If you’re interested in international education, there’s a good chance you’ve read or heard of the New York Times’ recent article, ‘Study Abroad’s Seven Deadly Sins.’

I have been ruminating on the article since I read it. Is the author being flippant? Or does he genuinely mean to use that tone? It reads as a stuffy intellectual’s chide to some empty-headed young students, at whom he turns up his nose, self-assured of his superiority.

“A foreign country isn’t the place for a childish 20-year-old to grow up, especially when representing an American university.”

It’s this, right here, that I can’t let go of. We are consistently told that our college years are some of the most formative of our young adult lives: the experiences we have there, the choices we make, and the people we meet all remain with us, shaping the paths that we continue on. So, you know, isn’t it a good thing if we grow up (at least partially) in a place where we are forced to be more independent, are out of our comfort zones, and where we are exposed to new ways of thinking and behaving?

Let’s think about that. The oh-so-alliterative deadly sins? Slide courses, suds, sexual fervidity, shopping, self-segregation, smartphones, and selfie-taking.

I agree with the sentiment that the more you try to get out of your experience–that is, the more ‘mature’ you are about your goals and your actions–then yes, the more you’re going to get out of it. You’ll be able to reflect more clearly, be a better representative of your home country, and you’ll expose yourself to different values, beliefs, behaviors, and priorities. But is there anything wrong with being a bit immature about it? And are these ‘sins’ wholly wrong? 

1. Slide courses
Strictly speaking, the experience of study abroad has to include the former part of the phrase. I think you should always ascertain the academic quality of your program provider or host institution before making a decision, but I also don’t think there’s anything wrong with taking easy classes. Easier classes mean less time studying or completing work and more time traveling, making social connections, and learning outside of the classroom. I didn’t take ‘slide courses’–I directly enrolled in major level classes–but taking fewer credits gave me those opportunities, and helped me learn to stress a little less about academics. I mean, really, I’m a big ol’ nerd that still sometimes determines my overall success and self-worth by my academic success, and it was while abroad that my priorities shifted and I learned to question that assumption. (And in case you’re thinking I just stopped caring and am using this as an excuse, I still feel the need to defend my academic calibre by pointing out that I graduated with honors from my undergraduate double major and with distinction from my master’s degree. But I also learned that that’s not all that matters.)

2. Suds
For sure, if you drink every single night, spending all your money on alcohol, forgoing other experiences in favor of a night out, and showing up to all your classes hungover, you’re not only wasting your time abroad, but you might also have a serious problem. This article, though, approaches drinking as if it shouldn’t even be touched. As if students aren’t drinking in their home universities! As if local students aren’t drinking at their universities! Drinking abroad was my first time legally drinking, and I definitely spent a good number of Glaswegian afternoons hungover in bed learning the hard way what ‘too much’ meant. But going out, even drinking too much, was a learning experience, and it greatly facilitated socializing with my fellow students, American or otherwise. My archery club was sponsored by a pub, and one of the university’s several bars was always the cheap place to meet up with other students. My experience isn’t unique either. Even if I chose not to drink, as plenty of people did, I wouldn’t have wanted to miss out on those nights where I got to know the people who are some of my best friends now (and even one who’s my husband…). Which brings me to:

3. Sexual Fervidity
This one annoys me perhaps more than any of the others, mostly because I fail to see how having sex with people stops you from having a positive and engaging study abroad experience. Again, it’s not like people don’t have sex at American universities…! These students are adults and are completely allowed to have consensual sex with as many people as they want. Or as few. Whatever, who cares? This doesn’t read to me anything as more than a bitter comment about the state of millennials’ relationships these days. Honestly, my biggest study abroad regret was that I didn’t break off my then relationship before I left, because it kept me tethered and choked my freedom, which includes my sexual freedom, whether I was planning on having sex with one, ten, or zero people. Eventually, I did start seeing someone abroad, and I really don’t think it affected my ability to experience my host culture, learn about local heritage, go to class, travel to new places, make friends, or get involved on campus–I still did all those things!

4. Shopping
I had never even considered that this was a problem. I’m not convinced it is. I haven’t seen people spend all their time shopping or get distracted by buying tons of souvenirs, despite my few years abroad and working with international students and in study abroad. Just because I haven’t seen it happen doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, absolutely. But I’m just a little hesitant about believing it happens based on a vague personal story. Still I come back to the question–does this really detract from the experience? Shopping is a minimal part of everything a study abroad student gets up to, “when not drinking or looking for sex,” and it could even be seen as a positive. For example, if you’re studying fashion abroad, surely it’s not a bad thing to peruse local designers. I always wanted to show my fashionista friend around Glasgow’s thriving thrift shops and take her through its Style Mile, because I think she’d genuinely get a lot out of it. (Buchanan Street is also a great place to hang out and people-watch, by the way.)

