2 years ago...

...I moved to London. 

The Sickly Social

Social Media Lesson #3: The Sickly Social

Recently, I was feeling quite poorly and was home sick for nearly a week. And you're probably the first to know because I was tweeting, texting and facebook stalking all over the place. By socialising through various online channels, not only was I entertained, but I totally felt like I was in the mix!

Almost all of the week's events were documented through social media, so my presence was felt through posts, tags, comments & photos. I'm pretty sure the virtual version of me is just as effective (or evasive) as the real thing.

Interactive Distractive

Social Media Lesson #2: Interactive Distractive

Ever had a conversation that's interrupted because the other party has a wandering eye? You know what I'm talking about. You're dishing out the funny, witty and profound, but can't seem to hold interest because the person you're talking to is distracted by a younger, smarter and sexier little thing!@#!? This has always been a problem on dates, but now my friends are doing it too! Yep, I'm talking about mobile phones and the world of social media. 

Just a few weeks into my rumspringa and I've already been caught up in a social media trance! Distracted by what I was doing remotely, I quite literally forgot about reality and got burned!!! 

Adamant about exploring social media, I decided to wet the appetites of my friends with a little food porn! So I'd tweet, facebook and instragram while baking cookies. I tweeted about the ingredients while I mixed up the batter, facebooked an image of my messy kitchen drenched in flour and when the first batch of cookies was ready... I upped my game and used instagram to add impact before I tweeted and facebooked my photos! Impressed with myself as a burgeoning photographer, I got so enthralled in art directing my photos and tweeting every step of the way that I burned the second batch of cookies. My remote ruined the reality of my cookies. Damn you social media!!!

Notice the burnt row upfront

In summary, whether you're baking cookies or having a conversation, chances are that social media is posing a distraction. So make eye contact, pay attention to body language and notice all that's said without words because the cookie and convo aren't much if you don't have a mate to share it with. 

Don't Rain on my Promenade

I arrived in Portsmouth expecting a sunny seaside town with the smell of fish & chips in the air, the sounds of children clamouring for candy floss and a brigade of boats outlining the waterfront promenade in sight.

This visual was a mental mirage. With no quaint pubs or charming shops, I was left cursing the friend that suggested the 2 hours day-trip from London. Or, maybe it was the rain? 

Rain can mercilessly dampen your experience of any city. So what to do in Portsmouth when it's raining?

1. Shelter in a Ship. Currently, the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is home to the HMS Victory. Built in 1778, I was most impressed by the close quarters in which naval officers had to eat, sleep and work (sometimes all in one room). WARNING: Mind the exceptionally low ceilings throughout the ship, particularly the tiny door frame when you first enter (trust me).

2. Marvel a Museum. There is a  plethora of museums detailing great naval events such as the Battle of Trafalger, so take a cruise through and be sure to mingle a bit... There were loads of old people who remember reading about the ships in the paper or having family members that participated in the battle.

3. Stroll the Harbour Front. When you're ready to disembark, take a stroll through Gunwharf Quays. The waterfront entertainment area is mainly comprised of a seaside promenade, outlet shops and chain restaurants. Not the most culturally enriching locale, but the shopping arena may offer some respite from the rain. Plus, you might even snag a deal :). 

4. Hold Up. Exchange your life story or greatest fear with a friend while hold up in a pub to escape the rain. I guess this could happen in any city and if it does, you'll never forget that place.

5. Rejoice the Rain. Never forget that our time in any one corner of the world is limited, so grab an umbrella, put on a hood and explore! 

Travelling in the rain has its challenges, but it doesn't have to be a total wash. As for Portsmouth... No plans to return just yet.

Lie to me

Social Media Lesson #1: You can't lie! 

Lying is a vital part of modern day communication. The most socially acceptable of which are the greeting lies - Good morning, How are you?, Great to meet you and the like. It's all bullshit, but it makes the world a more liveable place:). 

With social media tools like facebook and twitter, we're trained to update the world on our every move (seriously, didn't anyone read 1984???). So when we're cutting class or ditching plans, we're more likely to get busted! We can try not posting status updates in these moments, but documenting our lives is quickly becoming an involuntary action. And even if we're extra careful, people around us can tag photos and names so there's no escaping it. And can somebody please say geo-location tracking. 

Little lies can be time-saving and efficient ways to navigate through our already busy lives. Plus, they help soften the harsher moments in life. I mean, most people prefer hearing "Sorry, I have to help a friend move that day" over "Naw, I saw you yesterday and I can't tolerate 2 consecutive days of you". A simple time and stress reliever may soon be extinct because of social media. 

Let's just all calm down and not put so much weight on getting tagged in a photo. Go out there and give someone a hi-five!