I have an exciting post today! I was just wondering what I’m going to write about, when I got this news: I got nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award! I was nominated by Hannah from Eat Sleep Breathe Travel, who is one of my favorite bloggers! She mainly travels by herself (something that I really admire) and shares funny travel stories, city guides, and solo travel inspiration. She recently completed, and surpassed, her goal of 25 countries by 25 years of age!
Oh! I feel like I should also mention that Upasna from Life On My Plate nominated me for this award a while back too, but I was lame and didn’t do anything about it then (as I had just done the Liebster). Thanks Upasna!
So, the Versatile Blogger Award works like the Liebster Award, in which the person who wins the award pays it forward by nominating other well-deserved bloggers. The rules of this award is to share 7 interesting facts about yourself. So here are 7 completely random facts!
1. I am a professionally licensed engineer.
I got my degree in civil engineering, and worked as a project/construction manager (mainly building hospitals) for close to 6 years. During that time, I studied my ass off (like, harder than I ever studied in college) for a year to pass the exam for my professional license. It helped me get a promotion at work, and then I quit about 3 months after that promotion. I consider quitting to travel the bravest thing I have ever done, but getting my professional license was my biggest achievement in life.
But if you ever meet me in real life, you probably wouldn’t guess I’m an engineer. I like the color pink, am super clumsy, and get lost walking down the street. D always says that I’m like the “dumbest smart person” he knows.
here’s a pic of me about 2 years ago at my old job!
2. I may have peaked too early.
I was chosen as the student speaker for my elementary school graduation. And also, 2 awards were given out that day: perfect attendance and most selfless. I got both of them. Yeah, I definitely peaked too soon. Because after that, I was a complete nobody from middle school to…. oh let’s see… present day.
3. I have a soft spot for bunnies
I wrote a little bit about it here, but I had to give up my 2 little bunnies for traveling. I had them for 6 years (yes, bunnies live a long time!) and it was the most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever done. I’m so happy though that I found a good home for them, which was the best thing I could do. There’s still not a day goes by when I miss them. Just the other night, I dreamed that one of them died and then I started crying because I miss them so much. :'(
photo credit to my friend Ron who took this picture!
4. I have the world’s biggest sweet tooth
I love sweets so much that for a while, I pursued it as a hobby. I decided I was going to become a baker/piemaker (since I’m obsessed with pies), so I spent a lot of time making different pies and tarts. And then it was the same thing with ice cream. I bought an ice cream maker and started making my own. But these hobbies were always short lived. So right now, I’m happy to purchase them from other people. My daily indulgence is a $1 ice cream scoop from the street carts in Europe.
5. I have a twin sister.
Yep! Twins! We are fraternal twins so we don’t look alike. At one point growing up, she was a full 3 inches taller than me. Now, we’re the same height.
here’s an old picture of us with our little cousin! I’m the one on the left.
6. I have a secret phobia
There are a lot of things I desperately want to do in my lifetime, most of them involving nature/remote places and animals. But the number one hang up I have is… a complete irrational fear of not having somewhere clean to go to the bathroom (I blame Chinese public toilets for this trauma), so much that I’m afraid I’ll never do those amazing things because of it. Sometimes during traveling, I’ll have so much anxiety over having to use less-than-spotless public restrooms that I’ll scare myself quite literally shitless. Please tell me that someone else feels the same way so I don’t feel so crazy!!
7. I am extremely disorganized.
This drives D nuts, and we’re the complete opposite when it comes to organization. My own apartment has always been a mess, and my work desk was so cluttered with papers that you can’t even see the surface. When we started traveling, I assured D that I’ll keep my mess under control, because after all, I will only have a carry-on’s worth of possessions, so how much of a mess can I make? Well, my friends, the answer is still quite a lot.
I don’t know why I have such a hard time keeping things in order. But I like this quote by Albert Einstein: “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”
Okay, that’s it! I hope this helped you get to know me a bit better!
I nominate:
Mandie from Rambling Mandie – I always look forward to her posts, which are guaranteed to be inspiring. She is currently on her great solo adventure around Europe!
Shikha from Why Waste Annual Leave – I honestly have no idea how she works full time as a doctor in London and still manages to travel (to the most exciting place on Earth, no less) in a year more than most people in 10 years.
Can’t wait to read your random facts!
It was really fun reading about your random facts! You have some truly amazing achievements! I think your bunnies are really cute too, sorry about the bad dream you had – I’m sure they are living quite happily even though you must miss them a lot! I had no idea you had a twin sister! Wow! And your phobia isn’t strange, I think a lot of people have similar fears as you! I tend to like clean spots as well…though I’ve never been to areas in the world that use squat toilets, I’ve heard some stories… yikes!
Omg yeah, I think I’ve just been traumatized by some very nasty squat toilets. I hear a lot of parts of SE Asia are actually surprisingly modern.. so I hope I’ll be ok there! I’m glad you enjoyed my facts!! :D
Ha! You totally just saved me from having to come up with something brilliant for Tuesday’s post. Which is convenient because I’ll be on a plane all day. Also if (when) we actually meet in real life, I shall now be expecting pie. :)
Yay! Can’t wait to read your interesting facts! And ha, I think I sold/gave away all my baking supplies before traveling :P
LOL this nominating thing is like that Ice Bucket Challenge, except that this is way cooler ;)
Haha yep! And you aren’t forced to either dunk yourself in ice water or donate.
LOL your phobia. I’m not quite that bad but I totally get it! Secretly terrified to visit SE Asia for that reason… but I’ll make it work ;)
PS when we’re old and done travelling the world (if that ever happens) lets open a pastry shop- you can do pies and ice cream and I’ll do cupcakes and cakes!
I’m secretly scared of visiting SEA too because of that.. but yeah I’m not going to let that hold me up from seeing cool places. And omg yes! A pastry shop is a great idea!
Anna – thank you SO much for your kind nomination – so excited about writing this post! I love your random facts and just so you know, I am EXACTLY the same with public toilets – I blame mine on lots of childhood trips to see family in India and just being totally grossed out by the public toilets there! Also totally in agreement with you on the sweet tooth thing as well!
Haha!! I blame mine on childhood trips to see family in China, hehe. If I’m being honest, I’m MOST terrified to go to India for that reason!
I can’t wait to read your post!!!
Anna, I really loved reading this! We are hoping to give up our jobs next year to travel as well, but its so hard when you work so hard for a degree and a position to leave i and it is great to hear other people’s stories! The bunnies are so cute and I’d similarly hate to leave behind our two kitties. Yes, bathrooms are a source of disgust for me as well but I think you have to get outside your comfort zone to really experience travel and just let it take you where it must (disgusting bathrooms and all!).
Thanks so much Jessica! It is REALLY scary to give up a job that you worked so hard for. But now that I’ve been traveling for a few months, I don’t regret it at all. I’m so excited for you guys if you are going to do that next year!
And I agree that you need to get out your comfort zone in order to do the really cool stuff, so I will just have to deal with the bathrooms :D. I’m going to SEA this fall so I will start there, hehe.