One of the world’s most beautiful countries has been devastated once more by an earthquake and tsunami, causing many people to lose their lives on March 11th, 2011. Japan’s known for its kind people, technology, countryside and city life. To help bring this all back, please donate to save the people and recreate their homeland.

It was shocking to hear that an earthquake of 8.9 caused such damage; even for a country that is well prepared for these disasters. Those who have lost loved ones, you sincerely have my condolences and my prayers go out for the Japanese who have lost their lives in this natural disaster.

Many groups have been made to support and donate to Japan like facebook’s “Candle of Hope”. Please, if you have an account donate and help spread the word: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=152248834835766

If you have any information or you are looking for someone, you can look for your answers here: http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/query?role=seek

Once again, please try your best to help out and donate. All the effort is much appreciated.

We need to work as a universal community.

Also, please don’t reblog or post false rumors. People already have enough to mourn about, but if there’s false information going around then it creates unneeded stress and more mourning.

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My great friend who sits beside me in biology class decided to show me this website called, “Damn You Auto Correct” and I honestly can’t stop reading this stuff. Thanks a lot Austina! It gives me something to do to pass time, but it also distracts me from Friday night homework .___.;

It’s basically the fails Iphones/itouches have with auto correcting and other apps or devices that do the same thing. I swear, I couldn’t stop laughing today in bio class.

The link is: www.damnyouautocorrect.com

A few of my favorites that I’ve run into are…

OLOLOLOL LMFAO!!!!!!! “I felt dick this morning” XD

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>/////< Oh noes…I’m ashamed to say I’ve turned into a Gleek….

My brother and sister started watching Glee and I’ve never been into it because I thought it was the same thing as “Highschool Musical” <— ew.

THANKFULLY IT ISN’T! It’s a pretty good show that expresses the problems of adults and teenagers even though they do covers of songs. Most of the covers aren’t bad and sound good, so that wasn’t a problem for me. I’m usually very picky with TV shows like Supernatural, King of Queens, etc. Supernatural I found was pretty stupid. (No offense to Supernatural fans out there…) the show was pretty good for the first two seasons, but it turned out quite terrible. I felt like I was watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer again haha.

Basically it’s what high school is like for some students especially in the States; how being popular is everything, teen pregnancy, self-esteem issues and fitting in and finding out who you are. I admire the show for its story line more than for its musical talents – which by the way isn’t awful. They’ve carefully picked actors that can actually SING and DANCE. There’s no Vanessa Hudgens or Zach Efron. Goodness…they’re such awful actors.

I was surprised to see actors from HEROES and HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER in it because I didn’t think they’d have musical talent. Surprisingly they do. You probably won’t like the first few episodes, but you get more into the story and start getting addicted to the show.

What I’m trying to say is…PEOPLE, give the show a chance! It’s not as stupid as it seems and I guarantee that you’ll end up liking it at least a little bit.

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Before I start my rant about culture and religion, I just want to say that they’re both two beautiful things when they’re not taken to the extreme. Culture is apart of heritage and different teachings which makes an individual unique from others. Religion is also apart of teachings and morals which makes an individual different or unique. The festivals and celebrations that are thrown to celebrate these two make the world what it is today; vibrant and alive. Although there are racist and ignorant people, many others appreciate the world for what it is and they’re interested in learning about the many varieties that exist so they explore and travel.

Now my issue is, even though I don’t want to come off as racist or ignorant, I’ve noticed many things about my culture which I dislike SO much and the amount of belittling and looking down it comes with both the religion and culture. Sure I love certain aspects of being Bengali, but not once…have I ever been “proud” to be considered Muslim nor do I believe in its teachings or morals. Many issues come with religion because it causes wars, hate, and superiority complexes (especially in the Middle East). So many girls suffer from getting married off to older men who take advantage of them so they commit suicide because they can’t escape. Just because a girl isn’t a virgin when she’s married off, they don’t even consider that she might have broken her hymen due to different activities when she was younger or wasn’t even born with one. They automatically assume that she’s a whore and has slept with someone.

I remember my brother getting into an argument with my mom because she was saying that Western girls are trashy because they expose their stomachs. He argued back that the women of Bangladesh do the same thing especially when they’re wearing saris. Saris expose the tummy, but there’s a small piece of cloth which goes across it (it’s usually made out of thin fabric). It still doesn’t hide the fact that it’s revealing skin. My mom basically tried explaining that Bengali people had a better culture and beliefs than the Western culture. I personally found this as bullshit. No culture is more important nor superior than the other.

