From My Last Day as an Exchange Student to Today.

Thursday, December 27, 2018 Cristian 0 Comments


Believe me when I tell you that nothing compares to what you feel when you have to leave your host country. Leaving is harder than arriving, a hundred times harder. No, actually, arriving for me was not hard at all! I've always dreamt of living in the United States of America and when the time came I just went with it! But, oh boy, was it hard to leave? Very. Was I excited to go back home to see family and friends? Yes, indeed. But leaving everything I have built in only one year was extremely hard. I was proud of all my achievements and when I was finally able to do everything stress-free, I had to leave and say goodbye. No more driving everywhere, no more drive-thrus, no more dinner out on the patio, no more Colorado sunsets... just, no more.

"You will come back and visit, don't be sad!" 

I will always be able to go back and visit, but it will never ever be the same experience as actually living there. I will not be a student anymore, my friends may not be there anymore, the students in my high school will be different and all of a sudden I would feel like an outsider in a place with which I used to feel well connected.

Of course I will go back, I would love to be there right at this moment, but each time will always be a bit different. My last few hours as an exchange student I packed my things, I looked around my empty room and I started processing my way out of the country. I kept thinking"I will be okay" as I was laying down. It felt like if all my memories were projected on the ceiling and I was there watching like a spectator watches a stage play. "Cris, we are home. We will soon take you to the airport." Right at that minute, I had to roll my things upstairs, look back at the basement as I knew I was not going to return, and leave.


All I felt like doing in the car was crying, but I held it in. I was looking out the window, trying to think of something but the fact that I was leaving. My American family was talking about things that didn't involve me so I kind of tried to listen to the conversation so I wouldn't cry.

As I arrived at the airport, I felt calmer. I was thinking straight. I knew Colorado was somehow my new home and that I was going to make my return there sooner or later, so I just focused on the fact that I was going to back to Italy to see everyone I had to say goodbye to the year before!

In fact... I've made it back.

Believe it or not, I did go back to Colorado. Twice, in fact. I spent two weeks there and celebrated Easter 2017, and then I went back there from January to June 2018 and did a three months internship in Denver. I had to get my first driving license ever in only one week, I was living in a different home, I was more independent, I wasn't a student anymore but rather an intern. Everything was great and I felt like if that was the best upgrade for my former exchange experience. 

Applying for a visa wasn't easy, finding the right internship wasn't easy, many things could have gone wrong... but they didn't. I had a lot of support from the right people that guided me so that I could follow the right path and I am now proud of how far I've come. If I was able to, so could you! The end of your exchange isn't the end of everything. You have the power to start something bigger and continue your journey, so what are you waiting for? There are loads of programs out there. If you need any help don't hesitate to click on follow on the right inside and leave a comment!

Read also: How to Take Over the Globe!

- Cris

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THE PERFECT TV SERIES FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTS TO WATCH.

Saturday, November 24, 2018 Cristian 0 Comments


Having to leave everything that is familiar to you can be terrifying, especially when you are doing so to go live at a stranger's house. I get it, we've all been through it. I had the privilege to meet my host family prior to my exchange as they were traveling to Europe for the summer, so that was my luck. I know that not a lot of students can say the same, but it is always worth it to go abroad with an open mind and positive thoughts anyway. Our happy thinking sometimes isn't enough and we do end up feeling like we don't belong, homesick or lonely. Fear no more, I have the perfect TV series to keep you company.


The Fosters.
When I didn't feel particularly up to do much during my exchange, I'd watch a lot of tv series. That isn't because I wasn't enjoying my experience, but that's just who I am. I am attracted to the film industry and tv in general. One of the shows that particularly kept me company while I was gone on my exchange was The Fosters. As the title may spoil, the series talk about foster care, and beyond. The main characters fight unhealthy social systems, spreading the message that everyone is loved and welcome to be whoever they are. Two lesbians open their doors to many foster kids who over the years, as the story evolves, get officially adopted by these two incredible women. 

The story covers heavy topics, like cancer, lgbtq+ stories, gun violence, stalkers, broken hearts, mental health, and insecurities of all sorts. Unfortunately, we can relate, to some extent, to a lot of these things, but the bottom line is that we can go through everything if we stick together and help each other out. This incredible family kept me company over the years. I've watched the show when I was in the United States of America as an exchange student, but also when I was home in Italy, studying in Denmark or in the United Kingdom. I've felt lonely sometimes, I didn't have much money to go out and do things, so I'd stay home and binge-watch. Some people can't do that, but I discovered that I can and I'm not afraid to say that this series gifted me many smiles when I needed them.

How does this show relates to people being on an exchange you say? Well, I think about my host parents. They opened up their home to me and many more exchange students over the years. Doing that enables many things. When they welcomed me to their house, shared their belonging and food with me, we established a relationship that is now unbreakable. It is obviously very different from fostering someone who has been through the system, but these experiences have something in common: trust. It's hard to believe that people are willing to share what they have (e.g. a home) with someone they don't already trust - but that is why we have time. We spend time with each other and we learn things about one another. 

I really learned a lot watching The Fosters and I hope that I somehow influenced you because it's worth a watch. It's currently not on Netflix. Its network is the former ABC Family, now Freeform, but I'm sure that if you are like me you will find a way to watch it even if you are not from the USA and don't have access to Freeform. 

What is your favorite tv series? and why? Comment below!

- Cris


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TRAVEL DOES NOT EXIST WITHOUT HOME.

Monday, November 19, 2018 Cristian 0 Comments


For the past few years, I've been packing, unpacking, moving out, moving back in, taking off, landing, getting a new job, enrolling in new universities, shaking new hands, engaging with strangers, going to socials, events, and such things. Great! In fact, this is why I've done it and I keep doing it. 

But... would travel exist without home?


No. Our birthplace is our starting point. That is the one thing that we can't change about ourselves. Think about it. We can change homes, countries, even our own name, but not the place where we are born. That is something that we will always carry with us. When we travel, we embrace new cultures and welcome new habits into our lives, but we always tend to share our own with foreigners. We may not even be the patriotic kinds but as soon as people open their mouths to say something bad about our country, we suddenly step in and defend it as if they were talking poorly about us. Isn't it true? We take it personally. We think we are the only ones allowed to talk in a certain way about our birthplace.

As I moved from one place to the other, I looked for peace. I looked for my happy place. And from time to time, I even thought I finally found it. The truth is that most times that feeling would be temporary and my mind would still take me back to Milan. I'd miss doing the same boring things I've done since I was a kid. Who would have actually thought? Feelings, though, always change.

