I've been going to rock shows since I was 13. I've learned over the past 8 years that there is a specific set of rules one must follow when planning on attending a show. Frankly, I feel like there are lots of people who are either forgetting the rules or never learned them-- so these are for you.
Rule #1: Attire
It's the day of the concert and you're overwhelmingly excited. You're going to see your favorite band play live! I understand, it's a thrilling idea. However, do NOT wear a t-shirt with the band's name on it. We all know you're a fan because you spent 40 dollars on a ticket to watch them play. Wearing their name on your clothes is just overkill.
Rule #2: Line Etiquette
This is something you learn in kindergarten. There's even a charming rhyme about this one simple rule: "No cuts, no buts, no coconuts." Seriously, it's just common courtesy. Don't save spots in the line for your 5 friends who won't be showing up until an hour before the show. The group behind you has probably been in line for 12 hours, so by saving spots, there's a possibility that you're ruining someone else's chance of getting barricade, making their effort pointless.
Rule #3: Line Waiting
If you are staying the night outside the venue, you must make fun of the people who brought a tent, because they are less hardcore than you. Although you may secretly be jealous of the fact that they have something to hide under from the rain while you're sleeping on the sidewalk, soaking wet and freezing.
Rule #4: Before the Doors Open
Your heart is racing. There is one hour until they let you in the venue. One person from your group must run to the car and put away all of your blankets, snacks, pillows and jackets. Now one by one, make sure to run to the nearest McDonald's for the restroom because once you're on barricade, there's no potty breaks until the show is over. This is prime time for people to try and cut in front of you in line. Stand your ground. Don't be afraid to be an asshole.
Rule #5: Entering the Venue
You don't need that purse. Bringing in a purse means the security has to look inside, therefore prolonging your entrance. (Hint: Girls, hook your car key to your bra strap and keep your phone in your front pocket). Once you're past security, RUN to the pit. despite all the guards yelling, "DON'T RUN." Grab the barricade and breathe a sigh of relief because your efforts were worthwhile.
Rule #6: Concert Courtesy
If you didn't get barricade, you didn't get barricade. Please, do not try to squeeze your way up there. Don't be that guy.
If you got barricade, hold on tight and prepare to have bruised arms tomorrow.
If you got barricade and you're a 6 foot tall man, COME ON. Let the short ones in front. You can see over everyone anyway. Rude.
If you have a crush on the lead singer, spare yourself some embarrassment and don't yell "OMG I LOVE YOU SO MUCH" every 2 minutes. Girl we get it, you're thirsty.
If you really love a song, don't scream the lyrics with your horrible singing voice into the person's ear in front of you.
If you really love the band you're seeing, put your phone down. Take a couple nice photos, then enjoy the concert. What's the point of being there if you just record the whole thing? I doubt you'll even watch the videos later.
Rule #7: Post-Show
Your head is spinning; your ears are ringing; you have this undying thirst for a gallon of water. You feel like total crap but it was worth it in the end. You've seen your favorite band play. You've danced to their songs while they sing the lyrics that have gotten through your toughest days. You spent a day with your friends and strangers that you know nothing about. However you do know that you all came together for your equal love of one band. It is a night where you feel like you finally fit in--a night where everything makes sense.
Shows are more than just a past time for misfit teens. They are happy memories for the ones who need them. Follow the rules, enjoy the shows and be grateful for times like these. This is OUR culture.
Friday, July 31, 2015
Sunday, July 26, 2015
High school vs. College
High school was such a simple time. You'd wake up at 7:00 am 5 days a week, maybe work a part-time job or go to an extracurricular activity after school, then have 2 days off to do whatever you wanted. I was a very busy teenager with school, dance, work (sometimes I'd keep 2 jobs at once) and homework, but I still wish I could go back to high school because everything was so easy.
A few things change when one goes off to college. Here are a few things that changed about me, thanks to the increase in responsibility that college gave me.
1) I never do laundry
I look back and think about when I lived at home and there was a laundry machine FOR FREE at my disposal everyday and how I took advantage of that. I would throw my clothes that I wore once in the hamper or even shirts that I tried on but didn't want to wear or hang up again. I ended up needing to do laundry every 3 days because my hamper got full so fast. It's the same with towels. I used a towel ONE TIME before washing it. Today I use the same towel for 2 weeks before washing it. I can't believe my 15-year-old self. Now that I'm living on my own with no laundry machine, I just do laundry when I'm running low on clean underwear (which isn't very often because I have a panty addiction, brought on by those darn sales at Victoria's Secret).
