2011/08/26 02:38
My Social Nature Underrated? Daily Words2011/08/26 02:38
A funny incident occurred upon my visit to Manila.
One week prior to my arrival, there was a celebration of the AdMU math department's 50th year by gathering math alumni.
I was informed of it a year ago, and the department has been preparing for it fervently. As some of my friends are still in the department (thought I was a nerd?), I've been reminded of the event.
But I could not make it. My relatives from Korea were visiting my parents, and I wanted to time my trip right so that I could spend some time with them (but not too much time with them because my priority were to spend time with my parents and to rest my body and soul). So, I had to miss the event by matter of a week.
When I met my math friends (I was a math major, and that's how I usually call them to a third party), I was told that, among all the batch friends who were no longer involved with the math department as their employee or student, only two attended the math department event.
But how many came to see me?
11. That's easily over half of math friends. Some were outside of the Philippines at the time of my visit, so that ratio only gets larger with considerations.
There was also supposed to be a 12th person coming, but I guess he did not show up in the end (or I missed him) because I had to leave relatively early (at midnight) after staying up for nearly 26 hours straight.
I was glad that I saw most of the missed faces,
and spent some real quality time with JJX (spent 18 hours of the day with her), but also because too many showed up, I barely said hi to RC, IM and ML.
Well, there is no free lunch after all. Met many faces than I anticipated but I didn't get to spend much time with them.
In part, I blame stupid crazy traffic and parking lot situation in Makati.
(But I made sure I called the last three before I leave.)
I know I was the core of any alcohol involved gatherings after school during my college days,
but I was glad that many showed up.
... and the word is some of those who missed (because I did not tell? I never told nobody except those privately facebook-messaged) were pissed off.
Oh well, I guess that's what happens with fame.
One major thing I should say of the meetup was that nobody changed.
After some bloating, slimming down and bloating up again, I was back in the Philippines in the shape I saw them last (I kept thinking I should have seen them last year when I was several pounds lighter), everyone looked about the same (some did change, but not like at the "who are you?" level). More than that, everyone talked the same and behaved the same.
Things like crazy working hours, marriage, engagement, kids, or continued solitude apparently weren't issues.
The inner core of a being doesn't change, and was glad to observe they didn't.
Or they did, but we all shared a moment to go back the way things were used to be.
But I will leave at that: nobody changed.
Some shits don't change, and I am glad.
I knew I needed that day very much.
I know not many people have this kinda connection with college friends (that's when real competitions begin), and our batch was thought to be perhaps the relatively disorganized batch, but the alcohol called, they remembered and they came. But we didn't drink much. I am a wine drinker now, and didn't know that they prefer hard drinks like vodka, RC mentioned when I called her.
Sure... I will be there next time with a bottle of grey goose in my hand. Hopefully, some time soon.
As I told my parents and my friends, I am trying to make my visit to home at least an annual thing.
...and maybe I should not discount my social orientation too much.
If things get too boring or difficult, I can always drink.
I should get a flask.
One week prior to my arrival, there was a celebration of the AdMU math department's 50th year by gathering math alumni.
I was informed of it a year ago, and the department has been preparing for it fervently. As some of my friends are still in the department (thought I was a nerd?), I've been reminded of the event.
But I could not make it. My relatives from Korea were visiting my parents, and I wanted to time my trip right so that I could spend some time with them (but not too much time with them because my priority were to spend time with my parents and to rest my body and soul). So, I had to miss the event by matter of a week.
When I met my math friends (I was a math major, and that's how I usually call them to a third party), I was told that, among all the batch friends who were no longer involved with the math department as their employee or student, only two attended the math department event.
But how many came to see me?
11. That's easily over half of math friends. Some were outside of the Philippines at the time of my visit, so that ratio only gets larger with considerations.
There was also supposed to be a 12th person coming, but I guess he did not show up in the end (or I missed him) because I had to leave relatively early (at midnight) after staying up for nearly 26 hours straight.
I was glad that I saw most of the missed faces,
and spent some real quality time with JJX (spent 18 hours of the day with her), but also because too many showed up, I barely said hi to RC, IM and ML.
Well, there is no free lunch after all. Met many faces than I anticipated but I didn't get to spend much time with them.
In part, I blame stupid crazy traffic and parking lot situation in Makati.
(But I made sure I called the last three before I leave.)
I know I was the core of any alcohol involved gatherings after school during my college days,
but I was glad that many showed up.
... and the word is some of those who missed (because I did not tell? I never told nobody except those privately facebook-messaged) were pissed off.
Oh well, I guess that's what happens with fame.
One major thing I should say of the meetup was that nobody changed.
After some bloating, slimming down and bloating up again, I was back in the Philippines in the shape I saw them last (I kept thinking I should have seen them last year when I was several pounds lighter), everyone looked about the same (some did change, but not like at the "who are you?" level). More than that, everyone talked the same and behaved the same.
Things like crazy working hours, marriage, engagement, kids, or continued solitude apparently weren't issues.
The inner core of a being doesn't change, and was glad to observe they didn't.
Or they did, but we all shared a moment to go back the way things were used to be.
But I will leave at that: nobody changed.
Some shits don't change, and I am glad.
I knew I needed that day very much.
I know not many people have this kinda connection with college friends (that's when real competitions begin), and our batch was thought to be perhaps the relatively disorganized batch, but the alcohol called, they remembered and they came. But we didn't drink much. I am a wine drinker now, and didn't know that they prefer hard drinks like vodka, RC mentioned when I called her.
Sure... I will be there next time with a bottle of grey goose in my hand. Hopefully, some time soon.
As I told my parents and my friends, I am trying to make my visit to home at least an annual thing.
...and maybe I should not discount my social orientation too much.
If things get too boring or difficult, I can always drink.
I should get a flask.