 I want to decide for myself whether my assigned place is actually the right one for me or not, and in order to do so, I travel. I explore. I feel things. 

We do have the power to change things. Play the game. You may have been born and raised somewhere, but where do you want to grow up? Where do you want to mature? Where do you want to say your last words? I strongly believe that we are the authors of our own destiny, we just need to know how to write.

- Cris

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OVERSEAS WITH AN OPEN MIND.

Sunday, November 04, 2018 Cristian 0 Comments


Cristian Meets Coventry.
There's nothing better than a gloomy Sunday to catch up with my dear blog. I'm sitting in my room, sipping warm tea, playing acoustic music and letting my thoughts run through my head. 

I moved to the United Kingdom when it was technically still summer, even though when I arrived here the weather was just cold and... well, terrible. Not a great start for a new beginning, but everything counts. I applied for the University airport pick up service because I thought that it was the easiest way to get to my new home but I arrived in Coventry super late on a Saturday night, so no one was at the reception to check me in. Once I got everything sorted, I walked towards my flat, I entered my room and found out that there was no bedding. Long story short, I slept with two layers of clothes and my bathrobe and I was still cold. Again, not a fabulous day to begin with, but whatever.

Four days into my study abroad experience, I changed room. I moved from the ground floor to the first floor of a new block. My flatmates were just as loud as the people below me right now. So yeah, I'm in desperate need of a change once again, but the University's housing team won't let me break the contract unless I find someone willing to take over my room. The situation has been going on for too long, to the point that I don't sleep well at night, I can't focus when I do homework, and I just don't look forward to going back to the dorm at the end of the day.

Cheers on the luck I'm lacking.

That said, I enjoy the University. The facilities are quite good, my classes are very interesting, and my lecturers well prepared. When something bad occurs I always try to keep in mind that there are good things, and in my case classes are the positive aspect about the experience. I came to the UK with an open mind and the desire to take my skills to the next level, and I feel like I have the opportunity to do so here.

Hong Kong Design Institute.
My class is composed of exactly nine individuals. I know, it is pretty small, at least when you compare it to other classes that count up to a few hundreds of students. What is cool about it though is that my classmates and I got to know each other fairly well, which is what we need because we do have to team up quite often for group projects. It didn't take long to establish a relationship with the lecturers either, which is great because if a problem occurs, the lecturer can help you as he or she actually knows you, not just your name or face.

We may not be numerous in Coventry, but the thing is - my course runs in Hong Kong as well. Why is that cool? Because I get to go there to work on a cool project sometimes in December. I'm sure it's going to be an amazing experience from which I will be able to learn a lot. In addition, I've never been to Asia so I am really looking forward to trying new foods and see more of the world we live in.

Tips for you.
As I mentioned earlier, housing for me has been - and still is - a huge problem that I have to fix. All I can say to you is: read every contract before you sign; think of all the options before making a decision; seek help and support from everybody. To me, the dorm seemed a good place to live at. I've seen it as a good way to make friends, but I also thought that there I wouldn't feel alone and that I wouldn't have to worry about bills and such things. Turns out that I had to pay extra money to change from one room to another and that I didn't meet anyone who I can now call my friend. I am actually quite annoyed by the fact that university accommodation is too expensive for what it actually really is. I share the bathroom and the kitchen with other five people. My room is just right next to the kitchen which means that I can hear loud and clear every conversation that people have in there, it doesn't matter if there are two or ten people in there - anything that I can hear through these paper walls is categorized as noise. I literally went to four different places to seek help to change my room. Sooner or later, someone will realize I am a person and not a walking bag of money.

In conclusion, keep in mind that there is a 50/50 chance that you may have a good or terrible experience in University-managed halls, but if you will want to move out, you will most likely still be liable towards your room or will have to find a replacement. There's never too much thinking when it comes to making decisions that will affect your next few months or years of your life. Think twice, think three times. If you need help don't hesitate to contact me.

- Cris

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POST EXCHANGE REUNION AFTER THREE YEARS.

Tuesday, September 11, 2018 Cristian 0 Comments


We've all been there. We all dream to meet our friends from exchange again and it always feels impossible, or too far in the future, but this time it finally happened. My friend from Ecuador, Anita, and her friends flew to Europe for the first time this summer. It just worked out perfectly because we contacted our friend from Germany, Torben, and we all met in Milan, which is where we spent most of our time, but not all. Let's see where we went.


Artistic Venice and its Canals.
Since my Brazilian friend and my Italian friend have never been to Venice before, and I was planning to go there with my exchange student friends, I decided to extend the invitation to everybody. The seven of us went to this beautiful city for one full day. I was the only one who visited before, therefore I was guiding them from one place to another.

Everywhere I go I try to find a way to see the place from above. Fondaco Dei Tedeschi seemed to be the answer to our problems. What's particularly good about it? It's free! You just have to book your visit and wait for your turn. Was it beautiful? We don't know! ...It started raining just as little as ten minutes before our booking and the staff was forced to close the terrace due to weather conditions.

So we moved to the next attraction: Quinn's "Mani" (hands) sculpture.
Gone. It was gone. I was just assuming that the sculpture was going to stay long term but it actually has been three months since its removal. We continued our walking tour of Venice and by lunchtime, we reached Piazza San Marco, and so did our bad luck.
We were tired, hungry and rained on. We spotted some steps on which we were planning to sit on but we barely had the time to get close to them that a lady told us that it was prohibited to either sit or eat there. Confused, we found out that in Piazza San Marco it is prohibited to sit on the steps or eat, otherwise people can get tickets between €25 and €500! We just didn't like the way they approached us, and other tourists too. I told my friends that I was sorry we were treated that way and that even if I am Italian I have never experienced anything like that in the past, so we ended up eating our paninis there, because yes, apparently it is okay to eat as long as you stand. Weird.
The results of our Google research "Where to go or what to do in Venice when it rains" didn't really satisfy us so we ended up recharging our energies at Burger King.
We enjoyed the day anyway, in fact, we met two tourists from Vienna that were really nice to us when we kindly asked to take some pictures, but we also met another lady at the station who gave up two taxi passes (worth €60 each!) because she was leaving and wasn't going to use them anymore. Very cool! Shoutout to Italotreno staff for allowing us to sit together even if we were assigned random seats when we purchased the tickets.


