For the record, I'm still alive even though it's been a while since I've updated this space. Today is a BEAUTIFUL Saturday morning, it's 10.37am, daylight saving ends today, there's no wind, the leaves are turning brown, cats are starting to mate, I finished my 1st major assignment but I still have tons to do so it doesn't matter.. but it's a beautiful day. Ah bliss.. this is rare for Wellington.
There are a few things that I've got to know about Wellington and the Kiwis.
~During the early 15th century everybody thought the world was flat. Well, I'm pretty sure that even back then, the Wellingtonians know that's completely wrong. The world was full of hills.
~They eat rice with a fork. But that doesn't really matter. Asians can eat steak with a spoon.
~Marmite and Vegemite. Those are the bread spreads that they have only in New Zealand, I think. It's concentrated yeast extract. It's horrible. It's like putting Bovril on bread. Some people like it. I don't. I tried it once and I'll never ever try it again.
~Friday nights are lively here. Really lively.
~They say 'Cheers' instead of 'thank you' and they say 'awesome' instead of 'great'
~In New Zealand they are lots of sheep. Sheeps have wool. When sheeps poo, their wool get stuck on the poo. And so there's this black, stinking, make-you-wanna-puke-your-organs kind of wool. Thus birthed the phrase 'rattle your dag'. It means 'get moving'.
Those are the few that I can think of right now. I've found out more actually, but I can't seem to remember them at this point.
Studies are going full swing now. Assignments and homework and readings keep coming and piling up. I'm trying my best to keep up with everything but it's kinda draining me. Ah well, that's how student life is and always will be. Friday nights are kept free from studies because of ICF and supper at Readings. Sunday nights are also kept free from studies because there's free jazz music at Lido's, but that all depends on the circumstances. If I'm far too busy I'll just have to forgo jazz night, despite of my love for that genre of music. I still miss home and think of my mom often. I miss friends, too. But that's how life is. Nothing ever lasts.
Few days ago, I was talking to a friend of mine about how distance tend to turn even the closest and strongest of friendships into mere shreds of glass. Dangerously heart-piercing. Nothing but a memory of what was once beautiful and comforting. The Malay language has a saying that goes 'Ada pertemuan ada perpisahan. Itulah lumrah hidup'. I remembered my mother saying that as we go through life, it helps not to get too attached to anybody. It does no good to be close to people because in the end, they'll still have to leave you, either by choice or by force. Even between parents and children, husband and wives, brothers and sisters, best of friends.. relationships such as these do not last forever either. If we can accept that they will be a time when they won't be there for us anymore, we will be able to cherish and treasure even more the times that they are with us. We'll learn to turn kind thoughts into actions, and give encouraging words to others. We'll learn to say 'I love you' or 'You look great today' or 'Keep up the good work, we're supporting ya!!' or 'I will pray for you'... We'll learn to give out occasional small gifts for no particular reason or agenda, we'll learn to take some time to visit friends who are feeling down or sick, we'll learn to remember people's birthday and send them cards... we'll do all this because we know that one day we won't be able to do those things anymore because they won't be there.
I won't mind people giving me hugs and occasional small gifts. =p
