If you could...

More writing prompts.

• If you had the opportunity to live one year of your life over again, which year would you choose?

I think I would choose a year that was relatively recent, strangely enough. The best years in my life have been during my adolescence for sure. But for some reason 2011 seemed like a crazy year for me, and I'd kind of want to live it again. I experienced a few changes in my life, and I was only 17 back then so a lot of stress too.. with university prep and everything. I have a much closer circle of friends now but back then I spoke to and met up regularly with a whole range of people - something only your younger self can really keep up with because you can still be bothered to, and it was fun. 2012 was also a great year, progressing through my first relationship and also visiting Japan.. twice! but tokyo and kyoto for the first time with Ted which was just magical and something I'll never forget. I'd want to relive a year for the opportunity to cherish those experiences once again, rather than to change anything. I don't feel like I need to change anything.

• If you could change one thing about your present life, what would it be?

I'm quite happy with the way my life is right now, nothing jumps to mind. I'm happy that I'm gaining amazing experiences at Universal, and I'm living happily with my boyfriend in our first actual apartment together. If I'd change anything it would be money-related I think, London living expenses sure are costly. I'd like to live in London again when I earn more, and also try a pretty new area.

• If you could live anywhere you wanted, where would you live?

I think this answer is pretty obvious. I want to live in Japan pretty badly, but at the same time I'm scared to ever take that plunge. Tokyo or outer Tokyo is the obvious choice, but if I had better Japanese I'd also want to spread out a bit and not just live in the capital. Tokyo is where my heart is though, can't get enough of it. I'm not sure it'll ever be possible, but I'd love to live there for a year or so, and improve my language skills too. I'd want to try work for a US company there. Alas I may have to settle for frequent visits, but I think that's okay too.. would definitely make sure the novelty never wore off!

• If you could meet any fictional character, who would it be?

Totally would meet an anime character. Tomoe from KamiHaji <3 or Kenshin from Rurouni Kenshin, those two characters may just be my obsession right now..

• If you could go back in time and change one thing from your past, what would it be?

I would change something from my childhood probably. I feel like it's still a bit of an insecurity to me to talk about some parts of when I was younger, some primary school years and some secondary school years. I felt like I shunned being 'too Chinese' at school because I wanted badly just to fit in and be 'normal'. That's what happens when you are thrown into a primarily white community I guess. It's not like I didn't embrace my culture, I was actually happy to show that off if I could.. but I feel bad for trying to teach my parents what is considered normal for my packed lunch, or clothes, or birthday gifts etc. I think that was stupid. I should've had more confidence. But it's part of growing up. I think I would change my outlook of certain things, when to not be ashamed and recline because I feel different. When to speak up, when to recognise that I don't want to hang around with certain people for the sake of it, and when to go and be weird and be happy about it. 

There's a lot of things I see differently now that I'm older and I look back on myself as a kid, I wouldn't necessarily jump at the chance to change things if I could because experiencing those things takes you further later on when you learn from it. I think I'd probably rather not change things from the past, but to teach others and my own kids not to be so afraid, just in order to please others. You'll soon figure out that those people weren't worth the time.