10 Year Meme
10 Year Meme stolen from aiwritingfic:
1) How old were you?
Then: 12
Now: 22
2) What was your online presence?
Then: not much - I didn't have internet access from home yet
Now: I generally keep at least semi-active on a few sites . . . . okay, so haven't been doing so good lately >.>
3) Where did you work?
Then: just occasional chores around the house for peanuts
Now: In America: Chinese tutor; In Asia: English tutor
4) Where did you live?
Then: Stuck in Colorado, wishing I was somewhere else
Now: At the moment, Kyoto <3
5) Who did you live with?
Then: my family
Now: alone
6) How was your health?
Then: Crappy - every winter was a constant struggle to not miss too much class from constant illnesses.
Now: Much better - two major changes: I became vegetarian, and I finally got out of Colorado, and each of those has made major differences to my health. Now hopefully I'll be able to tough out one final cold winter (here in Kyoto) before returning to better climates in the future for the rest of my winters.
7) Pets?
Then: my sweet kitten <3
Now: my cat died over the summer from a liver infection (TT.TT). I will miss her always. My family still has some other cats. I can't see myself getting more pets in the future - I'm too mobile to provide a good home. Besides, I'm still far too broken hearted over my cat's death to even want to consider ever getting another cat at the moment.
8) Who was your boyfriend/girlfriend/partner/spouse/S.O.?
Then: Forbidden to date, and no interest in any of the goofballs that asked me out anyways. Including the one college age guy that tried asking me out in front of my mom, thinking I was 16 (yeah, that made the no dating rule pretty strict x.x )
Now: None, and very sick of the the quantity but not quality of guys still trying to ask me out. Decent guys only need apply. And anyone who brings up the topic of marriage before even exchanging introductions is an automatic reject.
9) Any kids? Any plans for kids?
Then: Open to the idea, but only in the very far distant future (at least over 30)
Now: Anything that involves me settling down could not be further from my mind
10) What was your worst struggle?
Then: I don't think I can pick just one. Always wanting to do things that I couldn't do yet. (Ex. study foreign languages, which wouldn't be even offered in school for another two years . . . . except I managed to get the rules bent enough to start the following year - yay for 13 year old taking high school classes XD) Also, as is the story of the majority of my public school education, being bored out of my mind from classes that were too easy because they were aimed at the average and below average students. Also, socializing with people my own age - I was horribly shy, and completely clueless on how to "fit in" with people my age (I was better with people either older or younger than me).
Now: Oh student loans, I know you are worth it, but why does college and study abroad have to be so expensive?
11) What was your biggest joy?
Then: time with family and friends, computer games, reading, art, creative writing
Now: traveling, (and everything listed above)
13) What did you consider your greatest accomplishment?
Then: top student, get blinded by the As (only in elementary they didn't always call them "As", but you get the idea)
Now: still top student, not only with grades, but with some pretty amazing experiences on my resume
14) What advice would you give your younger self?
Don't stress so much about not being able to follow your dreams yet - you will get to live your dreams in the future.
In the meantime, try to appreciate xxxxxx, xxxxxx, xxxxxxx, and xxxxxxxx because they will soon be gone forever without warning.
15) What would your younger self say to you?
But I don't want to wait that long! I'm ready now!
What are you talking about? What's to appreciate about that / How could something like that ever disappear?
16) Looking back, is your life in 2008 what you thought it would be in 1998?
No - It's more than I could have imagined, and I had a pretty good imagination.
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In other news, my absentee ballot FINALLY arrived today. I'll have to try to mail that tomorrow. Hopefully the mail will be a bit faster going back to the US.