A Nice Nutshell.

The semester has finally come to an end. Although I've still got one more essay due this Thursday, my mind and body have already lapsed into 'holiday mode'. Or rather, 'homeward bound mode'.

Last Thursday we headed over to Haddons after our History of Ideas tute like we usually do on Thursdays. (Dr.) Glenn and Monique joined us this time. It would be the last I'd see of Oliver and Tom (Sawyer) for the year. I always enjoy that one hour of chill-out time after class. There's always the potential for the most interesting and very random bits of whatever to surface throughout our strange topics of conversation. Maybe I secretly found it exceptionally intriguing because the conversations I'd have with people back home (with the exception of a few) are never quite like these.

Not meaning to sound cliche, but I've found that this particular unit has definitely made an impact on my life in the past three months of being here. I remember being terrified of the content, and of everyone in class including my tutor (Glenn) during my first few weeks. I dreaded going to class because I had SO MUCH to say but never dared to speak up and it was just pure torture to have to keep silent for two hours straight. I would always leave class in a mind-boggled state. And if that wasn't enough, Philosophy would be sure to mess me up an hour later. It was the assignments for this subject that I stressed about most as well, often feeling completely inadequate to tackle the kind of research that the questions required.

But I started to get the hang of things after awhile, and I found that with every new chapter I read, my mind felt like it was expanding a little bit more. My worldview began to alter a little bit more too and I found myself feeling strangely liberated somewhat. Like as if I had just been given the key to knowledge, the key to the Real World - through these books, through whatever we discussed in class, through the short conversations I'd have with Oliver.

I think that last bit especially made a difference coz it made me realize that until you take the time to sit and talk with a stranger, you will never be free from your own perceptions of others and the world around you. And of course, strangers would always remain strangers. But it is through finding a friend in someone that you realize that we're all not very different after all. Every person has a story to tell, every person dreams, every person has the space to learn and grow, every person is on a quest to find themselves - or find truth in life.

I once said that it is the small things that count. The small moments are the ones that make the big life worth celebrating. I love making a big deal of the small things! And I have definitely enjoyed these small moments that unexpectedly came my way. How funny it is that the toughest subject in Uni turned out to be the one that made the most difference. I'm gonna bring my textbook home for Jean to read. Now to make the last leap and tackle that last essay. Then its HOME HOME HOME!!! =D

Christina and I. Yes, we are very excited to be going back, and becoming neighbors soon too! 6 days more!

ps. I'm in Uni @ 8.30am for the FIRST time! (only coz Li woke me up for breakfast) Its so nice and peaceful for once!!!