Beijing in hindsight

Well in hein sight, as always, we realize that the solution was obvious, the evidence as clear, the situation wasn't as bad as we first thought and well my China experience was no different especially it's lovely capital. Beijing was though to acclimate it was my first time ever being culture shocked even though I have done more than my fair amount of Traveling. I also had  health obstacles I faced like my allergies to literally everything including the very polluted air, but my love for culture and my drive to learn the language got me through it. So much so that NOW I can say I love Beijing, after all Beijing was where I.....

1st experienced the Chinese culture

                 

 

我学习汉语！

Because going abroad should mean more that a pretty profile or cover picture, there should be substance, intellectual growth, greater capacity to understand why things are the way they are and how they can change. 

1st developed my obsession for drinking coconuts

{Taken in the snack tent outside the Olympic Stadium}

{Taken at Peking University}

Words can not describe how much I miss being able to walk out on the street and purchase a coconut to casually sip as I go shopping or do homework. 

1st encountered and eventually conquered the oh so feared squatty-potty

{Taken at the National Museum}

On Thanksgiving I believe my #1 thing I was greatful for was a "Western Toilet"

Was taken out of my comfort zone and encouraged to TRY new things 

Taken at the St.Angel Hotel

 For many of us it is easier to stay with our routines, if it's not broke don't fix it and although I love a scheduled life style that tailors to my OCD needs I can also say that after having tried a lot of new things some that even made me sick I don't regret any of it after all we only regret the risk we didn't take. 

 Made friendships and memories that will last for everrrr

taken outside the temple of heave
     

The oh so very Brave 4 

The best friend that came to learn and keep me sane, for that I'm forever grateful!

The partner in crime especially when it came to Shanghai

 Because in the end it's what you bring to it.... which is why Beijing round 2 was also a Blast especially with my new found love for the adventure filled yet culturally and intellectually stimulating.

There was and still is so much more to be seen

THE GREAT WALL, nothing will ever compare to this place

 
 

                  

Advice from my fave author

“For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.” 
― F. Scott Fitzgerald

Packing? {emballage}

Packing is an art that unfortunately I have not mastered yet, probably due to the fact that I have 5 outfit changes in a day and I try on 10 different outfits on before finally deciding on one. Needless to say that packing for a country I've never been to with a culture completely different from that of America not to mention the limited space (2 per flier rule) is more than your everyday arduous task. I know that I can just purchase stuff there but I don't want to be under prepared either, I mean Shanghai is the worlds' #8 top fashion city so it's only logical I pack enough shoes and accessories right? Plus what if I have to dress up and got to the gym, I'm going to be in the country for 5 months or 142 days to be exact if I were to stick to just 1 outfit a day and pjs that's a grand total of (142 day outfits and 143 pjs) 285 outfits and as any Fashionista would agree (Rachel Zoe most def would) OPTIONS are a must! 
so far I haven't past a pair of shoes and tights(my solution to cold whether), did I forget to mention I've always lived in the south so I have no clue what this so called winter is like.... but I also figure since I'm going to a country that I know no one at it is also a time to take risk with fashion and wear what ever I've always wanted to wear but feared was too far from my usual attire or I was not in the right setting for it so CARPE DIEM Nat style

Au revoir for now and remember la vie est belle <3  

Bonjour World

Hi world, I’m Nathaly Del Carmen. There’s nothing that I love more than traveling and more importantly FASHION.

I am a strong believer in what Rachel Zoe said, “style is a way to say who you are without having to speak” . How a person dresses and what they wear says a lot about who they are, how they feel that day, and how they views those around them. I believe there’s a lot to learn from what a culture wears, Fashion is a form of art and expression.

This is also currently my personal mantra