Introduction

How do I make this not awkward?


Whenever I have to make an introduction in real life, I fake a smile, extend my hand and say, "Hi. Nice to meet you."


In return I get a scrutinizing gaze from the stranger and a gentle reminder that not everyone is as fond of physical contact as I am. And usually in situations like these I'll put my hand back in my pocket and hope that the sight of me blushing furiously won't put the stranger off their dinner. Then, I'll just walk away.


Yeah.


I can't exactly do that on the internet, now can I? Because one, there are probably too many (or maybe none at all) hands to shake, to many opportunities to lie. I could tell you that I'm 'a 17 year old bikini model, blogging about my seven months at sea as I try to find myself spiritually' and you'd probably believe it. Heh.

(note to readers: I am not in anyway a 17 year old bikini model. I quote, "NOT A BIKINI MODEL")

Or perhaps I could write down what I usually do when a new school year starts and the English teacher asks us to "take out a G1 exercise book, write your name, then give me a simple introduction." :

My name is Amirah Qistina Bt Hazrin. I am 15 years old. I study at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan XXXXXXX Kajang. I am a Muslim of Malay descent. My hobby is reading. I have one younger sibling. My father is an accountant. My mother is a Management Officer, or so she tells me. I want to be a writer when I grow up.

Sigh.

But then again, that's the whole problem with intros isn't it? You can say one thing and be another. I bet from that short intro no one would've guessed that after school, I stay at my grandmother's tiny cottage-like house because both my parents aren't home till 8. I bet that no one would've guessed that I have a small scar on my right cheek as a result of my cousin's pinching. (I don't blame her though, I did steal her strawberry balloon)

I could tell you that I'm a doodler, a writer, an owner of seven cats. I hate cheese, I love fast food. I always double-knot my shoelaces. I braid people's hair. I'm an older sister, the third oldest cousin.

I could tell you that I was born in Kajang, next to McDonalds. I could tell you that I'm constantly asked if I'm a mat salleh. I could tell you I started this blog because I think people have things they want to say, but they're not equipped with the proper weapons, the right words.

I could if I wanted to.

Perhaps this would be the right time to mention that yes, this blog's title is a private joke. Ameer Qisti is me, and I am Ameer Qisti. Perhaps this would also be the time to mention that these are misadventures because life throws so many things at you, it's hard to dodge them all at once.

But then again, perhaps it's not.
...

My name is Amirah Qistina Bt Hazrin. I am 15 years old. I study at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan XXXXXXX Kajang. I am a Muslim of Malay descent. My hobby is reading. I have one younger sibling. My father is an accountant. My mother is a Management Officer, or so she tells me. I want to be a writer when I grow up.

"Never judge a book by it's cover is a saying worn and overused. In reality, you should not judge a book by it's pages, because they make up a bigger story."