Letters to Electra - For Every Road Trip Action There is a Nauseous Reaction

24/10/15

Dear Electra,

Last Wednesday my family and I travelled to Auckland, which lies hours away from the city I live in. As we were riding in the car, I couldn't focus on where I was or what was happening. I've had spells of dizziness like this before (mentioned in past letters) but it got to the point where I passed out constantly, even if I had medicinal oils rubbed on my forehead or if the car wasn't moving. Nobody in my family pointed out that I had a pale face, although I felt like I did.

I'm currently spending my Saturday at a Filipino basketball festival, sitting in the bleachers and ignoring the constant buzz of cheering audiences. On the way here, despite it being a short distance from the city I live in, I fell into a moderate state of nausea. As I write this, Electra, my handwriting is deteriorating and all I could write are squiggly lines. Let's carry on anyway.

Somehow these two events are connected, or maybe I'm just allergic to road trips. Isn't it a depressing allergy? It means that I can't fulfill my wanderlust without dropping my blood pressure and failing to take in a beautiful view. Hopefully my body can get back into its original state soon.

Stay powerful and beautiful as usual.
- M ★ 

Letters to Electra - Let's Talk About Sexism

14/10/15

Dear Electra,

I'm back after a hiatus with Primavera! I've also completed week 1 of my fourth school term this year, which means that exams and assessments are crawling closer behind me. This also means that I have to hibernate from writing letters to you again soon.

As I remain on the same topic about school, there's been more sexism now than I've experienced earlier this year. It's 2015, people! I thought we could wrap our thoughts around this predicament by now.

Some adults may say that boys 'tease' girls to flirt and to get their attention, but it's actually worse. Who flirts by mistreating others? Why can't boys treat girls like human beings and not like wild animals? Do boys struggle to see the light in the opposite gender?

This brings me to another sub-topic: when girls achieve their best or have big goals, why do boys have the reflex of focusing on our bodies? I heard an example of this very recently when some friends of mine won a competition:
"Woah, she looks so hot."
"Yeah. I'd put her in my bed in a millisecond."
Well, that's not what they said word for word, but it's enough for you to comprehend my message.
When can boys accept the fact that girls can do whatever they can do?

My reason for writing this is not to shame some males for their libertine actions, but to remind them that females and other types of genders are as important as they are. When you see an example of sexism online, in real life or anywhere else, please try to combat it. This also applies to racism, any type of bullying and any other type of discrimination in this world.

Stay powerful and beautiful as usual,

- M ★ 

Letters to Primavera ~ The Thirtieth (And Final!) One

30/09/15

Dear Primavera,

Goodbye.

Well, you're going to be here for a few more months, but I am saying farewell as I stop writing letters to you.

You have been a source of relief and warmth for me during this stressful month. You've celebrated four birthdays, explored the deeper qualities of my personality and had to put up with my boredom all in thirty days. You've accompanied me when I wanted to talk to someone about my panic attacks and personal thoughts when everybody was occupied, or when I was too afraid to talk to another human being. 

I am much obliged to you for following me on my journey throughout (almost) every day of September 2015.

Thanks.

Until next September (hopefully!),

Marian.

P.S.: Stay powerful and beautiful as usual.

Letters to Primavera ~ The Twenty-Nineth One

29/09/15

Dear Primavera,

Last night the group and I had our second sleepover in the month of September. Well, for Sera it was her first since she couldn't attend the previous one.

This sleepover was to celebrate the fourteenth birthday of Serafina, who was actually born on the twenty-sixth this month. Everyone, as expected, arrived perfectly on time... and then there were Anjeline and me, who arrived one hour later. Although this ticked me off a little, I wouldn't change what happened afterwards.

During the afternoon, everyone separated into smaller gatherings in the living room. At one corner sat Anjeline with the birthday girl as they typed busily on their phones. Our friend, Melody, slumped on one of the couches and tapped away on her phone. On the arm of the opposite couch perched Elaine, who filled out a word document on her laptop. And then the leftovers, Charisma, Gwen and me, engrossed ourselves with the Backstreet Boys. Yes, Primavera. I don't like modern trends, but the '90s and previous generations fascinate me.

When all of us grew apathetic of doing nothing, we all raided the playground across the road. A special feature of the playground was a large swing that could fit about five people at once, and I couldn't help but lie down on it and get my friends to become my humble servants and push me. Eventually, I allowed my friends to hop on and giggled until we ran out of breath. Running around the street and acting like five-year-olds was definitely a better alternative to depriving ourselves of social interaction.

After a scrumptious dinner cooked by Sera's mum, we gathered in the lounge and watched 'The Notebook', avoiding the indecent scenes of course - a lovely ending to a memorable day in our friendship.

Yours sincerely,
One who has lovely friends.