to lose and to find yourself all at the same time
So I'm back from Japan!!!! Not much post holiday blues because 1. lots of bizad club stuff to settle 2. the release of my results earlier this morning was more depressing 3. need to exercise and sweat and I guess home is still the best la hahaha albeit humid, it really beats having to wear thermal and jeans and a down jacket and scarf 24/7 and having a peeling upper lip. So I went on this holiday with just my folks (cuz my siblings are as always, either not even in the same continent as us, or are too busy w their own spouses/families sighpie). So, it gave me alot of time to think and reflect. AND HENCE I HAVE MANY THOUGHTS TO SHARE to my nonexistent blog readers HAHAHA.
Through sitting in the coach and staring out of the windows while the tour guide told us about Japan (lotsss and lotssssss of time spent travelling thus in the coach T_T), I thought about the real purpose of travel. Many people are merely tourists and not travellers- they sit behind a glass window and view the country through a very superficial and probably warped idea of their culture and people. And maybe thats the problem with tour packages and whatnot. They sell a very idealistic and shallow idea of a country. Which really defeats the purpose of travel. My mum was saying, "we go on tour to be pampered ma" and i kinda disagree with that. Granted that my parents are older and japan is pretty difficult to get around on our own, tour packages would be best especially in terms of saving time and effort. But for me, I really wished I could have a more...uncensored experience. But merely listening to the guide talk about the way of life for the Japanese and observing some things for myself really gave me a culture shock!
Here are a few fun facts among many more that I have learnt hahaha:
1. Japanese people are really quite weak in their command of english hahaha. It was really difficult to even ask for directions or order a meal because the Japanese seem to really only speak Japanese.
2. This brings me to another point that is, the Japanese are really proud of being Japanese-which is a good thing. From the food they eat to the language they speak, they save the best Japanese products for their own consumption where their local meat and vegetables cost so much more than imported stuff.
3. I always thought the Japanese ate lots of beef KOBE BEEF WAGYU BEEF but in reality Japanese beef is crazy expensive and the people usually just eat NZ , Aus or american beef. They usually eat loads of cold meals as well, and the food's appearance is of more importance than the taste itself.
4. Japanese women get to manage the expenses/salary of their husband HAHA.
5. Ramen is almost like wanton mee/fishball noodle standard to them: "poor man's fare" hahaha
6. Japanese housewives spend alot of effort to make bentos for their hubbies everday
7. The japanese are very organized and orderly, but this also translates to perhaps inflexibility in adapting to circumstances
8. Silence is a very important virtue!
9. KIMONOS are the super expensive and extensive costumes (where you cant wear it on your own you'll need help) but the very normal ones we usually see are called YUKATAS
10. The japanese dont show cleavage they show BACK. SEXYBACK. AHAHA.
11. SMALL IS GOOD. cars, houses, food. quality over quantity!
12. The japanese don't invent stuff but they adapt and enhance stuff until it surpasses the original thing eg. cars and cameras
13. Japanese toilets are almost always SUPER CLEAN and who doesnt love warm toilet seats in a cold winter day with butt spraying and drying functions
Ok some stuff may be stereotypical of the japanese but this is what I heard/observed and it really allowed me to learn sooooo much about Japan which is merely a snippet of the entire picture. REALLY MADE ME FEEL SO GOOD TO LEARN. HAHA SERIOUS.
On another note, travelling alone with my parents for the....3rd time I think was pretty cool as well. Can't deny that I got abit sian that I didnt have any youngpeoplecompany to talk cock or camwhore or do fun stuff with, it was really a good 7-8 days spent with my parents. School and stuff have been busy the last sem and we rarely got to spend much time together. The constant and close contact with them gave me a stark reminder that 爸爸妈妈真的老了 and it made me kind of scared and sad to realize that and see it for myself ): But I'm glad that I did spend this trip with them as it was much needed quality time and a timely reminder to never take them for granted. I do wish that one day in the near future our ENTIRE family can go on a holiday together though. Dajie+ Rod, Erjie + Shon + Lexuen, Mum and Dad and perhaps me +1 HAHAHA. Or even with sheryl's family!! Was so envious of one of the families on the tour group where two sisters and their husband and children were holidaying tgt and one of the daughter's bf even tagged along. too sweet *_* Haiz i really miss complete family holidays ):
Mm and getting back my CAP (grades la ok) was quite a bummer, especially when I'm surrounded by insanely smart people who perhaps studied less but are more smart and can present better. Was expecting more from myself but to be honest with myself, I did slack off alot during the earlier part of the sem. Just feel abit lost and purposeless in terms of career goals and what I'm doing with my life. But in any case I guess there's no point dwelling on my sucky grades anymore. MY CAP CAN ONLY GO UP NEXT SEM YESSSSSS. But then again, CAP is just but a number la. And I honestly still don't know what I want to do with my life, which is even more important than a grade (a very important lesson I learnt from A levels LOL) So what for straight As. I didn't apply for scholarships, law, medicine and whatnot. In e end still end up in Biz where straight Bs also can apply through discretionary. Really need to get some direction in my life and seize the opportunities around me before its too late. Amongst other desires, I really want to travel the world. Wanderlust is in my blooooooooood. There's really so much out there to see but of course money also comes into play LOL in which I will need a good paying job and all but what if i hate my job and what if i want to do other things but it pays less DAMMIT DILEMMA.
Yea ok so to sum it up, my point is that I think that yes, although travelling and holidays should be about having fun with friends and family and taking nice photos, eating nice food, trying fun things, I think that we shouldn't forget the greater purpose of travelling.
Travelling is to lose yourself to find yourself all at the same time. The world is really our oyster and there's just so much to see, so much to learn and so much to experience. Just immerse yourself in another culture and as the saying goes, when in Rome, just do what the Romans do. Perhaps I think too much and worry too much but I guess that aside, so much lies ahead of me and its up to me to make the best out of the remaining of it. I go to seek a great perhaps.
