Oxymoron: Holiday Stress!

I just read (rather, scanned) an article about the stress that December - or better know as "The Holidays" - brings with it. And it dawned on me that I am one of of those people who DO stress out during this period.

It's the time for the annual "life stock" to take place. You think about all those goals you hoped to achieve way back in January. After realizing that you achieved 2 out of 5 goals, instead of celebrating your success, you prefer to dwell on those that have gone past their due date. Once that's out the way, the ever looming issue of holiday season descends upon us.

For those fortunate enough to have family, this time of year is often regarded as sacred family time. For me, Christmas Day involves waking up early in the morning, making our way to the lounge, handing out gifts, opening gifts and then proceeding to breakfast - which always includes Christmas mince pies (love 'em!)

This year, I have very little holiday. In fact, I'm back to work on the 30th. We have only January 1 off and then back to work on the 2nd. While most people detest this, the only word I can think of is "relief". I don't have to worry about the anxiety of New Year's eve. Why is there so much pressure on this one night on the calendar anyway? Is it about where you'll be when the clock strikes 12? OR (perhaps more importantly) who will you be with?

For the past few years, I remember New Years as this: Our family's Jack Russell will start to tremble from the fireworks. Mum will be awake watching TV with me. Countdown begins. We wish each other Happy New Year. And then go to bed.

Gone are the days of sending messages to every single contact on my phone. And gone are the days when my phone would start beeping from 6pm with texts from people I haven't heard from in eons. This year, I want NYE to come and go. Quick and painless.

I do, however, feel like I'm over the whole hype of "Where you gonna be for NYE?" So what? Oh, I have a sneaky suspicion that 'age' is a big factor in this.

I'd have been at work on the 30th and 31st, so what if I decide to go to bed at 21:30?! Will I be labeled as a loser for sleeping while thousands of others usher in the new year? Actually, I could care less.

I've always been a fan of "new" - new books with crispy pages, Mondays (!) a chance to restart, a new month etc... A new year brings with it many great opportunities and hope. Hope that it will be better than the previous year. Faith that everything will work out JUST the way it's meant to. The only task we need to fulfill is to be grateful for the blessings we have up to now. One thing I know for sure is, I have an abundance of blessings and these overflow in my heart!

So...what are YOUR plans for the "silly season"?

Washing Clothes

I took this random photo while Sylvia was washing clothes the other day. I just loved the shot of the water dripping from her fingers!

Home Sweet Home!

Tuesday, August 24 2010

On our way home!

We landed in sunny East London and were met by my dad, "big bro" Vijayan, Donovan and Gershwin - who work for my dad. After loading all our luggage into one car, we were on our way home...where I was going to meet (for the first time) Zelda, a little Jack Russell who adopted our family last year. To say she's stolen my heart is an understatement. Who wouldn't fall in love with this gorgeous face?

Ms Zelda Makhan

Leaving Singapore

Monday, August 23 2010

It was another hot day in Singapore. We spent the morning and afternoon walking down Orchard Road. We had brunch at Wendy's and stayed there for a while to escape the heat. Also, Darmesh and I had Wi-fi access there (something we were missing terribly from Korea). After a while, we went back to the hotel and prepared to make our way to the airport.

Clear skies in Singapore

We were very early so walked around a bit, shopped, and sat at Dunkin' Donuts for a while, only to notice that we were sitting next to those foot massager's that are all over Changi airport! Not long after that, we were on our way home!

Hello, East London!

At East London airport with Donavon - who works for my dad

With mum... after nearly 24 hours of traveling!

My bedroom

Mafikizolo rocks my world!

I don't often say this, but today I'm missing South Africa. I was looking through some photo's of the gorgeous landscape and beaches - wow!

For the past few days, I've been listening to Mafikizolo (love their music). Perhaps I'm feeling this way since last week when I saw Ladysmith Black Mambazo in concert in Seoul. It was really awesome feeling the SA vibe for the night.

Back to Mafikizolo...Of course, I don't understand the lyrics, but they say music is an international language. And I'm loving watching the music video's... their moves are so smooth :)

When people ask me what my favourite genre of music is, I don't know what to say. I like everything from classical to kwaito, hip hop to house to Bollywood to K-Pop (Korean).

