Firstly, I had a really nice birthday. I was pleasantly surprised to receive many gifts, cards and birthday congratulations from what seemed like a record number of people! Everybody really made an effort to make it an enjoyable day, and I was very touched and thankful.

I have a tablet PC now (Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1) so I've been trying that out for the past 24 hours and enjoying the snazziness.

As you might already know, I am part of my university's delegation team for Cambridge University Model United Nations (CUIMUN) at the end of November, for which I have been doing training. Our team is split into individual delegates for each sub-committee, and I'm representing France at the UN Development Programme. But last night, I was informed that I have also been selected for the Harvard National Model United Nations (HNMUN) in Boston, Massachusetts! So I'll be visiting the US of A again in February next year, for one of the world's most prestigious Model UN conferences.

I feel really lucky to be participating in two huge MUNs, and my boyfriend, friends and family are super-proud of me!

Speaking of America, if you are eligible to vote in the US... GO OUT AND DO IT (but not for Mitt Romney. If you support a man who systematically discriminates against women and homosexuals, I'm afraid we can no longer be friends.) I cannot stress this enough. If I could, I'd vote a thousand times

I don't know why I post on here anymore... nobody ever reads my journals, lol.

I'm back at university and it's my final year so I'm trying to work really hard. It's only a few months till I'll be graduating, so I want to make it count. I've been doing things outside my studies to try and enhance my employability, such as joining the Diplomatic Society. I was selected for a very competitive Model UN conference at Cambridge University - apparently a lot of people applied from all over the university but only twelve got through including myself, so I need to show them I deserve the privilege.

My birthday is coming up next week, and I suspect it'll be a rather anti-climactic one as it isn't a particularly special milestone or anything. But I'm happy just to have a nice, relaxing day doing whatever I feel like doing.

As always, if you want to be more updated on the goings-on in my life you are more than welcome to follow me on Tumblr.

1. Do you need him/her to be good looking?
Yes. I need to be physically attracted to someone in order to pursue a romantic relationship with them. I don't feel that this makes one a bad person, as much as "nice guy" rhetoric might dictate otherwise.

2. Smart?
Everyone has the potential to be "smart" in their own way. As long as they're not wilfully stupid I don't really mind.

3. Preferred age?
Close to my own, preferably slightly older.

4. Preferred height?
I don't really give a shit, but I suppose ideally they should be taller than me. Even if only by a couple of centimetres.

6. How about piercings?
My boyfriend has them, so it would be kinda silly if I wasn't okay with them.

7. Accepts you for who you are?
This is a stupid question.

8. Pink hair?
Probably not.

9. Mushy or no?
I'm guessing this means "romantic." I don't like overly romantic people. It's a bit cloying. However, if somebody makes genuine, sincere gestures of respect and love that can only be a good thing.

10. Thin or fat?
I don't mind a tiny bit of extra chub, but generally... slim is best.

11. Black, brown or white (skin color)?
Don't care.

12. Long hair or short?
Short.

13. Eye color?
It's not something I think about.

Where the fuck is fourteen I don't even

15. Smoker?
Absolutely not. I expect my partner to value their own health.

16. Drinker?
Seeing as this is the twenty-first century, I am aware that most adults drink from time to time. I see no problem with it as long as it is done responsibly. If you have an issue with other people drinking alcohol, get over yourself.

17. Girl/boy-next-door type?
lolwat

18. Muscular?
It doesn't matter to me if they aren't muscular, but if they are it's a bonus!

19. Plays piano?
idgaf

20. Plays bass and/or acoustic guitar?
I give even less of a fuck than I did about the piano.

21. Plays violin?
Once again...

22. Sings very good?
It's not top of my priorities, lol.

23. Vain?
I am vain myself, so it would be hypocritical if I frowned upon that sort of thing.

24. With glasses?
I don't mind.

25. With braces?
Fuck no. I guess on a select few people, it could be adorable.

26. Shy type?
As long as it isn't a crippling level of shyness, it doesn't bother me.

27. Rebel or good boy/girl?
I like people to be generally on the straight and narrow (as long as they aren't self-righteous and/or boring.)

28. Active or passive?
Both.

29. Tight or bomb?
What you call me?!

30. Singer or dancer?
This is getting repetitive. Dancing's kinda hot, I guess.

31. Stunner?
If this means "good looking," haven't we already been over this? If you mean, like, "he carries a taser" I'm not really into that scene.

32. Hip-hop?
I enjoy a lot of it, so sure.

33. Earrings?
I don't mind, really.

34. Mr/Ms. count-my-ex-girlfriends-until-you-drop?
Firstly, this is a dumb way to phrase it. Secondly, since it's none of my fucking business how many people they date/sleep with before me, I don't care. If you do care about this, you most likely need to grow the hell up, check yourself and stop trying to dictate what other people do with their bodies.

35. Dimples?
I don't care.

36. Bookworm?
I don't care.

37. Mr/Ms. love letter?
What's with the beauty pageant titles? Also, not really.

38. Playful?
Yes. I can't stand people who take themselves too seriously.

39. Flirts with others?
No.

40. Poem writer?
LOL, no.

41. Serious?
Like I said before, I don't like people who are too serious. You only live once!

42. Campus crush?
I come from a small university where everybody knows everybody. Not a good idea (and when I was single, I tried.)

