small life lessons from 2 years abroad

1. Handwritten letters brighten an entire week.
2. Candy from one's childhood is the ultimate comfort food indulgence.
3. TV is a complete waste of time.
4. The types of books a person reads are very connected to the language they use in real life.
5. Language between people from different cultures can unintentionally convey so many negative meanings. Choose your words very carefully.
6. If it's not life threatening and the thought of doing it doesn't make you vomit - try it!
7. Live life in the moment, one month at a time.
8. You don't have to follow what the rest of society is doing.
9. If you haven't laughed at least 10 times a day, change something.
10. The best cure for most expat-related problems is a glass of wine and some friends to talk it out with.
11. Embrace ambiguity - it only makes life that much more interesting.
12. Don't put too much emphasis on stuff - it all comes from China anyways.
13. Family is important. Make time for them in your calendar each week.
14. Texting funny pictures to any one in any country at any time is always a good idea.