Yesterday, I received some pretty amazing news- I’ve been nominated for the Sisterhood of the World Blogger Award by the lovely Laura of Green Goats Travel Blog! (Thank you, thank you, thank you, Laura!! I made the same squeaky noise I make when I watch kitten videos and had a little dance party when I saw your nomination!)
Although I haven’t been able to blog as much recently as I would like (journalism school, work and freelancing), it’s amazing to see that so many of you are still stumbling across The Full-Time Tourist. (And don’t worry, I have some great posts planned for the coming weeks.)
So what is the Sisterhood of the World Blogger Award? According to Google, the award acknowledges the unique voices of female bloggers around the world. After being nominated by a fellow blogger, you must:
- Thank the blogger who nominated you & link back to their website,
- Place the award logo in your blog,
- Answer the 10 questions they’ve sent you,
- Create 10 questions of your own for your nominees to answer, and
- Nominate 10 more female bloggers that inspire and intrigue you.
Q & A:
1) What has been your best travel-related experience?
As much as I would love to share all my amazing travel stories, I would have to say that my best travel-related experience would have to be visiting New Orleans, LA in 2011. I had gone with my high school to volunteer in the community and help rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. Out of all my travels, it really gave me a sense of purpose and it was an incredibly rewarding experience to help rebuild a community as vibrant as NOLA. Although it was heartbreaking driving through the areas that were hardest hit by the hurricane, it was truly incredible to see how much the community had banded together to rebuild lost homes and businesses, replant trees and bring displaced friends and family back home to NOLA.
2) If you could jump on a plane right now with anyone, where would you go and who would you take?
I have been dying to go to Croatia. My great-grandparents moved to Canada from Croatia while my Grandpa was still young, and I really want to explore my heritage. That being said, I would probably bring my Aunt Susan with me because she is the most knowledgeable about the family tree and then we could pop over to the south of France for the writing workshop she heard about last time she went across the pond. You’ve peaked my interest, auntie!
3) If you could be any celebrity for a week, who would you be and why? What would you do?
To be honest, I am the worst person to ask- I didn’t know who Britney Spears, the Spice Girls, NSYNC or the Backstreet Boys were until grade 7. But, if I were a celebrity for a week, I would be Mindy Kaling because we basically had the same childhood and it would be awesome to write and star in my own TV show, even though I would hate the whole being-on-camera part. You would find me with all my fellow writers for the week, cracking jokes.
4) Why did you start blogging?
I’ve always been interested in the idea of blogging, ever since I had first heard of the idea in the sixth grade. I’ve always been a writer: staying up late on the 2002 Dell computer that we moved up to my room when we upgraded to something that didn’t take up my mother’s entire desk, writing newspapers, magazine articles and creating layouts, “blogs” that weren’t allowed to go online, plays and some novels (one completed, numerous unfinished, but none worth publishing). Although my schooling is teaching me to be more succinct in my writing, I miss being able to express my voice creatively and that is why I decided to start The Full-Time Tourist. Plus, my move from Edmonton to Toronto, a city that I had only flown through before moving there in August 2013, allowed for me to explore my new city as a full-time journalism student and include other travel adventures and stories.
5) Why do you continue to blog?
I love to tell stories and read other people’s stories- the blogging community lets me do both!
6) What is your favourite topic to blog about?
Travelling and stories. I love talking about where I’ve visited and some of the lesser-known sights in that city or country. Sure, it’s fun seeing all the major landmarks that would bring serious wanderlust to your friends, family and followers, but I like to find the hidden gem of the city. And if I can’t find it, then there’s always an adventure or a story in trying to find that gem!
7) Who is your “blogger role model”?
Caroline Calloway. Wait. I just might change my answer to the “Which celebrity would you be for a week” question. She is every girl’s best friend and although she blogs through an unusual blogging medium (Instagram), I absolutely love her quirky stories and her unique voice. When I grow up, I want to be her. Even though we’re basically the same age.
8) Which blog posts are you the most proud of? Link it! I want to read it! 
Over the summer, I was able to travel to some pretty cool places, including NYC and Niagara Falls. Both were places I had never visited before, and as a student on a budget, they were affordable and so much fun to explore. Although my blog post on NYC only covered some adventures during my stay, it was fun planning out the next day and figuring out what area of town to stay concentrated in for the most part of the day. Niagara Falls wasn’t as spread out or as planning-heavy, but it is incredible to see the sheer power of the falls and how her power is the source of her beauty.
9) What are a few of your favourite things to do outside of blogging?
Awkward. This is the part where you guys find out how much of an old lady I am. (I’m 90… thousand, according to my boyfriend. He’s not wrong.) Ideally, after I settle down from worldwide escapades, I would like to live with my 27 cats in a house that has a balcony so that I can sip tea as I knit another scarf or blanket. But that’s not for a little while now. Outside of blogging, you’d probably catch me reading, writing some fictional short stories (university gives me no time to write novels anymore), playing piano, exploring the city I’m in and hanging out with friends and family, especially during story time.
10) Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
This is a tough question, considering I have no clue what I want to do with my life now. But I would love to be travelling 10 years from now and continue travel blogging. Hopefully, I will have also started my dream career of being a fiction novelist.
Now I would like to nominate the following lovely ladies that have inspired me and my blogging style over my almost-year-long journey as The Full-Time Tourist:
Yoanna from With Love – Ani
Mo from Mo Explores
Kiersten from The Blonde Abroad
Caroline from Caroline Calloway
Pauline from Le Carnet d’Escapades
Rachel from Department of Wandering
Sisley from The Pure Life
Aslan from Aslan in Wanderland
Sophee from Sophee Smiles
Alexa from She Tells Travel Tales
My questions to you!
1) Why did you decide to start blogging?
2) What is the most difficult part about blogging?
3) Where is your favourite place in the world? Why is it so special to you?
4) If you could go anywhere in the world for however long you want, what would be your dream trip?
5) What is your most ridiculous story? (The weirder the better!)
6) Who are your top five musical artists/composers right now?
7) Who inspires your blogging?
8) Who is your “blogger role model”?
9) Besides blogging, what are your favourite activities?
10) Is there a off-the-beaten-path place you would recommend visiting? Are there any that you would warn people about?
Once again, thank you so much Laura for the nomination! And for all my little nominees, I cannot wait to read all your responses!
