My reflection and review on “Alice in Quantamland”

Just take whatever you can resonate with. 🦋

I just read “Alice in Quantumland” by Robert Gilmore, and it’s as if I’ve tumbled down my own spiraling rabbit hole into the wonders of quantum concepts. The cover perfectly captures Alice’s descent, mirroring my plunge into the entwining paths of relativity and quantum mechanics, a space where science dances with imagination.

I’m giving this book a stellar 5-star rating for its ingenious way of simplifying quantum physics to a story level, weaving it with the classic “Alice in Wonderland” tale. It’s perfect for those of us captivated by Alice’s adventures and equally intrigued by the enigmas of quantum physics. I found myself engrossed in how the book marries rigorous scientific explanation with an enchanting narrativejourney.

The term “Young Spirit” comes to mind, hinting at the fresh and eager energy this book radiates,encouraging a playful yet profound exploration of science. I heartily recommend it to anyone with a curious soul, ready to explore the universe’s mysteries in a uniquely joyous and insightful way.

The review is a heartfelt reflection on the classic “ALICE IN WONDERLAND” by Lewis Carroll. It speaks to the enduring appeal of the story, emphasizing its imaginative richness that transcends time and continues to captivate readers of all ages. The text reflects on the curious and intricate world Carroll created, one filled with riddles and whimsical characters that challenge our perceptions of reality.

It muses on the philosophical and educational undertones of Alice’s adventures, pondering the lessons they impart about growth, identity, and reality. It contemplates the way the story nudges us to embrace the absurd and the unpredictable, to question and to wonder.

The writer identifies with Alice’s journey as a metaphor for the human condition, a trek through the complexities of life laden with conundrums and marvels. They marvel at the story’s ability to weave the simple with the complex, crafting anarrative that is both whimsical and profound.

The reflection closes by asking us, as readers, to consider what lessons we can draw from Alice’s journey. It poses the question: Are we not all, in some ways, Alice ourselves navigating the labyrinth of life, seeking understanding and a place where we truly belong?

The writer beckons us to find our own Wonderland. to embrace the journey with the curiosity and bravery of Alice, and to remain open to the wonders of the world, as we all navigate the puzzles of our own unique paths.

From now on is my own experience 😄

I’ve always secretly wanted to write something like “Alice in Wonderland.” You know, something totally out there and magical. Imagine this: it’s kind of like me diving into my own wild, weird world. Like how John Lennon would spin these surreal stories through his songs, I’ve got this dream of escaping into a totally epic adventure.

Back then, getting out of my house was the only way to escape the constant chaos of domestic fights. I tricked my folks into letting me take these scholarship exams by pretending I wanted to be a language whiz. That was my ticket out, my own rabbit hole.

My mom got it, I think. She saw that spark in me, maybe something she wished she could’ve chased herself. She set me up to live with my uncle in California and told me not to worry about money. “Go, be free,” she said, kind of sadly excited for me.

Landing in California felt like stepping into a dream. But soon enough, reality checked in. School was brutal, kids picking on the new girl with the funny accent.California, with all its postcard-worthy scenes and sunny vibes, was supposed to be this fresh start. But man, it was tough. If you weren’t into Mexican food, too bad — you had to get on board. I swapped being looked after for scrubbing dishes at a diner, enduring cold mornings and long walks to the bus stop.

One rough day, I ended up crying under a tree, feeling just as alone as I did back home. It was like escaping hadn’t changed a thing.

This journey’s been about giving up a lot, chasing after some sort of belonging, like following a white rabbit through life. Making new friends and finding mentors felt like I was finally taking flight on my own.

But was I really safer or better off? Could I actually grow into a better me here, or was it all just smoke and mirrors? Thinking about home brought up the fear of more fights — the more you cost them, the harder the hit.

The only choice was to keep pushing on.

I didn’t think I’d make it on my own, but then, out of nowhere, I got this map. Maybe, just maybe, it could help me navigate through all the crazy, past the fears, and into a place where I could stop feeling lost.

So here I am, still rolling with the punches, holding onto a shred of hope that this map leads me to a morning where I’m not just surviving in my story, but actually writing it my way.

the guide to navigating this strange, new place I was trying to make home. As I dove into the pages, I realized that, like Alice, I too was tumbling down a rabbit hole into a world where everything felt upside-down and backwards. My aunt seemed to understand that more than I could have guessed.

