Clothing and Self-representation

So today I am here with some questions I have yet to find the answers to.

All throughout boarding school, and now as a freshman in college, part of living in a dorm for me means sharing stuff with your dorm mates and friends. As a girl, a lot of this sharing comes in the form of clothes, shoes, and accessories. 

Therein arises the questions then: by borrowing our friends/dorm mates' clothing, we appropriate/accept them as part of our self-representations, but are these representations really ours? Do we own them? Do we own these images of ourselves? We certainly do not own these clothing items, but by wearing them, can we call them "our style," so to speak?

Do we own our own image? If not, who does?

xx

Vanessa :]

Question Wednesday: casual theme today :P

**Okay I'm posting in Beijing Time again. It's Wednesday morning here.**

Call me lazy, but today's question is going to be quite simple and casual, nothing to wrack your brain for. Bum bum bum... today's question is: why do we crave sweets?

(source)

Personally I am have such a sweet tooth, and I've always wondered about why people like me have such cravings for this particular taste. The answer to the question is, not surprisingly, quite scientific, actually.

It's because we humans are primates - we evolved from animals who eat fruits from the trees.

And guess how the majority of fruits taste?

Sweet!

So that's why.

Just to be honest, I’m not really sure what this Wednesday’s question is. I just have this story to tell y’all, and I guess you can decide what the takeaway is.

Like I already mentioned in this Monday’s post, I love choir. I love everything about it: the warmups, the music-reading, the tryouts for solos, the last-minute rehearsals… When I was in middle school, my school’s choir decided to participate in the World Choir Games 2008 in Graz, Austria.

The preparation started the second the first rehearsal of the school year began. Even though it was still ten months until summer at the time, we already plunged into it. In order to perform the four songs we picked for the Games perfectly, we trained every day of the week, and in the last two months even on weekend evenings. Occasionally there were complaints; a few people even dropped out. But July came and we flew to Austria. The Games were a huge success. We won silver medal. And we had so much fun as a team together, picnicking along the Mur, hanging out by the fountain in front of the Town Hall, putting on makeup in a tiny restaurant before the competition…

In short, it was a wonderful time. Everyone bonded over the Games, and our time spent in the scenic town of Graz. Because I had always remembered Graz with a smile and warm memories, when I started planning my trip to Europe this summer I could not not add Graz to the itinerary.

So, on July 22^nd, 2013, exactly five years after I left Graz, I was back. I took a taxi from the train station to get to the downtown area. The taxi dropped me off in a small street just off the town center. As soon as I rounded the corner, I almost burst into tears. There, right in front of me, was an ancient building decorated with frescoes that I took an exact picture of five years ago. Even though I couldn’t remember about the building, I knew it was the building I’ve seen before as soon as I saw it. That feeling when my past suddenly somehow caught up to me was strange: I was overcome with acute nostalgia, yet I was not sad; I was happy, no, delighted, to be back again, even though I was on my own this time, without the rest of the choir.

Staring at the building, I started to have this thought about life and growth. Sometimes you don’t realize that you’ve changed until you see something that haven’t. Returning to Graz is one of these things. The historical part of Graz which I remember ever so clearly hasn’t changed one bit, but I was completely different. I am no longer a girl; I’ve grown into a young woman. That powerful difference made me gasp at how much time can do to a person, how much I’ve grown. When I got back to my hotel that night I realized that I would’ve regretted it tremendously if I didn’t put Graz on the itinerary.

So that’s my story. I guess there really isn’t one single question to ask. Perhaps I just wanted to make a proposal: revisit a place that meant a lot to you during your childhood or adolescence. Let the unchanging show you the change.

After doing that, here’s a question for you: how does it feel?

xx

Vanessa :]

What's your biggest change this past year?

Okay, I guess this question is more applicable for those of you reading who are still in school. As the end of the school year draws near (or, for some public schools and colleges, has already happened), I want to challenge you to this question: What's your biggest change this past (school) year?

How have you changed? How have you become a better person? How have you changed other people, for better or for worse? 

Are you proud of the changes? Of who you are now?

(And yes technically what I'm doing here is called cheating because I basically just bombarded you with questions. But but but!! All of these tie back to the main question in the title—what's your biggest change this year?)

Let's hear it (them?).

xx

Vanessa :]

How to say goodbye?

This is a legitimate question: how does one say goodbye to something or someone one loves? 