2) Leftovers are my favorites
This is another example of my carelessness in high school. I never ate leftovers. I wish I could slap teenage me upside the head and say, "Oh, you're too GOOD for leftovers? You don't like free food? You think it tastes BAD the next day? Looks like you forgot to put your crown on today, Princess Zoë." Seriously, today if I found an Olive Garden box in my fridge with leftover pasta in it I'd be thanking the refrigerator gods.
3) Manicures are for special occasions
Being the high maintenance brat that I was, I had acrylic nails in high school and would refill them every 2 weeks. I would also get a new set every couple months. That's 20 dollars every 2 weeks and 45 dollars every couple months just for my FINGERNAILS. Don't get me wrong, I'd still love to be able to do that but I have more important things to pay for...like food and gas and electricity. I miss when my mum would give me a blank check and leave me at Hollywood Nails when I spent all the money I made at my two jobs on clothing. If I asked mum for that today she'd be like "LOL no."
4) Online shopping comes second to paying bills
Just kidding, I still online shop...all the time. Oops. Some things never change I guess.
xoxo,
Princess Zoë
A few things change when one goes off to college. Here are a few things that changed about me, thanks to the increase in responsibility that college gave me.
1) I never do laundry
I look back and think about when I lived at home and there was a laundry machine FOR FREE at my disposal everyday and how I took advantage of that. I would throw my clothes that I wore once in the hamper or even shirts that I tried on but didn't want to wear or hang up again. I ended up needing to do laundry every 3 days because my hamper got full so fast. It's the same with towels. I used a towel ONE TIME before washing it. Today I use the same towel for 2 weeks before washing it. I can't believe my 15-year-old self. Now that I'm living on my own with no laundry machine, I just do laundry when I'm running low on clean underwear (which isn't very often because I have a panty addiction, brought on by those darn sales at Victoria's Secret).
2) Leftovers are my favorites
This is another example of my carelessness in high school. I never ate leftovers. I wish I could slap teenage me upside the head and say, "Oh, you're too GOOD for leftovers? You don't like free food? You think it tastes BAD the next day? Looks like you forgot to put your crown on today, Princess Zoë." Seriously, today if I found an Olive Garden box in my fridge with leftover pasta in it I'd be thanking the refrigerator gods.
3) Manicures are for special occasions
Being the high maintenance brat that I was, I had acrylic nails in high school and would refill them every 2 weeks. I would also get a new set every couple months. That's 20 dollars every 2 weeks and 45 dollars every couple months just for my FINGERNAILS. Don't get me wrong, I'd still love to be able to do that but I have more important things to pay for...like food and gas and electricity. I miss when my mum would give me a blank check and leave me at Hollywood Nails when I spent all the money I made at my two jobs on clothing. If I asked mum for that today she'd be like "LOL no."
4) Online shopping comes second to paying bills
Just kidding, I still online shop...all the time. Oops. Some things never change I guess.
xoxo,
Princess Zoë
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Why I would rather not "free" my nipples
We've all heard of the "Free the Nipple" campaign. However if you haven't, this is a feminist movement to decriminalize the female body so that women can go topless just like men. Women are wanting to stop the sexualization of their bodies.
Being a feminist, I find it very fair to allow women to be topless in public if a man can do the same. Ladies--I know you're jealous of a man's ability to take his shirt off on a hot summer day.
Seeing as I lived in France for a year, I was able to actually experience the feeling of equality while being topless in pubic at a nude beach. Honestly it felt rather freeing, but only because I was in France, where seeing a woman's breast is like seeing a woman's wrist. In the United States, however, I feel sort of afraid of the idea.
Being a woman, I find it difficult to imagine women walking around half-nude and not getting harassed for it. When a woman walks down the street in shorts and a t-shirt there's already a big chance that she's going to get cat-called by some creepy guy. Guys, newsflash: No female likes to be cat-called. Ever. So how bad would it get for a woman walking topless?