43. Painter?
That'd be kind of cool, but I wouldn't be distraught if they weren't.

44. Religious?
Probably not. (If it didn't interfere with our relationship, it wouldn't be an issue.)

45. Someone who likes to tease people?
I don't mind a joker, as long as they aren't cruel about it.

46. Gamer?
Not fussed either way, as long as it doesn't impact too largely on our relationship. When it's an addiction, that's a no-go area.

47. Lips?
Lip-shaped and preferably not crusty.

48. Loyal/faithful?
This is a given.

49. Good kisser?
Yes. That's fundamentally important.

50. Loves children?
I don't give a shit. Not everyone likes kids, and I'm not one of these narrow-minded, old-fashioned people who thinks that if you don't like children you are some kind of heartless beast. I'm not even sure whether or not I want children myself, and I'm certain that if I do it would be a long way into the future... so who cares?

Not much to report from this end, other than that I have been in Australia since July and will be here for another month before heading back to the UK in mid-September to begin my final year of university. When I graduate, I will be heading back down under (hopefully permanently, visas permitting) and making preparations with Ryan to buy ourselves a house. We want to get onto the property market and make a bit of money by renting out the other bedrooms, which we are fortunate enough to be in a position to do. This will have the added benefit of there being proof of a shared financial commitment between me and Ryan which I can add to the declaration on my visa application.

Confusing, but very exciting.

I don't use this journal much any more, as I put most of my ramblings on Tumblr - which doubles up as a snazzy place to keep a record of things that I like. If you want to hear from me more often, follow me on Tumblr or just head over to my blog and have a look.

UPDATE: Back from Australia, and off to university next week. I want to achieve my full potential, but I also feel like life is moving too fast!

In case you didn't know, I've launched a new blog about cosmetics and nails. If you're into that sort of thing, please follow me on Tumblr.

Not that anybody's asking.

My life's been ticking along nicely, despite the various stressful aspects of it. Everybody has to deal with problems some time, right? The university year has drawn to a close and although I am still busy with various errands to run over the next week, it's nowhere near as overwhelming as before. Time passes quickly.

I'm back from Switzerland and enjoying life at home. On Thursday, I am visiting Hungary for a weekend. It's a city break in Budapest, where the weather looks to be better than ours. My father went to work in Budapest shortly after democracy triumphed over dictatorship, and it was an extremely different place then to what it is now. These days, it is a thriving cosmopolitan city and I am keen to see more of Eastern Europe.

Next week, I am going to Australia again for two months to see Ryan. I have no idea how I am going to survive such a long time in the desert mining town where he lives, but I've done it before and I guess I can do it this time. It's about 27°C right now over there - when their winter beats your summer, you know your country's doing something wrong.

If you want more frequent updates on what's happening in my life, I recommend my Tumblr blog. It's updated every day, so it's a much better way to see what I'm up to.

Say hello to *brontolina.

The name comes from the Italian word brontolo which means "grumpy." Brontolona is a word that refers to a "difficult" woman who complains or argues too much; I guess the closest translation for this in English would be "shrew." I can be a pretty argumentative person and I'm not afraid to counter what others are saying if I disagree. Things also annoy me a lot about other people (I don't think I'm particularly unique in this regard.) In the Italian language, adding -ino/-ina to things makes them diminuitive and/or affectionate. As a feminist, I feel that being outspoken and letting people know what's on your mind shouldn't be deemed unladylike or improper - so converting an insult to a sort of endearment seemed very appropriate to me personally. It also conveys my love of other languages and cultures, which I devote my life and career to discovering.

So there's a little explanation of my name. The reason I changed it is because sali-chan no longer fits who I am. People don't refer to me as "Sali" in real life, and I am no longer a weeaboo like I was back in 2005 - when I was only sixteen years old. I'm now twenty-three and I've obviously changed a lot as a person, but people have nevertheless often made assumptions and associated my username with something that I'm not. Now it's time to acknowledge my existence as someone else.

My time in Switzerland will soon be drawing to a close. I shall be flying back to England at the end of this month, or the beginning of June. It's been a mixed experience, since I had to give up on my studies here and focus on just getting the best out of being immersed in the language. I'm not exactly sure what the prognosis is for my degree, and to be honest I have been emotionally and physically very stressed over the whole shebang so I am trying my best to be positive and not dwell on it too much. This isn't always successful.

In (literally) brighter news, the weather here is really picking up after weeks of torrential rain all the way through March and April. I woke up this morning and outside my window, I could see the most beautiful day. In the last couple of days, the snow has mostly melted off the mountainside - for me this was a surprise, as I thought this would be a more gradual process. The alpine landscape is a lot more jagged now, but still no less dramatic and breathtaking. Today, I plan to venture into the city with my camera and make the most of the sunshine.

Next week I'll be heading back to the UK for a weekend with my friend Anam, who is originally from Bahrain but normally resides in Buffalo, NY and wants to explore London. I enjoy playing the role of a tour guide! Tourists always end up spending so much money in London, largely on things which are unnecessary and can be avoided by taking cheaper alternatives... so in that sense, I'm happy to help. We are also going to go to Dublin, which will be my first time in Ireland. I'm very excited about that. Of course, I always enjoy the opportunity to travel somewhere new and discover interesting things. I'll keep you posted on how that goes.

Hey there friends! Sorry for the lack of updates for a while. I've been having some issues with university that I've spent the past couple of weeks struggling to resolve, but hopefully things are looking a little brighter now... thank goodness!

Online, mostly I have been busy with my new blog, Blonde du Monde, which has been lots of fun. I now know what I was missing! If you'd like to follow me (or for me to follow you) just add me to your list.

