21 before 22: What to do before I turn 22

Hey guys! How are you doing? Remember last year when I wrote that post of the "What to go before I turn 21" challenge a few weeks before my birthday? I feel like doing the same this 2014 again... My aims and goals definitely changed after one year, I accomplished some of them.. And some others not :B it's time to review how many goals I achieved last year!

01. Tell my friends how much I love them (Yes ❤)

02. Throw a party "Till the World Ends" once I finish my exams (I think I did...? I honestly don't remember haha I wasn't as much of a party animal as I am here in Korea... LOL!)

03. Bake something (Yeah I guess I ended yup doing it :B)

04. Clean up the house a bit (Yup, and it wad tiring! I think it took me 4/5 days to finish cleaning all that mess!)

05. Spend more time with my family (Definitely I did, and I miss them so much now!)

06. Buy myself a new laptop and phone (Yes, yes!)

(I missed number 7, LOL)

08. Save as much money as I can (I was able to survive here in Korea so... Yes!)

09. Brush up on my Korean (Eh... I improved it here haha so I guess it counts :B)

10. Keep improving my Japanese (Nope... D: )

11. Dress more feminine (Definitely yes! I bought tons of skirts and dresses here in Korea, and I'm so happy I did!)

12. Get good grades (Always... *chuckles* Haha)

13. Catch up with series (I'm still with Once Upon a Time but... Eventually, I'll finish it!)

14. Mentally prepare myself for Korea (Yes!)

15. Think of all the things I need to take with me when I move (Yes!)

16. Visit my summer village (I did! Definitely one of the best time of my summer 2013❤)

17. End up with bad diet habits (I gained 3 kgs since I live in Korea HAHAHAHA so... Nope!)

18.  Find people who is going to HUFS on Internet (I did! I met this Ukranian girl on Interpals who ended up being a good friend of mine at HUFS :D)

19. Keep in touch with my best friends (I do c: I send them postcards from time to time as well!)

20. Quit Postcrossing (Yes! And can't wait to re-take it very soon ^_^)

Yes: 14
No: 2

No idea/Can't remember/I think I did: 3

(Not bad I think :B)

And right now, it's time to challenge myself to accomplish these new challenges before I turn 22! Here we go!

1. (Just like last year) Tell my friends that I love them

I'm happy to say that I've finally found my people this second semester, my real friends in Korea. I've  met some new people, I got the chance to get closer to people I already knew, I still talk to my old friends... And I want to let them know how much I appreciate them and how important they are for me. So during this last weeks in Korea I'll try to spend as much time as I can with my loved ones :) What am I going to do without them!

Part of my beautiful crew c: From left to right: Vinna, Salut, Jorge, Ignacio and I!

My Venezuelan born Korean bestie Johnny, I'm gonna miss him so much ;_;

2. Use my time in Korea wisely

I have less than two weeks in the Land of the Morning Calm, so I'll try to do as much things as I can and go as many places as I can during this time! I'm done with class and I have plenty of time to waste  so I'll make sure to enjoy it ! ^_^

Sokcho in Gangwon-do (East coast of Korea), one of the places I've visited recently

3. Be the best girlfriend I can be for Peter

This is gonna be our third summer together, yay! (And hopefully many more to come! ❤) Even though we've been dating for 2 years and a half now I still want to be the best girlfriend for him. We just get to see each other for a month every year, and every time we see each other again I try to give him as much love and affection I can't give him during the rest of the year... And that's what I'll do this summer as well. I want my baby to be proud of me, and I want to have a healthy relationship with him based in true love, patience and mutual trust :)

4. Enjoy the most exotic summer in Vietnam

I'm super excited about my trip to Southeast Asia! it's a place in the world I've always wanted to visit, kind of mysterious to me but thrilling at the same time. I'm so in love with Vietnam already and I haven't stepped on the country yet :B I'll promise you I'll keep this updated during my stay! ❤ (Or at least on Fb and Instagram!)

5. Learn more about Vietnamese language and culture

No matter I'm majoring in Asia Studies there are many things I still don't know about the country I'm visiting this summer! I'll try to learn as much words and cultural tips as I can during my stay, I'll pay attention to my family's conversations (no matter there's no way I can understand the language whatsoever), at least to get used to the sound of the language again. Let's be honest, there's no way I can learn such a difficult language in a month... But I'll do my best! ^-^

Vietnamese alphabet... Sounds really similar to Cantonese, but written in letters instead. But hey, trust me when I say that doesn't make it any easier! XD

6. Take a break from snail mail

Just like last year when I came to Korea, I'll be changing my home in a while... So that means I have to take a hiatus from my favorite hobby for the next two months, until I'm settled back home. I'm gonna miss sending letters to my beautiful penpals, but at least I can buy postcards and remind them that I'm alive! :B

7. Finish my research project - DONE!

My research project about plastic surgery in SK is already over! I really enjoyed writing it but I have to say it's been though at times... Having a deadline and constant emails from my teacher doesn't really help >: Now I just need to get my marks back! Also I really want to make a lecture about it, since many people seem to be interested in the topic. But I need a good grade for that! So wish me luck, I need a 90 or more! :B

8. Keep working out

I hate feeling weak when I haven't turned 22 yet, so apart from my daily 50 squats and dancing I want to start going to the gym when I'm back in Barcelona. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time, and back home I'll feel like starting over and maybe trying out new things...? I'm starting to consider yoga, for example. 

