26 Random Facts About Me

One of the 26 things I challenged myself to do on my Birthday List is to write a post about 26 random things about myself. It's also a great way to open up and let people into more of my life. Many people know me only by pictures, well here's a chance to know me a lot better!! ^_^

1. My childhood dream was to be a Ballroom and Latin Dancer. My mom didn't think it was very Christian-like, so she prohibited me from signing up. When I started University in 2005 I started dancing at the age of 18 and I've been dancing ever since. I danced competitively for a year and a half and accumulated 14 medals (12 gold and 2 silver). Anyone who really knows me would know that I absolutely love all types of dance.

2. I've never been camping. This is something I want to change this year!!

3. When I was 5 I fell into a mini bonfire. I have a medium sized scar on the side of my left knee.

4. In primary school I got into fights with girls. Numerous times.

5. I am double-jointed at my thumbs and my shoulders.

6. My maternal grandfather was a German businessman who met my grandmother while doing business in SA. He later settled and died in SA.

7. When I was younger I had a scrapbook of Britney Spears. It was basically a book with pictures and articles I collected from magazines, newspapers and the internet. I was and still am a huge Britney fan!! :)

8. I now collect foreign currency, jewelry, fridge magnets and key chains/rings from all the countries I visit.

9. My absolute love for photography started in 2007 at varsity when I bought my first (point and shoot) camera with money which should have been used for textbooks. I promised to spend more time at the library making up for the lack of books. I bought my first DSLR in 2010 and have loved everything about it. I am yet to take a photography course.

10. I have a passion for gardening. I recently started my first herb patch growing red and green basil, coriander, thyme and mint. I'm not able to garden much so my permanent garden is in my hometown Port Shepstone and maintained by my mom.

11. I absolutely hate plastic. Not only because it's bad for the environment but also because I hate the feel of it against my skin. Plastic cutlery, crockery, plastic rugs, bags, toilet seats etc etc. The same applies to nylon. Urrrrghh!!!

12. I would LOVE to live in a loft in a major downtown area (Manhattan would be nice). I like the idea of not having walls.

13. I have an older brother and sister. The age gap is 14 years between my sister and I and 16 between my brother and I.

14. I can't swim (very well).

15. I have a ritual of massaging petroleum jelly (usually Vaseline) onto my feet every night before I sleep. I absolutely hate sleeping with dry feet (even in summer). The plus side of course, is that I have beautiful feet.

16. I don't really like chocolate. I think it's too commercialized... and I don't like cocoa lol. Also, I didn't have any good chocolate for 2 years when I was in Korea so I just got over it.

17. Instead, I absolutely love ice-cream! Anytime, anywhere!!!

18. I would love to work at an environmental NGO at least once in my life. I'd love to help publicize their mission and lend a helping hand.

19. I haven't used an alarm since my final year of varsity in 2008. I have an incredible body clock.

20. I have almost 5 years of teaching experience but I did not study education. It's something I have been trying to figure out for the past couple of years.

21. I am having trouble completing this list.

22. In life we either seek well-paying jobs or jobs that make us happy. I'm glad that at this point in my life I have both.

23. I don't like to buy expensive clothes. I like to buy budget-friendly clothes and make them look pricey and fabulous (ok, so my secret is out!!). The most expensive thing I've bought is a Korean custom made suit which set me back about R800 ($100). Really not bad at all!!! ^_^

24. As a teenager I was an active member of the Red Cross. Hospital visits and charity events were things I did on the weekend. I stopped when I started varsity but then I joined other NGOs and volunteered until my final year.

25. Having been to only 6 countries in Asia, I don't consider myself  'well-traveled' nor do I boast that I have been around the world, because I haven't. I've only ever lived in South Africa and South Korea. For that reason I hate people who ask me "Where in the world are you now?". I am not a nomad.

26. Finally, I also HATE people who ask if my law degree is going/gone to waste. No it is not. I got an amazing job in Korea because I had a degree and the money I earned there was ten times the cost of my degree. I am back in SA now, I have a great lecturing job at a college and earning a decent salary. Please, let me be. Refer to #20 and #22.

A field trip to a local museum with my high schoolers. I miss these girls!!! 

One item off my list, 25 more to go!!! Keep following me for some exciting adventures!! :)

Twenty Six Things To Do While 26

Today... I am 26.

To celebrate,

I thought of 26 challenges (well mainly challenges) I 

want to create for myself, to complete

before my next birthday. It's
very easy for this to be perceived as a resolution list
 because my birthday nicely coincides
with the new year. 
But it's not. 

Also, this is not in any way related to my bucket list.
My bucket list consists of
things I wants to see and do in my lifetime whereas this list
consists more of challenges I want to complete
in my year of being 26 - DOING.
LIVING.
and of course, LOVING. 
This is just to add a bit of spice to
the year. 

I feel like I have a lot of lists suddenly
surfacing. I plan to make this an 
annual birthday list. 

I will keep track of all all my activites- when and how I
complete them. 

26 does feel old but I've realized that age is 
relative. 26 may seem old to a 10 year old 
but to a 50 or 60 year old, 
26 is very very young.

Age also depends on how you take care of yourself. 

Other fabulous people born in 1987: Zac Efron, Hilary Duff,
 (Lil) Bow Wow, 
Snooki, Joss Stone and Ke$ha. 

This year is going to focus on fitness and travel. More exercise and being more 
outgoing.  Stop checking my phone every 2 minutes and 
limit my FB visit to once a day. There is a 
world out there waiting to be explored!! 

1. Read 12 Books and review them. (This does not include no.19)

2. Make and write Christmas cards AND send them. 

3. Go on a road trip. 

4. Take pictures of 26 outfits, randomly.  (26 Pictures)

5. Visit 12 New restaurants / coffee shops. 

6. Have 26 published posts on this new blog. 

7. Have 26 Twitter followers (I currently have 10).  (26 Twitter Followers)

8. Write a post about 26 random facts about myself.  (26 Random Things About Me)

9. Do a 7 day detox. 

10. Do 12 random acts of kindness. At least once a month. (12 Good Deeds)


11. Go to the beach at least 12 times.
12. Host a couch surfer or surf a couch.
13. Spend at least 26 hours volunteering at an NGO close to my heart.
14. Quit (or try to quit) at least 6 bad habits.
15. Save a-rand-a-day in a money/savings tin.

16. Go back to Korea.
17. Eat samgyupsal (BBQ'd pork) for a whole week! (My current record is 3 days straight).
18. Eat 12 things that I have NEVER eaten before.
19. Read the entire Harry Potter Series (this excludes no.1)
20. Stay awake for 26 hours straight.

21. Get some of my photographs framed.
22.  Save R30 000. I currently have about R12 000.
23.  Start a travel fund. Money to be used purely for travelling.
24. Apply for a credit card (to be used only for travel lol)
25. Watch a new film every month for a year.
26.  Drink champagne on a 'normal' day just to celebrate life and happiness.

Follow me on this fun-filled year!!!