I did this meme that ~Tannanana has restarted on her own Tumblr - feel free to do this yourself, or just enjoy nosing around in my handbag...



1. Longchamp Le Pliage tote bag in Grape

2. Nivea Invisible for black and white deodorant, pocket size

3. Ray-Ban Wayfarers in Tortoise

4. Sadler for Topshop leather wallet - this is ancient and really grubby

5. iPod Nano (Generation 3) - it is engraved with a message from my dad on the back, and I have had it for four years

6. iPhone 3GS (British phone)

7. Samsung GT-E2330 (Swiss phone) - it only cost me CHF 9, but it's pretty good!

8. Muji pen, with multiple colours

9. City map of Lausanne, where I live

10. Wet Ones - you won't believe how often these come in handy

11. Pocket tissues

12. Herbal throat lozenges with sage (yuck)

13. Tampons (in case of emergency)

14. Hair elastics which I always end up losing anyway

15. The Body Shop Bamboo Styling Brush

16. Make-up bag (left to right):
      BeneFit Erase Paste in Fair
      Lavanila Healthy Lip Shine in Pure Vanilla
      MAC False Lashes mascara in Black
      Rimmel London Stay Matte pressed powder in Transparent

17. Muji recycled kimono fabric mirror - it's completely unique and the range was limited-edition

18. Cards (left to right):
      Université de Lausanne student card
      Mobilis metro card
      ERASMUS Student Network card

In case you hadn't noticed the links on my profile, a few friends successfully persuaded me to go back to Tumblr. This time, my blog has a bit more direction and purpose, and I am a bit more enthusiastic about it! I'd appreciate it if you could check it out and let me know what you think.

Here are twenty songs from my iTunes playlist - guess who sings them, and the name of the song. If you get it right, I'll link your name next to the song. See how many you can get right!

UPDATE: Nobody seems to be able to guess the remaining songs, so I'm going to reveal them for you. Remember, there's a link to all of the songs on YouTube so you can listen to them for yourself, if you want to!

1. You like the way she makes you feel / She got you spinning on her medicine wheel / She's crossing me with magnetic sand / She hypnotise with her mojo hand Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - Medicine [link] (guessed by ~babyhippy123)

2. But I'll keep on fighting for the things I want / Though I know that when you're dead, you can't / But I'd rather be a free man in my grave / Than living as a puppet or a slave Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come [link]

3. Jump start my kaleidoscope heart, love to watch the colours fade / They may not make sense, but they sure as hell made me Sara Bareilles - Uncharted [link]

4. Seems like yesterday / That I lay down next to your boots and I prayed for your anger to end / Oh Father, I have sinned Sia - Oh Father [link]

5. He's got a rolled cigarette hangin' out his mouth / He's a cowboy kid / Yeah, he found a six-shooter gun / In his dad's closet hidden in a box of fun things Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks [link] (guessed by ~lack-of-color)

6. On my last lonely dollar / Lock me up before I hit the store / Wanna be like Midas / But my bank account is minus Natalia Kills feat. will.i.am - Free [link]

7. So he pawned all his hopes / And he even sold his old car / Bought a one-way ticket / Back to a life he once knew Gladys Knight & The Pips - Midnight Train To Georgia [link]

8. She's all laid up in bed with a broken heart / While I'm drinking Jack all alone in a local bar and we don't know how / How we got into this mad situation, only doing things out of frustration / Trying to make it work, but man, these times are hard The Script - For The First Time [link] (guessed by ~babyhippy123)

9. My nerves all jumpin' / Actin' like a fool / Well, your kisses, they burn / But my heart stays cool The Pointer Sisters - Fire [link]

10. What kind of fuckery are we? / 'Side from Sammy, you're my best black Jew Amy Winehouse - Me & Mr. Jones [link] (guessed by ~lack-of-color)

11. A window breaks down a long, dark street / And a siren wails in the night / But I'm alright 'cause I have you here with me / And I can almost see, through the dark there is light Chantal Kreviazuk - Feels Like Home [link] (guessed by ~Prongsky)

12. Got shackles on my words so tight / Fear can make you compromise / Fast enough it's hard to hide / Sometimes I want to disappear Foster The People - Houdini [link] (guessed by ~lack-of-color)

13. With folded arms, you occupy the bench like toothache / Saw them, puff your chest out like you never lost a war / And though I try not to suffer the indignity of a reaction / There were no cracks to grasp, no gaps to claw Arctic Monkeys - Crying Lightning [link] (guessed by ~lack-of-color)

14. She grew up on the side of the road / Where church bells ring and strong love grows / She grew up good, she grew up slow / Like American honey Lady Antebellum - American Honey [link] (guessed by ~Nojo-on-the-rojo)

15. We're interrupted by the heat of the sun / Trying to prevent what's already begun / You're just a body, I can smell your skin / And when I feel it, you're wearing thin Ellie Goulding - The Writer [link]

16. Fight until the end, 'cause your life will depend / On the strength that you have inside you / You gotta be proud, staring out in the clouds / When the odds in the game defy you Joe Esposito - You're The Best [link]

17. Tumble out of bed, and I stumble to the kitchen / Pour myself a cup of ambition Dolly Parton - 9 To 5 [link] (guessed by ~babyhippy123)

18. Pirate skulls and bones / Sticks and stones and weed and bombs / Running when we hit 'em / Lethal poison for the system M.I.A. - Paper Planes [link] (guessed by ~lack-of-color)

19. Cuttin' through the darkest night in my two headlights / Tryin' to keep it clear, but I'm losin' it here to the twilight Jewel - Standing Still [link]

20. She left town early on a Friday / Headin' down to family in New Orleans / Said she needed to feel the sun on her face / Talk it out with herself, try to get things straight Lady Antebellum - Cold As Stone [link] (guessed by ~BlameMeItsMyFault)

Well, it's a bit late but I guess there's no harm in reviewing the events of last year and seeing what I want to happen this year! We are only two months in, after all.

