Day 82

Why is it that the most interesting experiences always occur on the bus?

Today, I was approach by an elderly Chinese couple while boarding, and after asking me if I were Chinese, the grandfather began to ask me for directions on how to reach ’XX Rd’ – in Mandarin. I managed to pick up on what he was asking about (it helped that he had a map with him) and began to give him in a reply in my shaky Mandarin, and you know what? They understood me!

So, I while I was conversing with them, liaising with the bus driver and fellow passengers about where the road might be, I couldn’t help but feel this huge send of incredulity that they could understand what I was saying. For those who know me, Mandarin isn’t my first language. While I take classes, I've always have that irking doubt about whether I would actually be understood.

So. Am feeling over the moon right now. I managed to speak (somewhat) effectively in Mandarin, and also help someone through having this skill! I feel so glad that I knew a bit of the language, and was able to help them. Getting the chance to talk to them and meet so many fascinating people in the process was  so amazing.

Like wearing the t-shirt, languages enables us to form a connection with other people. Communication leads to connection, and with connection comes understanding. Imagine if we could all speak the langauges of the the world. Like what my physics lecturer said, it would be 'way cool'. :)

Day 79!!

It's been a fantastic week!! The sun's shining and I'm now over a fifth of the way through the challenge!! The T-shirts have made life just so interesting on an everyday level.

A common question that has been asked of me is this: Why are you doing it? What is the purpose of it all? Without a background, this might seem to be a tad nonsensical, perhaps a bit wacky and if you read my introduction on the left, you'll see that I thought so too. Ultimately I think that we Challengers all have our individual reasons for joining. Certainly I've been growing as a person through this journey, and a funny thing that I've found myself coming to wish that everyone wore a T-shirt with their name on it.  Even more interesting is that I get a lot of responses from people saying that they were 'glad that they didn't have to worry about forgetting my name' if they saw me next time. It makes me wonder about the function of a name and associated role that it plays in a society - They're so important why?

The paradoxical thing about life is that we are individuals, and yet we're all interconnected (for you scientists out there: everything is made of atoms :)). We celebrate individuality, and we also celebrate unity.  As a person, it so difficult to realise that. So really, my reason for wearing the shirts is this: It's because I seek to connect with others. In wearing the t-shirt, I am showing that I'm human. Me without the frills - and if you know my name, perhaps we can be one step closer to forming a connection. :)

As for this week, a silently hilarious moment for me was going to a function with AIESEC and being given a 'name tag' to wear on top of my shirt. It was the strangest feeling, and a entertaining element of the event included seeing people trying to squint at the name on that tag before realising what was written on the shirt......

So that's all from me for now! Biomed is churning along now -  I've calculated that I probably save 2 hours a week from just cutting down on my dressing time. :)


Live.

Every moment :)

~ Carmen

Day 74: A Simple Reminder

A update on life: I wrote this a few hours back as a personal memo so its unedited. 

I had just bused home, I had gotten off at my stop. I was tired. It’s been a busy few days. Holding a biochemistry book in one arm, and slinging my bag onto my back, with eyes half closed I began to trudge home.

As I was waiting at the traffic light (it had just turned green), I had with closed eyes, thrown my head back and when I next opened them I saw the waxing moon above me. The sky was blue. It surprised me. Never had this image seemed so vivid.  I then realised that there was this breeze blowing around me and like a painting, there were these creamy clouds in the distance. There were trees – the vividest green I’ve seen after a long day in OGG. Bushes poked out of domiciles in the distance and marigolds lay in the council plot to my side. It seemed odd, and suddenly, for that single moment, I felt as if I were some visitor from another planet looking at my world with new eyes.

The waxing moon, the trees, that strange breeze. Never had the sky seemed to blue.

Blue.

The. Sky. Was. Blue.

I walked back down my street in a haze. I never often realise it, but heading west, I could see the sun setting behind the church. Suddenly, I realised that the cherry trees on my street had begun to bloom, and I saw a sparrow form a silhouette on an upper branch in the dying rays. Builders yarned among their machinery, and in the distance - behind quiet birdsong were the muted sounds of cars from the main road.

These are the sights of everyday life. Yet I have been so focused on school work, uni, assignments, tests that I have forgotten beauty of the everyday world that I live in. So used was I to being indoors that I had forgotten the vivid view of nature. To realise that every moment is filled with an overwhelming sense of organic beauty. This is the world.

(Incidentally, I was wearing a the blue I Am t shirt on the way home. Isn't it amazing how we have the ability to don on colours that reflect an element of the world around us?)

Day 72

Amy! Thank you for your donation yesterday :) I really appreciate it

Day 71

What a great day for the Challenge! A fifth of the way through, and a quarter of the way to the goal!

One thing that I'm finding the most rewarding about this is simply being able to meet so many fantastic people, and making that instant connection. It's certainly gotten me talking a lot!


Thank you Issy and Shu for your donations today :)

Day 67

Arkangel

I look,

                But you never listen.

You gaze at me,

                But never weep.

The stars are impinged on by

                A thousand souls.

They speak Soft!

                ...Yet never sleep.

Einstein

Day 63

Hello World! How are you all today?

So, what's been up?

The first week of the second half of semester is always a busy time - had a few assessments on the first day back, and being one of those 'biomed' students, I've been churning away at the desk (lol my excuse for the recumbence :)

It was great getting back on campus again. I've had so many people just say 'hi' to meet all over the place, and I must admit, life is so much easier when dressing constitutes of deciding what t-shirt colour to wear!

A highlight this week: Meeting Dan!!!! - Dan Callum founder of IAM. Had some a great conversation with him over breakfast. It was amazing talking such an inspirational person (yes Dan - you Are) - so it's reallly exciting to hear of all the things that he's got planned.


I would like to propagate a challenge to all you readers out there: 

The next time that you 'eat out' - coffee, meal, whatever, I challenge you (and whoever you're with with!) to order something radically different on the menu - or (even better), go to a different restaurant and get the person serving to choose for you.

How else would you experience something new? Change is a part of life, and learning's when you're living :)

For the record:
In asking Candy to choose, Dan and I ended up receiving a White Chocolate Latte (off the menu!), and a Feijoa Smoothie. Now that's pretty cool.


Anyway, to finish off, it's great to note that Spring's here! (Finally) the lambs are bouncing and students are starting to come out from hibernation. 

Current amount fundraised: $215