Milan, an Alpha Global City.
I was born and raised in this city, I showed it to several of my international friends over the years and I never get bored of it, although bad luck decided to follow us back to Milan from Venice. I specifically chose Sunday because Pirellone observatory opens to the public and the view over the city is really cool - but I found out that Comune di Milano stopped the visits temporarily, which means that we were not able to go. At least I googled it before we reached the place, so we went to these places instead: Piazza Affari (the stock exchange), Duomo Cathedral, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele (the exclusive shopping mall), Piazza Liberty, Quadrilatero della Moda (the fashion district), Castello Sforzesco (a 14th-century fortification), Arco della Pace (the arch of peace), Chinatown, Garibaldi & Piazza Gae Aulenti (which hosts the highest skyscraper in the whole country), and ended our walking tour in Navigli, where we had aperitivo. Something cool? We met a girl from Serbia, who happened to be part of AIESEC and so we spent some time with her talking about traveling and foreign languages.


The Touristy Lake Como.
This place never seems to be missing from the list of places to visit in Northern Italy. Since it seems like luck has never been on our side, we ended up losing two trains to Como, boarding a train that eventually never left Milan, and to finally take one that arrived at our destination ten minutes later than expected. I'm not kidding. We lost the train to Como Nord Lago at 1.10pm and we arrived in Como S. Giovanni at 4pm. What a pain in the ass. Wanna know what's funny? The train to Como was the only one that carried delays. Ha.
We took the Funicolare to Brunate to enjoy the view. It's amazing because you can actually see Milan from the top. The round trip ride costs €5.50, which I thought was reasonable. I would avoid going when the sun is still warm and over the lake because the water reflects all the light and it's not the best.


It has definitely been a trip for the books. I'm glad that we were also a bit unlucky and that our plans got changed because all of that made it even more special. There are things that just ourselves can understand. They won't make sense to other people even if you try to explain them in twenty different ways. I have been able to see a lot of people from my exchange throughout the years, but this was the first time that we were more than two. 



And you? Have you met your exchange buddies? If not, are you planning to soon? And where? Your host country, home country or elsewhere?


- Cris

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Three Nationalities & One Jeep Road Tripping West.

Tuesday, July 31, 2018 Cristian 0 Comments


People still ask me how I get to do all the things I do. All I can say is that there is a lot of planning behind everything and that if I don't have anything to do, I come up with something. I have never been on a road trip in the United States, so I left my house for about 50 hours along with my American brother, Hunter, and his special friend from the Czech Republic, Katerina.

Three different nationalities in a Jeep Grand Cherokee, two drivers, two states: Colorado and Utah.

We have managed to leave home for less than three days because that was all we could do. Right after lunch, Sunday, May 19th, we left home and were headed south. I drove first for about three or four hours and then we stopped for gas and switched drivers. We decided to stick with the longer route because the shorter was more dangerous at night. We heard stories of cars hitting wildlife and didn't want to risk it. On our way to our hotel, at around 11p.m., we actually saw a dead animal on the side of the road (and then again, a raccoon).

The guy on the left is actually my "little" host brother.

First Stop: Four Corners.

On our way to our first destination, we were singing and listening to music so we forgot to check the maps and almost drove across the New Mexico border. Once we turned around, we arrived at Four Corners. It is a bit overrated and rumors say that it is even in the wrong place, but it was cool to take some pictures there and to be standing in exactly four different countries.

Second Stop: Canyonlands & Arches National Parks.

We made it to Utah! Our first stop in the neighbor state was made at Canyonlands National Park, which was really cool because it felt like if we were at the Grand Canyon but we were obviously not. We hiked and followed the trail for a while until we came across a rock shaped like a... butt. It was kind of funny, so we had to take some pictures. Right after that, we went to Arches National Park, which is not very far from where we were. The land was red and the arches amazing. We drove throughout the Park and then we left to have some dinner. Since we were road tripping west, we decided to have authentic American food (or maybe not). We had Thai food. Sorry not sorry, it was delicious.

YO, sitting on the butt.

Third Stop: Glenwood Springs.

Colorado welcomed us back with open arms and since it was getting warm, we decided to stop in Glenwood Springs, which is famous for its natural hot springs. After the pool, I went for a walk and took some pictures. The town is really nice, but there was a lot of construction going on.


Fourth & Final Stop: Vail.

Hunter and I have been to Vail before but Katerina didn't and since I was driving I thought it was worth to stop and show her around. It is famous for being one of the best ski destinations in Colorado. We only had a small tiny problem: it started to rain heavily so we bought a coffee at a place called Yeti's Grind and afterwards we got stuck in a shop for a while until we decided to just run to the car - wet or dry. I've been in Vail three times; once in April, once in May and once in June. I don't know why but out of the three times, the weather changed drastically two times and went from being warm to being cold. The first time I was there I was wearing a t-shirt and complaining about how hot it was and by the end of my meal I was wearing a jacket and running to the car in the snow. Colorado weather is called bipolar for a reason.


The trip was nice but definitely too short. I am glad I had the opportunity to see the places I saw and to drive the number of miles I did. There's just something beautiful about driving miles and miles with the music blasting and friends singing along with you that I can't really describe. I can't wait to go on a road trip again. To see more pictures of my amazing trip, visit my Instagram at @heicristian.

And you? Have you ever been on a road trip? Were you the driver or the passenger? Which places have you seen? Which places do you recommend? Let me know in the comments below!

- Cris

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What Is It like to Go on a Long-Term Exchange with Rotary International?

Thursday, July 19, 2018 Cristian 0 Comments


I have read a lot of things about Rotary International in the net, part of which were not even true and I'd like to shed some light to the topic. First of all, one of the things that come to my mind is: inexpensive. It really is, it is not even comparable to other companies like EF, CIEE, WEP, etc, when it comes to the price. And no, you don't have to be a member of Rotary to be eligible to go on an exchange through it. 

Not Only A Student.

When you agree to go on an exchange with Rotary, you are not treated only as a student, you are much more than that. You are also an Ambassador for your own country. The way you behave, approach people and engage with your community brings your home and host countries together. You might be thinking that this isn't really specific to Rotary, but it really is. When you go abroad through the Youth Exchange Program, you wear a Blazer to meetings, but you will also be assigned a meeting during which you will have to talk about your home country (culture, traditions, food, where you come from, what is there to see and do, what it is famous for, etc). In addition, by the end of the year, you will attend the District Conference, which normally begins with foreign students waving their flags and ends with them singing a special song altogether (this might be specific to D5440).

You Will Be Involved In The Community.

