What brings you to life? *Part 1* The Adventurist

The first of my passion-focused Q&A series from my blog post titled What brings you to life?

ROSS MORELAND

Offshore Piling Technician by day / 

Long Distance Trail Runner, Mountain Biker & Adventurist at heart

The love of my life. They say it’s all about timing, and this man came into my life at the perfect time. His kindness, appreciation, understanding, love, and encouragement have brought back the confidence in myself that I thought I’d lost. I admire his determination, great work ethic, consistence, and persistence in anything he sets his mind to and heart on. His passion has become an obsession but you need to see that sparkle in his eye when he talks about his love affair with Mother Nature – it gives me goosebumps! Watch out for the launch of his blog to read more about his adventures and misadventures.

What brings you to life?
The thought of adventure and the outdoors - whether it's something I've done before or something completely new.

What do you love most about the outdoors?
It can be anything you want it to be and as challenging as you want. I'm lucky enough to be from Scotland where the possibilities are endless as you can go anywhere and do anything outdoors. The provisions for outdoor activities are tremendous and you can add whatever you want to make it more exhilarating. 

On the way up the Lomond Hills overlooking the town below

How long have you been into adventuring and the outdoors?
Probably since I was in the Boy Scouts. It's stuck with me from a young age and has evolved from there. I'm grateful for my parents for encouraging me to join, although it didn't take much for me to fall in love with it.

What advice would you give someone who is starting out or thinking about getting into outdoor activities?
Get to know your capabilities, set goals, and let your imagination run wild. When I started trail running and mountain biking, it was originally in the local woodland area near my home in Scotland. The first race I ever ran was a local 10K then I joined a running club where I was introduced to bigger events. I eventually found myself running one of the hardest 100-mile races in the world a few years later and after a bit of training. Now, cycling has pretty much gone the same way with my eyes set on a route that's eventually going to come together and take me a distance of well over 1,000km.

View from White Craigs overlooking Loch Leven
with Benarty Hill in the background and Scotlandwell village below
Photo by Ross Moreland

How do you keep your passion for the outdoors alive? Do you have any dull moments? If so, how do you get back on track and find it again?
I guess I've been lucky enough to find something that I love doing. Of course there are dull moments when I find myself halfway through a race asking myself why I'm doing it because I'm exhausted and don't feel like continuing. However, for every low the high is 10 times more, so that's what keeps me going.

At this specific point in time, where in the world would you want to be and with whom?
At the Lomond Hills Park back in Fife on top of White Craigs looking over Loch Leven. Of course, with Jordyn Hill after telling her all the huffing and complaining has all been worth it once we've reached the top.

What brings you to life?

If you could choose to do one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? I think we've all questioned our life's purpose in this world. Some people know from early on that they want to be a rocket scientist and go on to pursue that dream, and then there are those who figure out their passions at a later stage in life.

I definitely was not one of those kids who knew exactly what they wanted to do or be when they grew up. I've spent most of the last three decades trying to figure out exactly what makes me happy, and, to be honest, I'm still in the process of doing so. I've done a lot of growing up and learning about myself recently, probably more so in the past three years. What I do know right now is that I'm certainly not where I thought I would be at this point in my life, but I have absolutely zero regrets. Every person that has come and gone, every event, every smile, and every tear... It's all been worth it and I wouldn't be who I am today if not for all that I've been through so far.

SimpleLifeStrategies

I think all of us know deep down what our passions are. However, we're faced with obstacles such as finances, societal and cultural expectations, etc. that hinder us from enjoying what we truly love. I applaud those who find the courage to get out of their shell and live their dreams. A few people have especially inspired me to dig deep inside and find my spark and they've been so kind to share their stories. I will be doing a series of Q&As with these lovely people in hopes that you, too, will be inspired to reach for the stars.

Click on their names to read the Q&As. I will be featuring each separately in the upcoming weeks.

ROSS MORELAND - The Adventurist (31 July 2015)   

Offshore Piling Technician by day / Long Distance Trail Runner, Mountain Biker & Adventurist at heart

The love of my life. They say it's all about timing... Read more!

KRISSY JESUDASON - The Thespian (7 August 2015)

Founder & Artistic Director of Phenix Arts

My best friend since 9th grade... Read more!

(Watch Krissy on stage with fellow actor Zachary Ibrahim at Phenix Arts' first production BASH: Latterday Plays by Neil Labute showing 20-22 Aug 2015 at Orchard Central in Singapore. Buy your tickets now from TicketMash.)

NIKKI MULLER - The Entertainer (18 August 2015)

International TV Presenter & Host

An intelligent and talented beauty... Read more!

STEPHANIE BRIMO - The Chef  (25 August 2015)

Owner & Chef of JiPan Café & Bakery

I can’t even remember when we first met... Read more!

CHERYL TIU - The Jet-Setting Foodie (3 September 2015)

International Journalist & Multi Media Personality

We’ve known each other for half our lives... Read more!
(On 18 September 2015 Cross Cultures by Cheryl Tiu together with Eat Ethio, an Ethiopian food movement, present "An Ethiopian Dinner" at Curve at Gallery Vask. Reserve your seats now by contacting Gallery Vask at +639175461673 or email crossculturesbycheryltiu@gmail.com.)

RANZA BAY - The Sassy Stylist (17 September 2015)

Marketing & Events Specialist / Stylist

It’s not every day you immediately hit it off... Read more!

