I hadn’t experienced any difficulties while I was standing on top of a cliff in Dubrovnik seconds before jumping into whatever was in store for me below. I didn’t feel weary when a large Nordic man asked me to sit on his lap in a public park. I hardly bat an eye after I shared … Continue reading The Backpacking Diaries Italy #13
So far, I’ve been mistaken for being French, Dutch, German, and Australian. Unfortunately, the second I open my mouth all doubts vanish and it’s obvious what I am, “a Canadian, right?” While I’m flattered as hell that people think I’m a foreigner, the downside is that they speak to me in their mother tongues, and … Continue reading The Backpacking Diaries #12 Berlin, Germany
By Scout Petersen My dog had a routine. Every day before my mother got home from work he’d be biding his time licking his balls and gazing longingly out the door. That was regular for most dogs, but mine could only poop if my mom was home. On the chill tile floor, he’d lay … Continue reading Petersen: Party of Two [Satirical Personal Essay]
The sole information I knew about Mostar before visiting was that there was a pretty sick looking bridge. That was enough for me to book a bus ticket to Bosnia. Believe it or not, but there's actually more to this city than one bridge. Blasphemy. There was a brutal war that happened in the 90's … Continue reading The Backpacking Diaries #11 Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
To preface, I'm not a GoT fan, but I may need to start watching after my last few days in Dubrovnik. They literally trap tourists with anything and everything Game of Thrones in this city. There was sign outside of a massage place for a "GoT massage," whatever that means, for double the price of … Continue reading The Backpacking Diaries #10 Dubrovnik, Croatia
After three unimaginably strenuous weeks of globe trotting filled with nothing but beer and elbow grease, I re-stuffed my amazon prime packing cubes inside my glorified suitcase and headed to where I knew I'd be most accepted for my love of Lightroom presets; the beach. Succeeding my landing on the Croatian runway and deplaning my … Continue reading The Backpacking Diaries #9 Split, Croatia
Sure, you're aware need a microfiber towel and a reusable grocery bag, I'm not here to list out the obvious. I have an entire post detailing what I packed in my luggage while I spent 3 months in Europe, but here are 5 not-so-obvious items you'll want during your backpacking adventures across Europe. A lighter … Continue reading 5 Things You Didn’t Know You Needed While Backpacking Europe
As a wise winter princess once said, and I quote, "the past is in the past, let it go." Last week was no bueno, but during my 4 hours trek in a Flix bus (would highly recommend) from Prague to Vienna, I promised myself that I'd make this city different. One thing I've managed to … Continue reading The Backpacking Diaries #8 Vienna, Austria
I have to physically restrain myself from buying candy every single day. In Charleston I had my roommates to tell me whether I should go to the corner store or not, given they always said to do it, it's not the same. By myself it'd be so easy to eat candy for every meal of … Continue reading The Backpacking Diaries #7 Prague, Czech Republic
Traveling solo is like being on a constant first date, and not only that, but they're all blind dates. You roll off the same small talk questions and see if it'll lead to a friendship. Not too much humor, but just enough. Sometimes you hit it off right away and other times it takes a … Continue reading The Backpacking Diaries #6 Closing the Copenhagen Chapter
Every shower I take now feels like the best shower of my entire life. I don't feel clean, but that's not the point. Nothing I own is clean. I definitely knew that this would be something I'd have to deal with, but I'm not completely comfortable with being so gross all the time. My hostel … Continue reading The Backpacking Diaries #5 More of Copenhagen
Today I paid $16 to wash my clothes but forgot to put in laundry detergent. Trying to figure out a laundry machine that only has directions in a foreign language is equivalent to trying to solve a Rubik's cube with your eyes closed. I've had a few big learning points over the last couple of … Continue reading The Backpacking Diaries #4 Copenhagen, Denmark
It would've been much easier to make a video of this, but due to my fear of speaking on camera, you're getting a typed out blog post. For reference, here are a few of my favorite packing videos that are similar to my trip. In no particular order: 1, 2, 3. There are a bazillion … Continue reading What I’m Packing for 3 Months in Europe
Back and better than ever with entry #3! This one's juicy, guys. Pop some popcorn and relax. I'm about to take you on the rollercoaster that is my last 24 hours. 8/18/19 The Blue Lagoon... expensive, yet cool as hell. If I'm being completely honest, I was starting to feel pretty lonely over here. It's … Continue reading The Backpacking Diaries #3 Southern Iceland
Welcome to Entry #2: Destination Reykjavik 8/16/19 It's crazy how one day can feel like weeks. Today I fell asleep against an airplane window, then made friends with a pilot on my bus transfer, explored downtown Reykjavik, swam in a pool, and met a TON of hostel mates while we shared a few happy hour … Continue reading The Backpacking Diaries #2 Reykjavik, Iceland
Hello loyal Scout's Journey followers! Today I'm starting a new segment that I like to call The Backpacking Diaries. As often as I can, I'll be recapping my adventures through photos, videos, and (of course), incredibly unfunny blogs throughout my 90-day travels in Europe. Not one soul asked me to do this, but by god, … Continue reading The Backpacking Diaries #1 En Route
While teen pop sensation Hannah Montana didn't quite make it to the big city during her hit motion picture Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009), that doesn't mean you can't! The summer is a great time to holiday in the Big Apple, yet also an awful time (you're gonna feel sticky). But don't let that stop … Continue reading Tips for Your Trip: NYC in the Summer Time
As the greek philosopher Aristotle once said, and I quote, "pics or it didn't happen." When you're on vacation, it's your god-given right to photoshoot and over post to Instagram. I, for one, wholeheartedly support this Gen Z/Millennial ideal because I am incredibly egotistical. Believe it or not, I just recently purchased a tripod off … Continue reading Instagram Guide to Charleston, SC
