Sometimes I wonder what it'd be like to look at the world and its pieces from the eyes of another. Probably common to the thoughts of many, is the wonder of how one would appear through the eyes of another. Like do I actually look like I do in the mirror, or in photographs? Are my mannerisms very much like how I imagine them to be, or are they a lot less cool and awkward? Exactly what kind of stereotypical first impression does my first impression ensue?

But more than how we look to others, how do others see the world? How does my neighbour see the world? How does he see the lazy, severely overweight cleaner in our lobby that always seems to be on a permanent rest break? How does he see the bustling neighbourhood I've grown up in?

How do my classmates see the old, knowledgeable and friendly professor I see? How does that old, knowledgeable and friendly professor see us? What does that girl walking her dog in the park see in her dog? And what does her dog think of when it looks at her, its source of food and shelter?

Do Koreans see K-pop stars like the world's K-pop fans do? Does PSY's wife look at him the way the world does, with the words 'Gangnam Style' written on his face? What do the people of politically-oppressed countries think of the world? Do they know what "the world" looks like? And what do we see of them? Are they really what we think they are - sad and angry?

It all boils down to two things -perspectives and communication. I can see a million things and have a billion ideas and interpretations but no one will ever see what I see through my eyes. We have physical differences - the shape of our eyes, their scope, our heights which affect our angle of elevation - but these are of no importance when we can see eye-to-eye in a non-literal, figurative sense. I share my perspectives with people to find out if they can cash in on my ideas and walk hand-in-hand down the same paths, and people share their contrasting thoughts that lay out scopes for improvement and debate. I am thankful we can communicate.

And to see things from the eyes of others, maybe we need to communicate more. Talk to your neighbour, ask him what he thinks about that lazy cleaner, ask him what it's like since he's moved into the bustling neighbourhood. Talk to your classmates, compliment that awesome professor and watch their reactions and comments. As for the dog... Well, we'll wait for science to catch up with talking animals. And of course, travel the world. Get more ideas, know more things. About the people who live elsewhere, about what they think of their country and life, about worldly issues, about your country.

One day we will all be able to see from the eyes of another.

---

Credits to the artist and uploader of the picture stolen from Google.

“Any fool can know. The point is to understand.” ― Albert Einstein

It's saddening. The world is.

I highly doubt the talk on globalization and the importance of the global economy is foreign to you. About developed economies aiming to score higher growth rates, about developing economies advancing to levels they'd never reached previously. But one thing is universal - everyone's out to make some money. You might start to think the world's people are in cahoots with each other as part of a bigger plan to build the world's largest money chamber. Making money is what drives our lives. It places food on our tables and our cold hands in pockets. And that's the very reason we go to school. We educate ourselves just so we can graduate with the ability to arm ourselves with a printed sheet of paper, which we proceed to bring around to offices in the hopes of getting picked up by a money-making business.

But where have our lives gone?

I'm not disregarding the fact that money is important. We have, or at least our ancestors and the world's first inhabitants have, built the structure of the world in a way such that we need to depend on people and the environment to live. That makes it difficult cause there's a shortage of resources (not a new concept to you I'm sure) and competition for them, and this brings money into the limelight. We need money for everything we do in our daily lives - eat, travel, study, even when we sleep cause of the electricity we use in utilizing cooling devices. But too much importance has been placed on it.

I don't care about money. I don't care about the economy.

I am an undergraduate pursuing a Business degree. Yep, ironic as it is. I grew up with everchanging ambitions, first a singer, then a nun (I'm not even a Catholic), then a vet, a geographer and right now, to an empty hole. My ambitions are nothing more than an empty hole.

It saddens me to see how the students around me are so indulged in their money-making pursuits that they've forgotten to see what's beyond their visions and ambitions. Yeah sure, you wanna score a ridiculously high-paying job in the finance industry where your paycheck comes rolling in with a slap of zeroes. But... Don't you wanna play?

