[Coelho's] Why Women Believe That We Love Them

This is the reply to Why We Love Men.

Frankly, I couldn't agree with most. This piece didn't make me smile like when I read the previous one about men (except for that last line from Paulo). Is it because I'm not that womanly? Hahahah...

But anyway, I've highlighted a few points that I could quite relate to as a woman (but only personally).

What do you think, people? Which ones could you relate to the most? Would love to hear some thoughts from both men and women. =)

From Tokyo to Tehran: Oshin in Persepolis

I learned, out of reading Persepolis, that the famous Japanese dorama Oshin was aired at the Iranian TV station too during the 80's.

I was so surprised, I found it to be funny and a bit shocking. Who would've thought that Iranians would watch Japanese dramas? And liking it too!

Due to the sensitivity of the subject, Oshin's original occupation as a geisha must be altered. As we all know, Iran is a rather strict Muslim country which abides to military and syari'ah laws. And so they changed her occupation to.. surprise surprise.. a hairdresser!

At first, young Marjane found it a bit weird that in the movie, Oshin's boyfriend's mom disliked her because she was a hairdresser. But after she found out about the geisha fact, she understood that it was rather believable because geisha's spent most of their times making chignons.

After browsing for some small research, I found out a bit more about Oshin in the Middle East and beyond. Apparently, Oshin is loved all over the world and left some strong cultural impacts, especially in developing countries, because she is seen as a figure of perseverance.

An Iranian woman was once asked by a radio reporter, "Who is your symbol of Islamic womanhood?" "Oshin," she answered. It was a reply that so shocked Iranian religious leader Ayatollah Khomeini that he ordered the arrest of four people from the TV station that broadcast the program.

Currently, The Japan Foundation, with the cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Japan and the state-run television station of Egypt, will provide this NHK TV's legendary serial with subtitles in Arabic, to the Iraqi Media Network (IMN), free of charge, as a part of the reconstruction assistance to Iraq.

Broadcasting of such a program would deepen the understanding of Japanese culture by the people of Iraq. It is also expected that the people of Iraq, who are working for the post-war reconstruction of their country, will be encouraged by watching the life of a Japanese woman living through a turbulent period and overcoming various challenges.

This girl Oshin is pretty amazing, huh?

[Coelho's] Why We Love Men

I was at the height of my insecurities today. Restless and beaten, I was thinking of drawing back into my safe solitary confinement. And then, just like a sign, one particular email landed in my inbox.

When I opened it, I was surprised to see the title, and even more when I read it 'til the end. Faith and hope were renewed -- sort of.

I smiled when I read it all the way (I've seen, feel, and experienced some of the points written). In the end, I nearly cried. So sweet.

ps: I've highlighted a few points. These points are the ones that I could really relate to. =)

Pardon My Sobbing, I'm in A Psychotic Mood Shift

A friend of mine forwarded this email today:

The  Hormone Guide 

Women will understand this! Men should memorize it!

Every woman knows that there are days in the month when all a man has to do is open his mouth and he takes his life in his hands! This is a handy guide that should be as common as a driver's license in the wallet of every husband, boyfriend, co-worker or significant other!

DANGEROUS	SAFER	SAFEST	ULTRA  SAFE
What's for  dinner?	Can I help you  with dinner?	Where would you like  to go for dinner?	Here, have some wine.
Are you  wearing that?	Wow, you sure  look good in brown!	WOW! Look at  you!	Here, have some wine
What are you  so worked up about?	Could we be  overreacting?	Here's my paycheck.	Here, have some wine.
Should you be  eating that?	You know, there are  a lot of apples left.	Can I get you a piece  of chocolate with that?	Here, have some wine.
What did you  DO all day?	I hope you didn't  over-do it today.	I've always loved you  in that robe!	Here, have some wine.

Hope is Just A (-insert action here-) Away

Me and my sister did a marathon DVD nights last weekend. Genre: romance/comedy. And all movies happen to be based on chicklits.

On Friday we watched 27 Dresses after the so-called bachelorette party. On Saturday we watched P.S. I Love You. And on Sunday we watched The Nanny Diaries (it's my second time seeing it, but the first time I didn't really pay attention).

