Kindness of Strangers.

Wednesday 21 April 2010
Two stories, taken from Reader's Digest April 2010.

A flat in the country.
My husband and I were on our way home to Adelaide after holidaying in Queensland with our three children.Our car was filled to the brim with tents, air mattresses, sleeping bags and other camping equipment. It was dusk as we were driving from Junee in NSW to the main highway heading to Narrandera, where we planned to stay the night.

The car became difficult to steer and we realised we had a flat tyre. It was quite dark by the time we'd unloaded all the camping equipment and changed the tyre. then, not long after getting back on the road, another tyre blew. But now we had no spare. There was not raffic on the road and only scattered farms only the way.

Just as we were debating whether to sleep in the car or walk to the nearest farm for help, car headlights appeared in the distance. My husband walked into the middle of the road to flag it down, while the children and I sat in the car with the inside light on so the driver could see we were a family and not a threat.

As luck would have it, it was a lovely couple and their three children who lived in a nearby pig farm. We all crammed into their car, and a short drive later we arrived at their farm. The suggested we spend the night on the floor of their lounge - we were glad to have somewhere safe to spend the night.

The next morning, after cooking us a great breakfast, the father took my husband into nearby Marrar to buy new tyres. Our two families got on so well they invited us to stay on for another day to learn about the workings of the farm - and watch their daughter fearlessly ride one of the huge pigs.

We finally continued home to South Australia, very grateful for the kindness this family had shown us. We kept in touch for more than ten years, each Christmas with a card and a long letter telling each other of the past year's events.

Susan Scragg, Nundah, QLD

A chain across the Tasman.
Making a coffee for a customer at the busy bakery where I work, I noticed she was wearing an unusual necklace. It was a silver pendant with sparkles, and it was quite different from anything I had seen. I remarked that it was the kind of jewellery that my fiancee would like. The customer smiled and chatted with me, explaining that she had bought it from a market in Australia where she lived. She was in New Zealand on business and was due to return home the next day.

A few weeks later, a package arrived at the bakery. Inside was another of the silver necklaces, along with a note to say she'd gone back to the market to find one for my fiancee to enjoy.

Chris Bailey, Wellington, NZ

Kindness..a wonderful concept. It creates joy, spreads joy, and finds a way into everyones heart in some point in time.

We've all shown kindness, though, maybe we need to think who to? It's easy to show kindness to our friends and family as they are important to us. What about the others? As seen from the two stories, a little kindness can go a long way, and be kept in that person's heart for a long time. It is really easy to be kind to someone we like. But do you show kindness even to strangers? It would be wonderful, for the world and it's people, to go up to strangers and show a little bit of kindness. Be a shining light in someones dark day. Don't be afraid. go out there, help that person who dropped a whole heap of books, offer help to that grandma struggling with her shopping, and ask people who look down if everything is alright. But even more so, it's harder to show kindness to the people we dislike. Isn't it arrogant to only confine your kindness to your friends and shun out all those you don't like? True kindness is shown when someone has the courage to put aside their own feelings for a moment, and genuinely care about the others.

So do a random act of kindness to anyone! You'll be surprised at how long they will remember it.

The feeling of happiness.

Friday 16 April 2010
Dear Blog,
I think i should start treating you right a bit more. It's been awhile since i last posted. Idk, alot as changed. That weird phase change I had in Shanghai was...well weird. Well not that weird. Shanghai weird. Yeah, you get me, cus I get myself.

Lately, I've been feeling really happy. I can't really explain it. It's like a turned over a new leaf, or should i say, a dim sim. Right now, its nerd dim sim. More and that later though, I don't want you judging me already! -shakes head-

Funny thing is though, my heart still pains. It's a weird feeling. No, its a crappy feeling. no..a strange feeling. It's not me, im fine, as I said, I'm really happy, with life, with school (i started my intense study mode. feels great), with people as well. I've started helping out around the house, as well as my dad. It feels good to see that my dad appreciates what I do, and his smile and the ruffling of my hair makes me just more determined to help people.

you see, i'm fine, yet i realise that so many people around me are going through such tough times. it's like the feeling of a twisted heart. how much stuff they're going through, and just to realise and share, where i am now, what i've got now. and i appreciate every thing there is. I want them to be happy, to feel what i feel now, to picture them, or see them, smiling. because this life aint worth brooding on all the crap stuff.

and its always the best, when you see them smile, after you've tried to cheer them up. at least you know you made that magical moment you had with them for that day shine and stay with them throughout the rest of the day.

keep your head up everyone.
lifes lived once. don't make it crap. it's up to you.

