Araby

Journal Entry # 2
Topic: "Araby" by James Joyce
Date & Time: Mon, Jan 28, 2013 at 2:05 AM
Place:  Bedroom

I originally planned on making this journal entry earlier, but I don't really know what to write. I keep on asking myself what my Araby moment could be, but until now I can't think of a decent one, something that I can narrate or bring to life. I guess I can't remember because for the past 4 or 5 years of my life, I have been living in such a way that in whatever I will do, or whatever choice I will make or decide, I will not regret it. I don't want to end up feeling bad, angry or frustrated just like the boy in Araby. I always try to turn things around so that I would always feel good. I also thought of the possible Araby moments that I had when I was younger, a child, but I really can't remember anything. Going back to the past, and trying to remember things, I really find it hard. Its like I forgot some of my memories, but surely I know, I have an Araby moment. I just can't remember. But there are times in my life that I know I felt something similar to that boy, like how I must have liked someone, and do something for him, which only made me feel frustrated or bad afterwards, and more importantly which made me realize something or made me wake up to my senses.

-additional---
Tues, Jan 29, 2013 at 7:56 PM
Classroom

I'm not sure if this can be considered an Araby moment since I think this is somehow similar. I just thought of it now. My story is similar in terms of the boy really trying to do something fro the girl, but in the end he was able to achieve nothing. It's like being in a situation where in you can't do anything anymore no matter how hard you try. So here's my story. For the past 2 years, I have been trying hard in school to graduate on time. I also had failures and struggles, but still I managed to follow my flowchart. This term, I should already be taking thesis, but sadly I'm not. Now, I'm delayed by 1 term. Last term, my thesis mates and I were battling over whether to take thesis this term or not. I tried everything just to take thesis this 3rd term, but in the end I couldn't do anything because our thesis adviser had to go on leave for 3rd term, so we couldn't take thesis. I was left with no choice but to follow. I felt depressed and sad, because all of my efforts for the past 2 years, just to graduate on time was put in to waste -- at least that's how I felt at that moment. I couldn't do anything, but feel sad and helpless, just like the little boy in Araby. Now, I'm still somehow not okay with it. But I think that since I'm not doing anything major right now, I have a lot free time to do other things. This gives me the time to enjoy my college life this term, since last year I wasn't able to enjoy my life due to studies. As of now, I'm trying to join the DLSU Pep squad to compete for the National Cheer leading Championship All-girls Division this coming March. I guess that will also be the last cheering competition I will ever experience, since by third term next year, I will have already graduated.

Tungkung Langit and Alunsina

Journal Entry # 1
Topic: Tungkung Langit and Alunsina
Date & Time:  Tue, Jan 15, 2013 at 4:17 AM
Place: Living room

The story of Tungkung Langit and Alunsina was nice, however; it was not my first time reading that. I was first year high school then when I first read that, and as far as I remember I think the story was 7 pages long. I 'm not sure though. It was really a long time. But out of all the readings we had during my first year, I think that is the only story I can remember. I guess maybe because the story was good, and moreover it was also a story that conflicts with the Bible's story of the creation. Not really a conflict, but somehow the story makes people compare it with the Bible's story of the creation.

In reading the story, I focused more on what I could learn from it and I believe one of the lessons that we could learn from the story is trust. Trust is a very important thing especially in relationships. Without it, relationships fail. Alunsina should  have trusted Tungkung Langit. Another lesson would be controlling your temper. Tungkung Langit lost his temper and ended up pushing Alunsina away. I know a saying that the best cure for anger is delay. We should learn to control ourselves when we are angry, because anger can push people away, more than that it could hurt them. I remembered learning not to speak when angry, because if you do, you will really regret it. Similar to what happened to Tungkung Langit, I'm sure he really regrets it.