September 2021 Expenses | 2021年九月消费总结

A quick note of September before it slips my memory.

It’s officially been two years since I was back home. I recalled “celebrating” my 28th birthday on the seemingly endless international fight. No way my 28 y/o self would be convinced that this is the reality we are facing two years later. I hear people missing the chance to say goodbye to their loved ones every so often, and that fear builds up each day.

It was reassuring to have D’s company for my birthday week. I feel like I needed his presence after such a hectic month, and more importantly, my car battery completely died... Living apart teaches me to cherish the time that we get to spend together. But at the same time, the random dirty socks on the floor get overwhelming.

We watched Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. My second time and his first. I loved every bit of it. To be honest, it’s tremendously joyful to hear compliments about Chinese culture from him XD

I had very few expectations of Shang-Chi when I first walked into the theater alone, besides a few words about Tony Leung’s appearance…However, it turned out to be marvelous! It pays rich tribute to ancient Chinese classics (can we take a second to appreciate the adorable and stunning mythological creatures? ) and delivered top-notch fight choreography. Little details like the dual names (Shaun and Shang) struck a chord with me as well. Highly recommend! It’s a shame that there are slim odds it will be released in China.

Naturally, Netflix recommended Kim’s Convenience. D and I binged watched Season 1 and Season 2 and fell in the love with it. I’ve never gotten into Fresh off Boat for some reason, but Kim’s subtle depictions of the Asian parent-child relationship and superb acting stand out. Simu did a fantastic job, probably because he played a shade of himself, as the show greatly resembled his personal stories. Though I should note that I was disappointed at the lack of character development starting Season 3.

With the year-end approaching, I couldn’t help to start curbing my spending again. However, an impulse shopping fail still managed to sneak in, a tiny tote bag from eBay because I didn’t read the measurements. I’ve had the itch to learn sewing ever since I tried to be more conscious when shopping for clothes. Inspired by a fern green top from Margaret Howell, I altered a J.Jill linen shirt that I thrifted for $5 into a cropped short-sleeve button-down. The byproduct was a rectangle coaster, which I use daily now. Hopefully, I can take advantage of the sewing classes at the public library during the holiday break in December and practice more. I felt a bit self-conscious whenever I wore the shirt due to its uneven stitches…

This wraps up my birthday month! Hope everyone has a safe and sound last quarter of 2021.