The end of the road ... nek minnit ...

Pardon the outdated references, both to Boyz II Men and that Nek Minnit phrase.

I just came across this song today, and it will forever remind me of that time. At uni. This song was playing at the student bar. I was in the bathroom bawling my eyes out because I had broken up with my boyfriend again. For the millionth time.

Love hurts, huh. What a little moeps. Lol.

Well, there's no lesson in this post. Just a random moment to share. And I suppose if you're a young'un "in love", when things go pear shaped (notice I said when and not if), just remember they could always be worse. Although at the time it will probably feel like the sky has fallen on your Chicken Little head.

As fate would have it, I am now married to abovementioned on-again off-again ex-boyfriend. Lol. Now I'm thankful that we reached the end of that potholey auala galue, so we could later drive onto a road with stable foundations and a damn destination!

Cupid over and out.

Miss Know-It-All

I was chatting to my younger brother in Samoa this evening, and he was telling me he was taking several computing classes this semester at the National University of Samoa (NUS). It took me back to my one year there for UPY (a.k.a. 7th form). To be more specific, a computer-course-related memory. Or not ...

Computing class was a visit to Snoozeville, to be honest. And I was a wannabe know-it-all rebel kid. (Or whatever you call a kid who lacked motivation and preferred to have coffees in the cafeteria or sleep on the stage of the fale Samoa instead of attending class).

Setting the scene...It was computing tutorial time. My partner-in-crime buddy who we'll name V (does that give it away...oops) and I were at the cafeteria (shock horror) making coffee (me) and buying monkey balls (V). We hear a voice next to us say, "Pass the sugar please." Hole in the ground, please appear to swallow me up. It was our computing tutor, coming to get her caffeine fix while her class slaved away at whatever task she had just given them. All except the two of us. Against every urge in my body, I did not run. I stood my ground, smiled nicely at her and passed the sugar. Then I added milk to my coffee, and made sure it tasted just the way I liked it. THEN I ran. Lol. Suffice to say, we had learnt out lesson: When wagging computing class, avoid the cafeteria.

By the way, kids, don't try this at home. Or at your school or whatever. You do not want to be a wannabe know-it-all rebel kid. You want to be the super kickass brainiac that never skips computing class. Even for coffee. Or monkey balls.

P.S.
Dear UPY Computing Tutor, 
On the off chance that you're reading this (and pigs fly), sorry for being an annoying little s...tudent. Believe it or not, I am now a programmer. Ha! Who would've thought. On that day in the cafeteria, neither you or I did, that's for sure. 
Regards, your favourite (?) virtual student.

Festive Season

As each year goes by I feel less and less festive come December. As I sit here paying my bills and listen to the wild rain outside, my tired mind can't help but wonder why this is.

What did I enjoy about Christmas back then?
- Jim Reeves and Boney M faithfully rattling out the Christmas tunes on the old cassette player
- Counting the year's savings. Growing up, we (siblings and I) saved our lunch money through the whole year so we could buy Christmas presents for each other (we thought we were rich! Lol!)
- Planning the itinerary for our annual shopping day
- Walking around town "shopping", from CCK to Wai Tui, back to the Savalalo flea market, and once in a while to Janet's (for their awesome selection and the powerful aircon in the shop)
- Listening to a really fobby Christmas album by some "artist" that I don't know. This albums plays at nearly every shop in Samoa, and I recently heard it again while visiting family in Mangere. Lol! You know the one - "It's the memory, of the old Grismas garrrrd..."
- Dry curry lunch at Amani's (this became a tradition of sorts during the Christmas shopping trip)
- Aoga mea every evening
- Unfashionable tux uniforms and candles without candle holders for Christmas items
- Midnight Christmas service, with beautiful singing from the Sunday School (I so miss that), a gazillion kids crowding around one camera (non-digital), and sometimes followed by a cuppa tea and masi at the church hall
- Christmas day back at the hall where we all received a (usually budget) gift...water guns FTW!
- BBQ lunch with the family at Vailele

That was pretty much it. The memories are flooding back. Christmas then was so ... Christmassy ..?

Is it that I am just too busy now to appreciate the small things that are around me now? Am I still in Christmas culture shock? Am I not "moving with the times"? Too old fashioned? Living in the past?

I don't know. And too tired to think.

But this I do know - some things remain true. Christmas is about Christ. Christ is about love. As long as I try to keep remembering that, I'm sure I will find my festivity niche in the hustle and bustle.

Merry Christmas, my 6 followers and visitors!

Much love,

Fob

(This post was definitely more fob than rock)