There are few things in life I want more than the ability to teleport myself (apparate) to wherever I please, instantly. I don’t know if it’s ironic or natural that this feeling has only increased since I’ve been abroad.
Or maybe it’s my age and the time and place I’m living in. On one hand, I can’t help but imagine myself post-graduation, living in an apartment with my friends, buying crockpots and modern kitchenware, decorating with polaroids and contemporary paintings, cocktails some nights, movie nights in, dinners at trendy restaurants or taking road trips North and South and East and West.
But on the other hand, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve recognized the value of family and all that my parents have done for me, so I want to keep them close too. It’s my turn to take care of them the way they’ve taken care of me. And frankly, I like spending time with my mom and dad and little brother, and it breaks my heart every time I see my brother’s expression drop when it’s time for me to go back to school or time for me to go abroad.
I want to live in New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Paris, San Francisco, a year minimum in each city, using my youthful energy while I can to absorb as much as possible. But at the same time, I know my family will be staying in Seoul, and the time I have with them will depend mostly on limited vacation time. It’s hard at this point in my life because the line between friends and family has become much more blurred, much more overlap from both sides. It was easier when my friends were strictly my friends whom I would spend time with on the weekends or after school, before I would go home to my family which was strictly my family.
So what better solution than the ability to teleport myself to wherever I want to be at any time? I am loving Paris, I really am. I haven’t been in a more beautiful city in my life, with every block being another famous monument or building or bridge. But I miss my friend working in San Francisco, my friends studying in China and Denmark and Italy, family friends in California, high school friends, and my personal trainers and family living in Korea. What I would give to be able to bring them here when I want them or to be able to visit them when I want to be elsewhere.
But as everybody keeps telling me, that’s part of being abroad – it’s a time to discover ourselves and to experience something new. I still have a long ways to go, but at this point, I’ve only discovered a cliché – what I’ve discovered is how much I should appreciate what I have. So I guess that’s a slap in the face because I should appreciate being in Paris right now for what it is because I’m sure I’ll be writing another semi-complaint of a blog post sometime in December about how much I miss Paris. Still doesn’t change how awesome it would to be able to teleport (or apparate!)
If you’re abroad and feeling the same way, holla at me (comment) so I don’t feel as guilty for not being 100% content. 🙂
Love the part about your family : ) Miss you!! xoxo