Ah, the big 3-0! As the clock struck midnight on my birthday, I couldn't help but feel the weight of the milestone I'd been sprinting towards for 15 years. Yes, folks, I've officially joined the ranks of the 30-somethings yesterday, and let me tell you, the air up here smells... well, a lot like it did the other day.

So, there I was, basking in the glow of my third decade on this planet, and it dawned on me—what exactly was all that preparation for? I mean, I've been training for this like it's the Olympics of adulthood, but here I am, and life feels suspiciously similar to when I hit the ripe age of 18. Ah, the good old days of youthful exuberance, where the biggest decision was whether to order pizza or Chinese for dinner.

But hold up, rewind to my 18th birthday—I was out there, making a difference in the world. I donated and volunteered at an orphanage; I did something good for humanity. Fast forward to 30, and I find myself wondering if my superhero cape is just lost in the laundry pile of responsibilities.

Speaking of my 30th shindig, a massive shoutout to all the legends who showed up to make my day memorable—both the old friends who've been putting up with my antics since I moved to Korea and the new ones who have bravely entered the fray. You guys are the real MVPs, and I promise I won't hold it against you if you decide to bail on my 40th. I kid, I kid!

Now that I'm officially a part of the 30 Club, I'm wondering if there's a secret handshake or a decoder ring I missed out on. Do we get a manual for navigating the intricacies of adulthood, or are we all just winging it and hoping for the best? Spoiler alert: it's definitely the latter.

But hey, here's to the next chapter, where wrinkles are laugh lines and "getting lucky" means finding a parking spot right in front of the grocery store. They say life begins at 30, and if that's true, I'm strapping in for the rollercoaster of questionable decisions, unexpected surprises, and the occasional bout of existential dread.

So, here's to being 30, fabulous, and still not entirely sure how taxes work. Cheers to the adventure that lies ahead, and may the next 30 years be as confusing, amusing, and downright ridiculous as the first three decades! Cheers! 🎉🥂

Hey there, long time no see, huh? I bet you've all been on the edge of your seats, eagerly awaiting an update on the whirlwind that is my life. Okay, maybe not.

Picture this: me, buried under a mountain of papers, desperately trying to keep my head above water. No, I didn't take up a career in origami. I'm talking about my grad school journey. The past month has been a wild rollercoaster ride through a sea of ​​deadlines and sleepless nights. I must admit, I have a soft spot for the written word and the joy of reading, but June wasn't exactly a walk in the park.

You see, I decided to go all out this semester and take on a full load of five courses. Ambitious, you say? More like borderline crazy. As luck would have it, every single deadline seemed to have a conspiracy against me, determined to overlap and make my life a beautiful chaos.

Amidst the chaos, I had a few emotional breakdowns. But fear not, for I emerged from the storm relatively unscathed. Except for that one course, I let it slide. Let's say the procrastination monster got the better of me, and I ended up with a B+. Lesson learned, my friends. Procrastination may seem like a friendly companion, but it's more like a sly trickster leading you down a treacherous path.

But it wasn't all doom and gloom! As soon as I bid farewell to my final papers, I joined a camp with my brother. Because apparently, being mentally exhausted wasn't enough—I had to physically exhaust myself too. But hey, there's always a silver lining, right? The camp allowed me to rekindle my love affair with table tennis, which had taken a temporary hiatus during my academic escapades. Ah, the sweet sound of ping-pong balls and the thrill of victory!

Now, brace yourselves for a momentous revelation—I'm in the early stages of considering my Ph.D. journey. Cue the gasps and the dramatic music! But seriously, folks, I can't help but feel a mixture of excitement and excitement when I think about the prestigious universities I'm eyeing. Are they the academic powerhouses of my dreams or the giants I'm too small to conquer? Only time will tell, and fingers crossed that I land a spot in at least one of them. Wish me luck!

There's also much more behind the scenes that I'm not quite ready to spill the beans on. But I promise, when the time is right, I'll be bursting with good news and eager to share it with you. I'm keeping my lips sealed for now, though, because, you know, I don't want to jinx it. 

That's the lowdown on my recent adventures. Life has thrown its fair share of challenges my way, but I'm still standing and ready to conquer whatever comes next. 

Until next time, stay fabulous, and let us all keep chasing our dreams!