I've heard of students with other organizations complaining about the fact that they wouldn't meet other foreign exchange students or that they wouldn't really be involved in their host community, which is a bummer. Rotary organizes a bunch of events for exchange students to attend, but also local meetings that the students are welcome to participate in. Meetings normally include a meal, which means that you get to sit at a table with other people, get to know them and listen to the speaker of the day. At your first meeting you will be introduced, most likely by your host family, and then you will be able to say a couple of things. I'd suggest repeating your name, where you are from, but also to mention that you are open to anything - helping out, volunteering, activities - so that you will be able to meet people of all ages even outside of school.

Foreign Exchange Students And Rotex.

One of the blessings of my exchange was meeting other foreign students. A lot of people tell you not to hang out only with foreigners to avoid being or feeling alone, but with Rotary it's different because the students are normally put in different schools anyway and they hang out after school or during the weekend. They are like my second family, I love them dearly. Rotary organized many - free of charge - trips for us, like our weekend in Steamboat Springs in Colorado. We were able to ski one day and to go to hot springs the following morning. Rotex is normally composed of local former exchange students, but you might get the chance to meet future outbounds as well.


Travel.

With Rotary you get the opportunity to travel. All the money that you saved up by going on exchange with this particular program (I spent 1/3 of what my friend spent to go abroad with CIEE, for example) you can spend it on travels. Rotary and Belo USA offer trips to Hawaii, East Coast, and West Coast. I've had the amazing opportunity to go to New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC where I literally met other 80 exchange students from all over the world. In fact, there I met for the first time someone from Kazakstan and South Korea! Up to date though, my trip to  California is the best I've ever been on.

The Youth Committee Is Composed Of Volunteers.

Normally this means one thing: they truly believe in the program and in what it is all about. They all have other jobs they work hard for, but on top of it, they are also members of the committee. They gave us rides, they hosted us and our friends and they listened (most of the times) to our demands.

This program might not be for everyone. In fact, one of the conditions is that the student will have to have at least two host families, and, at first, having to go to meetings might be intimidating, but I ensure you that they do this so that we can have the best exchange experience ever. One of the reasons why families are changed throughout the year is that every family lives in a different way and living with only one doesn't necessarily show you how a typical family in your host country lives. And the list goes on, and on, but I hope that this helped any prospective exchange student to choose the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. A lot of things may be different from district to district, and I obviously can't say much about other organizations either because I did not go abroad with them, but again, everything I mentioned is based upon real experiences.

- Cris

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I Spent One Day in London: Here’s What I Did

Wednesday, June 27, 2018 Cristian 0 Comments


I'm sure that the title doesn't need explaining: today I will be talking about London. The first time that I went to the Capital city of the United Kingdom... I wasn't impressed. Wait, let me explain. I surely loved it, no question that it is a pretty looking city, but literally everyone I talked to promised me that I'd have loved it right away and so I had so many high expectations. One of the reasons why I guess I didn't completely fall in love with it (yet) was because I only spent one day there. At the time, I was living in the UK and I had the opportunity to go there basically for free

Magic words for a broke college student: free opportunity, and London.



Obviously, one day in London is not enough, but I made it work. The coach dropped me off at the Victoria Museum and from there I decided that I'd sightsee by foot. It was October 31st, so my first stop was Notting Hill, which was fun because all the pretty fancy houses were decorated for Halloween. Then Holland Park, Hyde Park, Marble Arch, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, London Eye, Soho, Oxford Street, and Camden Town. 

I. Am. Not. Even. Kidding.

All of that in approximately six hours. I'm pretty sure that by six o'clock at night if I didn't stop walking, my feet would have fallen off my body and I'd have had to crawl to see more. By then, I was happy but exhausted and so I crashed at Euston Station, where I'd have taken the train back to Worcester. One of the things that amazed me about the trip was that the weather was actually pretty good. It was in autumn and it didn't even rain a little bit. One of the things that instead disappointed me was the Big Ben. It took me a while to even realize that I was looking at it, because it is under construction at the moment, until something like 2021. I understand that it isn't anyone's fault, but I was looking forward to seeing one of the most iconic buildings in London.

As I said, London in one day is not enough. I was still missing places like... the Tower Bridge. Like, c'mon, you can't leave London without seeing it. But it was just too far away and since I was there for a few hours I decided to explore only one area of the city. Which is why... I went back to London. I took the train from Worcester in the morning and I arrived at Paddington Station. Just like the first time, I only had six hours to walk around because at night I had to fly back to Milan. This time it was harder to walk because I had a huge backpack on my shoulders and it was also pretty warm given the fact that it was June, but at least I wasn't alone. My friend came with me. We met at Neal's Yard (which is a colorful hidden gem) and from there we went to the Courtauld Institute of Art, followed by the St. Paul's Cathedral. We crossed the Millennium Bridge, we reached the other side of the Thames and the view was just so beautiful. A street artist was also playing "Fix You" by Coldplay with his guitar and, suddenly, everything became even more interesting. I definitely felt like if I was in a movie. We continued on along the Thames and reached the Tower Bridge. Once we crossed it, we went to the Sky Garden where you can see the whole city from above... for free. Walked through the Leadenhall Markets, where we spotted an Asian Couple getting their wedding pictures taken, and then I was headed to Liverpool Street Station.


Things To Keep In Mind.
Visiting London can be expensive, but it doesn't have to be. Thankfully, throughout England, you can find meal deals for less than £4. After a sandwich, some chips and a drink you may not be full but you will definitely feel much better and able to continue your journey. You don't necessarily have to go to a restaurant for every meal - unless you want to and have the money for it.
As I said, accessing Sky Garden is completely free. Although, you need to book it at least one week in advance. They only allow a certain amount of people inside per day and you want to make sure you don't miss out!


Obviously, if you are in London for a few days and want to see as much as you can, I suggest to get a travel pass or something like that, but consider also to visit the city by foot. It's a great way to find hidden gems, you will save money and will definitely work out in the meantime as well. Your Fitbit will log something like 20/30km, that's for sure.
Finding a bathroom is always a challenge for me when I travel because most of the times you have to pay for it, but in London, I just went to Mc Donald's. Sometimes you have got to have a receipt that shows that you are a client in order to use the restroom, but if you are lucky they don't check. It's worth to try. Also, if you go inside stores to shop and ask for a restroom they are usually chill about it and guide you to it.

If you have some questions, drop them in the comments below and I will try to be as helpful as possible!


- Cris

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Where is home?

Friday, June 08, 2018 Cristian 0 Comments

Five years ago I decided to be an exchange student. The only place that I’d call home, back then, was Milan. This week I will be visiting four places that in the past four years I’ve called home. 

