Being small has probably helped define more than any of my external traits. When I was young, and didn't need anyone, and making love was, well, just for fun (alas, those days are gone); I was perenially the shortest, thinnest and most anemic looking kid in my class. My polo-shirt from Grade 1 could literally fit those big-sized dolls that are popular now with the kids these days. Granted, teh dolls have probably grown bigger over the last 15 or so years, but I'm sure that by any standard, I was a small, small kid.
From that early onset, my height prevented me from enjoying sports such as basketball. Whereas the bigger, bulkier kids got dibs on pushing everyone around the courts and tossing the balls waywardly toward the hoop, I was relegated to playing more horizontally-oriented games. You know: tag, hide and seek, charge+block+boom. Thus was born my unnaturally low affinity for organized physical exertion; a.k.a. sports.
Of course, we know that in the Philippines, Basketball is seen as a major avenue for the expression of camaraderie, brotherhood, and socialization. After all, nothing says "Pare, kaibigan kita" like passing a leather-skin ball over the hands and heads of other kids. So, deprived of this expression of fraternal affection, I had to learn other ways to communicate. Second to basketball, I found out, was acquiring a skill of articulation and eloquence, and boy did I capitalize on this ability! I attempted to hone not only my speech method, but also the very diction and thought-processes through which communication via the verbal word is propagated. If I couldn't talk moves on the court, I found out by Grade 4 or so, at least I could talk smack.
Retracing from that anachronism though, after grade 1, I discovered a need to expand beyond my thirst for linguistic prowess. I started to seek other forms of knowledge in the sciences, the maths, a little bit of history, et al. I realized that information from these parts were good in two ways. Firstly, it made for an exceptional conversationalist with numerous anecdotal references, and secondly, if played right, it gave for better grades- yet another display of individualism and "communication" throroughyl sought after and well appreciated.
My thirst for knowledge, however, wasn't just brought about by a desire to talk glib better. It was also in reaction to yet another parameter set about by my height. With the exception of those with a fetish for the small, I would hardly be considered the achetype of beauty and attractiveness. Hence, I had to resort to either being a funny man, or being a smart man. Trust me, I tried the former, and it just didn't work.
to be continued... :)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Early leavers and 'steadfast' students
I discovered today two types of students I hold no sympathy for, and who annoy me to no end. The first is the early leaver. The student who not only looks back at the clock to check the time every two minutes, but leaves the exact moment the minute of the "end of class" strikes. Now, this may be because I was brainwashed in my 12 or so years of uptight schooling, but I've always assumed that as a sign of respect, and as a sign of being able to catch the last drops of a lecture (which for some reason, are always dealbreakers, anyhow), one should never leave class until a teacher dismisses it.
However, I do realize the fact that I am in a different system now, and as such, there are no more bells nor "good bye ms/mr/mrs _____"'s to usher a formal exodus from the room. And I don't particularly mind. What bothers me about these early leavers is that they make such a commotion of going out of the classroom, and just cause such a ruckus that it prevents me from being able to pack up well, and from being able to catch the last dregs of a lecturer's instruction; seeing as how s/he is given to the futility of his/her excercise.
That's not as annoying as the second type of student, though. Those steadfast students who would go to unnecessary and detrimental lengths to not miss school, or to not be late. These can be divided to two categories. The first are those who come to school in pambahay clothes, because (I assume) they woke up late and can't bear the though of being late. The other, and the ones I dislike the most, are those who come to school when sick. Sure, we (nerds) have all done it, but as a general rule, WE DON'T COUGH ON OTHER PEOPLE.
self-explanatory, yes?
*koff, koff*
ugh, stupid classmate probably got me infected, as well. But God knows I'll still be going to class tomorrow though. The difference between us will be that I'll cover my mouth and be discrete when I cough. No need to suffer gale-force winds with your pathogen riddled expulsions.
kntxbai.
However, I do realize the fact that I am in a different system now, and as such, there are no more bells nor "good bye ms/mr/mrs _____"'s to usher a formal exodus from the room. And I don't particularly mind. What bothers me about these early leavers is that they make such a commotion of going out of the classroom, and just cause such a ruckus that it prevents me from being able to pack up well, and from being able to catch the last dregs of a lecturer's instruction; seeing as how s/he is given to the futility of his/her excercise.
That's not as annoying as the second type of student, though. Those steadfast students who would go to unnecessary and detrimental lengths to not miss school, or to not be late. These can be divided to two categories. The first are those who come to school in pambahay clothes, because (I assume) they woke up late and can't bear the though of being late. The other, and the ones I dislike the most, are those who come to school when sick. Sure, we (nerds) have all done it, but as a general rule, WE DON'T COUGH ON OTHER PEOPLE.
self-explanatory, yes?