5. Self-segregation
This is the only point in the article with which I have next to no issue. At my home University of Iowa, this is always a point of discussion when it comes to the international student population. It’s the same abroad. Of course you should always try to step outside of your comfort zone, and that definitely means hanging out with more than just other nationals. ‘Island’ programs in particular can make that difficult, where American students take classes with other American students and an American professor, and I do think this is something students need to avoid in order to immerse themselves more fully. You’re unlikely to expose yourself to new ways of thinking if you only ever speak to people in the same boat and from the same place as you. On the flip side, however, having my fellow study abroad friends really helped when I wanted to travel: they’re there to travel, too!

6. Smartphones
Sorry, is this another millennial complaint? It’s a trend to point out how glued people are to their phones, missing out on experiences because they’re looking at a screen. It’s valid, to an extent, but just having smartphones does not mean students are wasting their time abroad. Consider how many uses they have. Have a decent camera phone? Now there’s no need to carry a camera with you, too. Lost? Wifi or 4G + GPS could be a lifesaver. Real time updates on flight changes, anyone? Maybe you find out about an event from a facebook invite while on the go, and you head there instead of home. I’ve used my phone to transfer money from one account to another when I realized I couldn’t access a particular bank account. “If I ruled the world, no student abroad would be allowed a smartphone.” Oh, give me a break! I had a £10 flip phone while I was studying abroad. I got along fine with it, but it would have been really useful to have had a smartphone instead. At one point, I lost a printed bus ticket and ended up on the bus that day because my friend was able to use her smartphone to access my confirmation email in lieu of the ticket. I should have kept better watch of my ticket, but accidents happen. Her smartphone then made few other appearances on our weekend trip through the highlands. The problem is overuse, not the use entirely.

7. Selfie taking
This is an unsurprising complaint, and not without some foundation. If you take selfies everywhere, you’re likely wasting time; if you go somewhere and snap a shot of yourself without taking any of the location in, you’re not really experiencing it. And without a doubt, you should not be doing offensive and dangerous things full stop, let alone just for a photo op. I personally find it really annoying when people insist on retaking photo after photo somewhere, though I’m sure I am that annoying person sometimes. I do, however, greatly value being able to look back at photos of myself and friends traveling, hiking, at the pub, wherever. Those selfies show times when I was really happy; they’re snapshots of the experiences I had, and they bring those memories more freshly to mind. We’ve always done some version of the ‘selfie,’ and it’s usually to try to capture a memory, feeling, or experience, isn’t it? That’s no bad thing.

Supposedly, if we grow up before we go abroad, then we won’t fall prey to these sins, which ruin any given person’s study abroad experience and make us all look bad. Exactly when and where are we all supposed to grow up, other than not abroad and not while we’re “childish" twenty-somethings? I suspect that growing up is a process that does not actually end, so I don’t expect there is an answer to that. And I don’t think students need to grow up before they go abroad.

I say: be immature. Make a fool of yourself, and then be a better example. Question your priorities, and question your values. Learn from your mistakes. Have both a wild night out and an informative museum visit, without denying yourself the possibility that both of those things allow you to experience life more fully. Strive to open yourself to new experiences and give back positively. Ignore everything I’ve written, if you want. For study abroad and in a much wider sense, your experiences are for youto have. Don’t let someone else tell you what your process of self growth should be. 

Greek or Latin?

Black ink or red ink?

Fountain pens or dip pens?

City or country?

Skirts or pants?

So I am going to get my first tattoo this Saturday!  I’m super excited!! But I’m also really nervous.  I don’t have a very high pain tolerance!  But this is something I have wanted for a really long time and it means a lot to me!  Really, I’m just wondering what are your opinions on tattoos?  Do you have any?  Do you judge people that do? How much do they hurt?  I appreciate any advice you have for me! And I promise I’ll put up a picture as soon as it’s done!

I had to submit some health check documents for my insurance from work, it highlighted that I am under the national average weight for my age, sex and height, and that this is ‘unhealthy’.

I’m sorry, United Kingdom, but since I was a kid here the UK sizes have gotten so much bigger - measurably too! Up until recently I was generally a size 10, which through exercise and healthy living dropped to an 8, but recently because of this average size increase I tend to buy 6. Just because a nation is downward spiralling into a lazy, half-assed lifestyle doesn’t mean that being active, eating well and paying careful attention to my diet makes me ‘underweight’, 'unhealthy’ , 'overly concerned with my body’, 'anorexic’, 'stick thin’ and most certainly of all 'WEAK’.

I can guarantee that my weight will not be an issue on my following check in Japan. Why? A lower national average, yes. An overall healthier attitude to eating in Japan? Not sure I can agree with that, but what is getting under my skin is particularly the amount of comments from people I have seen over the past month whilst visiting my home town.

