Great Expectations

Expectations: they can be great or they can lead to terrible disappointment.

You know that movie you've heard so much about? You've read all the books and you always dreamt of it becoming a movie one day. Ticket in hand, you can't wait for your life to be forever changed.
Walking out as the movie ends, you feel incomplete. Something was missing. It wasn't as fantastic and breath-taking as you heard and assumed it would be. You had put so much mental effort into this movie but were left with disappointment.

Perhaps you said you didn't really know what to expect from that last dinner but when it only lasted one hour you realised that you really did have expectations all along. One hour? Really? That's what they thought was going to happen? This whole time? You admit you expected it to all go a little differently. You thought maybe more questions would have been asked, more laughs would have been had and perhaps less watch checking. You know what- maybe no watch checking at all.

Whether its an exam, a long awaited movie, job interview, reunion with a long-lost friend or a date we usually have some idea of what's going to happen. So when it goes completely differently, for the worst, you can be left in shock. Did that really happen? That's really not how I thought that would all go down.

I truly agree with the quote "“If you expect nothing from somebody you are never disappointed.”
― Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar. I believe it to be perfect for seeing a movie or reading a new book. However using that quote as is- "somebody"- people- that's what I seem to struggle with.

I know we impose our own standards on others and when they do not fulfil these standards or what we deem as "socially appropriate" alarms can go off in our minds. Is it so terrible to expect others to act exactly how the day played out in your mind the night before? Maybe?

Perhaps there was a misunderstanding or miscommunication. Emails and text messages can be very misleading you know. (I often worry a straight forward question in a group chat can come off harsh so I try to always add a smiley face #lifehacks)

What if we are really just not on the same page about whatever this is? What page do I even think we are on...? Okay maybe you were just hoping they would say what page they are on and you can play along and pretend you thinking the same thing the whole time... That's okay right... That's polite isn't it?

Perhaps Bill Watterson was correct when he said “I find my life is a lot easier the lower I keep my expectations.”

Do you feel like you are let down by your own standards like I seem to constantly be? Do you feel me sister? (Look I gave that phrase a try.)

Friendship:

When friends let you down it's literally the worst. The people you trust the most left you hanging or this whole time weren't being your friend when you weren't around. Is this because of your expectations of what it means to be someone's friend or was it just them being a genuinely crappy person?

Now I realise all this nonsense may seem a little all over the place and a bit "first-world-issues much?", however losing trust in someone who you thought you could always count on can have massive repercussions in all your other relationships and future ones. Can I trust any of these people?
Obviously I can't answer that for you and honestly my mind isn't really made up in my own life but what we can do is always make sure we are being a great friend. Wow great advice...

I think most of us have the gist of what it takes to be a good friend but here are some pointers:

1. Listen to your friend- don't just nod your head and say "okay my turn", actually give up some of your talking time once in a while and listen to what your friend has to say.
2. Don't talk smack about them when they are not there to defend themselves- or you know just don't do it all! - This can take practice!
3. Forgive. You may not forget what happened but if a friend actually comes clean and apologises think about giving them a chance because one day you might need them to do the same for you.

Look if you made it this far... well I'm not sure if you should be proud... Its up to you!
I feel like I have just written a post full of questions and no answers, for which I am sorry. If you wish to share your own words of wisdom below please do! :)

Keep living that life of spice like you do so well! x

The packing process - a (slightly unhelpful) guide

Aah, travel. There is nothing so exciting in life as when your hazy, far-fetched plans of traversing the globe finally become a reality - though, when the pizza delivery arrives would definitely be a close second, and the miracle of childbirth coming in at about third...

Anyway.

You've booked your ticket. You've borrowed a suitcase from your grandparents or some other vaguely distant relation, because, let's be honest - there's no way you're shelling out more money for a bag with wheels. How important can it be? (Side note: two weeks in and you've regretted this decision; it turns out having plenty of space and wheels which actually roll are essentials to suitcases.) You've given notice at your job. You've posted a slightly-pretentious-but-excited-nonetheless status on Facebook detailing how many days until you leave. What could possibly be next on your to do list?

Packing, of course!

Stepping away from the hypotheticals and into personal reality, packing is honestly one of my favourite parts of travelling - apart from, you know, actually travelling. The knowledge that I can fit my whole life into a bag for weeks (or months, if you're adventurous) at a time fascinates me. Here is a vague outline of what my luggage schedule currently looks like:




Step 1: Excitement! I'm going on holiday! At least a month beforehand you can find me planning, writing copious lists, trawling through Pinterest, and full of good intentions. This trip, I intended to pack enough for five months in to just a single carry-on hand luggage. Fired up by all of my research, I'm convinced of success. I'll out-pack every single person on the flight!

