Azn Pride?

Walking around the hallways of Morley Senior High School, or indeed, any school in a first world country, one tends be be ambushed by hoards of Chinese[race and nationality]/Vietnamese/Japanese/Koreans hanging around with each other.
It's noticable, it's big, it's in your face, and it's come to be classed as 'azn pride'. And no doubt, it is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Getting on the wrong side of one member of this group, means that you're potentially in trouble with the rest.
Azn pride is apparently now so exclusive, that you must have yellow skin [a la Simpsons], and have two asian parents to be classified as ASIAN. Watching any and all 'asian' movies is a must and 'asian' music must be at the top of your ipod list- Anime and Manga are king. Everything else is simply a sub-standard, and may be made fun of.

This kills me.

When has Asia only been about China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam?
What happened to the rest of Asia?
What happened to Turkey?
Or the UAE?
Or India?
Or Mongolia?
Since when has Asia been that blob on the map that we now know today as China? The last time I checked, Asia was the biggest continent on the planet, consisting of countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, China, Korea, Japan, Turkey, Afghanistan, the UAE, India and several others. Surely now, azn pride cannot simply be restricted to that big blob called China.

And since when has azn pride been about exclusively watching, listening, eating and breathing everything from China/Vietnam/Japan/Korea, but crticising the rest?
A girl in my Human Biology class has been making fun of Africans non-stop for about a week, maybe more now. I would love to shut her up. What gives her the right to make fun of Africans? What gives her the right to think that Africans are sub-standard? To the best of my knowledge, Africans are a potential force to be reckoned with. They've been colonised, forced to abandon their culture, and are now facing all sorts of economic, religious and cultural hardship and many countries receive no help simply because they have no resources. But they're catching up, and they're doing it fast- Before we know it, Africa will definitely be a force to be reckoned with.

My version azn pride means accepting cultures from all over the world, and being a part of the world, whilst maintaining by pride as a person living in Asia. It means showing my culture to others, and allowing them to experience the ways of just ONE of the many cultures that Asia has to offer. Asia is so diverse, so amazing, that it seems a sin to just hoodwink the whole world into believing that Asia is China and nothing more.

I'm, perhaps one of the very few who aren't part of these big asian gangs. I remain on good terms with a few of them, but remain at the sidelines, and away from their azn pride. And maybe it's for the best. So God save me, I would rather be seen as an outsider to the 'Azn people', than close my views on azn pride.

Mishy <3

Daylinght Savings: -OVER-

Yes, imagine my delight, when this morning, I woke up at 9am...only to discover that it was actually 8am. =P
I'm loving this revertion, but I hate it when Daylight Savings comes along and disrupts my entire pattern. It's not so easy normally waking up at 6am, and then suddenly having to move the clock forward so that we actually have to wake up at 5am now.

Either way: Daylight Savings is most definitely OVER, which can only mean one thing...

WINTER'S COMING TOO!!!

Mishy <3

Hmmmm.

I found this on the bumper sticker application on Facebook.
See how it mocks me?

Mishy <3

"Home"

I know this is such a copycat sort of post.
But Michael Buble pretty much sings it for me with this song...well, with some slight differences, but the principles remain the same. =)

"Home"
Another summer day
Has come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home
Mmmmmmmm


Maybe surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh, I miss you, you know


And I’ve been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you
Each one a line or two
“I’m fine baby, how are you?”
Well I would send them but I know that it’s just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that


Another aeroplane
Another sunny place
I’m lucky I know
But I wanna go home
Mmmm, I’ve got to go home


Let me go home
I’m just too far from where you are
I wanna come home


And I feel just like I’m living someone else’s life
It’s like I just stepped outside
When everything was going right
And I know just why you could not
Come along with me'
Cause this was not your dream
But you always believed in me


Another winter day has come
And gone away
In even Paris and Rome
And I wanna go home
Let me go home


And I’m surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
Oh, let me go home
Oh, I miss you, you know


Let me go home
I’ve had my run
Baby, I’m done
I gotta go home
Let me go home
It will all be all right
I’ll be home tonight
I’m coming back home

March Birthdays

There were so many in this month, I thought I'd just end up having a blog post to do it.

