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The Geography of Bliss

Dave — Mon, 31 May 2010 18:46:31 +0000

The Geography of Bliss is a book which explores happiness in relation to cultural and geographical situations. It looks at why people from different countries are happy, and how they are differently happy. I haven’t read this book, but I saw a quotation today which made me stop what I was doing to think:

You can determine how your life plays out by deciding where you live.

What a sobering idea. What if really, rather than who we want to be, what we want to be, or how we want to be, all we need to decide is where we want to be?

This question is particularly pertinent to me at the moment because I am currently living in Spain. I am returning to England in August, and I’m looking forward to it, but I have come to consider that Home (with a capital H) for me has become fluid and elusive. Whilst many of the English people I know here still refer to going Home, to how things are at Home, and in many cases to how much they prefer Home, I simply can’t find such a strong link within me. Home has become undefinable, and being away from it, wherever it may be, has become the norm.

So let’s take step one of deciding where you want to be as finding out where Home is. This is not as easy as it might seem. The old adage goes that ‘Home is where the heart is’; but my family is in Birmingham, my best friends are in Leeds, my girlfriend is in Copenhagen, and I am in Oviedo. And I can safely say that I feel ‘at home’ in Oviedo, but I still miss all of these things which aren’t here with me. Much Colonial and Post-colonial literature draws a clear distinction between home and Home, the former being where you live, where you return to every night, and where you have built your life, and the latter being a more spiritual, cultural or social baseline: not the place that you are, but the place that you are from. Unfortunately in real life such a line is not so easy to draw.

For me, and I imagine for many people in a world where travel and mobility is the norm, there are parts of Home scattered all over the world. Journeys we make, people we meet, and things we see all make up who we are as much as where we do these things; and all of these things are now so much more easily accessible due to modern communications and media. In the world we live in, there is no longer such a clear definition of what is ‘Home’.

But people do not always want to be ‘Home’. I can recognise that most of my cultural DNA is 100% British, from how I dress to the music that I like and the food that I enjoy. However, for me, one of life’s greatest pleasures is stepping out of this comfortable ‘Home’ and into the wider world. Seeing, smelling and tasting new things, meeting new people, and the more that they clash with what I have grown to see as the norm the better. There is nothing more exciting than a new and original experience. Some people, like me, take great pleasure in keeping that warm, comfortable and familiar ‘Home’ as a backup, somewhere to fall back on, whilst we forge ahead, in varying degrees, into the unknown. And so we come, perhaps, to step two: Are you a ‘Home’ person, or do you prefer to be somewhere else?

Once all that’s decided, step three is the hardest of all. If you fall into the same category as me, the person who is as comfortable being away from Home as being there, then you have to make the hardest choice of all. If not Home, then where? This is the real choice, and the real problem. The quotation at the top of this page, seems, to me, to be correct: for a person with sufficient cultural awareness and an ability and willingness to learn and embrace new cultures, choosing where you live can have a huge impact on how your life will pan out. I have always loved to travel, and in the last four years I have lived in three countries. I am, currently, most definitely not one for staying ‘Home’; I only have the vaguest notion of where ‘Home’ might be. As such, I’m already starting to think about where I might want to live after I finish university in England the year after next. Will that decision change the rest of my life? Almost certainly, in ways I cannot begin to imagine. But realising this is not the hard part. The hard part is the choosing.

Abortion

Winter is coming…

Dave — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:35:54 +0000

I headed up into the mountains today for a run, after frustratingly not being able to find anyone to go climbing with in the first spell of good weather we’ve had for nearly a fortnight. I knew where I was going, I’d been before with Simon. Blast down the motorway towards Léon, come off at Campomanes, then follow the signs to Sotiello, through Tuiza and on to Tuiza Arriba — the end of the road. After getting stuck behind some heavy machinery on its way to one of the many construction sites for the new high-speed railway, I passed the last half built tunnel, and I was away, slowly twisting my way up the winding switchback road to the top. After the steep climb of almost 1000 metres (poor car!) which had my water bottle crackling all the way up with the pressure, I parked up in Tuiza Arriba, got out of my car and stared at the mountains in front of me.

Snow on the mountains behind Tuiza Arriba (1300m), Asturias, Spain

They were covered in snow.

