CHANGE: Do places change people, or do people change people?

Was browsing through friendster most of the day, at work and now at home.. there, i looked for long lost friends, new acquaintances through other friends, or just browse through ones who are not even related to me.. just feeding this intrinsic, sometimes voyeuristic, curiosity of mine.. i don't know if its the same for others, but i think I'm on the right "generalization" here.. at home, i just go through people who viewed me, friends who updated their pictures or profiles, and the usual maintenance stuff.. and this sometimes feels like revenge.. view me, and I'll view you back, just to make sure that not remaining anonymous has its perks maintained.. haha.. I'm crazy sometimes..

But what, I wouldn't say irked me, affected me more was that how friends can change within a single year through university, National Service or other pursuits of life.. I'll split them up and we'll answer the question; 'Do places change people, or do people change people?", a little later on..

1. University

People seem more mature. Partners change, surroundings change, and people seem to pursuing what they want more. Correct me wherever I'm wrong. I think people actually see other people and actually question, "What if I'm with that someone-else?" Dangerous, but true i think. Sad, but true too. Yes, of course, some partners stay true, but I've seen too many who haven't. I guess JCs and Polys are lakes, but University would be the ocean. A fisherman would catch more fish in a bigger water body, ceteris paribus. People also seem to be going to do what they've always wanted more, I think. More people, bigger place. Okay, so first round, place VS people, its draw on the scorecards.

2. NS

People get fitter. Some shrink. Green, blue and..... Blue. Couldn't find a better color to describe CD, sorry. Buffer bodies, toned arms and comments by long lost friends on oh "how charming you have become." Doesn't that mean that the guy was ugly before?? Think about it. Girls especially. Friends change. For better or for worse, till death do us part. Literally. Be it dunking of heads during training, or death by airplane crash, literally. More people, not necessarily bigger place. People win, hands down.

3. Other Pursuits

My impression of other pursuits is like overseas studying or private education. Overseas, people grow bigger, not necessarily fatter, but bigger. Super-sized food has its effects. And i guess having less friends who know you prior to that overseas stint, means less people telling you, directly or indirectly, how proportionately or disproportionately, become. And family too. I think only family can getaway with comments like "Maybe you should lose some weight?" or "Boy.. You're growing." Correct me if I'm wrong. People lesser, place, definitely a bigger influence. Place, hands down.

So on the scorecards, 2 points for people, 2 points for place. A draw. Thanks a lot for entertaining me. Have a nice day! :)