After graduating college, it’s common and common sense for most ppl to move home. That never happened as I moved w/ Wes and Ted to LA right away, so I actually haven’t lived at home since high school. Though I do miss home and living up here, I do like that visiting home has become an “escape” and serves as mini vacations away from my work life, where I can revisit a place and time before I had to grow up.
One of the greatest things about coming home after being away is the return to familiarity. Familiar places, sights, feelings, roads, friends. It’s the “default”. I often think of home as the “constant” in my life. While everything else in my life is up in the air in a whirlwind of variables, home stays consistent and therefore helps remind me of what’s real, and what’s important.
“Consistent” is a lenient word though, since things do change at home, but for some reason, all the things that really matter are the same. My sister, though we argue a lot less since our teen yrs, she’s still the same. My friends, I sometimes worry because we still act like we’re in high school, except now we’re all working. Parents…yeah, still asking if I’m eating right and staying warm, but thank goodness, I finally have no curfew…SCORE!
As for me? Well, I don’t think I’ve changed that much in the last 10 years either. Besides my pants being a little less baggy, and having to shave more often…I still feel the same . Maybe that’s a bad thing, haha.
Even my haircut has stayed the same. Besides buzzing it a couple times, and letting it grow out once 5 yrs ago…I’ve got the same hairdo. I’m boring like that. So since I’m home for the holidays, I had to stop by the old place I used to get my haircut. “Mona Lisa Hair Design” in Fremont. Yeah, around sophomore yr of hs, in efforts to try and be “cool”, I let my mom off the hook, and started going to a barber. Since we had cousins in Fremont, 40 min away, I got my haircut here, a Chinese place, when we went to visit them every few weeks. My mom said “chinese ppl know how to cut chinese ppl’s hair better.” I had a crush on the young lady who cut my hair, never told her. Tina was her name. sigh. Told you I haven’t changed.
Another thing I like about coming home… The shower heads are really high.
Back to LA in a couple days. Back to…low shower heads.
October 9, 2009 at 10:44 am
Yes… of course. Only Asian people know how to cut Asian hair. =) That’s what my mom always says.
January 1, 2009 at 8:42 pm
‘One of the greatest things about coming home after being away is the return to familiarity. Familiar places, sights, feelings, roads, friends. It’s the “default”. I often think of home as the “constant” in my life.’
I couldn’t agree with you more, Phil! I have a few days left of winter break but I’m enjoying every moment. Honestly, I haven’t gone to many places since I got home. For the first week of break, I just stayed at home, relaxing. Like you said, it’s an escape! Have fun while you’re still up there and I hope being back in LA for you won’t be even a bit of a drag!
P.S. Showers at home are always better. and great pictures!
December 30, 2008 at 11:00 pm
It’s nice going back home, that familiar surrounding really is a default. For me, I actually have two homes, one is the one I grew up in and live in right now (Brooklyn, NY) and the other one is in (Philadelphia, PA). My parents moved to Philly with my sis and bro when I was in college. When I go in to visit them I feel like a stranger, I never know where things are but when I come back to Brooklyn after a week it’s a whole different feeling. Everything is back to default, to the familiar surrounding. I can close my eyes and walk around the house the dark without falling all over the place.
December 30, 2008 at 6:53 pm
your post was really worded beautifully.
i feel like its beside the point, but one thing that really struck me was the fact that you havent really had a chance to live at home since high school.
im a junior at high school and im only beginning to think about college. im so scared to grow up & all the resposibilities that go along with it. as childish as that sounds.
but at the same time, knowing you pursued your future and made everything seem so easy in such a risky career, kind of gives me a little courage to pursue my own future.
thanks.
December 30, 2008 at 1:39 pm
But when you live at home, it doesn’t seem very much like a get-away. You just want to live somewhere else. XP
My brother wanted a “cool asian haircut” so he said he should get it cut in China Town… heh.
Have fun… with your high shower heads, and your family&friends.
December 29, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Hahahaha, I love the post. I kinda feel like I need a mini vacation by moving AWAY from home. I only applied to one university by my home so that I could save money by living with my parents… now… well… I need to get away!
December 29, 2008 at 3:24 am
What are you talking about low showerheads? Mine in MPK is perfectly high enough. Now the one in my Riverside apartment is low and I’m short =_-
I’ve lived in LA my whole life. I’m glad you guys moved out here
December 29, 2008 at 12:16 am
yea i feel like im on a mini vacation when i go home too. its great.
And my mom has become soo much more lenient with me going out and what time to come back by. I finally feel like im becoming a adult (kinda scary)
I like high shower heads too lol
-Pamela
December 28, 2008 at 9:57 pm
home is pretty much the same old same old too.
except cupertino did acquire a few new yogurt places and condos.
but still the same.
i’m not ready to go back to LA.
December 28, 2008 at 9:49 pm
I CANT BELIEVE YOU LIVE NEAR FREMONT, PHIL! i live in fremont (: AND I USE TO GET MY HAIRCUT THERE TOO! AHAHA. i love fremont, dont you? (=
i’m glad you are back home and comfortable with your family and friends [: but i’m guessing you miss ted & wes huh? :/
anyways, GO WONG FU! FTWW, <333