10 for Francisca (aka C.V.)

Really, I do this only for my friend Francisca. She wrote a note in Facebook and tagged me in it. It came with specific instructions: “Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you.” How can I disappoint a good friend who’s eager to know more about me, right? I really had a hard time doing this. I was determined to come out with 25 short stories (one liner, I mean!), but then I thought 10 that matter are more meaningful than 25 of not so important. (Excuses!) So let’s start…

1. I grew up in a Chinatown and come from a family with rather strict Chinese tradition. Nevertheless, I never really have appreciation for Chinese culture. I’m never interested in learning the language, I think Chinese music is too mushy, and I prefer my humble home country traditional food to Chinese cuisine at all times. Worst of all, I VERY rarely fall for Chinese guys. This creates a little trouble when parents come into the picture. Hmm… Come to think of it, it seems all my meaningful relationships have been interracial

2. I was a born Catholic. I spent my childhood going to Sunday school and winning Bible quizzes. I was educated in Catholic schools until high school and I thought I would never have a problem proclaiming myself as a Catholic. However, as I matured, I realized that actually my personal perception of Catholicism is not really conventional. I may oversimplify it, some may even think I’m blasphemous. And when I tried the Belief-O-Matic, guess what’s the result. I am not really a Catholic. I am a liberal quaker! And at the moment I think I refuse to admit to be part of any religious institution. I have faith, all right… But lately religions kinda pissed me off

3. I was interested in my humble home country’s political movement since I was in junior high school. I guess this is a good influence from my school, where I got to meet friends from different backgrounds (read: outside the Chinatown). I admired BS, the leader of an emerging political party. Do remember that at that time my humble home country was not as liberal as today. There were only 3 political parties you could choose on the election, and the government was more of a totalitarian, even though they always said that we practiced democracy. BS was accused as the man behind the riot occurred on July 27, 1997. He was a university student back then. The idea of putting the country’s interest above of his own in such a young age inspired me. And it moved me to follow his path. With some friends, I sent a long letter to a national radio station, protesting the accusation made. I also wrote a letter about the injustice to a local magazine and it got published. This freaked my dad out, and I got scolded for practically offering head and getting eliminated from the country (or this world for that matter!).
Note: When I looked back, I realized how a foolish idealist I was. But I was young, there are rooms for mistakes and stupidity. Now,  I can’t care less for what happen. I am frustrated.

4. I fell in love with classical music when I was in primary school. I don’t know where I got the influence from. My parents were not into it. My dad only listens to Teresa Teng-like and my mom pop and easy listening. I entered a CD shop and they played a classical piece, and bam! I was captivated since then. My first cassettes are Beethoven and Chopin.

5. A consequence of #4, I desperately wanted to learn how to play an instrument. My first choice was always the violin, but I didn’t mind piano either. ( To be frank, I actually think piano is quite boring. My favorite piano pieces are always concerti. I can enjoy piano solos, but not too long.) Unfortunately, my parents were convinced that learning music is useless. They didn’t allow me to take up a lesson. I remember it made my cry for days once, without any success to change their mind. My dad only approved a PAINTING lesson, because he saw I have talent for it. Yeah, Dad, I know I am talented in painting. That’s why I don’t need a lesson. I can learn that myself! At the end I never took up a painting lesson either. I only started to learn violin last year, after a friend gave me the courage. He said we’re never too old to learn, and that I still have all my life for it. Going for it really makes me happier

6. I think I am a talented singer as well. I remembered in primary 5 we had this music teacher in school. He adored my singing. I always got the highest mark. Too bad I won’t be remembered by my friends as the girl with the voice. I was busy with Students’ Union in secondary and high school, and I think people will always think of a bossy nerd when they heard my name. But I did join the university choir, and I did good. One of my secret passions is to be part of an opera troupe or a leading cast in a Broadway musical.

7. I am always ashamed of the fact that I was a Backstreet Boys fan when I was 13. Back then I thought they’re handsome, romantic and definitely not gay. I bought magazines featuring them and waited for the video clips to play on MTV. But of course, at that time boy band was in. Take That, Boyzone, Boyz II Men, you name it. Maybe I just followed the trend. You know, teenagers… The short-lived infatuation ended when I discovered The Cranberries and Def Leppard. And since I came to Singapore in 2001, my musical knowledge hasn’t improved.

8. Despite of my rejection to take up a course, I do love painting. I painted Beethoven as my junior high school art final project. It’s oil on canvas, imitating my cassette cover (yes, the first one that I bought). I got good grade, of course, and I was very proud of it. I was so sad and mad when I wanted to bring it home, I learned that the school had misplaced it somewhere. My Beethoven is lost forever

9. I’ve always wanted a tattoo that covers my whole back. I think it’s cool. But I am too chicken to even have a small one. I’m afraid I will regret it. What if it doesn’t look nice? What if I find a better design after I commit to one? What if the color fades? How will it look like when I’m 60? So I only dared to get a temporary one on my upper chest in December 2007. And it caused a little havoc when my colleagues thought it was a permanent. Gee, I can’t believe they couldn’t tell it was fake! Lately I have been thinking if I should go ahead with f-holes tattoo, like that of Ingres’ Violin. Probably I will get another temporary one when I go back to humble home country.

10. I am a woman of intelligence. This may sound cocky, but actually I meant it to be sad. Of all the guys who are interested in me, I think all are attracted to me after knowing me personally. They like me because of my character, how I am different from other girls, and stuffs like that. It’s nice, sure. I too would want to marry someone who can connect with me, understands me, and loves me as a whole package. But as a mature woman, sometimes I wish guys like me simply because of my looks. It will really help my confidence if I know that once in a while there are guys who think I’m pretty and sexy, who don’t think of me as good wife material and only want to know me because they want to bang me, hahahah… Well, the bottom line is, even though I know I am not too bad as a girl, I have my own insecurities. And I guess this is one of the things I have to work on.