Going with the mainstream. A "lifestyle" blog.

For this post I've chosen the category: "Erasmus news". Because, how do they say? "Once Erasmus, Erasmus forever".

I know, I'm going over an exhausted topic, I finished my exchange quite a long time ago, but I've decided to take part in the blog writing competition on this platform anyway.

That's because, despite the fact that my programme has already ended, no one will ever take away my memories. I have a whole lot of things to describe on my mind. A whole lot of stories to tell... interesting situations, fantastic people, stunning places and moments so precious that each time I mention them, I have a lump in my throat...

I miss it terribly.

Let's whine a little bit

What I describe on this blog needs to fit certain standards, imposed by the competition regulations - no cursing, no slang, limiting the amount of one's own "sayings" (of which I have, like, millions). What I scribble about on here is later edited by the website administration - so, inevitably, I don't feel fully at liberty to write what I think and how I think about it.

Moreover, I don't like the fact that the assessment is made also on the basis of the hit count - it forces me to share the blog further. From what I've been refraining with all my strength from the very beginning of my writing here. I simply don't feel like showing my private life to people who are more or less strangers to me.

I don't write any deep, personal rants on here (I keep refraining from this! ), although I do describe many things that have happened (and are still happening) in my life and which I don't necessarily feel like sharing with a big, unspecified amount of people.

Because... it's none of their business.

And I like keeping my life, to some extent, only to myself. Which, after all, constitutes some kind of a phenomenon in contemporary times, as there are so many "internet exhibitionists" around, who like to document each step in their lives extensively and in detail, as well as share it with others on social media.

In my opinion, some things simply should remain personal.

Split personality...

However, I've wanted to write a blog ever since I remember. Previously I even started 2-3 blogs, on which I would write something, but, sooner or later, they would die naturally. Which was my fault. Obviously.

That's because I would start writing them, and afterwards I would stop... and I would never share them with the world as well, and, since I write "just for myself" and have no feedback from the readers in the form of comments or at least views (in order to see that the blog is at least "alive" :)), it is harder to motivate myself to write the blog systematically and, as far as possible, regularly.

This time, I wanted to give up as well. That's how it is with my "short-lived enthusiasm", I take something up very zealously and actively at first, but the zeal diminishes with time... What has had an additional disheartening effect in the case of this blog is checking the ranking (which is placed in the "Competition" category, on the right side: click)

The person on the first place with 90 000 points knocks one to the ground and causes one to no longer feel like doing anything, especially maintaining an ambitious approach to the whole business in order to write well-thought-out posts (and not just "no matter what I write, as long as there is a lot of points for it").

Light at the end of the tunnel

However, lately I've been englightened a bit and stated that maybe I've been approaching the topic in a wrong way from the very beginning - I've been counting on making it to the top nine. After all, that is the aim of the competition - to win. Because what's the use of the tenth place or lower? Not much, sadly... (No fame, millions on the bank account and the younger version of Johnny Depp in my bedroom, so it's all pointless! )

[More posts/ blog home page: click HERE]

Now however, I've changed my attitude - because, unlike the people from the top of the ranking, I don't describe my daily life, along the lines of: "I got up, ate oatmeal with yogurt for breakfast (here, of course, a photo), then also a sandwich (a photo), then... I went to the park to walk my dog (10 photos of the dog, several from each side and of each position, 10 "artsy" photos of the park) and then to the store to buy... (adding, of course, a whole photographic documentation, so as to somehow embellish that talk about nonsense).

Still, in case anyone was actually interested what I ate for breakfast :) I'll explain! Strawberry-blueberry smoothie. Porridge oats on top, raising, crumbled walnuts and ground linseed. Cuisine fusion, why not!

Well... that was a joke. I haven't eaten this today at all. What is more, for such photo essays I have Instagram, #foodporn, #instafood, #takingpicsoffoodbecauseiliketo. And the way I understood the Conditions, what counts (or at least should! ) while writing a blog for the Erasmusu.com competition is the quality, not the quantity... and writing mainly about travels. And by travels I don't mean trips to the grocery store for bread and milk.

My honour comes into play

And, although I'm well aware that points are also given for the numer of characters, so in order to win I should type like crazy, 5000 characters daily about "everything and nothing" having not much to do with travels and exploring different countries, I don't intend to do such nonsense and sell my life to such an extent for 400 euros...

So, although I'm somewhere at the very bottom of the ranking, I've decided not to give up yet and maintain the blog until the end of the competition. For several reasons:

Firstly, I simply like writing. It's pleasurable for me. There is a reason that creating a blog has been on my mind for several years. Because it certainly wouldn't be about uploading several pictures of my "today's apparel", or - sorry - "outfit" and commenting it with just one sentence. I've wanted to create a blog out of a sheer urge for writing itself.

The other reason was sort of introduced at the very beginning of the post: having a lot of stories, descriptions of places, all the wonderful memories - because I believe that those are memories which deserve to "see the light of day". The information I provide may also prove useful to the people interested in going on Erasmus/a trip of a similar kind/or simply seeing the places which I describe.

Or simply curious about "What has she been doing in all of those places? All of those fiestas?! " Nothing bad, obviously. "Who, me? Never! "; )

The following part - a few offtops

Is there anybody who's still with me? If so, congratulations. I had to rant a bit.

It will only be specific stories from now on. Shockingly, I'm becoming this peculiar creature of a "lifestyle blogger", meaning I will be telling you this and that about what is/was happening in my life. (So that the points for the number of characters add up, but shush! )

No. 1: I cut my hair.

Meaning a little bit more of the "private stuff" than usually, but at least for a good purpose. For the first time in my life I've cut so much of my hair, namely over 25 cm.

And the 25 cm is a magical number, because it's a minimal length required if one wants to donate the hair to a Cancer Charity. The Charity makes our hair into wigs for the people sick with a tumour, more precisely for the women going through chemotherapy.

I recommend it. It's truly a fantastic feeling. Personally, right after the haircut (never in my life having cut such a big amount of hair and having thought that I would feel at least "awkward" in its short version) I was jumping and rejoicing like a little child. No regret, just joy. Joy, because my hair might make another woman happy.

For comparison - the length "before" and "after".

I cut my hair myself, with scissors. And, considering that I am no professional hairdresser... after the whole thing I looked a lot like "stairs". The longest parts were reaching just a bit over my shoulders, then it was getting even shorter and more irregular. If you have a hair salon near you - one that takes part in hair donations and knows how to cut it so that it can be donated - I recommend you to have a stroll to the salon rather than doing it on your own. I, of course, have insisted on doing it myself and I don't regret it, because it's a really interesting sensation, although if you care about a good visual effect "after", go to the hairdresser and maybe don't take scissors into your own hands.

/My beauties. Cut, ready to pack/

And how to cut?

A short description of how I did that. For more information about hair donations, see: http://www.raknroll.pl/co-robimy/programy/daj-wlos/

You need to straighten the hair with a straightener. Part it into thin strands. Measure off at least 25 centimetres. Tie a hair band about 2 centimetres under the line of the cut. Tieie a second hair band at the end of the hair, so that you create a little ponytail (as displayed in the photo) and then - chop!

We need to wrap the cut strands, each one separately, for example in an A4 sheet of paper, so that they don't get damaged. We put them into the envelope and send to the address of the Charity.

What is also important, as far as the hair donation rules are concerned, is the fact that they can be dyed, but not bleached, so, for example, ladies with an ombre - sorry.

The plaits safely wrapped and ready for shipping.

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