9. Prepare myself mentally to go back home

Believe it or not, it's not easy to go back home after a while living abroad... During my 3-week stay at home for Christmas I needed a few days to get back on track and get used to my life in Spain again... Apart from the jet lag and all, I felt constantly confused, as if my mind was somewhere else at all times. Maybe I am just too sensitive, but being back for Christmas wasn't easy at all! And I don't want this to happen again in summer... (Although I'll be back home for good!). So I really need to prepare myself to go back to my Spanish rhythm of life, prepare myself to push the "Play" button again and keep going with my life as if (almost) nothing had happened!

10. Keep in touch with my parents during my stay in Vietnam

I don't know if in Vietnam I'll be able to use wifi as much as in South Korea... But my parents (my mom) are extremely overprotecting, and they NEED to hear about me at least once a day... Even if it's just a text message, they need to know I'm alive. Also they don't really know much about Vietnam and I feel they're kind of skeptical about me being in this developing South-east Asian country for 6 weeks... So I'll try to say hello as often as I can and send lots of photos! So they know how much fun I'm having as they worry about me :B Hahaha

11. Learn from my travel experience in Southeast Asia
One of the things I like about traveling is you get to learn so many things from the place you visit, things you cannot just see whenever you read about a country when you're back home. Your experience is full of anecdotes, little stories and unforgettable memories you can learn from, for good or for bad of course. I want to dive myself into the culture, I want to know about the people ... And being with natives it's definitely the best way of doing it :) I feel so blessed I have the chance of visiting Vietnam with Peter's family! I bet I'm not gonna miss a thing!

12. Get some tan (if possible!)

If you guys know me well, you know I'm the farthest thing from a "typical" Spaniard girl... I'm pale as a piece of paper, and there's no way I can get tanned! But this summer I'm going to Southeast Asia, so at least I'll try to sunbath a little bit... If I don't want to get looks from Saigonese people wondering why this foreigner glows like a vampire!

Peter and I in New York, summer 2012. I think it's the closest thing I've even been to "tanned"...

Or maybe it's because I'm posing next to him?!

13. Think about the future

My boyfriend is my whole life, but we're still young and we know that education comes first. I'm dying to be with him and close the distance, but I should decide what to do with my life after I graduate. My parents definitely want me to stay in Spain at least for a year or two, and even know they know I'll end up moving to the US asap my future it's mine, ONLY MINE. But it won't be easy back in Spain... So wish me luck!

14. Pack my stuff and send packages back home

I have tons of shit I cannot put back in my suitcase since my parents sent me a package with all my winter clothes in November... So I have to send all that back, plus all the crap I've been gathering for the past nine months, haha! (Books, textbooks, notebooks and notes from class, stationery...) I'll also try to get rid of my kitchen supplies here, or just give them away... We'll see what I end up doing!

15. Don't forget Korean during my stay in Vietnam

Seeing how quickly I forgot Japanese during my stay in Korea I don't want to lose my Korean during my 6-week stay in Vietnam! Despite it's a way shorter period of time, I still want to practice it and keep it fresh somehow so I can re-take it once I'm back in Barcelona. Fighting!

16. Go back to a healthy diet

Living on your own means you can get to eat ANYTHING you want every day, and no matter people say Korean food is way healthier than Western food I have to say I've gained weight during my stay here! XD It's not that I need to lose weight again, but at least I'd like to go back to my fresh fish three times a week, my red meat twice a week, pasta once a week and vegetables 4 times a week :) I'm gonna miss my super carbed Korean diet, but I gotta go back to my beloved Mediterranean food!

My mommy's veggie & shrimp rice will always be the best ❤

17. Grow my expectations on a part-time job

As you guys must know by now, there's a 25% unemployment rate in Spain right now, and a 50% among young people. That means getting a part-time job it's not easy anymore, wages are low and hours are excessive. But still I have to keep searching, I need to save up money for me and for Peter (LDR's aren't cheap!). I don't know what kind of job I'll end up finding (if I get one!) but I have to do my best and believe in myself...! :)

18. Look for options overseas
Worst case, once I graduate I'll have to go abroad to work or study! That is very unlikely, as my parents want me to be home for a while now (after a year living in the other side of the world, haha) but let's see what ends up happening. What I'm 100% sure of is, if I find the chance of my life abroad I won't waste it!

20. Re-take Japanese classes

I honestly didn't expect to forget all the Japanese I've learnt in four years in just 10 months... I remember when I arrived to Korea I could speak to my Japanese friends in their language, but right now... I talk to them in Korea instead! :( I have to say though, my Japanese seemed to come back when I visited my friend Àngel in Tokyo haha, so that gave me hope somehow... I didn't LOSE my Japanese, I just forgot it somewhere in my mind (monopolized by Korean language, LOL!) and once I re-take it I'll be able to remember all the important stuff I've been doing through these years! So yeah, wish me luck! ^_^

21. Be happy

That's all I want in my life, to live happily and with no stress. Simple as that! But that's gonna take me my whole life, so the least I can do is keep working on it and keep being positive :)

Happiness is also when you squish a Golden Retriever puppy :B

22. Have the balls to cut my hair short
And I did! ;) (As you must have seen in my previous post). It took me some time to prepare myself mentally for such a big change, as I haven't had my hair this short for 15 years! But now I did it and I don't regret it! I still need some time to get used to it, but I like it so far! What do you think? :)

As always, thanks for reading! ❤ Do you like writing lists as much as I do, doing this kind of resolutions? Or is it just me? Haha


CL