A violating turn

I wish I had never put a stat counter on my blog. It's opened up a whole new can of worms for me. I originally started this blog to keep my friends and family at home updated on things going on in my life while I'm here in London. For the first few months I seriously did not think more than like six people were reading my posts. Then I gradually started getting comments from people I didn't know, and it got me curious. So I put a counter on my blog and was shocked to see that I get like 50+ unique visitors a day (and plenty are returning). I know that's nothing in comparison to what a lot of you guys out there get, but for me...it just shocked me! Who are all these people? It's hard for me to imagine why people who don't know me would find my posts interesting enough to keep coming back. I mean, I understand to an extent because there are a couple of personal blogs out there of people I don't know personally that I read on a more or less regular basis (you know who you are!) but the difference is, theirs are actually interesting! But anyway, I've actually gotten comfortable with the other members of the Kuwaiti blogger community who I don't actually know who have started visiting - it's obvious where they've come from and I'm fine with that (so don't worry, I'm not complaining about you!).

But the most disconcerting thing of all is seeing where some people are logging in from. I can understand all the Kuwaiti ISP's, and some of the U.S. ones who I know are people who stop in on a regular basis. But today, for example, there is a UK visitor who came in by way of a blogger search for "Kleio" - and they stayed on for quite a bit, navigating around the archives and all. Was this person looking for me in particular? And if so, who the heck are they? I mean, I understand if people click on my link when I comment on someone's blog and come in that way - but this is the first time someone has done a search for my blogger name. I don't know - it feels wierd. I haven't shared my blog with anyone here in London, simply because this is something that I share with my friends and family at home (and if other people come across me that way, so be it) and since I'm writing about my UK life, I prefer not to bring my UK life into it. Maybe it was just a fluke and this person was looking for something else but it just feels...violating in a way. I know it's ridiculous for me to say that since I'm posting on the internet for the world to see and I shouldn't complain, but still. I just find it strange that someone was searching for it - if they were being referred by someone else they would have the link and wouldn't have to search.

I started this blog with a very particular reason in mind, but since it's starting to bother me maybe I should stop. I'll keep an eye on things for a few more days and then see.