Thanks (as always) to ~0rpheo, from whom I nicked this meme. It didn't have a title, so I gave it one.

2011: A REVIEW

The Beginning

Where did you go for New Year's? Australia
Who were you with? My boyfriend and his family
Did you kiss anyone at midnight? My boyfriend
Did you make any resolutions? I never make resolutions

Love Life

Did you break up with anyone? No
Did you get anything for Valentine's Day? My boyfriend and I don't bother with Valentine's Day
Did you meet anyone special? I already have someone special
Did you fall in love? I was already in love!

Friends & Enemies

Did you make any new friends? Yes
Did any of your friendships end? Maybe a couple, I can't remember!
Did you dislike anyone? I dislike a lot of people
Did you make any new enemies? I don't have "enemies"
Did you resolve any fights? Yes
Who were your closest friends? =adamneilcallaby, ~loppi, Amy, Rob, Sabrina
Did you grow apart from anyone? I guess so...
Do you have any regrets about your friendships? Last year, yes - this year, no

Your Birthday

Did you have a cake? I never have cake
What did you do for your birthday? I went home from Italy to see my family and friends
What was the best thing you got? I can't remember!

All About You

Did you change at all this year? I think everyone does...
Did you dye your hair? Other than the usual highlights, no
Did you change your style? I guess it's less "preppy" than it was in 2010, and a bit more mixed
Were you in school? I was at university for the first half
Did you get good grades? Good enough
Did you have a job? I did an internship in Italy for a renewable energy company
Did you own a car? No
Did anyone close to you give birth? Two of my friends, Bobbi and Sabrina (they both had boys)
Did you move house? Yes, to Italy (and then back again)
Did you go on any vacations? My boyfriend and I went to France for a weekend
Did you leave the country? I went to Australia, France, Italy and Singapore

In 2011, I...

( ) stayed single for the whole year
( ) made out in/on a car
( ) kissed in the snow
(x) celebrated Hallowe'en (after all, it's my birthday!)
( ) kissed in the rain
( ) had my heart broken
( ) broke someone else's heart
(x) had a stalker
( ) went over the minutes on my cellphone
(x) had a good relationship with someone
( ) had my sexual orientation questioned
( ) got pregnant
( ) had an abortion
(x) had a relationship with someone I'll never forget (I'm still in it hurhur)
( ) did something I regretted
( ) lost faith in love
( ) kissed under the mistletoe
( ) painted a picture
( ) wrote a poem
( ) ran a mile
(x) shopped at Hollister or Abercrombie & Fitch
(x) posted a blog
(x) listened to music I couldn't stand
( ) went to a sleepover
( ) went camping
( ) threw a surprise party
(x) laughed till I cried
( ) laughed till I peed in my pants
(x) cut in a line of waiting people
(x) told someone I was busy when I wasn't
( ) partied to celebrate the new year
(x) cooked a disastrous meal
( ) lost something/someone important to me
(x) broke a promise
(x) lied
(x) went behind my parents' back
(x) cried over a broken heart
( ) disappointed someone close to me
(x) hid a secret
(x) pretended to be happy
( ) slept under the stars
( ) kept my new year's resolution
( ) forgot my new year's resolution
(x) met someone who changed my life
( ) met one of my idols
(x) changed my outlook on life
(x) sat home all day doing nothing
(x) pretended to be sick
(x) left the country
( ) almost died
( ) gave up something important to me
( ) lost something expensive
(x) learned something new about myself
(x) tried something I normally wouldn't try and liked it
(x) made a change in my life
(x) found out who my true friends were
(x) met great people
(x) stayed up until sunrise
(x) cried over something silly
( ) was never home on weekends
( ) got into a car accident
(x) had friends who were drifting away from me
( ) had someone close to me die
(x) had a high cellphone bill
( ) spent most of my money on food
( ) had a fist fight
( ) went to the beach with my best friend
( ) saw a celebrity
(x) got sick
( ) fancied more than five people at the same time
(x) became closer to a lot of people
( ) kissed two people in the same night
(x) pulled an all-nighter
( ) threw up
( ) went camping
(x) bought something (WELL DUH)
( ) died (obviously)
(x) hugged someone
(x) slept in someone else's bed
(x) lent money to someone
(x) went over my phone bill

At school in 2011, I...

( ) took an honours/advanced class
( ) broke the dress code
( ) sent to the principal's office for misbehaviour
( ) got straight A's
( ) met one teacher I really liked
( ) met one teacher I really hated
( ) failed a class
( ) skipped school
( ) did something I was proud of
( ) discovered a new talent
( ) proved myself to be an idiot
( ) embarrassed myself in front of the class
( ) fell in love with a teacher
( ) intentionally tripped someone at school
( ) made a varsity team
( ) were involved in something I'll never forget NONE OF THAT WAS RELEVANT TO ME

I did these bad things in 2011...

