Let me just start by saying that I will not say where I live. Not that I have many followers from Europe, or from my country whatsoever, but with internet one can never know. I'll just say (once again) that I study on a little european island away from my home.
So. When I moved here, three years ago, I was a bit "spoiled" as a girl who had been almost all over Europe on trips for snowboard and summer holidays by the age of 18. My clothes are mostly from Topshop and Urban Outfitters (we don't even have an H&M) and I travelled to the USA last year, a dream some people here think it will never come true. And my friends from school were in the same situation more or less.
But most of the people I met here had never been on a plane, didn't know how to pronounce latte (OR what it was) and without realising it, I stood out a bit.
Let me give you an example. Once a friend of mine called a Mac computer ("ipod, but a computer"). It was very funny but eye-opening at the same time. Every time I went home for Christmas or summer I would get a bit depressed on what I took for granted in life.
Don't get me wrong. I don't come for a vastly rich family. I don't spend hundreds of euro just for fun and I didn't ride unicorns to school. I am just lucky enough to grow up in a big (extended) family where parents wanted to give their children the best (like every parent) but at the same time they were so strict to us to appreciate money. My first job was at a furniture factory when I was seven years old, during the summer. It was probably the easiest job ever, but the purpose was to be around different kinds of people and realise what it takes to make money. So I can surely say I am a down to earth girl, thanks to my parents.
Returning to the purpose of the post, some people made fun of me because I wanted "extraordinary things" (a cupcake-non existent here, a pilates class, sushi) or when I got seriously thrilled when I discovered there was a Starbucks nearby! I don't mind, the way I see it this is only a waiting room for me (quote stolen from some movie). I don't plan on staing here.
I'm going to live in London, maybe Rome but no, not here.
(say it 3 times cause it's true)
Rome is a lovely city. London is also very nice from what I hear.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the move :)
Wow. I wish I were European. But I never knew that Europeans wanted to come to America. why? what do they want to see here that they don't have ten times better in Europe? haha I guess it's like curly haired people wanting straight hair and then the opposite.
ReplyDeletegood luck getting to which ever city fits you best! I know you'll do great :)
London is an amazing place to live, I miss it a lot. There is always something to see or do and often for free. If it is a raining Sunday you can walk round meseums or Selfridges or Heels or just anywhere for hours and you're not alone. There are always things open and lights on, sometimes it is nice to have a break from that but sometimes home, in the rain when everything is shut is just...depressing.
ReplyDeleteSatrbucks is the curer of all things :P x
I can relate. I grew up in an upper-middle class family, and attend a private college in LA, but I also work with inner city child abusers-- here in the US race and class issues are inextricably linked, and the people on the phones get rude the instant they hear a Caucasian voice.
ReplyDeletelol you should come visit canada. tim hortons is waay better than starbucks, the drive thru has a line out onto the street even in little towns especially in the morning lol. Did i mention that right now a french vanilla cappucino supreme is 99 cents right now at timmies lol. yoga, spin classes, and things like that are things that we dream of here. Where i live we are so excited cuz there is a couple personal trainers doing aerobics classes and stuff and they are thinking of bringing zumba fitness here. but rly...i dream of being in europe. It sounds amazing.
ReplyDeleteomg- do really rich people ride unicorns to school? I know what I want to be when I grow up :D
ReplyDeleteno but really, that'd be sickk!!!!
Very down to earth, I hope you can move to one of those cities very soon :)
My first job was stuffing envelopes for $NZD2 an hour. I then graduated to assembling satellite dishes for $NZD2.5 a dish. That taught me to place an accurate value on my work, lol!
ReplyDeleteHearing how clueless people can be about the world around them totally breaks my brain. There are people I talk to who honestly think that Thanksgiving is a globally celebrated holiday! *facepalm*
Love you <3
Ahh I can relate, too. After moving around the US for my entire life I end up in one of the smallest, most ignorant places I have ever been. Here people treat me like I'm stuck up because I have seen other things. But moving all the time has only made me appreciate my friends and family even more. Also, I would loooooovvveeee to live in Europe for a while, but I'm kind of scared to leave my sister, you're so lucky to have grown up there!
ReplyDelete<3