To live,
You need only to breathe in and out,
To find the means to feed and water yourself,
Or,
If lucky,
Get fed and watered by others.
But to truly live,
To truly live and breathe the passion that humans have nearly lost,
You must feel the wind in your hair,
The beat of your heart,
The fire in your soul,
And the power in your mind.
It's the spirit we've nearly forgot,
It's hard to keep the spark alive.
When the winds howl so violently,
It's hard to stay alive,
When the spark is nearly out.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Masculism
Mood: revolutionary
Listening to: 'Forever & Always' by Taylor Swift
Hungry for: milk
I used to dismiss masculism, but now, I think, I am beginning to take it seriously. I accept that there are some things that women get a bit more leeway on then men - and of course, this needs immediate attention on a global scale. Human rights, for men and women, should always be moving forward.
One thing all of us, feminist or masculist, man or woman, must refrain from, is chauvinism. There is not one race or sex that is better than the others. The world will be a better place when every man, woman and child accepts that.
But you must agree, that men, compared to women, have had it quite easy, all in all. There are the biological things that no-one can change, like pregnancy and childbirth and the endless monthly hormone rollercoaster, but then there are the things that we can change - the atrocious defiance of the most basic human rights to women in third-world countries, ruled by ignorant thugs who seek to suppress those who are blamed for what they are born to be, and the sexual discrimination that exists today even in modern-day, civilized society. Women's rights to education is still a long way behind the rights of education granted to men, with tertiary education only available to women in the 1900's and even now still denied to a significant percentage of the female population. Masculists cannot dismiss or criticise the feminist cause, and feminists cannot dismiss or criticise the masculist cause. We should work together, to secure equal rights for all, forever.
Don't forget to check out my new blog, It's A Crazy Dream, to follow me as I read the Telegraph's Top 100 Novels of All Time.
Listening to: 'Forever & Always' by Taylor Swift
Hungry for: milk
I used to dismiss masculism, but now, I think, I am beginning to take it seriously. I accept that there are some things that women get a bit more leeway on then men - and of course, this needs immediate attention on a global scale. Human rights, for men and women, should always be moving forward.
One thing all of us, feminist or masculist, man or woman, must refrain from, is chauvinism. There is not one race or sex that is better than the others. The world will be a better place when every man, woman and child accepts that.
But you must agree, that men, compared to women, have had it quite easy, all in all. There are the biological things that no-one can change, like pregnancy and childbirth and the endless monthly hormone rollercoaster, but then there are the things that we can change - the atrocious defiance of the most basic human rights to women in third-world countries, ruled by ignorant thugs who seek to suppress those who are blamed for what they are born to be, and the sexual discrimination that exists today even in modern-day, civilized society. Women's rights to education is still a long way behind the rights of education granted to men, with tertiary education only available to women in the 1900's and even now still denied to a significant percentage of the female population. Masculists cannot dismiss or criticise the feminist cause, and feminists cannot dismiss or criticise the masculist cause. We should work together, to secure equal rights for all, forever.
Don't forget to check out my new blog, It's A Crazy Dream, to follow me as I read the Telegraph's Top 100 Novels of All Time.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Hello World.
Hello World,
This is me. I am a woman.
The feminist movement is still alive, and modern society is crushing it. Why? Because they think it should be over. That the war is won.
But the war is not won! The world does not see the gross inequality that still stands today. Only rarely do you hear tales of *men* being slighted and raped and murdered in their beds, yet these stories are of every day occurence as far as *women* are concerned.
When men think of women's rights, they think of their bosses, their managers - some of which may be female. They see this as sufficient evidence of the success of the suffragette movement. But it is not! They do not think of the suppressed women in Afghanistan and other places, they do not think of the discrimination that still exists, even in the most refined streets of the most sophisticated societies. They do not think of the tremendous pressures of the ever-raising benchmarks set by men of the impossible Image of Beauty that we are all forced to conform to.
