Letters to a Mysterious Stranger [ONGOING]

Pinoy Christmas

(Sent on Dec 5th, Wednesday, 12:16 am, Howell Hall)

To: prisoner24601@mpu.edu.ph

From: jerusha.abad@gmail.com

Dear Zorro,

Classes have been suspended today.

That's ok because I got better pictures here with Ragi and Bim. We took about a hundred, but I just picked the good ones.

Wishing I could throw you a snowball.

Judy

(Sent on Dec 9th, Sunday, 2:56 pm, Caermor University Student Centre)

To: prisoner24601@mpu.edu.ph

From: jerusha.abad@gmail.com

Dear Zorro,

Happy anniversary!

Or at least, this marks the day when you first met me on the street. I can't believe that that was a year ago. If ever you decide to fund other grad students, please don't like them too much. I might get jealous.

In case you are wondering why I am writing this at the student center, my laptop crashed a couple of days ago. A virus messed with my registry, and Avira couldn't kill it. It's fine: I managed to save most of my files. I'm ok working and studying up here. It forces me to concentrate.

The classes will wrap up next week, and I am thinking of paper topics right now. I may write about the depiction of travelling women in nineteenth century novels. Of course, that is still a bit broad, so I have to narrow it down. Theory-wise, it is still a bit muddled. I've developed an interest in the every day life theories of Michel de Certeau and Henri Lefebvre, though. Maybe I'll use my notes there.

Given that I wrote a short seminar essay on Winterson, writing about the theme of monstrosity and the postmodern ethos in Sexing the Cherry is a definite possibility. Originally, I was thinking of writing something similar about Jessica Hagedorn's Dogeaters, but it was refused because my advisor has not read it. Pity. The only non-white female writer on the syllabus is Alice Walker, and I don't think she wants to add more. The syllabus definitely needs a bit more diversity.

No matter how crazy the news is back home, I miss the Philippines. I miss Manila's uneven streets, and heck, I even miss those tricycles and jeeps that stop anywhere, though they unfortunately cause several inconveniences to many other drivers. It is ironic: when one is in the Philippines, one does one's best to get out, and when one is away from the Philippines, one does one's best to get back to it. By writing that, I am sure I am merely echoing the thoughts of many others out there.

Pilipinas kong minunutya: pugad ng luha ko't dalita

I cried last Friday during the International Student Fellowship's Music Night. Everybody took turns in singing songs from their own country. When my turn came, I sang "Bayan Ko," and my Slovakian friend Zora played the guitar for me (I gave her a music sheet beforehand). As I sang the refrain, I realized that a tear just rolled down my cheek.

Pathetic, I know.

At this point, I think I could sing any love song to my country and still cry.

I can't believe that December here could be so depressing. People here don't put up a lot of Christmas decorations outside their houses. I know back home we have Christmas decorations on November.

People will probably start going home next week or the week after for Christmas. I'm ok with staying here. I'm actually thinking of getting a job during the holidays. My visa allows me to work for maximum of 20 hours per week, and there are stores in the city centre looking for temporary shop assistants. I know I can juggle work and writing my papers.