness situation. The system is based in surveys either in face-to-face interviews or on questionnaires presented on the web.They measure the frequency where verbal and numerical scales are used.It can be measured in an individual or collective level.Others like : The Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) or the the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS).

World Happiness report 2017

The first World Happiness Report was published in April, 2012, in support of the UN High Level Meeting on happiness and well-being. Since then there are annual publications that put in spot the happiest countries on earth.Latest ranking placed Norway as the happiest country in the world followed by Denmark ,Iceland and Switzerland.

Find more details here :

http://worldhappiness.report/ed/2017/

The ranking is based on the following variables: happiness,GDP per capita ,social support , health and life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity and perception of corruption.

Alright since we have some people in class from these “happy” countries ,will be great to know your opinion. I certainly find some aspects of these report superficial. For example if we look other indicators like suicide rates (info below from WHO )seems like in Europe people commit suicide more than in other regions around the world or if we look at the ranking in Europe ,Iceland is over the suicidal average in the region...I just leave it for your own judgement and opinion.

How can I achieve happiness?

Although it is very personal,there are some patterns that can be followed.For example you can improve happiness by eating healthier, socializing more, meditating, giving more to others, etc.

Nevertheless, I am not an expert in the matter but I personally have experienced that when you get to know yourself ,when you listen to your body, and when give you space to reconnect whit nature and what matter in life, can have a powerful effects on your everyday.Also I found that having a purpose in life keeps you alive and moving. Some of us also believe that giving to others or trying to make a change in the world (one by one) is part of these process.

Love more,laugh more, enjoy more and specially whatever you go and you do , be present. We are surrounded by so many things that distract us from what matters.

I found in sports ,yoga and meditation a good way to relief worry and tension apart from keeping us active.There are studies linking yoga and meditation to mental health and well-being ,you can find in PubMed as usual.

I think will be interesting that new rankings could appear, instead to measure  the individual GDP ,they could focus on “Gross national happiness and health” of the population.

SOME FOODS THAT RAISE YOUR SEROTONIN:

OTHER TIPS FOR YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE:

I have read some great books that were very enlightening.If you are more curious about it ,I can send you some bibliography.Below you will read wise words from the book “The art of happiness” by Dalai Lama.

With his wise and beautiful words I end my post.

Hope you enjoyed the post and that you always find your way to happiness.

xx

[shawnjacksonsbs]

I imagine it for the whole world, all the time.      3-20-17

So, I heard something on the radio this morning that had me interested enough to look it up. I did a couple of searches and found several articles that backed it up. I am not going to go back through and find the articles now, just to reference them for you guys. Just know that I checked this out and I am confident that you can go check and find the same results. Since I don’t really have anything else to talk about today I will touch on this topic a bit.

By the way, today was a good day. Our job which is another one of the ones we started a while ago, will be finished up tomorrow. So that’s cool. After an under-estimate (not mine) we got to go back over things and we will make a bit of money on the extra work. Not enough, but some is better than none. Lol Now. . .

“Knowing there is a world that will outlive you, there are people whose well-being depends on how you live your life, affects the way you live your life, whether or not you directly experience those effects. You want to be the kind of person who has the larger view, who takes other people’s interests into account, who’s dedicated to the principles that you can justify, like justice, knowledge, truth, beauty and morality.”  – Steven Pinker, cognitive scientist

Ok so, they did a poll, I don’t remember who “they” are specifically, but it’s a globally recognized group, and they did a poll and rated countries for happiness. Norway, I believe beat out Denmark this year, or the other way around maybe, for the happiest country in the world in which to live. The other one took second place. Lol They are pretty close to each other geographically, so that may play a small part in it.

Here’s the kicker though, they are also the least religious countries on Earth, by way of another poll. This is something you can look up for sure. Seems that atheism is on the rise in that part of the world. Which, to me, makes perfect sense as well.

This is not merely coincidence. There is obviously a direct correlation. The thing that isn’t known, as of yet, and probably won’t be known for sure without more polls taken, is whether they are the happiest places to live because they are the least religious or if they are the least religious because they are the happiest places to live.

This also makes sense, as they said on the radio and the couple articles I read that mentioned and I’m paraphrasing, is that generally people who turn to religion are people who are unhappy in some way with something in this life and are looking for something more positive to look forward to after-life. So, it’s kind of like the old “which came first they chicken or the egg?” thing.

Now they still have religious people there, and churches, temples, synagogues, etc., and for which I imagine they probably will for years and years and years, because some people grow up in it, instead of turning to it, but this is still cool if you ask me. I mean, I full on believe just as Lennon said “IMAGINE”. Hmm, it’s going to be hard not to use those lyrics as my quote again. Lol He was definitely on to something though.

I suppose that’s it for today. Although, my answer is probably obvious, I can’t help but wonder about you guys, and any/everybody else. If you knew that you would be happy, truly happy with life, especially if you knew you would be happy for the remainder of your life would you, could you, give up religion? While wearing your happiness, you could look around and see more people happy with their lives, I bet it feels amazing. I want to move to Norway now. lol Not really but, I damn sure want to visit.

