HEARTC♡RE

Thoughts: I was trying to think of a cool post for my 21st birthday. I wanted to do 21 things, a list of some sort. But I can't think of anything. Perhaps 21 things I am happy to have accomplished. This would be in light of a small quarter life crisis I had yesterday. It was probably a mix of too much caffeine and lack of sleep, but it definitely had an element of pre birthday blues. I feel much better today and I (surprisingly) do feel older. Not that I somehow matured overnight, but in retrospect and bringing a year's worth of growth into consideration. To be honest I can't think of 21 possible noteworthy accomplishments. For inspiration, I am listening to someone's mediocre 21st Birthday playlist, but it's not working.

Just so you guys know, I get traumatized every few hours when traveling. Right now, this internet speed is traumatizing me. I can't load a simple song, let alone upload some pictures. I was traumatized because I have been trying to blog since day 1. But I run out of internet patience to upload pictures and I hate to blog without pictures. Seriously, this internet is so slow. I can pay 9 Euros for high speed I heard. This is so unethical. I'm putting on a "Mellow Nights" Spotify playlist so I don't lose it halfway.

Now, for some real travel traumas. So I am dying because I feel I should have collected something from every country I've been to & I feel it is too late. Not really, but you know. So when I was in high school I decided I was going to do earrings and I had three pairs from three countries, but now I don't know where they are and I haven't continued that. Yesterday in Milan I picked up a mug. And since I loveeeee mugs, I decided that is what I'm going to pick up from every country/city. So now I need to like go back to Paris. . . .. . and Cordoba. . . . and Frankfurt. . . . and Brussels. . and Luxembourg. . . and Strasbourg. .. . . and Managua. . . Ugh it burns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll get one in Abu Dhabi because I've fake been there (connection flight) and I'll get a Muscat one later on. Anyways, that's been weighing heavy on my heart. I just imagine my own place with cute mugs everywhere.

God help me, I'm about to 9 Euro it.

Anyways, shot out to my host parents' love and generosity. <3
xxooxoxoxo

I think that when people have a discussion about the cultural differences that exist between Americans and many parts of the world, the subject of personal space comes up. I think it's a universal known fact that most Americans require a bigger amount of personal space than other cultures. I don't think I've ever been to big on my own personal space. I actually consider myself to have a smaller personal space than most Americans. I'm quite touchy and I'm probably the one that intrudes on your personal space.

Anyways, I haven't experienced any invasions on my personal space (I don't think?), but there is one thing I can't stand that's been happening to me here. And thats when I'm in line. I don't think people understand how to stand at least two feet behind me when I'm at the counter. I feel it has happened to many times to just be coincidence. It's not even at like a McDonald's where it's that kind of dog eat dog line. Which BTW I have experienced, but I let it go because I mean it's McD's. But It's at an empty cafe and just two of us in line. This morning, I'm next in line so I go up, I'm trying to get the money out of my wallet (mind you, I barely understand how to pay) and the lady behind is already putting her cookies on the counter. The counter that I am standing in front of that is the width of my body. Can she not hold her 3-cookies-in-a-baggie for five more seconds? She literally had to reach over me. Also, when I am standing in line, waiting for my turn these people are like breathing on my neck. Or they're like not even in a straight line, like who's next? And as you know, I am not a confrontational person so if they cut me all I can be is mad. So if I know I'm next I just make sure to talk to the cashier first when they come back. It just happens to be that every time I have been next in,  the cashier looks to the person next to me, ALTHOUGH I AM STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE REGISTER. I'm not even directing this post to native Omanis because it literally has been every person from every walk of life doing this. I will probably start counting the hair on people's neck within the next two weeks too. Even once at the ATM I saw people too close to each other, I think in the US someone would've told you off. It is probably just selected people here, but there are enough people doing it that I notice.



In conclusion (who else started their final paragraph like this in 5th grade), I haven't had people invade my personal space elsewhere than in lines. I am probably exaggerating, but I am just very observant here. I notice everything and everyone. I think I am more uncomfortable with the fact that something as simple as a line gets on my nerves & my Americanness is coming out (which is probably always out, but that's beside the point). I will ask my host parents if they notice this or it's just me.

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said's palace

giant incense burner (WHICH BTW IS THE COVER PHOTO ;))

Just a quick post to say I have officially been here a whole month! Three weeks sounded like nothing, but now a month sounds like forever! So much has happened in one month, I am so thankful for the relationships that have been built with all the members of my host family. I honestly cannot imagine being with any other family. Host mom and I had a good feeling about each other ;)

I won't lie, I haven't really gotten homesick yet. I cried (for like 3 seconds) once at breakfast when I was remembering my mom. I also had a little episode last night LOL but it wasn't really missing home more than it was just wanting to lay in MY bed and do my own thing. Not sure if that makes sense, I just wanted "normal" for a few minutes. I am so thankful I feel at home here because I could not imagine it any other way. Like I can literally go down stairs and steal all their snacks and I don't care because I'm like child #2 LOL. JK.

OH MY GOSH A MONTH. A MONTHHH. That is literally half the time I just spent having summer vacation. If I leave on the date my ticket is booked for, I have already spent 1/5 of my time.

I haven't been on my social media like I was before, but I am hoping Snapchat has a Muscat story soon. Or maybe I missed it, but I feel my friends would have let me know?

This weekend one of my besties is celebrating her 21st with her bestie and the rest of my besties are going to be there and I am so sad I am missing out, but I wish both of them the happiest birthday weekend (say besties 5 times until it doesn't sound like a word anymore). Which brings me to the most important fact in this post, my birthday is less than a month away, what??? I'm going to be 21, how crazy is that. That's like def real adulthood, maybe still young adulthood, but I am 100% not the teen I still think I am. I'm kind of grossed out by 21 to be honest, I want to be 19 and beautiful. or 18??? I can't believe I thought 18 was old, this reminds me of when I had a 1/5 life crisis at 16. Wow, I had no idea. Anyways, I need to accomplish some things before time passes me by. TWENTY ONE, TWENTY ONE?! I HAVE BEEN ON THIS EARTH FOR ALMOST TWENTY ONE YEARS. UGH, I'M GOING TO BLINK AND BEFORE I KNOW IT I WILL BE 40 AND ALREADY IN NEED OF A FACELIFT.  I will probably vomit on my 21st, and it definitely won't be from any alcohol. T-Minus 25 days till legitimate adulthood. There are no more legal bars to pass, except president at 35 (why do I remember this president age thing being drilled into our heads in grade school). I honestly don't know how I will deal with aging in the future. I really thought I was going to be calm, cool, and collected old lady, but nope. I already let go of myself at 17 I can't even imagine 30 LOL. Like I'm not supposed to be doing something, instead I'm blogging and would probably be eating Nacho Cheese Doritos and drinking Mountain Dew right now if I had them. I understand you are only as old as you make yourself be, but I'm sure I can't get away with somethings when people know you're 21. Ugh I hate expectations. This round face can only help me so far (aka I still look 16 :D).

For my next Oman related post, I am hoping to do a post on their currency. So when you come visit, you don't break your head like I've been doing. See, I'm watching out for y'all.

freaking out,
melissa