Of course, I knew that the first snows had hit the Picos de Europa last week, but this was some one thousand metres lower in altitude, and still there was a decent covering. My mind was racing with the possibilities for climbing in the big mountains. Now the need to find a partner of equal ability and experience is even more pressing. I pulled myself away from the view and after a quick stretch — I never was a great believer in long warm-ups — I set off running. I wanted to reach the col above the village so that I could see the view on the other side, and with sunset in two hours, I was going to have to get a move on. Oh well, I thought, I’ve packed a head-torch, what’s the worst that can happen.

As it turns out, Bulls. Lots of bulls, all over the path I was running along. I’d driven nearly an hour to get here, there was no way I was turning back. I started trotting towards them, and to my amazement, they all turned and ran away. It must have been a bad hair day. With my bovine obstacles out of the way, all that stood between me and the col was… well, a very steep hill. I arrived at the top, some 400 metres higher and 4 kilometres along the track, panting and spluttering my way to an incredible view. After soaking it up for a few minutes, I noticed that my hands were numb. It was windy and cold up here, and I was dressed for running, not for hanging about. Better get back on the move, before I get so cold that I injure myself. I looked behind me at Tuiza, my starting point. It seemed a long way, although thankfully now it was a long way down, instead of a long way up.

Looking down on Tuiza from the col above. You can just see the village in the valley below.

I tumbled back down, my earlier adversaries nowhere to be seen, and had a quick look around the village before getting into my car and riding the brakes all the way down to the motorway. This is how I want to spend my afternoons. This is why I came here. This is Asturias.

Mañana…

Dave — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:30:52 +0000

I’m not sure anything sums up my first month in Spain better than making this post a day late. It’s been hectic and laid back at the same time, I’ve met a mountain of new people, been to a lot of new places, and generally had a very good time. I’ve been climbing, studying, eating, drinking, exploring — I have that strange feeling of having been here forever, but at the same time being very conscious of how little time I really have here. The countryside around here is incredible, and I’ve spent a lot of my weekends in the mountains enjoying the unseasonally good weather with my newly found friends. I’m enjoying living here a lot, even if certain things, such as the massive ineffectiveness of the university administration, do frustrate the hell out of me. That’s all for now, I’m off to the beach!

Where’s that place I live again?

Dave — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 16:51:33 +0000

I feel like I don’t have a home. I came back from Mexico, spent a week completely shattered from going out with all my mates, a day up in leeds, two days flat working, a week in London, then moved on to Holland for a 5 day tour with the Big Band I’m in, from there to portugal, and from here I’m going home for one night before I leave again for Newquay. It’s great to be doing stuff all the time, since it takes my mind of missing Mexico, but it’s a bit of a strain on both my wallet and my body — I think I’ve slept twelve hour nights for the past three or four days! It’s all good fun though, and great to spend some time with friends and family, and making some new friends (I hope) in Holland. I have my work cut out for me when I get back too, doing the rest of this assignment with the law firm, and hopefully I’m going to try and line up some work experience in journalism.

For now though, I’m just going to chill out by the pool with a beer and a book (First was Vernon God Little, which was great and now The Lovely Bones, which I can hardly put down) — something I haven’t done nearly enough of it seems. Beer in Mexico and Holland wasn’t relaxing, it was for parties!

Home Sweet Home

Dave — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 10:27:43 +0000

I arrived back in England nearly a week ago, on the second of July. It feels strange to be back, almost like a holiday, but it’s great to see all my friends and family again, and to get back to all the little things I missed, like the darkroom, ale and curry! I’ve not been up to much in the last few days except for seeing people, and spending time in the pub, but I have a prospect of a research temping job for a law firm in London which would be great if I can get it. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to visit some of the people that are a little further away too, in the next couple of weeks.

Where’s that place I live again?

Mexi-go

Dave — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 23:06:00 +0000

It’s nearly time. I’m getting nervous and inccredibly excited. I’m leaving work, and arranging to see all my mates for the last time in half a year. I’m insuring, stocking up, and getting ready to ship out. I’m going to Mexico. I’m going to teach sixth form kids English. I’m ever so slightly terrified. All of this, and in the middle I realise that this trip is only half about me, at most. I’m going so that I can give kids a chance to practise their english, and to improve their chances of getting a job in a place that’s unjustly ruled by american business. To show how ridiculous the dominance and self importance of the USA, I only have to look as far as my flights. I can’t fly through the states, because for a trip of more than 90 days I would need a visa, in spite of the fact that I would be in Mexico. That’s right, the government of the USA has such an inflated sense of it’s own status that they seem to feel that if I fly through their country, that’s a threat to the republic, and that I would want to stay there. God only know why, I can’t think of many places I’d less like to be than the parts of the USA that border on Mexico.