'Oh my haven’t you lost weight! You look so dreadfully thin.’
'Are you eating properly?’
'You look very frail now, don’t you.’
'Have you been ill recently?’

- yes, I have lost weight mostly through cutting processed food from my diet and exercising daily.

-being fit, slim and in CONTROL of my body suggests -to me, anyway - strength, not weakness. Why don’t you try and see?

-you want to slack, fine. I DO NOT. Excessive eating is not necessary. Why is it becoming normal to shame those who make an effort to keep their bodies happy?

Mobile Game Ads are filthy liars

@CrymsonPleasure just can’t believe that some mobile game ads are so bad!

If anyone knows me, they know I love mobile games. I’ve been playing one in particular for the last 2 or 3 years and rarely miss a day. Mobile games have a lot to offer. Gaming on the go, stimulation, relief from boredom, and fun! The amount of games I have on my phone varies. I will download, try, and delete games often. I think they get a lot of slack for being something awesome to do with your…

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I like submissive girls.  I like girls who enjoy being controlled, who are thrilled by pain, who get off on humiliation and degradation.  But I like sexually submissive girls - not girls who can be nothing but submissive.

Most of the subs I’ve spent time with have been the most self confident, driven, self-insightful and powerful women I’ve met.  They are directed and strong in their everyday life… but when it comes to sex they like it hard, rough, dirty and they like to surrender their will to a strong man.  The fact that they are in control of their own lives day to day does not detract from their sexual submission - in fact, to my mind it enhances it.

Over they years I’ve met a few girls who are generally submissive - seemingly lacking their own will, looking for someone else to give them direction and make their decisions for them.  These creatures always strike me as just being a bit damaged - that they are having trouble coping with life so are hoping that a Dom will step in and make everything all right by making all of their decision for them and protecting them from the fact that life is hard.  I have, generally, found these individuals to be irritating, dull and pointless.  They may let you do what you want to them in bed, but where’s the challenge in that?  They’ll let practically anyone do what they want to them in any circumstances.

How much better to have a powerful, capable, self-possessed girl who you and only you, can break, reduce to tears and manipulate to your will?  How much better to have a girl who is strong and knows her own mind, yet cannot resist you, will keep returning to you no matter how badly you treat her, yearns for the abuses you heap on her yet fears them equally.

Besides, I’m a Dom - I want a sub who makes my life better, easier and more pleasurable.  I don’t want someone in my life who is in need of constant direction, protection and instruction.  I want someone who is autonomous, successful, ambitious, and driven - yet will still fall to her knees when I slap her around the face. 

I like submissives, not slaves… I don’t want to run someone else’s life for them, don’t want responsibility for everything they do and say.  I want to see them succeed and flourish… then have them sobbing in pain and begging for mercy before they suck my cock.

MY THOUGHTS ON SEASON 3 SPOILERS AHEAD

• Was it good? Sure, Is it my favorite? Absolutely not

• Michelle absolutely slaying the double role!!

• Is it just me or is Sabrina more annoying with every season?

• Why isn’t anyone single

• Please let Sabrina be single

• Hilda engaged? Hell yeah

• I AM SO MAD THAT THEY TOTALLY NEGLECTED THE PTSD STORYLINE FOR ZELDA/MARY/ LILITH

• Like I don’t want to take anything from Nick his trauma is valid but come on both Zelda and Lilith were in abusive relationships and Mary lost three months of her life and they made the get over it in a day

• ZELDA CRYING OVER HILDA BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT SHE LOST HER SISTER

• The ritual scen was EVERYTHING

• What’s with the singing?

• And all of the riverdale references?

• Prudence breaking up with Ambrose my heart

• EPISODE 7 WAS THE SHIT

• Zelda taking the last drag of her cigarette after being shot is soooo Zelda I cannot

• HILDA AS FAUSTUS Jakaowkansnslsls

• I never understood why they always thank Sabrina for fixing something that was her fault to begin with

• Why is everyone so out of character???

• I don’t really think Hilda would write something that mocks Zelda after season 2

• Marie and Zelda? A bit rushed

• But Hell yeah confirmation of Zelda beinga sapphic!

• still waiting for Madam Spellman

• prayers for Lillith? More please

• the absolute awful scene between Lilith and Zelda was painful to watch

• but at least they stood close to each other

• again episode 7 was painful and I did cry

• also what’s up with the pregnancy??

I feel like some books you just understand it better at a different age. Like high school me didn’t get the humour behind Pride and Prejudice till I read it again a couple years later in college and I absolutely loved it. Similarly I can never have that happy glazed eye look after reading Harry Potter the way I did when I was 11 because there are so many things I nitpick about it now. I still love the series but at the same time I can’t accept some parts of the story that 11 year old me would have taken for granted.