~Chewyy

choro?

Tuesday 6 April 2010
when you watch alot of dancing....
choro's start forming in your head, when you listen to songs.

today is freezing.
new fairy tail chapter was epic.
tired as.
oh and, ill be away for the next three days, as tomorrow morning im headed off to huang shan. o: shall be pretty good.

~Chewyy

Shanghai with thoughts.

mmm, time for something...its gotta be...how do i say it...a post...but like, more?
ah, yeh..., this is going to be a long blogpost.

*note...this post does not contain chinese characters due to the confusion it causes to lots of my friends ^^, so to make it simpler, i've put in pin yin, so don't get hissy at me for using it :P*

havent blogged in a while...
mainly due to the great wall. yeh...thats right, the big flaming great wall. no not the great wall of china, the LAME wall of china. the great, great, big, lame, flaming wall of china.

ofc im talking about the kfc here...where you can buy your morning warm soy drink there?! nahh joking...but yeh, the i was talking bout the censorship the government has on sites...the FIREwall.

and yes. the kfc here sells soy drink ==' wth.

so havent been on facebook/blogspot for a while now. ever since i left hk...which was on weds/thurs two weeks ago? the holidays have gone fast now that i look back on it, with only 1 week left. faster than the bloody insane reaction speed shanghai people have in traffic.

like WTH? where the heck did you learn to drive? no one really bothers with road rules, its weaving, dodging, braking suddenly, blaring horns, its insane...im so surprised that i've only seen one accident. likeseriously. its insane. fridge, i don't envy the people who learn to drive here. the drivers have insane reflexes, predictability skills and are quick witted. add the thousands of bicycles/scooters on the road, weaving around everywhere, plus pedestrians, its a crazy house to live in...

so dangerous crossing a road ==' scares the crap out of me as i always think im gonna get hit by a scooter/car/bus. i've made up the 'real' road rules

1. bus driver must always blare horn angrily if something gets in its way. eg. scooter.
2. road lines mean NOTHING. i mean nothing. its just a free for all, and if you see some other car coming you all try and find a way to squeeze in.
3. pedestrians are given the lowest priority when they cross the street. they give way to everything else. unless you're crossing at a big road.
4. use all uncoventional methods of transportation. scooters/bicycles no need for helmet, and just slap your dog on the floor of the scooter and its all good to go.
5. blare horn as much as you want. its normal.
6. swerve dangerously while changing lanes or turning, regardless of traffic. they will be forced to give way to you are you all crash.

anyways, talking about getting hit, i've been alright so far, -LOLOL, yeh, getting hit totally unrelated- stayed in the infamous motel branch 128 near nanjinglu east. such a cool place (Y) especially at night, with all the shopping and neon. right now, im staying in a hotel beside donghua uni. its pretty cool (Y) lots of pretty girls (i just find asians cuter..:]), and their cafeteria is great (Y) so much food. -drools- its not funny...i will not be satisfied with the quality/taste/and price of food when i return to aus..compared to china. at the uni cafeteria...1 meal = $1 aus... thats with a full bowl of rice, with meat dish/vegetable dish.

seriously...the cafeteria offers around 100 dishes. its like a buffet. you take your tray, go up, point to what you want, beep your card on the machine, chefs gives you a serving of w/e, and you're good. plus they have drinks and everything too. absolutely amazing, food is great, good system, i prefer it over restaurants -hehe-
and the rice...like wtf. 7c au. for a bowl of rice. fml. i mean, screw aus the price is right. i mean, price of rice.

everything is cheap as here. though you got to watch out for fakes. but -sigh- stuff is ridiculously cheap here its not funny =[ and being me again...i always never end up buying much to begin with.