There’s also so much FAKING you have to do when it comes to meeting other people. I have heard so much trash talking after I’ve seen people acting fake in front of each other that it’s unbelievably STUPID. If I were to say that I’m Agnostic to those in the “community” they would be highly disappointed and look down on me just because I’m not religious. Instead of just smiling and accepting it, they’ll look at you strangely or talk about you behind your back. It’s like when you’re not interested in someone whose Muslim or Bengali it’s the biggest shit in the world. So what? Just because your parents are religious, you have to please them and fake it out by converting the other person to show off to others?  This just ties in with the fact that you believe that your culture or religion is superior than the other one. I hate this kind of thinking and I especially HATE it when people try to force religion down my throat and tell me, “you should do this and that”. My response back would be, “No I shouldn’t because I hate faking things. If I’m not religious, I’m not religious. Accept it, not everyone is going to be like you.” I wish that others would respect me for my perspective just as how I respect them for theirs (like if they’re religious).

Now I’ve never really enjoyed going to Bengali parties, especially when you have to sit with the parents because they just brag about whose child did what and what they’ve achieved. That’s all it’s about; showing off.

Honestly, it just matters about WHO the person is. You don’t need to be religious in order to have morals of what you think is right or wrong. I think if the person has a good heart and hasn’t gone around stealing, raping or murdering others, they’re fine as how they are – religious or not. I look at those that claim to be “good” and “religious” but they still swear, smoke and drink need to stop being hypocrites because it’s in their religious books not to do that. In addition, they gossip and judge others just because they don’t have the same perspective as they do (and you’re not supposed to judge others).

When it comes down to the basics, we’re all just human. People need to learn to accept change and stop living in the past. Yes, status is important because it looks bad when you’re presenting yourself as a thug or white trash because people like that have no manners.

Just be yourself and if people don’t like you for stupid reasons like culture and being religious or not, so what? I’d rather be loved for who I am, than loved for what I’m not.

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This is just a random thought, but I’ve been thinking of Singapore and it’s one of the places I would actually really like to revisit or live in again. I went there when I was younger and it’s such a BEAUTIFUL and clean place! Seriously, if you spit out your gum there, they will kick your ass haha. The people there are really generous and kind and about 49% of the population is foreign. Caucasian, brown, black, East Asians; they all live there. The food is delicious and many festivals take place there.

I was REALLY small when I visited with my family; like around 2 years old or so. Everyone there thought I was a Singaporean baby because I didn’t look like the rest of my family. I wish I scanned the pictures from our visit there so I could put them up, but now my scanner’s broken. :/ Hopefully I’ll be able to scan them when it gets fixed and re-edit the post.

My sister can still remember eating this dish called, “kapsa” which is a chicken and rice dish that’s really flavorful. It’s been adopted by the Singaporeans considering a lot of Middle Eastern people live there now, so if you’re curious about the recipe, here:

http://www.recipesdatabase.com/recipedetail.aspx?id=716

The dish that I really want to try is this:

It’s Singapore Chili Prawns >w< mmm…looks so delicious! The recipe link is below:

http://closetcooking.blogspot.com/2009/06/singapore-chili-prawns.html

I should try making it one day =]

* For more food dishes, here:

http://www.malaysatayhut.com/menu.htm

Also, the women there are really pretty and they’re so NURTURING. Everyone there is kind, but the women just have this instinct where they just HAVE to take care of you. Their cultural clothes are really beautiful (especially if you use their airlines, the outfits are great haha). My dad bought my sister the outfit, but then it got passed down to me. =( I don’t know where it is anymore…*sad face*

Mine wasn’t dark blue, it was black instead. The designs are similar though.

(They have the tallest Ferris Wheel in the WORLD. <3)

The country is really environmentally friendly and pretty, the food is good and there’s so much culture there. I DEFINITELY wouldn’t mind living there while everyone else is obsessing over Japan, Korea and Hong Kong.

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WHO AM I? I’m SABRINA NAWAZ. Yes, I’m holding up a 69 wrist band because I have band pride XD (thank you Yasmeen for making it.)

I’m strange, moody, crazy, studious and I like to have fun. I grew up in Toronto, Ontario for 13 years of my life and I was born in Chittagong, Bangladesh. I moved to Canada when I was 4 years old and I’ve attended school here all my life. I have 17 candles blown which will soon be 18 within the next two months. I love cats and I have a passion for history. I am said to look half East Asian with a mix of brown or Spanish and some people think I’m Filipino (not sure how, just ask them.) I like to read and sing mainly and I enjoy being with my friends.

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1: When did you start cosplaying?

Fan Expo 2006

2: What was your first cosplay?