As graduation looms nearer and nearer, I cannot help but contemplate this question. Recently I've been getting teary-eyed over the littlest things. I go to a boarding school, and although I don't love every moment of my days here (trust me the ups and downs are like a roller coaster), now I find myself unable to leave this place. Here I have friends that I LOVE. And by love I don't mean the kind that you write about in facebook photo captions (example: blah-blah is the best friend one could ask for! love ya!). Here I'm talking about serious love, love that makes you as happy as it makes you sad, this profound feeling that possesses you and engulfs you.

So, how do you say goodbye to a feeling like this? How?

Tell me.

xx

Vanessa :]

Question Wednesday: on self-confidence (seriously, it's not as boring as it sounds)

Last night I was talking to my friend about our perceptions of self and the issue of self-confidence. Thus the question: why is it that we are often genuinely generous when considering other people's physical appearances, and so harsh when considering our own?

I'm not as sure about boys, but I know that at least for girls, it's so much easier to love someone else's looks (“she has the perfect hair!" "her eyes are gorgeous!" "she is sooooo pretty!") than loving our own ("my hair is so flat." "my fingers are weird." "I have man shoulders.") Personally I have this terrible tendency as well, exaggerating every little flaw of my own, while I find it so easy to find something good about others. 

So, my question is, why? Why do we have to be so mean to ourselves?

xx

Vanessa :]

What Makes A Good Murder Mystery?

So I've begun writing another novel. It just kinda came to me yesterday sitting in physics class of all places. I'll fill you in on it as it goes along. At the moment it doesn't even have a title or names for the main characters (I'm referring to them as MC, the Jerk, John Doe, and Jane Doe right now), so there's not much to tell you. Although, I do have the ending written already...

Anyway, not the point. I wanted to know what you guys thought about murder mysteries? And if you liked them, what made you think they were good? What are some aspects of a mystery that you find important?

I know I like to be surprised. I like twists and character flaws. I want there to be parallels throughout the book, and then at the end, right when you think you've got it all figured out, it throws you off a cliff.

Also! What do you prefer for an ending? Cliff-hanger? Or do you want to have everything explained to you? Or do you like it open-ended and up for interpretation (my choice)?

xoxo
Sara

P.S. If you have any good movies I should watch to really get into the "homicidal mood" leave a comment!

This is a legit Question Wednesday

Not to overthrow the legitimacy of the previous Question Wednesdays--what I'm saying is that, this Wednesday's question is by no means a rhetorical one. It's a practical question that I'm seeking an immediate answer to.

The Question is: What to buy in (Southern) India?

Because oh because oh because--I AM GOING TO INDIA FOR SPRING BREAK!!!!! asdfs;ghaldkfs;f;hagkdfs (yes, Vanessa needs to calm down. Leaves)

And now I'm back. All calmed down, I promise. Anyways, I am officially going to Southern India (Bangalore, Mysore, etc) with my high school for a spring break trip (which is in 2 days)!!!!! I am super  duper excited and am looking forward to it very very very very (insert 1,000 more "very") much :)

I'm a girl who loves shopping, and I will definitely be buying souvenirs for friends and family, too. So I was wondering if there's anything worth of buying in India--of course, I know I'll find a lot of amazing things there, but I just want to know if there's anything special/one of a kind that I could bring back.

Thanks!!

xx

Vanessa :]

p.s. I will be in India from March 1-17, so I won't be able to blog (spotty/zero internet + possible power outages)... I will miss you guys.... but I will do a massive post about India (maybe a Savvy Saturday?) once I'm back!!

Question Wednesday: What's with all the useless knowledge?

I've been lying in bed for two hours now, staring up at my ceiling, trying to make it stop spinning around in circles. Staying home sick makes you realize just how much junk you have floating around in your head. 

I can spell "antidisestablishmentarianism" off the top of my head, plus recite the definition and the entomology word for word from Webter's dictionary. But when will I ever use that? When will I ever use a "box-and-whisker plot" or need to "complete the square of this quadratic function" in real life? 

There is so much information that students have to process and retain. The amount is ridiculous, along with the amount of time that they have to learn these subjects. One year is not enough time to learn the basics of physics and chemistry. You can't understand human biology in just one semester (especially when all you do is just read from a book). 

Not only are students being overloaded with information, but the information itself is not useful. It is either far too broad of a topic or it cannot be applied once they get out of the classroom (i.e. antidisestablishmentarianism). 

