Competition

I am always amazed when during a game, or a sport, or whatever that involves a score to see how people behave. I have started for some time now observing people, and unconsciously studying them. I am not really quite sure why this happened but it is so and I am actually having fun doing it. Anyways.

There are different kinds of people: those who will do the strict minimum and don't really care about the outcome of their performance, those whose only purpose is to win, to be first, to be the best, those who try and just give up, those who are doing whatever they are doing for the fun of it, etc. etc... Many different ways of being for many different people.

The group that I find particularly interesting to observe is the super competitive one. This is the type of person that will take the activity to its utmost importance. A game of taboo or bowling becomes a decisive moment in his life, THE way to shine, and its life purpose. Okay so that might have been a tad exaggerated, but really, some people are like that. These people will take everything to the next level, will do their best to be the best, and of course to beat you, to squash you, to annihilate you. They will be pissed at themselves, will analyze the mistake that they just made, and try to correct it on their next move. They will also come to you for advice when they see how you suck. They will correct your stance, your move, and give you more information than you will ever need.

It's an interesting way of being. No doubt that most people in this category succeed wherever they put their mind. No doubt also will they be whatever they want to be. But really, that is not a category for me... It's not interesting to be that way because I think that you miss on the big picture. If you focus and put all your energy on just winning, you forget that you are actually there to be with friends, to have fun, to socialize... Of course, you should do your best, all the time, but really, what would anyone remember in 3 months? The person who won or the atmosphere and the ambiance of that night? Of course, this is "valid" for everyday life and events, not for school, or "real" competition...

Think about, in the game that is life, if you only focus on the details and forget about the big picture, what will you remember when you are old and wrinkled? Your score or the fun you had getting there?

Some lessons learned...

I turned 30 not so long ago, and one of my friends asked me about the 3 past decades of my life: lessons learned, thoughts, etc... I think (given my nature) that I need to think about it more... After all, I am starting a new decade in my life, and there's no point making the same mistakes... Here are however a couple of things I discovered/learned:

- people say and do different things
- a good cure to insomnia is sex
- roses only last an average of 5 days
- often putting your foot down is the best thing you can do
- all parents are the same, no matter the culture
- a car is just a car, some are very nice, but in the end, it takes you from one place to the other
- finally knowing the direction you need to take in life is a great feeling
- doing manual things relaxes me the most
- reading is essential
- dry skin seems to be forever
- deep down I long for a more rural life
- cats fart
- being a readhead all your childhood and teenage years does not guarantee that you will keep the same shade of redheadedness once you are an adult (sigh)
- you can never have enough underwear
- The power of boobs is universal
- It's not a good idea to mix drinks
- I fear cockroaches (to a ridiculous point)
- Not all babies are cute
- One of the best motos in life is "fuck it"

More to come later...

Bayn el Widyen... An attempt to review the movie.

Bayn el Widyen is the title of one of the latest Tunisian movies, currently screening at Al Hambra. According to the friend I went with (since my arabic is so-so), it means, "between 2 rivers".

The movie starts with a tense scene in a family room with people awaiting an event... It is then followed by a couple standing at the municipality, in front of the civil servant about to marry them. The bride is nervous, and is glancing at the door, when suddenly... suddenly she sees a man leaning on the door. She then proceeds to throw her ring on the desk, grab the leaning dude, and run out (while loosing her shoe, and tearing her pearl necklace on the steps of the municipality building). The bride snatches up the keys of the car that she would have ridden in (had she went ahead with the marriage), and proceeds to drive. The couple decides to go to North-West of the country.

The entire movie is about the couple fledding from one town to another, lovely air shots of Tunisia, and being followed by the bitter stood-up groom. There scenes are entertwinned with older scenes of the new couple as children (they are cousins, yuck) and then as young adults... They sort of explain how the dude needed to get out of the country (he "needed" to flee)...

Ok, so if I had to rate this movie, I would give it a D. The movie has no head, no tails. There is never any mention of the bride's family (I guess they did not worry about her), no proper explanation of the relationships between the bride, the groom, and the dude. The script was very weak (I was able to guess many scenes and many lines)... I did laugh though at the cheesiness of it all. There is a scene were the new happy couple (fully clothed) dives into the sea, and the bride is not wearing a bra :) There were scenes involving drinking, smoking, and even smoking weed... There was also a scene with a helicopter AND a train. I can't think of anything more to make the movie even cheesier... Do let me know what else they could have added.

I had lots of fun watching the movie, so did my friend, and we proceeded to talk more about it over a heated-up chocolate Danone that the thieves at Phukets served as "hot chocolate"...

Book talk

I realized the other day that I had the gift of free time and especially, mental tranquility. My mind is at peace (besides the occasional panic attack about getting a job): I sleep well, I actually have interesting dreams, and overall, I do feel good.

I have used this free time to read, on average, a book every 3 days, alternating between English and French. I have thankfully quite a lot to choose from, so I don't even need to leave my place to replenish my stock (but at this rate, I might have to visit a bookstore soon). The 2 latest books I've read are "Nice Work" by David Lodge, and "Le hamac rouge" by Jean-Luc Payen. I have now started "Adam's curse" by Bryan Sykes. I tried reading something more serious, but I can't seem to concentrate. My book on "A History of God" by Karen Armstron and "Le livre de la méditation" by Al Ghazali are still at page 20 or so. I miss watching movies (since TPS is gone again) and since I've pretty much exhasuted whatever my local DVD rental dude has.

I am also taking advantage of the various cultural events that are currently ongoing in Tunis (isn't it bad that they are ALL taking place in one month? Couldn't they just spread them throughout the year a little more?) and enjoying different types of music and started of with an event at Dar Husseïn, with a Russian troupe Premiera, directed by Igor Dronov... I hope I will get to see other interesting things in the days to come.

Different times for different roles

Whether we like it or not, we play different roles in life, depending on the person(s) we are talking to, or the situation we are in (one does not behave the same way in an interview as one does chilling with one's buddies). You are either lying to yourself or not realizing it if you disagree.

Sometimes however we forget that we are supposed to play a particular role, and we let ourselves go, and it's just sometimes too bad. It's too bad because we all have some level of expectations of our friends, family, and colleagues, and when they forget or choose not to play their role, someone, at some point will get a bit hurt.

It's not so much that they are "hurt" per se, but more disappointed... Disappointed because of the above mentionned expectations, and it's really a sucky feeling. That is why I am a big proponent of no expectations, but once in a while, that barrier or thought or mental rule is forgotten... It sort of happened in the past couple of days to me, and the entire situation just left me a bit sad....