The World is Bright and Beautiful. Again.

Finally, a happy entry. Mainly because I'd gotten so sick of myself moping around for the past week, being so bitter and feeling sorry for myself. It had gotten to a point when even I couldn't take myself anymore. So, at the risk of sounding really cheesy, I decided to take a step back and look at the bigger picture, oops not quite yet, another step... better... one more... a bigger one... There! And what I saw (and am seeing) is that it's still a nice and wonderful life that I have.

This entry is just to assure everyone that yes, the old (and real) Joni is back. Thank you so much for putting up with all the whining that I subjected you all with. And thank you for all the kind and wise words. And the funny ones, as well. You guys still managed to make me laugh inspite of my stupid sulking phase.

And now that I'm done with all those, I'm so much more ready for the even brighter things that are yet to come in my life. And I'm looking forward to each and every one of them. :D

*hugs and kisses for everyone

To-do List.

To cheer myself up from the dump that I found myself in these past few days, I occupy myself with making a list of the things that I'll be doing once I get back home. So, the partial list, which is in no particular order, is as follows:

• watch plays! It's been ages. Ages! Well, in exachange I did get to watch more movies (thank you, pirates!) while I'm here but I'm still more of a theater-lover. And yes, Win, we're going to watch together. :)
  
• Boracay. For some reason, I've never been to Boracay. Ok, I give everyone permission to feel sorry for me. But that will all change soon. Mwahahahaha! Nuna, you're the chief organizer for this one.
• get together with different circles of friends:
• the high school bestfriends. Hint hint, sleepover at Virgie's new place! I feel that I need so much catching up to do. And speaking of Virge, we need to talk more about the clothing business. :D
  
• the college blockmates (although I have a feeling this will happen sometime after Cecille gets home too. When are you going home, Ces?)
• the lit majors. Katea usually organizes these things but the newly-wed Bob has generously volunteered to set one up when I get home. Now our job is to keep reminding her.
• the we screw people. Um, the surprise welcome party where I'm going to wear my red cheongsam, remember?
• Pikpakpeeps! A chance to finally see the Pikpakpeeps in person! Salcedo is a bit far but ok, ok, Saturday brunch. Someone has to send detailed instructions on how to get there though. Nuna and I, well, we're not very good at these things.
  
• Courtesy call
• Lit Dept, DLSU
  
• PCHS
  
• enroll in Mandarin and/or Spanish classes. I've been wanting to take Spanish classes since forever. I'll try to see if I can finally do it. As for Mandarin lessons, I think it would be such a waste if I just forget everything that I learned here. We'll see, we'll see.
  
• SM Valenzuela. Because it opened maybe a week after I left. And it's so close to home so I just have to have a go-see.
  
• SM Mall of Asia. Again, I was already out of the country when it opened and I'm very curious. Is it really the biggest mall in Asia? I cannot imagine how big it is. I get lost even in Megamall. And let's not even talk about Robinson's Galleria...
  
• hot oil treatment. My hair is so dry and damaged and ugly and I'll try to see if there's still any way that it can be salvaged.
  
• facial? I'm still thinking about this. Haven't had one for a long time and I'm starting to think that I don't really need one but then I remember that facials feel so good so I'm a bit torn about it. What I really need is a product that can minimize pores. If anyone knows of anything that's effective (and cheap, please!), tell me tell me and I'll be eternally grateful. Better yet, you can give it to me for Christmas. Or a homecoming present! Yeah, that sounds good!
• oh, and the thesis!
  

Meeting Old Friends

It's always great to see old friends and catch up on each other's lives, as well as other people's lives we have no business discussing. Within the past month, I was lucky to be with two of my oldest friends (on separate occasions since they don't know each other).

Weeks ago, I met up with Evonne so she could give me the stuff Nuna sent me from Manila (yes, that stuff include the magical iron). Evonne was my classmate back in the 5th and 6th grades and we lost touch for about 13 years before we found each other again here in Shanghai. Needless to say, we spent the whole night yakking away about people we used to go to school with while her boyfriend quietly ate dinner and had to listen to a bunch of names that probably meant nothing to him at all.

And then a few days ago, I brought Brent to the airport to see him off. I first met Brent in 4th grade (then I transferred to PCHS Annex for the next two years thus meeting Evonne and a bunch of other crazy people, then transferred back to Main for high school) and was classmates with him again in junior year. He and I share the same Chinese surname so we'd sometimes joke about being cousins.

Oh, and if you're wondering why there are so many pictures in the station, it's because it was both our first time to ride the Maglev and we were very excited. *teeheehee! The only other place in Asia with a Maglev is in Japan and well, we still didn't know when we can go to Japan, did we? So what if we looked like weird excited tourists? :p

Just for tonight

I feel like crying. I feel like crying and I don't know why. No, I think I do but I don't want to say it out loud because if I do it'll make it real. So I wouldn't. But not saying it doesn't make it not real either. It just makes me a coward. So maybe I'll cry. And what does it matter if it's true or not? So maybe I'll cry just for tonight then just let everything go. Just once. That is all I'm allowing myself. And then I go on and I live and everything will be as before. And no more hoping this time. No more wishing and being disappointed. And it's not as if I lost anything. I no longer want to think about it after tonight. This is it. The last time. Tomorrow, see if I care.

Joni the Shooter

I finally tried shooting an air rifle in the 10-meter range. I got an 82 overall score, which is not bad. I had a slight advantage though. I propped the rifle on the stand in an effort to make it steadier. And well, it was heavy...