(x) drank alcohol
(x) smoked
(x) did drugs
( ) got kicked out of a store
( ) shoplifted
( ) got a detention
( ) cheated on a test
(x) broke the law
( ) lied to my parents

That's A Wrap

Was 2011 a good year? It was pretty great
Did 2011 bring you any new insights? I guess so!
Do you think 2012 will top 2011? I hope so!
If you could relive any moment, which would you choose? Absolutely no idea

* according to the results of the stupid ass quiz below.

I'm really enjoying Switzerland. I've made many friends since being here from so many different countries - Switzerland (of course), the USA, Canada, France, Mexico, Colombia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Spain, Italy, Finland, Australia, Portugal, Poland, Bolivia, Belgium... you get the idea! The diverse, international atmosphere is part of what makes this country so exciting and fun.

Last night, I knocked back a few beers with my housemates (the bonus of living in the Alps is the ability to use outdoors as a fridge) and went to D! CLUB, the most popular nightspot in central Lausanne. Today I'm just chilling out and having a night in, because tomorrow some friends are having a crêpe lunch before going to Lake Geneva / Lac Léman, which happens to be right behind the apartment block where I live.

Stole the quiz below from ~0rpheo, the inexhaustible archivist of dumb journal memes. This has to be one of the weirdest quizzes I've ever done, mainly due to the different "creatures" you can be for getting certain results. It makes absolutely no sense to me at all BUT I'LL DO IT ANYWAY.

[ ] Dust scares you.
[ ] Your mother had more than two children.
[ ] You are a smoker.
[ ] You drink a lot.
[x] You like to write.
[ ] You are religious.
[x] You like to burn candles.
[ ] You prefer juice or water over soda.
[x] You have ridden a horse.

Subtotal: 3

[x] You have done drugs.
[ ] You are currently a drug addict.
[x] You are very artistic.
[x] You like stuffed animals.
[x] You are attracted to shiny things.
[x] You have eaten a bug before.
[x] You love cars.
[x] Cats are your favourite animal.
[ ] You hate animals.
[ ] You are spontaneous and random.

Subtotal: 10

[x] You like fruit a lot.
[ ] You drive.
[x] You make/made good grades in school. (I don't want to jinx that...)
[x] You are are in/have been to university.
[x] You like things to be very clean.
[ ] You are very messy.
[x] You love to eat.
[x] Christmas is your favourite holiday.
[ ] You like the beach.
[ ] You hate the color pink.

Subtotal: 16

[x] You wear glasses or contacts.
[x] You chat online a lot.
[x] You always use correct grammar.
[x] You like to take quizzes.
[ ] You eat out at restaurants more than you eat at home.
[ ] You enjoy swimming.
[ ] You have more than five pets.
[ ] You have more than ten pets.
[ ] You believe in ghosts.
[ ] You have seen a ghost.

Subtotal: 20

[x] You prefer comedy movies to romance movies.
[x] You like dancing, either doing it yourself or watching.
[x] You have been to a strip club.
[x] You drink coffee in the morning.
[x] You like to be awake at night.
[ ] You don't go outside often.
[x] You love to read.
[ ] You believe in an afterlife of some kind.
[ ] You have had short hair.
[x] You know how to cook well.

Total: 27


Results:

0 - 1 = Mosquito.
2 - 3 = Weed.
4 - 5 = Daisy.
6 - 7 = Janitor.
8 - 9 = Goose.
10 - 11 = Rock.
12 - 13 = Fireman.
14 - 15 = Rose.
16 - 17 = Mouse.
18 - 19 = Cow.
20 - 21 = Rabbit.
22 - 23 = Mental patient.
24 - 25 = Grass.
26 - 27 = Water. (Wait, what? Well, that was boring.)
28 - 29 = Bat.
30 - 31 = Hippo.
32 - 33 = Crocodile.
34 - 35 = Vampire.
36 - 37 = Horse.
38 - 39 = Hawk.
40 - 41 = Spider.
42 - 43 = Flea.
44 - 45 = Princess / Prince.
46 - 47 = President.

UPDATE: I'm now a member of staff at #Forum-It and have just seen my first issue as a contributor! Be sure to check out #Forum-It: Issue 49!

As the title indicates, I'm in Switzerland - more specifically Lausanne, the capital of the région vaudoise (French-speaking province.) I'm here for the next five months to continue my studies; in particular, to improve my French (but also Italian, as around 6.5% of the population are italophonic.) With the breathtaking Alps dominating the skyline, and with everything bathed in crisp winter sunshine, there are worse places I could be right now!

I arrived here from London on Wednesday and since then, everything has been quite overwhelming - but ultimately, very exciting. My classes start on Monday and I still don't entirely know what I'm doing, but I am definitely not alone: I've met a lot of other international students, mostly from the USA and Canada, and they feel the same as me which is reassuring. So far, I've been really impressed with how well the university has accommodated its international students and helped them feel at home. Everyone has been so kind and enthusiastic. I have met two of my housemates, the rest of whom should arrive tomorrow; I've been introduced to Juan from Colombia and Estefania from Mexico, who are both very sweet and helpful.

It's more expensive here than in the UK, which is taking some getting used to. Even the "bargain" stuff is about 1.5x the average cost of the same thing in England, so I feel lucky to be here as a student (and therefore eligible for various discounts, which soften the blow.) I'm a bit bummed out that I don't have more to spend at the moment, as I keep seeing shops with lovely things in them everywhere I go!

