Week 2 paragraph (1st draft:Example)

The love I found in between

200701508

Jiyoon Bae

 

             Have you ever needed someone special, not so close to you nor so far from you? I have. Sometimes you feel your family cannot give enough comfort to you. It is not because of their apathy but because of their too much closeness; too much loyalty and love that makes you feel helpless and unable to ask or demand anything more from them. You already love them too much, and they love you exactly the same way. You don't want to bother them with your frustration or depression. Of course they will give you steadfast love and support whenever you ask them, and you are so sure of it. Tragically, that doesn't make you ask them every time you need it. Yet you want to vent your bitterness to someone. Maybe you could look to your friends. This time, however, you cannot turn to them because they are strangers, after all. They haven't owed you anything and you can't just ask them to listen to all your frustration and worries. They have no obligation to listen to you or care about you. It is true that friends can help you out of trouble of course, yet you cannot ask it for free. Friendship is not that simple. You cannot get their affection or care as if you use ATM and get your cash.

 

             In my case, when I needed someone special in between family and friends, my aunt gave me all I needed. Having my aunt, in that aspect, gave me my exit from the loneliness and frustration I had when I was studying in Tokyo as an exchange student last year. She was in her 40s and I was just 20 years old at that time. She was working in a law firm located in one of the most expensive district in Tokyo, and I was living on my meager scholarship, saving every yen as possible. No, definitely we didn't have much in common. However, we had such an extraordinary friendship. It was thanks to my aunt's generosity, understanding and affection. She was generous to me, buying me expensive meals and drinks every time we met. Thanks to her, I could let go my stress living on such a limited budget when I was in such a fabulous restaurants and bars in Tokyo with her presence. Everything just looked good and tasted good when I was with her in those places and that felt like almost catching a glimpse of heaven to me, because I had to eat every meal at the cheap and dull student cafeteria at that time. Another thing about her that made me so relieved was her understanding. She talked to me as if she was talking to an old friend and listened to my every trivial worries and complaints about Japanese people and culture even though we were never really close until I came to Tokyo, Japan. She didn't treat me like I was a spoiled, unthankful girl who got so much that one didn't deserve. She never preached I should "suck it up". Instead, she just listened to my relief and gratitude. And finally, there's her affection that made me almost weep when I was so lonely and felt suffocated living in Japan, surrounded by too many Japanese people who were die-hard reserved, silent and callous. All the things she gave me, from my birthday presents to all the happy and relaxed moments spent with her, were out of her sincere affection toward her niece whom she never met until she turned 47; still single, after having spent all her life struggling against the glass ceiling in Japanese corporate culture, and against the still-existing discrimination toward Korean Japanese in one of the most insular, closed-minded community in the world. I found unconditional love in between my family and my friends. That's why my aunt is my favorite relative.