While I was pondering about what I should be posting on my blog, I couldn’t help but to notice the date.

April 13th 2008, a Sunday in Korean Standard Time.

So what in the world was I doing, sitting in front of my computer, letting the precious minutes brush past me, watching an entire TV series over a period of approximately 9 hours? Now, that is a rather complicated question to answer. And I would prefer it if I relieve you from the petty excuses.

The only reasonable excuse I have is that the show was beyond interesting. Only word that could describe it is ‘extraordinary.’

I have never been a fan of American soap opera. Having only lived in the suburbs of Maryland as a 1st grader, I find it difficult to grasp the cultural differences that exist between the inhabitants of the Land of the Long White Cloud (New Zealand) and the United States of America. I mean it is not surprising if you consider the natural barrier called the Pacific Ocean that stretches to about 9000 miles between the two nations. But I also found it astounding how a 9000 mile barrier could allow things to be so much in common.

By now, you probably have guessed what this blog post is about.

A commentary on the differences between a New Zealander and an American? Not so sure.

A critique of a Hollywood love story? Maybe.

My viewpoints of what it truly means to be attending a small international school outside of Seoul, with its own elite class and also its very own set of high school drama. Now that is more like it.

In case you were wondering about the show I watched this weekend, the title of it is called Gossip Girls. Originally based on a novel, it is a spinoff series that takes place in New York’s Upper East Side. I am a guy, and I assure you, this show was the last thing on my mind yesterday night. But as things turned out, I ended up watching the entire first season in the course of about it 9 hours as I stated previously.

So what is all about then?

Well, to keep things succinct, the story is more or less what a non-American would regard as a typical ‘high school’ soap opera. The unusually beautiful girls and their equally handsome counterparts walk the rough and tough paths of love. But now vamp that up with the luxuries of what the elites of Manhattan has to offer. These high school juniors probably had their first checkbook at the age of 5 and never lived in a house with less then four maids. And in the middle of it all is an average kid from Brooklyn, attending this private high school with a partial scholarship and the brain power of surpassing the accumulation of the 4 or so main characters that are just filthy rich. This average kid’s name is called Dan Humphreys and he hated the inequity of the world and for a good reason.

Dan worked harder than any of these ‘rich kids’ that seemed to just party all day and night. Better grades, better recommendations from teachers yet there was something missing on his resume.

His parents could not afford to donate the funds so that the school could build a Humphreys Library or a new Humphreys building for Science.

Dan didn’t want to have anything to do with these socialites, he believed he wasn’t a part of ‘them.’

However everything turns upside down when the ‘love of his life’ and socialite, Serena starts up a relationship with Dan, the Nobody. And Dan starts to form a clearer, ‘less biased’ picture and attitude towards these elite class. From this point forth, the story takes shape into becoming more like a soap opera, with friendship issues, relationship issues between boyfriends/girlfriends but also friction between family as well. The pressures of living up to the family expectations and all the good stuff that comes with that wretched place called high school.

It offers a lot of food for thought, if you allow it that is.

Obviously for me, I am a high schooler. It allowed me to reflect and reminisce about my own high school life. This year has passed by so quickly that I never appreciated a lot of things that came my way. The friendship and love I received, the moments of happiness and laughter with the people around me and all the memories that last forever. The series emphasized how much I should be thankful to my family, to my friends.

And I may not ride my mom’s limousine to and from school, but many people around me, have pointed out that I am quite a spoilt child. I have negated that judgement whenever it was raised, but sometimes it is impossible to part with what is the truth. And this show called Gossip Girls really showed it to me again.

It is hard for me to go on anymore and it would be much easier if you watched the show.

I think you will be able to notice what I noticed.

Who said Hollywood spends millions mindlessly on pointless products?!

Gossip Girls is worth watching. It has a lot in it.