From a childhood where birthdays were just dates on a calendar to dreaming of a farming exchange in Japan. A raw reflection on discovering the magic of birthday wishes, my love for travel, and my inner foodie.
Source: StockCake (original: Birthday Celebration Scene)
Growing up, I never truly knew what a birthday celebration was. I didn’t grow up with the birthday parties that were common in our time; there was no gathering for rice and minerals, and definitely no birthday cake. I grew up in a household with completely different ideas about these milestones. To us, a birthday wasn't an event; it was simply a date on a calendar. We never bothered with celebrations because we didn't even realize they were something to be celebrated.
It wasn't until just two years ago that everything changed. An unexpected birthday wish of mine actually came through.
Since becoming an adult, I have officially celebrated my birthday twice. I absolutely love the feeling of being celebrated, even though deep down, I am still not someone who obsessively fusses over the day. However, since that wish came true two years ago, I have started using my birthdays to manifest my biggest dreams. For my next birthday, my ultimate wish is all about exploration: traveling to different countries, meeting new people, and diving headfirst into new culinary experiences as the absolute foodie that I am!
Traveling has always been one of my greatest passions. The idea of an adult exchange program, completely uprooting myself to step into an entirely new environment with a new family hosting me, sounds like an absolute dream.
If I could pack my bags and go anywhere in the world for a year, Japan is the country at the very top of my list. I have always been deeply fascinated by their lifestyle, their rich traditions, and their deep pool of cultural knowledge.
Source: StockCake (original: Mount Fuji view)
As a traveler and a foodie, I can already visualize my perfect temporary home. I imagine being paired with a deeply well-cultured Japanese family. It would be an absolute dream if they lived in a rural area surrounded by raw nature and ran a local farm.
I would love nothing more than to spend my days out on the field with them, getting my hands dirty, watching the farm animals, and learning how they grow their fresh ingredients. Afterward, we would gather around the table to cook traditional meals, trading stories about our completely different worlds.
What started as a childhood with no birthdays has blossomed into an adulthood filled with massive dreams. I am ready to keep exploring, keep trying new foods, and keep riding the beautiful seasons of life!
#loh #ladiesofhive #creativewriting #thought #alive #neoxian
