changing earrings.. no longer afraid!

(these are some of my earrings) <3

I have both of my ear lobes pierced since May this year. It has only been half a year but the way of how I take care my ears and wearing earrings have completely changed.

For the first few weeks after the piercing, I was told to use an ear-care antiseptic for cleansing. As I heard so much about infections (and rare cases where it could lead to death...), I clean my ears twice a day as instructed. Even though I had minor infections twice, I managed to have them healed quickly.

The reason I had the infections was not because I didn't have my ears cleaned properly, in fact, it was due to my new bad habit - playing with my earrings. When I am having lessons at school, or chatting with friends.. as long as one of my hands are free, I would be touching my earrings, pushing them in and out, whirling them as if they are screws.

I still have this habit, but I do not get infections anymore because my ears are fully healed (as it's been half a year). Now, I don't even use any antiseptics to clean my ears, I have my ears cleaned during shower with water flowing through. I have put less concentration on cleansing.

I also put less effort on wearing and taking off earrings. I remember for the first time I tried to take off my earrings, I stood very close to the mirror as if I was kissing it, and it took me about five minutes to have them removed. I was nervous and I struggled with the method of pulling my earrings out - whether to use my finger tips or finger nails. I felt like I couldn't breathe, and when I finally had the earrings taken out, I gave out a sigh and my arms felt tired and sore.

Today, the way of handling earrings is totally different for me. I don't need a mirror; I don't need antiseptics; I don't feel scared. All I need is 10 seconds and then it's done.

Do you have any body piercings? Do you handle your piercings differently as time passes?

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Jacqueline

Been Away from Home for 2 Months

I still miss my family and friends as much as I love them.

I think of them every day. Even though we could chat and do video calls on the computer, it isn’t enough, I want to see them with my eyes, I want physical contact.

It is said that the first month away from home was the hardest time. But to me, this is not defined by time. It is defined by how much you can fit yourself into this new place, and how you can deal with the difficulties you face. Sometimes, when something doesn’t work out well or something went wrong, I want to jump into my parents’ arms, because in their arms, I know everything will turn out right. Here, in this new place, no one is going to spread their arms and wait for you to come. You have to take out your own hands from your pocket and do something. You have to seek help yourself, you have to stay strong.

I guess I am strong for most of the time even though I cried for a few times. The first time I cried was the night after my parents left. It was just a 10-second cry, then I drifted off to sleep. That night, I had a dream about having fun with my family. In fact, for the first month here, I dreamt about my parents every single night. Sometimes the dreams are very random such as hanging around at home, my mom nagging at me... I also had several dreams about my best friend, I know she had dreams about me either, I miss her a lot.

Since the day I came here, I could say I have been doing pretty well. I have friends and I have people that I trust. Yesterday, I received my Maths test result and I am glad I did alright (as a matter of fact, I should do it well because it was something I learnt before). Today, I am having Maths (advanced) test, although it is something I haven’t touched before, I will do my best.

I know I will face more challenges in the near future. No matter what they are, I will try and make this part of my life to be the best!

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Jacqueline

no inspiration to write about anything + changed layout

Recently, I want to write something but I have totally no inspiration. (edit: and changed layout by the way :))

Back in some time ago, a lot of thoughts popped up in my head that I felt like I had to blog about. Sometimes there were too many ideas that I had to scribble them on a memo in case I forgot.

The reason I want to write is because I feel there is an imbalance in my reading and writing. We all know reading is something passive and writing is the other way round, therefore I believe we should write as much as we read to learn to the fullest.

After I woke up this morning, I remember I had this weird dream where a teacher at school gave me a small water bottle because mine was too big... Dreams are always crazy, no matter in a good way nor bad way, but at that moment I thought: Hey, I could write about my dreams!

That could work, since I often dream a lot at night (I know it means my brain doesn't get enough rest, but that's how it is...), I can turn my crazy dreams into interesting stories!

Okay, I have school now, I might try to do that later. ;)

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Jacqueline

*just a small thought: Why do couples that are about to get married have to sign a "paper" or something? I thought they love each other enough that they trust each other to be their only other-half...

my birthday + talent night

***Just a little update on what's going on recently :)

Last Friday was my birthday. It was my first birthday without my family around. It was my first birthday without my helper to be the first one to say “Happy Birthday” to me every year. But I had a great one.

That day was also the Talent Night hosted by where I live and which I signed up to perform. It was actually a competition, but I took it as a performance and I did it just for fun. When I was in Hong Kong, I remember I grumbled to my mom “How come her (my sis) school has “talent show” but not in my school? If my school did, I definitely would do something on the stage because that would be fun!” Now I had the chance, why not grab it?

I sang and played Butterfly Fly Away by Miley Cyrus. I was a bit nervous. It was after all my first time to sing on stage. But once I started to sing, I felt like telling a story to a small crowd of people more than singing. It felt amazing when I saw that the people actually paid attention and listened to my story.

There were only 4 contestants. I won the first prize but I think the most outstanding one was the one who sang and played the piano, you can tell he studies music. I truly want him to know I enjoyed his performance a lot.

I was excited for the whole night. The excitement lasted till the next day…

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Jacqueline

color blind... i hope we all were.

If everyone is color blind, then there is no racism?

This came off my head as I am now reading "The Help". It is an easy-read yet profounding. (will write more about it sooner)

About the book: http://www.amazon.com/Help-Kathryn-Stockett/dp/0399155341/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256621312&sr=1-1

At the same time, the book reminds me of one of my all-time favorite songs:

Song: Love is Color Blind
by Sarah Connor (feat. TQ)

It don't matter if you're black
White or yellow, if you're brown or red
Let's get down to that
Love is color-blind

[Verse 1:]
I remember when
I was a child and couldn't understand
People having fun
Discriminating all the different ones
Mama just used to say
When you grow up you'll maybe find a way
To make these people see
That everything I do comes back to me

[Bridge:]
You gotta live your live
We're all the same, no one's to blame
They gotta live their lives
Just play the game and let love reign

[Chorus:]
It don't matter if you're black
White or yellow, if your brown or red
Let's get down to that
Love is color-blind
You're my brother, you're my friend
All that matters in the very end
Is to understand
Love is color-blind

[TQ:]
I remember as a young boy
I watched my neighbourhood go up in flames
I saw the whole thang through tears of pain
And a situation's rackin' my brain
I wish I could fly away and never come back again
We need some love you all
We need some real deal help from above you all
I mean the kids watchin'
And I just can't see it stoppin', I don't understand
I mean we all bleed the same blood, man!

[Bridge:]
You gotta live your life
Better than our fathers did
Let's make some love, baby, have some kids
They gotta live their lives
And I don't care what color they are, or you are, or we are
It's all love, baby!

[C-Part:]
You have been my mother
You could have been my brother
What if you were my sister
If you were my father?
You could have been my fella
You could have been my teacher
What if you were my friend?
Would be so nice to meet ya

[Verse 2:]
Take it out to the world
Tell every boy and every little girl
Be proud of yourself
Cause you're as good as anybody else
Put away your prejudice
Open your mind, don't need a stick to this
Try to make this earth
A better place without a racial curse

[TQ:]
Yeah, it's time for some changes

[Chorus]

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Jacqueline