And then there are those other men, who think that a woman's place is grovelling on their knees at the feet of men, forever at their beck and call, forever the slaves of the opposite sex. One day, when your miserable life is over, then God, or Karma, or whatever you believe if you are human enough to believe, will make you live once again, but as a woman. Then you will see how pleasureable it is to be enslaved by those who should be our equals.
There are also women, who oppose our fight for freedom. Some are brainwashed by the evils of some members of mankind, and others wrongly believe that feminists mean to control the world! We do not strive for something that would surely spell catastrophe. We have had many millenia dictated by one sex, and we need not endure another millenia dictated by the other. We strive to move forwards into an equal and glorious future, man and woman, hand in hand. Feminists, my sisters, believe in equality for all - man, woman, black, white. It is ignorance, evil, and cruelty that keeps womankind always a step behind the snobbish noses of men. The feminist movement is now larger than ever. We have not only strong and brave women, but also the aid of some men who have come to their senses, to fight against the long and inhumane disregard for the most basic of human rights. The right to live, the right to die. The right to work, the right to rest. The right to freedom, the right to happiness, the right to power, to authority, and to a home. The right to love, and to be loved. Let all these rights be shared by all.
I am a woman, a proud woman, a wronged woman. I would gladly die for my cause. And if I do, I will watch from Paradise as all those who turned against me are burned in the Flames of Hell.
This is me. I am a woman.
The feminist movement is still alive, and modern society is crushing it. Why? Because they think it should be over. That the war is won.
But the war is not won! The world does not see the gross inequality that still stands today. Only rarely do you hear tales of *men* being slighted and raped and murdered in their beds, yet these stories are of every day occurence as far as *women* are concerned.
When men think of women's rights, they think of their bosses, their managers - some of which may be female. They see this as sufficient evidence of the success of the suffragette movement. But it is not! They do not think of the suppressed women in Afghanistan and other places, they do not think of the discrimination that still exists, even in the most refined streets of the most sophisticated societies. They do not think of the tremendous pressures of the ever-raising benchmarks set by men of the impossible Image of Beauty that we are all forced to conform to.
And then there are those other men, who think that a woman's place is grovelling on their knees at the feet of men, forever at their beck and call, forever the slaves of the opposite sex. One day, when your miserable life is over, then God, or Karma, or whatever you believe if you are human enough to believe, will make you live once again, but as a woman. Then you will see how pleasureable it is to be enslaved by those who should be our equals.
There are also women, who oppose our fight for freedom. Some are brainwashed by the evils of some members of mankind, and others wrongly believe that feminists mean to control the world! We do not strive for something that would surely spell catastrophe. We have had many millenia dictated by one sex, and we need not endure another millenia dictated by the other. We strive to move forwards into an equal and glorious future, man and woman, hand in hand. Feminists, my sisters, believe in equality for all - man, woman, black, white. It is ignorance, evil, and cruelty that keeps womankind always a step behind the snobbish noses of men. The feminist movement is now larger than ever. We have not only strong and brave women, but also the aid of some men who have come to their senses, to fight against the long and inhumane disregard for the most basic of human rights. The right to live, the right to die. The right to work, the right to rest. The right to freedom, the right to happiness, the right to power, to authority, and to a home. The right to love, and to be loved. Let all these rights be shared by all.
I am a woman, a proud woman, a wronged woman. I would gladly die for my cause. And if I do, I will watch from Paradise as all those who turned against me are burned in the Flames of Hell.
My English course this semester is Public Speaking, and I think it's rubbed off on me a bit. Any feedback on my speech would be absolutely fabulous.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Valentine's Day
Mood: sleepy
Listening to: 'One Less Lonely Girl' by Justin Bieber (again)
Hungry for: nothin'.
I personally don't like Valentine's Day. I guess the most common term for my attitude is sour grapes. It's true. I hoped I would have spent this Valentine's Day with my (now) ex-boyfriend, but seeing as he dumped me three days after he asked me out (all on msn), this looks like another solitary February the fourteenth.
In truth, I am a diehard romantic. I'm probably the only romantic that doesn't like Valentine's Day. So, I'm gonna talk about something that I haven't talked about in a very long time: boys.
