day sixteen: friendship

"How has a friend changed you or your perspective on the world this year? Was this change gradual, or a sudden burst?"

the change was not so much of a sudden burst, but it seemed that the idea had been there for so long yet I have not come to an understanding until just now. it was rachel, a filipino friend of my fellow asean scholars, who said it to me on the airport link train when we were on our way back after sending malorie to the airport.

we were talking about malorie and her group mates in marketing class, and i told her about feeling left out every time people in my surroundings speak in thai, which includes my classmates when we are supposed to do group works. i got somewhat annoyed with the fact that being an exchange student did not give me a privilege in entering their established local circles, nor accommodating me who could not speak in their tongue.

then she told me that there are things we simply cannot change or stop from happening. therefore, you just need to enjoy yourself and not making too much fuss about it, nor how people might think of you.

and i cannot agree more. some people just will never stop being jerks anyway.