And if anyone knows anything about La Ruta Maya, please leave a comment!

Berlin: The city that doesn’t like me

Dave — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 18:52:00 +0000

I just developed the film I shot in Berlin. There are a few good ones, but mostly it’s dross (as with all my films, I suppose). It didn’t help though that I seemed to remain in a part of Berlin that has almost no discernible landmarks, old buildings, or sites of historical significance, and while I know that I can take pretty good photos from nothing most of the time, there was something about the rows of grey, communistic tenements that just crushed my creativity. It probably didn’t help that I was absolutely shattered either. I’ll probably end up going back at some point to see what I missed.

I also have a new job, at a camera shop; i.e something I might be remotely interested in. It’s also close enough that I don’t have to get up at five in the horrible horrible morning to get to work. Hurrah! I’ll also get most weekends off, although sundays will now be vaguely pointless, since Russell Brand’s show on 6music has been moved over to Radio 2, where the audience will of course appreciate his filthy and twisted sense of humour. Never mind.

Has anyone else been watching Torchwood? Supposedly the adult spin-off of Dr. Who, I can’t decide if I hate it, or actually quite like its trashy suspension of all reality. I haven’t stopped watching it yet anyway, and it’s a few episodes into its run now. I’ve run out of things to say. How boring am I?

No related posts.

Back in Britain: Part II

Dave — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 17:06:00 +0000

I’m back in England… again, after a visit to Eire. The same three of us that went to europe went to my friend’s parents’ house near Galway, and had a very relaxing time playing pool, fishing and drinking a variety of beers. One of the highlights (aside from Shane’s brother’s fantastic cooking) had to be fishing for crabs, using the high tech equipment of a sausage in a sock. One of the lowlights was not standing on the top of a mediocre hill inside a cloud, trying to convince ourselves that this kerry way malarky was worthwhile. It was a nice walk, but a shame about the typical and inevitable irish weather!

So I got back on the 27th and I was 18 on the 28th. We had a family gathering at our house, which was really fun, it’s great to see all of my family in one place, that doesn’t happen very often. I also got a new laptop, a macbook, from which I’m writing this now. I’ve been hankering after an apple machine for a while, and after about 3 days I’m totally converted — everything just works: I turn it on and am using the wireless internet connection within three minutes; I plug in my camera and everything is imported without me having to even push a button. It’s also incredibly fast, and seems to be lightyears ahead of Windows in the design of the interface. And it’s pretty. I don’t think I’ll ever use windows again!

To add to all this great news, I finally found a job. Admittedly, it is making coffee at the NEC, but it pays well. The only downside is that the shifts are 7am til 7pm, and I had to sign a waiver voiding my rights to breaks and the like. So, I’ll be loaded, and too knackered to spend anything. Sounds good to me!

Back In Britain

Back In Britain

Dave — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 17:54:00 +0000

I’m back from my great european pub-crawl, having met some great new people and found some great new drinks, amongst other things. I made a journal which I might put on here once I’ve taken out all the bits that could get me arrested. Should only take a few days . A-level results are soon, scary but somehow not on my mind too much. And, more importantly, my birthday and another holiday to Ireland.

I need to find a job too, and it’s so hard. I’m sure people are deliberately obstructive. I’ve been told that I can’t phone up, but have to use the internet, and even that I’m not even allowed to apply until I’m 18. What a load of rubbish. I need a job to fix my poor bank account after all that beer too. Never mind!

Preparations

Dave — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 19:53:00 +0000

This Eastern Europe trip is almost beginning to be organised… That’s not the spirit of it! Well, never mind, I’d rather be organised with a roof over my head than spontaneous without. The hostels are booked for 3 of 5 cities now, and we have more than enough time to sort out the other 2 when we get there. We’ve even organised not only to meet some people I know, but to go and watch them sing in a concert… in a salt cave. As you usually do on a tour of polish concert venues! I’ve also been on Lonely Planet poking around for good places to visit and drink. Prague is famous for its jazz clubs after all!

I watched a really weird film today (been watching a lot recently, I watched Hotel Rwanda last night and it made me really upset) called The Life Aquatic about a failed sealife documentary maker. There seems to be a bit of a trend recently, after the previous pattern of films being as realistic as possible, for films that are just a bit surreal. This one had loads of weird people, fish and pirates, but it was still great. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bad film with Bill Murray in it, although in a couple he hardly says anything (i.e Broken Flowers, Lost in Translation).