I know I'm not alone when I say that there's a long list of cities that I've been dying to visit. Over time, as my list has begun to grow, (by that I mean I add a new city as often as every hour), I've started to get more depressed than inspired. How will I … Continue reading Solo Backpackers Guide To Long Beach California + More
Preface: This is a piece I wrote this semester that I thought was really funny. You might hate it -- I don't care, I'll still think it's funny. by Scout Petersen During my first-period physics class at Westside High School, my nostrils started to tingle. I made a few clockwise circles with my nose, hoping … Continue reading A Sticky Situation
Yuge shout-out to Girl Defined Ministries for sponsoring this blog post. Mr. Snapchat You're making small talk at a bar with a dark-haired hottie. He's been dazzling you with witty conversation for the last 15 minutes and hasn't roasted you for your liberal arts degree. As he pulls out his phone, you're thinking about how … Continue reading The 5 Guys You Shouldn’t Date, Court, or Marry
Last spring I was enrolled in a fiction writing course where I was prompted to write two short stories. Having never actually succeeded in finishing a story, literally ever, I had my doubts. Come to find out, I'm not half bad. More importantly, I really enjoyed it. Once I had the stomach to share these … Continue reading The poetry I wrote this semester (for class)
If there’s one memory in my life I’ll never forget, it’s trapping a cat-sized blackbird in a plastic storage bin. When someone says they’ve been to Australia, you wouldn’t expect them to talk so intently about the birds. “How were the people?” someone might ask, not “what were the birds like?” Even my strangest of … Continue reading The birds in Australia can sense your fear
Under one elbow is my plush cat-shaped pillow pet, and the other, my Vera Bradley bag stuffed with tights, tacky group t-shirts, and enough hairspray to stiffen a small village. I've been excused from the rest of my Friday classes so that I, along with 49 other tween-agers, can embark on a coach bus journey … Continue reading MTV True Life: I was in a show choir cult
One minute I'm peacefully dreaming of beaches with sand made of Funyuns, and the next I'm being violently shoved awake by the touching down of plane wheels on a salted Nebraskan runway. My neck does this thing where it lunges forward and I release a small snort, but as soon as I realize what I've … Continue reading going home for the holidays
After traveling on my own, I’ve learned that hotels actually blow chunks and hostels are where it’s at. That extra “s” is life changing. If you’d classify your lifestyle as hoity-toity, I would not advise you to stay in a hostel. They will not meet your needs, but they sure as hell exceed mine.
That title is going to get me on TSA's watch list, but that's a price I'm willing to pay. My love for the airplane window seat is more than just a phase, it's a lifestyle. He might cost extra, but so does quac, and what am I gonna do, say no?? If you're an isle … Continue reading 5 reasons why I’ll fight someone for the airplane window seat
Unless you've been on a four-year social media cleanse, or literally have no friends, you're whole heartedly aware that birthdays are not at all what they once were. A simple "birthday dinner" is a thing of the past. Sure, that term is still tossed around, but it has no right being called that. If you're … Continue reading every college girl’s 21st birthday
Travel + Leisure's #1 City in the U.S. welcomes a little over 5 million tourists each and every year. That city is one I have the pleasure of calling home. Living in the heart of the downtown tourist playpen, I've had firsthand experience when it comes to dealing with travelers (& college students). My stories … Continue reading Dumbest things to do on a night out in Charleston, SC
My most recent assignment in my Poetry 220 class was to pick an author or poem we particularly enjoy and attempt to recreate their piece. If you really know me, you'd be well aware that I'm obsessed with David Sedaris. If you haven't heard of him, plz keep reading because you will learn to love … Continue reading David Sedaris Remake
Your WCW pays top dollar for an hour long workout class, shows up, and then does bare minimum in the back corner. It's me. I'm your WCW. I can practically hear the yoga mats fishtail across the gym floor as several perky middle aged women gladly assert their superiority in their strut toward the mirror. … Continue reading workouts for weaklings
Let me guess, last night you partook in the act of consuming ungodly amounts of fermented beverages. After pre-gaming with two tall-boys of twisted tea, you happily helched at the pregame and proceeded to rally for bars. Those tequila shots you had? Worth it. Not because you had an amazing night, but instead because it … Continue reading the beauty of a sunday hangover
Hello my name is Scout Petersen, and I feel personally victimized by excel spreadsheets. Those tedious tiles of terror are single handedly funding anxiety medication companies across the world. You realized you missed one date while you were entering data? Congrats. The next 200 cells are incorrect. And while this is (kind of) a quick … Continue reading microsoft excel is ruining my life
In honor of World Mental Health Day, here are 6 ways to practice good mental health for yourself and others. 🙂 wash your sheets You & a clean bed. Name a better duo, I dare you. There's truly no better feeling than going to sleep in a warm and freshly made bed. A good nights … Continue reading be kind to your mind
Contrary to popular belief, I have literally no idea what is happening. My brain is the confusion meme, verbatim. All. hours. of. the. day. I often find myself asking the age old question of, wut? Occasionally I switch it up with a smile closely followed by several head nods. Yet each time the conclusion is … Continue reading i have no idea what is going on & neither do you
This blog, this one right here. I've wanted to write this for quite some time. You see, I've conducted an experiment over the last few years, strictly for educational purposes. It involved me downloading several, quote/unquote, "dating" apps. "Dating" is a polite way of saying it's a way of pairing up two sexually aroused strangers … Continue reading Why your tinder profile sucks
The time is 3 am. I'm lying in bed, on top of my comforter, but under my throw blanket. Sleeping this way allows me to never make my bed but also never feel real comfort. The only people awake other than myself are either cat fishing on Tinder, or texting the blonde in their Bio … Continue reading What should my caption be?
