Monday, January 17, 2011

New Year, New Start

Happy 2011, everyone! It's good to be back in the States after two and a half weeks and good to have wi-fi. Honestly though, I miss Taiwan so much already! I'm going to be so depressed without amazing cheap food every single breathing moment. I'm also officially the heaviest I've ever been in my life and with no regrets. My apologies for not writing scheduled posts like I had planned or updating for over half a month - never thought I could survive that long without constant internet access. 

This brings me to another point. I feel like since high school I have been practically living on the internet and not spending enough time with family and friends. If I keep the browser open long enough, hours are gone randomly clicking around and closing and reopening the same tabs. While I feel like blogging has been such an amazing experience, I feel like now it's time to take a break and get back to living offline. 

Don't get me wrong. I'm going to miss every one of you and I can't thank you all enough for the support you've given me these 1.5 years. I'm so blessed to have met so many people with dedication and kindness and interesting things to share. I will continue stalking your blogs and maybe occasionally update but this semester I'm going to focus on getting into medical school and living out my daily life dreams. It's been so long since I sketched for the heck of it. I keep saying I never have time to play videogames or watch movies or hang out but in reality I do. Blogging alone is not to blame but each post takes so much time and to this day I can't let go of trying to perfect what I perceive as a form of digital art and literature. Each photoshoot takes a while and editing even more. I envy and respect those of you who have a job and still blog daily. I am a student first and foremost and it's time I started acting like one. This semester is jam-packed full of science courses and research and MCAT class and community service and it never ends. I'm both excited for it and yet totally unprepared.

When I was standing at the metro station in Taipei surrounded by seas and seas of people, I felt comfortable, I felt excited and I had an epiphany. I want to spend my money traveling and seeing the world. I want to save up not for a fancy camera to take pictures of myself, but for experience, for memories, for Paris, Greece, Barcelona, Okinawa, the rainforest, Great Barrier Reef. I really enjoyed traveling and being in the big city and amongst a new culture - turns out Taiwan is really different from the Asia I know. I was really surprised that people like wearing those face masks while driving around on mopeds. I thought there was another SARS epidemic but actually people use them to stay warm xD There were so many interesting cultural nuances that piqued my curiosity and I'm itching to explore more.

A year ago I wanted to quit blogging because I was scared of change. I was scared of what I would turn into and of the uncertainty. I'm really happy I didn't stop then. Right now, this decision has been carefully thought over during my trip and I am at peace with what I have become as a consequence of the blogosphere. Yes, I have accumulated more clothes and makeup, but I also have more knowledge. I am more comfortable with my appearance and less self-conscious (of course it was more difficult in Taiwan where indeed all the girls were sooo thin!). I am a stronger individual and a faster writer. I close this chapter of my book to begin a new one. 

Good-bye for now my dear friends. Adventure is out there!

19 comments:

Elisa ♥ January 17, 2011 at 1:47 PM   said...

LOOOOOOL I know how you feel !!!! llol when i came back from shanghai i weighted so much o_o !! it really was my most FAT period .. but it was totally worth it hahaha...

And it's sad to hear that you will stop with blogging =( but it's good to spend more time with friends and family =) hope you will be back !! and good luck with school ^_^ (i'm spending way too much time behind the computer as well xD.)

and btw. happy new year dear <3

Unknown January 17, 2011 at 1:57 PM   said...

don't quit blogging, keep going! :D

Happy new year dear!

x

www.themadtoter.blogspot.com

PetiteXXS January 17, 2011 at 2:17 PM   said...

Lol I was also at my heaviest coming back from my semester abroad in China (packed on a good 10 lbs!)... couldn't say no to any of the delicious abundant cheap food!

You will definitely be missed, but I can't say that similar thoughts haven't occurred to me as well. Blogging has been an incredible experience and so rewarding in its way, but I realize that there is life to be lived and other things to be prioritized! I hope you'll come back intermittently and update us on how you're doing, but good luck with everything! Let me know if you ever need any help with the med school stuff.

Anonymous January 17, 2011 at 2:18 PM   said...

Angie, most of us here are bloggers and I'm sure everyone understands you. : ) It's hard to balance everything at once and I'm in the same position as you. Being a student, having a job, blogging, and having a social life all at once is tough to manage.

