Orange you hopeful?

(This is a little something I got published in my uni newspaper a few months back. What do you think?)

How do you get people to care about stuff?

That’s the million-dollar question. How.

And literally, in our world – a million dollars is just the pre-requisite. Because with sponsorships and advertisements and busty models in short shorts, that’s how.

I have none of these things – just the question.

Because, as the Orange HOPE Ambassador for 2012 – it’s part of my job to figure that out.

There are 1,200,000 HIV and AIDS related orphans in Malawi. I had cereal for breakfast this morning.

Why can we read those two sentences with the same amount of emotion? Why aren’t we leaping out of our seats to go and help and do and care and love and play and serve and learn?

Why and How.

Orange HOPE is all about fundraising here for people there. It’s about baking, cycling, speaking, running, eating, painting, talking and sharing here – for results there; in Home based care, Orphan care, Prevention and Enabling the Church (hence it’s HOPE….).

95% of new HIV/AIDS cases occur in the developing world. It’s about caring about that, and asking why.

It’s about stepping out of our snuggies to free up those on the ground to do what we can, as humanity.

It’s about people reaching people reaching others.

Let’s have this conversation. 

there it is! in all its heading changed glory.

25

odd photos & random facts about me.

(to know me better)

i just turned 21. it was wonderful.

my joy.

 i own a Macbook. i love to read.

i bake a lot. it makes me happy!

i much, much prefer to be behind the camera.

ugg boots and boys hoodies are my staple dress.

winter is my favourite.

i'm self conscious about the crinkles on my forehead.

i''m single.

i make a lot of videos.

i have brothers. i love them.

dancing and costume parties: my scene.

i took this. i like it.

new years eve is my least favourite day of the year.

i'm a hugger.

i do a great cassowary impression.

i plan the best messy games nights.

my favourite cafe: the common ground. katoomba.

this is my standard "be silly" photo face.

i'm going through a 'I want to be a vegetarian' phase.

for two years, I had braces.

this photo inspires me.

i have curly hair (it never looks like this).

i love hiking.

at school, some called me 'ducky'.

Now, what’s something I don’t know about you?

GENESIS

Well, here we are. I’m doing it! I’m starting a blog. Welcome. If you’re as apprehensive about this as I am, then hey; at least we have something in common.

This is for my musings, my fears. My recipes, my thoughts, my 2012.

We have a while to get to know each other, but let me start off by sharing with you one of my life-long dreams.

You know the scene for it, the typical movie cliché; it’s the crisis on a plane. 

flying high. see it.

The air-hostess calls over the crowds -  “is there a doctor in the house?”

Some handsome, proud gentleman files down the isle and saves the day. ‘Wow’ people think, ‘what a worthwhile person’.

 In my dream, the plane is the same.  The only difference?

“Is there a writer in the house?” and I will be able to say why yes – yes there is, that is me.

I’m a writer. I’ve always written, for as long as I can remember – short stories with terrible drawings tacked to my nanny’s fridge. I enjoy writing, I get kicks out of sentence structure, I also have a deep loathing for word counts – my tutors don’t enjoy the excuse of it 'curbing my creative flow'.  

I study writing at university – whatever that means. I’m sure there will be plenty of venting about it. Want to become a writer? Read Lorrie Moore’s 'How to Become A Writer'; let it inspire you, love it or hate it.

I also enjoy life, most of the time. See my ‘about me’ section to graze on the very basics of who I am and what I fill my days and mind and heart with.

This year is the year of change for me. Of new opportunities, and giant adjustments.

I’ll be blogging when I have something to share, or not – just when. A story, a frustration, regrets, my joy. I would love to share this with you. Nobody is made to be alone – this is networking, this is community.

It’s lovely to meet you!

Welcome, welcome, welcome. 

my "excited to have you along for the ride" face.