From The Countryside To The Capital – Two Different Worlds
I used to live here.....
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Now the busy streets of London are what I call home.
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Moving from Cornwall to London was a huge change for me. Moving from an isolated house in the middle of fields to the busy streets of London was a scary experience. It was something that I was doing on my own. I was getting the independence that I always wanted. I was coming to university to study what I wanted to.
Arriving in a city that is home to 8 million people compared to a county that houses 532,300 was daunting.
The one thing I noticed that was very different from Cornwall to London was how much strangers talk to each other. Back in Cornwall I would regularly converse with strangers and say hi etc. In London I was a lot more afraid to do this for fear of people judging me or rejection. Hardly anyone talks to each other in London! Public transport is silent. People are completely immersed in their phones or books. It seems so strange that you can live in a city surrounded by people yet feel lonely.
The countryside and the city are two completely different ways of life. They are worlds apart. I found that a lot of people I knew in London would ask me why I wanted to move from such a beautiful place like Cornwall. I myself like a lot of people from Cornwall wanted to move away and explore something different. Cornwall does not have the best job prospects especially for younger, less qualified people like myself. There are a lot of dead end jobs in the county and that was a trap that I really didn't want to get into. I wanted to experience something new in my life.
One of the things I find with Cornwall is that it really lacks diversity. There's not a lot of people from other ethnic backgrounds other than White British. I am often the only person of another ethnic background when I visit somewhere in Cornwall. Being in London has opened up my mind to other cultures and ways of life.
I think that people from the city and people from the countryside are ignorant of each other. A lot of people in the city don't know what it's like to live out in the countryside and vice versa. The two different ways of life are worlds apart and I believe people should experience both at some point in their life.
-Noah Barco
Perfect Location In Japan
Living in London can be both fun & busy at the same time and there comes a time when you need a break from it all, an escape a place where there is a lot of culture to soak in and a great place to be a tourist in, that place is Osaka Japan.
Osaka Japan is the second largest Area after Tokyo, although Tokyo is a popular location for westerners to visit Osaka stands out due to its mix of Japanese culture with a hint of western ways to it.
There are a lot of old fashion type castles located in Osaka typically surrounded by Sakura Blossom trees not only does it make tourists want to visit the area it also shows just how beautiful Osaka is.
The Aquarium Kaiyukan is definitely worth giving a visit, it is located in the tempozan harbor villiage of Osaka's bay area and is one of Japan's most spectacular Aquarium, Marine life is displayed in 15 tanks, each representing a specific region of the Pacific Rim.
Located around Namba Station is one of Osaka's two major city centers, it is the city's most famous entertainment district and offers many dining and shopping choices. The district is easy to get to as it has 3 train routes as well as subway routes.
Japan's first Universal theme park is next on this list, it opened march 2001 in Osaka bay area and since then has been a major place for thrill seekers to check out, Universal studios Japan currently has 8 sections, Visitors are able to enjoy many amusement rides ranging from child friendly rides to thrilling roller coasters and simulators based on popular movies such as spiderman, back to the future and Jurassic park.
The Tenjin Festival of Osaka is ranked one of Japan's top three festivals along the Gion Matsuri of Kyoto and the Kanda Matsuri of Tokyo, the festival begins by ceremonially inviting the deity out of the shrine and parading him through the city, carrying out various exuberant festivities to entertain him, before taking him back to the shrine. For the people, the lively festivities manifest in a wonderful occasion to enjoy the hot summer day, filled with traditional costumes, spectacular processions and a celebratory atmosphere.
If you're feeling to relax in a peaceful environment cover with sakura blossom petals and the company of others then the Osaka Castle park is the right choice, it has about two square kilometers with lots of grass space, sport facilities and a shrine dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the park is one of Osaka's most popular hanami spot during the cherry blossom season, which usually takes place in early April.
Finally on the list of places to visit while in Osaka Japan is the Tenmangu Shrine, every year there is a festival (Tenjin Matsuri) that is held on july the 24th and 25th, during the festival the shrine's deity is paraded in a palanquin through the city in a joyful land and river manner accompanied by fireworks.
listed below are a few images of the places mentioned in the article above.
Top 5 tips to travelling to Portugal !
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Pre-research where you are staying -
If it's your first one travelling not only to a different country but specifically to Portugal then you have to pre-plan 100%! As Portugal may seem like a large city, knowing your whereabouts is key even if you are going to the beach or a local shop, you need to find you way around and what better way to pre-plan a place or a location before going to it. That way you are prepared and you won't need to panic whilst being out - at least you won't get lost!
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Staying safe in a different country -
When travelling abroad, you want to make sure that you are safe in every way possible as an individual especially considering it is your first time going there. This can be whether it is a calm night out in the local with some friends or if you are going clubbing, making sure that you are safe is vital. Be aware of your surroundings especially when being in a "foreign" place.
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Never too much -
Now you may think, "Never enough? What do you mean by that Sharon?" Exactly what is said on the tin! You can never take enough of anything. When going abroad to another country it is better to have too much than too little right? This could be in terms of packing, not knowing how much of one certain thing to bring or whether it is money, to spend and also to survive on, you can never have too much and even if there was something left over, guess you have something for your next trip away! 97
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Protecting yourself and staying safe!
Now I don't know about you but I know that whilst being away from "home" I would want to be as safe as possible. Be aware of where you are! I cannot stress this highly enough! Maybe it's your first holiday away from home, or maybe you just want a quick escape and you need some sun, being safe and protection is key! Make sure you pack up your shorts and bring sun cream!
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Have fun!
Last but not least have fun! You are going away and leaving one place to bring on different adventures! Hopefully more good than bad! Keeping in mind all of the tips above, just make sure that Portugal for you is the best experience you can possibly make it.
-Sharon Araujo