I, like most girls my age, have my own idea of My Perfect Man. It's very idealistic. The bad boy, darker than the stereotype surfer dude, who knows how to have fun but still maintain those cute, old-fashioned things - like walking curbside and opening doors for girls. That kind of guy. No matter what kind of ego bashing all sorts of boys have given me, I still maintain that getting My Perfect Man is not too much to ask of life. In fact, one of my best ways of getting over guys is something along the lines of 'because this hurt so bad the guy I'll one day get will be super, super, perfect.'
Most girls my age who are as ambitious and (dare I say it?) clever as me think themselves above boys, but I don't. IQ aside, I'm just like the other girls when it comes to Valentine's Day - watching rom-coms and playing with my dog and dreaming about getting all of those cheesy tacky things that you see girls get on Valentine's Day - pink balloons and red roses and big heart-shaped boxes of chocolates.
I'm not too proud to admit that.
In my previous post I mentioned that I would love a Valentine to sing 'One Less Lonely Girl' for me on Valentine's Day. Why? Because the lyrics are so sweet. And also because I know it will never happen, because I know boys only do that kind of shit in movies or for money. But here are the lyrics:
Listening to: 'One Less Lonely Girl' by Justin Bieber (again)
Hungry for: nothin'.
I personally don't like Valentine's Day. I guess the most common term for my attitude is sour grapes. It's true. I hoped I would have spent this Valentine's Day with my (now) ex-boyfriend, but seeing as he dumped me three days after he asked me out (all on msn), this looks like another solitary February the fourteenth.
In truth, I am a diehard romantic. I'm probably the only romantic that doesn't like Valentine's Day. So, I'm gonna talk about something that I haven't talked about in a very long time: boys.
I, like most girls my age, have my own idea of My Perfect Man. It's very idealistic. The bad boy, darker than the stereotype surfer dude, who knows how to have fun but still maintain those cute, old-fashioned things - like walking curbside and opening doors for girls. That kind of guy. No matter what kind of ego bashing all sorts of boys have given me, I still maintain that getting My Perfect Man is not too much to ask of life. In fact, one of my best ways of getting over guys is something along the lines of 'because this hurt so bad the guy I'll one day get will be super, super, perfect.'
Most girls my age who are as ambitious and (dare I say it?) clever as me think themselves above boys, but I don't. IQ aside, I'm just like the other girls when it comes to Valentine's Day - watching rom-coms and playing with my dog and dreaming about getting all of those cheesy tacky things that you see girls get on Valentine's Day - pink balloons and red roses and big heart-shaped boxes of chocolates.
I'm not too proud to admit that.
In my previous post I mentioned that I would love a Valentine to sing 'One Less Lonely Girl' for me on Valentine's Day. Why? Because the lyrics are so sweet. And also because I know it will never happen, because I know boys only do that kind of shit in movies or for money. But here are the lyrics:
One Less Lonely Girl' by Justin Bieber
Alright let's go
There's gonna be one less lonely girl
One less lonely girl
There's gonna be one less lonely girl
One less lonely girl
How many 'I told you'’s and start overs
And shoulders have you cried on before?
How many promises, be honest girl,
How many tears you let hit the floor?
How many bags you packed,
Just to take ‘em back, tell me that,
How many 'either or''s but no more;
If you let me inside of your world,
There'll be the one less lonely girl
Saw so many pretty faces before I saw you,
Now all I see is you,
I'm coming for you
No, no
Don't need these other pretty faces like I need you;
And when you’re mine, in the world,
There's gonna be one less lonely girl.
(I'm coming for you) One less lonely girl,
(I'm coming for you) One less lonely girl,
(I'm coming for you)One less lonely girl,
There's gonna be one less lonely girl (I'm coming for you),
I'm gonna put you first (I'm coming for you),
I'll show you what you're worth (That's what I'm gonna do),
If you let me inside your world,
There’s gonna be one less lonely girl.
Christmas wasn’t merry, 14th of February not one of them spent with you.
How many dinner dates, set dinner plates and
He didn’t even touch his food.
