Immune system can be trained

Spring isn't all good. While flowers blossom, pollen is saturating the air. As I am always on my bike, pollen does irritate my nose slightly, making time on the saddle a bit uncomfortable. Pollen allergy apparently is a huge problem for many people in France. There are even pollen index and forecast, which are unheard-of in Malaysia. 

This great video from MinuteEarth explaining how dirtier environment in younger years can reduce the your allergy level. It basically saying that our immune system needs challenges from different viruses and bacterium to strengthen itself, just like what vaccine does to human, to train human's immune system. So, rising a child in an overly hygenic environment may not be a good idea. Bane said to Batman : peace has cost you your strength, victory has defeated you. I am quoting this, not to suggest that we need more war, at least not actual war per se, but a war to your immune system. And partly I think this quote is quite badass. 

War is a wrong terme because war often means violence. I am not suggesting you to go ahead now and eat some spoiled food or stick a flower in your nose and breath in all the pollen. But I am saying that our immune system can be trained. My mom always says, eat dirtier can make you stronger. She always says that to people who tell her hawker stalls on the roadside are unhygenic. 

I remember there was a time when water filter was a hot product in Malaysia, multiple brands like Diamond, Nesh, rising up from nowhere and their advertisements were everywhere. Suddenly, a water filter became a necessity in every household. The tap water was pictured as polluted as it can kill if drank directly. Suddenly, everybody was so aware of the water they are drinking. What we can learn from this are, firstly advertisement does manipulate what people think ; secondly overly hygenic is not necessarily a good thing. My parents didn't get carry away by the craze because partly we didn't have that amount of money to buy one of those expensive water filter, and partly also they thought that was just overreacting. 

I seriously think that living in France has one negative effect on me. I use to have the same level of immunity to dirty food as my mom. But during the India trip, I got minor food poisoning while my mom's stomach accepted everything. Better water quality and better hygiene in general have weakened me. Not that weak until I can't no longer support Malaysian hawker stalls' food though. Phew! What a relieve! 

Muezzins need better sound system

Spring Sunday morning, it was warm and so I left the window open through the night. I had set an alarm for the morning, but I was woke up by the bell from a church not far away before it could set off. While taking my routine morning coffee, I realized muezzin and church's bell were doing the same thing to me : tell me the hour of the day. But I rather listen to bell ringing than muezzin singing, why?

I know the call of the muezzin is an artform and they are not anybody, they are selected. But no matter how skilled the singer is, good equipment is essential too. But judging from many calls of prayer I heard in Malaysia, many were using crappy sound system. So may be the people who plan or manage mosques should start to invest a little more in sound system, better microphones, better loudspeakers, etc..

While I was in Malaysia, I disliked the call of muezzin. Now I kinda miss it. The reason I hated it was because the first call of muezzin was so early in the morning that it was like my annoying alarm clock, and people woke up by alarm clock were often grumpy. Here in France, I am woke up by a ringing bell, and honestly it is less annoying. Plus houses in France normally have thick insulating windows, the sound of the bell is reduced to the minimum when they are shut. 

I think the morning call of muezzin should be turned down a bit. The morning call certainly has good intention for not only muslims but also non-muslims, because me as a morning person myself now, I understand the benefits of waking up early in the morning, the awesome feeling of rising together with the Sun. But unlike ancient times, not everyone of us are farmers. Some have night jobs and have to sleep during daylight. As a non-muslim myself, I treat the call of prayer as a song. Just like any other song, and since people have vast variety of  taste in music, while some might find it peaceful and relaxing, certainly some would find it annoying and nerve-racking. 

Religions need to evolve and adapt.    

The wish to talk to God

I was so happy that I got the project I wanted for summer internship. "Why not continue to build on it?", I thought. Originally, I was thinking of buying an ATH-M50x, a pair of top quality headphones, to reward myself. But I changed my mind. In fact I am glad that I changed my mind. I signed up for an ultra.

What is an ultra? Ultra is short for ultramarathon. To quote wikipedia, an ultra is any sporting event involving running and walking longer than the traditional marathon. The one I am going to take part in is called UT4M, 160km with +10000m of climbing. I have always dreamt of doing an UTMB (Ultra Trail de Mont Blanc). Well, UT4M is not bad as well. It is still relatively new. This year will only be the third time it is held but UT4M is quickily gaining recognition all around France.  

The top runners can finish the course around 24 hours, others can up to 51 hours. It will be a vaillant effort, but at the same time, I feel like if I am not doing it this year, I won't have time and the energy to do it after I start working next year on. I need to try it, hopefully finish it and cross out this in my list of goals. 

I still can't imagine how people can run continuously for days and nights. Well this time, I don't need to try to imagine anymore because I am going to do it. With the internship and this race in mind, with something to look forward to feels great. Both of them are gonna keep me very well occupied during ths coming summer. 

The legendary ultrarunner Dean Karnazes once said, "If you want to talk to God, run an ultra!" I always believe in the power of will. Hopefully I have enough will power, and hopefully talk to God.