Que sera sera

Tonight
I sleep in a haze
I'm not sure if I am
happy or sad
sane or mad
relieved or disappointed

is it those pills
or those messages
or none of those messages
do I need a stronger pill

the night is bright
like summer light
but also cause
night's almost over

I try to sleep
I try to sleep
I try to sleep
I try too much

The Month Without Sun

My calendar says that it's 11 days to Raya (or 10, give or take).
Which I find strange because I don't remember going through so many days.
Then I remember that I've only been up for so few of them so not being able to account for that many daylight hours should really come as no surprise.

So calendar is correct, crisis averted.

We may all look forward to a joyous end to the fasting month now.

If I may be allowed to be more serious, one does question the need to spend so many hours of one's day in perpetual slumber.

The denial of food can be blamed for the increased lethargy but surely, it cannot be to the point that one simply stops operating whilst one is forbidden to munch.

I would not go so far as to suggest that the whole endeavour of fasting becomes a waste because of this, I believe that is an issue that is beyond our reckoning, but it certainly does disappoint.

Alas.

(Image copyright © 2009 Shifted Reality Desktop Wallpaper)

On money

I get asked sometimes what studying in Oz is like.

Well frankly, it has its ups and downs.

You get good quality education, a change in scenery. A chance to practice English?

But then you're still a student, and money is always a top concern, so it's not all jetsetting and globetrotting all the time.

It's like this.

Everything seems fine and cosy when your bank balance has a comfortable number of digits in them. That camera looks affordable, and new. That jacket looks reasonable, and new. That barbeque pit looks practical, and new.

Alas, all good things must come to an end, and the lean days of baked beans and cheap store brand flavourless plain milk soon arrive, and very certainly sooner.

You protest, I see, and shout, 'but mlh, such is the plight of students everywhere!
Thus is a fallacy for you to claim that what you have described as being a purely Australian experience'

Ah, I might be inclined to agree but for the fact that should your bodily self remain within the borders of the land that you share with your parents, it becomes less of an issue.

For what parent would let a child starve?

You see, a different country involves
a different currency that may be double or triple the value of your home currency.

Imagine the costs your benefactors incur. That is a sobering thought. Even you would understand their position despite your situation, and why they seem unwilling to send even more money to you, despite your willingness to receive.

Within reason of course. one can only live for so long on canned beans.

As you can see in this regard, studying domestically trumps studying overseas .

Unless you're poor.

Then you're pretty much screwed no matter where you are.

Should anyone ask, students exist in a totally distinct category from migrant workers.

Australia only allows us in because we are students.

We should honour that classification.