Praying for the World

A quick post before I get some good ole shuteye.

Had a very busy day today. Woke up at 10.30 XD and realised I had barely 6 hours to practice piano. So I shot out of bed, quickly brushed my teeth, checked my mail and made my extremely filling breakfast drink. Instant oats + chocolate + walnut tea with milk. Much better than Up n Go :D

Practiced like mad for the next 2 hours till lunch and saw the death toll of Japan skyrocket to more than 10,000. Complete shock. I imagine how much I've experienced in my life and as Paulo Coehlo calls it, each life is a universe - a universe of emotions, experiences, loves, hates and efforts. 10,000 of them, just blown away. I have this tragic image in my head of 10,000 candles just blown out by a massive gale of wind. How can man say they control the universe and the world? How can we say that you can do anything as long as you have money? It's nuts when our ego makes us feel invincible and powerful - because earthquake could be the end of you. I've really learnt to appreciate life more and to really make the most of everyday.

Afterwards, talked to my dad about the situation in Libya and I like how he always gives me the alternate side of things. He asks me how I think these protestors are funded? How did they get all the machinery and artillery to protest? And he tells me the chilling story of America funding wars and violent protests in secret so the civil turmoil will eventually result in America 'saving' the country and claiming authority over it. Usually those places are places where they can benefit - oil. He asks me how terrorists are funded? Who are the enemies of the Americans? Why does America choose to back up Taiwan in its attempt to gain independence from China?

It's a sly, cruel and truly complicated world we live in.

Back to piano practice and i'm really enjoying the new piece I'm playing - the Dante Sonata by Liszt. It's based by an epic poem called The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. I'm starting to get the hang of this piece and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I do hope I can perform it for my friends some time :D

Then I went and taught for 2 and a half hours. It's rewarding I guess, when they practice and when I see the smiles on their faces, but it's so tiring. I had barely 30 minutes between two students to have a bite of dinner and pack my badminton stuff.

BADMINTON was amazingly fun. For the first time, I played a game with the adults instead of mucking around with my friends. I was caught off guard and couldn't really find my rhythm, but it was fun and I got a few good shots in. Then I mucked around with my friends and then played a singles match with my very lanky and tall friend. It was intensely fun and so exhilarating to have the court to yourself and unleash tricky drop shots, powerful smashes and crafty net shots :D

I then played a doubles match. It was mighty funny because it was two tall and lanky people versus two short people haha but we ALMOST WON, if not for me getting quite tired and losing concentration. We lost 14-15!! It was one of the few times the match went into deuce. I need to practice my tricky drop shots and find ways to not use up all my energy so quickly!!

Had a hectic day and need some shuteye!

Graduation

Probably don't have time for Luxembourg today bahaha gosh I'm not very good at keeping my blog promises.

Drove with mum to UNSW today (on a Sunday), not to go to Uni - hell no! but to go to the AMEB graduation ceremony that I was invited to. In hindsight, I really don't think it's worth it. It's all classy because we are told to wear gowns and stoles according to which award you're getting (Amus or Lmus). I was going to catch the train then bus it to UNSW, but after looking out at the blistering hot weather, then looking down at my black pants, shoes and long sleeved shirt - I decided against it.

The gowns are soo annoying. There aren't any buttons or anything to keep it in place, so it kept falling off my shoulders everytime I moved around too much or sat down. The stole was another unnecessary accessory I wore. It hung from my neck and kept slipping to one side. Very annoying. I wish I could wear the hoods that people with more academic achievements were wearing. you're not meant to WEAR the hoods on your head - just meant to rest on your shoulders. I really don't understand these ceremonies. Half the examination boards looked like court jesters with their funny colours and head gear they wore onto the stage hehehe.

Think I better show you what I mean :P

That would be me in the middle with my two new friends whom I met at the ceremony. Surprisingly, they were all older than me. One's doing commerce, actuarial studies and the other comm/law haha kudos to them, hanging in there with music :D

Ceremonies like these remind me of Presentation Nights and Awards Days back in High School, though with less speeches and excellent musical entertainment - not that the entertainment by us Jazz Ensemble wasn't amazing. These performances were short and oh so sweet. I never knew the Euphonium could sound so beautiful. I also fell in love with a violinist playing a beautiful 3rd movt of a sonata fantasie by Franck.

