Spin the World the Other Way

So far, the semester break has been... fruitful (is this the right term? Someone please save my English).

I've been to the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale (do not be misled, the image above is that of one of the witty 3 little pigs). If you read my Twitter, you'd know how satisfied I felt. 8 books in one go, I've never had that experience.

Such elation, my yen finally satiated.

And yes, I bought the chic-lit 'Ransom My Heart' by Meg Cabot.

When it says it is for older readers, it means you should be over 15 to read it. Why? Ms. Cabot is afraid you won't understand the plot. "Even children can understand love," so says some wise guy. But that is not the point!

The point is: this is the a milder version of Jude Devareaux and Judith McNaught's novels.

Keep it away from your 12 year old sisters.

I'm ok with chic-lits (for details of my peace treaty with it, click here). I mean, I've read the whole 'Twilight' Saga, didn't I?

Edith Wharton's 'The Age of Innocence', been dying to read it. I bought 3 classics including Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and Dante's 'Inferno'.

It's also good to see Damien reading something, and daddy too. Seeing the choice of books Brian picked reminded me of how I was long long ago (11 years old, I think), when I was madly in love with Classical Studies and Egyptology.

Hereditary? Maybe.

Enough about books. Let's talk about university, degree, masters and Ph. D (oh wow it rhymes).

This may surprise you, and maybe you'll think me an ignorant brat: I used to think going to university is a compulsory part of a person's education. As in, it is only normal for one to go to university and very abnormal for a person to stop after high school.

When I was little (30% of my size now), I thought I could go to university easily, with good grades of course, but without financial problems, transportation problems and so on. When it comes to foreign universities, I always thought that money is no object.

In short, I thought education was free because every country's government are so benevolent.

It was when I started secondary education that the world says, "No~ Of course not, you silly, naive girl."

The fees charged by foreign universities dazzled me. The public universities here are soooooo difficult to get in that I canceled off the idea of studying Sec 6. Private universities are affordable, however, like every teenager, I'm very idealistic.

Nobody says it is wrong to study what you like, nobody says it is wrong to aim for the best.

Unlike most of the Asians with small eyes like Damien and I (except you beautiful Indians, bien sur), I opt for a field of study where it is both impractical and hardly keeps the wolf out of the door.

I love Literature. I love Literature so much that I want to get a degree for it, teach as a lecturer for 2 years, get my masters, request to teach in the university that I studied in, get my Ph. D and request to do research in any UK university.

The love for English Literature is so puissant till I think I'll cry 3 days, 3 nights; and then proceed to mourn for 2 years if I can't study Literature in UK.

Very idealistic and very ignorant of me.

That's me. And if my world comes crumbling down on me, and eventually crushes me into ashes, I'll say with my last breath, "Mea culpa."

Eeswari said that I'll live in the university's library for the rest of my life, and I'll read day and night, eating French loaves with strawberry jam brought by one of my faithful students. Most of the UK university's libraries are superb bomb shelter. I'll lost count of the days and come out of the library after 2012 and say,

"Where is everybody?"

Then you'll know that Will Smith's 'I Am Legend' is a film chronicling my life. Without the man-eating sickos, of course.