I'm by nature a lazy girl. Never given up on playing, ever since my active primary school days. I see the importance of play and perhaps value it much higher than money. Because play makes you happy. You get the sense of satisfaction and enjoyment money can never bring. Scoring your first big paycheck will never bring happiness on the same level as speeding down a water slide on a rubber dingy.

And that's why my ambitions are an empty hole. I have yet to find a job that doesn't place an emphasis on money. Yes there are jobs like that, I could be doing what I love - a job concerning animals or travel. But I have yet to find my calling and I hope to find it soon. I predict I will wind up in a mediocre average-earning job that will see me through my lifestyle expenses but spend the rest of my time playing to my heart's content.

In this life, we're meant to live. Not race after paper numbers, let alone electronic ones.






I wish there were words for my broken heart. Non-animal lovers cannot comprehend the pain it takes to watch your beloved pet leave the world.

Unfortunately for me, Pepe left the world before I got home. My family had known of her passing way before I did but because I was at a meeting in school, I wasn't able to rush back in time. They didn't break the devastating news to me, but requested I take a taxi back from school, which is at the other end of the island. On the taxi, I feared Pepe was going, I prayed she'd wait for me and I hoped she wouldn't die. Tears left me like I had no control. When I got home, the first thing was to see Pepe's body on a towel on the floor. I had the inkling she was still alive; I was under that impression all along. But Jillian broke the news to me in a chirpy manner, she was trying her hardest to keep the mood up.

I was at a lost. Then I was engulfed by tears. I sat myself beside Pepe and stroked her hardened body. I didn't care if she was dead. She's still my baby.

It may be unusual to witness this scene, if you were there to do so. Pepe is after all "just a guinea pig". But only, she was more than that. She was a bundle of joy, as responsive as a puppy and cuter than a baby panda. She enjoyed bananas, durians and papayas, chased us around when we ate something fragrant, buried herself in Jill's blanket when she was allowed on the bed and bit on visitors' clothes when no one was looking. She was the heart of our family for days like this, and she still is. I once cried and she walked right up to my face and gave me a baby peck on my lips. There is no doubt to how much I love her.

I have loved and lost before. But today, my heart is emptier than usual. Pepe, you went too soon. A guinea pig is supposed to live in this world for eight years, you only did for three and a half. But you live on forever in our hearts.

We love you Pepe.

- Lauren Oliver, Delirium

So I'm back to blogging. Blogging really has its wonders in relieving inner thoughts and strains. It's like a diary, except that you have to be careful bout what you have to say.

Experienced a brush with miscommunication today.

I think that in life, it is extremely important to listen. To listen, and not just to hear. To listen, and not just talk. Because listening is a skill. It's a way to the heart, a way to the truth. You'd be surprised how much you can learn about someone or something simply by listening to the obvious, which is often overlooked, and to the sounds and words that are rarely picked up.

I have to admit though, I am not a good listener. I talk a whole lot. Mainly because I like the feeling of sharing a story and most times I hope I bring a smile or laugh to whoever bothers to listen.

But not being listened to... well, it's hurtful. I know people have a right not to listen and most times, people don't. But today, sharing about my dreams and expectations, then being cut off right in the midst of it - that's a crude feeling. It amazes me how someone may not listen enough and despite knowing that much of me, doesn't know me well enough. I honestly fear that I am reciprocating these actions, that I am not listening enough.

So listen while you still have the chance.

ELENA YOU KNOW TOO MANY SECRETS.

And I know too many faults.






"All my life, I always wanted to be somebody. Now I see that I should have been more specific."
- Jane Wagner

Because I learnt, that in a superficial world like that, leaving impressions do nothing. It's really those you love and more importantly, those that love you that really matter. All the others are just junk off the truck.