Good luck with medical school and I look forward to your random blog updates! : )

xx The Little Dust Princess

Unknown January 17, 2011 at 2:26 PM   said...

Hi Angie,

Welcome back! I hope Taiwan was super fun. I'm going to be going sometime this summer.
I'm really sad to see you stop blogging, but I know you have to focus on your studies and other priorities. I do look forward to when you pop in and make an occasional post. You are one of my favorite bloggers :)

Study hard! Yes, adventure is out there! :)

sugar sugar January 17, 2011 at 2:34 PM   said...

Angie, I wish you all the best! :) I will still follow your blog and hope that you will post when you feel like doing so but as you said, you are a student first. :)I do hope you stay in touch because we will surely miss you if you don't.

I actually blog to de-stress myself, but I know it is different for everyone so do whatever you feel will be the best for you. ;)

Asian food is super delicious and cheap LOL! x) I'm glad to hear that you had fun on your trip.
hugs! :3

ahoymichelle January 17, 2011 at 2:48 PM   said...

Happy new years, Angie!

You shouldn't feel pressured to blog at all. You should only blog when you feel like it and check blogs when you have the time, but I totally get where you are going at in terms of priorities and other responsibilities. I hope you check in whenever you get the chance to!

Work smart, play hard! <3

Elle January 17, 2011 at 3:01 PM   said...

Welcome back Angie - I am so glad to hear that Taiwan was the adventure you thought it would be and more!

I completely understand needing to take a break from blogging - it really is time consuming and so draining at times. I will be anticipating your return - do check in from time to time and you know you'll always have my support.

To quote one of my fav movies - Up - Adventure is out there!

Unknown January 17, 2011 at 5:06 PM   said...

Aweeeee Angie!!!! (tears) but sort of both happy for you and your adventures and sad for all of us who love and will miss you dearly!!!!

Blogging is def time consuming and I find it's taken over my life!! LOL

I hope to hear from ya and hope you come back now and then to blogging:) Best of luck to you and everything that you do!

Unknown January 17, 2011 at 10:00 PM   said...

happy new year! oh you're in the states now~

Oreleona January 17, 2011 at 11:45 PM   said...

happy new year angie!! welcome back!! it was great knowing u and meeting u thru blogger, its sad that ure taking a break (no i refuse to believe that ure quitting-im in denial haha) but ya hopefully u'd come back in years to come :) he\y maybe u could blog ur adventures haha. but i totally understand, u need to focus on being a student first :D good luck with the new sem and success!! God bless :)

Unknown January 18, 2011 at 12:54 AM   said...

Aww I'm so sad to hear that you're going to be taking a break since I look forward to your outfit posts so much Angie...but you are right in saying that you are a student first and should dedicate your time to pursuing things you want in life. Blogging can definitely become a full time job sometimes - I don't have as nearly a large reader base as you do, but even I grow tired of all the many hours I spend online. It's good to have a hobby, but I think we all need to make sure that it doesn't turn into something that completely takes over our lives.

Best of luck to you in everything you do, and I hope that you will have many new adventures so that you can share with all of us when you decide to return. We will all miss you dearly Angie <3

Hana Tralala January 18, 2011 at 1:04 PM   said...

I know what you feel. Like you missed the real world? don't you? I hope you ĺl make a balance between living online and living offline. It's hard. And traveling is r'truly the best ting ever. If you'll go to Czech republic, poland or Slovakia-let me know-i live somewhere between :D
have a great day, Angie :)

Oreleona January 19, 2011 at 8:19 PM   said...

hopefully u do this last award :) but i nom u the cherry on top award angie :)! http://oreleona.blogspot.com/2011/01/general-blog-awards.html

Anonymous January 20, 2011 at 11:46 AM   said...

sorry to see you go - hopefully you come back some time in the future. all the best dear!

Karen February 8, 2011 at 12:22 AM   said...

Angie, can't believe I missed out on this post.. I wish you all the best hun. Hopefully you can come back when you've achieved the things you want, I'm so glad to have connected with you through this blogging experience! Let's keep tweeting :)

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