Random Thoughts in My Mind:

1. This is Us: Just finished watching this series, and I feel compelled to write a short instant review. The show is genuinely touching, portraying warmth and understanding in each character. What I love most is the way the writers delve into the perspectives of the Big Three in the same scene, offering a glimpse into their individual worlds. The portrayal of the family’s growth from childhood to adulthood is beautifully depicted.

Naturally, I can’t help but connect this series to my own life. I admire the expressive skills of every character; they are adept at tugging at the heartstrings, articulate, humorous, and romantic. These insights, attitudes about life, and expressions cannot be mastered merely by learning a few words and sentence structures. It also made me realize that my impression of some friends is limited to our chats; I might be oblivious to their thoughts and social culture.

The communication styles in the show, I believe, may have cultural differences. Some East Asian friends say American politeness is like “try pretending forever and it becomes real.” I’m not sure if this phrase translates well into English, but in cross-cultural exchanges, breaking taboos is essential (thanks for your forgiveness). This communication style differs from the straightforwardness of Koreans (which can be hurtful) or the kindness of the Japanese (which carries a sense of distance). (Maybe here it’s a stereotype for Traditional Korean and Japanese expressions) Some East Asian viewers online might find the characters in the show overly conflicted internally, or “low tolerance.” Even a divorce in the storyline could be criticized with a “just because of this?”

Similarly, I envy everyone in the show who, despite life’s extremes, like drinking problems, overpressure, and depression, remains financially sound. Perhaps the show skips over the daily chores, study sessions, and routine work processes of several generations. If I were a character in the show, I might be more akin to the East Asian nurse or Hai Lang, the Vietnamese fish seller in Season 5. Or perhaps my experiences of the past three years could be summed up in a two-minute scene.

2. Learning English: But if it’s for the personal use of the English language, I need more time away from my mother language. Some daily expressions, when detached from frequent use, are easily forgotten. Besides, I often struggle with spelling when writing, sometimes I can’t recall the advanced words I learned from websites or magazines. My ideal goal is to complete an issue of Reader’s Digest in three hours, including looking up words. As for This American Life, a famous podcast, I aim to follow smoothly without rewinding over and over again. It’s more challenging than radio programs, as good podcast program hosts and guests don’t care if foreigners follow well.

3. Thoughts and Expectations for Work: During my time as a tutoring teacher in the learning center, most of my learning came from the Internet. I had countless books on teaching methods, various teaching resources, notes, and valuable parent feedback. Unlike public school teachers burdened with various non-teaching tasks, I had the freedom to read textbooks, review lesson plans, or chat with students or parents when not handling many courses. My ideas and thoughts, along with good resources, would be shared instantly.

However, I’ve become more cautious about speaking recently. Despite finding myself in a promising industry, a fantastic company platform, a supportive leader, and friendly colleagues, I still feel pressure. Without achievements, no matter how hard I work, it seems like I’m just meeting expectations. Many questions and expressions, I hesitate to jot down, let alone share. (This paragraph is about my local Social circle. On Facebook, due to different lifestyles and working conditions, my posts may rarely resonate with my readers. I do my best to share more relative to your life. And thanks for your reading, likes, and comments!)

Lastly, I absolutely love sleeping. Therefore, I want to express the utmost respect to those who manage to excel in both their careers and family lives while only getting five hours of sleep every day. You are truly admirable.

PS: I’ll be 28 in 2024. People often ask, “What would you do after achieving financial freedom?” It doesn’t differ much from what I’m doing now. I might not need a substantial amount of savings, but I need time and to keep positive and open-minded. If forced to talk about my savings and positions, I still have nothing. After all, whether it’s learning or attempting to create something, money doesn’t come in the process.