In keeping with this fortnight’s theme of ‘digitality’, Vicarious Living brings you an insight into the weird and wonderful WordPress world of that most inevitable of linguist clichés, the ‘year abroad blog’. You can keep up with Christy’s adventures at https://gringachilena.wordpress.com

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A True #Blogging Testament from a Real Live #YearAbroadBlogger

Christy Callaway-Gale (aka #GringaChilena), Santiago, Chile

This is just one of my ingeniously ingenious replies that I will make during my extremely exclusive #BBC interview after my #GringaChilena blog goes #Viral when this #Blogpost about #Blogging (#LoveAbitOfMeta) is published in the #PoorPrint.

During my research for said exclusively exclusive interview, one of my Research Minions Ianthe informed me that I am the only Oriel linguist this year who considers themself important enough to be writing a blog. #Discuss #OnlyChildSyndrome?

I can almost hear the special ringtone I have assigned the #BBC’s number (or is that just my morning alarm ringing off the hook?) as they call my phone to beg on their #Virtual hands and knees to have me Skype into their #BreakfastBroadcast.

If that infamously famous #BBC ringtone did sound, I would, I think, think 3 things:

1)    This phone call is going to be pretty expensive as I’m on my #YearAbroad in #SouthAmerica which you should know since you’re calling regarding my epic #GringaChilena #Blog

2)    Shall I get fully dressed out of my #PJs for my #Skype of #5MinsofFame or just put a nice top on? #FashionFirst

3)    #**** I’m going to be #******* (is that enough stars?) famous.

And then I remember that the last time I checked my highly complex #BlogStats my #TwoBiggestFans were my #MumAndDad (#Ungrateful #DefOnlyChildSyndrome).

In true #ObsessedBlogger fashion I check the #BlogStats again (definitely not for the third time this morning) and something incredibly incredible happens… It turns out someone is following my blog from – wait for it – Africa.

You’ve guessed it Oriel ladies and lads (#LadiesFirst), #GringaChilena had gone #Viral.

My heart started palpitating at the rate of the Oriel M1’s oar strokes (#DidIMentionWeAreHeadOfTheRiver #RowingChat #DefInOnThat) – I see my #OnlyMyParentsReadMyBlog status fading off into the mist of the Andes to be replaced by limitless fan mail.

With adult-like excitement (i.e. about three notches up from child-like excitement), I prepare to email #MumAndDad to impart my newfound stardom (#I’mSoGrownUp) and then I see it: the email from #Dad informing me of his business trip to… (I think you can see where this is going)… India #Jokes #AfricaAllTheWay #SeriouslyOnlyMyParentsReadMyBlog.

Me choosing to assume Parental Internetal Incompetence (#PII)

The #Blogger’sBlues are only made worse by the fact that I can’t count on all you readers (whoever you are, hello there – if you are freshers we’re going to need to be friends in my 4th year) being followers of #GringaChilena either, because let’s face it, if you’re still reading this blog post you are probs not interested but have just reached new levels of procrastination. #Congrats #Proud #IdleNotNobelPrize

But, as I’m about to give into #DesolationDigitality, I receive this comment from an anonymous source on one of my #BlogPosts: “You’re articles are really great.”

Once I get over the #ApostropheCatastrophe that is ‘you’re’, this comment makes me feel as warm and fuzzy inside as when #Tay-Tay made a song up about me turning #22. I hear #BBC bells chiming in with #Tay-Tay’s backing singers. This is until I realise this self-satisfaction is only possible if I choose to believe that my parents are too internetally (#MadeUpWord #DigitalityEatYourHeartOut)  incompetent to know how to post anonymously.

From #BloggingBlues to #CommentContentment, #GringaChilena has had a #Wild day (or technically morning I guess, since it’s only 11am).

Time for a nap to recover from this #EmoticonRollercoaster and to get my beauty kip before my BIG #BBC moment. Will I wake up to the #BBC ringtone or just to my alarm? Living life on the edge is just how us #YearAbroadBloggers roll(ercoaster).

Sending #InternetVibes and #GeneralDigitality #IsThatAEvenARealWordThough? from #Santiago,

#GringaChilena

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