Ironically it was easiest in Ruteng - although I had to adopt a conservative modest persona which on some levels went against my more social flirty nature, it was essentially a professional persona. One which we all have to submit to in order to earn a living.
karen at work
In Bali I rebelled against this - bikini by day, short skirts by night - & a wilder, more extrovert personality to match.
karen at the beach
Since being in Oz my clothes have matched my activities - walking boots & thermals in the bush; jeans & heels in the city.
karen up a mountain
karen in the city
But my personality? I don't know... I can be anyone: timid; outspoken; life of the party; or quiet one in the corner. Travelling on my own there is no-one to register the difference. No one asking me if I'm ok on the quiet days or telling me to chill out on the manic ones. I kinda like this freedom... it has made me wonder who I really am, but it's liberating to be both Mr Jekyll & Mr Hyde without anyone complaining. Maybe we are always many people, but it's only an experience like this where you can really let all those people come out to play!
4 comments:
mmm, well, as one with a slight vested interest here - I'm so looking forward to experiencing first hand a cultrually schizophrenic, nut-munching, chilled out, manic, long-healed travel loving companion - oh joy!
Another classic blog whitters, break a leg...uh oh...on the other hand, I’m sure you know the old Kipling adage "if you can manage to hold on to your towel, when all others about you are losing theirs, then my good friend and only then will you know that you are definitely German!”
Or as JC once sung, while pointlessly hanging around on a poorly fitted cross, "You got to look on the bright side of life, du dum da dum de da...you've got to look on the bright side of life...."
Remember - forgiven cos of happy tabs
dt
Hi there,
i totally agree about the being different people (i put it down to being a gemini!) - i always used to keep my different friendship groups separate as i felt i was different people in different contexts, but increasingly (assisted by: my hen night, wedding, birthdays, facebook, generally getting older etc) mean i am more relaxed / less compartmentalised about who i am in what senarios... although i did get called 'demure' by someone in my new team so maybe i'm still maintaining the facade!
speak to you soon
Kate x
Do you think you've duplicated personalities with this blog and the facebook pages as well?
I know they do different things but they might show two sides of Karen.
Cx
Hi Karen ! I'm going to Ruteng this Feb' 2008 as VSO volunteer from India, would be happy to know more about Ruteng and people there....
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