If one day we can all take our shirts off in public, it would be a fantastic day for sex equality. Nevertheless I feel like I would still not feel comfortable joining in because I do not believe that ALL men will ever see a woman's breast desexualized..not any time soon at least.
Being a feminist, I find it very fair to allow women to be topless in public if a man can do the same. Ladies--I know you're jealous of a man's ability to take his shirt off on a hot summer day.
Seeing as I lived in France for a year, I was able to actually experience the feeling of equality while being topless in pubic at a nude beach. Honestly it felt rather freeing, but only because I was in France, where seeing a woman's breast is like seeing a woman's wrist. In the United States, however, I feel sort of afraid of the idea.
Being a woman, I find it difficult to imagine women walking around half-nude and not getting harassed for it. When a woman walks down the street in shorts and a t-shirt there's already a big chance that she's going to get cat-called by some creepy guy. Guys, newsflash: No female likes to be cat-called. Ever. So how bad would it get for a woman walking topless?
If one day we can all take our shirts off in public, it would be a fantastic day for sex equality. Nevertheless I feel like I would still not feel comfortable joining in because I do not believe that ALL men will ever see a woman's breast desexualized..not any time soon at least.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Marriage might be worth it
I've always been known to sort of run from commitment. My siblings refer to me as a "strong independent woman" which is just a nice way of saying "the sister who will never get married."
For the most part I've become rather comfortable with the idea of living on my own. When you're alone there's no one you have to clean up after and you can take up the entire bed without issue.
However, when I was sick last week I got to thinking about the downsides of living alone and thought maybe marriage MIGHT be worth it for a few reasons:
1) Someone to take care of you when you're sick
This was obviously my first thought. Let's face it- it sucks living alone when you're feeling sick. It would be nice to have someone get me a cold wash cloth for my forehead and chicken noodle soup. Nobody likes getting out of bed with a fever..so that's where a significant other comes in handy. In sickness and in health, right?
2) Someone to cuddle
I don't care who you are, warm bodies are needed to cuddle in specific situations.
Example a: When you're sad
Example b: When you're cold
Simply put, we'd all be happier if we just had someone to cuddle every once in a while. I guess a cat could probably fulfill this one but if you're allergic to furry friends, a husband is your answer.
3) Someone to cook for
Personally, I love to cook. It's very difficult to cook an entire meal for just one person though. It would be nice to have another person to cook dinners for so I'm not eating my leftovers for a week straight.
4) Someone to do the dishes
This sounds lazy of me but if I'm cooking, the other one should be cleaning the dishes right? I actually just hate doing the dishes and I'm sure any of my past room mates would tell you that's the truth. Maybe a husband would be a helping hand?
5)Someone else to shop for
I love clothes. I love buying them and putting together outfits but a lot of people say I have too many clothes of my own. So why not use my addiction for good and make a well-dressed man out of it? Seems legitimate to me.
6) Someone to hang out with me (even when I'm hormonal)
Sometimes I want to watch a movie with someone other than myself. Sometimes all my friends are busy. Sometimes I'm too grumpy for people to want to be around me but a significant other is there for better or for worse! Built-in BFF.
With all of this being said, I'm still anti-marriage...but I could be convinced.
For the most part I've become rather comfortable with the idea of living on my own. When you're alone there's no one you have to clean up after and you can take up the entire bed without issue.
However, when I was sick last week I got to thinking about the downsides of living alone and thought maybe marriage MIGHT be worth it for a few reasons:
1) Someone to take care of you when you're sick
This was obviously my first thought. Let's face it- it sucks living alone when you're feeling sick. It would be nice to have someone get me a cold wash cloth for my forehead and chicken noodle soup. Nobody likes getting out of bed with a fever..so that's where a significant other comes in handy. In sickness and in health, right?
2) Someone to cuddle
I don't care who you are, warm bodies are needed to cuddle in specific situations.
Example a: When you're sad
Example b: When you're cold
Simply put, we'd all be happier if we just had someone to cuddle every once in a while. I guess a cat could probably fulfill this one but if you're allergic to furry friends, a husband is your answer.
3) Someone to cook for
Personally, I love to cook. It's very difficult to cook an entire meal for just one person though. It would be nice to have another person to cook dinners for so I'm not eating my leftovers for a week straight.
