Home is Where the Heart is
I guess that I've realized that I've attached myself to places with an abundance of high culture and with a lot of things to do. I feel that my environment shapes my mood a lot--and that I yearn for excitement. That's why I think I'm attached to bigger cities. I love being thrown into somewhere new, absorbing as much of the culture and people, and figuring out where I fit. I do get bored easliy, so it has to be somewhere fast-paced and alive. I think I take a little bit (or in some cases, a lot) from every place I go; it helps me better define who I am and what I want.
Vietnam
This is where my parents were born. They were not well-off, given that it is a 3rd world country. From here, they became refugees during the Vietnam War--they were 15 (father) and 17 (mother) years old which is very young; luckily, they got out before it was too hard to leave. They came here with nothing--just the clothes on their backs. My parents are pretty Americanized since they've been here most of their lives. I used to speak fluent Vietnamese fluently until pre-school. Now, I speak to my parents in only English and "broken" Vietnamese to my grandparents. My parents came here with the values of hard work and high achievement as immigrants. I'm very proud of my heritage and culture...plus I HEART Vietnamese food!
Houston
This is where I was born. My parents worked very hard (NASA engineer and nurse) to give me the best life possible. Throughout my school years, the values of being a straight-A student, hard work, and being the best I could be were instilled in me. I hate Clear Lake because it was a suburb. My aunt (who is like my 2nd mom except cool and hip) took me around Midtown/Galleria/River Oaks area--"the urban chic" area of Houston. This is when I realized that I HAD and NEEDED to live in a big city.
Austin
This is where I go to college: University of Texas. This place plays a big step in my life as I am on a journey to my career. Again, my work ethic that has been ingrained in my head plays a role. Unlike most college students I've talked to, I can't wait to get out. It sounds weird, but I'm ready to go out into the workforce as that is a REAL challenge for me. I'm ready to be completely independent. I'm ready for the REAL WORLD. I'm tired of Austin (although I do love it). It's just not a big enough city for me. In addition, I am completely immersed in the music scene. Downtown bars aren't too shabby either--I prefer the Warehouse District.
New York City
This is where I eventually want to end up at some point in my life. It is my favorite city in this country--I am totally in LOVE. It epitomizes the lifestyle that I want -- upbeat, fast-paced, uncertain, social, nocturnal, urban, cultural. I love NY fashion, too (way better than the LA fashion market)--since fashion is my passion and hobby. For a period of time, I wanted to go into the fashion industry as management, but now I'm not so sure.. I think I could go into another industry, and still do fashion on the side. I love the blend of cultures and the diversity here. I think the picture of the city at night depicts my thoughts very well--as the red streaks of light from the ongoing traffic show the fast-paced atmosphere of the city, and the lights of the buildings show that the city never sleeps.
I dream of working as an executive in the corporate world of NYC. I dream of being on Wall Street. Hopefully, I will someday. Walking around the crowded streets, getting lunch at the street cart vendors, the hustle and bustle of traffic, the sideshows on the sidewalks, the challenge of living this life ALL excite me.
Buenos Aires
This is where I go every year with my boyfriend, Federico. He was born here in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This city is absolutely breathtaking. Every person I've met who's been here LOVES it and wants to go back. It's like being in Europe but MUCH CHEAPER (3 Argentinean Pesos = 1 American dollar). Not only was the culture, food (Lomo!!), and people so amazing, but also meeting Federico's family. I have been with Fede all throughout college but had never met his family. And when I did, I fell in love with them. I could see myself settling down here (if I was paid in American dollars though). Visiting Buenos Aires was life-changing because I was thrown into a place where I did not know the language or culture. It was the factor of uncertainty that excited me, and I was in awe of EVERY SINGLE THING there. Being here for only a couple of weeks sure did help my Spanish skills.
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