Logging onto SA news websites can be real depressing, reading headlines that are only about murder, strikes, corruption and so on.

Since living in Korea, I haven't missed having to watch over my shoulder or making sure that gates and doors are locked. But I have missed the colours and energy of the country. Something that is unique and Proudly South African. And certainly, something I don't think my Korean counterparts will be able to relate to or appreciate.

This has been my song for the day:

Finally in Korea

On April 30 2009 I arrived late afternoon at Incheon Airport in Korea. I was dead tired. I only got home after 7pm I think. But I couldn't fall asleep - my body was still confused about which time zone it was in.

I think I fell asleep around 03:00... and was up at 06:00 to go to work~

Off to East London

Sunday, April 19 my mum & I flew to East London and
I got to see my dad & brother after many months~!

Back in Korea

...with my dad

I left East London on Friday, September 5. My mum was going to travel with me to Jo'burg. We were delayed in EL for 3 hours.

It was a tearful goodbye, and was so touched with family & friends who came to the airport to see me off.

We arrived in Jo'burg that evening and stayed a night at the Inter-continental hotel.


Saturday morning, I said a tearful goodbye to my mum and headed for Dubai. We were delayed for an hour before taking off. 2 hours in Dubai, and I was headed for Korea.

I arrived in Korea on Sunday evening to a cold and empty apartment...

Family Dinner

On Friday, August 23 2008 we had the family over. It's gatherings like these that I miss out on and that my heart is so sore to miss. They are always evenings of good food, laughter and tons of pics! Love my uncles, aunts & cousins xxx

Home Sweet Home

Mum & I arrived in South Africa on Friday evening, August 8 2008. I was giddy with excitement to see my family at the airport - especially my dad & brother.

This is my bedroom:

Time to go home ~ Stopover in Dubai

So my mum's holiday in Korea was up, and it was time for me to begin my holiday in South Africa. We left on Thursday, August 7 2008. We were in Dubai for a couple of hours - we arrived at the airport with many expectations - we were told that it was out of this world. But we were pretty disappointed. It wasn't all that at all...

Home sweet home

My dad recently got a new toy - a Canon EOS 500D. He just sent me this pic that was taken with it. It's of our dining room (taken from the lounge). I've been away from home for 3 months, and I can see a few changes... but it looks beautiful, I think ^^*

Feeling slightly nostalgic...

This is the 6th last Saturday I'll be spending in Grahamstown! Yep - 6 Saturdays from now, I'll be in my very own room at home in East London (pictured above).

I can't wait! Or can I?....

As the year draws to an end, I am having such mixed feelings - excitement and nervousness topping the list! I have no idea where the wind will take me when I leave this little village they call Grahamstown. But there are some things I will miss and some things I will be glad to say good bye to!

What I'll miss about this place:

• Calling friends and having them come over for coffee or pizza in 5 minutes or less
• The fact that (nearly) every place here is within a (relatively decent) walking distance
• The amazing and extensively-stocked library
• RES NET (imagine - being connected to the WWW 24/7!)
  
• Debonairs (pizza place)
  
• The sunrises & sunsets
• The new Journ building (African Media Matrix)
• The donkeys - which can almost always be seen as you enter/leave the town!
  

What I won't miss about this place:

• Going to shower in flip flops
• Communal bathrooms
  
• People calling/shouting on the intercoms for their friends
• Drunk students on Friday/Saturday nights
  
• Signing male visitors in and making sure they're out by a certain time
• Being unable to blast my music in the morning (back home, my brother is a DJ - so loud music is kind of mandatory in my house at any time of the day...yay for my cool parents!)
• Eating cereal for supper
• Having to close my curtains everytime I want to change (boys res across the street and my window faces the road)
  
• Walking up the hill in the heat

Home Sweet Home

Tonight I'll be sleeping in my own bed once again - if only for two nights...
Yep...I'm going home this afternoon and will be back on Sunday.

I'm having a birthday dinner tomorrow (Saturday) evening with my entire family and a sprinkling of close friends. I'm having it at a restaurant called Smoky Swallows - exquisite food! I'm really looking forward to it...I'll post pics when I get back.

Have a great week-end, everyone :)