4) Someone to do the dishes
This sounds lazy of me but if I'm cooking, the other one should be cleaning the dishes right? I actually just hate doing the dishes and I'm sure any of my past room mates would tell you that's the truth. Maybe a husband would be a helping hand?
5)Someone else to shop for
I love clothes. I love buying them and putting together outfits but a lot of people say I have too many clothes of my own. So why not use my addiction for good and make a well-dressed man out of it? Seems legitimate to me.
6) Someone to hang out with me (even when I'm hormonal)
Sometimes I want to watch a movie with someone other than myself. Sometimes all my friends are busy. Sometimes I'm too grumpy for people to want to be around me but a significant other is there for better or for worse! Built-in BFF.
With all of this being said, I'm still anti-marriage...but I could be convinced.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Studying Abroad: Progressive or Regressive?
For those of you who haven't been following my blog, I got home on May fourth from studying in Aix-en-Provence, France for ten months. It was the most wonderful experience of my life and I wouldn't trade it for the world. However, being home has left me feeling slightly out of place socially. Everyone talks about how studying abroad changes your life for the good and IT DOES. It also confuses the hell out of you when you return to your home country.
Exhibit A: The most obvious of changes for me was the language. I spent 10 months hearing French, speaking French, reading French, writing French and thinking in French. I did use English as well, but the mixing of the two languages seemed to turn my brain into mush for about a month and a half at home. I started to forget English words and only know them in French. Then I forgot words in English AND in French, leaving me as this stammering idiot who forgot simple words on a daily basis. Thankfully my brain is adjusted back to English now although I hope that doesn't mean that I've lost all of my progress in French. *sigh*
Exhibit B: My biggest fear before I left for France was that everyone was going to forget about me. Though this is not the case, I still feel behind in my own social life. Life at home doesn't pause while you're away, unfortunately, and this has been made very clear to me! I don't know half of my sorority now, my french professor had TWINS (I missed the entire pregnancy), my friends have new boyfriends, some friends had babies, and loads of people graduated. I feel like I was in a coma for a year or something.
Exhibit C: Last but not least, studying abroad is slightly regressive in the way that ALL I can think about is France. I'm that annoying meme of the girl in the hipster glasses that starts every story with "When I lived in Europe." I'm constantly comparing things to my year abroad like, "This is nothing like the goulash in Hungary!" or "Wine is so much better and cheaper in France, trust me." I also find myself recommending my friends to restaurants they can't actually go to at the moment. "If you like this, you need to try Pizza Capri." I feel like a whiner as well, because I miss cheap public transport and the café atmosphere. I'm constantly thinking of where I can travel next weekend even though it is no longer plausible to take a flight to Italy for 40 euros. I'm still flabbergasted by the amount of obese people in wheelchairs at Walmart. Living in France for ten months progressed my cultural views and made me a more well-rounded person, but it also sort of ruined me in the USA.
Exhibit A: The most obvious of changes for me was the language. I spent 10 months hearing French, speaking French, reading French, writing French and thinking in French. I did use English as well, but the mixing of the two languages seemed to turn my brain into mush for about a month and a half at home. I started to forget English words and only know them in French. Then I forgot words in English AND in French, leaving me as this stammering idiot who forgot simple words on a daily basis. Thankfully my brain is adjusted back to English now although I hope that doesn't mean that I've lost all of my progress in French. *sigh*
Exhibit B: My biggest fear before I left for France was that everyone was going to forget about me. Though this is not the case, I still feel behind in my own social life. Life at home doesn't pause while you're away, unfortunately, and this has been made very clear to me! I don't know half of my sorority now, my french professor had TWINS (I missed the entire pregnancy), my friends have new boyfriends, some friends had babies, and loads of people graduated. I feel like I was in a coma for a year or something.
