Hi, it's lovely to meet you, I'm Gia.
I am not a fan of introductions but in this instance it must be done. Where do I start? I love reading. I also love coffee (and tea) and I'm a Disney fan (to put it lightly).
I love the smell of rain (petrichor) and the smell of freshly baked bread. I also love writing.
I am an aspiring writer, and do tend to keep that a secret. But I felt it was time to begin sharing my ramblings and see if I could impart, not wisdom, but a few amusing tid-bits in the form of reviews, recommendations and exploring weekly topics that could spark interest and discussion. What better way than with a blog, and so With Gia was born.
I was born in my Mum's home country, the Philippines, in 1996 (the same year Pokemon was introduced to the world, so a very important year at that). I like to imagine myself as a bit of a girl Mowgli, which is almost true, bar the big blue bear and panther as my best friends. When I was still a little sprig, my family relocated to a mystical, sandy place called Dubai, which couldn't be more of a contrast to my previous lush green home.
I had a full childhood, brimming with excitement, love and chocolate. My passion for all things Disney started when I was six, with our first family visit to the park in Anaheim, California. With my Aunt living in Los Angeles, it seemed almost rude not to pay the famous park a visit. Now it has become a tradition to travel there every year and the magic for all of us still remains as strong as ever. The only thing that may have changed is that when I was a little girl, I was a rocket, zooming from one ride to the next, parroting the question, “What next? What next?” I now manage to contain this frenzy (just) and despite this being a small win for my parents, I graciously passed the baton onto my younger cousins who have continued my work in good spirit.
One could say my childhood rested on the foundations of these three pillars: dessert, jungle and Disney (Earth, dole whip and fire) making for an incredibly well rounded experience and one that will always be a part of me. I took these elements with me when I went to University. Somehow, I fell into the open arms of St Andrews, Scotland, and wondered when my Prince would finally come. I quickly forgot about that and had a blast during my four years, with many a Thistly Cross (a wonderfully sweet cider), concerts, charity balls and Netball matches, all with a smattering of work here and there. It was a whirlwind and a time I occasionally find myself wishing I could repeat.
Now, I am by definition an adult (despite still receiving dubious looks when I peruse the wine aisle during my weekly shop), living in the bustling city of London. I had decided to move here on a whim, and seeing as my Dad was born and raised, I thought I’d give it a go myself. Despite being worlds apart from the rich stories he shared with me growing up, I am making it my own.
My first job did give me a fleeting glimpse into a more traditional London. Working behind the scenes at The Savoy hotel was a humbling experience and the wealth of history and memories that building holds is astounding. I was grateful to be a part of it, if only for a short while. But as many young adults find, your first experience may not be your life’s calling and so I moved on from hospitality - begrudgingly so.
I then found myself on the opposite side of the spectrum entering into the daunting online world of a digital agency. Phones with you at all times! It was very much akin to the cliché Silicone valley start up with team breakfasts, the constant buzz of notification pings, acronyms galore (can we just go back to saying the whole phrase like end of day rather than EOD?), and many, many workshops. It was both trying and lively, and I admittedly learnt a great deal during my time there, particularly in regards to digital marketing. But, this again was not truly my calling so, much like a short summer romance, I had to cut things short and move on.
To date I now work for a publishing company. Finally making it into the industry I had been yearning to enter for a good 7 years, I still feel both surprise and elation at this fact and I am loving every single minute of it.
So, that’s me in a blogshell really. As we are now essentially akin to long life friends, I hope you will join me on my journey as I document various goings on and share a few stories of my personal experiences.
Do make sure to grab yourself a cup of tea before exploring (always helps to have a reading companion) and I hope you enjoy.
- Gia x