Money makes the world go around. Although I am a true believer that money does not bring happiness, it is a necessity, especially if you are attending a UC. After my first year at UC Irvine, I have come to the realization that money is definitely not easy to manage. While paying for presents this December, my savings account reached an all-time low: $16.45. For the first time, I actually sat down and realized that instead of living pay check to pay check, I needed to start managing my money.
The night view of Hong Kong from my airplane window showed pitch-black darkness enlivened with gold-illuminated dots everywhere. To me, it looked like a kid’s Lite-Brite creation, with the glowing pegs scattered all around without much thought or purpose. The aerial scene of Hong Kong both excited and scared me. I felt like a child, entranced by the beautiful display of lights and wide-eyed at the thought of being an exchange student in Asia. Though I was excited, there was still that mysterious and empty darkness.
The prototypical holiday season usually induces images of roaring fires, shiny presents and families convening from around the world to gather together around a well-laden table. The part that usually gets left out of the imagination is the one of bad weather, cramped planes and crowded airports. Images of gently-falling snow morph into the harsh reality of torrid blizzards that keep aircrafts circling runways for hours. Gingerbread houses? Eggnog? Ha!
