WP RGR 4 Years

Hello!

Today (July 30th) marks my fourth year of blogging on WordPress– another milestone! Every year, I look forward to this day to see just far I’ve come, not just in terms of travel and adventures, but also in my blogging career and how my writing has changed over time. It’s both a great and nostalgic feeling, and I’m happy to always celebrate it every single time.

Usually for these celebratory kinds of posts, I reflect on the past years of blogging, what has changed, and what I hope to change moving forward. They tend to get pretty deep– however, I’ve decided to change it up this time and do something a bit lighter.

Many of you might know me through my travel posts, which have been the main focus of this blog since 2016. Yet, I’ve realized I haven’t talked much about myself outside of it. I might have revealed bits here and there, but they’re seldom, few and far in between. I do try to keep a large part of my life private, so the stories I write on here only encompass a small fraction of it all.

But as my viewership and follow count grow, I’d like to share a little bit more of my life outside of travel, to open myself to the audience at hand. Inspired by Nomadic Matt’s facts about himself, I’ve decided to reveal 20 *non-travel* tidbits about myself as a glimpse into the “normal” me, whenever I’m not exploring the world. Here they are!

20 (Non-Travel) Facts About Me

a person writing on notebook
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1. I’m left-handed. Thankfully, my parents never tried forcing me to convert to using my right-hand as a kid, so I grew up using my left hand to write, brush my teeth, use utensils, etc. I do use my right hand to pitch or play the violin, but otherwise, I’m dominant with my left.

2. I enjoy working out. I’m by no means a gym junkie, but I always carve time out in the morning to do core and weights almost daily, as well as going out for runs several times a week. I ran cross-country and track competitively in high school, and I suppose the habit of regularly working out stuck with me to this day.

3. I’ve never attended an American football game, whether it was for high school or the NFL. This “religion” of football in the United States baffles me, and I don’t understand why it’s so interesting to people. I’d prefer attending a swim or gymnastics meet than football any day.

4. One of my guilty pleasures is reading young adult (YA) fiction. I know a lot of them are fluff, but I still love reading them! They’re the perfect genre to read on vacation, as you can sit back and enjoy without having to really think deep about the story at hand.

four macaroons
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5. I have a sweet tooth, although it’s dialed down tremendously since childhood. I used to have it pretty bad, consuming just about anything chocolaty or fruity to my desire. It’s a miracle that I haven’t gotten a cavity (knock on wood), but nowadays, the temptation is less and I actually find myself craving savory foods more.

6. Writing has been with me for a LONG time, even before blogging. I started keeping a journal when I was eight years old, and I’ve kept it up consistently to this day. I also have a habit of collecting journals wherever I go, and I would pay good money to have a beautiful cover! I have at least half a dozen in queue to write in once I finish my current one up.

7. I don’t like beer. While I’ll drink it socially, I don’t enjoy the taste (which reminds me of piss). I can count on one hand the few brands of beer which I would actually have again. Beer isn’t my go-to drink, as I would much prefer wine or even spirits.

8. Chinese is my first language– I grew up speaking it exclusively until I was five before I started kindergarten. I was actually put in ESL classes for a short while (until teachers realized that I knew how to speak English, but was too shy to talk!). Sadly, my Chinese has deteriorated over the years, but I’m trying to reclaim it by speaking it more with my family.

9. I don’t have a favorite dish, but I have favorites dishes from various countries. For instance, I love stuffed cabbage rolls from Poland/Romania, gua bao from Taiwan, falafels from Lebanon…the list could go on and on.

10. I turn off my Wifi before I go to bed every night. It’s a way to disconnect from social media, and it does wonders for getting proper sleep. I only turn my Wifi back on after I wake up and work out– it really helps with good rest and productivity!

11. It might appear that I love taking trips and having adventures every day, but in reality, I’m very much a homebody. I like being at home for long periods of time, as it provides comfort and stability for me. As for travel, I only go out to spice it up every once in a while, before retreating home for the next few weeks or months! 

two yellow labrador retriever puppies
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12. Dogs over cats, period. I think the reason why is because I had dogs when I was a kid, and I naturally developed a soft spot for them. Dogs (especially puppies) are SO adorable, and I love how they aren’t afraid of being unconditionally affectionate and loyal to you.

13. I don’t like the beach. Kind of ironic, because I grew up 10 minutes from it… yet, I have no burning desire to go. The idea of getting sand between my toes and wading into the (dirty) ocean grosses me out. Call me a bad Californian for saying that!

