Homecoming @ Christmas

Whether it's the familiar front door, or the distinctive smell of the living room, there's something about our home that provides us an ultimate comfort and security... Home, something I have taken for granted in all the years before this one. So what do you get when we cross 'Christmas' and 'home'? It is beyond words to describe, that fully captures the joyful spirits of the holidays.There's no better time to stick around at home than at Christmas; I can finally live independent of the $2 'Chaws' and Schulich library.

Sitting here by my bed 600KM away from Molson Hall, I'm once again to enjoy mom's cooking, and the battle against dad on the chessboard. I'm back to having talks over a beer, in Mandarin, on subjects stretching from atoms and molecules, to galaxy, astronomy; ancient histories, to global economy. Laying back, catching up, watching some good ol' television whose existence ceased in the 4 months leading up to now. And of course...there are also the old pals from the not-so-long-ago high school.. FML? I think not.

It's a neat break to get away from the college life, especially the last few weeks of exams and late-night studies. While McGill taught me arts and sciences, Montreal taught me "applied sociology" through its daily excitement and lively night-life. Semester one was the chapter of the riskiness, ruthless endeavors and the absolute liberty to pursue freedom in exchange for a lower GPA and loss of scholarship.

But hey, it's Christmas.
Obama's on vacation, so am I ;)

The Brick Wall Effect

Ever wonder what we'd be able to do if there are no brick walls? No fences, no gates to stop people from going anywhere. No brick walls to keep people from coming in, or going out - literally, and figuratively.

I recently hit a brick wall known as 'Professor Levitin's "Introduction to Psychology" course or commonly known on campus as "PSYC100" - a course I took for the heck of it because I was rarely exposed to it ;) Good times I had in the class but the 'not-so-good time' came last night when I discovered that I earned a C+ on the final that accounted for 100% of my course mark. And because of that, I am on my way out of the Loranian Circle, along with $75,000 in scholarship.

I don't know whether it's my lack of urgency or coolheaded-composure, I don't feel at all being affected by crashing the latest "brick wall". Personally, I feel I wouldn't have done any better if I were given a day or a month extra time to study.

It's sure tough to run into brick walls, but they're there for a reason. Brick walls are supposed to be there to keep people out. They're there to ensure the people who come in are in the right place. Will the C+ discourage me from taking another interesting psychology course in the future? No. But will I major in psychology? Ha! Maybe in the next life!

Forget about being "the next Einstein", how about I be the first "Peter Guo"?

Now, I need to earn back my Loranian status.
Thanks everyone for all the support you've given me ;)

Howls of A Lone Wolf

I haven't logged in a while; I've been pretty busy in my preparation for the final exams. Now that the dust has 'settled' down quite a bit here at McGill, the general atmosphere shows why it belongs in the top-tier world-class universities. Most of the time when I'm not running on the track, I'd be readings at the library, often the cafeteria.

During the periods of sitting alone at a peaceful place, I reflected quite a bit. A recent drama involving an friend from high school made me come to realize the egocentric side of me - dangerous and deadly. It made me think: if the cycle of life in Hinduism holds any validity, in my past life, I'd be a wolf - the lone wolf who wonders the wilderness at midnight, vicious and hungry, senseless, sometimes very cold-blooded.

Less and less I feel controlled by emotions. Sociable I am, or can be, as all wolves are, yet none of the experience can deliver the same thrill as that of the lone wolf, as he takes off from his pack and penetrates the deeper wilderness on his own, accompanied by the full-moon and the thin shadow cast beneath his paws.The need to belong? He is a class of his own, with his individuality, he cares for no one, needs no one. He tilts his head, howls the moon, expressing his independence that is never to be taken.

I, share with "him" some qualities of a lone wolf,
I am the way I am, and that's the way I'm going to be ;)