I will be leaving the United States to go back to Milan and see my family. From there, I will be going to Denmark, which is where I spent my first year of college, and then, I will be visiting the UK - which is the place where I did my Erasmus exchange. 


It’s unbelievable how much I’ve changed in five years. I’m more confident, I know more languages, I’ve friends all over the world, I care less about what people have to say about me, I’m very determined to achieve my goals. It’s always easy for other people to be jealous of me when they see my Instagram feed, because they don’t know how it’s like to work hard to obtain something. It almost comes as a surprise the fact that I travel so much. Travelling taught me lots of things, and, because of that, I’m definitely more mature than other kids my age. I think carefully on how to spend my money and always try my best to think about the consequences when taking actions. I’ve had a few moments when I questioned my decision of moving abroad. I felt lonely sometimes, I felt like I wasn’t doing the right thing. I worked in a dusty warehouse and had the weirdest shifts, I’ve worked 32 hours one week before Christmas with finals coming up and goodbyes to be said at the end of my Erasmus

But all these experiences made me the person I am today. Five years ago I’d have never thought my life could turn around like this. I was an average teenager, stressed out with the Italian school system, with a barely understandable English, average grades and no motivation to do much - until I signed the papers that changed my life forever. I’m totally the opposite nowadays. I can’t settle for something I’m not satisfied with. I want to do what I want to do and I am always hungry for more. There’s no stop sign along my path. Everything happens for a reason, I do believe so, but we also have to help destiny a little bit. We can’t just sit around and wait for things to happen. We can’t be jealous of someone else’s path because we haven’t walked it. We don’t know the obstacles they had to overcome to get where they are now. My advice is - get inspired by other people, do not try to walk their path or to tear them down. You do you and you will do just fine.

- Cris

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EXCHANGE YEAR: EXPECTATIONS AND REALITY.

Wednesday, May 16, 2018 Cristian 0 Comments


Before going on exchange everyone hopes for the best, but how can we really define what best is? Well, I was hoping to go on exchange somewhere close to a big city, just because I grew up in one. Although, I would have been okay living in a smaller place than my own because when I decided to go abroad I also agreed to be flexible and embrace diversity rather than familiarity.

My kind of expectations.

My first desire was to be placed somewhere near New York because it has always been my dream city. I've seen it in movies, all over the internet, in paintings and what not. I was (and still am) a bit obsessed with it. I'd have loved to be placed in a big house, like one of the movies, with lots of neighbors and a welcoming family. I was dreaming of soft white snow falling throughout Christmas break and lights all over the neighborhood. The school I was hoping for was quite big, with a strong consideration for the Arts, High School Musical type of institution basically and nice school bus rides to go on. I was wishing to be able to be in a place with at least a minor transportation system because my independence wasn’t really something I was ready to give up.


What my exchange was actually like.

To start off, I was placed in Colorado which is great because, eventually, it was one of my choices. I lived one hour away from Denver, which is a big city. However, I only went there maybe three times because public transportation here in the West is pretty much inexistent. I loved my home and the people I lived with, which is eventually what every exchange student hopes for. The town was actually quite boring, and even in the city itself, there was little public transportation. I had to rely on others to get to places, which was quite annoying. I was independent for a lot of things but dependent for a few as well. My school was pretty small too, I believe my senior class was composed of less than one hundred students. The arts had their weight but the auditorium was quite small and so was the number of people interested in supporting the plays and shows. 
I did have snow on Christmas day, which was fantastic. Every day during winter break it felt like Christmas because the atmosphere was amazing. I went to Christmas concerts, shows, parties and I was surrounded by lights everywhere I went. We exchanged gifts, watched movies next to the fireplace and had one of the previous exchange students come to visit us.

Deliberation post exchange.

Was my exchange the way I thought it would be? Not entirely. Was it bad? Nope. I think it is understandable that people imagine things before they actually become reality, but I think that it’s safe to say that we need to keep expectations as low as possible so that we don't get disappointed. According to me, our exchange has to be different to whatever we had in mind anyway. It’s more fun. Think about it, would it be really great to know in advance what your experience would be like? There would be no fun because there wouldn't be any discovery to make. Prior to departure, we (might) feel scared, sad, confused. We don't know where we are going, who we are going to live with, we don't know if we will have friends and things to do after school and so on; We are not going to see our family and friends for almost a year. We are going to change and grow without the people who have always been by our side; We basically don't know what we signed up for. Yes, we are going to study abroad, but did we really think about every single aspect of the deal?

This is why I think that exchange students are brave, interesting and open-minded.

- Cris

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Why Being an Exchange Student in the US Ruined My Life and Why I Loved It

Sunday, May 06, 2018 Cristian 2 Comments


I feel extremely grateful because I am writing this blog-post at my American home. It has been three years since the end of my exchange and being back is honestly still quite weird and unbelievable. At the beginning of my new experience here, I was complaining about the fact that it doesn't feel like exchange at all. The reason behind this is that it is not an exchange, and nothing will ever be like it. However, this past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the District Conference in Estes Park, Colorado where I hung out with inbounds and Rotex. That was all I wanted to do: being in Colorado and around people from all over the world, once again. It totally felt like nothing changed since 2015.

Despite that, this conference opened up wounds that were never closed in the first place. As I was performing "Love in Any Language", my mind was traveling back to the 2015 Conference in Fort Collins, when I was on stage with my group of friends. The song makes me quite emotional and so you might think that this is why my mind was playing with my feelings, but actually, even doing something as simple as going to the pool or the hot tub with the current exchange students would bring me back to the good old days... I wouldn't change anything about my exchange but if I could go back in time I'd definitely do two things: treat people differently and say "thank you" more often.


Exchange is a fixed period of time during which every single one of us starts from scratch. The only problem is that this awesome experience has an end, just like everything in life, and this is definitely what ruined me. It is difficult for me to acknowledge closure and accept when something is officially over. I might be having the best time and enjoying myself but as soon as that comes to completion, I blast into tears. I get so sad to the point that I wonder whether it was worth it or not. And of course it was. Not just good enough, but beyond excellent.

People might not imagine this because I'm a big guy, but I'm quite sensitive. I detest goodbyes, but that never stopped me from traveling. I'm so grateful to have people in my life that make saying goodbye so hard, and I love Rotary International with whole my heart because I met those people as a result of being part of the Youth Exchange Program. My exchange year might be over, but because of Rotary, I continue to meet incredible people

- Cris

2 comments:

Where Should I Go to College: the USA or Europe?

