u/GeeCeeSlay7

I'm a woman who only dates women and am almost 24, White Scottish, and am living in small town Northern England which really isn't amenable to anything not straight and English. I just quit my job where I would often hear coworkers make racist or otherwise ignorant remarks regularly. I also attracted comments (no, not just banter, which would be fine) about being Scottish such as 'you don't talk like us' and 'you wouldn't know about xyz...'.

Only reason I'm here is to stay with my family (who are thankfully kind and accepting) while I commute to a masters in a city which I'll start in September. The masters is a two-year course and I'll be getting a new part time job to save money so as soon as my education is over I can apply for permanent residency in Canada or a Green Card for the US.

Everyday when I go outside I see those ugly tattered half-mast flags and it ruins my day and ability to connect with anyone from the area. I hate it here.

What should I do and how do I make the next two years go by quickly?

Obviously I get that producers want to pick people that will stir up drama and interest (who wants to watch happy couples, right?) but this year's cast was especially volatile and often downright unpleasant to each other, especially in comparison to last year which seemed more tame.

That's not even touching on a lot of the overt misogyny we saw this year from people like Chris, Tyson, Steven (the one with Rebecca), and Danny in the later stages. I also think the experts should have gone harder on Gia for how truly terrified Scott was of her, that doesn't happen by accident and if she was a man then people would be outraged. Same for Juliette and how she treated Joel imo. I would even say Juliette and Gia make Jessika Power look like the girl next door. Bec and Brooke too.

Is this producers just looking for the most volatile contestants they can find, or is this indicative of a worrying cultural shift?

After a very stressful and difficult couple of years I've found myself wanting physical intimacy again at almost 24 after having had none since 21. I have thankfully exited a long-term situation that has caused a lot of trauma in my life, and now my desire for physical intimacy is coming back I'm starting to feel nervous and strange about wanting it again.

Should I even want it again given I'm a UK size 18-22/US size 10, it's been so long, and that 24 is starting to get maybe too old for it? It all feels so strange to me and I've slept with 4 people in my lifetime and even though I want to experience more physical intimacy I'm worried that if I reach a certain number of partners women will stop liking me or wanting me altogether.

I want to be physically intimate again but should I even bother?

The thought of this really bothers me since I don't like the idea of gossip or cliques.

I'm almost 24 and don't want to date ever again but worry I'll become too inexperienced and clueless if I ever change my mind.

For me it's Edinburgh. Physically beautiful place with lots of history but feels transient and lacking in identity.