I bought a milk pan to make milk tea. I usually use a microwave to heat almond milk, but heating it in the pan is safer. I look forward to using this pan every morning. It will enrich my mornings.

My mother came across my 6th-grade teacher. She was very unpopular in my class because she scolded her students everyday. I remember she always said, “You guys are so disappointing and boys are too immature.” The class was very rebellious toward her. As is often the case, I spoke badly about her with my friends. But somehow, she valued me regardless of my defiance. I was not very happy with her evaluation of me at the time since I felt like I was being favored, and she kept pushing me to make more effort in anything she thought I was good at. I didn’t understand why I had to put my effort into things that I am not interested in improving. She might have seen something in me, yet I felt that the expectations placed on me were different from who I really was. However, at this age, I feel a little greatful. Being recognized for my potential feels so much better than being belittled. It must have had positive effect on my life some how. People might say that I would have been a  more capable person if I had done what she said, but who knows? Given that every single event that has happened in my life has brought me to where I am today, maybe I can appreciate my 6th-grade self who didn’t follow what my teacher told me to do too.

 I met my old friend, and we exchanged updates about our lives. When I heard about the area she lives in, I felt that violence exists as an ordinary part of the everyday landscape. The tragedies that seem to happen only in the news felt very close. It is not something that is happening somewhere else, but could occur at any moment in that place. I thought we need knowledge about violence. It is very difficult to see violence  when it is embedded in people’s lives. Knowledge has the power to save people and protect themselves. I deeply hope that people who are fooled into thinking they are nothing find thier way out and rebuild their lives to fulfill their potential. I think I need to learn more.

I smelled the scent of chrysanthemums on the street. This brought back another memory from my childhood. I remember an afternoon I spent in my father’s field.

 The weather was beautiful today. I went to the park in the middle of the city. It is nice to have a green area in such a busy place with business people, shoppers and travelers. I can take a bit of a deep breath and relax. The park is surrounded by tall, boxy, polished buildings. I thought that if I looked only at the top of the trees, I might feel like I was in the woods. I tried, but it was not the same. I failed to feel as if I were in the mountain. I felt that I was in the middle of the city. It was just an experiment. I am likely to get bored with something that designed to attract attention. So, I prefer to look at place where nobody tries to pay attention. I think that is where I can find something interesting.