Exhibit C: Last but not least, studying abroad is slightly regressive in the way that ALL I can think about is France. I'm that annoying meme of the girl in the hipster glasses that starts every story with "When I lived in Europe." I'm constantly comparing things to my year abroad like, "This is nothing like the goulash in Hungary!" or "Wine is so much better and cheaper in France, trust me." I also find myself recommending my friends to restaurants they can't actually go to at the moment. "If you like this, you need to try Pizza Capri." I feel like a whiner as well, because I miss cheap public transport and the café atmosphere. I'm constantly thinking of where I can travel next weekend even though it is no longer plausible to take a flight to Italy for 40 euros. I'm still flabbergasted by the amount of obese people in wheelchairs at Walmart. Living in France for ten months progressed my cultural views and made me a more well-rounded person, but it also sort of ruined me in the USA.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Time flies: Farewell (for now) to my study abroad pals
I'm utterly flabbergasted that my year in Provence is ending. My mother arrives in Aix on Friday. I'll show her around my city and we'll visit Bordeaux..and then we'll fly home on May 4.
I can remember every little detail down to the very second of my first day in Aix-en-Provence. I can still feel the emotions of fear, excitement, anxiety, sadness, and absolute and total bliss that I felt on September 8. As cliché as this seems, it honestly feels like yesterday..but it wasn't yesterday. It was 8 months ago. I've been in France for 8 months and it feels like only a day has passed.
Just as I did last semester, I'm writing this in dedication to the friends I made that kept me grounded and sane, made me laugh, made me cry from laughing, and made my second semester (or year, for some of you that I've been with since September) a memorable experience. I wouldn't trade a single one of our inside jokes for the world. I know I'll see you again after we all leave France because I love you guys too much to fully say "goodbye" to you. So here's just a bunch of photos of how cool my friends are.
Sarah
Alyssa
Rachel
Emily
Ben
Time flies when you're having fun.
I can remember every little detail down to the very second of my first day in Aix-en-Provence. I can still feel the emotions of fear, excitement, anxiety, sadness, and absolute and total bliss that I felt on September 8. As cliché as this seems, it honestly feels like yesterday..but it wasn't yesterday. It was 8 months ago. I've been in France for 8 months and it feels like only a day has passed.
Just as I did last semester, I'm writing this in dedication to the friends I made that kept me grounded and sane, made me laugh, made me cry from laughing, and made my second semester (or year, for some of you that I've been with since September) a memorable experience. I wouldn't trade a single one of our inside jokes for the world. I know I'll see you again after we all leave France because I love you guys too much to fully say "goodbye" to you. So here's just a bunch of photos of how cool my friends are.
SarahAlyssa
Rachel
Emily
Time flies when you're having fun.
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
How French people know that I'm not French
Everywhere I go in France, it seems like the french people KNOW that I'm not french. I've had waiters and store owners approach me and talk to me in English even before I've said a word. This is both annoying (because all I want to do is speak French with them) and mind boggling (because HOW DO THEY KNOW?). I've had my mind wrapped around this subject for quite some time but it was highlighted in my brain as very important subject matter today when I was walking into town. I was just walking, minding my own business, when a guy approached me and said, "J'ai l'impression que tu n'habites pas la bas." Tranlsation: "I have the impression that you don't live here." I hadn't said a single word out loud yet today and I was already spotted as a foreigner. HOW DID HE KNOW?! Naturally, I responded as if I was an insulted French woman, "uhh, non. J'habite ici à Aix," and stormed off to a sunny terrace to drink a café au lait and read my notes with serious interest on my face as if to give off the impression of being French.
After this incident I took a step back and analyzed myself in comparison to a French woman and found three tell-tale signs that signal that I'm foreign.
1) My physical appearance:
This is the most obvious of signs. Personally, I have a hard time telling the difference between a French woman and a woman from the states or any other European country from their faces alone. However, something very different between myself and a French woman is our clothes. Of course! I dress very obnoxiously compared to the French. Don't get me wrong, I love my closet and every piece of clothing inside it (perhaps a little too much) but my pieces of clothing would not be found in the closet of a French woman. Heck, even when I'm wearing an outfit with all neutral colors, my outfits are still a bit too weird for the French. Also, another obvious physical distinction is the beloved hair bow I continue to sport in my hair everyday...despite the fact that I'm 21 years old. The only French females wearing hair bows are ages 2-6. After that it's just too childish. But hey, I think they're charming. :)
2)My mannerisms:
You don't realize how differently you act until you think about it. For example, it is customary for an American to smile at any human you pass and make eye contact with. It's a reflex by now, honestly. If I make eye contact with you, you're getting a smile whether you want it or not. And trust me, I don't think the French people want you to smile at them. I get plenty of weird looks from doing that but it's habitual so I always do.
