Today, as I walked towards the field after school, I half-expected to see it bustling with activity, with CCA trainings, with people running around the track, with people sitting at the spectator gallery resting from some tough PT.
What did I see?
I saw nothing.
Metaphorically speaking of course. But then it was really empty, with the exception of maybe one or two people doing some extra training or kicking a ball around, in comparison to the usual fully-utilised track and field. CCA trainings, which I expected to be held at around after-school times, were not held. And then I remembered.
Today is Valentine's Day.
Today is the special day in which we celebrate love, and we see flowers, chocolates, soft toys, and many other gifts and presents being exchanged throughout the entire day. Hugs are of course a part of the package, as I see people hugging here and there throughout the course of this day. Why the sudden change?
Back in RI, Valentine's Day was just 14th February, yet another monotonous day of school, and as someone mentioned on his MSN nick: "14th February used to just be a person's birthday." We said, "Hey! Happy Valentine's Day!" But we knew that we never really put any effort into making the day a big occasion, or burn our pockets to provide some sweet delights for others' tongues.
Is it girl culture influencing the school? Peer pressure is indeed a strong tool. With guys buying stuff for girls here and there, and girls preparing stuff for guys and other girls here and there, we are all of course pressured to do something for the other people, and give people something which we have never really given before. For me, this day is nothing special. I'm not really proud to say this, but I never did prepare anything for anyone for this day (even though peer pressure did tell me I should), and so of course I never did expect to get anything. Thanks to the people who did give me some snacks, which was really useful during Geography class.
But the fact remains. Everyone has an important occasion which they do not celebrate, be it their birthday or Christmas. For me, it is Valentine's Day.
Why people decide to designate this day as Valentine's Day, I do not know.
Why people bother to work so hard to prepare for this day, I do not know.
What I do know, however, is that the introduction of girls in our lives, which affected the majority of the male population in the school, is a very very strong tool.
ivan fed the world.