"I decided that I was a feminist. This seemed uncomplicated to me. But my recent research has shown me that feminism has become an unpopular word. Women are choosing not to identify as feminists. Apparently, [women’s expression is] seen as too strong, too aggressive, isolating, and anti-men, unattractive even.

Why has the word become such an uncomfortable one? I think it is right I am paid the same as my male counterparts. I think it is right that I should be able to make decisions about my own body. I think it is right that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and decisions that will affect my life. I think it is right that socially, I am afforded the same respect as men.

If you believe in equality, you might be one of the inadvertent feminists I spoke of earlier and for this I applaud you."

- Emma Watson

Sadly, its true to say that there are still many men in this world that believe that women are supposed/not supposed to do certain things. And many women, even, believe that they are confined by these set of "rules". Feminism is definitely a topic that can be debated on all day, but Emma Watson did an amazing job at getting the message across that it's something that's not "man-hating". 

I know a handful of male friends that still stand by the fact that when they get married, they refuse to let their wives work because it is only "right" that women should be homemakers when they get married. It's "old" and "traditional" thinking, but to my surprise, they strongly stand by the fact that it's a way of "showing their love" for their wives. I get it to some extent, but for someone like me, I don't think that women must be homemakers when they get married. What's the reason? Just because you're a woman? And a man should be the only breadwinner in the family just because he's a man? If that's their basis of reasoning, then I don't accept it. 

Such a debatable subject, but overall, kudos to you Emma Watson. :'-) 

N I N E T E E N || 1 9

It seems like every time when I turn a year older, a blog post has to be done to remind myself of how amazingly blessed I am to have such friends surrounding me.

Some friends come and go it's inevitable, I know. But there's a few that stay, a few that have come into my life the past year and made my 2014 what it is..... I can't be more thankful.

When I turned 19 this year, I spent the first few minutes into my birthday talking about ideal types in the seminar room with Sam and Olllie, when Jasmine Chin called me and sent her greetings. We were never that good with words, but it was still sweet enough. Mistika and Shona both sent their greetings as well which were so sweet and heartwarming.

Honestly I really appreciate every message that was sent to me because I know that it takes some sort of effort to search my damn name in the contact list and type out a birthday wish regardless of how long it is. Thank you thank you thank you for all the messages.

This year, I momentarily forgot that my birthday was happening until Jasmine's call. I had zero mood to be celebrating thanks to my shitty mid sem results, and I had to represent SSS and attend some dinner on my birthday. Basically my day started at 7am, for an 8am business finance lecture. Then back to school for a 2 hour cost management lecture, followed by a consult session and then I camped in the library for a solid 3 hours before heading out for the dinner.

I really didn't want anything, not even asking for a dinner since I was busy. Called my mum up almost teared up because she said, "go on and celebrate! Buy yourself a cake, Mummy treat you. Don't be so sad about everything this week." It truly has been a shit week though.

But thank you to Sam, for heading out to Richmond to have brunch with me and insisting on a birthday treat. Thank you to Lynn, for getting me my first 19th birthday cake, rushing up to my place as I only had 1 hr to spare before heading out for dinner. It was so sweet and personal, I nearly teared :'-) Thank you to Leo and Chun for thinking of getting me a cake, and the whole SOV + OSU + Other Ps and VPs for celebrating my birthday with me, even though I really didn't want anyone to know it was my birthday at the dinner. Major props to Leo for bracing the cold wind without his jacket for a good 15-20 minutes just to get me a cake (which was delicious). Thank you to Daryl and Justin, for inviting me to Crown's VIP room, getting me glasses after glasses of alcohol and just talking shit for a good 2 hours. Thank you to Bun and Tim, for the effort that went into making me 25 jello shots which failed terribly thanks to the crazy amount of alcohol they put in one shot glass. But I still cleared about 15 shots in less than 30 minutes just for you guys. Thank you for the pictures that Bun so painstakingly printed out and cut out and stuck into the shot glasses, they were so adorable and the cute little krispy kreme donut as my make shift birthday cake was so awesome as well. Thank you for waiting till I got back at 1am and tricking me for the last 2 hours, making me believe that Tim ditched Bun at the library. :-(

Thank you for the instagram photo dedications, the long messages, the texts, the calls and the facebook messages. They all made me smile and made me feel a little special today. :-) I couldn't be more grateful and thankful and I truly feel so loved today.

Special shoutout to my TK girls - my rock, my shelter, my everything. Shoutout to Jasmine and Shona, the girls that I spend almost 24/7 with and will never get sick of, the thought of you guys wanting to surprise me is very much appreciated but go and rush your assignments please. Shoutout to Bryan Keefe Cresswell, who wished me a happy 20th birthday a year in advance, we have been friends for a good 6 years but you still can't remember my age I guess this is how much you love me haha. One of the most heartfelt and sweetest messages I've received from any boy and from Bryan after him being one of my closest guy friends for 6 years. It's always nice to know that I'm actually doing someone proud. :'-)

It's a choppy post with bad english everywhere but please pardon me because it's 4:30 am and I can't go to bed without typing all of this out and trying to find a way of expressing my gratitude to all these well wishes and birthday surprises because I honestly feel like I deserve nothing. Every time this happens I keep telling myself "don't know what I did but I must have done something right to have these wonderful human beings as my friends". 

Must have done something right. 

It's been a great start to being 19. 

:-)

S E L F L O V E = N O L O V E

My skin has been in check recently, which never ever happens for more than a week. So accompanied with relatively good lighting, and a hell lot of procrastination- 

I camwhore. 

On side note, I deeply regret my side fringe/ bangs. Epitome of screwed up. 

U N || M O T I V A T E D

It's been a while with this space. Uni life has been kicking me way down into the slumps and everything seems to be moving at supersonic speed and I feel as though I'm too lazy to catch up. :-(
Fell terribly sick the last couple of weeks and it crippled my studying pace. Emily also came down for 2 weeks and we had tons of fun together! (Also had to go through 2 assignment submissions and 1 mid semester exam while she was here) ((While fighting the bad throat))

Week 7 of uni is about to start and I am not ready, so not ready for swotvac to come.

Some visuals just to keep this space looking more vibrant than it actually is.
Leo's 22nd birthday party yesterday was da bomb. Made some new friends and found my spirit animal and I think we're going to go out for a meal soon haha. Played beer pong and some relay thing which was so stressful and fun. Mainly fun. We were all half drunk talking shit and basically last night was such a good night. :-)

Good friends, good alcohol and good music is what sums up a good house party.
Happy Happy Birthday Leo!