Aunt Puek, with her gentle smile, would often say, “Let the book be your companion when you feel lost.” And weirdly, it helped. The more I read, the more I felt like I could face the weirdness of this new life. The characters in the book weren’t just fictional — they were friends in solitude, allies in confusion.Days turned into weeks, and I started picking up bits of conversation at school, even making a few friends. I found that the more I shared my story, the less I felt like an outsider. It was like every time I spoke up, a little more of the fear melted away. Even though I was still scared of what my mom might say or do if she saw me now, I was slowly building a new kind of courage, piece by piece.One afternoon, while helping out at my uncle’s restaurant, I overheard some regulars chatting about how everyone has their own battles, their own Wonderland to navigate. It struck me that maybe I wasn’t so alone in feeling out of place; maybe everyone has a moment when they feel like they’ve fallen into a world that doesn’t quite fit.

Aunt Puek noticed my interest and started including me in more conversations, helping me to practice my English. “You see, Pang,” she’d say, “it’s all about finding your voice. Once you find it, no one can take it away from you.” Her words became a new mantra for me.

The support from my uncle, aunt, and even the employees at the restaurant grew into a kind of family I never thought I’d have. They cheered for me at school events, helped me with homework, and listened when I needed to talk. They made California feel less like a foreign land and more like a place I could actually belong.

One evening, sitting under that same tree where I once cried, I realized something important. This wasn’t just about surviving anymore; it was about thriving. Here, in this Wonderland, I wasn’t just getting by — I was starting to live. The fear of being sent back to Thailand still lingered, but it was no longer the only thing defining my days.

As I closed the book on Alice and her adventures, I opened up a new chapter in my own story, ready to face whatever comes with a little more hope and a lot more strength.

California, with all its quirks and challenges, was becoming my own version of Wonderland, where I was learning not just to survive, but to flourish.

Mandi in Caliwonderland

Back then, leaving home was the only way out. We were dealing with some serious domestic issues, and I found a sneaky way to get around my parents by saying I needed to ace a scholarship exam to improve my language skills. My mom’s brother lived all the way in California.

Mom said I didn’t have to worry about money and could just stay with my uncle. I arrived in California thinking I’d finally escaped the trouble and wouldn’t have to deal with any more drama. But then, school happened. There was bullying, and my language skills weren’t as sharp as I thought, making it hard to fit in. California was this amazing, gorgeous place, but it was also totally new to me. What was I supposed to eat? Had to get used to Mexican food real quick!

I ended up washing dishes at a restaurant because, unlike back home where I didn’t lift a finger, here I had to pitch in. California was chilly too, and as someone who feels the cold, I had to bundle up and just deal with it. The trek to the school bus stop took forever, about an hour each way.

Giving up stuff became routine. Chasing dreams in California meant leaving behind friends and supportive teachers and trying to make it on my own in this unfamiliar place. It’s hard to tell whether these adventures made me smaller or if I’ve grown from them. Am I better off? Is it safer here than back home? And if it’s not, how would I ever go back to what used to be normal? I’m sure my parents aren’t thrilled, especially since every penny spent is likely another reason for tension.

Surviving was the only option. I never thought I’d manage all this alone, but luckily, I ended up getting a helping hand and even a sort of map to guide me.

“You gotta keep going, you gotta make it, even if it means pushing way harder than everyone else. Doesn’t matter how tough it gets, ‘cause at the end of the day, it’s about make it right? And somehow, I’m okay with that.”

A lot of folks might have heard me say this, but I first dropped that line when my uncle asked why I decided to come study here. It sort of slipped out, a real talk about the rough stuff back home. I hadn’t really hung out with my uncle’s family before. They live here and only pop over to Thailand once in a while, so we never got into deep chats about personal stuff. But then, on my first day, I walked into his restaurant ready to help wash dishes and asked if there was anything else I could do. My uncle and aunt exchanged this puzzled look. Why did I trek half an hour to get here?

That day, my first school grades came out, and they were pretty bad — it’s not like English is my first language, right? How am I supposed to keep up? Speaking up and listening are all I’ve got. And the thought of my mom seeing those grades? Don’t even want to go there.

I was scared stiff about being sent back to Thailand. All I could think was I had to nail this, do more than everyone else just to stay afloat. When I finally opened up, my uncle’s crew at the restaurant, they all gathered around me — some even cried. I didn’t get why it got to them so much. Aunt Puek, Uncle Chai’s wife, was like, “Pang, you’re still a kid, try to have some fun.” But how could I, when I was scared to talk to anyone and terrified of what my mom might do?

That’s when my aunt handed me a copy of “Alice in Wonderland.” “Give this a read,” she said.

It wasn’t just a story; it was like a blueprint for surviving and finding some joy in this Wonderland called California.

“Are you mad? How can you even enjoy just flipping through the pages like that?” That was the first thing Amy, my Korean friend, said when she saw how I read this book.