How many torn photographs saw you taping back,
Tell me that couldn’t see an open door,
But no more;
If you let me inside of your world,
There'll be one less lonely girl.
Saw so many pretty faces
Before I saw you you,
Now all I see is you.
I'm coming for you, I'm coming for you.
No, no,
Don't need these other pretty faces like I need you.
And when you’re mine, in this world;
There’s gonna be one less lonely girl.
(I'm coming for you)One less lonely girl,
(I'm coming for you)One less lonely girl,
(I'm coming for you)One less lonely girl,
(There's gonna be) One less lonely girl,
(I'm coming for you) I'm gonna put you first,
(I'm coming for you) I'll show you what you’re worth;
(Thats what I'm gonna do)If you let me inside of your world,
There's gonna be one less lonely girl.
I can fix up your broken heart
I can give you a brand new start
I can make you believe (yeah)
I just wanna set one girl free to fall,
Free to fall (she's free to fall)
Fall in love
With me
Her hearts locked and nowhere to get the key,
I’ll take her and leave the world with one less lonely girl.
There’s gonna be one less lonely girl (one less lonely girl)
One less lonely girl (one less lonely girl)
There’s gonna be one less lonely girl (one less lonely girl)
One less lonely girl
(I'm coming for you)One less lonely girl
(I'm coming for you) One less lonely girl
(I'm coming for you)One less lonely girl
Theres gunna be one less lonely girl (I'm coming for you)
I'm gunna put you first (I'm coming for you)
I'll show you what your worth (That's what I gotta do)
If you let me inside your world
There's gonna be one less lonely girl
Alright let's go
There's gonna be one less lonely girl
One less lonely girl
There's gonna be one less lonely girl
One less lonely girl
How many 'I told you'’s and start overs
And shoulders have you cried on before?
How many promises, be honest girl,
How many tears you let hit the floor?
How many bags you packed,
Just to take ‘em back, tell me that,
How many 'either or''s but no more;
If you let me inside of your world,
There'll be the one less lonely girl
Saw so many pretty faces before I saw you,
Now all I see is you,
I'm coming for you
No, no
Don't need these other pretty faces like I need you;
And when you’re mine, in the world,
There's gonna be one less lonely girl.
(I'm coming for you) One less lonely girl,
(I'm coming for you) One less lonely girl,
(I'm coming for you)One less lonely girl,
There's gonna be one less lonely girl (I'm coming for you),
I'm gonna put you first (I'm coming for you),
I'll show you what you're worth (That's what I'm gonna do),
If you let me inside your world,
There’s gonna be one less lonely girl.
Christmas wasn’t merry, 14th of February not one of them spent with you.
How many dinner dates, set dinner plates and
He didn’t even touch his food.
How many torn photographs saw you taping back,
Tell me that couldn’t see an open door,
But no more;
If you let me inside of your world,
There'll be one less lonely girl.
Saw so many pretty faces
Before I saw you you,
Now all I see is you.
I'm coming for you, I'm coming for you.
No, no,
Don't need these other pretty faces like I need you.
And when you’re mine, in this world;
There’s gonna be one less lonely girl.
(I'm coming for you)One less lonely girl,
(I'm coming for you)One less lonely girl,
(I'm coming for you)One less lonely girl,
(There's gonna be) One less lonely girl,
(I'm coming for you) I'm gonna put you first,
(I'm coming for you) I'll show you what you’re worth;
(Thats what I'm gonna do)If you let me inside of your world,
There's gonna be one less lonely girl.
I can fix up your broken heart
I can give you a brand new start
I can make you believe (yeah)
I just wanna set one girl free to fall,
Free to fall (she's free to fall)
Fall in love
With me
Her hearts locked and nowhere to get the key,
I’ll take her and leave the world with one less lonely girl.
