After two and half years of blogging, it gets tough to keep things fresh with interesting topics. Admittedly, my muse is focused on other things, so I’m finding it hard to keep this space filled with quality posts and content. In many ways, I don’t think I’ve been entirely successful, but I’m hoping to change that over the next few weeks.
Over a cup of coffee, I asked my mom, “What do you think I should write about?” It took her less than a second to answer, “Travel.” I rolled my eyes because that is a topic I’ve explored time and time again with articles, fiction, poetry, and photography. Everybody gets it, I’ve traveled a lot. She stopped me right in the middle of my eye roll and explained that she wasn’t interested in the stuff she can find in any tour book, but rather the everyday life of people in other places. What do they wear? What do the houses look like? What’s in a grocery store? You know, the little things that are so normal for some, but strange to visitors.
I have journals full of those “little things” because my favorite thing to do when I travel is people watch. Part of my motivation for staying in London for an extended stay was to get a sense of what it’s like to live as a Londoner. Furthermore, wherever I travel, I am always more fascinated by local custom and the neighborhood experience than I am of the tourist trap. My mom is right – I should write about what I’ve observed and open up candid discussions about cultural perspective. There are things I’ve seen and experienced that I still don’t understand. What better platform to explore those curiosities than blogging?
Starting next week, posts about the “little things” from around the world will fill this space on Wednesdays.
Some topics on upcoming agenda include:
- Why Europeans wear shorter pants
- What it’s like to shop in a communist grocery store
- Shopping in a Chinese Wal-Mart
- What Londoners do when it rains
- Queuing up in a London post office
- Water calligraphy in Changchun
- Why left-handed people are clever in China
- What a bed is like in Prague
- The French are not rude
- Dogs in China / Dogs in Prague
- What Americans look like to Europeans
- Riding the Tube
- Eating at a pizza place in Prague
The list is endless and this is only the beginning. In addition to my own posts, I will also be inviting guest bloggers to share their observations and insights on the places they’ve traveled. If you are interested in contributing, please let me know!
Aside from this adventure into international normalcy, all the old favorites my readers enjoy will still be around. My writing journey, creativity, poetry, and photography will fill in Mondays and Sundays, while Friday will continue with Favorite Things.
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What’s your favorite thing this week?
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c.b.w. 2013
Ah, yes, my favorite thing is like yours – finding the interesting things in our life to blog about! Love your list of your upcoming agenda. FUN!
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Who knew those portions of my travel journals would incite so much interest? 🙂
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Cool, looking forward to this! One more…how do living spaces differ in apartments and houses.
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Consider it added to the list! 🙂
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Yes to your agenda. Please include the cost of local food and transportation.
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I added both of those to the list. 🙂 In fact, the first post in this series will deal with a London grocery store in terms of experience and cost. Stay tuned!
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What a wonderful idea. Thanks “Mom” I love those things too but tend to always be in a hurry when I travel. Maybe because my travels are so limited.
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I’ve learned over the years that travel is best without a plan, (beyond getting there and finding a place to stay). Each day is open to whimsy and time well spent doing unexpected things. 🙂
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You might need to amend one of them ‘the French are not rude’ well no most are not but Parisians are even other French don’t like them lol
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Now that’s interesting. My experience with Parisians was absolutely fantastic. Total strangers were incredibly kind and welcoming to me on multiple occasions. This will surely be an interesting conversation when that post goes up. 🙂
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Cool. I look forward to that since I know I’ll never get the opportunity to get to the types of places you have. I was just thinking to myself the other day that when I finally get things in my free time in order to start having a more structured blog like yours… and now here you go changing things up 😉
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The structure is all still here! I’m just playing with topic choices. 🙂 Besides, your blog can be whatever you want it to be – organized or random. 🙂
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Why do the Europeans wear shorter pants? That’s a good one. Seems like Chinese and Walmart go hand in hand. Always Enjoy your thought provoking blog.
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Wal-Marts in China are really different from those in the U.S. I was quite surprised! 🙂
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Cool ideas there.
My fave: the evaporated milk I’m currently having on my bowl of cereal.
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I will be very interested in getting your take on all things U.K. If I’ve got something wrong, I’m relying on you to fix it! 😉
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You only have to ask. 🙂
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All the little things sound really interesting! I can’t wait to read about them! My favourite thing this week is journaling 🙂
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I’ve since added more to the list and I hope it will all be just as interesting. 🙂
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I love your idea for the blog refresh! I’ve always enjoyed traveling vicariously through your blog posts and photos. I can’t wait to “people watch” vicariously through your new posts!
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I’m so excited to see there is so much interest in this topic. 🙂
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I’m excited to read your Wednesday travel posts….I can dream and travel along… I’m having a difficult time blogging these days because of life’s challenges but I keep a list of blog ideas and have several drafts working. I’ve just accepted the slowdown…for now.
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Every post is a gift and I’m always willing to wait for them. Take your time and know we’ll always be here! 🙂
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Looks like your mom hit a home run with her suggestion. All those topics seem fascinating and I am certain you will present them with your usual creative flare. 🙂
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I like how its forcing me to think hard about the little details instead of the big picture. My memory is getting quite the work out and I love how its bringing back so much about the places I’ve visited. 🙂
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LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea! Can’t wait to see what you come up with!!
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My sociology class from college will finally be useful!! Ha! 🙂
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what a great idea! I look forward to your posts!
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I hope they will be a fun read! 🙂
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I can’t wait! Your travel posts have always been some of my favorites!
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Travel is one of my favorite things to write about and I guess it shows! 🙂
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What a great idea! I’m looking forward to your inside scoop!
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Hopefully, I’ll be able to make the ordinary interesting! 🙂
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Yay Mom! Great idea! I am looking forward to the grocery shopping post. One of the things Ai loved bout Paris was people stopping at the market every day to get what was fresh and in season to cook! instead of stocking up on 10 pounds of frozen chicken thighs at the Sam’s Club. How does living in smaller spaces contribute to healthier shopping and cooking, I wonder. I’m looking forward to your first new post.
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You’re in luck – my first post is all about grocery shopping on a daily basis in London. 🙂 Enjoy!
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