I hate to be the one to break this to you guys but VSCO is a dying app. A fallen soldier, as one may say. Pouring one out for my first real editing app. RIP. Before you send me hate mail let me explain. VSCO is great. It's like the gateway drugs of editing apps. … Continue reading wtf is a preset
Anyone attending a college on the southern east coast knows the in's and out's of a hurricane, far too well. I'm 3 for 3 on evacuations, or "hurrications", as they're much better known on campus. An excuse to go visit your friends at other schools while a hurricane and it's impending doom force you to … Continue reading rock me like a hurricane
This morning, like most mornings, my cell phone alarm blares from a mere three inches away from my face, still clutched between my sleep deprived hands. My poor pinkies have lost all feeling, so I say a prayer to god, thanking him for inventing the pop socket. This glorious invention allows me to rightfully feed … Continue reading A harsh day in the life of an upperclassman
What better time than summer to unironically read a fluff summer romance novel while lounging by the pool? I'd love to say I spend the summer reading Emily Dickinson, Moby Dick, or some other intellectually challenging works of writing, but no. I decided to read a mix of summer romance, humor and whatever sounded good … Continue reading The 5 books I read this summer
Hello! I recently started an Instagram page called @scooties_doodies. On this page I edit photos using the app YouDoodle. I can't really explain what it is I edit, because I'm not really sure myself. Basically I'm going to show you how to cut out parts of a photo and paste it on another. Any who. … Continue reading How to edit photos using the YouDoodle app
"Do you enjoy being the center of attention?" Disagree, slightly disagree, neutral, slightly agree, agree. Well I can't say that I agree because that would make me sound full of myself, and while I am, I'm going to pretend like I'm not. Disagreeing would be a fat lie and in order for this BuzzFeed 7 … Continue reading Best personality quizzes
spontaneity. that's what my blog posts are starting to feel like. For anyone who follows me on social media you likely know that I spent 6 weeks this summer in Australia. Studying and traveling abroad was amazing and I could go on for days telling you about all the adventures I had and insanely cool … Continue reading Spontaneity
Hair Cuts Helen looked over at the sleeping stranger. He was definitely drunk enough earlier in the night that he wouldn’t suspect her slipping a few sleeping pills in his drink, none of them ever did. She leaned over and tugged off a few strands of his hair. She couldn’t just cut off a … Continue reading Short Story #2
There's a buddhist quote that goes, "any time we suffer misfortune, two arrows fly our way." The arrows are the emotional pain we feel inside, and they come in two waves. The first arrow is the initial pain we feel when something hurts us. I'll give you an example, say you drunk text your EX … Continue reading 2nd arrow optional
Little preface to this short story. I wrote this as an assignment for my creative writing class to be turned in for a grade that I have not yet received. This is my first ever official story, and first draft for that matter, so by no means is it perfect. I'd love to hear … Continue reading “Electric Chair” — short story by scout
Tumblr is a social media that is seriously under appreciated. That website is full of poetic assholes that I want to be friends with. The other day I came across a quote that really hit home, and I wanted to share it with those of you who haven't yet discovered it via the internet. Sadly … Continue reading proposing a purpose
Back in high school my old english department would force all of the graduating seniors to complete a BARP. If you didn't happen to attend Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska that word probably means absolutely nothing to you. Now I can't recall what it actually stands for, maybe "big annotated research paper", but I … Continue reading best prepared abroad affairs
Okay mom before you get scared of that title, I'm not dropping out. But I can't say that I haven't thought about it on numerous occasions. When I was in high school I remember hearing all of those ~scandalous~ rumors along the lines of, "did you hear so and so's brother dropped out of school?!" … Continue reading The College Dropout
A Scout's Journey 