My Identity Crisis

Let me start by saying that I was born on the 8th of January 1980. That makes me a Capricorn. And a sheep, I had always firmly believed. Until I came to China, that is. Then I begin having doubts.

Sometimes, the Chinese, if they want to know how old you are and they're too polite to ask, would ask in what animal year you were born. I have had this conversation countless of times:

New Chinese Friend: 你属什么？

(What animal year were you born in?)

JC: 羊 (Sheep.)

NCF: 你是1979的。27岁。



(You were born in 1979. You're 27.)

JC: 1980年。26岁。



(1980. I'm twenty-six.)

NCF: 那不对啊。

(That's wrong.)

JC: 对。我一月出生的。

(It's right. I was born in January.)

NCF: (stares blankly) 你应该属猴。 (You should be a monkey.)



JC: 羊。还没到春节。

(Sheep. It was before the Spring Festival [or what is commonly known as the Chinese New Year in other parts of the world].)

NCF: (nods understandingly/looks more confused)

At least usually, that's how it ends. Sometimes there will be people who would argue a bit harder that it's only the year that counts but I never really gave it much thought. They just didn't know how it's supposed to be when one's born on a cusp.

I had had warnings though. Warnings that I refused to acknowledge. Months ago, while having a somewhat similar conversation with one of the shooters, she said that she was also born in the year of the sheep. 1979. No surprises there. Most sheep were really born in 1979. But she was born in February. I thought maybe the Spring Festival/Chinese New Year was early that year and dismissed it. I'm a sheep. I had always been a sheep.

And so at breakfast today (after so many days of going without breakfast because I would always be too lazy to get up at 7:30 in the morning), I had yet again, a similar conversation as the above. Slightly similar but this one directly asked how old I was.

New National Team shooter whose name I don't know1: 你多大了？(How old are you?)

JC: 猜。(Guess.)

NNTS1: 21。

JC: 不对。 (Wrong.)

New National Team Shooter2: 大吗？(Older?)

JC: 大。(Older.)

NNTS2: 24。

JC: 不对。(Wrong.)

NNTS2: 还大？

(Still older?)

JC: 是。(Yes.)

NNTS2: 26。

JC: (nodded)

NNTS1: 你是1980的。(You were born in 1980.)

JC: 是。(Yes.)

NNTS1: 你属猴。

(In the year of the monkey.)

JC: 不对。羊。 (No. Sheep.)

NNTS1: 羊是1979的。

(Sheep is 1979.)

JC: 我知道。但是我是一月出生的。

(I know. But I was born in January.)

NNTS1: 十一月？ (November?)

JC: 一月。 (January.)

NNTS1: 几号？

(What day?)

JC: 还没到春节。(It wasn't the Spring Festival yet.)

NNTS1: 我知道。几号？(I know. What day?)

JC: 8号。

(The 8th.)

NNTS1: 我比你大两天！(I'm two days older than you!)

JC: 是吗？那你也是羊。(Really? Then you're also a sheep.)

NNTS1: 我是猴。

(I'm a monkey.)

JC: 哈? 羊。

(Huh? Sheep! )

NNTS1: 1980是猴年的。(1980 is a monkey year.)

JC: (started getting worried) 但是。。。但是。。。 但是。。。 你应该是羊！(But... but... but... you should be a sheep!)

NNTS1: 我是猴。

(I'm a monkey.)

NNTS2: 他象猴。

(He looks like a monkey.)

JC: 对。

(Yes.)

But what does it mean for me? What? We have almost the same birthday. And he's Chinese! Surely he knows better when it comes to Chinese zodiac signs! *groans. For 26 years I've believed that I was all of these things:

"People born in the Year of Sheep are elegant and highly accomplished in the
arts. They seem to be, at first glance, better off than those born in the
zodiac's other years. But Sheep year people are often shy, pessimistic, and
puzzled about life. They are usually deeply religious, yet timid by nature.
Sometimes clumsy in speech, they are always passionate about what they do and
what they believe in. Sheep people never have to worry about having the best in
life for their abilities make money for them, and they are able to enjoy the
creature comforts that they like. Sheep people are wise, gentle, and
compassionate. They are compatible with Rabbits, Pigs, and Horses.




You are charming, elegant and artistic.


You like to be comfortable.


You can complain and worry too much.


You will make a good actor, gardener or beachcomber."

And then one day I have breakfast and I'm suddenly these:

"People born in the Year of the Monkey are the erratic geniuses of the cycle.
Clever, skillful, and flexible, they are remarkably inventive and original and
can solve the most difficult problems with ease. There are few fields in which
Monkey people wouldn't be successful but they have a disconcerting habit of
being too agreeable. They want to do things now, and if they cannot get started
immediately, they become discouraged and sometimes leave their projects.
Although good at making decisions, they tend to look down on others. Having
common sense, Monkey people have a deep desire for knowledge and have excellent
memories. Monkey people are strong willed but their anger cools quickly. They
are most compatible with the Dragon and Rat.




You are very intelligent, clever, and well liked by everyone.


You will have success in any field."

It is not fair! Neither is it funny! And what do I do with all of my little sheep things: my sheep pendant, my cute sheep pins and brooches, my little sheep paperweight, my cuddly sheep stuffed toy? I've had a lifetime of being a sheep! What now? Do I just suddenly change into a monkey overnight? This is so unfair!!!


(Sheep and monkey profiles are taken from http://www.paulnoll.com/China/Zodiac/index.html)

The First Post

http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/
It's a good passing-time read. Be sure to check out the Arts page, especially their movies. I particularly found this so "fucking funny": http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/index.php?menuID=5&subID=213