Ryu's Blog

It’s been a week since I turned 24. And although I didn’t plan any events or celebration for my birthday, it was a peaceful and enjoyable day. My flatmates surprised me when they knocked on my door at mid-night and sang me a birthday song. We then went to the kitchen to have some chocolate over a glass of wine and spent the night chatting, playing guitar and sang songs together. Then on the 7^th, I received a call from my buddies from Bangkok, which was very sweet as I haven’t heard their voices for a long time. They was celebrating my birthday for me in Bangkok (having dinner and cake together) and sent me a video afterward.

Since I didn’t get myself anything during birthday, I treated myself a free day today. After my morning interviews, I went to the National Gallery to see the exhibitions on Velazquez and the Impressionists. Then I walked around Covent Garden (for the first time), tried out a restaurant in China Town, and got myself a hair-cut. Given a full day rest, I’m ready to get back to work happily and productively (hypnotizing myself).

Even though I’m 24 now, perhaps because I’ve never had a full-time job, I never feel like I’m an adult. Lots of people I know don’t want to grow up. Being a child allows us to dream, to do foolish things, to take risk and to enjoy life. Growing up, on the other hand, entails obligations and responsibilities. Most of all, we’re afraid that we might get used to the society’s norm, living an aimless life, forget our dreams, become a cynic, or lose our once hopeful and romantic self.

I don’t mind growing up. Being self-sufficient and having autonomy are important to me. And as long as I’m working on things I enjoy and do them well, I should be happy. But I would try to make sure that I don’t let myself get carry away and becoming what society expects/wants me to be, but rather to always keep my perspective and live and enjoy life my way.