Step 2: Reality sinks in a little. After a week or two of thinking "Can I survive five months without this?" every time I pick up an everyday item, I relent a little. I tell myself, "You can check in a bag, but it's still going to be tiny!" I do more research. I reassure myself with more Pinterest and blog posts that not everyone can fit their life into a backpack! I am not alone!

Step 3: Reality sinks in a lot. I realise, after half packing some things, that I have a chronic case of the "what if's?". Example: Germany, middle of winter, and I brought sunscreen...needless to say, I never used the sunscreen. This is the point when I give in to reality and accept the fact that I am taking a full-sized suitcase. I am relieved, and happily employ myself in my free time by stuffing away until every nook and cranny is filled, all the while telling myself that I'll post back anything I don't need. (Spoliers: I won't.) 

Zadar, Croatia, at sunset

So, my dear reader, all sarcasm aside, here are some vital DOs and DON'Ts when it comes to packing:


DO: write a list of everything you plan to bring! Even if you don't follow it religiously, some form of checklist, or even mind map of everything you need will really help you stay focused; or, heaven forbid, for insurance purposes if your bag is lost or stolen.

DON'T: assume the place you're travelling to is a barren wasteland! Unless you're going on an honest-to-goodness bushwhacking adventure in the middle of nowhere (in which case, this post probably won't help much), remember: the inhabitants of this town have survived for many, many years without your favourite brand of soap - you will always, always be able to find either your favourite item or a similar substitute if you forget to pack something! Not to mention, you're much more inventive in a crisis than you realise; for example, I've discovered that in a pinch, shampoo makes a great body wash and clothes washing substitute.

DO: weigh your bag before you get to the airport! Also check your airline's policy for carry-on bags. While some big airlines are fine for you to have a carry on plus an extra handbag, many smaller airlines are very strict on weights and quantities. If you don't have a fancy portable luggage scale like this one, then simply weigh yourself on regular bathroom scales, pick up your bag and weigh yourself again, then take your original wight away from the total mass.

DON'T: underestimate the power of sentimentality! Chances are, you're travelling to the other side of the planet. If this is the case, you may be surprised at how much you sometimes just want to go home! This is normal - even though you may be surrounded by the ruins of the Coliseum, or staring at the Mona Lisa, there's a little part of your mind that is homesick. If you can sacrifice a couple of t-shirts in order to stuff away your favourite book, or a hard copy of a photo of your family to keep next to your bed, you'll really appreciate it later on.

Let me know some of your favourite packing tips a tricks! I'd love to know what I'm missing out on. Happy travels, all!

Kenz xx

Our Stress Response

When entering the room you are very aware of your beating heart. Your stomach and chest may ache. Was it what your ate for dinner last night? You had struggled to get to sleep with worries circling in your mind about today's exam. Sweaty palms? Headaches? Moody? Tempted to casually run out of the room and head for the hills before the exam starts? Create a new identify for yourself and move to Russia?  I think we've all been there.

Well not to toot our own horn, but the human body is quite magnificent. I do admit when experiencing the above scenario we may not agree.

A stressor, the thing or situation causing you stress, can be real or imagined. As real as a very hunger bear chasing after you that one time you happen to be in the woods or perhaps the thought of opening up your exam tomorrow morning and not being able to answer any of the questions. Whatever the stressor may be, when you are confronted with it part of your brain known as the Amygdala receives this sensory information. The amygdala is commonly associated with the flight or fight response and contributes to our emotional processing. From here a message is sent to another location in the brain, the Hypothalamus. The hypothalamus produces hormones and is able to communicate with the rest of the body affecting things like behaviour. It receives information from the body, for example a change in blood pressure and adjusts to return the body to homoeostasis- a dynamic stable state. From here breathing, blood pressure and heart rate can be altered.

As noted above when feeling stressed you may feel your heart beating out of your chest, this can be attributed to your Sympathetic Nervous System. Don't be fooled by the word sympathetic and associating it with your body relaxing, this system in fact triggers the-fight-or-flight response, allowing you to respond to these perceived dangers. This burst of energy or accelerator pedal is activated by the hypothalamus leading to the that release of adrenaline you may feel during an exam or running away from that pesky bear (hasn't he got something better to do?).

