Back to NY / Thanksgiving 2023
I met up with my cousin Brian for the first time in decades. He’s 23. Just got a job at Meta. Planning to work there for a couple years and save up for a PhD in bioinformatics (iirc) so he can eventually get a job at one of Google’s subsidiaries working on the intersection of computers and biology. As I listened to him lay out his life plan I couldn’t help but wonder if I should be living with a stronger direction too. On the eve of starting a new job I am excited and also somewhat relieved (though my last job gave me some fond memories it was more stressful than I’d have wanted).
But I can’t claim to have a strong direction of where I want to take my life. As of now I am there to make money and not be too stressed.
Is there anything wrong with this? Yeah I think so in the long run. I want to live like an archer notching his arrow aiming ahead into the future and barreling towards the thing I want. Not just float around waiting for life to happen to me.
I’d guess a balance between the two is necessary for a sustainably happy life but lately I think I’ve been a little too passive in terms of what I want out of my life.
Anyways—will think about this more in the weeks to come. I want to settle into work, get a good grasp of things and then figure out what I want to do for the rest of my life.
I’m happy that I’m back to writing more regularly. Pretty helpful in terms of keeping my head above the waves and thinking more objectively instead of just being continuously submerged in life.
Thanksgiving 2023
Went back home this past week for Thanksgiving.
Dad wanted to host all the stragglers from his company who couldn’t make it home for the holidays. Mom forced me to make at least one dish and I ended up making Butternut Squash Soup.
The soup and the dinner were both a success. Met a few new people and we all bonded by getting drunk on a rotation of soju, wine and whiskey.
We also played yutnori (a traditional Korean board game that Harry seems obsessed with lately) and my team ended up losing :’)
As usual—a pleasure being home with family.
Have thought lately of returning back to LA. I think I got what I wanted mostly out of NY. To expose myself to new things and cultures. See what it was like to live in a big city. Grow my career.
I’ve seen plenty of friends come and go and at this point it feels like I’ve eaten my fill.
I want more space. To be close to family. To own my own property somewhat soon. To feel like I’m building my life somewhere instead of just passing through.
So maybe LA this year??
In other news
Visited Gomo to pick up my new company laptop and phone. Hung out with Dahwi, Brian, Gomo and Gomobu with a few drinks and karaoke.
Visited a few houses in Corona, CA because Mom and Dad seemed interested.
That’s about it—pretty slow week
This upcoming week I’m starting my new job so will be busy with that!