Olivia+&+Oscar

Independent Means It was two years ago when I first travelled without my parents. I and three other friends went to Stockholm all by ourselves and I still remember the trip.

My parents were so worried about me going away, without any supervising, for a whole weekend. I told them not to worry, everything will be just fine, but they didn’t listen. They made me promise to call them once every hour in the evenings and to take some pepper spray with me. They also had the typical don’t-go-anywhere-with-strangers-talk. “Our little baby is going away, she’s all grown up now” they said. Thank god no one was listening; my parents can be quite humiliating sometimes.

I went to Stockholm and had a great time with my friends. We were in the boat on our way home, dancing at the disco, and some older guys started dancing with us. We danced with them for a while, but when we wanted to go, they didn’t let us, they only came closer. I pulled away, but this one guy just smiled, asked me where I was going, and leaned closer as he was trying to kiss me! I panicked and had no idea what to do when I remembered the pepper spray my parents gave me. I sprayed it in the guy’s face, he screamed, and I and my friends ran to our cabin. Good thing I had the spray with me! Even though my parents might have cared a little too much, they sure had thought about anything, and thanks to them, my night wasn’t ruined.

Olivia

Not everyone remembers, but some of us have hope..
 * Do you remember what it’s like to be a kid?**

Is there anything you have always liked? Have you done something your whole life? And of course I don’t mean anything like breathing or walking.

Let me give you an example.

I started climbing when I was three years old. In addition to that normal climbing every kid does. We went to a climbing hall, a big one that is. The next year we went hiking on a nearby nature park. Not on summer, but on winter! That year it was next to impossible for anyone excepts small children to walk on the snow. It was my first time hiking.

Now back to the current day. It’s the 14th of September and I’m looking forward for the snow to fall in the next months. Actually I’ve been waiting for it even before the summer holiday started. I also look forward to our trip to go climbing soon. For some reason I have always liked winter, hiking and climbing. I don’t like hot places that much and I’d really like to see Antarctica someday…

You see, I think that there has been something similar on everyone’s life.

Now’s your turn. Think of something you have done or liked for so long that you can’t really remember what started it. Try to trace it as far as you can. See if you can still remember what you enjoyed when you were almost as long as your hand is. Maybe you’ll find something you have long forgotten.

//Oscar//