Thursday, April 05, 2018 Cristian 2 Comments


If you were given the choice of moving to the United States for college, what would you do? Would you take it in a heartbeat or would you rather go to Europe instead? I mean there's a lot of stuff that needs to be considered when it comes to such a big decision. A big thing to focus on is tuition costs, but let's forget about that for now. The two continents are fairly different and it's important to target the things we enjoy doing and we cannot be without.

Study in the USA

A lot of people believed and still believe in the American dream. But unless you move to a big city, chances are that you will need a car to get around and will be spending a lot of time either at home or, again, in the car. Many of my American friends would rather drive through and pick up food than sit down and enjoy a meal or a coffee. It's also fairly common to host house parties rather than go out to dance or drink.

Study in Europe

If you decide to study in Europe though, you can pretty much find public transportation everywhere. People like to go for a walk, enjoy the outdoors, and sit down to enjoy a coffee with friends. Everything in Europe is also rather concentrated, so it's common to use public transport. Many people do not own a car and don't see the value of having one in the first place.

I'm having a great time here in the United States, I've been driving for over two months now, and I like that at least now I can get to places (not like when I was an exchange student over here a few years back). I like that I am not in school but I am working for a great company and everything, but all of this helped me realize that I also love Europe, there's nothing I can do about it. I love how every country is so close to one another, that it is fairly cheap to travel, that you can reach pretty much anything by walking (grocery stores, pubs, and so on). I love the nightlife, hanging out with friends outdoors, and stuff.

An American girl on exchange to Denmark.

Even though I lived in the States as a high school exchange student and as a college intern, I did not experience University there. Therefore, I asked an American friend of mine who studied abroad in Denmark to highlight some of the differences between the two scholastic systems. The first thing she said was that in Denmark everyone actually pulled their weight, and that doesn't really happen in her home University. What was interesting for her is that attendance isn't required in Denmark but it is in the States. As a result, it doesn't really matter if you do your homework in Denmark but you get docked if you don't in the States. The grading system is completely different overseas. In Denmark, only a few tests determine your final grade, in the US it is a lot of little things. In Scandinavia, it is a lot of making yourself learn things. The school gives you the materials but you have to do it. In the US students tend to memorize only the things that will be on the test. As a result, Denmark prepares you better for the real world rather than for a test.

An Italian guy on exchange to California.

To be fair, I also asked a few questions to someone from Europe who studied abroad in California. My friend is Italian and he is studying at the American University in Rome, so that gave him an additional chance of seeing what the main differences between the American and Italian education systems are.  First of all, American Universities tend to have an attendance policy that in Italy is much rarer (that being said, some universities still have it). One of the reasons why there is an attendance policy is because there are usually daily assignments, presentations, etc. so the students need to be present in class. Conversely, at Italian universities, students are given more independence, in fact, it is up to them to decide whether they want to go to class or prepare for exams by themselves. Furthermore, differently from most Italian universities where the final grade is composed of one exam only, in American universities, the final grade is made up of exams, presentations, and, in some universities, one's in-class participation. Another major difference is that in Italy university students have to take both written and oral exams, whereas, in the American system, they only have to take written exams.

I'd like to know if there's someone from Europe that would rather go to the USA, and vice versa, who would like to share their own thoughts about this, stating what is most important for them when deciding where to go to college. 

- Cris 

2 comments:

Do We Travel to Find or to Lose Ourselves?

Monday, March 19, 2018 Cristian 2 Comments


I always cherish my study abroad experiences because they made me who I am today. I love traveling, cultures, languages, photography… I mean, I just love my lifestyle. But when it comes to saying goodbye, to move once again, to leave everything and everyone by saying “I’m not sure if I will ever see you again”, I kind of ask myself if this is all worth it. If it is actually good for me to get close to people and then leave them. If it is fair for me, but also for them. 
I’m extremely grateful that at only 20 years old I lived in four different countries but every single day I miss at least a couple of persons from each place and I feel sad that there’s nothing I can do about it. I can only call them on the phone, and that is only if the time change isn’t wild. Sometimes I even feel like I don’t play a big part in my friends’ lives because whenever it’s time for me to leave, their life will continue to be just the same as always, but mine will reset and start from nothing. Zero. 

Every single thing I do, every single person I meet every day is important to me, but for them, I am probably just someone who happens to be wherever they are at the same time, they already have a life in which I just play the part of an accessory they can live without.


I feel like it’s time for me to take a break; to quit being a nomad and finally find my place in this world. People say that traveling helps to find ourselves, yet I feel completely lost. I’m lost, yes, because I know what I want but I don’t know where I want it. I want to be close to my family, yet the US is the place to be for my career. Although, I loved being in the UK. I even wanted to move to Spain for the summer, but I will definitely not put myself through that if I will have to move again in the fall. 

I wouldn’t change my past because I wouldn’t have met all the people I did meet if it wasn’t for the fact that I traveled so much (just like I said in "Crossing Paths"), but I feel like I need to change. People always tell me that I am brave because I just grab my things and go somewhere new all the time, and it’s true, but sometimes I feel like I’m just afraid of commuting to something that doesn’t have a deadline. I’m having troubles applying for colleges but I’m sure I will find my way eventually, just like everyone else did before me. 

- Cris

2 comments:

Crossing Paths.

Thursday, March 01, 2018 Cristian 0 Comments


Isn't it weird to be walking through a huge crowd of people on a daily basis and having no idea of who all those individuals are? They just happen to be at the same place as you at the same time. Maybe you are completely different but you definitely have something in common: something or someone brought you both to where you are now. 

Lately, I started to believe that everything happens for a reason, even if that hurts us and makes us feel miserable for a little while. I just want to believe that there is a positive outcome, we just have to be strong enough to be able to wait for it to materialize. 

Some of my friends make fun of me because I change my mind fifty times before I make a decision, but there is a reason why I am like this. I believe that decision making is serious because everything we do now leads us to what we will be doing tomorrow and I want to make sure that I spend enough time trying to figure out if that is actually what I want to be doing. 

It's funny because all my headaches are the result of endless time spent deciding where I want to move next but "normal" people suffer from headaches for different reasons, like bills or lack or something or whatever. 

I've so many plans for next summer, and the following fall, that I don't even know what I want in the first place. I want to have plan bs because things just not go as planned sometimes, but on the other hand, I'd like to have fewer options because I just struggle to decide what I want. I only realize I truly want something when I just can't have it anymore and so I work my butt off to prove that I can, somehow, make it work.


