15 March 2024

Is this the place we used to love? Is this the place that I've been dreaming of?

 Today, the 15th of March, marks the 5th anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks.

New Zealand is as isolated as you can get geographically. A group of small islands relatively inconspicuous that it's sometimes mistaken as part of Australia, or even accidentally omitted in world maps. Being physically far from everyone else, one would have thought that this country would be spared from any acts of terrorism. That changed on this day five years ago.

When we were alerted of an 'active shooter event' happening at Christchurch, it didn't sink in immediately. Then we turned on the TV and saw the tragedy unfold. It was, personally speaking, unbelievable.

We have always thought of New Zealand to be a safe place to live. A great environment to raise a family and get that sought-after work-life balance. This terror attack shattered that perception. One can never be truly safe anywhere. In the days following the attack, we heard of people planning to leave the country altogether. It reminded me of the time we had a catastropic earthquake in the 90s in my hometown. People fled the city and never returned, even when things settled down. I guess trauma can make you do that.

We decided to migrate to New Zealand because we heard that racism is not rife here. I've always been worried about my kids experiencing hate crimes, or bullying in schools. Much of my fears were quelled when I saw how culturally diverse the schools are, and (during those times) people actually leave their houses and cars unlocked!

Are we staying put? Yes. Do we still feel safe? Relatively yes. That is, compared to a past life where, at the back of your mind, you try to be aware of what's happening around you and always keep your backpack slung across your chest, we feel safer here.

But if there's one thing I learned from this, it's that evil can rear its ugly head no matter the circumstance. And we should not let evil reign. Don't let it control us. Otherwise their 'terror' agenda would prevail.





06 March 2024

We'll always be together, together in electric dreams

We did something awesome over the weekend. We watched a concert! It's something I haven't done in years. I think the last time was in the 90s. During that period I sat in a stadium for a Corrs concert, I stood amidst a rather hyper crowd of Incubus fans (to be honest, I thought I was the oldest in that crowd), and jammed with Parokya ni Edgar in a more intimate outdoor venue in Cebu. So it has indeed been a long while and frankly I'm not really a concert-goer and I thought those days are far behind me. And yet there were were in a huge outdoor venue listening to 80s and 90s bands. Nik Kershaw performed but I'm not familiar with his songs. Go West was also there and I managed to sing to some of their tunes (especially King of Wishful Thinking!). But the highlight of the event was The Human League!

It was synthesizers galore. I loved the upbeat music and the crowd loved it too!

If I felt I was the oldest in the Incubus concert, this time I felt I was the youngest :-). We queued to buy some cider and beer and the people in front of us admired our matching shirts and 80s getup. Then they said we did a good job, considering we were born in the 80s. Ha! Thank you, Asian genes!

It's awesome the band sang their more popular hits, but the less known songs were also cool and upbeat. The crowd sang with most of the songs - I wish I did my homework prior to the concert.

Ah, to feel young again. To dance and sing to the 80s beat of the drum. There's nothing like the 80s, I tell you.



Now, if OMD or Information Society would schedule a concert in town, I just might consider going out again...



25 February 2024

Doors, why do there have to be doors

Last 12th Feb I recommended The Good Place to a friend. It's one of my favourite shows on Netflix and I'm sure he would like it too. But like most movies or series that I watch only once, I would have forgotten what happened between the start and the end. And so I decided to have another go at all 4 seasons.

I just completed the series Last Friday (23 Feb) while on my way back home from work.

The first time I completed this series, I felt a sense of wonderment. This time it hit different. I felt a deep sadness. 



Like the characters who were trying to figure things out, I was also in the middle of wading through new territory as I went to the South Island with my son to help him set up for Uni. It was difficult to find calm during those times, but during the times I waited for him to return from school, or when sleep evades me, The Good Place kept me company.

Perhaps the situation I'm in at the moment of parting ways resonated with the theme of the series. It's just too much of a coincidence. I would like to think that someone, somewhere out there is trying to send me a message that things will be alright.


One day at a time...

(For some reason, this series reminded me of the song Doors)





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