what i learn from americans

chatted with nora (another exchange program student from columbia) a week ago. she's worried. her parents are paying for her accomodation and tuition fee, but not her other expenses. sure, she has some extra saving from her summer research, but she's planning to go to italy next month. and she said that she probably might try to get a job when she goes home during winter break. (it's only a 3 week break) i couldn't give her any advice. and neither did i tell her that everything's been covered for me.

feel ashamed of myself. while i'm treating my summer research pay as emergency fund, nora treats hers for normal expenses. americans have been trained to be independent since they get out of high school. they have to pay for their tuition fees, which might cause them to be severely indebted after they graduate from college. but most of them will pull through. they'll get a job and after some years, they'll pay off their debts and live a stagnant life. look at us, asians. we are paid by parents all the way until marriage. at times, if the economic situation isn't good, married couples still ask their parents for money. shame! shame! shame!

just a couple of days ago, greg (the exchange guy from my school) told me that he's planning to buy a house in west lafayette and that he has opened an account for his retirement fund. and he's 21! it amazes me how a genius (yes, he's smart, though a lil cocky) has such a clear picture on what he's gonna do in the next 10 years. he plans to study at purdue all the way till he gets his phd, (he even knows what research topic he wants to take) which of course explains why he wants to buy a house. he has even researched why he should buy a house, coz according to him, having a house for more than 5 years has been proven to save plenty of money rather than renting an apartment room. well, good luck, greg! i think you can do it. but just tone down on your cockiness coz you can be a little irritating now.

kinda exasperated now. i can't even support myself financially. and my studying session has been on hiatus for 2 weeks. i feel a little hopeless. i think i need to make a schedule of myself instead of chatting online or reading friends' blogs. i'm beginning to get tired of this