March 5th- Happy Birthday Lindiwe Khulu! I hope it was an amazing day. Take care, stay in school, safe sex. No more drinking any Storms. XD Do your homework. =)

March 16th- Happy Birthday Thandeka Jwaha! Have fun my doll, and enjoy matric. It's gonna be one crazy ride, so enjoy it as it comes!

March 19th- Happy Birthday to my cousins, Nick, Andrew and Mark in that order. Nick came out at 8.00am, Andrew at 8.01am and Mark at 8.02am. So if my cousins ever deign to come online and actually check out my blog [in 5 years time maybe...], Happy Birthday. =)

March 20th- Happy Birthday to Jon Ti, in Malaysia; and Tanya Goromonzi and Steph Dabrowski in South Africa! Jon and Tanya, you're finally legal! To Stephy, it's just one more year to being 18, so savour ever moment (or pray that it goes faster!) Impending hug to my boets. =D

March 22nd- Happy Birthday to Chris Teh my fuzzy little 'half brother'. =P Stay safe, party hard, and I can't wait to go back to KL and hang out wth you again.

Happy Birthday all. Don't party too hard. =)

Mishy <3

Easter [Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday!]

Easter Holidays is finally here!!

I have Good Friday off.

I have Easter Monday off.

And I even have...*le gasp* Easter Tuesday off!

Is it just me, or does anyone else find it strange that I can actually have Easter Tuesday off. =/
But I'm not complaining, I'm having fun with this long holiday. =)

It's also really weird how Easter jumped the gun and came like an entire month earlier than it usually is. =/ Apparently, it's got something to do with the full moon coming a tad too early, and then Lent is supposed to follow a week after the appearance of that moon and Easter a full 40 days after Lent, hence making the entire season jump the gun.
Apparently all the catholic schools aren't going to celebrate this Easter, because it's no the 'real easter'. And in a sense, I agree with them, it's so out of the ordinary.

So till the Easter that you choose to celebrate, Happy Easter, and stay safe. =)

Mishy <3

"For God so love the world that He gave His only son, that whosoever believed in him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
John 3:16

Year 12 Ball

Uh-oh.

It's coming.

May the 2nd.

And this is something I've just realised.

I think it's been hanging over my head for a while.

But my work always stopped me from properly thinking about it.
...
Half my friends aren't going to the ball.

OMG, WHAT IS THE POINT OF FRIGGIN GOING THEN??

In addition to that, I have no time to look for the limo, or the stylist, or the before and after parties...

I'm going completely and absolutely mad. =/ How in the world am I ever going to survive?

Mishy <3

TCK Question: Where Are You From?

This is a letter that I wrote to the Wall Street Journal concerning a matter that I know all TCKs could write 5 page essays on, given the chance. Hmmm, maybe I should get my English Lit teacher to let me write about this as an essay then...=P

I came across this article when I was browsing www.tckid.com and thought it might be a really good idea to actually write back to you on this.

I am a Malaysian Chinese born TCK living in Perth at the moment. I've been moving around since I was 2 months old, and I've lved in Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, South Africa and of course, Australia.The question 'where do you come from?' does get frequently asked, and it's an incredibly hard question to answer. Even though I consider myself to be a Malaysian, I find that simply saying 'Malaysia' is not enough. When I am abroad, I am known as 'the Malaysian girl' and while I am in Malaysia, I am 'the [insert name of current country of residence] girl'. When I am abroad, it is very difficult to explain about Malaysia and all its different races, and why I am a Malaysian CHINESE and not simply a Malay. When I am in Malaysia, it is a lot easier to say that I am Malaysian, but many find it difficult to understand why my english is at a higher level than theirs, and why I am unable to speak the local language. A lot of the friends I make in different countries also find it hard to understand why I am able to speak english so fluently.