talk about being cheap,
i've been to two neighboring towns of shanghai. one of them was lke wu zhen/zheng? dunno, it was where maodun grew up, a famous figure in chinas literature development. the designs of the village is really nice...really relaxed, and his palce was so good. had a small creek running through it, so it was sortve like venice with the all the gondola like boats. and the vegetation was cool. oh wow, like...spring was a bit late this year...so that's why it's freezing atm. (so. prepared. for. winter. when it comes, ill laugh at it, and it'll get sad, as its gonna be like summer for me) though one type of flower is blossoming already...idk what it is...like some yellow flower...its really quite beautiful, seeing the countryside fields just full of the bright yellow flowers. talking bout flowers and stuff...the trees and stuff here are really quite cool ^^

i like these types of vegetation, and they even plant fower beds/pots along roads. they look really cool. and the parks are so much better imo. though, the main difference is that everything is planned out and symmetrical, which lacks the freedom the vegetation grows in aus.

wow...this is turning out to be a long blog. i started this 40 minutes ago...guess im doing other stuff too. brb, gonna go wander around outside, and get something hot to drink.

backk. ahhh. its cold ==' freezing brrrrr. yeh anyways...the villages were pretty cool, lots of narrow cobbled streets filled with shops. and cool plants/rivers (Y) -good summary aye? lol ^^-

been taking the buses mostly, im gonna be off to huang shan soon...on tues. transportation here is really efficient too...with like, subway/metro, normal roads, trains, busses (they don't bother with timetables here...its usually 1 every 5 mins) as well as the high rise express roads. crazy...they like...build roads 7m high, acts like a highway around the city. very confusing as it criss crosses everywhere.
the city also looks really epic during night with its lights (Y)

been visiting relatives and such...and being dragged by my mum to do shopping is so boring...as i always end up not wanting to buy anything, and stand there waiting for 3 hours. so ive only done a LITTLE bit of shopping. ;)

my chinese is getting better...and im used to shanghai life now...and i quite enjoy it. i cant mostly understand what people are saying...and i feel like i can speak/read better now ^^, very happy with that. and...i dunno, i just love the language, so im gonna work hard at chinese in school/chinese school from now on! heh. -determined face-

speaking of which...ezy yet again got me into reading manga. like a man possessed as i had nothing else to do in a hotel room...i read like crazy. finished love hina, and up to date with fairy tail (Y) both GREAT manga...though internet is slow in loading it =[

sighhh. 11:38 here now. which means. 1:38 for you guys over there. im like...in the past ==' far out.

1 hour and a bit has passed...still havent finished my blog.

-sigh- its been 2 weeks...and i feel a completely different person. living like this...i feel more matured? ==' i find small trivial things less and less appealing. things you would do as a teenager...as in young teenager. theres still lots of fun to be had, but...its just a different sort of fun. but what now? i have many friends who imo are still immature, but are great people. i feel as if i've lost a connection with them. where i used to laugh, i now just smile slightly...and find it less funny ==' what do i do now? im confused...i feel like im separating from that sort of teenage life, and into a more matured one? but my friends aren't. dont get me wrong..i still will laugh at immature things...but i guess...friends that i feel truly comfortable with, i feel like i still hold a genuine connection with.

although i try hard to keep my friendship with ones younger than me...its just...-sigh- hard to explain...

tbh, theres only a handful of people i truly feel being comfortable with, like geing around a sibling. and again...tbh, they are only from my school. i know we will always smile with each other, and have a great time. and again, this doesnt mean i will not try my hardest in befriending more people and increasing the bonds of friendships i already have. also, the fact i only feely truly home/comfrtable with people at my school is probably cus i never socialise THAT much outside of school. its always tutor/school on weekends, so during school i developed my friendship over the years. but yeh...that's just...how i see it. people say i look old. people here assume i already finished uni and work? (am i that old? better get on that olay cream with 7 magic powers or w/e) but...i feel old too...like im not cut out for the things i used to find appealing. i guess...i find other things that draw out true happiness for me.

in china...i frequently listen to my ipod, seeing as im with no one besides my mum and grandmum ==' and this has lead me to rediscover my love of dancing...like, i know there are people out there who think some people dance just to show off...but...it's just really hit home in me. you feel alive. the passion and love of it flowing through your body, moving with the music, being the music. and inside...when you do those moves, you just...glow? i dont know...i feel like i connected through a whole new level now. once my stuff has been sorted, i'll definitely get back into dancing, (as a hobby/interest though! still aiming for that med course) and im gonna work hard in what i set out to do now. because i can do it if i try. and instead of giving up, ill keep working.

