We Won!

I didn't do anything much helpful to the team. I wasn't really the 'much of a help' type of guy, I never was. The victory might not feel as bitter sweet to me as for those who had helped and worked hard with it, but I must say, it is a good feeling. Imagine to those who worked hard on it! Truly, I applaud to them.

21st Febuary 2017 was the day where glory was bestow upon our cless, 5 Angsana. It was the day where the drama competition was held, well, our category of drama competition. Anyways, after a long period of 'sitting at the audience seat and having my hands cold half of the day' the winner seat was finally at our doorsteps, although it's a.... broken door (yeah, our prop IS the door).

I was actually offered to be a runner for the drama by our co-director Aaron, but... he asked at the wrong timing, that or I'd did something in the wrong timing, I was too busy reading to hear his words (who would have known I get real focus when it comes down to reading), before when I was back to my mind, the spots for runner was full.

Even so, I did try to help with something, wasn't much of a help though. I tried giving out some useful advise for runners (maybe it didn't help at all), A little help with props here and there and... I basically did nothing.

In any case, I'm glad we won the competition. Never had I panicked while watching Drama which I have no partake at all.

Well done 5 Angsana!

Portugal: The place of Sadness

Today I was chatting with an online friend of mine who is from Portugal. At one point he had mentioned about Portugal being one of the top ten most depressed countries in Europe. I wasn't quite sure about that statement so I search it up. I found three site lists which doesn't include Portugal in the list, so we had an argument (not really an argument, we were just trying to prove a point). He send me this link to a website article written by an American, which gave me more insights about Portugal.

In Portugal, no one tells you to have a nice day. No one particularly cares if you have a nice day, because chances are they’re not having a nice day either. If you ask a Portuguese person how they’re doing, the most enthusiastic reply you can expect is mais ou menos (so so).

Portugal’s culture of melancholy is hard to miss. You see it etched on people’s sombre expressions – this is no Thailand, known as the Land of Smiles – and even in the statues that occupy prime real estate in Lisbon’s public squares. In most countries, the men (and it’s almost always men) honoured in such places are macho generals. In Portugal, it’s moody poets.

Yes, Portugal is a sad land, ranking 93rd of 157 countries (just behind Lebanon), according to the UN’s latest World Happiness Report. But don’t pity the Portuguese. They’re content with their discontentment, and, in an odd but enlightening way, actually enjoy it. It’s easy to assume that the Portuguese are masochists, but if you spend some time here, as I did recently, you quickly realize that the Portuguese have much to teach us about the hidden beauty, and joy, in sadness.

Portugal’s “joyful sadness” is encapsulated in a single word: saudade. No other language has a word quite like it. It is untranslatable, every Portuguese person assured me, before proceeding to translate it.

Saudade is a longing, an ache for a person or place or experience that once brought great pleasure. It is akin to nostalgia but, unlike nostalgia, one can feel saudade for something that’s never happened, and likely never will.

At the heart of saudade lies a yawning sense of absence, of loss. Saudade, writes scholar Aubrey Bell in his book In Portugal, is “a vague and constant desire for something... other than the present.”
It is possible to feel saudade for anything, publisher Jose Prata told me over lunch one day at Lisbon’s bustling Cais do Sodre market. “You can even feel saudade for a chicken,” he said, “but it has to be the right chicken.”

At the heart of saudade lies a yawning sense of absence, of loss

What makes saudade tolerable, pleasant even, is that “it is a very sharable feeling,” Prata explained. “I’m inviting you to share at the table of my sadness.” In Portugal, that’s a big table with room for everyone. In fact, a Portuguese chef has even started a line of chocolate called “Saudade”. Naturally, it is bittersweet.

In the end, we didn't have a conclusion of whether Portugal is in the top 7 most depressed country or not. We didn't continue either, because we both got distracted by other topics. But hey, at least we get to understand more about Portuguese and their beauty of sadness. And I have to agree, sadness is, indeed a beauty.

source

Missing Halloween

Today I want to share a video with you all. It is a Halloween video full of happiness, with a slight sad and shocking ending. Perfect topic for the upcoming (whoops I mean already over) Halloween.

The animation is about a boy who only had one friend. On the day of Halloween, he would go out and ask candy like every other kid does with his friend. The interaction between the boy and the girl was heartwarming and sweet, like he shared his candy with the girl who had none even though he only have two.

Although the ending of the story is shocking and unbelievably spooking, again, perfect theme for Halloween, the story was amazing. Not only just that, the animation of this story was so smooth! Much handwork is appreciated to the one who animated this!

