126- Month 9.

I have lived in London for what is the equivalent of a woman going through a normal pregnancy. This experience has been chocful of adventure that I suspect will last a lifetime. Now, as I enter the dissertation (self-study) portion of my postgraduate degree, I find myself pondering upon a number of things:

-There is still much I have not seen in the UK. Compared to some Filipino friends, I have barely scratched the surface. I suppose this is the consequence of spending most of money on concert tickets and running events. There is still time to flutter about. I am fully committed to studying my way to the top, though, so, I'll have to work any travel plans into working my butt off- both for the present, and the future.

-Self study can be good, but at the same time, it can be more difficult that actually having classes. When regular classes are scheduled three times a week, you get into a certain rhythm. That rhythm, then, leads to not getting stuck in any i-feel-so-lazy-to-study funks. Having days and weeks become more open-ended leaves the door to sloth ajar. I have to exert two times the usual effort to stay focused.

-One of my friends who has lived in London for a bit was right- finding a corporate post here is tough. I've begun to think of my plans post Masters'. It can't be helped, unless of course one plans to strand himself/herself on the Isle of Naught for the rest of his/her Earthly life. The natural response by a play-it-safe type would assume that I should re-enter the corporate world. What has that being in that world really done for me in the last 12 years, though, apart of course, from helping me earn a good living, and, aiding in my professional maturity? What I am trying to hint at is, the onset of the ultimate "whys" and "hows". Has the corporate life truly made me happy? Has it truly satiated my desires to live a truly fulfilled existence? On some days, I'd say yes. On others, I'd say that I am stuck in the middle. On certain other days, I'd say, I'd rather be on a farm with 20 Golden Retrievers and a pair of running shoes.

-This blog has gone somewhat stagnant. Maybe it's because I haven't had any totally new "travel-centric" adventures lately. Or maybe that is all B.S. Maybe the real reason is that I haven't take the time to buckle down to thinking about compelling content to put up. Whatever the case is, I do know that I ought to write more from now on. I can't permit myself to sink into the quagmire of the "I'm so ordinary" and "I'm so square". I'd rather listen to Justin Bieber for 20 straight hours than to be oh-so-commonplace.

-Having come from a country that has shot itself in the balls so many times because of corruption in government, and people being so used to mediocrity, such that the bar for what is "socially acceptable" has dipped so, so, low, I can safely say that I have thoroughly enjoyed the first world conveniences that Britain has exposed me to. Decent public transportation, efficient service at government offices, efficient-cashless payment facilities- all of these things are conveniences which somebody who has lived here for a long time may take for granted. Where I'm from, something as mundane as renewing your driver's license can end up being the biggest chore ever, so yeah, I am happy with what the UK has in place.

-I am actually THIS close to finishing a Masters' Degree. I have tried my best to absorb fresh insights and new perspectives, but sometimes, one will end up getting by on knowledge gained from prior experience. This journey has re-awakened me desire to learn, learn, learn. So whatever "new" things I've missed on are things which I intend to catch up on when the time comes. It's funny how scholarship shows you that some of the most basic things on Earth are made to be more complicated than they actually should be, in the name of being more "scholarly".

More thoughts will be shared on another day.

The spillage of ideas should help keep me sane through the final stretch of my postgraduate degree.

MC

125- Two Trick Ponies

Once upon a time, before the advent of social media and hardcore internet metrics, people posted content online for the sake of posting online (seemingly).

Sometimes, cognizance of tons of metrics can totally bog you down.

MC

124- How?

So how does one stay motivated to stay running?

123- Blue Jeans

It's been a while since I've updated this blog. I don't like the idea of just abandoning this little corner of the web, so, here I go.

If everything goes as planned, I have less than a year left in the UK. Completing a master's degree can go one of two ways. It can keep you engaged and passionate about your chosen field, and can therefore propel you to a job that will ensure your financial prosperity when it's all said and done. The second (and less rosy) reality that may come around at a later date would be you having a hard time getting back in the swing of things as a working person, and thus, falling further behind than where you started.

It's a frightening thought- especially when you aren't quite so young anymore. I do not doubt the validity of my decision to come to London to study. It's been a blast so far. The future is just nerve-wracking to speculate on.

Well, I suppose that it would be pointless to worry about things I have no control over.

Where will time lead this pair blue jeans to? Washed out? Well loved? Who knows.

MC

122- Brain Reps

I value knowledge- on my own terms.

Sometimes, I don't get the point of studying your ass off based on a structured program.

Are we really free, or, is freedom as prefabricated as a rip off of today's popular sitcom?

There are days when I can't tell.

It's not that I'm not thankful for my blessings.

There are just times when you wonder. And wonder some more.

MC

121- Daysleeper

The past holiday season has brought forth a great many things. It has brought forth happy memories of my first Christmas and New Year spent in a foreign country, and it to has brought new friends to the fore. One of the perks of living in London has been the fact that so much art and history is always at your fingertips. I have striven to take full advantage of that during the holiday break.

One unexpected visitor into my life in these last couple of weeks has been a very unhealthy sleep cycle. I have managed to get 7-8 hours of sleep a day. While this is ideal, it's the start and end of my sleeping times that have been iffy. Sleeping at 4am and waking up at 11am is not the same as sleeping at 10pm and waking up at 7am. The body just doesn't get enough juice back into in when you sleep when others are busy making breakfast.

I need to fix this soon. I have quite a crazy term ahead of me.

MC

120- Send Over The Flowers

Things like this tend to be subjective, but from where I stand, 2016 has been a year full of grief, specifically in terms of the passing away of cultural icons.

The latest victim of this worrisome trend was actress Carrie Fisher, who died after going through a cardiac event en route to Los Angeles, USA. It's times like this when you have to question what God must have been thinking when he weighed the balancing of fragility and power when he created man. All throughout our lives, we struggle to be at one with comfort, with safety, with utter security. We do this all while knowing that we will one day kick the bucket, whether we like it or not. Why even bother, right? Well, having good quality of life is one reason. If one is to be resigned to the fact that he/she will one day die, then he/she might as well do everything he/she can to make his/her swim in life's fishbowl the best dip anyone could possibly imagine. Work with what you have. That is the name of the game. Work with what you have and make it grow into something magical.

Where I'm from, the government has managed to cheapen the value of life. It's come at us akin to a sickening thud after your head gets clocked by a frying pan. At the end of the day, any self-respecting person would come to the understanding that it would be absolutely wrong to surrender. Scream at the top of your lungs from the top of a skyscraper. Never give up. Tell life to send the flowers in advance because you want to want to be able to enjoy the said flowers, not have them sent to you when you're dead.

Amidst all of the doom and gloom that this year's brought on, we all ought to grab a drink and toast to never, ever, thinking that our song could ever possibly stop playing.

The musicians on the Titanic kept going. You and I can (and should), too.

MC