sacha chua :: living an awesome life

I went to Ateneo early this morning, fully intending to just say hi
and then go back home to revamp the network. Doc Mana somehow managed
to talk me into joining the students for the morning contest, and I’m
very glad I did so.

Yes, Eric and I lost. We solved only three problems compared to the
four problems Allan, Mark and Miguel solved. Knowing how rusty I am,
knowing how uncertain the dynamics were, it was a no-win kind of
thing—but I went and joined it anyway, just for kicks.

I think it turned out really well.

I think we all won.

Winning isn’t just a matter of points. It’s not a matter of beating
someone or keeping your reputation intact or whatever. It’s nothing
like that at all.

So, yes, the next generation beat me. Yes, they had one additional
person, but that doesn’t make their achievement any less cool. Heck,
if you’re going to go for absolute ranking, Eric solved more problems
than I did. I solved one on my own and made a passable attempt at
another; he solved two problems completely.

Someone just looking at the numbers will not understand why I enjoyed
that contest so much. I loved it, every single moment of it: from
scribbling tentative solutions and working through them with a pen,
frowning at stubborn bugs… Yes, even until the last few minutes when
I was, like, gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

It was fun.

「いいえ、ぼくです！、ぼくです！、ぼくです！」百匹のねこ、千匹のねこ、
百万匹、一億、一兆匹のねこがいいました。どのねこも自分が一番美しいとお
もっていたのです。 No, I am! I am! I am! Cried hundreds and thousands
and millions and billions and trillions of voices, for each cat
thought itself the prettiest. [M]

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