*koff, koff*
ugh, stupid classmate probably got me infected, as well. But God knows I'll still be going to class tomorrow though. The difference between us will be that I'll cover my mouth and be discrete when I cough. No need to suffer gale-force winds with your pathogen riddled expulsions.
kntxbai.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Best Study Philosophy ever*
Last thursday was a taxing day for me. I had two classes, and for both those classes, I had to take midterms. I think I'm being modest when I say that Chem and Pre-calc math are not necessarily my waterloos, but it just so happened that we were taking midterms focusing on topics I particularly dreaded for both: Molecular models (Lewis structures) and Trigonometry. I'm not sure how I did, exactly (I do feel, however, that I did miles better in math than in Chem. stupid carelessness), but I do know that I discovered one of the best study philosophies ever:
DON'T STUDY.
This was, you don't invest any time on the test. If you get a relatively high score, then you can attribute your grade to your innate knowledge, lecture retention or whatever. And, in the event that you get an epicfail 17% or other, you can chalk it up to your not having studied. This way, you neither get the 'reassurance' of your stupidity, nor the possibly wasted time you spent on studying when it wouldn't have helped, anyway.
Of course, there is one disclaimer to this philosophy, why is the reason why I put an asterisk on the title of this blog entry. This philosophy only works if your care more about your adolescent, pubescent, volatile ego more than your actual permanent college transcript.
cheers!
DON'T STUDY.
This was, you don't invest any time on the test. If you get a relatively high score, then you can attribute your grade to your innate knowledge, lecture retention or whatever. And, in the event that you get an epicfail 17% or other, you can chalk it up to your not having studied. This way, you neither get the 'reassurance' of your stupidity, nor the possibly wasted time you spent on studying when it wouldn't have helped, anyway.
Of course, there is one disclaimer to this philosophy, why is the reason why I put an asterisk on the title of this blog entry. This philosophy only works if your care more about your adolescent, pubescent, volatile ego more than your actual permanent college transcript.
cheers!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Obamarama
I am amused by James' status message on Yahoo! Messenger; and I'm actually seeing it in a whole mess of places. It reads:
"Both candidates ran a good race, but as with all races, it was won by a Kenyan"
I will admit that I am not in the least bit adequately informed of the candidacies and platforms of either party to publish a complete political review of this presidential race, which ended with Barack Obama winning the coveted title of president-elect; to succeed George Bush as the 44th president of the USA (i love how i just made that sound like a beauty pagaent win). I also was not one of the vast multitudes who voted for either McCain or Obama, since I am not a U.S. Citizen. I was, however, fortunate enough to be in the center of the campaign race during its last few legs, exposed directly to the atmosphere of trailblazing patriotism that consumed this superpower.
It was 'moving', to say the least, to see the live broadcast of hundreds of thousands of Americans gathered in the cold and wintry night in the middle of parks, major thoroughfares and campaign party 'parties' rejoice and cheer (and some even cried) upon the announcement of Barack Obama's victory. The subsequent interviews with plebeians (hahaha) about the political, emotional and cultural impact of electing such a young, and African American president were frought with cheers, tears, battle cries and... what I can only describe at content sighs (although the large black woman sighing on national television, international, even, since it was CNN, seemed out of place. It looked like she merely ran out of breath after a taebo routine, rather than being super-elated at having obama elected)
Newspapers today are splashed with a deluge of 'first African American president's and 'historic's and other terms to decorate Obama. Blog entries, Facebook statuses etc. etc. are all full of triumphant messages of victory and pride and patriotism. Americans, the general sentiment seems to be, have finally recognized the African Americans! Americans are now truly free, truly 'mature', yay yay yay!
But is this really the triumphant end to a race well run? I don't think so.
Pardon my acerbic-ness, but I think that this is actually just the beginning. While it is indeed newsworthy and praiseworthy that the American people have finally had an epiphany of the possibility of having a 'black president', I refuse to believe that Barack's victory was won merely by the combined forces of his race, and the American's changed outlook on the issue. I'm sure the whole 'change' campaign, his polotical platform, and the empowering combined forces of the youth and media also played a large hand in things. This is why, instead, I offer the following thought: This is merely the beginning of the race.
Barack Obama is about to set foot in an office which affects the rest of the world's affairs. Barack is about to jump headfirst into leading the country, a superpower in the world, in the middle of an economic crisis. Barack Obama, after promising change and better days for all (then again, all campaigners do), is about to face a sea of demanding and exacting people expecting more than ever to see the tangible realities of his abstract goals and promises. Despite the disclaimer included in his 'acceptance speech', in which he said that the changes we want might take longer than a presidential term to materialize, Americans and the rest of the world's populace will still eagerly await some proof of his abilities.