As much expected, Open House was a major bore and the only entertainment was simple, to walk around the school with people I haven't seen since the stone age, and to occupy ourselves with what better game to play than Monkey. Though of course, the uncontrolled scenes of us Touch girls leaning inches from strangers' butts to fight for the rugby ball was classic, and the runs where we sprawled flat out in front of triply shocked guys (if every guy's dream is for a girl to fall for him, right in front of him) and mindless struggles while diving under and in Elain's case, over tables, to hold possession of what seemed important then. It was fun. :) Plus, Jolene almost sent the overhead canteen fan crashing, which ended with a stunned moment and a flushed face.

Had lunch at big old gimme-a-tummyache Simpang with Ayesha, R and Krystel, though Ayesha took a stroll to Nepal before joining us. Hahahaha, no not literally. She just practically sat down in every empty corridor she found with any person that passed her she thought was worthy of a soulful chat, so permission granted to say "BYE" to her friend from R led to another year of conversations while we paced the front gate, greedy with hunger. No complaints in meeting Ayesha though, it's been a long while! :)

I still find myself being mean to everyone-knows-who, but the bitchy primary school past is catching up with me.

I heard Monday's a half day!!! Which calls for a celebration but oh no, I'm gonna occupy myself with undone holiday projects! Hahaha.

R: (something to the lines of...) This year no time look at handsome guys, only got time to look at boobs!!!

HAHAHAHA, one reason why reading messages make me smile to myself in public, another twenty reasons why first impressions shouldn't count. :) She meant books by the way.













I just checked out my new timetable and boy, it was cool. :) Now Mondays are my relatively free days, cause I end at a time I never imagined I would ever, but those couple of periods got snapped up by big ol' evil Friday. And tie days are now on Monday. I'm thinking, I'll forget my tie alot more often this year. And get the DM's autograph on it again, yayyy.

I know it's past midnight but my brain cells have comfortably adapted to staying up late. So come the Fireflies song lyrics, "I'm too tired to fall asleep".

I think the past two days were prettay fun to me but I guess the mention of fun just drags everything related to the words "guilt" and "homework" down. I am slightly past the 15% mark of completed assignments... whoopeedoo! :)

Tomorrow's TJ's Open House! Actually today. Well, not like anyone I know is gonna turn up anyway. After all, the 2008 batch of SAC made the mark last year, with 6 of us joining TJ and that's record high but alongside the Cedarians and TK peeps and CCHMS wonders, sure, we shine. :) I'm gonna have to expose ugly to the world when everyone sees my new look. :( First impressions don't last though, it's always the second that counts. Or the third. Or fourth or fifth or... just don't look at me again and I'm sure we'll make good friends. :)

Well, these hols have been strangely meaningful to me. It's been the longest hols I've had in my 11 years of schooling since P1 and I'm not sure how much of it got wasted away but I had a fruitful vacation with my mum and sis, learnt lessons of responsibility, made good friends through sweeping jobs, discovered so much more meaning to friendships (destroyed some, salvaged some), learnt about my mum's secret but 'OMG-SO-COOL' past and well, if everyone's writing end-of-year messages, end-of-hols ones won't do no harm too.

I have too much to say, to pen, to sing.





"I lit a match, then let it catch
To light up the room
And then you yelled as we beheld
An old maroon hot air balloon"
- Owl City

I would never have discovered the wonder of hot air balloons if not for the song, Hot Air Balloon. Funny how some kinds of music put your thought track on a funny spin. Like how a singer just takes the most basic of all daily items - like the umbrella - and put a tune to it to make it hit song of the year. I wanna sing about a bus stop, but someone's already beaten me to it. Maybe the computer. But there's already I Heart You Online (which is awesome!) and The Facebook Song. There's even The Campfire Song Song. This is so unfair. Oh I got an idea. Clothes hanger.

I've never accomplished sooo much on a study-day-out before, not like I did today. I think I found a good study spot! :)

In the next few precious days, my stress level is gonna shoot way up high. For the very reason of not attempting to complete my homework way before deadline. Yknow, discipline's just hard to do. Besides, I don't want school to start because everyone's gonna pitch in their view on my new hairdo for sure. And no, I wasn't trying to give me a makeover, but the hairdresser had ideas of her own.

Go watch The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.