Fashion on the Other Side of the World

One thing I noticed in POB that I never noticed before was that 80% of young women were tall, skinny, blonde and beautiful. I also noticed that 99% of POBian men werenothing to brag about.

Fashion is a huge thing over there so everybody was really dressed up. What I liked about it was that it wasn't like our baggy trend (e.g. over-sized tops over leggings). Even though they had the leggings trend too, they wore them with nicely-fitted short dresses which for the first time ever made me want to buy a pair.

Although majority of women wore 4 inch heels, no matter where they were going (even the airport), I saw a lot of really comfortable heel shoes which looked really stylish. However, for $300 per pair I had to accept to live without them.

Even jeans were different there. Every pair looked unique. Like the rest of the clothes, they had lots of extra detail that was subtle but looked really good.

It was so much fun just walking around because it felt like being at a fashion show. I was really tempted to get some stuff but then I realised that people here wouldn't understand.

That Box in the Living Room

Is it me or has TV become extremely boring?

I remember only a few years ago, there were several shows I used to watch regularly and now I don't watch anything. There's just nothing good on. It's all the same - cops, doctors, over-dramatised stories. There's nothing genuine, intriguing, sincere... original.

Television in POB was quite different. I'm not going to say it was full of great shows but it didn't follow the same stale format every week. They don't stretch out shows over weeks, they show all episodes daily with a visible end in sight. They also don't just limit their repertoire to one language. I switched on one night and there was a concert in a different language. And it was excellent! Not some wannabe singers but professional ones with education and real talent that they've mastered over the years. And it was so majestic - the stage, the lighting.

The truth is that if they showed something like that here in prime time, no one would watch it. Does that mean that the people here just want the same bland entertainment that doesn't offer much for the brain?

I wonder if people assume that intellectual entertainment is unenjoyable. To me, it's completely the opposite. It's so much more interesting to have your mind opened to something better than the average.

I know most of you probably won't understand what I'm saying because you've grown up in a society where this sort of weekly entertainment is all that you know. Oh well. My blog is for my ramblings.

Basically, I'm annoyed that I can't finish watching a TV show that I started watching there.

Together Again

David: You make me feel complete
me: Isn't that really not correct to say because no one should complete you? You should be complete on your own.
David: ??
me: I guess that's what single people tell themselves to feel better.

Why do I feel a pang every time he leaves, even though I will see him soon? But not soon enough.

That saying "Distance makes the heart grow fonder" is an overwhelmingly huge understatement.

I always felt that my trip to POB would bring me some realisation about my decision to get married. Either I would feel fine being there by myself or I would go crazy. And crazy I went. I couldn't even enjoy my trip properly because I missed David so much. I wanted him to share all my experiences.

This sort of crazy mad love where you want to be with your partner every second of the day and feel uneasy when they are not there is probably unhealthy. But I could not care less.

I just look at his adorably gorgeous face and those warm brown eyes and that's it, I'm gone. Where, I don't know. I can never get close enough.

I cannot wait to get married so I can spend these cold nights with him and not have to worry about either one of us having to go back home.

Home Again

I'm back and I'm sick. Had a stomachache for the last two weeks. And for the hundredth person who's going to ask me, no, I'm not pregnant.

Off to POB

In two days I will be in POB. I really cannot believe that tomorrow I will be flying there. Time flies so quickly.

Today was the first day I actually got excited about going. Before, it was more of a "I gotta see my grandparents because I don't know when else I can" but now it's like "YAY!!! I'm going to Europe!" And yay, I'm leaving the busiest time at work to enjoy myself while my manager and other worker scramble madly to cope.

I've also been told that Elaine is happy to take me out while I'm there and return the favour. I'm very happy about that as otherwise I'd probably be stuck with my Mum and grandparents. My cousins are not exactly the types to take me out to good places.

I'm a bit fearful of the danger factor when going to POB but I guess it's always scarier when you're not there. Going on about your life over there makes you not notice it so much.

