Not making sense

Christchurch, oh Christchurch. The city of memories.

I stayed at my previous homestay for 4 days and 3 nights, more than enough to remind me of what it was like coming into a foreign country knowing only 2 people in a pool of 4 million strangers.

Carol and Margaret- the perfect homestay family for me. They took care of me, made sure I go to church and home groups, took me to uni when my alarm failed to wake me up. Tried to cook a Chinese meal on my first night there, a very good attempt in making me feel at home. Everything was great, and honestly, it was how I would want to spend the first year here.

Many would beg to differ. I dare to stay that almost half of Riccarton High student population consists of Malaysians. This is what I know, a group of form 5 leavers from Lodge or Green Road (with their parents holding PR) conveniently go to Ricc High, then either Otago or Canty uni. The keyword being "group". Going to movies would involve a GROUP of 30 of them, crammed into the same bus, the same cinema, and eventually the same flat next year.

My point is, they will forever stick to their own cliques. And when a new kid comes along, granted that he or she isn't very outgoing, lack of social life is doomed to happen to the poor kid.

Take Roy for example, the 20 year old guy from Hong Kong who's currently staying at my previous homestay. He's been in NZ for almost a year and the homestay for a month now, and all he ever answers to a question are "yes, yes" and a vigorous nod. Even when the same contradicting question is asked. Believe me, I tried talking to him in Mandarin, but to no avail. I don't know exactly how he lives his life, but I do know he goes straight back to his room after dinner (5.30pm), and stays in there except for a shower and the lights in his room goes off by 10pm. Doesn't seem to have any friends other than a guy who plays basketball with him on Fridays (according to Carol). Nope, I am NOT stalking him or anything like that.

It's sad when things like this happen. You want to help, but don't know how. You don't do anything, and end up feeling guilty or not being helpful enough. Either way, it's a lose-lose situation. The only solution is to hope that things do change for the better for him.

Things always change for the better. Keyword being "change". Change always involve denial, pain, then acceptance. Not always physical, but unavoidable nonetheless. I've been through that, and am glad that I did.

I'm sooooo glad that I decided to come to Dunedin.