There’s gonna be one less lonely girl (one less lonely girl)
One less lonely girl (one less lonely girl)
There’s gonna be one less lonely girl (one less lonely girl)
One less lonely girl
(I'm coming for you)One less lonely girl
(I'm coming for you) One less lonely girl
(I'm coming for you)One less lonely girl
Theres gunna be one less lonely girl (I'm coming for you)
I'm gunna put you first (I'm coming for you)
I'll show you what your worth (That's what I gotta do)
If you let me inside your world
There's gonna be one less lonely girl
Friday, February 12, 2010
Men in Lingerie Stores
Mood: dead beat
Listening to: 'One Less Lonely Girl' by Justin Bieber (someone must sing that for me one day. That would be the ultimate Valentine's day present)
Hungry for: ramen noodles. Korean ramen noodles are the best - they're like instant noodles, but in flavours like kimchi and claypot and udon, not wussy flavours like chicken. Oh, and the packets are like, supersized compared to the midget Maggi ones.
I hate lingerie stores. I mean, the stuff they sell pretty much puts the women's liberation movement back about a hundred years. I mean, most sane women don't buy naughty nurse costumes on Halloween or black lace on Valentines Day.
But, sometimes, lingerie stores are unavoidable - just one of the many inconveniences of being a women. And it's kind of embarassing, being seen in a store selling stuff that is normally covered by jeans and sweatshirts.
But I hate, hate, hate men in lingerie stores. And there is always at least one of them in there, trailing after their girlfriend who's lost her head (who on earth would let a man follow you into a lingerie store?) poking around. It's disgusting and embarassing. I mean, you don't let men into the female bathrooms, so why should they go into a lingerie store? It's revolting. They take bras off the hangers and squeeze them, or run their fingers through piles of lace. I can't touch or try on or even contemplate buying anything I see a guy touch, and most other women in the store feel the same.
I think men should be barred from entering lingerie stores, just like they're barred from female toilets. It's not sexist or anything, it's just revolting! As far as I know guys don't have anything that private to buy, so I can't make comparisons, but I guess you could say that seeing a man in a lingerie store is like seeing a full-grown man in the women's conveniences. Not nice. And men don't need anything in lingerie stores for themselves, and I personally say that if any boyfriend of mine bought me lingerie I wouldn't be very impressed. There are more sensible things, to buy in more sensible places, for a loved one.
Maybe I'm being overly conservative, and if anyone reads this from my school rumours are going to go around that I'm frigid. I don't care. I may be a wild child, but I just think the Y chromosone shouldn't really be in lingerie stores. Male staff in lingerie stores are even worse, but don't let me get started on that.
Please send all hate mail to chiyoko.hine@gmail.com under the subject 'Lady Renegade is effed up'. Thank you.
Listening to: 'One Less Lonely Girl' by Justin Bieber (someone must sing that for me one day. That would be the ultimate Valentine's day present)
Hungry for: ramen noodles. Korean ramen noodles are the best - they're like instant noodles, but in flavours like kimchi and claypot and udon, not wussy flavours like chicken. Oh, and the packets are like, supersized compared to the midget Maggi ones.
I hate lingerie stores. I mean, the stuff they sell pretty much puts the women's liberation movement back about a hundred years. I mean, most sane women don't buy naughty nurse costumes on Halloween or black lace on Valentines Day.
But, sometimes, lingerie stores are unavoidable - just one of the many inconveniences of being a women. And it's kind of embarassing, being seen in a store selling stuff that is normally covered by jeans and sweatshirts.
But I hate, hate, hate men in lingerie stores. And there is always at least one of them in there, trailing after their girlfriend who's lost her head (who on earth would let a man follow you into a lingerie store?) poking around. It's disgusting and embarassing. I mean, you don't let men into the female bathrooms, so why should they go into a lingerie store? It's revolting. They take bras off the hangers and squeeze them, or run their fingers through piles of lace. I can't touch or try on or even contemplate buying anything I see a guy touch, and most other women in the store feel the same.
I think men should be barred from entering lingerie stores, just like they're barred from female toilets. It's not sexist or anything, it's just revolting! As far as I know guys don't have anything that private to buy, so I can't make comparisons, but I guess you could say that seeing a man in a lingerie store is like seeing a full-grown man in the women's conveniences. Not nice. And men don't need anything in lingerie stores for themselves, and I personally say that if any boyfriend of mine bought me lingerie I wouldn't be very impressed. There are more sensible things, to buy in more sensible places, for a loved one.
