...before meeting people. I need time to think and get into the right frame of mind before meeting someone or I don't know how to respond.
Thus it stressed me much today when my appointments for the next 4 days just got rearranged. All of them.
I was walking around listless in school, and wasn't able to greet people in the same way that they greeted me along the corridors. I guess I was not ready to meet anyone I had just became friends with (who didn't know me well), but was hoping to talk to someone who I could let my guard down with.
I found none such and ate dinner alone.
As I was finishing my meal, Auntie Kim motioned to me from behind her stacks of dirty dishes. I carried my dinner to the table next to her tray collection point and asked how she was doing.
It's difficult, she said in her dialect-ridden mandarin. She lamented that she's working herself crazy. Then after a sigh, she looked up from her plates and asked if I was going crazy studying too.
Kinda... I replied. It wasn't books that was killing me, but it was not like I had any idea what was.
Auntie Kim told me she takes things a day at a time. Thinking too far ahead worries her- for today's work is intense, and so is tomorrow's, and the day after. But what has tomorrow's concern got to do with today for her? Nothing. So she carries on with today's work, and is happy when it is done.
I left her alone to her work as I headed for fencing, where I was joyfully overwhelmed by the sheer number of experienced sabre fencers who just came in. When it rains, it pours.
The day ended well, but for all the things I was thankful for, I was most glad that Auntie Kim hasn't retired.
Thus it stressed me much today when my appointments for the next 4 days just got rearranged. All of them.
I was walking around listless in school, and wasn't able to greet people in the same way that they greeted me along the corridors. I guess I was not ready to meet anyone I had just became friends with (who didn't know me well), but was hoping to talk to someone who I could let my guard down with.
I found none such and ate dinner alone.
As I was finishing my meal, Auntie Kim motioned to me from behind her stacks of dirty dishes. I carried my dinner to the table next to her tray collection point and asked how she was doing.
It's difficult, she said in her dialect-ridden mandarin. She lamented that she's working herself crazy. Then after a sigh, she looked up from her plates and asked if I was going crazy studying too.
Kinda... I replied. It wasn't books that was killing me, but it was not like I had any idea what was.
Auntie Kim told me she takes things a day at a time. Thinking too far ahead worries her- for today's work is intense, and so is tomorrow's, and the day after. But what has tomorrow's concern got to do with today for her? Nothing. So she carries on with today's work, and is happy when it is done.
I left her alone to her work as I headed for fencing, where I was joyfully overwhelmed by the sheer number of experienced sabre fencers who just came in. When it rains, it pours.
The day ended well, but for all the things I was thankful for, I was most glad that Auntie Kim hasn't retired.
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