Pan's Labyrinth

is what I'm currently watching as I type this entry. What a brilliant movie. I remember watching it for the first time back in senior year of high school and being simultaneously horrified and fascinated by Guillermo del Toro's monstrous, fantastic universe.

Today was the first day of work. Boy it was weird, walkin' around downtown and seeing all them pretty blond girls wearing pencil skirts and clean-cut boys in their boat shoes and pressed pants. I can't believe these people (and I am one of them!) exist in the same planet as the type of pedestrians I'd see in India. Besides the obvious physical and socioeconomic differences, I think what sets these people apart the most from those in developing nations is our sense of entitlement. Young urban professionals know they're entitled to the best jobs, the best educations, and the best pampering because they (we! so difficult to keep myself in check here) have been used to it from day one. We have choices, and as a result, we walk with a spring in our step that announces to the world, "Hey, I'm here. Watch out."

The average Indian pedestrian, however, is probably a young male with just enough education to get a decent salary to bring home to his family. He works long hours in a position he's had for years and years and has no intention of  quitting. The choices he faces - both day-to-day and in the long run - are much fewer in number, and his priorities are simple and straightforward: support his family, find a good wife, honor his gods. The focus of his life is set on those around him, and not himself as an individual. I think that beyond the material wealth or luxuries, it is this sense of individuality that money breeds - and that that's what gets out of control the fastest - the expectation that life will continue and only improve at this privileged pace.

Fuuuck, the bottle scene just happened. I looked away but the sounds were still crunchy and horrifying. On that note, I'm going to close my laptop and stop being antisocial, my roommates must think I am craze-o.