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Haven’t been updating a lot lately like I would normally do in the past – this month, and probably the following too, had me incredibly busy, with tons of real life things to handle, and a lot of personal drama that billowed out of nowhere. Personal drama had not affected any relationships, I’d like to think, although it definitely changed my outlook on things. Many things.

I forgot to add that I had a Business Finance VL last week, Michael Gangemi, who was rather stern (scolded a couple of girls in our first lecture who was talking among themselves, “You girls better stop talking or I’ll throw you all out!”) and taught rather.. quickly, compared to our own local lecturer who could drag a single topic for two weeks or more, whilst he did that all in a single day wtf. A classmate, Eugene, commented that even though his face looked naturally stern (did I also mention that he has a ear stud on his left ear), he was actually nice, during personal consultations.

I learned the following Chinese essay last few weeks, and I thought I’d share it with you guys (since I really have nothing else to write about too wtf) ‘cause I thought it was touching in a way (may be cheesy for some), even though.. yeah, the Chinese was simple for learners like yours truly.

一生最重要的人

又一期女子培训班开始了。

第一天，老师带大家做了一个游戏。她让一位年龄看起来大一点的女士走上台来，让她现在黑板上写下自己最亲的二十个人的名字。女士照做了。这二十个人里，有她的邻居、朋友和亲人等等。

老师说：“请你划掉了一个这里面你认为最不重要的人。”
女士划掉了一个邻居的名字。
老师又说：“请你再划掉一个。”
女士又划掉了一个同事。
老师再说：“请你再划掉一个。”
女士又划掉一个。

......

最后，黑板上只剩下了三个词：父母，丈夫，和孩子。
教室非常安静，同学们静静地看着老师，感觉这似乎已不再是一个游戏了。老师平静地说：“请再划掉一个。
女士犹豫着，想了半天......她举起了笔，划掉了父母。

“请再划掉一个。” 身边有传来了老师的声音。
她惊呆了，但举起笔，慢慢地又划掉了儿子。然后，她“挖”地一声哭了，样子非常痛苦。

老师等她平静了下来，问道：“和你最亲的人应该是你的父母和你的孩子，因为父母生了你，孩子是你生得，而丈夫是可以重新找的，为什么丈夫反而是你最亲的人呢？”
同学们静静地看着她，等待着她的回答。

女士平静而又慢慢地说道：“随着时间的过去，父母会先离开我，孩子长大以后肯定也会离开我的，真正能陪我一辈子的只有我的丈夫。”

Translated the best I could:

The most important person in one’s life

There was a time when the women’s training class has begun.

One day, the teacher played a game with the rest. She asked a slightly older woman to go up to the stage, and asked her to write 20 names that she’s closest with on the blackboard. The woman did as she was told. Among the 20 names, there were those of her neighbours’, friends, close ones, etc.

The teacher said, “Please cross out one name which you think is the least important to you.”
The woman then crossed out a neighbour’s name.
The teacher again said, “Please cross out another one.”
The woman then crossed out a colleague’s name.
The teacher said again, “Please cross out another one.”
The woman crossed out one name again.

......

Finally, the blackboard was left with three words: parents, husband, and son.

The classroom was very quiet, the rest of the students quietly watched the teacher, and felt that this didn’t seem to be a game anymore. The teacher then calmly said, “Please cross out another name.”

The woman hesitated, and thought about it for quite a long time… she lifted the chalk, and crossed out her parents.

“Please cross out another one.” The teacher’s voice rang beside her.

She was stupefied, but she raised her chalk, and slowly crossed out her son’s name. Then, she cried loudly, her face twisted in utter pain.

The teacher waited for her to calm down, and then asked, “Those who are closest to you are supposed to be your parents and your child, because your parents are the ones who give life to you, and you give birth to your own child, plus you can always find a new husband again, why is it your husband the closest person to you instead?”

The rest of the students quietly watched her, waiting for her reply.

The woman calmly and slowly said, “As time passes by, my parents will leave me first, and after my child has grown up, he’s sure to leave me as well, but the one who can really be with me my entire life is only my husband.”

Nice wasn’t it? I’m fairly ecstatic that I can read and understand Chinese short stories in nearly its entirety.. well, simple ones for beginners, that is.

After reading 7 short stories of Elliot Perlman’s, there was another line from a short story on lawyers that I thought was vividly beautiful that I should share too:

By an agreement dated years ago, I, the plaintiff, agreed to love you unconditionally in return for an offer of the rest of your life.