Afterwards, I bumped into a lot of people! I saw Mr Wong, Pattypoo and Grubsy! Pat just came back from Medcamp and Grubsy was there to support his little cousin who got her Amus :P I swear she had more flowers from her parents and family than any of the performers there! And I went home empty handed. Nobody thought to hand me some flowers :(

Upon persuasion by Grubs, his parents and my mum, I reluctantly paid $115 to have my certificate put up on a plaque so I can 'show off' to my students that I have so and so award and qualification. I think I much prefer my trophies :D

Big day of practice tomorrow. Gta get some shuteye. Hopefullly get a hair cut soon...REALLY need it :( it's like a mop on my head. yarrkkk

The Way You Are

Did something really silly on Thursday night. But before I go into that, just a quick update.

I am now officially going to World Youth Day Madrid this August, from August 7 to August 25. Afterwards, I'm really hoping to stay a little longer afterwards to go to Rome and maybe visit some cities in Italy. And because this isn't just a holiday - it's a pilgrimage - there are WYD formation events I have to attend in preparation (spiritually and linguistically) for Madrid.

The pilgrimage I'm going on is called Pilgrim's Way and is one of four pilgrimage packages that the Parramatta Diocese have and I'm going on this one because my parish priest Fr Fernando is leading this one and it's super exciting. Going to land in Barcelona, spend a few days there, then go up to the south of France (Lourdes) for another few days, then back to Madrid. There'll be a few bus/train rides I'm sure, but there's going to be lots of walking with a massive rucksack on my back.

As part of the WYD preparation formation events, there are nights when I have to go to a particular Parish Hall (like St. Pats or the one in Penrith St. Nicholas) to hear talks by notable speakers and organisers of the events, meet the people there, learn SPANISH :D and have discussion forums.

This month, there are two choices of formations to go to. There was a whole day one in Penrith and a two separate nights one in Parramatta. My friends and I decided to go to the two separate nights one in Parramatta. Part 1 was on Tuesday and that went really well. Bethany (one of the organisers) spoke about the sacraments in such a tender and loving way and after some discussion, we went into the chapel where Beth had put up icons and paintings of biblical scenes with candles everywhere - the whole chapel was lit up by candles. She played the music of Taize and burnt incense. She told us just to pray. And it was such a touching and tender way of seeing (icons), smelling (incense), hearing (music) and feeling God (well, in our hearts), that if I had been given more time there, I would have completely surrendered myself to God physically and emotionally.

Part 2 of the two separate nights was on the 23rd of March. And guess what I, on thursday night, booked to watch on that night?! DOCTOR ZHIVAGO!

As soon as I realised (which was last night), my face distorted to pretty much D: and I checked the notice several times to see whether I was reading the right date.

So, instead of going to Part 2, I had to go to the Penrith one today. It was an all day and the only way to get there for me was to catch the train. I arrived a little late (cos the express train didn't come =__=) and I had to walk from Penrith station to the church. I was a little worried because I knew absolutely noone today, apart from a few people I met at a discussion some time ago, but there was noone I knew well. I said hello to one of the priests there and went about getting to know some teenagers my age. And guess what? We got to know each other really well - I ended up acting real silly sometimes because well, they are kids from Blacktown and they're not really that sensible. But we had soo much fun! :D Met probably my first Sudanese/African friends - who were freaking hilarious and I really enjoyed the two talks by two Fathers and the Mass in the middle.

Took almost two hours to get home from Penrith by public transport haha but all in a good's day of new experiences.

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I promised photos in my post a while ago and I haven't delivered, so here's probably part one of many of my luxembourgian trip :D

Okay. I lied and got distracted. and it's super duper late. LOL next time, I promise ;D

Couldn't think of a title either so named it after a really really nice song I'm in love with by Kina Grannis and David Choi - check it out! A beautiful song by two beautiful people, esp Kina. *big cheesy grin*