This isn’t good enoughIt is good It has to be flawlessFlawless? I don’t want to be disappointedYou’ve already been disappointed I don’t want to be rejectedYou’ve already been rejected – more than once I don’t want to be hurtYou’ve been hurt – and you’re still here I’m scaredAre you? I guess I’m doing itUh-huh I’m […]
In this memory, I am four years old. One day, I hear about a Sailor Moon movie coming to the theatres in my hometown. I do not know what a movie is, but I want to go because it is about my favourite anime series Sailor Moon. I cannot miss it. My father agrees to
Memory of the first movie night Read More »
It was when I was in grade 5. One afternoon, my class was discussing the plan for the upcoming end-of-the-term party. We listed all the games we wanted to play, decided who would facilitate the party, and the order in which we would do each activity. As was customary, “the teacher’s concluding remark” was added
In this memory, I am four years old. In October, my little brother goes through another heart surgery. Since my parents’ full attention needs to go to my brother, I am sent to my maternal grandmother’s house in the countryside for a few weeks. My father and I travel there together by a bullet train,
Sitting outside in the sunDoing nothingOther than existing Forgetting who I amBlending into this dayAs it unfolds The warmth of the sunThe comfort of a breezeMelt on my skin The fragrance of spring flowersThe chirping of birdsMelt my face Now, I cannot stop smilingFor no reason except thatI am happy
In this memory, I am four years old. A few weekends a month, my family drive to a large shopping mall in the suburb to buy things that we cannot find in our neighbourhood shops. Once there, my mother handles the shopping with my baby bother on a shopping cart while my father takes the
Weekend shopping and a fun treat Read More »
It was seven summers ago that I visited Sicily, Italy, for three weeks. At the time, I was doing a master’s study in Yorkshire, England, and one day, I learned about an interesting math graduate summer school to be held in Catania. Something about the event advertisement spoke to me, and I quickly signed up
Memory of Granita con Brioche Read More »
In this memory, I am five years old. April turns into May. As the pink cherry blossom flowers rain on the ground and the baby green leaves start appearing on the tree branches, new excitement arrives in our community of tiny half-dilapidated apartments – swallows. Just outside of our community’s premise, among the many neighbourhood
It’s not something you can planIt arrives at your doorSuddenly, unexpectedly All you can doIs answer the callAnd your adventure begins The day seems to revolve around itYou cannot stop thinking about itThough nobody else can notice it You carry your adventureHidden in your pocketIndulging it when nobody is around You anxiously wait for the
In this memory, it is summer, and I am four years old. Somewhere, my mother gets the information that the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians is held in our town this year. We are no aspiring musicians, but since the competition is so famous and it is such a rare opportunity to listen to
The public bathroom incident Read More »
