I wish I could write more often.. but I usually have time or creative ability to write as often as I like. Usually a page of writing can easily take me a couple of hours to write. Anyways, I don't know where I was going with that..
So this past Monday was New Year! At least it was if you happen to be Asian. Or a weird other that happens to follow the Lunar Calendar. 新年快樂，恭喜發財，紅包拿來。 Well, that last part stopped applying to me in 7th grade.. :( Just makes me feel older.
I've already sent in my applications to my major schools of choice: Stanford, UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, and Yale. (That's right, I just used the Oxford Comma. Take That society..) The original plan was also to apply to BYU (Brigham Young University). However, I've decided, for several reasons, that I can no longer see myself going there as a full time student. First off, it's Not an anti-LDS (Mormon) thing. I have a deep respect for the Church. Plenty of my best friends and the nicest people I've met since moving to Utah have been LDS. Of course some of the craziest have also come from them. hahaha Of course that goes for any group of people though. xD (Jihadists, Crusaders, WBC, Robert Jeffress, get the point?) Anyways, my problems pretty much stem from what they call the Honor Code.
1: Dress and Grooming Standards
"Men: A clean and well-cared-for appearance should be maintained. Clothing is inappropriate when it is sleeveless, revealing, or form fitting. Shorts must be knee-length or longer. Hairstyles should be clean and neat, avoiding extreme styles or colors, and trimmed above the collar, leaving the ear uncovered. Sideburns should not extend below the earlobe or onto the cheek. If worn, moustaches should be neatly trimmed and may not extend beyond or below the corners of the mouth. Men are expected to be clean-shaven; beards are not acceptable. Earrings and other body piercing are not acceptable. Shoes should be worn in all public campus areas.
Women: A clean and well-cared-for appearance should be maintained. Clothing is inappropriate when it is sleeveless, strapless, backless, or revealing; has slits above the knee; or is form fitting. Dresses, skirts, and shorts must be knee-length or longer. Hairstyles should be clean and neat, avoiding extremes in styles or colors. Excessive ear piercing (more than one per ear) and all other body piercing are not acceptable. Shoes should be worn in all public campus areas."
I don't really have much of a problem with this one. The only thing that bothers me about it is this standard of "modesty" in the culture; specifically the extreme to which some people I've met have taken it. I'm not implying that I feel everyone should suddenly go nudist or strip down. But if a girl wants to wear short shorts/skirt or form fitting clothes, why not let her? Clothes are clothes, and if you're the one to freak out and point out the "immodesty" to her, doesn't it just show that you always think of the smallest things sexually? 0__o Pervert..
2: Conduct
"Students must abstain from the use of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal substances and from the intentional misuse or abuse of any substance. Sexual misconduct; obscene or indecent conduct or expressions; disorderly or disruptive conduct; participation in gambling activities; involvement with pornographic, erotic, indecent, or offensive material; and any other conduct or action inconsistent with the principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Honor Code is not permitted."
Again, I don't really have a problem with this one. Actually, not a problem at all. :D I just remember that when I moved here I found it kinda funny how tea (not explicitly mentioned above) was forbidden (since I pretty much grew up with it). 喝茶 ftw
3: Homosexual Behavior
"Brigham Young University will respond to homosexual behavior rather than to feelings or attraction and welcomes as full members of the university community all whose behavior meets university standards. Members of the university community can remain in good Honor Code standing if they conduct their lives in a manner consistent with gospel principles and the Honor Code.
One's stated same-gender attraction is not an Honor Code issue. However, the Honor Code requires all members of the university community to manifest a strict commitment to the law of chastity. Homosexual behavior is inappropriate and violates the Honor Code. Homosexual behavior includes not only sexual relations between members of the same sex, but all forms of physical intimacy that give expression to homosexual feelings."
This is the One. The ultimate factor in my decision. Everything about these two paragraphs deeply disturbs me and screams homophobic. I recently asked a friend: What do you have against gay people? He told me: "I don't know. I think it's just wrong.." And I wonder if it's religion speaking? Either way, I don't blame him. That's simply how he was raised to think and thinking that way doesn't necessarily make him a bad person.
That being said, I do not happen to be gay. Or bisexual.. Feeling terrible that I even feel the need to "defend" myself.. but yea.. in case there were any questions coming out of that. ahaha
My solo piano recital finally came and passed. I went fine except for two major fails where I had to start over the song.. I felt like an idiot, especially since it went by perfectly fine during rehearsals. >__< I dedicated the recital, especially one of the pieces to five of my classmates that our school has lost this year.
Several family friends came. I think a couple of my classmate's families came. Quite a few friends also showed up. Some didn't show. :( (Gwenny if you read this, you're super lame coz you said you would come this time ahaha) (If Lily and Miranda happen to read this 我想念妳們了! :O 早日得再看對嗎?!) 喜歡的人也來了. >_^ And Cindy and Cynthia gave me a cow pillow pet that came with a cheesy poem that I totally love right now. xD It is "It's so fluffy I'm gonna die!" soft! oo yea~ LOL To end this ridiculously long blog post: I named it (him?) Pomegranate. ;)
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