inSomNia - and tracing my roots...

have been waking up at 5-6am lately... dunno why, could it be due to the weather? maybe it's due to the chirping of the birds... it's hard not to get up when u hear the sound of birds chirping so happily, like as if they found elixir to life every morning. i mean, i've never hear sweet birds chirping in the mornings like this back in Malaysia or Singapore. It was worse in Singapore, I hear crows... =(

Last night was especially bad... I not only flipped and turned, I've been rolling and changing position every now and then. It must be the warm weather, and my body heat warmed the bed too soon. How good can my sleep be if I even know what's going on right?

Anyway, World History 1 is getting more and more interesting, too bad the semester is ending soon, and there's not enough time to sit and ponder, and absorb all the facts I've learnt so far. I'm taking a crash summer courses in Roxbury CC. Each summer semester lasts for 1.5 months.

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Being a southeast asian chinese, brought up a christian; i find my heritage pretty unique. I was 'involved' one way or another as civilization started at different parts of the world. Think along with me...

Asia - Middle East
- Cradle of Civilization and Ancient China - that's where our ancestors invented language and a way of life.

Hebrews - Greek
- influenced the modern world (which includes me) with the Abrahamaic religions (Islam, Judaism, Christianity) and Philosophy (that's right, we were given a brain to think....)

Ancient Romans and Chinese Empire
- the Christianity that I was brought up with - the birth of the bible and concept of 'Trinity' under the rule of Constantine of Rome.
- Chinese Empire - uhm... I'm Han chinese, I don't think i need further explanation

Southeast Asian Empires (India and Indochina)
- uhm... I'm born and bred a Malaysian and studied about the region's history in mid-high school...

Islam
- Malaysia's national religion is Islam. I grew up listening to Azan (call to prayer). There's a mosque about a hundred feet away from my home in Malaysia. That's my alarm clock... 90% of my classmates were Muslims from age 7-17.

Western (European) civilization
- well, Malaysia is a commonwealth country, which means we were once colonized by the British (and a few other european countries before the Japanese took over). What i'm trying to say here is we study O-level, A-level - British education system. Not to mention I studied classical music....

Western Hemisphere before european contact
- I guess this is the only part of the world that I don't have link with, and Africa, probably.
- but hey, but since coming to Berklee, I've learnt about the drumming patterns of South America and Africa!

My background is so diversified... no wonder I don't have strong feelings towards any political conflict that's brewing internationally.

Conclusion: If you are South east asian Indian, Chinese or Caucasian; brought up a Muslim or Christian, you'd share my sentiments - that refers to about half the population of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

Typically for Malaysians and Singaporeans, where our main ethnicity is Malay, Chinese and Indians; we feel more strongly towards this identity/heritage crisis. Instead, I think we should be proud of our background!