Spring in Beijing: Growing Up, Flying Far, Staying Ourselves
--- May 2026 Traveling with a childhood friend is strange in the best possible way. Because somewhere between airport queues, shared meals, getting lost in subway stations, and debating where to go next, you suddenly realize: this person has witnessed multiple versions of you. Not just the current adult version who books flights and checks Google Maps. But also the awkward teenager version. The school-uniform version. The version of you that existed before the world became this complicated. In my case, that person was Gladys, my friend since SMP and SMA days, and somehow life brought us all the way to Beijing together. And honestly? The trip taught me more about people, adulthood, and peace than I expected. 1. Being “cuek” is an underrated life skill. One thing I deeply appreciated during this trip: having a relaxed, non-dramatic mindset is incredibly valuable. So many things become lighter when you stop taking every difference personally. We could disagree on destinations, timing...