last day .

End of another year!

While I know dates and calendars are rather arbitrary, I still think the end of the year is something to mark.

I mean, we made it through another one – hopefully in one piece – that’s something to celebrate.

Disneyland HK – fireworks over Sleeping Beauty castle :D

What a magical night! Totally kicked butt over all the fireworks displays we get in Australia…

And we went to Ocean Park too, which may have been even better! The water and fire show was a-freaking-mazing !

I don’t know, it makes sense in my head xD

I think I’ve grown up a fair bit this year. I don’t think I’ve had a very balanced life – I have had the partying and the studying, but it’s very much a ‘party for first 2-3 weeks, then ignore the world and study again’. So if there’s any sort of ‘resolution’ I’m making for next year, it’ll be to try and have some balance. Try to enjoy every day, instead of feeling like I’m sacrificing a social life to reach some sort of goal.

Because we don’t know if we’ll make it. Heck, we don’t know if we’ll even be alive in 10 years to grab that specialisation.

Not gonna lie, the start of this year made me afraid to plan.

But… you have to plan. I can give up on my plans now. Say ‘to hell with it’, drop out and go travel to the places I want to see.

But I wouldn’t be happy with myself. I’d feel like I didn’t achieve anything. And I know I shouldn’t be this way, but I think I’m very much an achievement-based person. Don’t know if it’s intrinsic or because of my upbringing (nature vs. nurture), but it’s part of me that I don’t see changing anytime in the near future.

Should it change? Probably. But gradually.

Maybe it’ll make me less ‘successful’ – in terms of GPA/career and whatnot, ‘losing the edge’ or whatever. But I guess I need to work out what’s important in life.

Hurh. Another rambling rant.

Next year should be exciting! New house, new degree. Excitedddd.

Let’s see where 2012 takes us

home again !

Rawrr! I got home a few days ago

Good to be back.. though tbh, I did feel incredibly sad when I got to Shanghai Pudong International Four days in Shanghai definitely wasn’t enough! Well more like three, because we daytripped to Hangzhou. Sadly my photos from Hangzhou are on Z’s computer, so they won’t be on Facebook/here for a while!

…and if you’re wondering why I’ve been camping on Facebook, it’s because I went for a run the day after I got back and sprained my ankle. Failwhale.

So been lying on my floor with my ankle propped up on my chair, trying to remember all the names of the places I’ve been.

Looks like I’m stuck being an obese little munchkin for a while yet! So much good food in China homggg.

Been catching up on music – here’s the latest one I’m obsessed with! Short version because seriously, noone wants to sit through 10mins of an MV, get to the bloody music already xD

I think I read somewhere it had a Tim Burton-esque feel to it; not sure about that, but the long version definitely has a very fantasy-esque vibe. Songwise, it reminds me of ‘Good Day’, which is awesome because that’s easily my favourite one by her. But as high-necked as her dress remains, I swear her skirt is getting shorter. It’s like they’re subtly trying to increase her sex appeal.. which might explain her legions of male fans xDD

Anyway. You’re not here for me to fangirl.

I kind of don’t want to do a huge recount of all the places I’ve been to – it tends to become rather tedious for both me and the reader.

And anyway, when you travel, do you just remember the places? I went on a whirlwind tour of London/Paris/NY/LA as a kid and I can barely list the landmarks we covered.

When I travel, I remember the little things. I remember the random acts of kindness, similarities I share with complete strangers. Communicating despite language barriers. A feeling of freedom. And yes, the many standards of cleanliness in public bathrooms xD

While I take a billion photos, I guess it’s not so much for the ‘I was there!’ factor. It’s more to jog my memory of the feeling of being there. If that makes sense. ^^’

It was such a hectic trip! I mean, here’s just 4 pictures from 1 day in Shanghai…

A kite over Shanghai Museum

Nightfall at Yuyuan Gardens - after Xintiandi and Tianzifang!

Along the Bund

Kicking back with the view from Shanghai World Financial Centre

The last pic’s off Z’s camera because mine died. But that wasn’t even half the day! So hectic!

For me, Shanghai was very much coloured by the fact that my housemate Z was showing me around. I crashed at his place.. and exiled him from his bedroom while he slept on the couch heh xD

But it was actually 4 days straight of living with him. I don’t think I’ve ever spent that much time alone with one guy! While I think my friends do have a pretty even gender balance and I’m quite certain I could easily do the same with one of you guys, it’s one thing to say it and another to actually do it.

Our friendship’s changed so much in the last 2 years. We were prac partners once but barely knew each other, then he moved to my college and we studied together in stuvac, then we lived in the same building this year and became so much closer (lots of late night d&ms yewww). We’ll be living in the same sharehouse next year, so keen!

I guess it feels like I’m actually making strong friendships. As sad as it is, it hasn’t been that common for me in uni. So far, a lot of my friendships seem to have an expiry date of graduation, because I plan to move back home.

But I have a bad feeling everyone mistook us as a couple. The fact I dragged him shopping probably didn’t help. Poor Z. I wish I was some super hot celebrity lookalike he would want to be seen in public with xD

Memorable moment – at Hangzhou, I was standing facing Z, who is quite a bit taller than me. A woman walks up behind us, sees Z (who is quite obviously Asian), and wants to ask for directions. So she taps me on the back.
Me: *turns around with obviously brown skin*
Woman: *starts in shock*

She freaked out! Oh dear.
Though as always, I am very flattered that I look Asian from the back. Now if only I could speak Shanghainese… xD

Though in all seriousness, I was quite taken aback at the racism in China. Actually, ‘racism’ probably isn’t the right word. While you do get the occasional hostile look, I think it’s out of curiosity rather than anything else.
What did surprise me though, is that it’s the adults who stare a lot more than the children.

While Western tourism is probably on the rise, I don’t think many people from the Indian subcontinent visit China. I have no stats, so you’ll have to rely on my crappy anecdotes.

I definitely didn’t see many dark skinned tourists, and my parents were a little surprised I wanted to go tbh – none of our family friends have ever gone (unless you count HK for conferences etc). I spose there isn’t much promotion of tourism between the two.

It’s rather surprising though. I mean, I’d think China and India probably have quite a bit in common.

Though just for the record, I AM NOT INDIAN. I may not have much ‘curry pride’, but it is really fucking annoying to be always introduced as Indian.

Usually I don’t care at all, but multiple weeks of being introduced as Indian is irritating. Usually it’s just easier to nod and smile if someone asks if I’m from India. But I was born in Bangladesh. I have relatives and family friends in India, but that is it.

More than anything, I want to be introduced as Australian. Why does it matter if I was born in Bangladesh? Or some other coutnry? I’ve spent more than 18 of my 19 years in Australia. Where I was born is just one word on my passport.

I don’t mind it when people mistake me for being Muslim, because usually it’s out of concern. Like in a restaurant in Beijing, where a woman made sure to point out that the gravy had pork.
(Weirdly enough, people rarely ask if I can eat beef.. xD)

But it’s when you guys introduce me as being Indian that I get annoyed. I wouldn’t introduce you as Chinese if you were Korean or Japanese, so please don’t call me Indian.

Call me a migrant Australian or something, if you need a label. Because that’s enough to cover my upbringing, cultural/family ties and the life I lead.

Though I spose it would often get lost in translation.

Wow, this post just reminds me how timeless Looking for Alibrandi is xD Anyway, I’m home again and my ankle is healing pretty well, guess I just won’t be rocking heels anytime soon! I really would like to see you guys – I’ll be leaving for uni on January 12th.

Our time is short so tarry not!