Laid•bac•tus

 (lādbaktəs)

 noun

1. An short-term illness that causes a behavior change due to the thoughts of the coming vacation or near end of a work load. Symptoms include inattentiveness to work, excessive lethargic attitude, excessive binging (on snacks) and increased disorganization.
2. Mostly occurs on students and young adults. Related to Boredomitis if diagnosed for a long span of 7 days. Also known as the Christmas Holiday Disorder (CHD) 

I have a case of laidbactus and probably developed boredomitus too. I guess I could use that as a reason for my temporary absence from the blog-sphere. (SO MUCH TERMINOLOGY.) I do apologize for that - yet again, it's not like anyone reads this. *forever-alone-sniffles* The whole school is having a mixed atmosphere right now - with one half buzzing with excitement for Christmas and it's delights (Christmas dinner, placenames and -of course- the holiday itself) while the others -like me- are gradually melting into a pool of mehs and blehs. Laidbactus has become such a pandemic that during the assemblies, the Headmistress keeps reminding us to push on for the last week of term!

I think Laidbactus - though only occurs at certain times - is quite common like the common flu so most of us can share our mutual symptoms of the sickness and hopes for time to fly. I myself have been more immersed in making my placename than doing any of my homework. (Before you ask, 'Placenames' are part of this school's christmas tradition of making personalized containers filled with candy to a classmate we're enlisted to give to.) I haven't finished it yet but here's its current state:

...not really much for now... just newspaper roses and paper flowers. I hope I can make it prettier in a span of three days :S

WTF, christmas?

It's Advent Sunday and during morning prayers - which is unfortunately compulsory for all the students - I cam across this.. 

...this...this THING. 

It's apparently a 'christingle' which is basically an orange with candies and a candle sticking out of it. Through absurd symbolism, it supposedly represents the world under the 'light of God' and the four treasures and the red ribbon, the blood of Jesus. I'm sorry if I offend any Christians but being part of a cynical society, I want to point out it looks ridiculous. Not only was it a waste of dolly mixtures and oranges (the wax made it inedible after the session.), it just proves to me christianity can sometimes be just as radical as any other religion I know. 

And what would these customs be? I give you the 3 weirdest ways to celebrate christmas:

1. Tió de Nadal or Caga Tió

Caga Tió literally means 'Shit Log' - what a way to name a custom! - and is most known as a character in Catalan cultures. It is usually presented as a hollow log with stout legs, a painted face and given a red hat and blanket to 'keep it from getting cold'. From the start of their christmas festival - on the 8th of December - it is fed little treats until Christmas day, in which the children would gather up 'round the Tió de Nadal and proceed to beat it while ordering it to shit out its treats inside. First of all, this is a custom where children are encouraged to hurl both physical and verbal abuse on a poor log that was probably wasn't looking for any trouble. (I mean, look at it's cute smiley face and it's adorable red hat?! Why beat the living daylights out of that poor thing?)

2. Kissing Under King Kong's Mistletoe

LA is famous for it's buzzing atmosphere of Hollywood and Universal Studios so it wouldn't be surprising if they one day decided to make up a tradition in tribute to their movie success: kissing under King Kong's mistletoe. Kissing under a plant is already considered weird, in some sense, but to add another element of weirdness by making the King of Skull Island hold it for you. Definitely something you won't see everyday. 

3.Japan's Christmas Turkey Fried Chicken

Like how 'Mericans may see chinese food as generally chow mien and noodles, the Japanese see Christmas food as KCF chicken. Not only is it bizarre because it's not something everyone else in the world would see as christmas food, it has to be a specific brand: Kentucky Fried Chicken. Now, the Japanese are well known for having one of the healthiest populations out there but with this tradition, I'm starting to wonder how on earth they can keep their skinny physiques after eating a whole bowl of chicken that's evidently larger than their own heads. (I mean, LOOK how big it is in the photo?)

So... now that I've gone and offended a general share of people across the world I'm going to leave you with this: What ever quirky customs you or your country may practice, keep it up. Because you can smile on the fact that everyone has their own weird side and nobody's just a generic boring sod. :P Peace!

(EDIT:Yes, I know I've posted this a day late (or perhaps 2... whoops.) so I'll try to keep up and post a day early so the whole GMT mumble-jumble thing won't get too confuzzling.)

Social Awkwardness...

So I've been thinking about a conversation I had with my guardian/aunt - whom i live with during the exeat and half-term breaks - about building confidence to speak and socialize, be it for the sake of personal or work issues. I guess as a primary teacher and a mother of two, she found the need to speak up about my problem of shyness. (Which I guess was pretty evident especially after all the exeats I've spent at her home.) She told me how she and her two daughters managed their own problems of social awkwardness as an example that everyone feels scared when forced into an event with people they don't know. It's just that some have different ways of hiding the fear like clinging to their friends or just being brash and loud. We discussed how confidence is the basis of almost every job you can think of, let alone going up a step from college to Uni. So, in the end - I kinda forced myself to do this - we agreed I would send an email [to her] every week to report my attempts to strive as a socially AWESOME penguin rather than an awkward one.

So... why share now? Because I'm scared. I'm still scared to make a move. Though I was quite moved by the inspiration speech imbedded within the conversation - yes, I was in the verge of crying again. - I'm still doubting my decision to say "Okay, I'll do it." I'm not sure if it's my guardian whole aura of steel that made me say so but throughout the trip back to school, my thoughts were screaming "OMMAFUGGINGGAWD. OMMAFUGGINGGAWD. WHUDDAMIGONNADO?! WHUDDAMIGONNADO?! OMMAFASDFSJADFHAK..." (if you can actually read that, props to you. you have the skills of understanding panic-induced blabbers.) Either way, I'm now in a position in which I'm forced to socialize. Luckily my aunt is quite easy on what is considered appropriate such as "Today I sat next to someone new and asked them about their day." (Though I must admit even THAT would be frightfully grueling to me. ugh.) Welp, no moving back, now that I've said yes. I don't want to make the hardest/strongest woman I know disappointed...