Anyways, I knew something was up by the end of this animation that start off as heartwarming scene, many people likes plot twist don't they? But what I didn't expect was the outcome of the story. I simply could not explain my emotions after I finish the animation. So what do you guys think? Is this animation spooky to you? Sweet? Or shocking? Tell me what you think about it!

Spirual: The mansion

Spirual
Prologue
The Mansion

I woke up on a bed. It took me seconds, but I was able to remember where was I, and why am I here. I sat up and looked around my room, still felt uncomfortable with this place. Looking to my right, the window reveals the big round moon hanging up high in the dark sky. Looking to my left, beside me was a study table with a noticeable note placed on. 

It was written:

I gave you a present, it is in the cupboard. 

In addition, I had placed the key of your room along with your present.

Hope you like it.

-Xonia

I decide to check the present first. Opening a giant cupboard is a bit hard, the handle is too high, but I could manage it. Inside was nothing but an orange and white stripped jacket, it feels very comfy when I wear it on, although it is slightly big for my size. The weather is cold anyways, night gets cold easily in this house, I think is a good idea to keep it on.

I went for the door, it is locked. I wonder why would they locked the door when I was asleep. Hearing the clicked sound of the unlocked door made me felt accomplished. I looked outside my room. The corridor is empty, there was light downstairs. I walked down in curious. Have they not slept yet?

"Do you think they would like the jacket I gave it to them?" Asks feminine voice from the living room.

"I bet they will love it, it was VERY comfy." A masculism voice replies, "Didn't you said people won't stop hugging you because of the jacket?"

"... don't even remind me those hugs." She sounded as if she hated it. "Anyways, the jacket is big for their size, some kids prefer clothes in their own size." She answered.

"Hm... you do have a point." He agrees.

As if on cue, the last step of the stairs I stepped on made a small creek sound. Loud enough for the two adults to hear it. They turned around and greeted me in surprise, "Hello there, did you sleep well?" One of my caretakers, Ms. Xonia asked.

"...I did. Thanks for taking me in." I replied, hoping to sound as polite as I could.

"You don't have to be that polite around us. Just act like your usual self." She smiles, "Do you want some cake? I believe there are some leftovers in the fridge. I'll take it out for you." She headed to the kitchen as she finished her sentence, there was no way I could say no.

I noticed there was a vase of beautiful glass flowers on the coffee table. There are total of ten different types of flowers in each different colours of stained glasses. "You like it?" Mr. Xenix asked, "Too bad you can't be find them on the market, those are handmade."

"How did you made that?" I asked, admired by the beauty of the peice of art in front of me.

"I didn't made it. It was a gift to Xonia. Her old friends made those I believed." Mr. Xenix shrugs. Ms. Xonia came back just in time with a slice of chocolate cake.

"Talking about the flowers? Real 'glassy' now aren't they?" Her words took me off guard. Mr. Xenix roar in laughter as he hears this, "Nice one Xonia!" 

"Now now, let's not get to focus on the flowers, they were suppose to be more 'transparent'-like to be notice. Have a cake instead." She grins from the pun jokes she had made as she hand the slice of cake to me. Yummy, it tasted delicious.

I chatted with Mr. Xenix and Ms. Xonia for a bit. We talked from the interior designs in the house to the paintings that were hanging on the walls around this mansion. "Amazing right? Xonia design the place herself. From the furnitures to the paintings on the wall, all materials was specifically design and made from her orders." Mr. Xenix explains.

"You draw these paintings too?" I pointed at one of the biggest painting that consist eleven kids all sitting together smiling happily as if they were taking a blessed family photo. Ms. Xonia nods, she seemed a bit embarassed but proud at the same time. "Wow," was all the words I could say. 

Ms. Xonia glance at the gigantic old grandfather clock in the room. It was 12 a.m. "It's getting late, I think you should head to bed. Do you mind walk back to your room alone? Xenix and I would like to discuss about something important." I nod.

I was heading up the stairs, which was close to the entrance door of this mansion, but I notice something odd. There was a long oval shape mirror hanging on the door. I did not saw that when I first entered the mansion, it caught my attention. I walked up to the mirror hoping for a closer look. The mirror was well design, beautiful patterns was curved beside the holder. What caught my eyes was a blue diamond shape crystal at the bottom. It reminds me of something.

I remembered both my caretakers, Mr. Xenix and Ms. Xonia had this printed picture of a blue diamond shape crystal with wings on their shirts. I think blue diamond shape crystal resembled as their family symbol seeing as I do noticed a few of those shapes in the house, the vase of the glass flowers and the giant painting in the living room.

As I was silently thinking all this to myself, I failed to noticed the mirror was slowly glowing. By the time I do noticed, the light has became ultimately bright and before I know anything, everything has turned white. 