I managed to get through to the administration on this website (who, granted, are constantly wading through a massive backlog of whiny complaints) regarding various incidents from back in October.

Both individuals (!DarkProxy and !Canuck-Buck) are now permanently banned.

In future, when arguing with me, I politely request that people not lose their composure with me and resort to making journals about me being a "whore" / "cunt" / "bitch" / "slut" (yes, all of these words were used) in a desperate, rudimentary attempt to give themselves the upper hand. Additionally, getting your similarly diseased friends to fight your battles when I block your account does not make you look like any less of an absolute loon.

Yes, a woman (and not the bag lady with pendulous, sagging breasts you had initially imagined, either!) just proved herself to be your intellectual superior.

I realise this is both disorientating and painful for you, but go and cry about it in private rather than humiliating yourself in your journal.

When I point out to you that writing slanderous, disjointed ramblings about me in your deviantART journal can actually get you banned, your frantic efforts to delete said journal will not necessarily go under the radar of the moderators.

Finally, should you ignore all of the advice given above and get yourselves banned from deviantART forever like these two fucktards, remember that now you have plenty of time to go learn basic, primary school-level reading comprehension.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

UPDATE: It must be hard being a creepy, obsessed weirdo on the Internet. Apparently !DarkProxy got so upset about being banned permanently from deviantART that he took to Tumblr in an attempt to harrass me instead.

I'm sorry, !DarkProxy. I can't help being so goddamn irresistible.

To everyone else, I wholeheartedly recommend that you check out !DarkProxy's revolutionary discourse on feminism, sexuality and just about every other subject he knows nothing about (and believe me, there are many.) So passionate are his scathing reviews of anything that vaguely relates to equality and tolerance, he even misspelled his own name when registering the Tumblr URL. If that's not dedication to the cause, I don't know what is. Coming soon to the walls of a psychiatric institution near you.

I'm in Australia, in case you guys weren't aware. I'm here for a few weeks, seeing the boyfriend before I have to head to Switzerland for my studies. The town (as seen above) is braced on red alert for a tropical cyclone that has reached Category 2. Pretty much everything is closed, and we have had to move from our accommodation outside the main house because of the risk of getting killed in some messy, horrible, cyclone-related accident.

So far we're safe and sound, in fact I'm a little excited to experience my first cyclone! Nobody really seems all that fazed about it since the Pilbara region of Australia has its fair share of cyclones and tropical storms. There was one in 2007 that got to Category 5 and killed three people in this town alone, but I have a feeling this one will clear in the next 48 hours with no considerable harm done.

Me and Ryan are just chillaxing with some video games and spending quality time together, since the weather means he can't go to work until the storm is over. I must say, I'm not complaining!

UPDATE: The cyclone has passed. There's another storm today, but hopefully it'll be over by this evening and won't be as bad.

The front and back yard are pretty messed up; lots of mud everywhere, furniture and objects scattered all over the place etc. I'm glad nobody was outside because a flying piece of debris could have been lethal. Apparently, much of downtown is in need of a cleanup and a few people's houses were wrecked. My boyfriend is off work for a few days starting tomorrow due to flood damage, but he has to go in today and help clean up. Hundreds of dollars' worth of stock was destroyed.

The main thing is that, as far as I know, nobody was seriously hurt or killed

I got back from Italy on Saturday and it's been crazy all week since then. I've been so busy with organising everything before I fly to Australia on Monday. So much for a relaxing Christmas break! Luckily, there won't be all that much to do in Port Hedland other than relax so I can catch up later on... with the added bonus of heat and sunshine to lounge about in.

Italy was absolutely amazing, and I hope I can go back soon to see everyone again. From a career-based point of view, it was a valuable and insightful experience but I have also made some great friends, and worked with lovely people. Living that lifestyle for six months was absolute bliss, and I could quite easily do it all over again! My manager said I can come and work for him after I graduate if I need a job, and has asked me to teach his children English over Skype which is a nice little earner on the side during my studies. I feel like my Italian improved a lot, but I sort of wish I'd been able to stick around longer so I could get even better. I spoke to an Italian family from Bari last night and they said my accent sounds very Lombard, which is quite amusing!

Now I have to go and sort out the massive pile of luggage and boxes in my room which have been accumulating since June. Moving around so much certainly has its drawbacks.

So, I wish everyone here on dA - my friends, watchers and people I interact with - a very merry Christmas and a joyous New Year, and if you happen to celebrate something else (or nothing at all!) I nevertheless extend my best wishes for the year ahead.

UPDATE: My quote suggestion is featured in #Forum-It, Issue 32! Thanks, ^3wyl!

I went to Padova (on the other side of northern Italy, in the Veneto region near Venice) for the weekend to catch up with some folks I hadn't seen for almost two years. Remember the family I worked for as an au-pair? It was great to see how much Lucrezia and Alessandro had grown up. Lucky is like a little lady now who loves fashion and dancing, and Ale can actually speak in full sentences (when I cared for him, all he could say were bits of words.) He had come down with a cold or bug of some kind, so he was very subdued and feverish for most of the afternoon when I visited them for lunch. But then he threw up - and miraculously recovered! He ran into the kitchen having just emptied his stomach and promptly devoured his father's homemade tiramisù! He's still the same old, hardcore little kid who has no fear of anything and makes everyone laugh with his constant clowning around.