yes. i do have my dreams in this world. and i used to just see them, and think they were dream, nothing ill be able to do in my life time. but now i realize. i. can. do it. you just have to try. and take the first step. its a scary first step, as you always have doubts on yourself. but as they say...a great, long journey begins with the smallest of steps. the first step. just will your feet to go on. and you will make it.

no point in seeing something and giving up on it. take action. i think of all the people who have left a lasting impression on this world. what makes them different from us? it's their courage. their willingness. their determination. we can all do what we want. if we just start the journey, instead of sitting around and watching the prize.

i've blogged for enough. mums still with her friend talking in the other room...and i doubt you read all of that carefully ^^, its alright, i dont blame you. i sortve tried to make it entertaining as much as i could...though i guess in the end it's your choice to read it. if you read this far diligently, i thank you for reading this. hope you all are well, and remember to cherish your life. and believe in yourself. for the sake of a better you. a better world. and a better future.

~Chewyy

blog time: 1:40 minutes. including other stuff. ohhh its april too...mmm, my favourite month of the year. and no its not just cus my birthday is coming up...lol ^^, i just find the world to be cooler during april ;)wow...ill be able to drive soon. feeling anxious mixing with anticipation.

Hong Kong.

Wednesday 24 March 2010
AH,
first time since ive been in hong kong, and super awkwardness when people expect you to talk pro canto/mando. especially canto...seeing as i know jack about it, except for a select few words.

HOLIDAYS. ahhhh, feels good :] though, today i spent most of my time walking around in the subway/train system, and the afternoon was spent walking around with my mum and grandmother jewellry shopping. ditching them, im back at the hotel, and it was a good choice (Y) theyve been out there for 3 hours.

hong kong is pretty cool...very westernised though. LOL mark was on my flight...i was like WTH dslnsdngsfnosngosn. might give him a ring soon. staying at standford hillview hotel...though im leaving hk tomorrow night and headed to shanghai. more epicness.

kinda lonely...cus its just my mum and grandmum...and tbh, they're not the best company at times. but ah well :] glad i could get onto msn and stuff...lol, facebook isnt blocked here...though dunno what'll happen once i head up shanghai.

shop assistants are being annoying...will blog later. finish up school guys, and have an awesome hols :D

~Chewyy

disney...and chem club ;)

Sunday 21 March 2010
LOL. okay. so admit. im a fan of mulan o.o after being reminded on facebook. that movie just makes me laugh and smile :] -shifty eyes (dont judge me)- ahhhh, which made me think about disney movies as a whole. i mean...the classics they produce is just D: dayum.... (Y)(Y)(Y)(Y)-(heheh, i used to use (Y) as cleavage)

ahhhh, good old disney.

and secondly...i feel sortve...honored...to belong into the exclusive club of getting lame chem jokes. :D hahaha, had the biggest laugh sesh last week with the teacher.

-flashback- -harp music-
ahhh, chem revision, with a cool teacher (Y) woop. lololol, everoyne laugh at lexi getting paid out by mr jones.
isaac: "sir...whats the wettest element"
mr jones: hmmmm
isaac: Silicon, because its under the "C" (sea)
everyone else around the convo:....that is just horrible -bursts out laughing-
mr jones: ohohhohoho, matee that is soo gay.

-harp music-
LOL!sooo funny :] awesome chem teacher this year (Y) doesnt mind swearing, loves paying out alexi who always tries to get square with him and one of his favourite movies is "the hangover" which he quotes from. LOL :D

another lame chem joke....
Gold walks into into a bar, in which the bartender promptly points at it, and says "ey you (au...get it?! get it!?), get out of here!"

LOL. doesnt work if you dont know what it means D: which makes me an (puts on rnbxlcusive voice) chemxclusive.com member. xD

~Chewyy

Run Devil Run

Saturday 20 March 2010
Muhahaha, new soshi song out! Run Devil Run....same tune as Ke$has song too. O:



:D very cool MV.
~Chewyy