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The Style Mermaid by Kisty Mea • 24 Things You’ll Learn While Living Abroad Alone “So you look at your life, and the two countries that hold it, and realize that you are now two distinct people. As much as your countries represent and fulfill different parts of you and what you enjoy about life, as much as you have formed unbreakable bonds with people you love in both places, as much as you feel truly at home in either one, so you are divided in two. For the rest of your life, or at least it feels this way, you will spend your time in one naggingly longing for the other, and waiting until you can get back for at least a few weeks and dive back into the person you were back there.” — What Happens When You Live Abroad Most of your life epiphanies will happen on the bus… or train.  You’ll learn how to be resourceful: from trivial things to the unconventional way of how to a cook pasta. You’ll learn how to cook. If you still don’t know how to cook, you won’t starve if you have a microwave and a refrigerator at home.  You’ll do your own laundry and you’ll soon realize the pros & cons of having too many clothes.  Don’t buy stuff, unless it’s necessary. Save money. Keep a travel fund, an emergency fund, etc. You’ll understand and respect the culture of others. You will learn to appreciate the comforts of home. There are times that you will feel sad and depressed. It’s ok. Cry and sleep it over. You’ll feel better the next day. Facetime and Skype will bring you closer to home. But don’t do it too often. Complaining won’t make you, or anyone else, better. Ask, if you don’t know.  People are different but we are all the same in the end. The way you see the world is going to be different.  You’ll learn how to say “no”.  Every once in a while, take the road less traveled.  Enjoy your own company.  You’ll learn a lot of things about yourself and the world. Living abroad is not as glamorous like what other people think it is. It’s hard to make a new life in a foreign country but… The only person you can depend the most is yourself. Have courage. It’s alright if haven’t got it all figured out just yet. It’s OK to make mistakes. Wake up with a smile. A lot of people wants to live abroad, and you’re one of the lucky ones.  To live abroad is a great life teacher and a humbling experience. You’ll experience life.

24 Things You’ll Learn While Living Abroad Alone

“So you look at your life, and the two countries that hold it, and realize that you are now two distinct people. As much as your countries represent and fulfill different parts of you and what you enjoy about life, as much as you have formed unbreakable bonds with people you love in both places, as much as you feel truly at home in either one, so you are divided in two. For the rest of your life, or at least it feels this way, you will spend your time in one naggingly longing for the other, and waiting until you can get back for at least a few weeks and dive back into the person you were back there.” — What Happens When You Live Abroad

  1. Most of your life epiphanies will happen on the bus… or train. 
  2. You’ll learn how to be resourceful: from trivial things to the unconventional way of how to a cook pasta.
  3. You’ll learn how to cook.
  4. If you still don’t know how to cook, you won’t starve if you have a microwave and a refrigerator at home. 
  5. You’ll do your own laundry and you’ll soon realize the pros & cons of having too many clothes. 
  6. Don’t buy stuff, unless it’s necessary.
  7. Save money. Keep a travel fund, an emergency fund, etc.
  8. You’ll understand and respect the culture of others.
  9. You will learn to appreciate the comforts of home.
  10. There are times that you will feel sad and depressed. It’s ok. Cry and sleep it over. You’ll feel better the next day.
  11. Facetime and Skype will bring you closer to home. But don’t do it too often.
  12. Complaining won’t make you, or anyone else, better.
  13. Ask, if you don’t know. 
  14. People are different but we are all the same in the end.
  15. The way you see the world is going to be different. 
  16. You’ll learn how to say “no”. 
  17. Every once in a while, take the road less traveled. 
  18. Enjoy your own company. 
  19. You’ll learn a lot of things about yourself and the world.
  20. Living abroad is not as glamorous like what other people think it is. It’s hard to make a new life in a foreign country but…
  21. The only person you can depend the most is yourself. Have courage.
  22. It’s alright if haven’t got it all figured out just yet. It’s OK to make mistakes.
  23. Wake up with a smile. A lot of people wants to live abroad, and you’re one of the lucky ones. 
  24. To live abroad is a great life teacher and a humbling experience. You’ll experience life.
The Style Mermaid by Kisty Mea • What’s a Reverse Bucket List? Bucket lists are known to be a list of things people want to do or achieve in life before they die (In my list: Travel Europe and get a lifetime supply of Reid Supply tooling components for DIY projects). A reverse bucket list, on the other hand, is a list of the wonderful experiences you’ve made, achievements you’re proud of, places you’ve been and great things you’ve done. What’s the purpose of a reverse bucket list, you ask? Two things: Remembering good and fun memories give us joy and when you feel low about yourself, this list will convince you that you are far greater than anyone else in this world. Here’s my top 20, not necessarily in this order and may change in the future: Make my parents proud and hear them say it. To live in a foreign country for more than a year. Two years this October. Get a college degree… And earn a master’s degree at the age of 23. Pass Calculus 1 and 2. Win a contest, big or small. Be a model for a day, c/o Sony VAIO Model Search. Travel for work. :) Ride on top of the elephant’s head (not on the saddle) while walking. This went on for 15 minutes until we finally reached the end of the trail. That was honestly scary. Learn how to drive and have my own car. Hold a sea turtle (smaller than my palm) and poke a jelly fish, lol. Get a photograph published. Thank you Graphika Manila team for choosing my work. Indoor climbing. Participate in a 10K even if it’s composed of walking, jogging and a little bit of running. Traveling from CCP Complex to Coastal Road by foot is no joke. Learn how to play chess, archery, soccer and ultimate frisbee. Being applauded for my role as Sisa (Noli Me Tangere) and Medea (Jason and the Argonauts) in classroom plays. :p Do a live performance of Michelle Branch’s All You Wanted, with a band and everything. Riding the tallest Ferris wheel in the world: The Singapore Flyer. To have the freedom and independence I’ve always wanted. Pursuing a Happiness Project. Do you have a reverse bucket list? If so, what’s your top 3?

