The president (of the college) ordered that all the dining halls be closed today and we have a barbecue picnic lunch outside on the lawn, much to my chagrin.Everybody came decked out in sunglasses, ethnic skirts (yuck), flip flops and tshirts.

I came in my winter coat and jeans.

Everybody stretched out on blankets and applied suntan lotion.

I applied sunblock and pulled my hood over my head.

Everybody asked me if I was cold.

“No, the hood is just very useful for keeping the sun’s rays out.”

So everybody thinks I’m weird now.

Since my reputation is ruined, I’ll just go all the way and carry my to shield against the sun the next time.

::My trusty companion, the hood. Never leave home without it::

I will never understand white people’s obsession with the sun. I guess it’s because they don’t have as much of it as we do at the Equator and to them the browner the skin the sexier kua.

But still! Don’t you know that when you get tanned it means your skin is damaged? And there’s all the risks of developing skin cancer, moles (!!) etc.

Oh well. Whatever rocks your boat. wtf. I’m not one to say anything.

The reason why I hate hate hate the sun is because I am naturally dark and am from Asia where being fair is better. My Japanese professors were all profoundly surprised to see me sitting there with my hood pulled well over my eyes because they thought only Japanese girls do it. I guess I am free to carry an umbrella around in Japan then:D

Mummy Ooi has also given me inspiration by wearing paddy farmers’ hats and detachable sleeves on her arms when she ventures out in the sun.

I cannot go out without sunblock and always wear long sleeves even when it’s hot. Or use my bag/books to cover my face.

Anyway, my point is if I don’t say anything about you doing your best to get skin cancer, you shouldn’t say anything when I sit huddled like a war refugee in my coat.

Dammit people should take Anthro and learn about ethnocentrism, so they can realise that their culture is not necessarily better than others and they should respect other people’s preferences and thinking. They don’t have to yell at other people for wearing jackets in the sun because they think it’s embarrassing or whatever.