Put another way, turning on your car is the amygdala receiving information of a possible threat. Your right foot, the hypothalamus, then hits the accelerator, the sympathetic nervous system, providing a burst of energy to your car, your body to either fight or run away.

That burst of energy or adrenaline entering your bloodstream leads to your heart beating faster, extra blood being pumped around your body to muscles and other important organs. This is your body getting ready. You may also start to breath faster, with extra Oxygen sent to your brain to improve your alertness. Your senses such as sight and hearing may even be heightened.

This cascade of events happens so quickly and without us even knowing. Of course this cascade continues on and on, however I hope you have the main picture.

The fight or flight response has been very important to our survival and although it may not seem at first, appropriate for your multiple choice exam, perhaps that extra boost or foot on the accelerator increasing your attention may not be so bad. Although I see no strong argument for how sweating helps anyone in an exam...

It's important to realise that what you're feeling is most likely normal and its actually your body's way of defending itself. Below you will find a playlist of our favourite stress-free songs but if you need something in the background when that bear finally catches up to you try:

Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger

Music:
Anything Boyce Avenue!
Can't go wrong with Dido
Gabrielle Aplin: Listen to "Please Don't Say You Love Me" and "Power of Love" and try not to buy all of her albums!
Kodaline- All I Want



May your lives be forever full of spice! Xx

What's the goss in Slovenia?

With an approximate population of 2.06 million people (2013), this central European country has many stories to tell.
Here's a fun fact next time someone quizzes you on Slovenia: There are still over 400 brown bears in Slovenia. Tips for running away from bears were discussed in our post here.

The people of Slovenia, who's official language is Slovene or Slovenian, have an education system ranked 12th in the world and 4th in Europe (according to PISA). With spectacular caves and castles just waiting to be explored this country has a lot to offer.

But have you stopped recently and asked: What's the goss in Slovenia? Probably not. So what is actually happening over there and what can you casually bring up in your next intelligent conversation to sound like a world traveller?

Well, it seems Slovenia's finance minister might have gotten himself into a pickle, resigning on Wednesday (13th July 2016). Just a week earlier the country's central bank office was raided (by the proper authorities of course) in search of information relating to allegations of "abuse of office and official duties during a bank bailout" back in 2013 (Euobserver, 2016).

Bailout, simply put, is where someone, for example a government, offers money to a failing business to prevent the negative repercussions of its downfall (Thanks investopedia.com). Bringing this back to picturesque Slovenia, according to the euobserver, over 4.5 million euros of public money was used to bailout multiple Slovenian banks. The Slovene police say it is reasonable to conclude that person's of authority were part of a 257 million euro scam during these events and according to local media four suspects have been named including the governor of the central bank (Bostjan Jazbec), former vice-governors (Stanislava Zadravec Caprirolo and Janez Fabijan) and the head of the central bank's assets evaluation division (Tomaz Cemazar). Obviously if you are going to name drop it's probably an idea to have the pronunciation down pat- we wish you the very best with that!

Although, whenever dinning in Slovenia it is best to keep any business discussions away from the dinner table as they may prefer to keep their business and social life separate.

On a lighter note, the new Nordic skiing complex in Planica has won the 2016 Plečnik Prize, Slovenia's top architectural award. With seven ski-jumping hills and indoor and outdoor cross-country skiing track this place is ready to host international events.

Yes, yes skiing is great but who are the real celebs from Slovenia? Well, if you haven't heard of 2CELLOS you can thank us for bringing culture into your previously beige lives. Half of the duo is from Slovenia! That's right Luka Šulić was born in Maribor, Slovenia! Do you find yourself suddenly loving the sound of Slovenia? Thought so!

Can you guess who from Madam Secretary is from Slovenia? Željko Ivanek known as Russell Jackson, the White House Chief of Staff.

Okay, okay we have convinced you - Slovenia sounds a like an interesting place to visit. We have done a little research on customs and traditions to get you started.
> https://www.slovenedream.com/slovenia/customs_and_manners.html
-> http://www.commisceo-global.com/country-guides/slovenia-guide
-> http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Slovenia.html

We leave you to book your flights and pack your bags as we expect you are now dreaming of the marvelous Slovenia.
-> https://www.lonelyplanet.com/slovenia
-> http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/slovenia
-> http://www.roughguides.com/destinations/europe/slovenia/

Keep living your beautiful lives of spice! xx