"All lives end, all hearts are broken, and caring is not an advantage."
- Sherlock Holmes
- Sherlock Holmes
Introducing
What is your name?:
"Izak Andrzej Zielinski. Yeah...I know. Betcha' can't say that five times fast."
What do people call you, though?:
"Given the tongue twister my name is, most people just stick to Izak. Feel free to call me Izzy, though."
How old are you?:
"Eighteen."
When were you born?:
"Warsaw, Poland."
Are you a male or female?:
"Last I checked, I go to the bathroom standing up."
Reasons
Why do you want to go on the trip?:
"Why? Because for all the traveling my Dad's job forced us to do, I never was able to wander far off base. It almost feels like I got jipped ya' know? Some people never get to travel anywhere, while I moved every six months or so to somewhere new. Trust me when I say that 'new' doesn't always mean fun, or special, or exotic though. At the end of the day packing up, leaving friends behind, spending hours in a cramped little seat, traveling kind of loses a bit of it's luster. At the same time when you don't know what you're missing, that's one thing..but when you can spit and hit the Great Wall, but not actually get the chance to really see it, walk it, or even touch it - it's almost seems unfair. Maybe I've got the wrong perspective..who knows, at least I've had the opportunity I guess, but now - this trip - it seems like a real chance to experience things with some newfound freedom. An escape. Yeah, that word feels right. I want to escape. Anywhere and everywhere.."
What are your opinions on travelling?:
"Normally, I'd say overrated. When you practically live in an airport, and you never really have an answer to 'where are you from' or 'what's your home town', it kind of desensitizes you to the whole thing. Instead of enjoying it, you get bored and irritable, I dunno' though - I think it's more the people you go with that make the trip, not so much where you're going. Then again, I'm just some military brat, kid - what the hell do I know?"
Do you have any illnesses that could affect you while travelling?:
"Not that I can think of."
What is the 'best' place you have traveled to so far?:
"Warsaw, in the winter. Something about when it snows there, makes it feel like home when I was a kid. Uh, Tokyo was pretty cool too, I guess."
Little Things
What do you like?:
"That's a pretty wide open question.. but I'm a pretty big fan of skating, on a board that is. Music, video games, going for runs are also up there on the list. I enjoy sleeping in, mostly because I rarely get the chance unless Dad's on temporary leave. Otherwise, I like dogs, coffee, spearmint gum, cold weather, and I'm sure the list goes on, but who's got time for that? I'm supposed to be doing my calculus homework.."
What do you dislike?:
"To start, authority and I really don't get along very well. Call it a bitter rivalry if you want, but I'm convinced there's just something in my biological coding that makes me resist it and people with it on instinct. With that in mind, I'm also not a huge fan of being cooped up, or restricted. Sure, sure rules are there to keep us safe, but they are also there to be broken - even if just slightly. Don't go getting the wrong idea now, that sounds worse than it really is. Yeah, uh..moving on. I kind of despise rap music, obnoxious drunk people, and being alone."
Do you have any hobbies?:
"Skateboarding, but you already knew that. I'm also pretty decent at playing the piano and violin, not that that information really gets broadcast. I guess you could say I dabble in photography, and scrapbooking - but between the two of us - let's leave out the latter part. Reputations, first impressions, and all that."
Do you have any phobias or fears?:
"Needles. I mean, what's the point? There's a pill for everything now'a'days, so who needs to give shots anymore? And uh, believe it or not, I'm not a huge fan of flying. I won't freak out or throw a fit or anything, don't worry, but I usually try pop some sleeping pills in the airport before. This might be a bit to personal..but who the hell's really gonna read this right? I just moved out on my own recently, and I can't tell you why..but I'm terrified of fucking up and failing. Call me stubborn, but I'd steal and beg for scraps before I ever went and asked my father for help. I'm pretty sure he'd never let me live it down. I'm already the family screw up - I won't let him take my pride too. "
About You
What are you like as a person?:
"Jesus, how many more questions are in this thing? What am I like? Christ..I don't know. I guess I already told you I was stubborn and kinda' cynical, but I swear I'm not all bad. Shy and distant maybe, but there are worse things. Uh, what else? I know I'm pretty laid back, and that I don't really sweat the small stuff. That's to say it takes a lot to really get under my skin. I've also been told I need to speak up more, give my opinion, and prove that I'm clever or something. I'm not sure I see the point, just because I'm quiet doesn't mean I'm also careless or indifferent. Nor does the fact that I tend towards intermittent sarcasm and smart mouthing mean that I'm just some dick with a shitty attitude'. I'm...I'm like an onion. Ever see Shrek? That scene when he and Donkey are chatting in the field of flowers on their way to Lord Farquarts Castle? If you have, great. If not, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I've got all kinds of layers.
