I have an Afro.
There. I said it. I have an Afro and I'm one of the rare breeds of South East Asian people to be blessed with hair like mine.
And I have to verify that over the last three years, I have not had a haircut, like, a proper haircut, meaning, short and neat haircut like the faces that you see out there everyday, and I'm proud of it.
Because for one, my hair stands out from the countless sea of black straight hair, or the wave of reddish, golden-ish highlighted hair that at least 68% of the population seem to possess.
And the first lesson that you learn and live by for the rest of your magnanimous hair days is the attention that you attract with that embodiment that screams out you.
If you referred to my other blog, you would have had my share of experience with my hair and I'll tell you what to expect from the general public and your peers. People will find you amusing just at the fact that you have such wonderfully curly hair growing at a rate of at least 5 cm a day. The old would be reminded of the days back in the 70's where they would remember Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley and the young would be reminded of the funny clown that would one day haunt their dreams as they realize the horror behind that painted face of joy and happiness.
You would be that experience where they would cry out and laugh because they cannot believe that you possess such a thing. Is it an anomaly? Is it a thing of beauty?
Your peers would be fascinated and fall into two categories where they would either get tired and/or jealous of your hair or they would very much appreciate your hair for what it is and ask you to keep it. Thing is, you don't have to give a fuck on what people think anymore because you are what you are and you have that decision on what you want to do. True, you have until your army days but what the heck, might as well just live with it while you still can.
The first lesson of A Singaporean Afro: Attention. Because this isn't America with African Americans roaming around with afroes to make it a norm. And people would stare because you are one of a kind and it'll get you far some day.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Hey Joe
(Joe sits on the couch staring into space. He is holding a lighted cigarette. He flicks off some of the ash into an ashtray)
Hey Joe.
JOE
Hi. Thank you for taking a part of your time to talk to me.
VOICE
You're welcome. Don't you have any friends Joe?
JOE
Yeah, I do. I have friends.
VOICE
You got a girlfriend?
JOE
Yes, I do.
VOICE
Uh-huh. Okay. Do you know where you are right now Joe?
JOE
I don't know. It's difficult to say.
VOICE
No it isn't. Answer the question.
JOE
But it’s a loose question. How do you want me to answer it?
VOICE
In any way you want Joe. In any way you want. Just take your time.
JOE
I'm at home right now. I am answering your question in what you might want to call the make shift television section of the house where I designated my lap top and whoa, having a head rush now. Calm down. Calm down.
VOICE
Relax Joe, take your time.
JOE
Ok, Ok (breathes) must be the jazz getting caught up with me. I don't know where I am right now, frankly speaking. I've landed on a path that I did not expect to be on, a different route towards from the actual destination. I don't mind it really; it's a journey that makes me go hey. Funny really, because you planned ahead so much that the present becomes a being that pulls you back. It hurts like how a horse feels that pang in its jaws when the rider pulls it back to change its direction. Which gets me thinking, What controls my own life? Myself? Or is there always a greater power out there, somewhere, that drives my fate to where it needs to go? Like my destiny is already written somewhere, and it has to follow that course to get me where I need to go. Do I have control on my own life at all? My own destiny?
VOICE
There's always been a debate on what controls the course of life, you know that? And it always been an ideal that circumstances shouldn't be the basis on how you're life runs through till it ends. Something like religion, in that sense.
JOE
Like religion?
You follow its belief, its teachings and ways just so you don't destroy yourself or become wayward, but you dedicate yourself to something that you believe would find you somewhere that is much better beyond this plane. However, you don't know entirely whether that the beyond is somehow bound to happen. You get doubts at the initial stage, but you stick yourself to that belief. Like how you look beyond to the future and you hope that things will fall into place. Its hard to believe what you want to believe, because the no matter how many times you look forward, at your destination, you are never certain that you'll make it in time or you'll end up at the place where you think you're destined to be. Just like how you’re not certain whether you’ll go up to heaven or nothing happens.
JOE
So where does my life hang in that balance?
VOICE
It lies in you Joe.
JOE
You're giving me that ideal where I control my own life. My own fate, where another higher power runs my course to somewhere I don't know, to somewhere I never thought I'd be. A bit hypocritical from the looks of it your own words when everything seems to be in doubt.
VOICE
It’s because you're both the horse and the rider. Higher power may change your course but you have a hold of the reigns to get you to where you want to end up at. You might not have chosen but you can steer that course towards where you want to be.
JOE
Thank you for saying that.
VOICE
I'm here for you Joe. I believe in you as how everybody who treasure, love you and keep you in a place in their hearts.
JOE
Do you love me?
VOICE
What sort of question is that Joe? Never ask that, all you have to do is just know.
Did you smoke Joe?
JOE
Yes, I did. I know it’s an addiction but I always somehow say it’s genetic.
VOICE
I'm not judging you Joe. You chose your decisions and you shall take responsibility in what you do. You never run away.
JOE
I never.
VOICE
That's good. Now pick yourself up and get back on. You're special you know that, and you'll always be who you are meant to be wherever you are.
JOE
What if I don't make it? What if I don't get there on time and I'll never see you again?
VOICE
You'll see me again and it doesn't matter whether you make it or not. It's the journey that counts and how you were never dragged around by the horse or the controlled by the rider. You are your own being on this journey and I'll see you again somewhere along the way.
JOE
Cheers to that. I'll be on my way now. Thank You.
VOICE
You're welcome.
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