Take me here

As I lay in bed here listening to the newly opened restaurant eight floors below, I hear the sound of upbeat R&B music and a ruckus of laughter and jeers from patrons amidst traffic and whistles from the security guards that scatter around the area. After a long day in the middle of the hustle bustle of the CBD, with cars honking their horns left and right and pollution filling the air, all I really want is a moment of quiet and a big gulp of sweet fresh air. Maybe I’m getting old (yes, ripe old age of 30!) or maybe I’m transitioning into the next phase of my life.

Once upon a time I lived for the fast-paced, hotshot lifestyle, always knowing where the next party was. Big crowds and congested city streets didn’t bother me, and silence and darkness frightened me. Nowadays I yearn for the calm of the night, the leaves of hundred-year-old trees rustling in the hushed wind, the gentle waves crashing against the pebbled shore… falling asleep so calmly in the protective arms of my love, taking me away to heavenly dreams… I want to wake at the crack of dawn when the world is still sleeping, the bright stream of sunlight shining through the windows as it rises on the horizon, faintly at first then a slow crescendo to the bright morning light.

La Politesse

“Bonjour!” (Good morning/good day!)

“Bonjour! Ça va?” (Good day! How are you?)

“Ça va bien, merci! Un pain de chocolat, s’il vous plait.” (I’m fine, thanks. One pain au chocolat, please.)

*Lady at the patisserie hands over the perfectly flaky chocolate-filled croissant*

“Merci beaucoup, madame!” (Thank you very much, madame!)

“Je vous en prie. Bonne journée!” (You’re welcome. Have a good day!)

  

This is pretty much the regular conversation I have anywhere I order my favourite pain au chocolat in Paris. This similar conversation pattern is also applied everywhere else – from shopping at Galeries Lafayette, to ordering escargots at the local brasserie, or ordering a burger at Quick. Before I visited Paris for the first time a few years ago, I was warned about how rude and unfriendly the Parisians are. However, as soon as I landed I was greeted with nothing but politeness and even a few flirty exchanges with some Frenchmen. Since then, I’ve come across a few rude folk but more often than not, I’ve had very pleasant experiences with Parisians. It perhaps could be that I understand and speak some French, or it could basically be because I researched French culture before heading over and learned that it is a custom to simply say bonjour or bonsoir (good evening) whenever you walk into any establishment. I’ve made the mistake of forgetting to greet the lady serving us at the canteen at work and went ahead and ordered my meal, only to receive a strange look and a stern bonjour from the woman waiting for me to acknowledge her greeting. Safe to say, I’ve never failed to offer my salutations at every place I go since that incident.

I fell in love instantly the moment I stepped foot in Paris for the first time. Yes, it’s dirty, it smells strange, and it’s not exactly the safest place, but it certainly has its charm and is probably the most beautiful and photogenic city I’ve been to so far. The traffic and the crazy driving are not my cup of tea, but the architecture, cobble-stoned streets, and the history involved in every nook and cranny of the City of Lights just absolutely mesmerises me. Moreover, one of the things that I love most about Paris is the French etiquette – la politesse. Formality is key and is practiced in the way they greet and speak to one another, the way they dress (I envy the effortless beauty of the Parisians!), and in any situation they present themselves. I visited a few factories and warehouses for work this month – places where you wouldn’t generally think you’d need to bring table manners to – and even there, I felt like Belle in Beauty and the Beast when she’s walking through the town. There were a lot of bonjours, mercis, handshakes, and cheek-to-cheek kisses – between myself and the people I met and even between the people that worked there who saw each other daily. 

I’ve lived in and visited several countries where the people are known for their friendliness and hospitality, like the Philippines, Thailand, and Cambodia to name a few. However, I think the French claims the top spot for me when it comes to genuine greetings and definitely wins for politeness. From personal experience, I think the Parisians’ snobby reputation comes the lack of understanding of their customs and culture and also the language barrier. Back in the day, you’d stop a person on the street to ask for directions and they wouldn’t be able to help you and this was mistaken for snobbery. However, they basically just didn’t speak the language or didn’t understand your request. Today though, more and more young French people are learning English so it’s easier to get around as a tourist with no knowledge of the language. Furthermore, how would you feel if a stranger visits your country and disrespects your local customs? When you walk into a shop and forget to greet the shopkeeper, they take that as a sign of disrespect. At the end of the day, it really isn’t much effort to say hello and acknowledge someone’s presence, is it?

Image: Pinterest

After being in Paris for almost a month, it was easy to become accustomed to French etiquette. I was raised to always be polite and presentable, but the Parisians take it up a notch. The effortlessly great dress sense and perfectly coiffed ‘dos are not just for themselves, but to show respect for others as well. Admittedly, it’s made me take an extra few minutes in the morning to think about my outfit for the day and no matter how bad my day is and unsociable I feel, I always end up feeling better after a Bonjour! and brief exchange with the doorman, taxi driver, or waiter. It never hurts to say hello and ask how someone’s day is going. Who knows? You may just brighten up their day! So take the time to be polite and greet that stranger. And before you travel to a foreign country, don’t forget to read up on their culture because something that is proper for you may be completely rude to them. 

Bonne journée, mes amis!

Image: Shutterstock

This post is in honour of the French National Day – La Fête Nationale or Le quatorze juillet (the 14^th of July), commonly and mistakenly known as Bastille Day (which apparently is completely wrong – read “Stop Calling It Bastille Day!” by Sidonie Sawyer, a Franco-American journalist for The Huffington Post).