About
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That’s me on the left. No, your other left.
There are two different stories as to why I left.
The first, and shorter of the two (and albeit, that much more interesting), is that my favourite local brunch spot burned down.
I was nine months into living in Vancouver, British Columbia.
I had a sweet writing/ photography gig with a local music newspaper. Consequently, I rarely spent money on shows (my biggest cash suck at the time). Instead, I used those saved dollars on expensive micro-beers from Portland and White Rock.
To contribute more to society than live reviews and record rundowns, I was also a social worker.
As a girl without any experience as a parent, I spent my working hours trying to professionally teach actual real-life parents some basic child-rearing techniques. Again, I’ve never had children of my own. I barely even have weak aspirations of becoming a parent.
So it should come as no surprise that I’m a really awful social worker.
Having failed to realize this during an expensive program having something to do with wizardry a Masters of Social Work, I coped by going to more shows and drinking more apricot-flavoured beer.
In the process, I became a typical brunch snob who would critique the shithole bar from the night prior by using words like “character” and asking if anyone has seen what they’ve done with the bathroom. TO DESCRIBE A BAR, PEOPLE. All the while, I’m shoveling forkfuls of tofu scramble in my mouth and comparing my hangover to that of our server’s.
In hindsight, it’s a good thing that arson ruins everything.
Because the next thing I knew, Slickety Jim’s was nothing more than police caution tape and the lingering scent of burnt canola oil. And now without a go-to tofu scrambles on weekends, I no longer had any attachments to Vancouver.
Alright, so maybe that wasn’t the briefest of explanations.
The other reason why I left?
I got laid off.
Turns out, I actually am an awful social worker.
So I spent a year working on a small rural island in South Korea (think LOST but without the capital letters) and travelling through Asia.
I then lugged around 10 kg of scarves in a backpack for eight months and called it “travelling.”
(I’m only a slightly better packer than I am a social worker.)
I’m back working in Asia, now.
I’m trying not to get too attached to brunch spots. I’m trying not to judge a bar based on the amount of Sharpie messages scrawled on the tables. I’m trying to eat my tofu scramble slower.
I’m trying to find my toothbrush.
My toothbrush is sluething around the interweb in the typical and predictable social-networky ways.
Follow me on twitter.
Get real personal and email me.
Hi Sarah’s toothbrush (and Sarah herself)! Just wanted to say hi and tell you how much I’ve enjoyed the blog so far and I’m looking forward to read more from you.
My toothbrush says “hello.” I also say “hello!” (albeit in a more humanistic manner).
I’m so pumped about the gig ahead! And of course, all the travels of my toothbrush.
Can’t wait to hear about your own journeys too!
Love your blog! Thanks for visiting The Wanderfull Traveler as well! I will definitely be adding your site to my favourites on my blog!
Look forward to reading more of your posts.
The Wanderfull Traveler
Glad to hear it.
I’m looking forward to writing them!
New favourite blog.
New favourite comment.
[...] About My Toothbrush [...]
What an absolutely brilliant name for a blog. Even dare I say… awesome?
Go on…you can say it.
Shower me in compliments if you’d like. Just don’ t rag on me for using the same title format for every single post. This kind of creativity doesn’t come easy ya know?
The same title format, breaking all the rules I see. Awesome.
Hey, just to let you know I passed on the Versatile Blogger award to you as you’re blog is one of my new favourites. You can see my post about it here http://bringingyoubeirut.com/2012/02/16/so-many-words-so-little-time/ and given that I cheated if you want to see the actual details of the award you can check it out here http://6monthstolive.wordpress.com/2012/02/13/honored-humbled-part-2/
Keep up the amazing work!
Suh-weet!
I’m practically cheating’s #1 advocate so I kind of appreciate this even more.
Thanks for the blog love!
Cool story, bro
I never knew, blogs would be so interesting even the “About My Toothbrush” is so damn interesting. Way to go, toothbrush!!!!!!!!!
Great blog name & great blog. Your toothbrush is a lucky guy (gal?). I completely understand the heart hurting agony of “corporate” life! Kudos to you for getting out!
Thanks, Catherine!
I’m really happy I traded in that corporate life. Just couldn’t live up to a silly standard of living where you have to know the whereabouts of your toothbrush at ALL times…
Love your style of writing. I personify everything. Great idea for a blog.
Thank you SO much.
Personifying things is definitely a dying form of writing…
Great stuff! I just finished reading through some of your posts, and I’m jealous. I try, but I’m just not good at writing. Luckily I think I take OK pictures! Looking forward to reading more.
Oh man, I feel like my writing needs some serious work.
And you know, editing.
Thanks for the compliments, though!
Umm the twitter link is broken. FYI
Thanks for the heads up! Tis fixed!
Where’s your toothbrush? …in my minimlist packing quest I thought I might have to give up my electrically powered monstrosity … but in aid of a nice mouth and smooth teeth, the decision is made. I will take it. My most most luxurious piece of equipment for my never ending round the world trip….. my teeth will love me. Sad but true my little buzzing machine will be heard around the world.
A good soundtrack to world travels I s’pose!
Good luck!
On my 3rd day on the Inca Trail, my toothbrush decided to finish the trek without me. It upped and left just as I had run back to the tent to get something I’d forgotten. I’ve never seen it again but I like to think my toothbrush is continuing its good work – much like yours is! Great site, have followed!
Thanks for the words, Peggy!
Unlike you, it is me always leaving my toothbrush. I’m convinced that all future toothbrushes are embedded with some serious separation anxiety issues…
I just discovered your blog from the article on the wordpress site that discussed how you chose your blog name. I am so happy to have found you. My son has just recently taken a sabbatical from his job and is going to be traveling for the next six months (he’s in New Zealand now.) I will definitely pass your site along to him. I think he’ll really enjoy it.
I wonder what percentage of corporate workers (by country) gone from Briefcase to Backpack