Maybe I'm being overly conservative, and if anyone reads this from my school rumours are going to go around that I'm frigid. I don't care. I may be a wild child, but I just think the Y chromosone shouldn't really be in lingerie stores. Male staff in lingerie stores are even worse, but don't let me get started on that.
Please send all hate mail to chiyoko.hine@gmail.com under the subject 'Lady Renegade is effed up'. Thank you.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Parents Interfering
Mood: tired
Listening to: 'Hypocrite' by Skye Sweetnam
Hungry for: dinner...still...
There are many kids at my school who transfer out of courses constantly - and it's not because they make lots of bad choices. It's because parents, as usual, are being their usual busybodying self, and forced them to do courses that they don't want to do.
I know my parents, for example, won't force me to do something ridiculous, like Elite Maths, because it would make my life an utter misery. My parents are not so narrow minded as to limit my career options to being a doctor or a lawyer, like the parents of lots of kids I know do.
I mean, I see kids in Economics class quite literally banging their heads on the table with frustration. I see people at the back of Music, flicking bits of paper at the teacher. These people are not only learning nothing, they're affecting the learning of others who might actually want to learn.
So parents are not being very considerate here - they're not considerate about their own kids, or others. What kind of example is that to set for us?
Listening to: 'Hypocrite' by Skye Sweetnam
Hungry for: dinner...still...
There are many kids at my school who transfer out of courses constantly - and it's not because they make lots of bad choices. It's because parents, as usual, are being their usual busybodying self, and forced them to do courses that they don't want to do.
I know my parents, for example, won't force me to do something ridiculous, like Elite Maths, because it would make my life an utter misery. My parents are not so narrow minded as to limit my career options to being a doctor or a lawyer, like the parents of lots of kids I know do.
I mean, I see kids in Economics class quite literally banging their heads on the table with frustration. I see people at the back of Music, flicking bits of paper at the teacher. These people are not only learning nothing, they're affecting the learning of others who might actually want to learn.
So parents are not being very considerate here - they're not considerate about their own kids, or others. What kind of example is that to set for us?
Students that Piss Me Off
Mood: in love...with who?
Listening to: 'One Less Lonely Girl' by Justin Bieber
Hungry for: dinner!
I am an advocate for children's, young adult's and students rights, and I normally side with students and do hate rants on teachers. But today I've found one of the few legitimate reasons why many teachers are the sadistic idiots they are.
Idiotic students.
I mean, in our school, there is no legitimate reason to be dumb. We're all chosen for our academic excellence, so you have to be good at something. And it's pretty pointless trying to act dumb, either, because one, it's not sexy, two, it's not cool, and three, it's kinda pointless in a school that is recognised like, across the globe, as an academically elite school. I would never act dumb to get a bigger circle of friends, or to get a boyfriend. It's not like both of those things aren't important to me, but being true to myself is my first priority.
That's not really the case for most of my classmates. Most of them don't think about the life they'll have after high school - they don't see that stratigically-made high school friendships with the most popular people aren't going to do anything for you in the long run, and it's not the end of the world if you don't have a boyfriend before you graduate. I know it seems like an easy thing to do - lose yourself and go with the flow to get a bit of popularity - but I wish people would look at the bigger picture.
Or, at least, stop annoying the hell out of everybody else.
There's a boy at the back of my science class who acts super dumb. He talks back to the teacher, makes smart-ass comments and either responds to a question as though it's the easiest thing on earth, or look at the teacher as though she's speaking Arabic or something. It's enough to drive anyone mad. And it's not funny. It's really not funny. It pisses the teacher off and then we have to put up with a pissed-off teacher.
I don't mind that people don't care about their lives or their future. But they should at least care for other people, then. Care enough not to go out of their way to make life hell.
Listening to: 'One Less Lonely Girl' by Justin Bieber
Hungry for: dinner!
I am an advocate for children's, young adult's and students rights, and I normally side with students and do hate rants on teachers. But today I've found one of the few legitimate reasons why many teachers are the sadistic idiots they are.