So, when I was moving to Great Britain I flew from Milan to London with British Airways. As I was waiting to board, I took a picture of the queue I was in and sent it to my siblings complaining about the fact that my flight was going to be delayed because I was still on the ground when the gate was supposed to be closed already. As I land in London I can hear this girl asking the staff how to get to terminal 3 and so I pitched in and asked her if she was headed there for the same reason as I was. It turns out that she was also going to study at my host university and that she was also Italian. Weeks later I was going through my pictures and I found the picture of the queue and realized that she was literally a few feet away from me. We were both there for the same reason and we didn't know until we were abroad. Wild. But this is not even the first time that I meet someone and find out that we have been at the same place in the past, we just didn't have the chance to meet back then. In June 2013 I met a friend of mine outside Paramore's concert and the year after I met a girl, who's now one of my best friends, who was also there. And I could continue for hours...

Even though I believe that everything happens for a reason, sometimes I feel like traveling led me to lose myself rather than finding myself (traveling to find or to lose ourselves?).

Your turn. What's your story? Have you ever met anyone and realized that you could have actually met earlier than when it actually happened? Also, do you believe in destiny?

- Cris

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I Moved to the USA for an Internship: Here’s What I Am Learning

Tuesday, February 20, 2018 Cristian 4 Comments


I must admit that sometimes I wonder if all the decisions I have taken over the past few years were the right ones. People want the things I have and I want the things they have. It's weird, we all have something but we always want something else.
Thinking back, I'd have never thought that I'd be here by now. I've always been interested in the film industry and now I am in the USA doing an internship at a video production company, how cool is that?

Sometimes I question whether it would have been better to study back in Italy or elsewhere rather than in Denmark, where I actually ended up being. But then again, if I wouldn't do that I probably wouldn't be here at this specific moment. Chances are that I would have never lived in Worcester, which would have been a shame because there I've met amazing people. In the long run, something bad can actually turn out to be something good, even though it is hard to see that when we are in pain.

Anyhow, I have been receiving texts from friends and family who want to know what it is like to be working for a video production company in Denver, Colorado. People tend to think of film crews and endless film gear everywhere when they think of video production. What they do not realize is that there is much more than that. The office is divided into two departments: production and post-production. Media companies bid for jobs through Treatments, which are basically visuals with which the directors explain how they are going to film if the client chooses them. Once the client makes their choice, the job moves from "bidding" to "production". This is the time when location scouting and casting talent happens. The dates of the shooting are chosen accordingly with the client's and the crew's availability to film. Once that is done, the footage is manipulated by the editors and colorists, who come up with sizzles and final products to show the clients.


Three months isn't necessarily a long time, but it certainly was enough to do everything at least once. In fact, I researched music and photos, I was a Production Assistant on set for four days, I created some content for my company's social media channels and I had the chance to play a few times with the Adobe Suite.

One of the highlights of my internship was being able to be on set and see what it is like. People asked me if I was operating the camera, and the answer is unfortunately going to disappoint you: No, I wasn't. I was running errands, fixing sets according to our needs, observing the camera guys working, and buying props. I learned how to manage pity cash, and I realized how many people are involved in a shooting and all the expenses that occur.

Once a week we had a staff meeting. Each lasted about 45 minutes and their purpose was to kind of let everyone know what was going on in the office, which jobs the company bid on, which jobs we were currently working on, and which ones were officially done and ready to be submitted to the client.

Given the fact that I live a few miles away from Denver, to be able to get to work I had to get a driver's license, which is the coolest thing ever. In these past couple of years, I have been doing a lot of stuff but one thing was definitely missing: driving. Many of my friends back in Italy did not travel so they got their licenses as soon as they could, but I didn't and I always kind of felt as if that was still something that I needed to do. Now, I have that too, which means that I can drive not only to work but wherever I want or need to, which is really cool, especially here in the Western part of the USA where public transportation is not common, nor even a choice at times.

- Cris

4 comments:

Should I Live with a Host Family or Should I Live on My Own?

Monday, February 12, 2018 Cristian 0 Comments


Everyone thinks that living on our own is the best thing ever, and in some ways it is, but for other reasons, it can drive you insane. I've been an exchange student both in high school and university, so I experienced living with a host family but also living on my own. Both experiences are useful and definitely make you grow as a person, but there are surely some differences between the two.

With A Host Family.
Living with people who are willing to open their home to foreign exchange students is very cool because while you will try to learn your host language, make new friends and study in a different language, you will have a group of people that will support you just like your family back home would - or at least this is how it should be. By being hosted by locals, you will get to learn the customs and traditions, you will be introduced to other members of the family and friends, which will be a great opportunity for you to expand your network.


By Yourself.
When I went on Erasmus, I had my private room in halls. My flat was composed of one kitchen, two bathrooms and six bedrooms. I loved it because I had my own space and whenever I felt like hanging out with someone I could just go to the kitchen. Living on my own was good because I was the one in charge  of scheduling my appointments, making my own food, and so forth. At my home University, I shared a studio apartment with another guy, but I highly preferred to have my own room in a shared flat. Depending on how you see it, living in halls was a pro but also a con. Since I was an international student, I was put in the International Hall, which made it harder to be friends with locals. Even so, it has been cool to meet all kinds of people from all over the world. Eventually, I got to meet Brits when I started working as a sales assistant, so everything worked out for the best.

I am now curious to hear different stories. Do you prefere to live with a host family, even in college, or to live on your own? and why so?

- Cris

0 comments:

BRINGING THE EXCHANGE TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

Friday, January 26, 2018 Cristian 1 Comments


It has been a while now since I've been a high school exchange student and there is nothing I can do to go back in time and live it all over again, but I sure could move back to the United States and that's exactly what I did, about one week ago.

I've been receiving messages from friends asking "Where are you?" because it is getting hard for them to keep track of all the things I do and places I go to. January 9th I left Italy and I arrived in the United Kingdom, which is where I flew from when I arrived in the United States the 18th of the same month. So yeah, three countries in ten days.

Prior to Christmas, I wasn't ready to admit that my Erasmus was over - also because technically it still wasn't, due to the fact that I still had assessments in January - so I went back and I made the most out of my time there. I moved back to the States because I've been offered an internship at a video production company in Denver Colorado. This means that I get to live with my host family again and that I can bring the exchange experience to the next level: I won't have any program rules to follow but most importantly I will get a license so I will finally be able to drive places without being a burden to people. Instead of going to high school, having to deal with teen drama and all that kind of stuff, I will drive myself to work, get work experience in what I am studying and learn new things.