What’s a Reverse Bucket List?

Bucket lists are known to be a list of things people want to do or achieve in life before they die (In my list: Travel Europe and get a lifetime supply of Reid Supply tooling components for DIY projects). A reverse bucket list, on the other hand, is a list of the wonderful experiences you’ve made, achievements you’re proud of, places you’ve been and great things you’ve done.

What’s the purpose of a reverse bucket list, you ask? Two things: Remembering good and fun memories give us joy and when you feel low about yourself, this list will convince you that you are far greater than anyone else in this world.

Here’s my top 20, not necessarily in this order and may change in the future:

  1. Make my parents proud and hear them say it.
  2. To live in a foreign country for more than a year. Two years this October.
  3. Get a college degree…
  4. And earn a master’s degree at the age of 23.
  5. Pass Calculus 1 and 2.
  6. Win a contest, big or small.
  7. Be a model for a day, c/o Sony VAIO Model Search.
  8. Travel for work. :)
  9. Ride on top of the elephant’s head (not on the saddle) while walking. This went on for 15 minutes until we finally reached the end of the trail. That was honestly scary.
  10. Learn how to drive and have my own car.
  11. Hold a sea turtle (smaller than my palm) and poke a jelly fish, lol.
  12. Get a photograph published. Thank you Graphika Manila team for choosing my work.
  13. Indoor climbing.
  14. Participate in a 10K even if it’s composed of walking, jogging and a little bit of running. Traveling from CCP Complex to Coastal Road by foot is no joke.
  15. Learn how to play chess, archery, soccer and ultimate frisbee.
  16. Being applauded for my role as Sisa (Noli Me Tangere) and Medea (Jason and the Argonauts) in classroom plays. :p
  17. Do a live performance of Michelle Branch’s All You Wanted, with a band and everything.
  18. Riding the tallest Ferris wheel in the world: The Singapore Flyer.
  19. To have the freedom and independence I’ve always wanted.
  20. Pursuing a Happiness Project.

Do you have a reverse bucket list? If so, what’s your top 3?

Personalized Graduation Announcement

Whoever said that high school is the best time of your life is wrong. College IS the best time of your life. For one thing, you don’t have some Mean Girl drama while you’re in college (unless you’re mentally stuck in high school, that’s a different story).

After a good 4-5 years, you’ll attend the graduation ceremony. A college graduation is a once in a lifetime moment (or in my case, twice!) that we will all forever cherish. Because all that hard work, parties that you can barely remember, academic failures, and goofball-slash-friendzone moments (Thanks boyfriend for climbing up a tree for me!) finally paid off. 

A graduation ceremony is not just about a piece of paper, it’s an event where you receive a piece of paper, a tangible evidence, that you, your friends and your parents/family worked hard for. 

I remember the time I found out that I passed my Calculus 2 exam. It was the last day of summer classes and submission for graduation application. While waiting for the Calculus results, I went out of campus to get my picture taken for the application. Paolo, another blockmate of mine who is also having a hard time with subject, waited in the ACB building. After 30 minutes or so, he texted me and told me we both passed. I couldn’t believe it! My initial reaction was: IS THIS FOR REAL? OMG I’M GOING TO GRADUATE OMG!!!!!!!!!!! 

I immediately went to the 7th floor of the ACB Building to confirm the news. Almost everyone in the Calculus summer class of that year was there, including the lower batch, celebrating with us when the professor announced that Pao and I passed. It was, in so many levels, a great moment. 

By the time I was about to go home, I called my mom to tell her that I failed Calculus. She made a loud “WHAAAT?!” over the phone. Of course, she would be furious if I failed Calculus. Then I giggled and told her that I passed. :P

Naturally, when my family found out, they were all equally ecstatic. My dad, was so proud, he would probably even print announcements for graduation. As I’ve said earlier, it was a great moment. Not just for me, but for everyone. <3 

Congratulations to everyone who graduated/who will graduate this year. Always remember to inhabit your moments.