Keep sharing the love and the laughter with the world (except maybe not with the Netherlands countries, lol, sounds like they are full up!)

Until tomorrow;

“We are all given a gift of existence and of being sentient beings, and I think true happiness lies in love and compassion.” – Adam Pascal, musician and actor

[topfygad]

Where to Travel in July: The Best Adventure Destinations Around the World

In North America and Europe, July all but guarantees sunshine. And I don’t mean a bit of sun poking out from behind the clouds like the icon on your iPhone weather app. Oh, no. I’m talking about the kind of sunshine that bathes the land in a golden glow until bedtime.

July means getting outside and absorbing some of that much-needed vitamin D. If it means pausing your Netflix marathon, then so be it.

The southern hemisphere, however, is a whole different ballgame. Down south, July translates to peak winter, and this time of year is considered either ski season or stay-inside-and-wait-out-the-storm season. Sure, there’s fun to be had in the snow, but the real adventures in July happen under that northern sunshine.

With that in mind, go find the settings in your email and select the “automated” email option. Write something along the lines of, “I’m out of the office on vacation, so leave me alone.”

Hire a dog sitter if you must—I’m sure your best buddy owes you for something. Reschedule any appointments; they can wait. And then go stock up on some sunscreen.

1. Vancouver, Canada for Urban and Outdoor Adventures

Vancouver is the kind of city that has everything, and July is the perfect time to enjoy it all. The sun is out and the notoriously rainy city is at its driest.

The city itself is a pulsing metropolis complete with ice cream parlors, brunch spots, malls, museums, and all the other requisite modern conveniences. And, in just an hour’s drive, the entire landscape can completely change.

Drive north out of Vancouver and you’ll encounter the Sea to Sky Highway, a road that winds all the way up into the Rocky Mountains. Follow the road for around 45 minutes and you’ll get to the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish. If you’re interested in breathtaking views and natural beauty (who isn’t?) then hop in.

View of the Stawamus Chief in Squamish. Worth it!

At $45 for a day pass, the gondola isn’t the most budget-friendly activity, but there are two reasons why it’s worth forking out. First, you get front row views of the Howe Sound, a network of beautiful fjords—think mirror-like water flanked by rugged green slopes.

Second, once you reach the top of the gondola, you can spend all day exploring the nature trails through the Stawamus Chief Provincial Park. The Panorama Trail is a popular one since it’s just over a mile long and has several viewpoints that look out over the Fjords.

Drive west out of Vancouver and you hit the beach. Second Beach in Stanley Park is perfect for a BBQ and pitch and putt, while Kitsilano Beach is better for swimming thanks to its calm water. If you’re feeling more adventurous, shed your swimwear and head to the clothing-optional Wreck Beach.

2. Mongolia for Off-the-Beaten Track Travel

Mongolia is the Wild West of Asia. It has the lowest population density of any country in the world (just 1 person per square mile) and is home to one of the last groups of nomadic people.

A trip to Mongolia means spending a lot of time out in staggeringly beautiful nature. The capital, Ulaanbaatar, is the country’s only city and is also home to the majority of the population. This means not only do you have loads of beautiful nature to explore, but you’ll also have it virtually all to yourself.

Unearthly Mongolian landscape.

There is a good chance that, if you venture off into the Mongolian countryside, you will not see another living soul for days on end. What you will see, however, is the gorgeous Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake, the formidable mountains of Altai Tavn Bogd National Park and Gorkhi-Terelj National Park’s lush, endless valley.

But, the countryside is only half of the story. July in Mongolia is all about the Naadam Festival—the biggest festival of nomadic culture in the world, happening annually between July 10-12. The main Naadam Festival is in Ulaanbaatar, but every province holds their own version. There are three core events at the festival: wrestling, horse racing, and archery—each done with its own Mongolian flare.

Interspersed between the “three manly sports” as they are known, men, women and children perform dances, songs and parades. It is a loud, colorful event, unlike anything you will have ever seen. If you want an experience that will make you sound interesting at dinner parties, this will do the trick.

3. Lofoten Islands for Adventure 

Not everyone wants the scorching heat of the Mediterranean for their summer vacation. Some people would rather enjoy a milder climate and be able to spend more than five minutes outside without sweating.

If that’s you, you should consider going to Norway’s Lofoten Islands. In July, the weather will be pleasant if a little erratic—don’t worry though, bad weather spells turn into glowing sunshine within 10 minutes or so.

Each endowed with a name you would humiliate yourself trying to pronounce, the Lofoten Islands are a mecca for adventure-seekers. Surfing is a popular activity in the water surrounding the islands. Even if you’ve never surfed before, have a go just so you can tick “surf above the Arctic Circle” off your bucket list.

Incredible views around the Lofoten Islands

On land, there are dozens of hiking trails through the glorious fjords. The path to the Reinebringen lookout point is one of the most spectacular routes—mainly due to the uninhibited views you’ll get over Reinefjorden and the Lofoten Wall.