My travelling also affects the way people see me. Many caucasians see me as an 'uncivilised' asian girl because of my looks, and assume that I am from China- but this is simply not true. Many of my Malaysian peers see me as strange, and maybe even a little snobby because of my travelling and my international schooling- also simply untrue.
My travelling has made me more aware of the world and it's problems from a global aspect, and this does frighten some people who are only able to see the world from one point: much like a child looks at the world with tunnel vision.

Sometimes I see people as being incredibly ignorant. People who have never travelled like to stereotype people. If I came from the UAE, people would class me as a muslim terrorist. If I was from England, people might think that I am now a very rich person with a posh sort of accent. The thing is that it is simply not true. While I may have gained many cultural experiences, and understand the culture better than many others do, it does not mean that I have suddenly adopted their culture.

Take Barack Obama for instance. He is of a mixed American and Kenyan parentage, and used to live in Indonesia. We see America as a violent and even possibly ignorant country: does that make Barack Obama violent and ignorant? We see Kenya as a poor, uncivilised nation: does this make Barack Obama poor and uncivilised? And of course, Barack Obama has lived in Indonesia, a predominantly muslim country: does this make Barack Obama a muslim terrorist?
I would disagree. While Barack Obama may have been highly influenced by all of these factors, it does not mean that he is violent, ignorant, poor, uncivilised or even a muslim terrorist.
In fact, all this travelling shows that he is incredibly cultured, and is more likely to see things from several different perspectives.

It is through all these factors that we find the question: 'where are you from?' so difficult to answer. We have so many different perspectives, we have been influenced by so many different cultures: For a TCK to answer 'Where are you from?' could take up to an entire essay like the one I've just written here.

Mishy <3

Bucketlist

I believe there's a movie with this name. =) Bucket, I believes, comes from the phrase 'kicking the bucket' and the list...well, is pretty much what it says it is: a list. In short, a list of things to do before you kick the bucket.
I have yet to see it, but I decided I should think about it and make my own 'bucketlist'.

1. Travel Europe- this would be the most amazing travel of a lifetime. There's immense culture in Europe that I have yet to discover and missing out of this trip would just be an absolute sin.

2. Fly- and no, I don't mean on an airplane. =P I've done that plenty of times. I want to fly with my own wings. Hang-gliding, bungee jumping, sky diving, the possibilities are endless. =)

3. Walk Table Mountain, visit Robben Island- in South Africa, this mountain is worshipped, even from afar, and it's amazing how this mountain just has no peak. =/ Although this does make it ideal for hiking on top of it. The views are amazing, and the weather in summer- just makes the whole trip seem worthwhile. And Robben Island? Hey, who wouldn't want to go see the place where the most amazing man was forced to spend most of his life fighting for freedom?

4. Go on an Archaeological Dig- how amazing would it be, just to discover an artefact? Something that was once used so many years back. I still shudder at the thought that life existed on these grounds so many years back. Going through Sterkfontein Caves in Gauteng was already my experience of a lifetime: an archaeological dig would blow me off my feet!

5. Do community work in Africa/Asia- theoretically, I've done this in Trek in South Africa, but I loved the experience and I'd love to do it all over again. =) Preferably through teaching, and in South East Asia, since I feel I need to give back something to my own community.

6. Live in Japan- I love the culture, the food [sushi], the place, the food [sashimi], the people, the food [udon]...what else need I say???

7. Take Dancing Classes- the cha cha cha, the samba and the tango really appeals. =)

I think there's more, but so far, those are my aims for the moment. =)

Mishy <3

The Malaysian Revolution

Inspired by the Russian Revolution in my history course of study. XD
Of course, it's a far cry from the Winter of Discontent [in Malaysia, this means it's the end of the world as we know it]; the March, November and October Revolutions; or even an April Thesis [a la Lenin's essay for which he had a lot of time on his hands].

