Experience

What Does It Feels Like To Miss Out On Relationships Until Later In life

September 29, 2023

missing out on relationships

Honestly, yes, I do feel like I “missed out.” As I’ve grown older, I believe more and more that a sense of relational exploration is vital in one’s adolescent years.

I went to a high school where I didn’t have the opportunity to explore that side of myself and college … well, suffice to say that college sucked, too.

It leaves you feeling stunted and underdeveloped, and like you’re waiting on some train you’re not sure even exists.

What’s It Like To Live In South Africa

June 16, 2023

I was born and raised in Stellenbosch, a lovely town about 50km from Cape Town. I am currently studying at Stellenbosch University.

Growing up I was only aware of politics and the real world issues South Africa faces in a very vague way. South Africa is an incredibly beautiful country. One of my favourite things to do here is take a road trip to the Tsitsikamma forest and see the landscape change between so many different scenes and habitats as I drive. People (locals, tourists and expats) often name the natural beauty and diversity of South Africa as top reasons why they love living here. I always believed that every country has its problems, but that I love South Africa enough to bear them and work with them.

What’s It Like To Be Gay And In Prison?

May 4, 2023

It depends on the man himself.

In CCA there was an openly gay Hispanic fellow, who I don’t believe spoke any English. The Hispanic guys doted on him. He was treated by a number of men the way you might expect they would treat a girlfriend. I saw his admirers bring him little gifts, candy purchased on commissary, the milk from their breakfast… They would save him a seat close to the TV, and made sure his laundry was tended to.

How Do You Know If You’re In Love?

April 7, 2023

how to know if you're in love

Photo by Anastasia Sklyar

“You’ll just know.” This was my mother’s vague response when I asked her how to know if you’re in love with someone, and needless to say, I was less than enthused by her response. To be honest, it seemed like a cop-out. Why, I wondered, can’t anyone seem to accurately describe what being in love feels like? We’ve all heard rom-com movie characters talk about fireworks and pop stars sing about the all-consuming obsession that comes with a new romance, but is that really love? Or is it just infatuation? How can you tell whether you’re just experiencing fiery passion or you’ve truly fallen for someone?

What’s It Like To Be An Extremely Handsome Man?

December 8, 2022

whats it like to be a handsome mans

I’m a 27 year old, 6’4″, college-educated, reasonably confident, fairly attractive (8/10 on an average day).

I’m not a 10/10 so I don’t have women throwing themselves at me, but I have a reasonable chance of catching virtually any woman I might try to pursue.

What’s It Like To Date Some With Borderline Personality Disorder?

August 25, 2022

borderline personality disorder

The first thing to understand about people suffering from BPD is that they experience emotions on a nuclear level.

Sometimes, this is beautiful – because when they feel love, they feel an extraordinary amount of it.

How Do Weaker Inmates Survive In Prison?

May 16, 2022

I can only speak to low-to-medium security California prisons, but here’s what I know.

Firstly, unless you’ve got a sentence of 10 years or more, you’re probably going to end up in a Level I or II prison, like I did. First you’ll go to Reception, which has inmates of all different security levels, but it’s highly regulated in Reception, and you’re in your cell 23 hours a day, so you’re not likely to have the opportunity to get into too much trouble, especially if you’re new and don’t have some sort of problem already with somebody you meet there.

Do the Rewards of Being a Chef Outweigh the Hardships?

August 18, 2021

Photo by Elle Hughes

In order to answer this, I think it’d be best to lay out the exact pros and cons of being a chef. The public seems to believe in its own misconceptions about these rewards and benefits, but let me assure you, there is no audience to applaud us, and there are no Emeril-style “BAM” moments in real life.

So, what is the chef life really like? What are the “hardships” that come along with such an unpredictable career? Let’s take a look:

What Do Tibetan Buddhist Monks Actually Do Day-To-Day?

April 16, 2021

(photo: billow926)

My family is Thai Buddhist, and I was raised that way, so I can at least tell you about what it’s like for us.

The answer is, it depends. It depends on where you are, what kind of temple you’re at, if at all, and how far along you are in your, lets call it, career, as a monk.

What’s It Like To Having Loving Parents

March 5, 2021

I’m not going to lie to you, it’s incredible. I was born to two loving parents who waited until they were well-off financially to have children.

The only struggle I’ve ever had in my life is with depression (genetic/hereditary, nothing I can really do about it).

I’m in college now, my parents pay for my expensive university with all their heart, they go out of their way to do little things to make me happy.