Izumi Curtis from Full Metal Alchemist

I'm on the left

3: Who got you into cosplaying?

my friend Julia because she wanted to go as Ed

4: Have any cosplay idols?

Amanda

5: What is your favorite series to cosplay?

So far…CANAAN :]

6: So far, what have you cosplayed?

Izumi Curtis

Shihouin Yoruichi (normal form)

Nanao Ise

Rinoa Heartilly

Shihouin Yoruichi (princess form)

Marina Ismail (second season of G00)

Alphard Alshua

Tifa Lockhart (Crisis Core)

Bottom right as Yoruichi

crappy dark picture of me as Nanao

Rinoa Heartilly (bad lighting though )

Yoruichi (Princess)

Marina Ismail

Tifa Lockhart (left)

7: Do you make your own cosplays?

I do with my friends’ help

8: What are your specialties when it comes to cosplays? (Makeup art, props, wig styling, etc.)

8D fabric marker and dying from fumes

9: Favorite Character to Cosplay

Definitely Alphard. Being badass felt nice for a change :]

10: Variants?

What do you mean? o_o Variants?

11: Couple Cosplays?

I wish!!! I still want to do one. I was supposed to with Calvin during AN 2009 ><

11: What cons do you like to attend?

Anime North and Fan Expo.

13:  Masquerades? Skits?

Not yet hopefully I will sometime in the future

14: Gatherings?

Haven’t been to any of the ACG photoshoots or cosplay picnics

15: Won any awards?

Nope

16:  What do you plan to cosplay in the future?

Temari from Shugo Chara, Judith from Tales of Vesperia, Sailor Mars (Princess version and senshi version) and Luna’s human form from Sailor Moon

Temari (Shugo Chara)

Judith (Tales of Vesperia)

Sailor Mars (senshi outfit)

Luna (right)

17:  What makes you unique as a cosplayer?

I don’t know. I’m hot 8D

18:  Made good friends through cosplay?

I made a few they’re great and I love them!

19: Do you like photoshoots?

Most of the time, yes

20:  Why do you cosplay?

I just enjoy myself more at a convention because of the thrill of dressing up!

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In the past month, I’ve learned not to STRESS out about tests and quizzes because the more I do, the lower my mark will be. I’ve learned to let loose and just concentrate on the content rather than the number I want to receive. I’ve also learned to NOT trust people haha…yeah…that’s a big one. It’s kinda left an impact on me. I need to be more cautious with what I say and do.

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Left: last year

Right: this year

I don’t think I’ve really changed much at all. My hair was longer last year so I let it grow out for a bit until I had no bangs, then I got them cut again in May 2010, then they got long again and I cut them about three weeks ago. I pretty much look the same though. One picture just happens to be yellowish orange, while the other one has normal lighting. I think I look better with shorter hair and straight bangs though.

Personality wise I’ve become more…what’s the word? Serious. Yeah, serious. I’ve become more serious about my studies and such so I can get into university and have a better future. Last year, I didn’t care much at all because I had many distractions around me. I guess my face got skinnier because I don’t eat much here in Calgary and I look more…”Asian”? XD

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It’s a scary picture, I realize that, but it relates to the topic. I’ve seen worse pictures on google images, so I chose the least…scariest. I’ve also made a post about this on my livejournal so it’s like a double post.

Weird things have been happening to me lately like sleep paralysis. It’s the SCARIEST thing I’ve probably ever experienced and it’s root is usually stress – wait, it’s actually always stress. This happened to me a few days ago and I’m sorry for not posting about it, so that’s why I’m doing it now.

Last Thursday I went to a library near a high school here called “Lester B. Pearson” which is an IB school. They have this beautiful library attached to them which is in the community center and I went there to study with my friend Siham. This is the thing about Siham; she’s a very religious Islamic girl who strongly believes in God (Allah), but she respects everyone’s opinion of the world. Near the end of our visit to the library in Village Square, she brought up the topic about Jinns. Jinns are a kind of ghostly, spiritual being that’s allowed to roam the world like humans except they’re in a different dimension and I’ve grown up hearing things about them all the time because they’re apart of the Islamic religion. They’re said to look really “scary” (especially the bad ones because they try to communicate with you). She brought up that topic and this has been a childhood fear of mine because I am absolutely TERRIFIED of supernatural things. I don’t LIKE thinking about them or communicating with them.

The most I can say is dreams are scary and sleep paralysis is something I hope you don’t go through. No matter how many times you’ve experienced it, you can never get used to the feeling.

For more information about Jinns here:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jinn

For more information about sleep paralysis here:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis

~Nekorini

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