I also met my friend Giulia, who took me to my favourite Italian bookshop La Feltrinelli where I spent way too much money, although I now have some great books to read and even a couple of neat Italian films (one of which stars my favourite Italian actor, the Apulian Riccardo Scamarcio... he's a bit of a heartthrob, and his appearance is so typically Italian. Gotta love the devil's curly hair...)

There's been some kind of lurgy going around at work (but across Italy, it seems like everyone's getting sick.) My colleagues have been dropping like flies and I had been saying to myself, "It's just my luck, I am probably going to end up catching this." Sure enough, I did. I've been off sick for the past three working days.

The weekend away probably didn't help, as I was pretty exhausted by the time I returned from Padova. Four hours' train and bus travel each way and walking around in pouring rain did me no favours. This morning, I was all ready for work but was there for all of ten minutes before my colleague, Talita, told me I was too ill to work (fever, dizziness, coughing and an upset stomach) and sent me home. It's kind of annoying that I'm having this time off so close to the end of my time here in Italy, as I want to make the most of working here right up to the finish. However, seeing as my job predominantly involves speaking and my voice is currently akin to a thirteen-year-old boy in the grip of puberty, I guess my priority is to get better.

Firstly, I love how this basically substitutes the word "ghetto" for "poor/underprivileged." Because nobody wants to say they're poor. Thanks again to ~0rpheo for this monstrosity of a journal meme.

[x] Mother
[x] Father
[ ] Stepfather
[ ] Stepmother
[ ] Stepsister
[ ] Stepbrother
[x] Brother
[ ] Brother-in-law
[ ] Sister
[ ] Sister-in-law
[ ] Half-sister
[ ] Half-brother
[ ] Nephew
[ ] Niece
[x] Boyfriend/Girlfriend
[x] Mobile phone _{(An iPhone for the UK, a Blackberry for Italy. Which I hate.)}
[x] Own bathroom
[x] Own room
[ ] Have/had a swimming pool _{(Sadly, my boyfriend's does not count )}
[x] Have/had a hot tub
[x] Guest room _{(Cyprus, yayayayay)}
[x] Living room
[x] Own computer
[x] Flat TV _{(At my mum's hurhurhur)}
[ ] There is some big carpet at your house _{(Because nothing says "living the high life" like floor textiles. I live in Italy, man. Do you have any idea how hot it gets in summer? Fuck carpets.)}

Total: 12

[x] Full-size/queen bed
[x] More than eight pairs of shoes
[x] MP3 Player/iPod  
[ ] PS2/3                             
[x] Nintendo DS / PSP   
[ ] Gameboy Advance      
[ ] Gamecube                
[ ] Xbox/Xbox 360       
[ ] Wii    
[x] Laptop
[ ] Basketball net/hoop
[ ] Air hockey table
[ ] Pool table
[ ] Ping-pong table
[ ] Foosball table
[ ] Sports gear

Total: 17 _{(Why would I want half that shit?)}

[x] Night stand
[x] Stereo in bedroom
[ ] Surround sound system
[x] DVD player in bedroom

Total: 20

[x] Go shopping at least once a week
[x] Expensive cologne/perfume
[x] AIM/MSN
[x] Camera on phone

Total: 24

[ ] Go-kart / quad bike _{(My boyfriend does, haha!)}
[ ] Guitar/drums/bass
[ ] Piano/keyboard
[ ] Any other instrument
[x] Been on a cruise
[x] Travelled out of the country
[x] Had a personal trainer
[x] Expensive jewellery
[x] Met a celebrity

Total: 29

[x] Straightener/curling iron
[ ] Have been to a batting cage _{(WTF is a batting cage?)}
[x] Have $100 on you right now in your pocket/wallet
[x] Credit card, ATM card, debit or bank card
[x] Have a TV in your room
[x] Mirror in your room
[x] Window in your room _{(I don't live in a box. Amazing, right?!)}
[x] Been to Paris
[x] Been to Rome
[x] Been to Australia
[ ] Been to Switzerland _{(...but next year I'll LIVE there, so stfu)}
[x] Been to Dubai
[x] Been to Germany
[x] Been to one of the world's "wonders" _{(Great Wall of China, Colosseum, Stonehenge, Channel Tunnel, Empire State Building. Check Wikipedia if you're interested)}

Total: 41

[x] Parents have a car
[x] Have owned/own a jetski/boat
[x] Had/have camped
[x] Been to 3+ states/countries/provinces

Total: 45

[x] Home-cooked meal almost every day
[x] Been in a limo
[x] Been in a helicopter
[x] Own a camera
[ ] Have been to Disneyland/World more than twice

Total: 49

Post as:
1-25 = Ghetto! (and tag 5 people)
26-40 = Average teen! (and tag 10 people)
41-50 = Spoiled teen! (and tag 15 people) _{(Wait, I'm a teenager again?)}
51+ = Upper-class snob! (and tag 20 people) _{(Money != aristocracy, dipshit)}

I AIN'T TAGGIN' SHIT

Another deviantART journal meme in which *brontolina figures out which retarded Hollywood teen movie stereotype she "belongs" to, despite being in her twenties and far too boring to be in any movie. This dumb piece of shit was stolen from ~0rpheo!

