The importance of having less

In light of the festive season, I have thought a lot about the materialistic side of Christmas and how my values of such have changed drastically since last year. I make a decent salary in Bangkok, and I go from month to month with no real worries about money. I am able to save, go out on the weekends and plan awesome holidays. Even though I stick to some sort of budget, its never really a stressful experience in terms of day to day expenses. Just recently I was thinking about how much my spending has changed when comparing 24 year old me living abroad to 22 year old me back home, that was always working (sometimes 3 jobs) but for some reason always running out of money. I figured it out... and this epiphany is something that has actually changed me in the best possible way. I don't waste my money on 'stuff' anymore.

5 Baht butterfly crumpets anyone?

Beaching it in Ao Nang, Krabi

When deciding where to go for our upcoming long weekend, we thought to go somewhere beautiful yet slightly untamed. After countless stories and photo's of Phuket, Phuket, Phuket from fellow travelers and friends, I felt as if I had already been there. This is not to say I'll never go to Phuket but since living and teaching in Bangkok, its always a hunt for the non-touristy destinations and unusual experiences.

Postcard moment on Tub Island

When life takes over

I had this idea that once I had moved halfway across the world to Bangkok, I would be immensely inspired by everything around me and therefore have a constant flow of moments and events to discuss in detail on my blog. The truth is that I am inspired by this city in so many overwhelming ways that I seldom find the words to explain the experiences that I am going through. I like to think of it as having all the words and emotions in a bowl of alphabet soup, but not being able to digest them into sentences. Does that make sense at all or does it sound like a super weird bio lesson?

Other than being overwhelmed and speechless at the best of times, I am also busier than I have ever been. I used writing as a mechanism of escaping my somewhat vanilla life back home, and I am now on this whirlwind adventure, along with a teaching job that keeps me occupied anytime in-between. Sometimes I will look at my phone and I haven't even had the time to reply to a simple text message. Sitting quietly with my laptop and my thoughts is a difficult feat when there is so much going on around me.

So here comes the point of this blog post-life takes over sometimes. I place certain interests and hobbies in a list of priorities and often they slip to the bottom of that list when I have too much on my plate. Living in a foreign country is a challenge and an adventure, and after a few months I finally have the urge to find the time to write again! So for all the sweet strangers and friends and family members out there that are reading this (Hi Mom), I have returned from hibernation and I will be writing a whole lot about a whole lot from now on. x

Bangkok Lessons

Hello Everyone! I apologise for being absent for just over two weeks (it feels like months), but a lot has happened in such a short space of time that having time for blogging my thoughts just hasn't been an option until now.

As I have mentioned before, Travis and I have moved to Bangkok in Thailand to teach English. I have decided that because my life has changed so drastically since living in a foreign country, so should my blog. I am still going to keep consistent with the different topics I like to discuss, but there will obviously be a whole lot of Thailand experiences coming your way. I have only been living in Bangkok for a short while and it feels like I have so much so say, but I also won't be one of those people that breaks down every moment and emotion of the day, I promise!

In the time I have been here my brain has been overloaded with information to the point where I feel physically exhausted. It's amazing how completely different one culture and environment can be from another. These are some of the important lessons Bangkok has taught me in just a few weeks-some more forcefully than others let me tell you...

Just one night in Monaco

I spent one single night as part of the elite, rich and famous people that make up but a tiny population of the world. By the looks of it, most of them live in Monaco. Before arriving in Monaco, along the French Riviera, we were told that the mystery place we were going to that evening had a dress code that was so strict that you would not gain entry to the building if you did not meet the requirements. This was equally exciting and daunting, but we followed suite.

Kim and I in front of the marina

Bangkok: The Countdown

There are less than 3 weeks left before I depart for Bangkok, Thailand to start teaching English, and I can't explain to you how much is going on in my head right now. It has got to the point where all other forms of inspiration and creativity have evaporated from my brain (including my sense of humour if I'm honest). I am a nightmare to be around lately, and I apologise in advance to family, friends and strangers (the man at the post office on Tuesday) that have been caught in the thunderstorm mood-swing that is Sarah. I feel the necessity to share what is going on in this head of mine in the hopes that it won't explode. It's not pretty...

