Cultural Curiosity

Due to my Statements of Intent, I have been searching for topic(s) that I would be interested in writing about as my thesis or focus of study if I do get accepted.

I came across this book called Cultural Curiosities by Josephine Khu at our museum's Resource Center while researching about overseas Chinese (the closest to an academic library in HK since all universities libraries here are limited to their students only, which I think is ridiculous. I can't even enter the libraries! I would leave my rant about this for another time...). It's a compilation of 13 stories written by second/third/fourth generation ethnic Chinese growing up countries other than China and how they view themselves as Chinese.

After reading this book, all I want to do right away is to ask my friends how they view themselves, since most of them had lived in other countries for a prolonged period and are also citizens of other countries. How come I had never asked Seo how she felt as a HongKonger but at the same time, everyone will know that she's Korean just because she looks different and don't speak as fluent of Canto? Ah~ The interesting insights I can get from just my friends... 

I also question myself how do I feel being in between communities for almost all my life. Since I studied in an international school, I was and still am treated differently whenever people heard that I came from one. Everyone viewed me as not so 'Chinese' while I can read and write and speak fluent in Canto and Mando, which is way better than a lot of people in HK, then why am I not 'Chinese' enough? When I am in the States, I speak fluent English and I probably know more about the American constitutions and history better than an average American, but am considered a foreigner. I realize now that I feel most comfortable among international school kids and people who studied or lived in other countries. They know not to question your 'ethnicity' since they understood that it makes no difference as to how you actually view yourself as.

I think of myself as Chinese, but not the mainland Chinese, but Chinese as hua ren 華人. I am from Hong Kong, but mostly I identify myself belonging to HK during colonial times. I am a Canadian citizen, but other than holding a passport saying I am one, I don't really know much about this country. I am not American, yet I know more about its history, geography and people than China's history.

Beware friends, I will question you if I do get accepted into grad school (evil laugh *muahahaha*)

15mins exercise

I've been putting this off for ages but I really think I should exercise more, considering I just sit at my desk all day long from Mon-Fri. I recently found this routine that's super simple and only lasts for about 15 mins. Seriously, I SHOULD be able to fit in 15 mins! So, I did. Been trying it out for 2 days (a record for me) and I'll see if I can last for a week. Oosh!

I also started revising for GRE for realz this time, yo. Finally understood what the test was asking me to do last time. Hahaha. Additionally, I've secured one professor's recommendation for grad school! Feel so accomplished this week.

2015

To be honest, I'm currently looking forward to 2015 already, when Avengers 2 comes out.

By 2015, I hope I will be:
1) back in the States
2) finishing or getting my Masters
3) working
4) having a life...
5) watching Avengers 2

That is all. Life should be simple right?

(Sidenote: Pretty frustrated with my grad school apps once again. seemed so much easier than bachelors but at the same time, I didn't remember I did all those things for bachelors... May be Mr. Campbell did do his job after all. Anyway, I am aiming to get as much as I can do by the end of this week and then asking professors by next week. Thankfully that I did college in the States for I don't need to take those stupid English tests again.)