High-Class
[ ] You go/have gone tanning.
[x] You own an iPod/mp3 player. (How is any of this high-class?)
[x] You love Starbucks.
[x] You have been called a brat.
[x] You have tons of shoes.
[ ] You hate buying things that are on sale.
[x] You have a laptop.
[x] You love shopping.
Total: 6

Gothic
[ ] Black is one of your favourite colours.
[ ] You wear chains.
[ ] You like heavy metal. (Doesn't this belong in the Metalhead category?)
[ ] You've shopped at Hot Topic. (DURHURHUR)
[ ] You have worn black lipstick.
[x] You have/want piercings. (On my ears... which I don't think counts.)
[ ] You own a pair of Tripp pants.
[ ] You have at least one friend with unnaturally-coloured hair.
Total: 1

Punk
[ ] You can skateboard.
[x] You like plaid.
[x] You have Converse.
[ ] You hate MTV.
[ ] You have/want blue, pink, red, purple, or green hair.
[ ] You love mohawks.
[x] You love music.
[ ] You hate people who pretend to be something they are not. (Like punks? )
Total: 3

Emo
[x] You are sad sometimes. (OMG WHAT AN EMO!)
[ ] You have dark-coloured glasses.
[x] You cry easily.
[ ] You like emo music.
[x] You've kept a journal/diary.
[ ] You have written a sad poem.
[x] You have dyed your hair.
[x] You're sad when you're drunk. (Sometimes!)
Total: 5

Ghetto
[x] You like rap.
[x] You say "Fo' sho'," "fo' shizzle," "fo' sheezy," etc.
[ ] You have worn a grill.
[ ] You have had a freestyling contest.
[ ] You have worn your shoes with the tongue flipped out.
[ ] You know most of the lines from Boyz N Da Hood. (What the-?!)
[ ] You own a huge gold chain with a giant gold pendant.
Total: 2

Hardcore
[ ] You like loud music.
[ ] You love/like the Ninja Turtles.
[x] You have slip-on shoes.
[x] You like normal jeans. (Uhm...?)
[x] People have called you a freak and meant it lovingly.
[ ] You love to "hardcore" dance. (What the hell is hardcore dance?)
[ ] Your hair has been dyed more than one colour.
[x] You wear jeans a lot.
Total: 4

Prep
[ ] You love The OC.
[x] You have/want a tiny/small sized dog.
[x] Your usual outfits consist of pink.
[x] You like buying shoes a lot.
[x] You have clothes from Hollister, American Eagle, and/or Abercrombie.
[x] Getting your nails done is a fun thing.
[ ] You have big sunglasses.
[x] You can't go anywhere without your hair looking perfect.
Total: 6

Athletic
[ ] You watch the Superbowl.
[ ] You own track shoes other sports-related shoes.
[ ] You collect jerseys.
[ ] You have a special shelf for trophies and awards.
[ ] Your garage/shed consists of sports equipment.
[ ] You belong/have belonged to a team.
[ ] You have a specific number preferred for your jersey.
Total: 0

Scene
[ ] You like putting little bows in your hair.
[ ] You have miniskirts.
[x] You have parted your hair to the side.
[x] You think polka-dots are cute.
[ ] You have done a peace sign while you pose for a picture.
[ ] You've been called scene before.
[ ] You wear long, colourful socks with your skirts.
Total: 2

Redneck
[ ] You have gone four-wheeling. (WTF is four-wheeling?)
[ ] You have been hunting.
[ ] You have owned a four/three-wheeler or dirt bike.
[x] You like to go fishing.
[ ] You eat beef jerky.
[ ] You have said "Git 'R Done."
[ ] You have listened to the song Redneck Woman. (wat)
[ ] You know who Bocephus is. (double wat)
Total: 1

Metalhead
[ ] You wear band shirts a lot.
[ ] If people down talk metal, you down talk their favourite music.
[ ] You like bands like As I Lay Dying, Lamb Of God, and All That Remains.
[ ] You hate emos.
[ ] You like Black Sabbath.
[ ] You have gone to Ozzfest.
[ ] You have a headband.
[ ] You don't like rap.
[x] You have a taste for classic rock.
Total: 1

UPDATE: Featured in #Forum-It, Issue 26! Thank you to *Crazylittleloon and !EnigmaCzar the contributors, and ^3wyl for posting the article!

UPDATE #2: Also featured as a contributor in #Forum-It, Issue 28!

Yes, it's my 23rd birthday. This day in 1988, the world got just a little bit more batshit insane. My poor mother...

I have had a wonderful day, everyone at the office was really nice and we had a good time. It didn't really feel like work at all! After I finished, my friend Tali and I went to McDonald's (which in Italy is quite a novelty ) and finished off with some cake and coffee... mmm, calories!

They don't really celebrate Hallowe'en here, but in McDonald's there were children dressed in some really cute costumes. I saw a kid aged about three dressed as a wizard, and a baby in a skeleton outfit, and I think my heart melted there and then... I can see why Italian parents spoil their children so much. Italian kids are freakin' adorable.

One thing that has made me really happy is the influx of greetings from people everywhere, it has been really touching to see how many people remember my birthday and take a bit of time out from their busy Monday to wish me happy returns. Honestly, I appreciate those kinds of gestures a lot and to see so many in one day... I feel very loved.



I am finishing off my fabulous birthday celebrations in quite a mundane fashion. I have to pack my suitcase to return to England for one week tomorrow. I'll come back to Italy next Monday. It will be nice to see my family and my animals again, and also to change my wardrobe... it's not quite so sunny and hot anymore, and I basically die every time I go outside because I didn't bring my jacket... d'oh!

So, I'm collecting llamas now. Don't ask why, I don't really know either. Also, since it's my birthday if you want to spare a cake badge or something similarly snazzy for me, that would rock my socks. My poor llama is a bit lonely up there!