i'll see you around

Introductions are weird. How do you decide what's important enough to tell another person, upon meeting them for the first time? There are some things that automatically go into an introduction: name, age, and depending on where you are, usually nationality as well. But then there are other things that you add or subtract, depending on the situation: what you like, dislike, hate with an unbridled passion etc.

Here are the basics about me. My name is Tara. I'm 16 years old. I'm ethnically Indian, but was born and brought up in Tauranga, New Zealand, and moved to Dubai, United Arab Emirates when I was 8. I just graduated high school (I did the IB Diploma Programme), and am about to move to the United Kingdom to attend the University of Cambridge.

Here are the things that I'm going to add to that basic introduction. Firstly, I was going to add a photo, but then I couldn't find one/manage to take one that was good enough, so the ones on the sidebar will have to do for now. I've blogged before- most notably at Unlocking Pandora's Box, which I started when I was 14 to blog about socially relevant issues (and snap up some CAS hours while I was at it). After numerous attempts to remodel it recently, I realised that I needed a fresh start, and moved myself to this here corner of the interwebs, ready to renew my passion for blogging.

I like many things, such as but not limited to: reading (I will read pretty much anything I can get my hands on), writing (essays/blog posts/creative fiction), watching TV shows and proceeding to obsessively fangirl over them (Castle, Once Upon A Time and, most recently, Gilmore Girls), acting & all things theatre/film, travelling, eating and fashion. I strongly dislike wasps- the only race that I ever won was won only because I was running away from a wasp.

What is this blog supposed to be about? It's an exploration of the world, through my eyes. It doesn't have any fixed categories or themes; it's just a mishmash of all the things listed above under 'likes'. But most of all, this blog is an adventure- not the kind that you'd find in a Famous Five novel, but an exciting one all the same. In many ways, I am an apprentice: I am still learning about this crazy world from all the wonderful, experienced people around me. And, at only 5'2", I am certainly rather petite.

So join me. It promises to be a wild ride.