I'm not really sure how to explain it to you no paper, hell I'm not even sure how to explain it to myself. It's not like I have to sit and analyze my own personality every day. I guess I can be reserved and guarded one minute, ya' know, when I'm thinking or feeling a bit introspective? The next minute, maybe I'm feeling trapped and restless and maybe that jock over there needs to be reminded that he's a tool bag in a subtle or not-so-subtle way. Temperamental might not be the right word, but my moods do tend to change easily. I like to think it helps me live in the moment, and adapt to what's happening around me because I never know how long I might be in one place anyway. Chances are, I'm at this school maybe until graduation, maybe not - so who cares what others think of me. At the same time, I'm exactly the most outspoken individual. The one who says what they mean and means what they say, hah..yeah right. I tend towards dry humor and snarky secondhand remarks when I can get away with it. Maybe it's a defense mechanism, maybe it's just fun.
To clarify, I may sway more towards the quiet side, but that doesn't mean I hide, or shudder on the sidelines solely as an observer. I might not be the first to suggest it, but you can bet your ass I'll be in to skydive or take that ridiculous bet - you just might not see it coming and that's part of the kick. I tend to slip by people's radars and chime in when you'd least expect it. If there's one thing I want to get across in this little rant it'd be that I'm not just some cocky or troublesome hooligan, at least I don't think so. I may skate, I may get into my fair share of scuffles, and sure I've skipped class here and there - but people tend to forget that I'm also second in my class, I work two jobs to pay my own bills, and sometimes, a black eye is totally worth getting in the last word in a battle of wits, if only for pride's sake. See what I meant by layers? I'm like a bad facebook relationship status; complicated."
Give me a brief history of yourself.:
"I was kind of hoping this question might have miraculously disappeared from the survey by now, but I guess not. Alright, here goes. I'm pretty damn polish, if you couldnt' figure that out by the "jddfjkgndgSKI" in my name. So, yeah that's where I grew up. Warsaw, but saying so feels redundant. What you don't know is that that city, is probably the only place I've lived in for more than two years at a time. The glorious years from birth to age eight were spent there, Moms, Pops, and me. Then Dad got a promotion, made rank - there are plenty of special terms for it but you probably don't care. Point is, his new position was one that required a shit ton of travel time. Long story short? I've attended twenty-seven different schools and academic programs in my lifetime. That also means I've moved a lot, and left behind friends a lot. You don't care so much when you're young, sure maybe you cry here and there, but friends come easier when you're ten or twelve. High School on the other hand, sucked. But let's move on, shall we. I think we were in Dubai for a few months, back when I was thirteen, and it sort of came to light that Mom was pregnant. It was pretty good news for 'Past Me', I'd have a constant companion, a sister in fact, someone to play with and protect with my strong thirteen year old chiseled muscles.
Unfortunately it was also around this time that Dad promised we wouldn't be moving for a while, so that Mom could have the baby (Delilah) comfortably and so I could graduate from eighth grade on time with some semblance of a friends group. You can probably guess how it went, literally the day before my friends and I were scheduled for post-graduation laser tag, and only a week after Delilah was born - Dad got new orders. Those days are kind of fuzzy, I try not to think of them terribly often, but the important information is that that day marked the beginning of a very bitter and messy divorce and custody battle. My parents practically waged war on their homefront and two schools later, court orders mandated that I was to stay with my Father and Mom got to keep Delilah. Talk about getting half of everything. Anyway, uh on my eighteenth birthday(or four months ago), I moved out. Currently I'm trying to get my feet on the ground ya' know..pay bills, buy a car, that sort of thing. And maybe, if I'm lucky, I'll get picked for this trip. And if I'm even luckier than that, maybe this trip will help me get in touch with my Mother and Sister.. They've got to be somewhere on this list of travel locations, right?"
Tell me about your family.:
"I'm pretty sure I just did."
Other: "Fluent in Polish, German, and obviously English."
Theme Song:
Grow Up || Paramore
I told 'em all where to stick it
I left town with a dime to my name
I said, I'm done with all of my fake friends
Self-righteous pawns in a losing game
Got my band and a light that won't go out
Been burning since the day I was born
So I cried just a little then I'll dry my eyes
Cause I'm not a little girl no more
Some of us have to grow up sometimes
And so, if I have to I'm gonna leave you behind
Some of us have to grow up sometimes
And so, if I have to I'm gonna leave you behind
Stood in line for so long just to picket
Something I will never understand
Aren't you tired of always being mad at the world?
Won't you just admit you don't care?
And lady, I don't want your pity
So don't feel sad for me
I got a love I would die for and a song to sing
Maybe we're both just living out our dream
And some of us have to grow up sometimes
And so, if I have to I'm gonna leave you behind
Some of us have to grow up sometimes
And so, if I have to I'm gonna leave you behind
We get along for the most part
Me and reality, the light and the dark
We live alone, two different worlds
Me in a fantasy, you in your memories
But we get along
We get along
(For the most part)
We get along
(yeah, for the most part)
We get along
(For the most part)
We get along
(For the most part)
We get along
We get along
Some of us have to grow up sometimes
And so, if I have to I'm gonna leave you behind [/center][/font]
