photo credit: puttputtproductions.com
I was born in the Year of the Ox and the month of the Capricorn. Both are known to be stubborn creatures, which is something that I’ve most definitely inherited, for better or for worse. Many of the things I chose to do in my life have been out of pure stubbornness – first to be able to say that I did it and second just to be different. Of course, the more people try to get me to change my behavior, the more determined I get to stick to my principles, morals, and priorities. I think I like the satisfaction of claiming that I don’t do this or that or that I have done something for this long. Especially when it’s something most of the population would like to claim as well, I feel all the better about being able to stake my claim.
The three most prominent examples of this are what I will or will not ingest, my frequency of relocations and moves, and my persistence with my journal. For each, though it may not always make sense for me to stick to my guns so strictly, I do so to preserve the idea that it’s always been that way. I don’t like to compromise in any of these areas and it’s quite rare for me to do so, though I’ve been working on that lately, since some of what I do is truly unfounded or limiting. At the same time, certain aspects I don’t plan on ever changing and that can be seen as a good or bad thing. Ok, let me clarify what I mean by each of these examples then.
Lychee flavor!
First off are my peculiar food and drink preferences. As many know, I do not drink alcohol, coffee, or energy drinks. I also refuse to eat rubbery things like calamari, squid, and other such odd creatures. I stay away from burgers, steak, lobster, and caviar. I am especially strict with alcohol, also avoiding food cooked in it, chocolates with liqueur, and the like. Even fermented food is a big no-no in my books, though some of these things have been unavoidably tasted at least once. The more people try to pressure me to drink, the more resistant I am, even if it’s just a taste or small portion of wine. I often get the “you know that it can actually be good for you, right?” and pay no heed – the costs far outweigh the benefits in my eyes. I do, however, like to collect a few mini bottles here and there because they’re rather cute (plus, why would you ever drink it? They’re too pretty!).
However, last year I did become curious and exasperated enough to try some beer (at age 22) and it was just as nasty as I thought it’d be, plus some. So that experience only solidified my resolve to avoid alcohol. I’m sure people will now focus on how I didn’t try wine or something lighter, fruitier, or whatever. Perhaps one day I will sip some wine just to get them to leave me alone, but as of now I’ll just ignore their pleads that it can be good for my health. In fact, I cherish an article I read recently about how the link that people draw between moderate drinking and good health may not be a causal effect, but actually be discounting many other possible factors that affect people’s drinking. Even if there was solid proof, I’m not about to just follow suit. I can eat blueberries and pomegranates for antioxidants and have fish oil and avocados for cardiovascular health. No alcohol needed.
I avoid coffee and energy drinks for the caffeine, which I don’t want or need, plus coffee smells disgusting to me. I like to do things naturally and without artificial aids whenever possible, so if I’m tired I take a nap. If I’m pulling an all-nighter, I drink lots of water or tea. I don’t need these extreme stimulants to affect my body in strange ways.
As for rubbery things, I’m not a fan of having to overwork my jaw or swallow large chunks of food. The texture doesn’t appeal to me, so I stick to crab, shrimp, and scallops, which is seafood that I do like to eat. This is not for health reasons, so I did try these “dong dong” shells in Singapore, since it’s a local thing. Now, I’m not quite sure why I don’t like burgers – I think it stems from a gross one I saw in the cafeteria in my childhood. I’ve stayed away ever since, though I have broken that to have about five in the past 15 years.
This doesn’t look appetizing to me at all. photo credit: artvoice.com
Steak is just too thick for me and I hate how it usually comes at least somewhat pink. I don’t really like meat that much, unless it’s very thinly sliced. Lobster is something my mom and I have disagreed on for ages – she says I ate it as a kid and I refuse to believe that. The only time I recall having it was in a dip, where the chunks were minimal. I’m not interested in ever eating a full one. And caviar has the same problem that rubbery things have in that I don’t like the texture. I also stubbornly don’t like food that is high class and expensive (though it’s a coincidence that my taste buds prefer cheaper foods).
Secondly, I am persistent in my desire to move around because that’s how my life has always been. I like being able to say I’ve never lived in the same city for more than 3 and 1/2 years consecutively. I like having so many old homes and schools and jobs that I have to keep a list or else I’d forget. I’m not the type of person to stay put and I enjoy that. My friends are never really too surprised to hear of my escapades because I’m on the go far more than they usually are. If for that reason alone, I want to keep moving around and not settle quite yet. Of course, it also has to do with just being used to that lifestyle.
My most recent journal.
Finally, how many people can say they have kept a journal for 14 years? I want to be able to, but I’m at 13 now and a year behind in catching up on entries. Most people I tell say they tried to keep a journal, but that only lasted a week, a month, a year… I’ve yet to meet someone who’s managed for as long as I have. And if only for the sake of being able to say that I have, I want to continue with it, whether or not it may be worth my while. Ultimately I think it’ll be a great thing to draw from later on if I decide to write an autobiography (or if people want to look back on my life, though it’d certainly be a bit tedious – I’m already reaching 50 volumes and that’s A LOT of reading).
So you see, much of my motivations for these areas is because of my stubbornness to continue to do it like I always have (or at least since my childhood). Generally, people respect my choices and think it’s good that I don’t drink and don’t rely on coffee or energy drinks for a boost. They also think it’s crazy that I move so frequently, but respect my ability to do that as well. And of course, everyone wishes they were able to keep the journal they always meant to have. I like being the one who does. The one who is able to stay away from alcohol, coffee, and energy drinks. The one who doesn’t need or want to spend exorbitant amounts on steak, lobster, and caviar. The one who has lived everywhere. The one who has kept a journal for years. The one who can, who has, and who will.
Well, it’s that time again and everyone at UCLA is done with finals and have been spending the past few days graduating. Today marks the final day of all the ceremonies, from commencements to departmental graduations to the ethnic-based ones. I’ve been getting e-mails on the AKPsi listserv of people talking about taking pictures together, attending their respective ceremonies, and otherwise celebrating the Class of 2009’s achievement. It’s really a festive time of year, as everyone has summer on their sights and just this one last hurdle before induction into the world of alumnihood. For just a moment, any worries about the future can be set aside as we focus on the here and now and rejoice in the completion of a degree.
Though I’ve been getting little tastes of Singaporean culture throughout my time here and occasionally something will remind me of China, it wasn’t until last night that I truly felt a strong cultural impression in everything around me. We had gone to East Coast Park, where there’s an outdoor cafeteria of sorts with stall upon stall of laksa, satay, dong dongs (I can’t remember what they were called), stingray, and who knows what else. I felt at once lost and amazed among all the dishes I’d never seen and had hardly heard of before. Paths cut through the park to allow bike riders, rollerbladers, and other such athletic activities to ensue. A little stage consisting of a piece of carpeting and a half watermelon backdrop provided the scene for an acrobatics show. On one side, we could look out across a small patch of trees to the ocean beyond, which was filled with ships.
