It's quite the conundrum, growing up. As children, we always want to be doing something, whether it be playing, playing, playing, or eating. Always! As a kid, there are times when even taking a break to go to sleep seems like such a waste, since you want to keep having fun! But, as you grow older, that all changes. It's hard to determine when the true transition into adulthood is, but now that I am entering that phase, I think I'm starting to understand more. First of all, to adults sleep is important. VERY important. You would be hard pressed to find a kid that says they sleep as a pastime or hobby, and yet I hear that from my university peers all the time. Really! In my Korean class for example, when asked what we do after classes, many people said sleep! And it's not because we don't know how to say anything else. We have been taught many useful words! Like... eating! Or... studying! And... watching Korean Dramas! But no. My classmates all just want to sleep. Hardcore adulting at its most enjoyable! Another thing that I find, now that I'm older, is that I can truly enjoy the finer things in life. The saying, "You'll understand when you're older," the biggest bane of every child's existence, I understand now, too. When I was younger, I was too busy playing to stop and smell the flowers. I was too busy spending time with friends, to truly appreciate what they mean to me. I was too wrapped up in myself to think about others, and what they are doing for me. Now, while I still don't stop to smell the flowers (though that's because I am not adult enough yet to actually like the fragrance) I do stop to look at them. My campus in Japan is absolutely beautiful now that spring is in full motion. There is green everywhere, and each of the trees and bushes are taking their turns flowering. As a fully transitioning adult, I not only notice this, but it brings me great happiness. Also, whether it is at ICU here in Japan, OSU back in the states, or Medina High School in my hometown, I have a group of irreplaceable friends that make me happy just to think about. When together, I can become a kid again, if just for a few hours, and play to my heart's content. When apart, I still feel their presence as an important part of my life that I can be happy with and proud of................ Wow that got mushy. That's because it's Friday! The world of the weekend is lounging enticingly before me. In Japanese it can be called, 花金 (hanakin) literally meaning golden flower but representing the meaning of TGIF. I blame this name for my flowery language! Just know that the weather, the plant life, and my day-to-day life are all going very well here in Japan! At least on the weekends. It seems that as children, there is not really a need for distinction between week and weekend. Sure, kids don't want to go to school, but it's either playing at school or playing at home. Now that I'm an adult, there's this thing called "work" that leaves me feeling very frantic, somewhat stressed, and just overall busy. From Monday morning until Friday afternoon, I feel like I am in constant motion, either going to classes, my part-time job, or some club function or another. My hypothesis is that this "work" phenomenon, is what causes not only the transition into adulthood, but also the sudden love for sleep, and the ability to smell roses. ALL THE TIME. Or maybe that's love. Either way, "work" is the important key here! "What evidence do you have for this?" you might ask, well I have just the thing for you! It's retired people! Think of the people in your life who have worked their required time, and have now settled down to a peaceful existence. What are their sleeping habits like? They probably go to sleep around 10 or 11 and then wake up around 4, 5, or 6 right? This person is obviously an adult, and yet they don't seem to like sleeping anymore even though they have plenty of time for it now! This correlation is clear, irrefutable evidence to my claim! Work = needs sleep. Oh wait, that's not what I was proving... But you get the point. Or maybe not. I lost the point... Let's start again. I think what I wanted to say wasn't really about the process of becoming an adult, or about retiring for that matter. What I really wanted to convey is my realization that I have been having recently. As a kid, becoming an adult means being able to do whatever you want. As a transitioning adult, being an adult means having to take on annoying responsibilities like paying the bills, and working, as well as a sudden drop in energy that often gets supplemented by coffee. But, as an adult, what does being an adult mean? Before it happens, it's such an important word. But afterword? It's not a single gateway after all. These changes are never ending. I'm glad to have finally learned that becoming an adult isn't all that bad. When you're always playing, you can't be happy in the few moments when you aren't. But now, I can sit in my room after a tough week, look out the window, and be happy. No music, no TV, no phone, just the beautiful little forest out my window and the newly hatched butterflies flittering about.
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Secondly, you must have a plan and proper things to do while flying! That means cards, books, video games, just stuff everything in. Once on the plane, stow one of your two carry-ons, since it's impossible to fit all the essentials in just one, and place the other under the seat in front of you. I guarantee all the games will be in the stowed bag, and all the boring books that you brought will be "stuck" under the seat. Then, even though you lack internet, you will play with your phone for the whole flight, throwing all plans out the plane without a parachute.
For me, I made 1 hour and 40 minutes pass by like an instant with a downloaded audio-book and my phone's gazillion pictures. You might think that an hour and 40 minutes isn't much, but that's the time it takes to drive to Ohio State University from Medina, my hometown. I've tried everything, Disney karaoke, the ABC game, and, heaven forbid, actually speaking to the person driving, but they all end in boredom! For my flight, I was not bored once! Praise me for my long attention span :) I can go almost two hours without any lasting problems. So, in conclusion: Two or more pillows and a full bag of entertainment. Disclaimer: Don't listen to a word I've just said. It's rather unreasonable advice. |
AuthorThe name's Sarah. From September, 2017 to June, 2018 I will be your guide through life as an exchange student in Tokyo. (Some guide I am. It's like I just left you in the middle of nowhere so that I could go off on my own adventures!) Archives
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