The biggest news in Malaysia at the moment: Barisan Nasional has just lost the control of five, yes, FIVE states today. These states include Selangor, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Perak. They managed, however to hold on to seven states. A far cry from the twelve states that they once managed to get hold of every five years.
Although this does say something for Malaysia. If this continues the way it does, we could easily have a new government in place during the next election. The first change since we became an independant nation.

I'll be allowed to vote in the next election, which is scary enough, but thinking about actually being part of the voters who change the government...wow, that's something else to think about!

Mishy <3

Aussie Speech [Part Deux]

More Aussie Slang that I've managed to come up with after a month. =]

Thongs- The first thing that automatically comes to mind? G-strings. Yeah, we all have a sick mind to boot. But in Aussie, it basically means flip-flops, slip-slops, slippers or anything other term you can think up for it, with those little Y shaped things at the top. Once, during Saints Trek, Jiah, one of our Aussie exchange students told us all she was going to put on her 'thongs', to which all the guys in the group jumped and all eyes immediately followed her. She had to explain to them that she meant 'slippers'. =P

<-- Thong? Or Thong? -->

Ta- Also short for 'thank you'. This has been said to me at work many times, and I unfortunately did not quite understand at first, until I finally realised that it meant 'thank you' after it was said to me everytime I got something done correctly. XD

Mate- Now this one is extremely weird, because over here, they call EVERYONE mate. I reckon if the Prime Minister allowed it, they'd call him 'mate' too! I've been called 'mate' numerous times to my face, and it's really weird considering I'd never go 'How's it going mate?' to anyone.

Macker- At first glance, anyone would think this word referd to McDonald's. Nope, you are SO wrong. Although if it IS also a shortened version for McD's, then they've got one hell of a marketing scheme going here. 'Macker' actually refers to a best friend.

Macca- THIS is the one that refers to McD's. =)

See YA!- The Aussie way to say 'Good bye'. It seems perfectly ordinary to say such a thing, but of course, in the traditional true blue Aussie way, they have to differentiate it by adding an extremely nasal accent to the 'YA' bit. So go ahead, give it a go, and see where it takes you. =)

Strange? Indeed, and if I concentrated hard enough everyday, I could probably keep them coming. =)
And in all fairness to Aussies, I will soon be doing a post on Malaysian slang as well, and humourously criticise it the way I've been doing it with the Aussie slang! XD [Hmmm, might downplay the criticisms though, since I do still use the occassional 'lah'!]

Mishy <3

Ouch!

It's big.
It's huge.
It really hurts.
And it's on my eyelid.
It's also inflamming my entire eyelid so now I look a tad disfigured in one eye.
Think Quasimodo in the 'Hunchback of Notredame'. It looks a bit like that, but not with so many wrinkles. XD Plus I don't hunch.

Worse of the worst, this inflammation happens to be on my left eye, the one that gets exposed to the world, while my good eye remains hidden by my fringe.
Oh woo-freakity-hoo.

Argh!! This is not good! Especially since Year 12 Photo Day is up next week Tuesday!!!

I think it got bitten by something. =(
Man I hope this goes down real soon.

I get to have a 'Fun Photo' for Year 12 Photo Day, so I'm really happy. =) I'll probably go as a 'Spanish Devil' and buy the horns and everything. I'm pairing up with a friend who's going as my 'Hawaiian Angel'. =) It's goone look so good!

Mishy <3

The First of the Fallen Leaves

The first day of Autumn has arrived.
The temperature is dropping.
The breeze is stronger.
The leaves are falling.
The green hue fades to a reddish scene, contrasting its cooling climate.
It's in between- leaving a season of hay fever, and entering a season of sublime chills.

This is easily one of my favourite seasons (aside from the glory and freshness of spring), and it is finally HERE!

Mishy <3