What is Transition words???

Transition words are like road signs. They help the reader understand the direction of your thought.
Examples:

Actually, most of his classmates were awake by 8:30 AM.
As a matter of fact, those who were present really enjoyed the debate.
First and foremost, she is an artist.

Here is a chart of example transition words you can use to guide your reader through your essays.


Above all
Finally
Meanwhile
Actually
First, Second, Third
Moreover
Afterward
First and foremost
Next
All things considered
For this reason
No doubt
Accordingly
From here on
Of course
Another
For instance For example
On the other hand
Arguably

Arrangement of story

Once there lived a rich farmer, his name is Mr. Lee. Later years on, he had two sons. The older son named Joshua whilst the younger son named Steven. Since young, they had been living together happily and free. 

But years went by, until they reach their age of adulthood. Mr. Lee decides to split his shares into two,giving it to his both sons. Joshua was glad with his share, which is half of the land and he began to earn money by improving the land and hiring more workers to work at the farm. Steven, however, is not really happy with  his share. Slowly, he began to get restless because he was unhappy with his lot. He sees that his older brother is earning a lot of money while he is  earning nothing besides his small business in the city. 

One day, Steven decided to talk to his father about the share that he was unhappy about. 

“Father, I want to talk to you about the shares that you gave us.” Steven said. 

“What's wrong with it son? Aren't you happy about it?” Mr. Lee questioned his son with a weak tone.

“I don't feel that the share is fair,we had the shares but  Joshua is earning more than I, I think Joshua’s land is better than mine, therefore I need a bigger shares rather than a piece of land in the farm.”Steven said. 

“Son, you know I'm a fair guy. Besides, Joshua knows who to manage his land, why can't you follow his steps to success? This decision had been made for quite a long time, I advise you to just stick to your own share and manage it wisely.”his father advised him. 

“No means no, I can wait and see my money flow being so slow. Besides, you're old and ignorant. Of course you won't listen to me, you only listen to your precious Joshua, aren't you!?I'm going back to my room.”Joshua shouted in a stern voice and left the room, leaving his father in shocked. 

The next day his father decided to meet his younger son and decided to tell him that he is giving a third of his property. 

But later then, Steven decided to sell his share of the property and left for another country. He began to led a luxurious life, he then decided to spent a lot of his money on gambling. Bit by bit, he then spend all of his money on casinos and betting. He later became a pauper and regret that he did not listen to his father's advise.

Choices of your path

At the starting point of the road stood a child. Five adults, all with same looks but in different age, are standing beside the child. Each of them stood patiently, waiting for the child to make a choice. In front of the child are many different paths; some narrow, some wide. Some beautiful, some dark. They all leads to different destination, and the challenge within those paths are different. However one thing was certain, that no matter which you choose, passion is the main thing to get through the journey.

Or at least, that's what the child thinks.

Despite the adults gave the child a chance to choose their path, the clever child knew their family wants them to walk on the path of fortune. The child glance at the dark pathway, and was immediately stared by one of the adults. The child quickly turn their eyes to another side, but the stare doesn't stop.

Before the time to choose a path came, the child had learn many things. Some unwillingly, some secretly. The child soon found some interest, and their passion on some specific things. The child was at first worried of the path that should choose, but they soon learned not to ignore those burning passion of theirs, they had finally made up their mind.

The child looked at the road full of artistic style. The hope to walk on that paths burns them more than anything. Sadly before they could take a step, another adult pulled their hand. The adults warned them not to walked on that path, "the path is pretty, I can see why you love it," the adults compliment, "However, that path is too narrow, you will suffer more than you imagine. How about choosing another path? You can return anytime soon." As they speak, they bring the child to the other side of the pathway. A path full of numbers.

The child was stubborn, they refuse to leave. The adults raise their eyebrow in anger. They pulled them away from the path, decide it would be the best if they give them education about the danger of the paths. The child pretend to agree, while they silently prepare for the dangers of the paths. They are no idiots, they knew the risk in each paths, but they will wait, they will wait until they are well prepare.

Their plan was figured out by the adults. Now they are banned from everything they like. It was like a zombie life, had they not secretly draw behind their backs, they would have started to loose themselves. The stares are getting stronger, they can't take it anymore. Yet for the sake of those friends that they aren't even sure if they are with them. They lived.

The world may never know though, that the kid is silently killing themselves. Starting point? Their physical health. Not like anyone notices the pain in their stomach or the sharp inhale of their lungs, the dizziness in their head and their constant blind eye situation. No one cares, neither do they care. However, the food has started to look disgusting in their eyes.