Loving Life

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.” - Dr.Seuss

You know that moment where someone asks you " Tell us about yourself?" and you have that panic attack because you don't know what to say? Well, I haven't exactly given much details about my past and how I got the epiphany of wanting my life to be an adventure. This entry will be about my life, the past present and of course future. 

My past was a tough one, I was born in Manila, Philippines (South- east Asia), and studied there for a few years before moving to Hong Kong with my parents. By this time I was 7 years old, small and chubby with short hair, and when I arrived in Hong Kong, I studied in a local public school. It was probably the hardest transition for me, everyday we got homework and most were due the next day and I had really bad problems with maths, which  my father and I spent hours arguing and learning the equations. To be honest that wasn't the worst part, in my first few years, I wasn't liked very much. I had a few friends I suppose, but I never felt as if I belong. Over the years, I developed a mild depression, which is something nobody would like to experience specially for an eight years old. I spent half my life not living to the fullest which I guess one of the reasons why I want to have a life of adventure, fun and live as if it were my last day. You think people would notice that there was something wrong, but the thing is, I'm a good actress and learnt to surpress my emotions. All day, I pretend like there was nothing wrong, I smiled and laughed at jokes as if I am fine. By night, when my parents are asleep or just minding their own business out in the living room, I cried myself to sleep, thinking what is wrong with me? why don't people like me? Half way through year 6 I moved to an Australian private school in Hong Kong, a little late, but it was worth it. That last year of primary school, I met new people and actually made friends who invited me for sleepovers and movies together, which made life more bearable, by then I have also grown a bit (I am still pretty short) but more skinnier with long hair.

To create my present where I am, from primary school in theAustralian private school (Which I should tell you isn't the actual name, but it is a literal school for students who want to learn in an Australian school environment), I moved to Melbourne after year 6 and still stayed in contacts with most of my friends through social networking. I spent a year in a public school in Melbourne, which was a very interesting experience. I made enemies, friends,and  frienemies that year. Then the next year I moved to the school I am in now, A private all girls school. In short, I moved to four school in four years.

So where am I now? Well, I am in the study writing this blog. To answer that question without being a smart ass, from that little chubby girl in the first paragraph, I  have grown and changed quite a lot. There's a some special people in my life who taught me to just be me, and not change who I am, but there is only one special person who changed my perspective, he taught me to be a rebel every now and then, to have fun and enjoy life as it is, he also gave me the idea for this topic. 

As for the future, i don't know where I'll go or where it will take me, but one thing I'm certain of is that whatever challenges comes my way, I will have people who will love and support me through those difficult times. 

Dreams vs Reality

"Face reality as it is, not as it was or as you wish it to be" - Jack Welsh

You know that feeling after watching a movie or a reading a book and wishing you could do those things? Or wish that it was real? Well, I get those feelings all the time that if I could have any power, it would be to able to be a character in a book or movie and experience their journey for my self.

There are so many things that I wish were true, like Hogwarts in Harry Potter or Camp Half- blood in Percy Jackson series and as much as I love the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, I wouldn't wish that was real as there was too much dictatorship and conflict. The other things I wish were true are:

* unicorns and pegasus - a unicorn is a horse with a horn and a pegasus is a horse with wings. There are imaginary creatures that consists of both which I would like more than anything else in the world!

* Chocolate factory- Exactly the same one that Willy Wonka has in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Wouldn't that be amazing? The chocolate fall, the cute squirrels and Oompa Loompas. As you have noticed I'm a massive chocolate lover, if I could marry it I would!

* Hogwarts and Camp Half-blood - I'm a big fan if those series, if those exist and I'm eligible for both that would be so amazing! I can go to Hogwarts for the year and during summer and breaks I can go to camp, that would be a dream come true!

* Sherlock - where can you find a character that can solve mysteries amazingly? My only answer to that would be Sherlock! I prefer the UK version with Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock, Elementary (the American version) is good but the character Sherlock seems arrogant in a violent way unlike the arrogant smart- ass way Benedict Cumberbatch portrays Sherlock.

*Tardis - Who wouldn't want to have a giant phone box that can travel through time?

I know some of those may not be your cup of tea, but those are just some of the things I wish were true.

Back in reality, we don't have magic, powers, tardis or a highly functioning sociopath but that doesn't mean we can't achieve the impossible. If you look at your idol, whoever it may be, or your heroes, whether they're real or not, they achieve the impossible by believing in them selves that they can achieve anything.

I can be anything, so I'm training my self to have a higher memory data by having a mind palace(mnemonic loci method), its possible- look it up.