I've been back for only a week but it already feels like I've been here forever. It's unbelievable but I feel like I am at home and, honestly, I couldn't be happier. I've been really busy with meeting everyone again and reading the Colorado handbook. In fact, I've already passed the driver's written test, even though the department of motor vehicles still didn't issue my permit. If you are also considering getting a license in the USA and are over 18 you need to go to the DMV (no appointment is required - at least where I did it) and bring all the immigration documents, which in my case were DS2019, I94 form, SEVIS receipt, and passport. The only issue is that you need to wait two weeks from your arrival in the USA before you can actually get your permit, I didn't know that and so now I will have to wait until next week for that, even though I already took the test and passed it.

Anyway, hopefully everything will fall into place one day or the other. Lately, I've been thinking that everything happens for a reason. I thought about a few things that I was denied of a couple of months ago. At the moment I felt like that was such a bummer but, in the long run, it has been a blessing. Because of this, I will not lose hope and I will continue "a testa alta".

- Cris

1 comments:

A BITTERSWEET GOODBYE.

Thursday, January 18, 2018 Cristian 0 Comments


It’s time for another goodbye. It seems yesterday that I’ve waved Denmark, yet today - or yesterday? I haven’t slept so according to my sleeping schedule it is still the 17th - I left Worcester and in a few hours, I will fly to the US, the country where everything started in the first place. It’s been a while now, but I can promise you that I will never get used to saying goodbye to the people I love. Goodbyes basically play a big part in my life as I am constantly on the move. If I have to be completely honest, I am kind of fed up. I’m tired of having to deal with the awful feeling that comes right after a “take care, keep in touch”. I want to find a place worth staying and spend my life at, and this is probably why I am moving for the fourth time: I still haven’t found one where I see myself growing up.

As I’ve been traveling whilst studying, my friends feel like I’ve been basically on a longish gap year because I’ve done things that people normally do whilst on one, but because I’ve been studying I don’t really consider whatever I am doing a gap year. This is why I actually decided to take a break from University once I come back to Europe from the States this summer. I want to have the option of moving somewhere without feeling the pressure of studying or having to be elsewhere after a specific time. I want to buy a one-way ticket and don’t even think about leaving. I want things to fall into place by themselves without having to think about them too much.

I am at Heathrow Airport now, have been for the past six hours and I still have four to go, then a ten hours flight. Ohh, the things I do. I’m tired though. I’ve been watching a couple of TV series, I’ve been listening to music, I’ve been napping for a couple of hours and now I’m passed security writing. I don’t know exactly what to feel. My stomach hurts, I just want to get on the other side, but at the same time, I still haven’t realized what is going to happen. I am conscious that I am not going back to Worcester, and that hurts, but being at the Airport makes me feel even worse, as if I were nowhere, like in a limbo or something. I normally love whatever I feel when I step in an airport. Usually, I feel powerful, energetic, ready to go. Now I just want to leave. I’ve way too much time and I end up just thinking about stuff.



“Home is where your heart is”. In other words, I’m literally heartbroken. I’ve left a piece in Italy, one in the USA and now one even in the UK. Sometimes I think it would be awesome to merge all my lives into one; to be able to live in an "x" place and have all my beloved ones within that same place ...but traveling comes with a price and this is why I’ve got a host family in America, best friends in South America, Europe, Asia and so forth. 


I spent my last day in England at Malvern Hills. I've hiked with the wind blowing against my face, I've stepped on fresh snow and I've looked over the countryside from the peak. I guess this is also why I feel a bit tired now; not only I haven't slept but I've also hiked a few hours before taking the train. To be fair though, I don't regret going because it was probably one of the best days of my British experience, a day I will remember forever.
...
I’m done with the sad stuff though, it’s time to think positively. I am headed to Denver because I will be an intern for a video production company. I will get a driving license and I will be able to finally get a 360° experience of the States. Stay tuned to see where all of this will take me.



To Be Continued.



Read also Bringing The Exchange To The Next Level.

- Cris

0 comments:

WHY I AM KICKING OFF 2018 BY QUITTING SOCIAL MEDIA.

Monday, January 01, 2018 Cristian 2 Comments


"I just need some time, I'm tryna think straight
I just need a moment in my own space
Ask me how I'm doin', I'll say "okay, " yeah
But ain't that what we all say?"

2017 has definitely been a good year for me, but I am a firm believer that there is always a chance to improve and this is why I am positive that 2018 will be even better. One of the things I want to start doing already today, that is January 1st, is quitting Social Media, at least for a while. I just think that Facebook is just a distraction, a virtual world where everyone builds a fake image of themselves. Everyone is so caught up in posting the right selfie, in getting the highest amount of likes or in bragging about what they have done the night before. I just realized that I don't want to be a part of all of this anymore, at least for a little while. I will be using Instagram because photography is one of my passions, but I will try to quit posting stories for at least a few days. As I always post pictures of trips I go on or things I do, people text me that they envy me and that they would love to have my life. Everything looks so easy behind a screen. No one ever thinks that behind all the fun there's also pain. People are becoming more selfish than they have ever been. They think they are the only ones going through hard times, but everyone has their ups and downs. Besides that, everyone chooses what to show and what to hide from people.. in other words, not everything you see on social media is totally true. I just feel like I don't even know my friends anymore. Just the other day one of my really good friends texted me and said she is going through a very tough time, but I'd have never guessed because she seemed like she was enjoying herself, but of course I was all wrong.

I want to quit Instagram stories for a few days because I want to be able to have a conversation with people. I want them to be interested in how I am doing and in what I am doing, rather than having them look at my stories. Once they look, there is nothing left they can ask me. They already know, don't they?
 I also want to enjoy myself more. I follow people that post endless stories when they are at a concert but it's just sad because once they leave the venue they probably feel like that concert never happened, they didn't feel it. I was once trying to take a picture of the stage and the outcome was upsetting. Everyone had their phones above their heads so my picture was garbage. Then I just realized that probably someone else's photo was also garbage because my phone was in their way. 

Social Media were supposed to bring people together, but the result is actually the opposite. I won't be quitting my blog, neither tumblr because that's basically my moodboard but anything else is more or less obsolete. I think this is going to be good for me. I will be able to spend five minutes more on Duolingo, instead of scrolling my Facebook timeline full of meaningless memes, which will bring me closer to one of my goals for 2018, but I won't spoiler anything. Keep on reading over the next few weeks and you will eventually find out. Have a Happy New Year everybody!

PS: A very BIG thank you because on Christmas Eve my blog has reached 1 million hits!

- Cris

2 comments: