GLÖD around the world
GLÖD has travelled around the world and talked to young people about love, fashion, hobbies, and what they wish for the future.
Style
BAKAU, THE GAMBIA Alfusainey Gomez, 21
“I wear mostly sportswear. Many boys dress in the American style. But sometimes we mix traditional African style with Western style. Like a semi-African style, with for example jeans and an African shirt.”
NEW YORK, USA Linette Estrella, 15
She skateboards with her friends in Union Square.
Favourite music: hardcore. Gwen Stefani is her idol.
“I do my hair in five minutes in the morning before I rush to school.”
BAKAU, THE GAMBIA Fatou Darboe, 16
“This is my prettiest dress. It was sewn in Serrekunda and my mum was the one who chose the fabric. My friends and I are now going to buy stockings and such, because there’s a party at school on Saturday!”
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN Tone Brood-Björk, 16
“I’ve written on this shirt myself and on a lot of other clothes. It’s fun seeing how people react. They often ask what it says and why. It’s usually inside jokes, and a bit ironic. Like this one. Ängsvik is just a nowhere place in Värmdö. But it’s MY nowhere place!”
NEW YORK, USA John Hicks, 15
John is on his way home from his school in Harlem. He’s excited about having his picture taken. His idol is Eminem. This is what he says about his hair style: “I shave my head every other month.”
BAKAU, THE GAMBIA Abdou Rahman Jallow, 19
“I don’t wear this dress everyday, just on special occasions like today. It’s Friday! I chose the fabric myself and I’m very happy with it.”
BAKAU, THE GAMBIA Adama Bojang, 17
“I usually change my hair style quite often. My own hair is pretty short. These braids were made with extensions at the hair salon around the corner here. It took two hours, but that’s OK; I like it when people fix my hair.”
Hobbies and dreams
IGRANE, CROATIA Martin Vlakovic, 16
“My hobbies are bicycle racing and 70’s and 80’s rock. My favourite music is Country Creeds. In the future I would like to start a family and live here in Croatia near the sea. And I want to play in a rock band. If I don’t become a rock star I’d like to work as an aviation technician or perhaps as a hotel manager.”
IGRANE, CROATIA Inez Dugandvic, 16
“My hobby is listening to punk and metal. I like Guns ‘n’ Roses and the Toy Dolls the best. And I’d like to be an urban soul … In the future I’d like to become a hair dresser. I want to have my own salon. And I want to be happier!”
ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA Valeria Orlova, 16 and Anja Sharifova, 16
Valeria and Anja live just outside Saint Petersburg. They’re in tenth grade in secondary school. “But we live for the weekends. That’s when we go to clubs and concerts.
“Our favourite music is Hard Black Metal.” Valeria plays the piano and plays mostly classical music. But she also sings, in her own hard rock band. Anja doesn’t play any instruments, but she likes to draw. “I usually listen to good music. I get inspired by what I listen to and draw along with the music.”
DELHI, INDIA Puneet Kahr Hundai, 18 and Prineet Sohal, 18
“We’re on our way to a bar to drink soft drinks. We’re not allowed to be out after dark. We have to be home at six o’clock at the latest.”
“I play the drums and I’m going to start a band with some of my girlfriends”, says Puneet.
“I’ve taken a sabbatical from school and work with phones now. Later I’d like to study to become a veterinary”, says Prineet.
Love
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN Mita Stillerfors, 15
I WANT TO KNOW WHERE I STAND WITH HIM
“If I'm with a guy and he doesn't tell me who's calling on the mobile when I'm with him I get mad. He shouldn't be involved with other people at the same time. I want to know where I stand with him. I ask him straight up: ‘What's going on with us and where are we headed?’
The guy has to respect me, otherwise I'll break it off at once. It's important to feel secure in your relationship.
To first see each other and then get one text message a week is not okay.
Should you tell your boyfriend everything?
“It should be like with your best friend; you should be able to talk about important things. But maybe not everything. If you're interested in someone else and think that you could be with that person if your relationship ends for instance. You don't have to tell him that.”
BARCELONA, SPAIN David 15 and Alba 16
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
– We met four weeks ago. First we noticed each other in a crossing. When we had already passed by we both turned around and looked into each others eyes. Then we went back and started to talk. It was love at first sight.
DEHLI, INDIA Parab Saini, 16
TOGETHER IN SECRET
“I’m here at the market to buy jeans for my girlfriend. We’re getting together tomorrow. In secret. We do this twice a month, the same dates. Our parents don’t know we’re together. We say we’re taking dance lessons. We’ve been together for a year now.” “Dad would probably forbid me to go out after school if he knew I had a girlfriend!”
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN Charlie Blomgren, 14 och Alex Gurstad, 14
“IT’S ALRIGHT THAT SHE HAS GUY FRIENDS”
CHARLIE: “If your girlfriend hangs out with someone else a lot, you get jealous. It’s alright if they’re just friends, but if kissed, I’d get mad and break up!” What would you do if you saw your friend’s girlfriend flirting with someone else?
ALEX: “Tell him. But it can be difficult knowing how to tell him.”
CHARLIE: “It depends on how well you know him. But yeah, I would tell him as well. Maybe I’d ask the girl what she’s doing first, if they’ve broken up or something.”
ALEX: “Faithfulness also means treating your friends right.”
LIVINGSTONE, ZAMBIA Precious Mulenga, 16
YOU HAVE TO DARE
We meet Precious by Victoria Falls. She’s had a boyfriend for three years, and tells us that she was the one who first dared to show any interest.
“You have to make a move or nothing will happen!”
SANKT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA Oksana Aljokhina, 15 and Anton Romantsov, 17
JUST BECAME A COUPLE
Of all the couples that GLÖD has met Anton and Oksana set a new record: “We’ve been together for ten minutes”, says Anton and smiles at Oksana. “We like the same music and have the same favourite band … Karoli Shut, just like on this shirt!” Anton and Oksana are still a bit shy, but they look like they’re in love and seem happy when we take their picture.
“Now we’ve probably been together for twelve minutes”, says Oksana and laughs.
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN Josefin Carlén 16 and Nils Pyk, 15
FOOTBALL AND KISSES
Nils and Josefin are playing football in the park with a large group of people. The ball ends up outside the pitch. There is a short break in play and Josefin and Nils take the opportunity to kiss. Josefin first noticed Nils at a concert in Stockholm. Over the Internet they decided that the first one to find out about a good party would call the other. Nils called Josefin on Valentine's Day and they met at a party that night.
“We then decided to catch up over coffee. But I got sick …” “And then I couldn't come, it got sort of put off all the time. But finally met for a pretty tense coffee”, says Nils and looks at Josefin. They both start laughing."But then I called Nils and asked if he could come to my place and help me cut my fringe”, says Josefin.
“It was a good excuse to meet”, says Nils. “I had a feeling something was going to happen. The fringe was cut… and then we started kissing.” “Then we met up that weekend. It's been two years since we became a couple.”
LUSAKA, ZAMBIA Selby Daka, 18, Clayton Pllen, 18 and Jeff Haakantu, 19
I CHANGED MY STYLE FOR HER
“I love music, especially hip hop”, says Jeff. “Wu-tang are the best, they’ve got mad flow! When you’re stressed out it’s nice to relax with a bit of loud hip hop. The only alternative to hip hop is my girlfriend Nomsa. Actually maybe the girl comes first! She didn’t like me to begin with. I really had to impress her. So I changed everything, style and attitude, for her. It’s not that she’s bossy, but I don’t hang out with my friends as much anymore; I’d rather be with her”, says Jeff and smiles. “When you like someone it’s good to show that with glances, eye contact”, says Clayton, “because it can be scary to just come out and say how you feel.”