Image from vegatravelbangkok.com

Italian dreaming: Pisa to Florence

The journey into Italy was painted with luscious greenery, aged tunnels and farms that went for miles. The humidity suddenly became evident as we got out of the bus at a service station. I swallowed warm air along with my first proper piece of Italian pizza there- it was cheesy and delicious and I ordered another. The system of buying anything in Italy is very odd. You first pay for your items, and then you collect them, or you get a ticket for the items and then pay for them... okay I might not be explaining the system too well but all I can say is that it is complicated and very much based on honesty.

Then it was time for the Leaning Tower of Pisa, in Pisa. This architectural mystery was obviously on my list of things to see, so I was embarrrasingly thrilled about the whole experience. What do you do when you come face to face with the famous tower? You pose in a ridiculous manner of course. Whether you are holding the whole thing up with your bare hands or  giving it a lick with your tongue outstretched, you have to seize the opportunity.  

Me holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa

8 Signs you should quit your job

"The supreme accomplishment is to blur the lines between work and play"- Arnold J Toynbee

Like I have mentioned before, I could be considered a professional part-time career specialist (completely made-up term) from all the jobs I have had. From being a bartender to an aupair to a personal assistant and promo girl, I have met a lot of people and learnt a lot of things-useful or not.

The gift of higher education

When I finished my final year of high school back in 2009, I had no doubt in my mind that I was going to further my education and study a degree of my choice. My parents had never questioned this notion either, and urged me to continue studying after school.

Take my car, test my strength

On Valentines Day, February the 14th 2012, I was hijacked. I thought long and hard before writing this blog post because it was a very painful experience for me. Only a few friends and family up until this point know what happened that night, but I thought this would be an opportunity to advise others, especially young girls such as myself, in a positive and helpful way.

Durban Day

As someone who lived in the city long enough, I somehow never went to Durban Day until this year, and my oh my have I missed out over the years. It was epic.

The bartender, the shrink

I have had so many different jobs since I've left high school. I don't like to think of myself as a job-jumper, but being a student means making money through various part-time opportunities. This even included handing out flyers at intersections and working as an assistant at a soya bean conference(don't ask). The one job I never thought I would have was being a bartender.

My Bucket List

“What would you do if you weren’t afraid?”- Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook

I have decided to share my personal bucket list after years of adding on and scratching off, altering and rewriting, losing and forgetting. The poor list has been through a lot as I've got older and my dreams and goals have changed along with me.

If you are reading this, write your own meaningful bucket list and keep it with you as a constant reminder of how full and exciting your life can be. What's the use of writing the bucket list if not to actually cross everything off at one point?

What are you on this earth to do? That is the biggest question you can ask yourself. Everything in life is a pattern to your purpose. The mistakes we experience, the decisions we make, the way we choose to spend our time each day, prepares us for what we are able to achieve. Therefore the more we experience, the more we challenge ourselves, the closer we get to finding that purpose.

It is so easy to fall into the trap of work, responsibilities and routine, but whenever you can, put your mind towards a future goal even if that means working on it bit by bit. With this life we are given, we must find our purpose and fulfill what it is we think we are here to do. It really isn't that complicated, and things always have a way of working out when you are determined. I would like to think of this list as 30 things to do before I'm 30!

1. Teach a foreign student to speak English
2. Stand under a waterfall
3. Run a half marathon
4. Climb a mountain
5. Swim with the pigs in Bahamas
6. Learn how to surf
7. Sleep for a night under the stars
8. Learn to play guitar (at least 1 song)
9. Go scuba diving
10. Float in the Dead Sea
11. See a volcano
12. Take ballroom dancing lessons
13. Swim in the hot pools in Iceland
14. See Angkor Wat at sunset
15. Watch a broadway show
16.Walk along the Great Wall of China
17. Write a book
18. See the Hagia Sofia in Turkey
19. Participate in a parade or carnival
20. Go paddle boarding
21. Attend a fashion show
22. Eat something I have grown myself
23. See Times Square
24. Go snowboarding
25. See the Okavango Delta in Botswana
26. Go on a cruise
27. Stay on an island
28. Go cliff diving
29. Drink sangria in Barcelona
30. Do the Moses Mabhida swing (tallest swing in the world)

Every time I cross off one of the above I'll write about it. x

Image from etsy.com