if this week was to be summarized in a single word, it would be "splurge".

in no less than 4 separate occasions have i let my shopaholic side loose, wasting both my own and my parents' money in various purchases. i'll be coming into the next week with 3 new pairs of pants, a shirt, a jacket, 2 belts, and a few other accessories. it might seem a bit excessive (and i gather it really is), but i can't be blamed entirely for the spenditure. it's just been the result of several coincidental yet nicely-placed events, all of which had to converge on this very week.

1st, my dad went away to geneva on business. this may not seem so significant, but without the lingering presence of my father weighing down on my every financial move, the impulse buyer in me has had time to breathe and stretch, with it grabbing a few items along the way.

2nd, the arrival of a much-overdue check. grade release issues and red tape have delayed my scholarship support long enough. the check i received this week is the first of many installments due to me. even if i haven't cashed it in yet, just knowing that i have spare cash lying around somewhere releases most spending inhibitions (particularly the miser side in me).

next, the culmination of a month-long sale at robinsons place. of course, the sale signs and bargain bins will still be there long after the sale has officially ended, but i am not one to let shirts and pants at 50% off pass me by.

lastly, several weekend shopping sprees courtesy of my mom. in the middle of last week, she invited me to go to divisoria on saturday and greenhills on sunday. and of course, who am i to say no? in fact, i haven't even been to divisoria before. we went this morning, and i can say that 8 hours of pure bargain madness haven't worn me out in the least. actually, we were quite confined in a single mall in the divi area, so we didn't really go to the nitty-gritty parts of it, but it was a learning experience just as well. i couldn't get myself to buy too much since i had already splurged during the week, but tomorrow's trip to greenhills might turn out differently.

near the end of this long yet productive week, i have come across some material truths about myself. first, my style is again starting to shift, as it did during the start of my freshman year. i am now regressing to proper-fitting shirts as opposed to my slim-fitting fad (but i'm still willing to flaunt my stuff, wahaha), and now my pants are getting the slim treatment. and another, i'm not so brand-conscious. visiting divi has opened my eyes to the wonder and cheapness of unbranded stuff. random korean labels scattered throughout the tiangge are of real quality, and at less than half the retail price elsewhere. fake wallets may carry the brand name illicitly, but do justice to the product.

hehe, i think i may really be growing up.

this week can be summarized in so many words: hellishly toxic.

you would not believe the load put on our backs by the curriculum this time. exams last week postponed to this week, lecture and lab subjects climaxing at the same time, and a certain annoyance asking for unnecessary non-departmental exams a day before the heavier dep exam. luckily, imed has mastered several coping mechanisms, and a special few of my own, ready and waiting for such occasions.

first off, the single most important pre-exam event everyone anticipates: the study group. i can't imagine surviving without this indespensible tool, even if it was just during my 1st sem. they offer the perfect, or nearly perfect, learning conditions; an aggregate of knowledge, learned and eager minds exchanging info and trading secrets, and a sociable atmosphere which makes acads feel less intimidating than it really is. the only downsides are if you need a closed, silent environment to fully absorb knowledge, you won't find it here. it also requires a bit of prior knowledge to at least keep up with the pace of general discussion, and the lack of sleeping space, the bathroom rush during the next morning, and complementary house cleanup afterward bring a quick damper to the night. last week, there couldn't have been less than 4 independently-run study groups per day, just what the doctor ordered.

with joining study groups, or even on solo flights, burning the midnight oil becomes inevitable. people always say to study several days, even weeks, ahead, so that the pacing and sleeping patterns can be maintained throughout, but come on, that never happens. even if we start studying 3, 4 days in advance, cramming at crunch time always adds a little flair to the chore. and so with that comes mechanism number 2, sleeping on cue. a typical day of classes has at least 1 relatively long break, set for lunch time or whatever reason there is. on times like those, it helps to be able to fall unconscious upon hitting the bed, catching a few zzz's, then waking up a few minutes later, fresh and ready to hit the road again.

next, the very thing up manila is famous for, or rather, infamous for: detox. establishing an institution dedicated to human intellect smack dab in the center of sin city does have its perks. every hell week, or rather, every week, must culminate with a dose of guilty pleasure. nearly every conceivable vice and vanity is 15 minutes away at the farthest. malls, movies, restos, bars, baywalk, even biking and volleyball sessions add to the growing mix. and speaking of bars, last last friday, a small group of us went barhopping. to think, it took us 1 1/2 years of living in manila before we could taste the nightlife as an imed group. there was no drinking *yet*, but letting loose and just moving to the music was a high the likes of which i have never felt before. the night went great, albeit half my time was spent rounding up my female companions, steering away prying eyes and eager bodies from our group, an extremely exhausting task (considering the skin-to-skin distance between persons is nearly zero, and sex appeal just had to reach a peak that night). for more details, refer to alikoy's blog.

lastly, a little divine intervention never hurt. praying for typhoons, rallies, or random blackouts could just come in handy in a pinch. and in my case, the big guy up there may just have something special thrown in for free. it's something i like to call my "magical bio powers" and "magical chem powers". not to flaunt, but in terms of diligence in studying, i'm not exactly the model student. but when push comes to shove, and the dust starts to settle, i always turn out better for wear, with scores reaching the high 80's to 90's. in past experience, i'm infamous for being the first to sleep during study groups, one with the least toxic night, but with results which usually turn a couple of heads. even now, i always start off insecure and doubtful of my knowledge, specially with people who can blurt out terms and definitions i have never encountered before (or never retained), but things always have a way of working out in the end.

with all things considered, college life is never a cakewalk. but at least, we'd have several tricks of the trade up our sleeves, ready to be called upon when the need arises. and last week, that was definitely a situation.