'tis the season!

I haven't posted anything since putting up this blog because school was pretty hectic, with all the paperwork + thesis defense and revisions :|. Well that was a week ago, and now I am happy to announce that 2nd term SY '08-'09 officially ended for me yesterday and I am now free to enjoy temporary freedom in the form of Christmas break. Thesis defense actually went well, I'm going to be taking care of my revisions within the three week break, I'm finally turning 20 in a few days, the festive mood is being accompanied by so many little celebrations,and my family is off to Hong Kong, Macau and Szenzhen, China on the 28th. It's cold outside and I couldn't be more ecstatic about vacation! :)

Since I now have an ample amount of free time on my hands, here are some of the things I plan to do during the break:

1. Read for leisure!However ironic, we Literature majors don't really get to read what we want when there's school because of all the required texts. Thus, I'm really taking this opportunity to read some of the books/stories/non-fiction that have been on my reading list for quite some time now. However, I'm prioritizing a few titles...

• Revisiting the Twilight Saga, specifically the first (Twilight) and last (Breaking Dawn) books. I've read all the books from the series more than once, since I did get into it before the whole hype that came along with the film started. I want to re-read the first book mainly because of the film and a film/book comparison I'm going to be conducting soon (much geekery!). As for the fourth book, I still have a lot of questions I'd like to find the answers to. Haha :P
• Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary. It's considered one of the best novels of all time by critics and literary enthusiasts, and is a must read for my fellow bibliophiles.
  
• Beowulf: The Script, by Neil Gaiman and Roger Avery. After hurdling through the unabridged epic back in first year I am more than happy to read the written-for-commercial-success version.
  

2. CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN. I usually don't have the time to clean my room and sort my
things because of school, so I want to go through my closet and arrange my clothes,
make my room as dust-free as possible, organize all my readings, papers,
etc. so I can file them and keep them in the attic, and see if I have anything I
can donate to charity this Christmas.

3. Go to simbang gabi. Although I didn't get to go this morning (meaning I won't get my
Christmas wish :[ ), I'm going to start later. I'm actually not very religious; I try to take
part in simbang gabi for different reasons. I enjoy the tradition, it's nice and cold out, and
the bibingka and tsokolate I get to have post-mass are so yummy. :)

4. Enjoy all the Christmas festivities with my family, friends and loved ones. There are so many dinners, reunions and parties to attend, and so much good food to eat, too :) (forgive me, I swear I'm starving myself after the holidays!)

5. Go on a crazy shopping spree in Hong Kong!My birthday falls close enough to Christmas so I get double the presents/money from my parents, relatives and godparents. Plus I have my own savings set aside just to prepare for this trip. I can't wait to indulge in some retail therapy! On my main shopping agenda : shoes (lace-ups and wedges are at the top of my list), bags, H&M, and all the other boutiques and shopping centers+night markets I've been able to look up online.


I hope you guys have your own plans for the Christmas season + New Year. Get some rest, stuff yourselves silly, give and receive the best gifts and have an awesome time with your loved ones!I'll be back with an update soon :)