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The memory behind the secretive smile

I was busy with my work while listening to my friend babble bout some girl he liked when he said, "I liked X from the moment I saw her walking in through the gates with Y on her first day"

I looked up from my work. Something was not right.

Me: "You saw her on her FIRST day, walking in with Y?"
Him: "Yeah"
Me: "Are you sure?"
Him: "Of course. It was just her and Y walking in together that morning."

And he went on to describe her clothing on that morning. Collared t-shirt and jeans.

I nodded and smiled to myself.

On that day, also my first day, I had walked in with Y, wearing a collared t-shirt and jeans.

Globalization: Keeps us together or apart?

As a person who loves traveling and experiencing new cultures, I LOVE globalization. The increased accessibility of the world makes everywhere become "within reach".

It's really cool, to have my "gang" in school scattered all around the world. USA, Australia, England, Scotland, Russia, and Singapore... It's almost like we don't believe in going to the same country. But the awesome powers of the internet enables us to keep in touch constantly. Sometimes, it's almost like we've never been apart. We get to exchange stories, so we get a little taste of what life is like in each country.

While globalization has its great perks, I feel that to a certain extent, it makes the world a lonelier place to be. Communication over the internet is great, but nothing beats actually being together in the same place at the same time.

Coming back from overseas, we have the idea that we are going "home". Home is where everything and everyone is supposed to be. But when we are home, excited to meet up with "the gang" just like before we left, we find that they're not there. They're all scattered all over the world. So we end up just hanging around at home alone with no friends.

As for relationships, what is the point in getting into one when one or the other will be leaving for another country possibly forever? Globalization brings people together, but they also keep them apart.

Life is full of uncertainties. Things change. Added with globalization and technology, life has more uncertainties, and things change at a faster pace.

Globalization. I don't like it. My friends are all scattered all around the world, so is my family, potential spouses, and even me. There's no knowing where I'll be, and there's no knowing where everyone will be.

The simple chance of two people being in the same country at the same time. It's a blessing.