Everyone at work was jealous because they wanted to go instead of me to one of the most interesting cities in Europe. The best part is that I will actually understand the language.

Things I'm most looking forward to are POBian food, television and radio (which I'll probably get over after a few days) and of course seeing my grandma who is absolutely hilarious. And maybe she can introduce me to some of her well-known friends.

One thing I'm a little bit annoyed about is that I had my second session of SPL yeserday and my legs have some rash on them which doesn't seem to be fading. I don't remember this side effect last time. And it's summer there! How will I go swimming or even wear anything shorter than pants? Anyway, I still have hope that it will go away in a few days as it's similar to the rash I used to get when epilating.

Beauty is pain.

There's this saying in POB which parents tell their kids when they get a scratch or a bruise, "It'll heal before the wedding". I really hope this heals before my wedding!

April is going to Europe too, straight after I come back so I won't see or speak to her for five weeks! That's going to be weird since we speak at least once every week and are always up to date with each other's lives, even the most miniscule details (e.g. "A guy sat next to me in the lab and he's talking really loudly on the phone. Now his friend came and they are talking really loudly together. Ok, they left.")

Not seeing David for two weeks will be weird too but we'll probably talk on the phone. His Mum told me to enjoy my time there and do lots of crazy things because David won't find out anyway! David wasn't pleased with her encouraging me to do things she was hinting at.

I'm disappointed David won't be able to meet me at the airport when I return as I always wanted to experience such a romantic scenario. Unfortunately his university decided to make him sit an exam at that time. Seriously, no considerations. However, he will come to the airport with me tomorrow and we can have a not very romantic good-bye. With my parents there (as April pointed out when I told her of the situation).

I still haven't packed so I better go and do that 'cause David will come over soon. Too bad he won't fit into a suitcase.

Back to the Girls

I never realised how much I missed hanging out with the girls until I was actually with them, laughing my head off.

It was so long since all five of us (April, Christine, Claudia, Amelia and I) went out together. Ok, so Evan was there but he has long been our shadow (but as April pointed out he came out of his shell, after 8 years of knowing us). Mike came as well but he was pretty quiet. That guy gets offended too easily and needs to learn to come up with some good replies. David, unfortunately wasn't there. His void was especially noticed when the girls wouldn't enjoy some classic foreign songs played by a live band. They're a bit immature when it comes to music taste and only like the anglo-speaking popular stuff.

Amelia met us after not getting through the interview process for a flight attendant. It was her 2nd try. She said their marked height wasn't accurate as she measured herself at home and satisfied their required criteria.

We all thought it'd be cool if Amelia got to be a flight attendant. She definitely looked the part.

Christine got into a bit of an altercation with some women. Here's what happened. After we left the cafe, we saw a drugged out looking guy on the ground. We proceeded to discuss what we wanted to do next when two ladies walked by and also saw the guy. They went into the cafe to tell someone to call an ambulance. When they came out, one woman said, "Watch him until the ambulance gets here."

April and I were like, "Why should we watch him?!" but then Christine yelled, "We're not watching him, bitch. We are just discussing where to go next so don't make any fucking assumptions." Then it dawned on April and I that the woman said her comment sarcastically because she thought we were standing there watching this guy. Christine didn't stop there, she kept yelling at this woman who yelled back.

The rest of us looked at the ground and pretended to be invisible. Even Evan told Christine to calm down.

There's a never a dull moment when Christine's around.

On the train back, I kept talking about buying property to April but she wasn't saying anything so I changed the subject to something that she could relate to. It's hard to believe but I feel a lot more grown-up now that I'm getting married.

Came home later than expected and David came over which was nice as always, even thought I felt weird. If I'm honest with myself, I felt a little annoyed/sad that David wouldn't have been able to join in on our jokes if he was there. Started thinking things that were probably not appropriate but quite scary. I'm even scared to write them in case they are significant.

Sometimes I get in that sort of state of mind where I start questioning everything and not having any concrete answers can be quite worrying.

Anyway, as always, I completely changed my track of thought.