Birthday Reflections

[Debater Slayer]

You got me beat, I only know one language and I don't have a diploma.

You are doing really good for yourself, Debater. I agree with Kenny, don't forget to live and relax once in a while. I wish you the best of luck on your journeys, and happy birthday!

BTW, I think the 20s are figuring ourselves out for many people, and when we get near the end of our twenties we start getting that quarter-life crisis feeling. Don't let it eat you up. I think you're doing fine, you understand your goals and you are a productive, intelligent person.

Thanks for the birthday wishes and kind words, Sum!

I agree with you about the 20s. For some people, even the 30s are largely unstable and uncertain. Accepting that each of us is a unique individual with their own circumstances is sometimes difficult, but I think it's very important for clarity and peace of mind.

 

[Debater Slayer]

For what it's worth, I find you to be a superior individual. If most folks were like you as they approached 30, this would a marvelous world.

Thanks, Jay. That means a lot, especially coming from you.

Shalom/salaam to you and yours.

 

[Debater Slayer]

If you take a vacation in Mexico, speaking Spanish will get you cheaper prices for stuff.

In France, a knowledge of French will let you know what the waiters are saying about you, and enable you to adjust the tip accordingly.

I can believe that. Knowing Arabic definitely helps with haggling as a tourist in Egypt.

Happy Birthday!

Thank you!

 

[Debater Slayer]

Happy birthday

Good luck, I hope you can achieve some of your goals over the next year

Thanks a lot, Augustus!

I'll keep the four-leaf clover under my pillow all year for good luck.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

Belated happy birthday DS.

 

[Debater Slayer]

Belated happy birthday DS.

Thanks, friend!

 

[Sand Dancer]

Now that my birthday is here, I'm thinking even more about where I want to be in my life and how close I will be come next year. I don't do New Year's resolutions, but this year I'm setting some for my birthday.

• Looking at various master's programs and job openings abroad, I feel like knowing just two languages is the bare minimum at this point. Almost everyone who has any real chance of advancing in a STEM career needs to know English. Arabic probably isn't a huge asset in the European job market (again, speaking Of STEM only), so I'm thinking of learning at least one more language.

French is the prime candidate because I already know some basics, and it seems more similar to English than, say, German or Dutch. Spanish is also a probable option, but I need to do more research before deciding whether learning it could bring me enough benefit to outweigh the time it will take to learn from scratch.

• I'm approaching 30, and sometimes I have a sneaking feeling of underachievement when I think about how I only know two languages (which, as I said, seems to be the bare minimum nowadays) and don't have a master's yet. By 30, some people have PhDs and/or know a few languages proficiently, if not fluently. I know comparison to others is a poor metric for achievement and an unwise thing to do, hence my saying "sneaking feeling." I catch it starting to take hold and make sure to pull back and focus on what needs to be done.

• I haven't seen my best friend in over three years. I miss her. One of my plans is to visit her country as soon as I can.

That's all... for now. Today is best reserved for cake and other good food with family. I'll worry more about academic and career issues later.

I was 44 when I got my Master's. The older we get, the more life skills and wisdom we have. It works out.