My family got our first computer when I was around 8 or 9. Windows 95, 255mHz processor, 6GB HD. That was also the time I learned how to make my first website, out of pure HTML in Notepad. I didn’t even know what CSS was, and I didn’t even touch Frontpage (blech) until middle school. People complain about their 10Mb cable internet, when I used to get yelled at for running the phone bill up every month with our speedy 56k modem.

When I was 10, I got into fandom, specifically Sailor Moon and Cardcaptor Sakura. I would download all the pictures I could find, but they took up too much space, so I had a huge collection of floppy disks holding them. My family couldn’t afford a color printer, so I went to friend’s house (whose parents ran a computer business) and printed my pictures out there to hang on my wall. Fanfiction back then was amazing too. I would read entire spinoff series that were professionally written. Fanfiction now? I don’t even touch it.

But perhaps the most amazing part to me is how things have changed so much, but I was never really conscious of just how much. Almost 15 years years from the first time I touched a computer (those cute old Apples), I realize I don’t remember how things changed. When did I go from a floppy to a zip drive to a CD to a dual layer DVD? A hard drive from 6GB to 2TB? When did I first touch a laptop? First write a blog? And all of this has happened in my short life span, too. And it only seems like things change faster and faster.

Thinking about it, doesn’t it make you feel old – and a little amazed – too?

My parents are actually both from Chicago, and I have family there, but it’s the first time I’ve been there by myself as an “adult.” On Sunday morning, I went to Millennium Park and ran into a guy taking pictures with his Canon DSLR, and he knew how to use my Nikon FM so we took pictures together for an hour or so. I’ve never really run into people who know a lot about photography, especially film, so it as really fun. Later that night I met up with a friend from school and his friend who was living there. We got dinner together and wandered around downtown. And finally, on Monday, I met up with yet another friend and went shopping on the Magnificent Mile. I love the Forever 21 they have there. It is huge and amazing and omg.

Anyway, I’ve found that I really like big cities. I know a lot of people hate how busy and crowded and fast-paced they are, but somehow all that energy really gives me some sort of inner calm. I don’t know, it’s hard to explain. Like somehow I am energized by everything going on around me, and I feel less restless. I really think I am one of those people that needs to have constant stimulation or I go a little nuts. I think that was why I liked Tokyo so much: it was a city that quite literally never slept. It could be 4 in the morning and I could get up and take a walk, pop into a convenience store, go to karaoke, or something.

When I applied to colleges, most of the schools I applied to were in cities, but I ended up going to one that was pretty much in the middle of nowhere. So I’m glad that this go round, I get to go to a school that is pretty much in the middle of Honolulu. I think it might be hard for me to focus at first with everything going, but I’m hoping all that energy will help to keep me going, like it usually does.

(And yes, this means I ended up deciding to go to Hawaii for graduate school.)

ESFPs live in the moment, experiencing life to the fullest. They enjoy people, as well as material comforts. Rarely allowing conventions to interfere with their lives, they find creative ways to meet human needs. ESFPs are excellent team players, focused on completing the task at hand with maximum fun and minimum discord. Active types, they find pleasure in new experiences.

ESFPs take a hands-on approach in most things. Because they learn more by doing than by studying or reading, they tend to rush into things, learning by interacting with their environment. They usually dislike theory and written explanations. Traditional schools can be difficult for ESFPs, although they tend to do well when the subject of study interests them, or when they see the relevance of a subject and are allowed to interact with people.

Observant, practical, realistic, and specific, ESFPs make decisions according to their own personal standards. They use their Feeling judgment internally to identify and empathize with others. Naturally attentive to the world around them, ESFPs are keen observers of human behavior. They quickly sense what is happening with other people and immediately respond to their individual needs. They are especially good at mobilizing people to deal with crises. Generous, optimistic, and persuasive, they are good at interpersonal interactions. They often play the role of peacemaker due to their warm, sympathetic, and tactful nature.

ESFPs love being around people and having new experiences. Living in the here-and-now, they often do not think about long term effects or the consequences of their actions. While very practical, they generally despise routines, instead desiring to ‘go with the flow.’ They are, in fact, very play minded.

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I bolded the stuff I think is actually very true. I never really think of myself as an extroverted person because I tend to be more reserved with new people, but I guess it’s pretty true that I’m friendly and talkative and all that when I get warmed up to people. And I definitely had a harder time in school if I don’t have any interest in the subject. I’m looking at you math and science.

What’s your type?

Highlights
* Went overseas for the first time (excluding Canada)
* Studied abroad
* Fell in love
* Turned twenty-one
* Rode a train for the first time
* Made a lot of new friends from all over the world
* Traveled a lot
* Met Nakata Yasutaka twice
* Was on Japanese TV
* Saw Big Bang perform
* Went to a fancy pants politician’s party

2010 is well… not looking so great. I’m really worried about finding a job after I graduate.
But what else can I do but try my best?
I don’t usually make New Year’s resolutions, but here are my goals for the next year.

* Graduate with a good GPA
* Find a job in Japan
* If I can’t find a job, go to graduate school
* Take level 2 of the JLPT
* Have a more fashionable lifestyle

We’ll see how it goes~