Idiotic students.
I mean, in our school, there is no legitimate reason to be dumb. We're all chosen for our academic excellence, so you have to be good at something. And it's pretty pointless trying to act dumb, either, because one, it's not sexy, two, it's not cool, and three, it's kinda pointless in a school that is recognised like, across the globe, as an academically elite school. I would never act dumb to get a bigger circle of friends, or to get a boyfriend. It's not like both of those things aren't important to me, but being true to myself is my first priority.
That's not really the case for most of my classmates. Most of them don't think about the life they'll have after high school - they don't see that stratigically-made high school friendships with the most popular people aren't going to do anything for you in the long run, and it's not the end of the world if you don't have a boyfriend before you graduate. I know it seems like an easy thing to do - lose yourself and go with the flow to get a bit of popularity - but I wish people would look at the bigger picture.
Or, at least, stop annoying the hell out of everybody else.
There's a boy at the back of my science class who acts super dumb. He talks back to the teacher, makes smart-ass comments and either responds to a question as though it's the easiest thing on earth, or look at the teacher as though she's speaking Arabic or something. It's enough to drive anyone mad. And it's not funny. It's really not funny. It pisses the teacher off and then we have to put up with a pissed-off teacher.
I don't mind that people don't care about their lives or their future. But they should at least care for other people, then. Care enough not to go out of their way to make life hell.
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Officially 14!
Mood: loca (a la Juana la Loca)
Listening to: 'Change' (still!) by Taylor Swift
Hungry for: milk. I'm such a child. I eat milk and cookies almost every night, and I know it all goes to my love handles. But I love it.
I'm officially fourteen! My birthday was two days ago, on the fifth, and I spent the time chipping my nail polish wrestling with crabs, eating Chinese roast duck and, tonight, roast pork, English style. That's my idea of a good birthday.
It's unseasonably cold for February - I was born in searing heat and my birthday has always been on a day where the mercury hits at least 35 - but this year it is quite cool - cool enough for me to wear my Oxford sweatshirt and sleep with a winter quilt. How strange.
I love being fourteen - I feel much more in control of my life this year than I did last year. People could do things to me when I was thirteen that I will not allow now that I am fourteen. I hope this year will be a happy one, and wash away last year's pain.
In other news, I encourage you all to watch a Spanish film called Juana La Loca, which follows the life of Queen Joan of Castile, who is more famously known as 'Joanna the Mad'. Brilliant, passionate movie.
Listening to: 'Change' (still!) by Taylor Swift
Hungry for: milk. I'm such a child. I eat milk and cookies almost every night, and I know it all goes to my love handles. But I love it.
I'm officially fourteen! My birthday was two days ago, on the fifth, and I spent the time chipping my nail polish wrestling with crabs, eating Chinese roast duck and, tonight, roast pork, English style. That's my idea of a good birthday.
It's unseasonably cold for February - I was born in searing heat and my birthday has always been on a day where the mercury hits at least 35 - but this year it is quite cool - cool enough for me to wear my Oxford sweatshirt and sleep with a winter quilt. How strange.
I love being fourteen - I feel much more in control of my life this year than I did last year. People could do things to me when I was thirteen that I will not allow now that I am fourteen. I hope this year will be a happy one, and wash away last year's pain.
In other news, I encourage you all to watch a Spanish film called Juana La Loca, which follows the life of Queen Joan of Castile, who is more famously known as 'Joanna the Mad'. Brilliant, passionate movie.
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Oxford University
Mood: tired
Listening to: 'Change' (still) by Taylor Swift
Hungry for: dinner
I've mentioned before that I am an Oxford wannabe, but now, as I enter a time in my schooling when the impossible seems quite possible but the possible is starting to seem impossible, this inane desire to somehow get to Oxford University is consuming me in ways that I cannot really explain. It's more than a petty demand, it's something more. It's been quite a big part of my life since I was a little girl, but now it's constantly in my mind. It's driving me to push myself to do things I never thought I could do. I'm no longer content with being good, or even exceptional...I want to be the best, the very best. I will accept nothing less than the very best of myself. I don't care if my dream of Oxford drives me mad. The sane never make it to the history books, anyway.