I’m starting to form opinions and I’m scared…

Synonym of shitty and insignificant set of sounds that everyone listens to and sings/plays in public every single day

Following the three attacks that took place in Brussels, yesterday morning (Tuesday, March 22), and which are reported to have taken 30 lives, the people of Belgium have received massive support coming from all over the world. Some even likened the case to that of Paris (November 13, 2015). Thereafter, diverse sympathetic and reassuring articles, images and videos, have emerged on social media.

I – as a human being – condemn such barbaric and politically-motivated terrorist acts. But, Je suis Bruxelles or Je suis Paris? Well, regardless of my belongings; of where I am from and who I might be, I am neither Brussels nor Paris. Why? Because before it had occurred in Paris or Brussels, let us not forget the fact that it had actually occurred somewhere in the world. Both of Paris and Brussels belong to the world before they belong to France and Belgium. Let us not forget that those who died in Paris and Brussels where actually human beings before they ever were French or Belgian. And also, numerous other countries have known such acts. Therefore, and more importantly, terrorism is an act against humanity more than it is an act against a specific country, ethnicity religion or ideology.

Since Paris, there have been literally hundreds of terrorist attacks around the world, but sadly many of them have gone unnoticed.

Bamako, Mali (November 20, 2015): 20 dead.

A group of al-Qaeda-linked militants took 170 people hostage, ultimately killing 20, during a mass shooting at a Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako.

Tunis, Tunisia (November 24, 2015): 13 dead.

A bus loaded with Tunisian presidential guards was struck by a suicide bomber linked to the so-called Islamic State. The lone bomber killed 13 people.

Istanbul, Turkey (January 12, 2016): 13 dead.

A suicide bombing in a popular central square in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, left 13 people dead and 14 people injured.

Jakarta, Indonesia (January 14, 2016): 8 dead.

A series of suicide bombings and shootings in Indonesia’s capital left eight people dead, including four assailants. Another 24 people were wounded.

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (January 15, 2016): at least 30 dead.

A group of al-Qaeda backed militants attacked the Splendid Hotel in Ouagadougou. At least 30 people were killed, and another 56 were wounded.

Ankara, Turkey (February 17, 2016): At least 29 dead.

At least 29 people were killed and another 60 people were injured. The attack was carried out by a car bomb

Mogadishu, Somalia (February 25, 2016): At least 15 dead.

After a suicide bomber detonated a bomb at the gate of the SYL hotel, at least 15 people and left others wounded.

Ankara, Turkey (March 13, 2016): 37 dead.

A second attack in Ankara this year saw the deaths of 37 people and another 127 people injured.

Istanbul, Turkey (March 19, 2016): At least 4 dead.

At least four people were killed by a suicide bomber, another 36 people were wounded by the attack on Istanbul’s main shopping street.

But why does a Western life matter more than any other one does? The world does not only revolve around the West, does it? Is Islam to blame?

As mentioned before, between the two tragedies (those of Paris and Brussels), Muslim-majority countries such as Tunisia, Mali, Egypt, Turkey and doubtlessly Syria & Iraq also suffered from such deadly ‘Islamic’ acts.

Either before or after the two tragedies, of which ISIS claimed full responsibility, Muslims have always been ISIS’ closest and main target. Especially those in Syria whom, if not affected by terrorism itself, they are being affected by 'the war against terrorism’.

According to the Syrian Centre for Policy Research, 470,000 have been killed during the time period between 15 March 2011 and 11 February 2016.

Terrorism is an act against humanity more than it is an act against a specific country, ethnicity religion or ideology.

I could go on for hours about how life resembles the roads in the Scottish countryside, taking turns, always new adventures behind the next bend or hill, but I won’t.

In stead I’ll just show you this photo and let you decide for yourself what you feel when looking at it..

Would love to read your comments..!!

Meanwhile, enjoy autumn!

I finished Scumbag System’s season one last night, and had a ton of fun with it. 8/10 and I’ll remember to definitely wait until the whole season two is available before watching.

One minor complaint is that this season didn’t really feel like it had a finale. It had the beginning of the finale. Did the creators get less episodes than they thought they would?

I finished “The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty” just now!

I loved the characters and the general concepts behind the plot, but I feel like it fell short on execution in some places. There were too many miraculous rescues or characters oscillating between dumb and super smart for no reason.

Overall, I had fun watching it, though. 7/10.

I said it once, and I’ll say it again…

It wasn’t just revenge that drove Nie Huaisang. In MDZS the existence of souls is confirmed and his brother’s soul was in pieces and clearly suffering.

He had to set it right.

(Although I’m sure revenge was there as an at least equally important motivator.)

((Also it’s questionable if he succeeded at putting NMJ’s soul at peace, but being whole is probably still better than being in pieces and he and JGY can be released from the coffin after one hundred years.))