Just Another Year of Awesomeness

I got out of my comfort zone, and I like my new job more and more everyday. The job functions are not much different from 2.5 months ago, but I know more people now and people are nice. 

I had my 30's birthday. People had warned me that it's gonna be hard, and the funny thing is I don't feel a bit different than 29. I am now trying to run though my past real quick and reason out why I can't feel the sadness like what other people had experienced...

• I was born in Taiwan 30 years ago.
• I of course don't remember what happened for the first couple years.
• I didn't go to kindergarten - I skated in the park, doodle on the walls, experimented on everything including stabling my fingers. My parents forced me to learn piano for few years, and I hated it.
• I love going to elementary school - I had some good friends that I no longer know where they are now. During these 6 years, I got to play sports, joined choir...I still like to doodle, and I actually was good enough to attend calligraphy competition.
• I attended middle school 20 minutes away from my house (I know it sounds not too far with respect to the American time, but there's a school 5 minutes from where I lived). I ran track, was in school's marching band (I was one of the shortest people, so I didn't get to pick instrument), I still like to doodle, I went to bed around 12am and woke up at 6am or earlier so that I could be well-prepared to all the quizzes and exams.
• I tested into the high school that's 5 minutes away from where I lived. I still enjoyed school. I got to do many things that I probably would never get to do again - I competed in track, basketball, soccer, volleyball, poster design, Taiwanese composition (Taiwanese used to be only in "spoken" format, and it starts to be developed into written form when I was in school), theatre show...etc. I still went to bed late and woke up early. I eventually got the college admission earlier than most of the students along with the admission from the school I ultimately attended.
• I left Taiwan 12 years ago on my birthday and arrived United States on my birthday (yup, I had two birthdayS that year lol). I think I still kind of studying hard, but for sure not as hard as I used to be. I love my school, but I didn't go to basketball games because I do not like crowd. I took a keyboard class to fulfill general requirement and I noticed that I actually enjoy playing the instrument. I was way into photoshop and I didn't doodle as much anymore.
• I moved to the Somewhat-Weird-Land for graduate school(s)...I for sure didn't study that much as before, however, I did work a lot to earn tuition benefits from school. My life included searching an employment within the OPT time frame. My friends and I had a saying "If you were born in the United States, you are 50% or more ahead of any of us". I submitted over 100 job applications, got 3 phone interviews and 2 local interviews - and I finally got a part-time teaching job that I was able to feed myself and pay the rents. 
• I eventually got another job, but they didn't have e-verify number at that time so I was told that I couldn't be able to extend my visa. I followed the law, and left the country in a hurry. I thank my friends even until today that they were so nice to take care of Mr. Dachshund. I cried for so many days and promised Mr. Dachshund that I will be back.
• I got a full time job in Taiwan as a computer technician, and I later on received the admission for a graduate program. I came back around Christmas in the same year...for another degree and most importantly, for the promise I made to Mr. Dachshund. 
• Mr. Dachshund is a lucky star...he "made me" complete another degree so that I got to meet One USA Unit (and then got green card lottery as well lol) I guess it's my destiny to stay in this country :) 
• I started to work at my very first full time job, and finished up my second Master's degree. I've learned to play ukulele and started to play piano more. There's time I was somewhat depressed, but I always tell myself "如果不開心，就要努力改變現狀，而不要待在那裡哭" (Make a change if I'm unhappy, don't ever sit there and cry). I also go back to doodling since I haven't purchased photoshop after I graduated from college. I've been taking violin lessons for three months. What else...oh...I have a new job that I am learning new programming languages.

My day usually goes by fast...sometimes it's too fast that I don't have time to feel sad...and I know my past 30 years were pretty eventful :) Why I don't feel a bit different?!

I am 

• still learning new things
• still working hard
• still love the world
• still smile to strangers even on the day that doesn't go too smoothly
• still believe if I don't give up, something good will happen to me
• still being loved and spoiled by my hubby, family (human/dog/cat), friends

I look forward to another year of AwESoMEneSs!

Thank you so much to the people that love me the way I am. I always know how lucky I am to have your love and support!