Last Sunday was the 5thyear anniversary of my graduation from UP. The day prior, just as fittingly, I met up with my best college buddies and wandered around our vast campus gleefully reminiscing the years we were there. I insisted on going back because I needed a retreat, a dose of something familiar, a taste of home. I was overcome with an overwhelming sense of serenity while I was there. UP has always had a calming effect on me – this despite having spent many agonizing nights not knowing whether I can make it through BAA unscathed. Fortunately, my friends and I have all survived and it makes my heart swell with pride to know that we have all gone on to do better things in life, that we no longer are the broke twenty-year-olds from half a decade ago and that we can now afford to pay for expensive food from time to time. Looking at things on a macro level, it does seem like I’m doing something right with my life. I tend to focus on what I’m not instead of what I am and what I have become I fail to notice that in the grander scheme of things and natural progression of life, I am getting by alright.
Coincidentally, last Sunday was also Rean’s wedding. She was my roommate back in Canada. Eight months ago, the chances of me being able to attend her wedding would have been slim but in a bizarre twist of fate, two other good friends from Halifax, Sam and Matt, were able to come as well. It made for a very sweet, albeit short, reunion. The wedding was simple yet elegant. Rean and her now husband Bong have been together for 19 years before deciding to finally tie the knot. That is some serious #relationshipgoal shit right there. At the rate I’m going, assuming I find a boyfriend right this second, I would be 45 by the time I get married. My eggs would all have been rendered useless by then. But as my friend Sam pointed out, I should not compare my life to others because each one of us is leading a different life. He makes a damn good point.
Last weekend was a much needed break. A respite from my tiring adult life. I came back to Hong Kong feeling restored and ready to face the daunting challenges of living alone in a strange new place. Yesterday I went out to play tennis, one of the things I find tremendous joy in. I also met up with David (guy from previous post) for dinner. I gave him a jacket with a University of the Philippines printed on it upon his request. I hope he wears it with pride.
I am going home again in a few weeks’ time. Hong Kong is now becoming more bearable.