Never too old for a slambook challenge!

Tuesday, 24th of August 2021

It’s been a while since I posted last time. Really unsure why I find it so difficult to concentrate these past few weeks. All Ernesto wants to do is eat and binge watch series on Netflix! As a result, I doubt I will reach my monthly goal for writing in August. Rather than beating myself up too much about it, I'll just do my best in the last week of August and see where it takes me.

To ease myself in back to writing, I thought it would be fun to pick up the challenge some of you were posting a while back. Better late than never, hey? In case any of you still want to post your entry, I picked up the questions from this website.

What is the most childish thing you still do?

Although I had to become a grown up quite early - at the age of 11, deep down I’m still a child and I do many childish things. I love everything glittery, for example. I get overly excited when I see things with glitter, like clothes, nail polishes and notebooks. The same with stationery. I love this time of the year, when all shops are full of ‘back to school’ products. I have so many notebooks and pens, but I still want to buy more, as if I was also going back to school ;)

Have you ever skipped college without permission? 

I sure did. I mean, who didn’t? Not very often though. I was a very good student and I quite liked school and college. In my teens my parents didn’t really put any pressure on me, so I was the only one motivating myself to do well for the sake of my future. 

Give your three best past moments that you can’t forget. 

1. Meeting my most recent partner at the dance floor at London salsa congress. It was truly a magical night and weekend. 

2. After party at a salsa holiday in Spain. Playing drinking games and swimming in the sea at 3am, surrounded by many salsa friends. 

3. My first salsa performance with Alchemy Social in 2013 and of course the after party. There is no better high than the one after a successful performance after many months of hard work. 

Surprise, surprise - all 3 are salsa related! Salsa and dancing in general is the true love of my life that never lets me down. 

Who was your biggest crush in college? 

Boring alert! My college was geared towards accountancy and banking, so the majority of students were girls. All 4 men we had in our class were just not attractive at all. I did have a little crush on the guy who joined us in the last year of college. I remember being a little shaky when we practiced waltz for our prom. Tiny crash ;)

If you could go back in time to tell your 16-year-old self something, what would you say?  

You are amazing just the way you are! Also, make dancing your profession. You might be a little poorer, but so much happier! 

What’s your strangest talent? 

Ultra-sensitive sense of smell. I remember being a little obsessed with perfumes in my teens and my mum would pick one to use and I could always tell which one it was. The same with strangers passing by - I can always tell if they’re wearing some of my favourite scents. I can detect the most subtle fragrance on plants, some that most people can not smell, but also get agitated by the smell of someone standing a few meters away.  It can be a blessing and a course.

Ever had a poem or song written about you?

Not in my younger years I haven't. I was also not into poetry either. Very recently though dear @Olasquare wrote not one, but 2 poems about me. I love both of them and feel very privileged to be Ola’s muse. 

If you are outside, what are you most likely doing? 

Oh, I love being outside. Gardening is probably one thing I do most when I’m outside. Walking in the forest would be my second favourite. Sometimes I get on my bike too, but not very often. As a teenager my bike was my main form of transport. 

Do you prefer to be behind the camera or in front of it? 

Hard to choose really. I actually love both. I love taking pictures, especially of flowers and nature in general. I do love being photographed or recorded too, especially while I’m dancing. 

Do you believe in karma? 

Yes and no. I don’t necessarily believe that if I steal $5 from one person, someone will steal $5 from me. I do believe in energy exchange though.  I believe that whatever good I do to someone without the expectation of reciprocity, that good energy always comes back multiplied. Of course the same goes for low vibrational deeds. How about you my readers?

Do you have a collection of anything?

I do in fact. I have a collection of orchids, which I talked briefly about in this article. Orchids are fascinating plants and at some point I became a bit obsessed with them. At my peak I probably had more than 60 orchids, until I came to the conclusion that it is nothing more than a sophisticated form of hoarding. It was also taking a very long time to give them all the care they needed. These days my collection has probably around 40 orchids. Still a lot, but somewhat easier to maintain. 

Do you prefer talking on the phone or video chatting?

Video call! I am really unsure why, but I very much dislike talking on the phone. It hasn’t always been like this, I used to love it. I guess hours wasted on being on hold when trying to sort out just about anything these days have had their toll on me. 

What did you eat today?

Nothing! Planning for a day or two of fasting, as I’ve been feeling a bit sluggish recently. Fast is long overdue and always makes me feel great.

The most important person in your life?

There is only one person who has always been there for me, no matter the circumstances. That person is ME. I know it might sound a little selfish, but without me, no one else has me, so gotta take care of Number 1 first.

I could go on and on with these questions. There are so many! I think that would be enough for now though. It was a great warm up into writing again for sure.

Until next time 💙