Each and every one of his actions and decisions will be scrutinized under the public microscope, and dissected and studied in every way. Every achievement, and also every mistake he makes will be magnified and supersized to proportions even McDonalds would not want for their fries and Coke. And, inevitably, these achievements and mistakes will be associated with and to his race, his youth, his radical mindset for change, his very own Obamarama.
Forgive my sour and bitter frankness, then, when I say that now is not a time for all people (and maybe especially the African Americans) to drop all worries and celebrate. Now, more than ever, is a time to pray, to hope, or to turn to whatever greater-than-thyself deity there is for guidance and excellence during the coming term of President Barack Obama. We are about to enter a time when fodder for the empassioned haters will run ripe, and fuel for the fire of the very narrowness we think we've defeated just might be in abundance. Stigmas and stereotypes are just as likely to experience a rapid growth spurt as change, equality, and new-age-pro-the-people-thinking. Remember that, in as much as this is a stereotype for the 'ugly American', it is a distinct possibility that if Barack Obama 'screws up', the image of the black man as president just may be tarnished forever; in the same way that his success would finally free African Americans of their downtrod image in the American Political Arena. I hope, with an empathic passion, that we encounter nothing but the latter. I hope, with a hope shared hopefully by the whole people in search of equality, that this really will be a time to celebrate.
The end, is but the beginning.
It was 'moving', to say the least, to see the live broadcast of hundreds of thousands of Americans gathered in the cold and wintry night in the middle of parks, major thoroughfares and campaign party 'parties' rejoice and cheer (and some even cried) upon the announcement of Barack Obama's victory. The subsequent interviews with plebeians (hahaha) about the political, emotional and cultural impact of electing such a young, and African American president were frought with cheers, tears, battle cries and... what I can only describe at content sighs (although the large black woman sighing on national television, international, even, since it was CNN, seemed out of place. It looked like she merely ran out of breath after a taebo routine, rather than being super-elated at having obama elected)
Newspapers today are splashed with a deluge of 'first African American president's and 'historic's and other terms to decorate Obama. Blog entries, Facebook statuses etc. etc. are all full of triumphant messages of victory and pride and patriotism. Americans, the general sentiment seems to be, have finally recognized the African Americans! Americans are now truly free, truly 'mature', yay yay yay!
But is this really the triumphant end to a race well run? I don't think so.
Pardon my acerbic-ness, but I think that this is actually just the beginning. While it is indeed newsworthy and praiseworthy that the American people have finally had an epiphany of the possibility of having a 'black president', I refuse to believe that Barack's victory was won merely by the combined forces of his race, and the American's changed outlook on the issue. I'm sure the whole 'change' campaign, his polotical platform, and the empowering combined forces of the youth and media also played a large hand in things. This is why, instead, I offer the following thought: This is merely the beginning of the race.
Barack Obama is about to set foot in an office which affects the rest of the world's affairs. Barack is about to jump headfirst into leading the country, a superpower in the world, in the middle of an economic crisis. Barack Obama, after promising change and better days for all (then again, all campaigners do), is about to face a sea of demanding and exacting people expecting more than ever to see the tangible realities of his abstract goals and promises. Despite the disclaimer included in his 'acceptance speech', in which he said that the changes we want might take longer than a presidential term to materialize, Americans and the rest of the world's populace will still eagerly await some proof of his abilities.
Each and every one of his actions and decisions will be scrutinized under the public microscope, and dissected and studied in every way. Every achievement, and also every mistake he makes will be magnified and supersized to proportions even McDonalds would not want for their fries and Coke. And, inevitably, these achievements and mistakes will be associated with and to his race, his youth, his radical mindset for change, his very own Obamarama.
Forgive my sour and bitter frankness, then, when I say that now is not a time for all people (and maybe especially the African Americans) to drop all worries and celebrate. Now, more than ever, is a time to pray, to hope, or to turn to whatever greater-than-thyself deity there is for guidance and excellence during the coming term of President Barack Obama. We are about to enter a time when fodder for the empassioned haters will run ripe, and fuel for the fire of the very narrowness we think we've defeated just might be in abundance. Stigmas and stereotypes are just as likely to experience a rapid growth spurt as change, equality, and new-age-pro-the-people-thinking. Remember that, in as much as this is a stereotype for the 'ugly American', it is a distinct possibility that if Barack Obama 'screws up', the image of the black man as president just may be tarnished forever; in the same way that his success would finally free African Americans of their downtrod image in the American Political Arena. I hope, with an empathic passion, that we encounter nothing but the latter. I hope, with a hope shared hopefully by the whole people in search of equality, that this really will be a time to celebrate.
The end, is but the beginning.
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