About Joanne

24.
Scottish
BSc Diagnostic Imaging

What defines me? A question that you’re so often required to answer; on a CV, various application forms, dating websites, social media profiles, at interviews and new jobs, meeting new people who eventually may become friends, the list is a lengthy one. Perhaps it’s because I’m (stereotypically?) British, but I find it unfeasibly tricky to talk about myself and answer this question.

I think it’s important as a new blogger to answer this question as truthfully and transparently as possible. After all, the blogging world seems to me to be a place where like-minded people can share interests, thoughts, opinions, ideas and passions – so in order to connect with like-minded people surely you have to be as true to who you are and what you’re all about... but then again the internet and social media gives us the chance to reinvent ourselves completely (food for thought!)

So basically I'm a regular girl, aged 24 just trying to find her way in this big world out there!  I've lived in Scotland all my life and moved up to Glasgow city to study radiography when I was just 17!  I have grown very fond of Glasgow and it holds a special place in my heart; I feel really at home in this city.  However, from a young age I've been lucky enough to go on holidays and experience other countries and cities and therefore, I guess, it's my mum to blame for my love of travel and intrigue of foreign places!

I'd like to think that I am a kind and compassionate person and these are definitely qualities I look for in other people.  I am often called quiet or even shy, but really I'm not - it just takes time to get to know me and all my little quirks!  Friends and family are really important to me and as I have a really small family I find this makes me value my friendships even more.  I look to surround myself with good people who lift me up and I think there's really not a lot better in this world than finding people whom you just 'click' with and who are on your wavelength!

I can't wait to travel more to hopefully meet other, different kinds of people - I find people who are into unusual or different things to me interesting.  I would love to meet more people who have grown up somewhere else and lived a completely different life to me, people who are culturally different or people who have traveled with stories to tell.  I find people fascinating and love to hear about other peoples' way of life.  This prompted me to join couchsurfing.com and I've hosted three times now!  A lot of people might think its crazy to open your home to complete strangers - maybe I was just lucky - but I met some really wonderful people who I am still in touch with today.  It made me realise that despite all the bad you hear about the world there are some genuine people out there and if you are willing to give a little of yourself its amazing what you might receive in return.

*Special thanks to my German couchsurfer friends Jan & Lena for my Scottish stag header picture taken in Applecross Bay, North Scotland*

In contrast I am also quite content with my own company too.  I love spending a rainy Sunday staying indoors in my pj's cosied on the couch, with a cup of tea, a film or a good book and some jazz in the background.  Or on my favourote kind of day; icy cold, crisp, blue skies, or a dry blustery wind in my face I might venture out for a long walk i pod on listening to some good music on my way!

I'm also quite arty and its a side of myself that I've mostly left behind since school.  I love to do creative things whether its paint, make collages, take pictures, write or make up cute quote displays on my wall.  I'd love to explore this side of  myself further and I hope that in the near future I can do a photography course.  I like people with creative minds and admire people who strive to succeed in the creative arts world.  I never went down that route, but its a definite ambition to to pursue it even just as a hobby at some point.

MUSIC: it's a biggy! People judge on your taste and often it's the first topic of conversation with new people and you can bond over it instantly! My music tastes are hugely varied! I'm not embarrassed to say I love listening to regular chart music before a night out and even a bit of electro/ dubstep and some dance anthems.  There's some RnB I like too.  More recently I've got into some folk bands and some indie-rock bands.  I also love the classic rock bands as well! I find music is hugely dependent on my mood and time.  I've been lucky enough to go to a Sofar gig in Glasgow and it was handsdown thee best music experience of my life, with Seether live in Edinburgh a close second.

So I'm a girly girl who also loves an adventure outdoors! Open-minded, adventurous; with a cautious side too, but with a huge zest and passion for life!  I will never be the one to shout the loudest so, I can appear to be a closed book until you take the time to get to know me and open the pages!

Where I've been:-

Jojo has been to: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vatican.
Get your own travel map from Matador Network.



I can’t wait to start blogging regularly in the New Year – 2015 is set to be an exciting year for me full of new challenges and adventures... so stay tuned I can’t wait to share them!