Bac 2 skool kidzz :)

"Change your thoughts and you change your world" - Norman Vincent

I have completely forgotten what a school day is like. I don't exactly miss anything about school except the fun times I get to spend with the most insane yet loveable people, my friends. Insanity to my friends and I are kind of a compliment and true. The things we got up to can be quite childish but it feels like we are defying the impossible, for example we used to play sardines (like hide and seek, but a bit claustrophobic) all lunch time, or how many blazers can one person wear until the buttons cannot be buttoned anymore (about 7), or how about back when planking was cool and a friend and I planked at the teacher's table while she wasn't there. Those are examples of our lunch times and free times for the past 5 years.

What I dislike about school is the long hour lecture on a really boring topic, it made me want to just close my eyes and sleep for the next hour. To be honest some of the subjects aren't too bad, they were interesting and informative, but I guess it all depends on the individual's interests and preferences. If any subjects makes you want to sleep, here's a suggestion (WARNING: suggestion may be completely idiotic)

* Drink a lot coffee before class - I have tried it, but it causes quite a bit of side effects. After drinking coffee, I was so energetic and couldn't sit still for 5 minutes, then I was unable to stop shaking/ tremor in my hand (good excuse not being able to write though).

The most important thing we should all remember is that no matter how much we hate school we should be very thankful for being able to receive such great education. After all, knowledge is power and it is also the one thing no one can ever take away from you. Another thing I want to say is  that, give teachers a break, they work as hard that we do and also don't forget to thank them for teaching you.

The Writer

"Good things happen to those who wait, but greater things happen to those who get off their ass and do anything to make it happen" -  unknown

Today I had the writer's block, I just didn't know what to write, so I asked for help from my three close (and amazing) friends to help me come up with the next topic and we decided that this one is going to be about me - the writer.

My name is Angela but people call me Ange or Angie and I live in Australia. One day, I met an inspiring guy on the internet named Tom, he told me about his blog (mudsweatpunctures.blogspot.com) and it made want to write one as well, something useful and relatable to people around my age.

Before starting, I thought of the pros and cons about starting a blog. In the end my main reason for starting a blog is that knowing somewhere in the world someone is reading my blog and if I'm going to write about my goals, my life, and my dreams I know that I can't give up and let people down for giving up so easily. So in a way, I may or may not be helping you, but you - the reader, is helping me out as well. For that, I should thank you. Thank you for helping me reach my goals in the future and maybe letting me inspiring you as well. While I'm saying thank you, I might as well thank the important people in my life.

Thanks to my friends, you know who are, for supporting me in anything I do and for accepting my craziness.
Thanks to my parents, I know its not easy raising me, I'm sorry, but thanks for everything.
Thanks to tom, who inspired me and hope we will continue to be friends.

So here I am finally stopped waiting for something to happen and started reaching for my dreams, doing anything and everything I can to reach it. I hope that my blog has or will inspire you to reach for the stars as well.

5 Years From Now

"You have brains in your head and feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own and you know what you know and your the one who'll decide where to go" - Dr. Seuss

A few years ago I was given a book for Christmas called 'Where will you be five years from today', its one of those books where as you read along as you fill the blanks and list your ideas. This book was given to me by one of my mum's best friend and her family, who who we don't see often as they live in another continent. As the title of the book suggest, the book is about setting goals and asking yourself where do you want to be five years from now? To be honest, after it was given to me, I just had flick through it and put it on my shelf and never had the chance to fill it in.

Tonight which is about two or three years later, I have decided to give it a shot. As I was reading through it, I was thinking of what I want to be when I finish school, honestly, I don't know. I had a lot of dreams I put down as I realised it not for me but none were impossible. Whenever the book asks me, what is your aim or goal? I wrote down 'to have a fulfilling life of adventure'.

Almost half way through the book, it says "why not now?" And on the next page, it described people, including me who dreaded Mondays. Did you know that over the next 5 years we will receive the gift of 260 different Mondays? And each will be different because of the possibility of what might happen that Monday, you'll never know. Starting next Monday, kids in some places would go back to school after an Easter holiday and I will too, but in a different perspective, on Mondays instead of dreading the day, I will make the most of it and be more enthusiastic about Mondays and I challenge YOU to do the same and feel the difference.

So, I suggest you make use of your day to reach for your dreams and never say you don't have time because you have the same amount of time as Einstein, Mother Teresa, Dr. Seuss, and all those inspiring people, its what you do in your time that defines the difference.

Pilot

"I don't regret the things I've done, I regret the things I didn't do when I had the chance." - unknown

This blog will be about my journey, the good and the bad, from high school to university and my dream to see the world. It has always been a dream of mine to experience other culture and try new things, specially the food and hospitality.

Before completing my big and expensive dream, I have to finish high school, then maybe university? Or gap year? I don't know yet, but that is what this blog is about, the choices.

I have about a year and a half before I graduate, and I want to share it with anyone wanting to experience it through my perspective, specially those who are worried about this stage in life.

Please feel free to post POSITIVE comments.