BAMBI’S SOAPBOX
[www.bambisoapbox.com]
Briefly describe the evolution of your blog.
My blog started out a few years ago as an anonymous side-project; it was an outlet for writing out my thoughts and commentary. In the beginning, it didn't fall into a particular style or category. Then, it didn't bother me although I know, when you start a blog, you should have a main purpose. The more I wrote, the more mine came into focus and I realised my content gradually revolved around the country and culture. Even when I'd travel, what I would write about would always come back to home. I sometimes joke that it's my ongoing love letter to Lebanon.
How did you first decide to launch?
It wasn't this big monumental decision. I wrote a piece about globalisation and decided to start a blog just to throw it into the abyss of the internet and then I just kept writing. It was therapeutic in a way but I didn't think it would become what it is today. My blog is like a baby that I nurtured and grew with. What it represents for me is a mirror of my own evolution as a twenty-something coming into her own. I'm very protective of it. I don't want it to be corrupted and I like how it's matured.
What makes your content unique in your opinion?
I've been told that it's my voice that differentiates it which is a great compliment. With all posts, I try to stay genuine and I pour a lot of myself into what I write about. Because my topics tend to revolve around Lebanon and my experiences as a young adult here, I feel like I'm sharing a personal journey which is something I don't delve into in person right away. I'm a guarded individual so expressing myself in a raw manner for an audience is an intimate process but people connect to the honesty.
What motivates you to keep going with your blogging after all this time?
It was always something that I did for myself and I think that's why I still feel passionate about putting time into it. It helped me develop my writing skills but it was also a project that pushed me out of my own comfort zone. It fed my curiosity by giving me a reason to explore my own country, ask more questions, and document thoughts that would've otherwise evaporated. It's similar to a digital journal in that you can look back on what you learned or once thought but also have a record of where you've been and how much you've changed over time. I recently left my job at Leo Burnett Beirut in order to take advantage of the ‘flexibility of my youth’. I'm untethered at the moment and I want to use this time to put myself to the test, personally and professionally. I'm looking for opportunities that will challenge me.