May’s Moments of the Month: April // Studying Took Over Everything

I disappeared yet again… what a surprise! 

I can’t say I didn’t expect this to happen, especially since at the beginning of the year I was like, “There are going to be lots of big upcoming life events this year that will make me less active.” But after I planned out my posts months ahead, I was really hopeful that I would be able to maintain some activity throughout the busier parts!

Clearly, that didn’t happen. I would say I’m sorry, but I’m trying not to apologize for doing things that I needed to do. I disappeared because of exams that I had to study for, and doing that sucked up all my energy and I barely did anything substantial throughout the month.

I read 4 books, and I’m blaming that low amount on the fact that I was using all my brainpower on studying! Audiobooks are truly saving me, though, since I think I genuinely would’ve only read 2 books if not for them. I’ve started listening to them while driving (I didn’t want to do it before when I was still new and needed a bit more driving experience), and I love it!

I have to say, though, with most of my reads this year (and last) being adult, I’m starting to miss YA! I think it’s because they’re generally easier to read, and I’ve been having so much trouble reading that I want that kind of easiness back… I’m not sure if this will influence what I read in the next few months, especially since I don’t ever see myself shifting back to reading so much YA, but it’ll be interesting to see what happens!

    

• The Death of Vivek Oji Akwaeke Emezi // I have no idea how to feel about this, because it would have been so much more beautiful and heartbreaking… if not for the unchallenged incest!?? very surprised not to hear many people talk about it having incest [no rating]
• The Mountains Sing Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai // an absolutely heartwrenching book, but still managing to be hopeful! so well-written, and I really loved the audiobook too ★★★★☆
• A Mind Spread Out on the Ground Alicia Ellliott // I adored this! many essays were thought-provoking and gave me a lot of interesting subjects to look further into, and overall I liked the mix of general essay/commentary mixed with personal sections [no rating]
• Things We Lost in the Fire Mariana Enríquez // I loved the realism of the horror in these stories. connections to things like corruption only made it creepier ★★★★☆ [3.5]

UPDATES

Unfortunately, my blogging plans were completely swept aside because of my studying for exams. I should have a lot more free time now that my upcoming exams aren’t as study-intensive, and I don’t have to attend classes anymore! I’m hoping to pre-write some posts to go up in June while I’m on vacation, but we’ll see how that goes.

THIS MONTH’S POSTS

   

I did absolutely no writing… <3

Well… most of the month I spent studying for my exams, so I didn’t get the chance to do much else! And even then, it wasn’t like I was studying whenever I had free time because 1) I gave up at one point and resigned myself to not great but good enough scores for certain exams, and 2) my brain did not have the stamina nor the attention span!!! But it felt like all my physical and mental energy was dedicated to exams, resulting in me unable to do much else.

One thing I did do, though, was perform in my dance show, and it was truly the best feeling ever to be back on the stage for the first time in three years! I could write a love letter to dance and how much it means to me, but there’s something extra special about performing that I can never describe. Waiting in the wings, quick costume changes, stage lights shining in your eyes… I love it all, and I’m so happy I got to experience it again after so long.

TV/MUSIC:

• I didn’t get the chance to watch a lot of stuff, but I’ve been watching some SVU! (I have absolutely no idea what season I’m on since I just watch whatever episodes are streamed on TV…)
• I’ve been listening to mainly The Happy Fits still. Once I really like an artist, I’ll only listen to them for months, which is where I’m at right now. But some Thai music has made it back into my daily listening, and I’m hoping to find some more Thai artists to listen to before I travel to Thailand!

Exams… Since I’m so late in getting this up, I’ve already taken half of my 14 total exams. (Yes. 14.) And honestly, they went better than I expected! The ones I took were pretty much my only study-intensive exams, which was terrible because it meant I had to cram all my studying but is nice now that it’s over with. My upcoming exams will still be difficult, but there isn’t much I can do prepare for most of them, so it’s a huge relief!

End of school!! I couldn’t be more excited for the end of the school year, even though it’ll be a bit bittersweet since I’m graduating… It feels unreal that I’m here already, and that I have a whole new path open ahead of me, but I’m excited to see what it brings me :]

Last dance show. This month will be full of many big moments for me, and one of those is definitely the fact that this will be my last time on the stage with the studio I’ve been at for over 10 years. It’s going to be exhausting (performing in 5 shows in 1 day), but it’ll be fun and emotion-filled and I can’t wait!

Finally going back to Thailand! Technically, when I land in Thailand it’ll be June, but I’m leaving at the end of May so I’m counting it. I was supposed to visit 2 years ago before COVID hit, so I’m really looking forward to seeing my family again after so long, along with eating lots of good food and doing other fun things in Bangkok! (If you’re interested in seeing some updates on what I’m doing, I think I’ll post some stuff on social media, though I’ll do a recap here too.)

---

how was your month? how were/are exams for all the students? any fun summer plans for Northern hemisphere people? and what was your favorite book of the month?