International Love ... Friendships From A Far

When I was younger friends were not really my thing but as my young adult life has progressed I have been very fortunate in that department. I am fully aware that the world is a very large place so I feel blessed to have made friendships from the four corners of the globe! I also have amazing friends who are closer to home but I'm going to devote some time to them in due course because just recently I have felt so much love from them! From Newark to Dubai via Orlando! I know that having lots of 'International Love' in my life has to be one of the best feelings!

The Only Way Is Dubai! I first met Inês Ladislau during my second year at University College Birmingham. My flatmate Filipa Martins introduced me to this beautiful lady who would in time become my dear friend. I recently saw Inês in Birmingham just the other weekend during her super quick turnaround from Dubai. Inês has been a Flight Attendant for Emirates Airline for almost a year and is based in the Middle Eastern metropolis that is Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. We have stayed in contact since we said goodbye in Birmingham after our Scottish holiday in 2011. I have always wanted a career in the skies ever since I was a small boy I would admire the passing cabin crew members as they passed through the cabin, something just told me I was bound to be a fly boy!

I love traveling and meeting new people from outside England so I always welcome new international friendships that take me to another side of the world! I hope to see Inês and Filipa together soon because its been a rather long time since we have been a trio like we were in Glasgow and Edinburgh. I don't know what the future holds but I know that somewhere down the line we'll have a fabulous reunion! I feel like my placement year in Newark's Ironbound kept me close to the Portuguese culture that has given me a strong cultural awareness of their values. I'm really glad I met these girls at UCB for they introduced me to the Erasmus society, which enabled me to meet people from Lithuania, Poland and Denmark! For this I love my European continent and counterparts alike because they are beautiful!

Everyone needs a fierce hunty to call their own! I have mine in the form of the fabulous Zach Airstarr! I met Zach during my Walt Disney International College Program in June 2011, We shared the same flat for my first few weeks, but after he left we always remained in contact throughout the summer. I just had a gut feeling that me and Zach would be great friends because we hit our first conversation speaking about Lady GaGa, true divas from the very beginning! We made it to Parliament House and Pulse Orlando for a fierce night out, I couldn't drink alcohol that night because I was only 20 but we worked it on the dancefloor never-the-less! I do remember our shifts at Walt Disney's Epcot where we merhcantained with the sparkly Minnie and Princess headbands, only to be told by our managers that we should tone it down. How very dare they say that to such a fabulous and fierce pair!? 

Myself and Zach were reunited in Janaury of this year in Orlando as I had made the trip down from New Jersey after my placement finished. This trip gave me the opportunity to meet Zach's boyfriend Dawin. My Orlando weekend was filled with fabulousness and campery as we had a 'Kiki' at IHOP and shopped like 'Material Girls!' at American Apprael. I met Fendi, the dog with a drag name 'Miss Fendrea Shitzonyou' and a suitably divash personality to go with him. Myself, Zach and Dawin had a great day at Walt Disney's Epcot where we sipped on Margaritas and ate Mexican food at the Mexican pavilion at Epcot's World Showcase. Finishing our crazy weekend with a wicked night at Orlando's Parliament House, it was a great time to just be ourselves and enjoy our time together for we are the 'Flower Bomb Bitches!' Zach, Dawin and Fendi make sure you stay in my life because I don't know if it would be such a fabulous existence without you three! 

Captured to the left are my 'Honey Bee's' ... These ladies are my shining stars, each possessing a special charm that makes me love them for life! I love them dearly and even though I haven't seen them for over nine months I think about them everyday. I met these three angels at Newark Liberty International Airport during my Industrial Placement throughout 2012. We all worked for Virgin Atlantic Airways, a airline that will always reign high in my list of favorite airlines. I want to begin with Leah Alcid, this Filipino lovely stole my heart from the first time I met her. Lee trained me in the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse and welcomed me into her home during Thanksgiving 2012. I remained in contact with Leah after she had finished her time at Virgin Atlantic. Valerie Calinawan made my Christmas Day so special, I still remember that brilliant day. Valerie worked in the Clubhouse on the night I flew home in January of this year so I long to see her again very soon! 

My heart and my soul is Fiorella Sanchez, this Peruvian princess will forever be my Clubhouse Sister! I love this girl like a sister, she's my cosita! We went for Cuban food and finally Peruvian food during our time together whilst I was on placement in Newark, USA. I usually travel independently but welcomed Fiorella on my penultimate USA trip to New Orleans for a lovely January weekend in the French Quarter. I came down with a rather horrid cold but Fio nursed me back to health by making sure I had my medicine and hot tea. Myself and Fiorella have made a definite pact to visit her homeland of Peru to experience the wonder that is 'Machu Picchu'. I know all my 'Honey Bee's' will be there for me and I will be there for them when they need me! I propose we willl meet in the near future and hit New York City and dance until the sun rises, the party won't stop for is because when we're together our love is unstoppable! 

International Love Is The Best !!!

Joseph Harrison