hostels.

going on my experiences with hostels in australia, whereby i treated them as merely places to sleep and grab a shower before i jumped on a bus to my next (more rural) destination, i was a little apprehensive about the concept of spending 3 weeks staying in these places during my time in the states, with little to no 'retreat' to a more 'homely' environment. the contrast between these accomodations; between staying with liberal families in their beautiful and unusual homes, to staying with young, excitable people in new and fast cities, fixed in my mind the attitude that hostels are not the most comfortable places to stay.

hostels can be pretty intimidating places. everyone there is there to have fun. which can make for a good party atmosphere, obviously, but it can also make for a competitive atmosphere. it's like the first week of uni, but all the time. in some situations, it can feel like everyone is out to impress everyone else. the thing is, in a hostel, everyone has an interesting story to tell; they're all travellers! they're all explorers, they're all away from home, they're all trying to make the most of their time in whatever city they find themselves in. some of the more arrogant people don't seem to acknowledge this; that maybe, they're not the most interesting person in the room. during my time in australia, i got this vibe a lot.

however, like a lot of situations, when i started to relax into the environment, i didn't perceive nearly as many negative feelings or attitudes. the first week i spent in the usa, i spent in a hostel. and i didn't ever feel pressured or intimidated or overwhelmed by other people's personalities.

this has been a bit of a rambling entry. but i think the main point is;

if you start to shed your prejudices about an environment or a situation, it can start to appear in a different light. and that light is often worth taking a look at.

kate & will.

Yes, OK, I'm going there, a royal wedding post.

I didn't think I would be bothered by it, I didn't plan on watching it. But I did. And I enjoyed it too.

It's wonderful that we can feel so united as a nation. It's happened a lot in recent years; I don't know if it's because I'm just old enough to notice it or because of the economy that it's happening more.I think it's great that we can come together to protest and be passionate. But today, for once, we all came together and were united in celebration. Royalty amongst politicians amongst celebrities amongst everyone else, we were all celebrating one occasion together.

I think that's really beautiful. That the country (and the world) can be so complicated and divided, yet we are all united with the genuine happiness and hope that comes from seeing a young, beautiful, dignified couple starting their lives together.

A lot of the time I find it hard to find energy to be optimistic about my future in this complicated world, so apparently full or turmoil and traps; that everything will collapse on top of me as I struggle to strive forward into adulthood. As a soon-to-be graduate, I am genuinely concerned for the my future, my family's future, my future family's future and the future of the world, when it so consistently feels as though the odds are stacked against all of us. Days like today remind me that, no matter how complicated and difficult and intimidating times can be, love is a constant and over-riding factor.

Congratulations to William and Kate. xx

my life according to someone cool i wish i could be like. aka the positive spin

i am 21.
i enjoy shopping and admiring all things cute and somewhat unusual.
i enjoy artsy magazines which don't tell me what not to wear, or what celebrity i should look like, or where i can get highstreet items, but instead inspire me, delight me, intrigue me.
i enjoy writing letters, memories, thoughts, poems, ideas.
i enjoy sewing - one day i will own a sewing machine, and i'll source vintage print fabric and make all my own beautiful dresses based on patterns acquired from flea markets.
i enjoy running: even though every time i go, i have to force myself, i always come back through the front door: red, exhausted, aching and proud. one day i'll make the perfect running play list.
i have a wonderful family.
i am at university.
when i graduate, i'm going to move to australia. how long i'll be able to stay is something i will have to work out later.
i never knew what love could be until i met Samuel John Wright. and every day i learn even more about what love is, and it makes me truly happy. if even just the notion of someone being yours to keep, to be with, to share yourself with, to share your life with, to share your thoughts with, to explore- can make two people happy, even when they are 10,000 miles away from each other, then i know we can make this work.
i like taking photos, but i wish i was less self concious and i'd take thousands more.

that's all i can think for now...