World Conflict

Even though there's not much going on here in the US, there's sure a LOT of messy situations abroad.

1. Nigeria

Those poor girls were kidnapped by terrorists. I really hate terrorists. I'm fine with Islam, really, but a) don't force it on others, b) don't be violent, c) follow the law, and d) don't be sexist about it. 

2. Syria 

Yup, STILL going on. I feel sorry for anyone still in the country. The international community is useless, sorry. Dictators suck too. 

3. Venezuela 

Haven't heard anything for a few weeks, but last I did, they were having violent protests against the president. Plenty of bad conditions and deaths. The news, which being American couldn't care less about Latin America, hasn't really given details. 

4. South Africa and other African countries

They seem to be killing homosexuals now. How horrible! What's wrong with the world?

5. Brazil

The protestors and the government are still locked in mortal conflict. The protestors aren't going to get anything out of it, but the government shouldn't have taken on that burden. 

6. Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Because it never ends. 

7. Ukraine

Eastern Ukraine is trying to be Russian, Russia's annexed Crimea, no one's doing anything, and the Ukrainian country is falling to pieces. Please, I don't want another Cold War. 

8. South Sudan

Still violence there too, folks. Rebels are rebelling over something. I've got no idea what it is. Isn't this a really new country anyway? Search me. 

9. Turkey?

Miners died. Are there still violent protests? I don't know because if the &@$!\%# self-centered US media. 

10. Egypt

The government is death-sentencing political opponents by the hundreds. 

I'm not sure about everywhere else, but I'm positive I missed some. I'm wishing good luck to everyone, please be safe. 🌎

In other news, I've finished step 2 of my Japan study abroad forms. 

Quick Post

AP season's over! Also, I'm feeling allergic and it's way too ☀ for Seattle, my beloved hometown ❤ 

Introspection

Things I often deal with:

Love

What is it? Is it physical attraction? The books tell me, no, it's more than that, because you can be attracted to many at once regardless of whom exactly you love. Is it, then, the simplicity of liking someone? An I in love with my favorite person? When I think, "This person in front of me is my favorite person," presuming I'm not talking about family, am I in love? The books tell me, no, it's different than that, because you can be close friends without being in love. Is it the passion? I don't know. I don't want it to be. I want it to be deeper than that. If my best friend is in love with me, and everyone else thinks we should be/are already dating, am I also in love? Is it ok for me to say, "No, I'm not in love with you?" Am I placing too much in the word? Where do you draw the line? Is it ok to love multiple people? To love despite gender, despite age, despite race? Is it ok to marry without love? Can love be attained or grown into? I can say I've never been in love all I want, but have I? In elementary school, when I admired and followed a boy with all of my heart, was that love? In kindergarten, when I was going to marry a classmate when I grew up, was that love? Was I in love with that best friend? Am I in love, now, with my "favorite person?"

Do question marks go inside or outside of the quotation marks?

Time

I think that children want to be adults, adults reminisce about childhood, and college students live for the moment. Everyone wants to be in college. I am a high schooler, but my entire life from middle school on, even before, was centered around wanting to go back. What does that make me? Depressed? Mature? Of course, some college students are still "children," wanting to hurry up and join the workforce. Some people probably had miserable childhoods and don't think about the past. I romanticize my days before "everything happened," most if it to me. Not by me. Is it wrong to live wishing to return? I picture my early childhood as green and lush, nature, and I remember games and friends and trusting teachers. I remember the innocent crimes committed in the folly of youth. Do I sound old yet? Is the meaning of youth to cherish the future that seems so bright? Is the meaning of maturity to accept a dull future and instead remember fondly? I don't want to be in high school, but I'm scared of the future as well. I just want to revert to my glory days. Is that so wrong? These days my future seems awful. I don't know what to do. I'll end up going to college and becoming a librarian, maybe translating as a side-project, maybe not. I'll eventually marry and have kids, probably adopted, or I'll stay alone. Why does that seem so boring? But I don't want to stay the way I am now, a child to my peers and an adult to everyone else. I hate this. I don't want to live the rest of my life watching anime and half-heartedly reading and playing video games. I'm sick of this. I hate the lack of uncertainty. All the same, I've set up this stupid boring life for myself and its selfish to leave it now. I guess I'll stay on this track for a whole longer. 

Hoenn 2

It's two days late, but Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are coming out for the 3DS this November! 

(((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o)))

For those who don't know, Sapphire was my first and favorite Pokémon game. I'm excited for a horribly done sequel with good graphics!!

I can't wait!!!

Mayday! We've got Anarchists

So every year in Seattle on May Day the organized Anarchists protest downtown, rerouting bus routes and generally making a nuisance out if themselves. Scheduled anarchy has never made sense. Last year it took me an extra hour to get home, although this year my grandma picked me up. The traffic was awful all day and its strangely hot for some reason. 

It's also Golden Week, which is a Japanese period of time (4/29-5/5) in which there are many holidays. Since no one's reading this, I won't go into details. 🎏