communimacation

Tourists are everywhere these days. Even at "home" in Georgia I am a tourist myself, since my family moved here while I was still in high school and I've never really lived here. Something I find quite interesting is how people communicate with one another when there is a language barrier creating a mental challenge for understanding. I think it's kind of funny when one party uses extreme hand gestures and talks ridiculously slowly and loudly to communicate with another party of the same species but different culture. One time I was on the subway I witnessed an American girl trying to give advice to an Asian couple (who obviously did not speak English) about where to go sightseeing in San Francisco. I have to admit it was hilarious to watch because she was giving a histrionic performance as she was describing the many places to see and eat around the city. In some ways it appeared as if she were speaking down to children, but I know she wasn't trying to be disrespectful or anything. (I think). I just find it silly how we believe speaking louder with pauses between words will magically translate to a language more familiar to foreigners. The one universal gesture I've noticed is the hand-to-mouth movement indicating "food" or "hungry". This is a good thing because I know that I'll always be able to get some kind of wanted response when I do this in a foreign country. I'm sure there are a few other gestures that are pretty universal, but this one is obviously the most important of them all.

giggles

Perhaps one of my biggest weaknesses is that I am super ticklish, beyond belief. Just thinking about being tickled evokes uncontrollable sensations of giggling and squirming. So ridiculous. I can even tickle myself with my own fingers. (wtf?!) I feel that this is such an unfortunate characteristic of mine and I hope I am never tickled to death. Whether or not that's even possible, it would be the worst way to die, in my opinion.

Please don't ever intentionally tickle me. Although I may be laughing and making facial expressions of superficial ecstasy, the only thought probably crossing my mind is how much I'd want to punch you the moment you cease to torture me.

I like hugs though.

"see food" diet

Back in the day, I used to be obsessed with Animal Planet and the Discovery channel. No joke. I would get hungry watching all those cows roam around... mMmmm STEAK! Haha, I only kid. But seriously though, I wanted to be a zoologist or an animal trainer when I grew up. I actually still want to take a marine biology course just because I think the ocean is so beautiful and there are so many fascinating creatures that reside in deep waters.
During a commercial break on Man v Food, I flipped to Animal Planet just to see what was on... Dolphins eating fish trying to find mates. It was in slow motion of course, and the music in the background was fun and lively. Obviously this situation was good for the dolphins, but what about the poor fish that were only trying to reproduce?!?! Don't get me wrong, I love to eat fish too. I don't know why this sympathetic thought even crossed my mind, but it did. It was a very short-lived thought though. A couple of minutes later I switched back to my original program and watched massive amounts of meat be devoured. I think I drooled a little.
I usually don't watch much tv, but when I do, I always seem to watch things that tickle my appetite. Screw being an animal trainer. My dream job is to get paid for eating lots of delicious food on tv and become famous for it. Joyce v Food! Just imagine, a little Asian girl devouring copious amounts of food in one sitting... a hit show for sure.

bills, bills, bills!

I miss handwritten letters. Back in elementary school, my best friends and I would write notes (not even full on letters) to each other and send them in stamped envelopes, even though we would be seeing each other in class the next day anyway. It was just that wonderful feeling of receiving mail that kept us doing silly things like that. I remember at one point in time, I couldn't wait to grow up and have bills to pay so I would receive tons of letters via mail. I thought it was an exciting thing to open envelopes with my name clearly addressed on them. To me it meant I'd officially be a grownup. But how things have changed... and I don't want to keep growing up any longer.
Emails and texts are convenient, I understand. But letters feel so much more permanent to me. I actually still have all those letters my friends sent to me throughout my childhood and going through them (as if I were for the first time) makes me just as incredibly happy. Some of them make me chuckle because I can't believe we actually used up a stamp for letters that just said "Mr. Brandenburgh has stinky breath. I hope we don't get him as our teacher again next year!". Kind of ridiculous and hilarious at the same time, but nonetheless memorable little treasures I'll keep to cherish.

say somethin baybehhh

I have this one line from Drake-Say Something in my head that is playing over and over AND OVER AGAIN!!!!

"say something baby" "say something baby" "say something baby" "say something baby" "say something baby" "say something baby" "say something baby" "say something baby" "say something baby" "say something baby" "say something baby" "say something baby" "say something baby" "say something baby" "say something baby" "say something baby" "say something baby" "say something baby"

It's so distracting and unreasonably on repeat. I have no significant association to this part of the chorus at all. I just woke up to this song being played ever so loudly by my lovely neighbors and now it has been playing about a million times in my head. As I am writing my research paper on the Futurist movement and the relationships between culture and politics, all that is streaming through my mind is "say something baby". AHHHHHHH!!!!!!

I hate it when a song --or worse, a single line-- gets stuck in my head. Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, founder of Futurism, published a Futurist Manifesto in 1907 because he needed to "say something baby". I'm sure of this.

strange and beautiful

It dawned on me today that my grandparents got married when they were just 16 or 17 years old. I can't even imagine myself being in the position they were in, especially since by now I'd have a few kids and property in need of care. My grandparents claimed that they were both deeply in love with each other at the time of their official union. Although I'm a bit of a skeptic about young people professing to be "in love" when they have little sense about the world around --and beyond-- them, I believe the story of my grandparents.
They were together for 60+ years (until my grandfather passed away) and there was so much display of affection between them at all times. Even when they had disagreements (they rarely fought), it was obvious that below the level of their tension was a drive to only make their relationship stronger. As a child, I had no way of labeling what this underlying tenderness was caused by. Even now I don't know if I'll ever be able to fully comprehend their unusual relationship --unusual in that it was so full of undying commitment to maintain their fidelity, not just physically but emotionally as well.
Even though they are no longer a pair in the physical world, I am still in awe of the magical relationship that no words could do justice to describe the indefinite feelings they shared. Anyone who knows my grandmother, also know that she has a tendency to focus herself as the center of everyone's attention. She is quite selfish at times, but my grandfather loved her regardless of her difficult nature. Sometimes I wondered why he was so engrossed by her, but then again, it must have been one of those things his words could not truly explain anyway. I do love my grandmother dearly though; She's just a bit much at times. Nonetheless, she is a precious being whom I owe a chunk of my existence to. I can only hope that my future husband (if I ever have one... or two. JK) will remind me of my grandfather and his ability to be so faithful. I know it's a lot to ask for someone just like him, but if my husband has any good quality that even remotely reminds me of my grandpa, I'd be a lucky girl.
I really miss my harahbuhjee a lot. His hugs were generously warm, but I miss touching his scratchy face (after a few days would pass since he shaved) even more. I know it sounds odd, but that scratchy feeling is one of the best sensations in the world to me because it reminds me of him.

rain or shine

When the weather is really nice outside (i.e. sunny with gentle cool breezes) I don't want to do anything work-related but just prance around in a summery dress without a care in the world.
When the weather is terrible to be outside (i.e. thunderstorms and lightening) I don't want to do anything work-related but snuggle under my covers and maybe sip on some hot chocolate with whipped cream.
I love the excuses I make to avoid getting necessary work done. Love them terribly, but they're so terrible to love!
It is 3:28 in the afternoon. Right now it is raining really hard and I still haven't been able to get myself out of my cozy bed. Wait, that is a tiny lie. I have gotten out to pee and eat, but other than those two activities I have not been able to stay out of my bed. Help me.