Great Gatsby

The pursuit of the American Dream written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It's actually a great novel, and would make it even better if I had to analyse it for my commentary in two days. Based in the roaring 20s, Fitzgerald provides the modern day reader with a social critique of the corruption, lust, and division of the social classes. Notably, the striking contrasts between East Egg and West Egg, home to the aristocrats who had gained their fortune through inheritance and 'les nouvelle riches' respectively.

The protagonist in pursuit of his green light is quite a bizarre character. I would comment that he is a typical man seen through the streets of Central today. Although the story progresses decades ago, it reflects how men are in pursuit of a goal, however, when they reach it they quickly set up a new one. Well it doesn't only apply to men, driven women as well as a matter of fact, anyone in today's society especially here in Hong Kong, simply driven to strive to attain the highest merits. Like Gatsby, they never take time to enjoy what was really brought to them through the process. Its related to the saying, it's not what you get out of it in the end, but rather the process and journey it has brought you through.

However, Gatsby does show his more affectionate side. Although his dream has been shattered and taken away forever, he waits for Daisy after the death of Myrtle. However, one could also argue; Gatsby is just in love with the idea of Daisy, not truly in love with her. Hmmm, that's for you to decide.

Tom, Tom, Tom... the hulking, arrogant, polo player. A man from an aristocratic family. Personally I expected more of him. His entrance was peculiar with the description of "hulking", although I believe more in what's on the inside of a person he has nothing there either. Tom may live the decadent life that anyone would strive to live, but he is materialistic and vacuous. It was simply appalling to see the man be so shallow, who also has the ability to break a woman's nose with an open palm. It also doesn't help his image showing that he has a mistress. But let's focus on Tom. Seriously, his arrogance and his desire to sound intellectual was rhetorical. His quoting from the scientific books about whites being dominant simply shows that he is more brawn than brains.

Only one comment on Fitzgerald's use of repetition. I probably read that it was a very hot day, or the feeling of raging heat a gagillion times. I get the point. Again, lemons, the car, the house. Too much. Not to mention the time segments as well, I see that you're trying to make a point Fitzgerald, lighten up on the repeats! 

Anyhow, great book short read, quite interesting.

IB - IOC

After Friday, is the day I will start re-reading my 'fav' books! It will be so fun. Just to prep for this commentary. Plan is to fire up by reading Great Gatsby then Hamlet.


Great Gatsby - The critique of the American Dream, should be fairly easy to prep for.

Hamlet - Kind of like "la crème de la crème" of Shakespeare, dreading re-reading Act II, Scene ii already. Let's just hope I don't get a selection from here, unless it's Ophelia singing; that one is easy to talk for 15 mins.

Good Day.

My Friend you have to stop being angry, it's ok to be mad and be pissed that some people don't do their work. It's the attachment and passion you have for it that's why it's so irritating. Best of luck in your presentation tomorrow! You will do fine.

Ease of Everything

It's sometimes very weird, I had the emotion to write, and it comes to me. Ironically the things I should be doing now are not the things I need to be doing.

Isn't life just interesting this way, we always do the things we don't need to do presently and the things we do need to do just aren't getting done.

I should go to bed.

Good night.

Aspiration

I want to hide away in a box.
I hope no one ever finds me.

I want to cast away all anxieties.
I hope my feelings will be numb.

I want to tear every single sheet.
I hope never to do anything like this again.

The Application

For the past months on top of the never ending assessments, a new thing was introduced. Applications. Not any random application, it was 'THE APPLICATION'. Today, many would view it as the application that all high school has prepared you for. Then it seems like the whole world boils down to that one application.

I understand there is a process of choosing top tier students, everyone would also aspire to be one of these students. Then it comes to the question, are we simply pushing ourselves beyond the limits to simply reach the grades required of us. As students we stress out, drop dead like flies solely to achieve to that top 10% of the class.

Moving away from this idea, the supplements themselves are frustrating to complete. I can give leeway to submitting a personal statement in their different formats and what not. The additional supplements are draining. Only having a few I have nothing to complain about, but I feel the emotions of stress as some friends go on essay marathons for their colleges.

Lastly on an other note, we all have to keep it in perspective. Applications are not life and death. We will go some place, somewhere, sometime. The suspense continues to drive many insane for others seeing the package in the mail or the email is a sigh of relief.

It is a New Year...

There is simply too little time and too much to do. Time flies by especially fast during Chinese New Year. The 15 days of festivity is greeted with four-character wishes, homes being being dressed with red and prepared to greet part of the family. It is the most celebrated holiday in any Chinese family.

Throughout the festivity I would say the most memorable are the countless family dinners where the food never stops coming to the table. Every year, the gatherings around the table for a dozen are squishier. It is perhaps most interesting when you see the family grow from sitting at one to two. On the note of eating, homemade turnip cakes, leen go (年糕), kok zai (角仔) are simply wonders that I always look forward to. 

Fai Chun (揮春)

To children the most eventful part of the New Year is receiving their lai see (利是). The red packets adorned with gold and letters are then safely tucked away as it becomes the most precious thing above all. Prior to receiving anything, a series of four-character wishes must be said. Although through years of practice of saying my share, whenever I encounter relatives I still struggle even though the words are on the tip of my tongue. When I do think of something, I simply end up wishing them good health sun tai geen hong (身体健康) or along the same lines long ma jing san (龍馬精神). 

Red lanterns hung across a street near Pingxi Station

It's all red, red and more red. The sky is simply filled with red along with some assorted colours. This Chinese New Year, I had a different approach to the usual routine. I took a trip with my family to Taiwan. Walking through a few villages along the Pingsi Line (平溪線) red lanterns were hung in endless strings and sky lanterns were being set out as well. The metre tall lanterns floated with wishes and prospects for the New Year. Bustling through the streets were villagers hopping off the train with food and other gifts to bring back to their families. Never a moment of silence, in the day firecrackers were set off and in the night fireworks filled the sky. The day on-shore ended with squeezing through busy streets in the Keelung City (基隆市) night market to eat local foods.

- Happy Chinese New Year - 新年快樂!