Inspired by Save Spend Splurge, let’s get to know each other a little better. Answer in the comments or on your blogs! Or if you just don’t care (wave your hands in the air), scroll down to get to this week’s links, of which there are plenty to get your teeth into.
1. If you could change something about yourself, what it be and why?
I would like to be less socially awkward and more verbally articulate. I’m okay with it and accept it, but it would make life and work SO much easier if I weren’t. .
2. What’s the farthest you’ve been from home?
I think Edinburgh is the furthest from Auckland we’ve been. Either that or maybe Iceland.
3. What is your motto?
Everything works out … eventually
4. What are your hobbies?
Food, travel, books, writing.
5. What is your favorite ice cream flavour?
IMPOSSIBLE to answer.
The answer would be different every day.
Right now I could go for a bit of salted caramel…
6. What two things could you not do when you were a child, but you can do now?
Stand up to my parents / stay up late at night to read.
7. If you could travel anywhere in the world – where would you go and why?
Still on my bucket list are parts of Australia’s east coast, the Pacific Northwest, Galapagos, St Petersburg, Spain, Portugal, Japan, Hong Kong, Mexico … Right now I’d probably pick Russia, since it’s the most difficult to get to.
8. Have you ever met a famous person?
Erm … the most famous is probably Alec Ross (who worked with Clinton and Obama).
9. What is your least favorite thing about yourself?
Hmm. Probably my general lack of energy (I’m not the kind of person who can handle taking on a whole lot, and I need a TON of sleep).
10. One word that describes you?
Sensitive.
11. If you were a crayon, what color would you be & why?
Red – my favorite color. Like this.
12. What is the weather like right now where you are?
Rather lovely. Early-mid 20s and sunny.
13. How tall are you?
I think I’m about 5’5. Maybe 5’6.
14. When you were little – what did you want to do “when you grew up?”
Psychologist. (Also, rock star.)
15. Toilet paper. Roll with paper coming off the top or bottom?
Over the top.
16. Favourite sport you like to watch or participate in?
What are these sports you speak of?!
I hate watching sports. As for playing … I guess running doesn’t count? Either touch rugby or tennis.
17. What kind of food do you prefer eating when you are out?
Malaysian, Mexican, or Italian.
18. Last movie you watched?
Cloud Atlas.
19. Would you like to be famous?
I wouldn’t mind people knowing me by name, but by face? I wouldn’t want to be celebrity famous, that’s for sure.
20. What book are you reading?
I just finished How To Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe and An Abundance of Katherines. Both recommended!
21. If you had $5 million to spend in 5 days, but with the clause you could not spend any of it on yourself or your family, what would you do with it?
I’d seek out causes that are important to me – around women, new migrants, hunger/poverty, disadvantaged youth. The older I get, the more I realize this is something I care about – I didn’t have a perfect childhood and I haven’t had all the advantages in the world, but I definitely had a lot more than some.
22. If you knew that you could try any kind of work/employment and that you would not fail, what would you attempt doing?
I’d still write, but I’d want to try writing in different formats. Being able to call myself a novelist would be rad (though of course I’d need an idea first…) And I think I’d like to write songs; I consider good songwriting an art. I haven’t done it for years and while it no longer interests me, in this hypothetical scenario why not go back to it, especially if I knew I was going to be successful? (This inspired me to go dig out my old scribblings, actually. Am posting them to Tumblr for posterity; head over if you wish to have a giggle at my adolescent angst.)
This week’s links
TRAVEL
Sneaky travel fees you’ve probably paid at some point
The Asian Pear pays a visit to New York
Amanda details the language of food in China
Daisy explains how moving away from home changed her life and so does Jessica, taking a different tack and discussing both the positives and the downsides
WORK
Funny About Money is undergoing some creative angst
Via Life After College, how to earn the respect of your new boss
Gen Y Girl lists five ways to fall in love with your job again
Leslie Beslie recounts her time as a factory worker
Anyone else (for no real reason) always get nervous when their boss wants to have a chat?
The three conundrums of doing what you love
On Buzzfeed - can the intern hamster wheel be stopped? (I am personally doubtful. I’m currently working on a feature about the pervasive culture of working for free in the creative industries which isn’t giving me much hope…)
MONEY
Should you take big risks in your 20s or focus on saving?
Apparently the living wage in Auckland is now calculated at $18.80. At this rate it won’t be long before that completely catches up to me :X
LIFE
What it means to be a woman today (hint, it’s complicated)
Nicole lays out the truth about living healthy
The fallacy of unconditional love
And the key ingredient to deeper relationships
