A-genius. Full of sarcasms, self-poking fun.
a list of topic in March and things that apply to me:
Modern Furniture - beh
The Idea of Soccer - i grew up in VN, so "the idea" should be eliminated
Graduate School - true
Hating Corporations - too true
Bad Memories of High School - nope, i went to school in Vietnam
T-shirts - i'm ambiguous about this
The Wire - no comment, haven't watched it yet.
Shorts - yup, except it's not working this summer in VN; i'm mass attacked by mosquitoes.
Outdoor Performance Clothes - nope, i'm not at all sportive, especially by white standard.
Having Gay Friends - true, considering that i go to Wes, no surprise that at least half of my friends are queer
Saint Patrick's Day - true, i was in New Orleans for SPD, no reason why i shouldn't like it
Dinner Parties - true
San Francisco - true, even though i've never been there
Paris - sad but true
Should Children Drink Wine - again i grew up in VN; this is not the question.
Music Piracy - what can i say!? the only thing that i've ever paid for "full price" was probably Radiohead's In Rainbows.
jueves, 31 de julio de 2008
lunes, 28 de julio de 2008
s'inquieter
Ahmedabad in shock after blasts
This is the city i'm going to for next semester. The organization i'll be working for focus their effort exactly on this kind of problem: the tension between the hindu and the muslim communities. Yes, i'm fascinated by their work and that's why i chose to work for them. But, to be honest, i'm scared, not sure if i'll be able to deal with all the complexity of the situation, and also for my own security. Except that i'm not saying any of these things to my parents lest they be worried.
That's how it is in my family. We deal with problems by ourselves because we don't want to trouble others. My parents try to encourage my sister and me to confide in them and consult with them, especially since we're away most of the time, but they always do exactly the opposite. This has been going on for so long that now i've ended up with this habit: either i don't talk about the problem, or i'd make it lighter and put on a bold front. This helps in another way since my parents don't seem to understand that i can be happy with my choice and be worried about what it might lead to at the same time. Like, i've been really stressed out about finding a job in Vietnam after i graduate. Let's face it, a degree in sociology doesn't mean much here. And all the NGO jobs i've been checking out requires years and years of experience which i don't have. I'm not at all confident that i'll be able to live out my idealistic life. My parents don't need to know this: they've always talked about why i should regret not majoring in something like economics. No, mom and dad.
On a different note, kinda related to the first news:
Israeli force kill two Palestinians on the West Bank city of Nablus; Islamic Jihad threatens retaliation
I almost stayed there as well, at An-Najah university where they had the camp. I don't think this even made to the headlines, a trite story probably.
This is the city i'm going to for next semester. The organization i'll be working for focus their effort exactly on this kind of problem: the tension between the hindu and the muslim communities. Yes, i'm fascinated by their work and that's why i chose to work for them. But, to be honest, i'm scared, not sure if i'll be able to deal with all the complexity of the situation, and also for my own security. Except that i'm not saying any of these things to my parents lest they be worried.
That's how it is in my family. We deal with problems by ourselves because we don't want to trouble others. My parents try to encourage my sister and me to confide in them and consult with them, especially since we're away most of the time, but they always do exactly the opposite. This has been going on for so long that now i've ended up with this habit: either i don't talk about the problem, or i'd make it lighter and put on a bold front. This helps in another way since my parents don't seem to understand that i can be happy with my choice and be worried about what it might lead to at the same time. Like, i've been really stressed out about finding a job in Vietnam after i graduate. Let's face it, a degree in sociology doesn't mean much here. And all the NGO jobs i've been checking out requires years and years of experience which i don't have. I'm not at all confident that i'll be able to live out my idealistic life. My parents don't need to know this: they've always talked about why i should regret not majoring in something like economics. No, mom and dad.
On a different note, kinda related to the first news:
Israeli force kill two Palestinians on the West Bank city of Nablus; Islamic Jihad threatens retaliation
I almost stayed there as well, at An-Najah university where they had the camp. I don't think this even made to the headlines, a trite story probably.
sábado, 19 de julio de 2008
summer vacation
eat, sleep
go out for a drink with friends
run errands with mom sometimes
go out with mom and dad from time to time
argue with them
get sour with them
take care of housework from time to time
and for the rest, let them wait on me
surf net
couldn't be more well-behaved and productive
go out for a drink with friends
run errands with mom sometimes
go out with mom and dad from time to time
argue with them
get sour with them
take care of housework from time to time
and for the rest, let them wait on me
surf net
couldn't be more well-behaved and productive
contradictions pt. 2
- like to think of myself as anti-materialist (very indicative of how i am such a product of my liberal education) and yet still want to have enough money to satisfy all my "hobbies": good food, travel, etc.
- want to work for the community but always ignore others' opinions; those that are not close to me, i don't give a fuck what they think, and those that are close, well, i don't care either, because however they may find me, in the end, we would still be understanding and true to one another.