If you visit the Lofoten Islands in July, you will also witness the midnight sun. This natural phenomenon occurs in the Arctic Circle from mid-May to July. For around six weeks the sun never sets. Instead, at night, the land is doused in a soft twilight that is a long way from the darkness. This means you have 24 hours a day to enjoy the stunning scenery of the islands.

4. Belize for Great Diving

Unlike the rest of Central America, Belize was once a British colony, which means everyone there speaks English. Also unlike the rest of Central America, the people and culture in Belize are Caribbean, not Latino. So, this little gem stands out from its neighbors, and you don’t even need a phrasebook on hand to help you get by.

In July, the temperature hovers around the low to mid-80s and, while this is technically the rainy season, it is one of the better months to travel.

Belize’s insanely blue waters is reason enough to visit, no? | Photo Credit: MaxPixel

We all know by now that travel companies hike up their prices during peak season and July is often when they are at their most exorbitant. However, July in Belize is not peak season despite the warm weather. If you can handle the occasional bit of rain then July is a cheap and temperate time to visit Belize.

Once you get to Belize, I recommend heading straight out to the islands of Caye Caulker and Caye Ambergris. The number one activity on these islands is scuba diving—in particular diving in the world famous Great Blue Hole. This giant sinkhole is teeming with hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, giant groupers and every color of tropical fish you could imagine.

Don’t have time to go to the islands? The ATM caves near San Ignacio on the mainland are ripe for adventure. Tours take you floating on a rubber ring through the extensive cave river network with stops for exploring the cave by foot. If you’re lucky your guide will let you cliff jump into the deep and icy cave pools.

5. Switzerland for Mountain Hiking

Forget about skiing in the Alps just for a second and try to picture Switzerland in the summer. Instead of endless ski pistes, the iconic mountains of Switzerland are fully thawed and blanketed with a layer of lush, green grass. It’s the kind of scenery that makes you want to run around and burst into song like Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music.

July is the most beautiful and happiest time of the year to visit.

Switzerland might not be the biggest country on the map, but it sure packs a punch when it comes to adventure activities. There are around 250 miles of hiking trails leading through the picturesque Zermatt region. Be sure to snap a photo or two of the oh-so-impressive Matterhorn looming in the background.

These views though! Is there a bad view in Switzerland?

Lake Geneva is another summer hotspot, blessed with scenery that will stop you in your tracks. The lake itself shimmers under the sun while Lausanne and Geneva hug its shoreline. Either stroll around the edge of the lake and take it all in from the comfort of dry land or grab a paddleboard and head out onto the water.

Side note for people with a sweet tooth (like myself): Switzerland is the home of chocolate. Do with this information what you will.

6. Seychelles for Beaches 

The Seychelles are the definition of paradise islands. White sand, impossibly turquoise water, coconut palms, year-round sunshine—this archipelago ticks all the boxes. While there are 115 islands in the Seychelles altogether, you will spend most of your time on the three main islands: Mahé, Praslin and La Digue.

On Praslin, you will find the UNESCO World Heritage Vallée de Mai, a nature reserve known for its outstanding beauty. Here, you can walk under the giant leaves of the endemic coco de mer palm trees and listen to the cries of the rare black parrots.

There are no bad choices when exploring the Seychelles.

Looking for some peace and quiet? La Digue is almost free of motorized vehicles—and roads for that matter. The best way to explore the island is on two wheels. Cycle across the little island to the Veuve Nature Reserve and see if you can spot the Seychelles Black Paradise Flycatcher, one of the rarest birds in the world.

One requirement of a trip to the Seychelles is at least one (but probably more) day spent on the beach. Anse Coco on La Digue, Anse Intendance on Mahé and Anse Georgette on Praslin are among the most pristine thanks to their pearl white sand and notable lack of trash. Honestly, though, any beach you choose will be amazing.

7. Estonia for City Fun and Spa Treatments

In July, Estonia’s temperature is utterly delightful and there is very little rain. On top of that, due to its northerly location, the month of July bears witness to virtually 24-hour sunshine. If you’re looking for adventure in Estonia, there’s no better time of year to visit.

Start your vacation by getting to grips with the capital: Tallinn. At its center is a city cut through with narrow streets and enclosed by towering medieval walls. Check out the town square and climb the 115 steps within the tower attached to the town hall for just a couple of euros—from here you’ll get a panoramic view over the capital.

Gorgeous views of Old Tallinn.

Now it’s time to head out of the city to Pärnu, Estonia’s summer capital. During the warmer months, this town is packed with people looking for spa mud treatments and beach time. It is the kind of place you go to stroll through parks and take it easy.

You can also use Pärnu as a springboard to explore the Soomaa National Park. This comprises predominantly bog and swampland, but it’s super pretty, I promise.

There are various trails that wind through the park. There’s also a boardwalk that runs over the top of the swamp. The Beaver Trail is the best route if you want to spot wildlife. This includes elk, foxes, lynx and, you guessed it, beavers.

It is a cardinal sin to spend your whole summer in the office. This year, treat yourself to a break from the mundane and seek out an adventure overseas. You’ll come back refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to bore all of your friends with traveling stories.

Which of these places has you frantically packing to get away?

READ MORE: 11 U.S. National Parks That Are Ripe for Adventure

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