So, my question is: Why spend so much time learning things that we can't use? Could our time be spent better?

Question Wednesday: Why do people feel this way?

Scenario: Your friend is having this party/gathering at her house this weekend. You are attending. Your crush and some of your other close friends will be going, too. You look forward to the party/gathering all week long, getting so excited, playing out what could happen, how much fun you'd have. You literally cannot wait for weekend to come. And then weekend does come, and you do go to the party/gathering, and so do the said people above. You have a fairly good time, but in the end, you feel like it's not even close to how you've imagined it.

Question: Why?

Why do you feel like that you've been let down when you've probably had a great time (if you didn't have your hopes up so high)?

Tell me.
xx
Vanessa :]

Question Wednesday: Relax

I have quite a few things going on right now that are stressing me out. So I spend last weekend coming up with ways to relax. I've been trying to take at least ten minutes a day to just sit and relax. I plug in my cans and go to Calm.com. I'm addicted to it. Yesterday I actually fell asleep (which was great until I woke up and realized that I had to do homework).

It's really a good habit to get into. There are many benefits to meditation:

Improved concentration – A clear mind makes you more productive, especially in creative disciplines like writing.

Less bothered by little things – Do you sometimes allow yourself to get upset by little things? It is the nature of the mind to magnify small things into serious problems. Meditation helps us detach. We learn to live in the here and now, rather than worrying about the past or future. We do not worry about meaningless things, but see the bigger picture.

Better Health – There have been numerous studies pointing to the health benefits of meditation. The reason is that meditation reduces stress levels and alleviates anxiety. If we can reduce stress, many health benefits follow.

Knowledge of Self – Meditation enables us to have a deeper understanding of our inner self. Through meditation we can gain a better understanding of our life’s purpose.

I've also been going for short runs on our road. It only takes about fifteen minutes, but it makes such a huge difference. While I'm running I think about the day and what I achieved and what I didn't. It helps me prioritize.

So, the question is: What do you do to relax? Is there a website or a book or some music that you use specifically? If so, share it with us! We'd love to hear from you :)


[Source: Pick the Brain]

Question Wednesday: Have you ever stolen before?

For English class I'm reading A Visit From the Goon Squad, in which the protagonist is a troubled young woman who has a problem with "taking things" (in her words)--meaning, she relishes the exhilaration of stealing from street people (a child's scarf, a pair of glasses, etc) and hoards her "trophies" in her apartment. Interestingly, she never touches the stolen items again, after the deed of stealing. 

This got me thinking. I believe it's fair to say that as children, we've all stolen a thing or two, whether it be from other people, or from stores. For example, I myself have stolen a manga play-card from a total stranger at a weekend tutoring school. And a bag of Skittles, when I was ten. That time I had an accomplice, my childhood best friend. I remember feeling simultaneously horrible and excited and scared. It was indeed a feeling that not much else can evoke.

That said, I'm not stealing anymore, obviously, now that I'm an adult. But I wouldn't do anything to change my childhood "stealing experiences," for they are a part of my dearest memories from when I was an ignorant little girl.

Now, my question: Have you stolen something before? If so, what is it? How did/do you feel about it? Why do you think people steal as an obsession?

xx

Vanessa :]

Which Came First?

It's that age old question. Which came first? The chicken or the egg?
What are your thoughts?

Question Wednesday: thoughts on "counterfeit neglect"

I was doing my art history reading last night, and was reading about this beautiful English garden of the Romanticism and Neoclassicism period, the Park at Stourheard (see image below).

yes, that is a miniature Roman Pantheon "replica" in the back

Beautiful, isn't it? The textbook uses the phrase "counterfeit neglect" to describe it. Quote, "...effects that imitated the appearance of a natural rural landscape—while it was, in fact, carefully designed and manicured."

In simpler language: It looks like the owner doesn't give a sh*t but he actually cares very much.

The concept of "counterfeit neglect" really caught my eye because I think it still applies to modern days. It explains people's inexplicable adoration of "bedhead," messy braids, slightly unkempt homes, and intentionally half-buttoned shirt. 

Don't get me wrong—I love this kind of style. However, my question is, why is it that people put so much effort into looking casual, or even messy? Is it because it's intimidating, since it isn't fancy or impeccable?

What do you think?

xx

Vanessa :]

Should I read this?