I no longer care about boys or friendships I know will never last. Oxford, for me, is do or die. The rest can wait. True friends, and true love, will support me. The rest, I know, I have to leave behind.
Listening to: 'Change' (still) by Taylor Swift
Hungry for: dinner
I've mentioned before that I am an Oxford wannabe, but now, as I enter a time in my schooling when the impossible seems quite possible but the possible is starting to seem impossible, this inane desire to somehow get to Oxford University is consuming me in ways that I cannot really explain. It's more than a petty demand, it's something more. It's been quite a big part of my life since I was a little girl, but now it's constantly in my mind. It's driving me to push myself to do things I never thought I could do. I'm no longer content with being good, or even exceptional...I want to be the best, the very best. I will accept nothing less than the very best of myself. I don't care if my dream of Oxford drives me mad. The sane never make it to the history books, anyway.
I no longer care about boys or friendships I know will never last. Oxford, for me, is do or die. The rest can wait. True friends, and true love, will support me. The rest, I know, I have to leave behind.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn."
Mood: elated
Listening to: 'Change' by Taylor Swift
Hungry for: dessert
Have you ever had one of those days where everything just seems to go your way? Like not just little things, big things - big things that changes your life.
I've just had one of those days, after such a long time of restless unfulfillment. Things are finally going my way.
This is a Ben Franklin quote: "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." It's so true. Teachers can lecture, and it'll go in one ear and out the other, and therefore it's really all their fault that we fail. They didn't appeal to our most basic human instincts - the desire to be stimulated, entertained, challenged. If you teach me something, I'll remember it, but I probably won't understand it and I definitely won't be interested in it. A teacher must *involve* - that is the true definition of teaching. These are the kind of people I was working with today. People who are open to other options, value my opinion, and don't think they're superior and that I'm just an insignificant nothing - which is more, much more, than what I can say about most teachers I've worked with. And we've all come to a pretty exciting conclusion - this really is a turning point in my life. I feel like I'm going somewhere, like I have clear, achievable, realistic goals - not fantasies and dreams that have no grounding or sense of reality. Life has meaning again, and my sacrifice - of social normality and security, of friendships and relationships - now seems quite worthy of my cause. It actually seems like a small price, for what I can become and what I am becoming. What I'm working towards - it's bigger than trifle things like flimsy high school friendships and teenage boys. It's my life - and what I give up now is what others have to give up in the future, when problems become bigger and harder to solve.
Have you ever had one of these days? If so, what was it about?
.
Listening to: 'Change' by Taylor Swift
Hungry for: dessert
Have you ever had one of those days where everything just seems to go your way? Like not just little things, big things - big things that changes your life.
I've just had one of those days, after such a long time of restless unfulfillment. Things are finally going my way.
This is a Ben Franklin quote: "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." It's so true. Teachers can lecture, and it'll go in one ear and out the other, and therefore it's really all their fault that we fail. They didn't appeal to our most basic human instincts - the desire to be stimulated, entertained, challenged. If you teach me something, I'll remember it, but I probably won't understand it and I definitely won't be interested in it. A teacher must *involve* - that is the true definition of teaching. These are the kind of people I was working with today. People who are open to other options, value my opinion, and don't think they're superior and that I'm just an insignificant nothing - which is more, much more, than what I can say about most teachers I've worked with. And we've all come to a pretty exciting conclusion - this really is a turning point in my life. I feel like I'm going somewhere, like I have clear, achievable, realistic goals - not fantasies and dreams that have no grounding or sense of reality. Life has meaning again, and my sacrifice - of social normality and security, of friendships and relationships - now seems quite worthy of my cause. It actually seems like a small price, for what I can become and what I am becoming. What I'm working towards - it's bigger than trifle things like flimsy high school friendships and teenage boys. It's my life - and what I give up now is what others have to give up in the future, when problems become bigger and harder to solve.
Have you ever had one of these days? If so, what was it about?
.
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