- want to work for the community but always ignore others' opinions; those that are not close to me, i don't give a fuck what they think, and those that are close, well, i don't care either, because however they may find me, in the end, we would still be understanding and true to one another.
contradictions
- always accumulate for themselves, live selfishly and yet, always live in the fear of rumors and yield to others' judgment.
- go to temples and pray to the Buddha; Buddha teaches - at least this is what i think - not to be self-absorbed, not to avoid hardship in life, and to be detached to all wants, and yet they only pray for more wealth and more success
- go to temples and pray to the Buddha; Buddha teaches - at least this is what i think - not to be self-absorbed, not to avoid hardship in life, and to be detached to all wants, and yet they only pray for more wealth and more success
viernes, 18 de julio de 2008
currently reading and listening
currently reading: Catch-22
Brilliant, hilarious, perceptive, ridiculous. I've laughed and cried so much. Full of absurd truths and truthful absurdities. Impossible to summarize all my thoughts.
most recent favorite quote: "anything [any country?] worth dying for is certainly worth living for."
currently listening: la chambre renversée. First saw it on TV5, just after a few seconds, i was like OMG this is so cute. Not sure if i'd have loved the song if i hadn't seen the clip. The images just fit so well with the music and the words. I'm not talking about the lyrics, but about the way the words sound. Together, they look like a children's story, a lot of imaginations, uninhibited with innocence and simplicity. Makes me feel like floating all day long while listening to the song.
Brilliant, hilarious, perceptive, ridiculous. I've laughed and cried so much. Full of absurd truths and truthful absurdities. Impossible to summarize all my thoughts.
most recent favorite quote: "anything [any country?] worth dying for is certainly worth living for."
currently listening: la chambre renversée. First saw it on TV5, just after a few seconds, i was like OMG this is so cute. Not sure if i'd have loved the song if i hadn't seen the clip. The images just fit so well with the music and the words. I'm not talking about the lyrics, but about the way the words sound. Together, they look like a children's story, a lot of imaginations, uninhibited with innocence and simplicity. Makes me feel like floating all day long while listening to the song.
middle class guilt pt. 2
Summer thunderstorm, the kind that you'd have to bend you back under its weight, heaven and earth white washed into one.
Inside:
Dad: And they still have to load the tailings under this rain and wind.
Mom: Yet they would never fall sick, unbelievable, while we who stay inside all the time would end up coughing non-stop.
Me:...
took out the camera, and didn't dare to use the flash and ended up with this.
Inside:
Dad: And they still have to load the tailings under this rain and wind.
Mom: Yet they would never fall sick, unbelievable, while we who stay inside all the time would end up coughing non-stop.
Me:...
took out the camera, and didn't dare to use the flash and ended up with this.
the fight
went to my motorbike test with Luc (my car driving teacher)
I didn't need his help so i told myself that i wasn't doing anything wrong.
But there were a lot of eyesores, and i didn't dare to speak up once, cause i myself was an examinee and they could have failed me easily. How pathetic! Me, who shout Fight and Fight.
And even though under no circumstances would i seek for my teacher's "assistance," i didn't have the courage to tell him not to come with me, thought it'd offend him. Always shout Fight and Fight.
I didn't need his help so i told myself that i wasn't doing anything wrong.
But there were a lot of eyesores, and i didn't dare to speak up once, cause i myself was an examinee and they could have failed me easily. How pathetic! Me, who shout Fight and Fight.
And even though under no circumstances would i seek for my teacher's "assistance," i didn't have the courage to tell him not to come with me, thought it'd offend him. Always shout Fight and Fight.
miércoles, 16 de julio de 2008
to-do wish list
work for a chocolatier
travel in Latin America
have a cafe, either a book cafe or a performing art one, or both
open a school with progressive teaching and learning ("pedagogy of the oppressed") for disadvantaged youth
work for a TV channel, something like Discovery, focused on travel, lifestyle, and culture (although there are a lot i'm not sure about, like the gap between the object exposed, the target audience, and of course the power of the language medium)
learn how to play a musical instrument
know well a style of dance
go parachuting/free-fall and bungee jumping
learn to swim well and go diving, surfing, wind surfing, water skiing
keep my English, improve my French, relearn Japanese, learn Spanish and Arabic
spend some time in Israel/Palestine
travel in Latin America
have a cafe, either a book cafe or a performing art one, or both
open a school with progressive teaching and learning ("pedagogy of the oppressed") for disadvantaged youth
work for a TV channel, something like Discovery, focused on travel, lifestyle, and culture (although there are a lot i'm not sure about, like the gap between the object exposed, the target audience, and of course the power of the language medium)
learn how to play a musical instrument
know well a style of dance
go parachuting/free-fall and bungee jumping
learn to swim well and go diving, surfing, wind surfing, water skiing
keep my English, improve my French, relearn Japanese, learn Spanish and Arabic
spend some time in Israel/Palestine
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