Romance films, especially romantic comedies, have always been one of my guilty pleasures. They're light, entertaining, don't require lots of thinking, are usually a feast for the eyes (because of the good looking casts), and most of all, they kept us dreaming -- of that so-called perfect love and that so-called prince charming. They are the modern versions of fairytales which tell the story of love and (mostly) happy endings.

By watching these kind of movies, we're swept away from reality for a few hours. Forget that you've been going solo for years. Forget that the guys you met (and sometimes dated) are mostly jerks. Forget that you've a knack for being involved in unhealthy complicated relationships all the time. Forget that you're single, broke, with credit card bills to pay. Forget every shit that's happening in the real world. Because in that few hours, the world seemed ever so sweet and perfect, and that all things bad will turn out good in the end.

These movies gave us hope. That there's a teensy weensy bit of chance that life would turn out as sweet as fairytale stories (or chicklits). Such is their charms and spells.

But then again, after the spell had lost its power, we'll be forced to face reality once more. And we came to re-realize many things:
1. That someone as perfect as Gerry (from P.S. I Love You) only existed in movies.

2. That a love as perfect as Gerry's only existed in movies.

3. That someone like Kevin (from 27 Dresses), also only existed in movies. He's a dream guy: bitter and sarcastic but at the same time sweet and thoughtful (sigh...).

4. That a cinderella tale like The Nanny Diaries only existed in movies.

5. That Gerard Butler is just oh-so-perfect -- the face, the body, the voice... hmmm.. yummy..! Uhm, okay, I'm steering off topic here (let's save my fantasies of Gerry only to myself).

Oh yes, reality sucks. Bohoo. But it's quite comforting to know that there are many ways to escape the dreadness of it.

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonades, or lemon meringue pie, or lemon sorbet, or tequila shots, or vodka sour (oh well, you get my point). When life gives you shit and nightmares, you can always turn to books and films, or others. It's only just a flip or a click away.


P.S. I (Not) Love You:
Contrary to popular beliefs, ahem, I mean contrary to my own expectations, I did not cry like a baby when I watched P.S. I Love You. Maybe because I watched it on DVD and I got so many distractions from people around me that the mood wasn't built well enough (try concentrating on a movie with someone nagging you and ranting on to you every second). On the other hand, I cried when I watched The Nanny Diaries. The part when Grayer was chasing the taxi that took Anny away with force is just heartbreaking. Out of all 3 movies, I found 27 Dresses as most entertaining, The Nanny Diaries as most eye-spoiling (great art direction, the transition from statues to humans and vice versa in the museum is superb), and P.S. I Love You as sweetest and most romantic (of course). Now I feel like reading the books (I've never read a chicklit before).

P.P.S. : I love love loveee Gerard Butler!

The Skinny Obsession

I have to admit, there was a time when I was very obsessed with my weight/shape. Though my obsession never led me anywhere near that ‘perfection’.

Back when I was a younger, I never really had an issue with my weight – despite being called fatty at home and was told not to snack or being denied of second helpings during mealtimes. I couldn’t care less. I was a relatively skinny girl when I was in primary school, and I gained a bit of weight on the way to secondary school. 

Then I went for a two weeks holiday trip to U.S.A. with my sister and grandparents. All we did in that tour were just sit, sleep (inside the bus), and eat – mostly in those fat-and-carb-loaded American buffets. Needless to say, I gained a (very) significant amount of weight during that short time. By the time I came back to Jakarta, I've put in an additional 6 kg. 

Perfectly Imperfect

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

That’s what some people say. But in this ever so superficial world that we live in, I wonder if people still believe in that. Why the skeptical thought, you may say? Well, let’s just say that I’ve lived through the experience of being the ugly duckling – literally.

First, let’s define beauty, shall we? For women, I believe it is mostly about flawless porcelain skin, slim figure, long legs, flat abs, big booty, and the perfectly sculpted facial features. At least that’s what the media is feeding us from time to time.

OK, body images may change throughout time. There was a time when healthy figures were popular (remember Marilyn Monroe?). But I grew up in the era of the supermodels (Cindy, Naomi, Claudia, Christie, Helena, etc.), when slim and lean body was considered as the ideal shape. And it gets even worse now, when models get skinnier and sickly – and size 0 is considered the ideal size.