14. I’d love to own a summer home in France. I spent four years living and working in the country and, while I wouldn’t choose to live there long-term (let alone become a citizen), I’d like to make frequent trips over as I get older. I especially want to own a home either in the south or southwest of France, as I really enjoy the laid-back, rural vibe of it all.

red car on the road
Photo by Daniel Semenov on Pexels.com

15. I visited Hollywood for the first time at age 26. Considering that I was born and raised in Los Angeles, it’s strange that I hadn’t even explore this part of the city, which is world-famous. The verdict? Overrated, but in a good, weird way– it’s a place I wouldn’t necessarily suggest to first-timers, but a pass-through should do the trick.

16. I would like to learn Portuguese. My dad grew up in Brazil, and I suppose that that’s the reason why I find the language so intriguing, let alone have an instinctive desire to study it. Perhaps I’ll try my hand at it soon!

17. I love anything mint– candles, ice cream, lip balm…it feels cool and refreshing. Funnily, that’s the reason why I enjoy brushing my teeth; I always purchase the Crest spearmint toothpaste, just because it’s extra strong!

18. Judge me or not, but I love Céline Dion’s music. Call her overrated or sentimental, but she is the ultimate queen of pop. Not only does she have incredible pipes, but she also has a long, rich music career that spans four decades. From growing up poor in rural Canada to becoming one of the world’s greatest pop stars, she’s an inspiration to everyone. Je vous aime, Céline!

19. I HATE horror films– you would never catch me watching them. Yes, I know that the plots are ridiculous and unrealistic, but I dislike being frightened, and I’d rather not get nightmares for the rest of my life.

20. I’ve never smoked anything (e.g. cigarettes, hookah, weed) in my life. Never been interested in putting toxic chemicals into my lungs before, and I certainly don’t do now (and never will).

 

…and that’s it for me! I hope you got to learn a little more about me outside of travel. Perhaps with this upcoming year of blogging, I’ll expand beyond my repertoire of travel posts and include more of my personal thoughts to share with you. We’ll have to see if it happens, but all I know that taking the leap is the first step!

Thanks for reading and sticking with me throughout these years. Let’s continue the adventure!

 

— Rebecca

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Published by Rebecca

Blogger, world traveler, poet, foodie, part-time penguin. Welcome!

41 thoughts on “FOUR YEAR BLOGGING ANNIVERSARY (and 20 *Non-Travel* Facts About Me)”

  4. Happy anniversary!
    I’m glad that you like the stuffed cabbage rolls from Romania 🙂 I read your posts about visiting Romania, my country, and it seems that you enjoyed the visit! 😀

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    1. Thank you, Georgiana! Very happy to meet a Romanian, even if virtually. Romania’s my favorite country I’ve visited in Europe, and I’d love to go back some day. Stay safe!

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  7. Congratulations, Rebecca! Four years blogging is a beautiful milestone worth celebrating, wishing you many more productive and fun years ahead. I loved reading random facts and getting to know you even better. Thanks for sharing and have a good day 😀 Aiva

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  8. I loved this! Congrats on four years! 🙂 This was so much fun to read. I totally understand about the beach – I’ve live in South Florida now for a few years, but it’s never appealed to me. Too much sand and too many people.

    I’m trying to dive back into YA fiction (I absolutely love it and need to spend more time reading what I love) and I am currently starting Labyrinth Lost by Zoradia Córdova. Hopefully there’s lots of magic and adventure. Please let me know if you have any YA favorites!

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    1. Thank you! Yes to beaches: they are lovely to look at, but I never got the appeal of getting sand between my toes or swimming in the ocean (which can be polluted).

      It has been so long since I last read a YA book. But the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, the Baby-Sitters Club, and anything from Chris Crutcher and Judy Blume are solid ones. Grew up reading them, and I might return to them soon!

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    1. Thanks for reading! Not being on the phone at night has made a huge difference in my sleep schedule, and it’s something to consider for a good night’s rest. 🙂

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  18. Hello Rebecca.

    Congratulations! I comment two things. I am left-handed also. Then beer. Maybe you never had drunk dark beer after Sauna!!! Light beer and dark beer are from different planets! We only drink it once in a week and always after Sauna and the amount is 250 milliliters per person! It is made in Czech. In Belgium, for example, there are more than 1000 brands of beer!

    Thank you for your interesting post!

    Have a good day!

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    1. Awesome to meet another leftie! I’ve had my fair share of light and dark beers before, and while I still don’t really like the taste of either, I would say that dark beers are marginally-better and worth a try. Thanks for reading, and have a good day, too! 🙂

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