So, I told her, “If you think I’m crazy, that’s nothing new.” People have been calling me that since I was 14 because of my unique way of reading maps. At first, I didn’t get much from reading them. But man, ever since I started carrying “Alice in Wonderland” around, things changed. I’d pick it up, let it fall open to any page, and whatever line I saw first, that would be my nugget of wisdom for the day. It was more than just reading; it was like a treasure hunt in English, turning one sentence into two, a phrase into a whole paragraph.

The more I did it, the more it shaped me. I was living my own little adventure, diving into a wonderland that never failed to amaze me. Those random lines? They sparked daily inspiration. I’d play around with the words, ponder how they fit into my life, or just let them fire up my curiosity. This way of embracing the weirdness around me actually started making sense to others too.

It turned out, this odd habit of mine made me stand out in a good way at school. When classmates saw me randomly flipping open the book, instead of finding it weird, they got curious. When they asked why I did it, I’d just say, “I’m not great at English, just trying to make learning fun for myself.” And from there, I’d explain how the book helps me learn and have fun at the same time.

You wouldn’t believe the reactions. People were like, “Aww, ok, I’ll be your friend.” They figured if they talked to me, it would help me get better at English. “Don’t worry, I’ll come chat with you,” they’d say. It was heartwarming, really. Back in a Thai school, I probably would’ve been teased and called crazy. But here, this book and my weird way with it actually helped me make friends.

“Even for one night we might wake up and find that we were not ourselves at all,” mused the Caterpillar in *Alice in Wonderland*. That line really stuck with me. Living a life where everything seemed flipped upside down, I tried to stay upbeat and have fun despite feeling lonely — but really, I was never alone. With Alice by my side, sometimes I’d catch a glimpse of the Cheshire Cat’s grin when I was confused about which bus line to take, or imagine strange foods that seemed to whisper, “Eat me.”

During those moments, I got the idea to write a book about living life in this topsy-turvy world — a guide to help others navigate through their own rabbit holes, mazes, and metaphorical mad tea parties. I wanted to give back some of the insights I’d gained from my adventures and misadventures. And honestly, *Alice in Wonderland* is what made me want to become a writer. It turned me into someone endlessly curious, always believing in the endless possibilities.

Life became a series of unlikely adventures in an upside-down world filled with unreasonable adults and time-obsessed creatures, not to mention a queen who seemed ready to chop off everyone’s head. But, Alice taught me to think differently — to ask questions, to be open to new experiences.

These stories may seem almost forgotten, but they never truly fade away. They inspired me to create my own book, “Mirrorland,” set in a parallel world with countless doors to open, each leading to new possibilities. And when it finally hit the shelves, published by Jamsai, I felt like I’d achieved something monumental.

Sure, there were tough times, like during the writing contest when everything seemed bleak, but nothing could deter me. These challenges didn’t change who I was; they didn’t take me away from Alice because, in a way, Alice is a part of everyone. She embodies the spirit of curiosity and the courage to face whatever comes your way, teaching us all to hold on to our sense of wonder no matter where we find ourselves.

“BUT I DON’T WANT TO GO AMONG MAD PEOPLE,” Alice remarked.“OH, YOU CAN’T HELP THAT,” said the Cat: “WE’RE ALL MAD HERE. I’M MAD. YOU’RE MAD.”“HOW DO YOU KNOW I’M MAD?” said Alice. “YOU MUST BE,” said the Cat, “OR YOU WOULDN’T HAVE COME HERE.”-Lewis Carroll, *Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland*

This exchange might just be the most classic and famous dialogue from the story. It’s this madness, after all, that makes things happen in the world. Being crazy frees us from the shackles that hold us back and pushes us to prioritize ourselves. Isn’t it mad to think I can work my first exhibition on a gallery that’s burning up? It’s wild that WEBTOON updated to say there are three artists involved in my story and I made it to the end. Even wilder is that I’m still here today, able to thank the craziness that has opened up so many possibilities others wouldn’t dare to dream of.

I almost let go of this madness, but the closing of the campaign (on of my recent project) brought it all back, reminding me of Alice with a message in our final post: Permission to open doors, gulp down a potion, and chase after that white rabbit.

I might get the chance to explore these themes further if I manage to launch my podcast, “Curiouser and Curiouser,” reflecting on all the metaphorical doors I’ve opened and the rabbit holes I’ve tumbled down. Not every fall leads to joy, but each descent opens up myriad possibilities, turning the seemingly impossible into reality. I’ve never stopped wondering, always searching for more information.

I make the most of my fleeting time here. Even if some might think I’m not having fun, well, that’s on them. I’m here, living it up in my own mad, curious way.

Ps. Now, I’m practicing on Lucid dream and I talked to my SOUL, a character that I wrote there in my LINEWEBTOON story

You can check it out on my listed page.(TBC)

Good Luck,

Alice!

Aka Mandi or Pang