Another thing I do that the French do not, is pardon myself while walking through a crowd of people or if my shoulder brushes against another persons shoulder when I pass them. Honestly, I have never heard a French person apologize for running into me, while I'm over here screaming, "DÉSOLÉE, PARDONNEZ-MOI" because I feel seriously bad for running into them. Apologizing seems like a wasted effort to the French, I guess, which doesn't make them rude necessarily, but makes me kind of annoying.
3)My response time:
If, by some act of God, a French person doesn't assume I'm foreign already for the above reasons and speaks to me in French, he/she will know when I open my mouth.
I'm confident in my French for the most part and I've made so much progress with it this year, but I still doubt myself before I speak. I understand what the French person is asking me, but I have to re-translate it again in my head to make sure and think about an appropriate response before saying it..therefore making my response time slower. That extra 2 seconds it takes to reassure myself, tells the French person *SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND* so he/she switches to English. This is a nasty habit that I hope to kick soon. 98% of the time, I know exactly what to say but I don't say it fast enough. That's just the learning process I suppose.
Even when they speak to me in English, I still force my non-fluent French onto them by responding in French until they follow along. I get my way eventually. Hopefully in a year or two when I'm living in France again, I'll be able to tell you all that these coincidences have stopped occurring, but I'm sure they'll never fully stop unless I put more effort into morphing myself into a French woman. Even though I'd love to be French, I'm just not, and I love myself too much to change SO GET USED TO IT FRANCE.
After this incident I took a step back and analyzed myself in comparison to a French woman and found three tell-tale signs that signal that I'm foreign.
1) My physical appearance:
This is the most obvious of signs. Personally, I have a hard time telling the difference between a French woman and a woman from the states or any other European country from their faces alone. However, something very different between myself and a French woman is our clothes. Of course! I dress very obnoxiously compared to the French. Don't get me wrong, I love my closet and every piece of clothing inside it (perhaps a little too much) but my pieces of clothing would not be found in the closet of a French woman. Heck, even when I'm wearing an outfit with all neutral colors, my outfits are still a bit too weird for the French. Also, another obvious physical distinction is the beloved hair bow I continue to sport in my hair everyday...despite the fact that I'm 21 years old. The only French females wearing hair bows are ages 2-6. After that it's just too childish. But hey, I think they're charming. :)
2)My mannerisms:
You don't realize how differently you act until you think about it. For example, it is customary for an American to smile at any human you pass and make eye contact with. It's a reflex by now, honestly. If I make eye contact with you, you're getting a smile whether you want it or not. And trust me, I don't think the French people want you to smile at them. I get plenty of weird looks from doing that but it's habitual so I always do.
Another thing I do that the French do not, is pardon myself while walking through a crowd of people or if my shoulder brushes against another persons shoulder when I pass them. Honestly, I have never heard a French person apologize for running into me, while I'm over here screaming, "DÉSOLÉE, PARDONNEZ-MOI" because I feel seriously bad for running into them. Apologizing seems like a wasted effort to the French, I guess, which doesn't make them rude necessarily, but makes me kind of annoying.
3)My response time:
If, by some act of God, a French person doesn't assume I'm foreign already for the above reasons and speaks to me in French, he/she will know when I open my mouth.
I'm confident in my French for the most part and I've made so much progress with it this year, but I still doubt myself before I speak. I understand what the French person is asking me, but I have to re-translate it again in my head to make sure and think about an appropriate response before saying it..therefore making my response time slower. That extra 2 seconds it takes to reassure myself, tells the French person *SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND* so he/she switches to English. This is a nasty habit that I hope to kick soon. 98% of the time, I know exactly what to say but I don't say it fast enough. That's just the learning process I suppose.
Even when they speak to me in English, I still force my non-fluent French onto them by responding in French until they follow along. I get my way eventually. Hopefully in a year or two when I'm living in France again, I'll be able to tell you all that these coincidences have stopped occurring, but I'm sure they'll never fully stop unless I put more effort into morphing myself into a French woman. Even though I'd love to be French, I'm just not, and I love myself too much to change SO GET USED TO IT FRANCE.
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