I AM YOUNG, POOR & HAVE A GOOD TASTE

As much enjoying being the title, giving me the opportunity to be creative, re-design, think twice, having something to dream and live for to achieve, there is one BIG regret that wakes up with me and goes to sleep with me.

'I'm fine, I'm fine. At moment I took a break from Thailand, so I went on a holiday to Cambodia. Nice weather, you know me..enjoying the walks. But I am calling to see what did you manage to do about your University. Are you going to school, are you studying?' Let's journey back and trace the origin of my relationship with my grandfather, which words were these. There's none! He never calls. Doesn't even remember my birthday, let alone something else. But we are not going to expand here on his selfishness but the tragedy of me not getting on and becoming an academic. Being the biggest and for now the only regret.

Apart from no knowledge of English language at time when I had to do the exams on that tongue, many other unfortunate events played their part. Neither into these we are going to go any deeper, no point of victimizing myself over the incidents that I'm not able to change.

Due to the undesirable pride I could not tell my grandfather that one of the main reasons for my sudden stop of schooling was the lack of money, which by the way, he has too much of. Instead, I assured him that I am preparing  to read English Language and Literature. Second best after Medicine-which will never happen. Only thing I have from my passion of being a surgeon is the actual jealousy over others in the field.

The shocking phone call did make me sit down, catch my breath and re-examine 'What the hell am I not doing anything concrete with my life and why, oh why am I not exercising my brain and studying something?!' Knowledge is free. If I wanted to learn something, it is available to the young and poor with a good taste, just have to try harder. The phone call haunted me.

Until! At work, I tripped over a big bag filled with books. Somebody forgot it, left it? For me? I dived into it. After finding out whose books are those, I called Tim and asked if I may have them. It was a positive.

Universe answered back by giving me exactly what I needed. 'Modern Criticism and Theory'- Lodge & Wood, 'The short Oxford history of English Literature'- Andrew Sanders and 'The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language'- David Crystal.

If he calls again, the answer will be 'I am studying English Language and Literature', although have a feeling he'll call in 10 years asking where his great-great children are!