The scene started with me and my husband. We were having a meal with my husband's friends. Those friends are actually based in Dubai now. In the dream, my husband asked if the friend can find me a job. Next scene, I was in a class with a male lecturer and international students, most of whom are adults. I think the subject is law. I had fallen asleep at the beginning when he was explaining the coursework. When I awoke, he was in the middle of explanation. Later, 3 female Japanese students excused themselves as they needed yo go back to work. The class ended and walked out the classroom absent mindedly. There were other students around me. I stood in the middle of the classroom staring into space for a bit, before walking back into my classroom to find that all students have left and it's dark except for the projector lights. I shuffled around looking for the switches until I gave up and just grab my things still left on the desk (I remember a dark jacket the most). The lecturer came back in as I was leaving I bade him goodbye and see him again. Next scene, I was in a very narrow elevator with an ex colleague in the job I left recently. I am not particularly close to him, but I do work closely with his subordinates. He was a superior of another team and is quite loud and expressive when he gets heated. The elevator was not in the typical shape, the door practically shuts in our faces with our backs already against the back wall of the elevator. I think we were out on an assignment, though I don't know what assignment it is. I remember it bring one day before a festival, either Christmas or Chinese New Year. I casually told the colleague that hope we don't get trapped in the elevator together or else we won't be able to complete the assignment in time to leave early for the festivities. Just as I said that, the elevator stalled midway and the lights went out. He glared at me in the darkness. I can't remember our conversation but I remember us linking our fingers throughout until we could get out. He wanted as minimal contact as possible while I teasingly tried to grab another finger. When the door opened, we came out to the middle of a bright and sunny Chinese-styled town. He quickly opened an umbrella and stepped out abd walked in front while I trailed behind. We came to a long flight of stairs (small steps) that leads to a row of picturesque Chinese shop houses along the waterway. There were many Chinese tourists coming up and around us. I spoke to the colleague in English. The Chinese tourist spoke among themselves but I understood they were referring to us as "guests or outsiders" (ke ren). As we walked down the stairs, I saw many kids who fell down playing on the stairs and adults picking them up. Finally we arrived to a little food stall which serves pork dishes. There were roasted pork parts hanging from hooks from the ceiling over the food prep counter. I can't remember exactly how heavy the slabs cost but I remember reading the prices as 9885 or 9883. I had a shock and looked again and revised it's actually 9.883 or 9.885. The colleague asked what do I want. Then I awoke from my dream.
Dreams often serve as a reflection of our subconscious thoughts, feelings, and experiences. The various scenes in your dream weave together different aspects of your life, relationships, and concerns, providing insight into your current emotional state and underlying tensions.
Scene 1: Meal with Husband and Friends Beginning with a meal shared with your husband and his friends based in Dubai, this scene suggests a social connection and possibly a yearning for community and communication. The act of asking your husband’s friend to help you find a job indicates both a desire for career advancement and perhaps a feeling of dependency on your husband’s network for support. This could reflect anxieties surrounding employment and your own aspirations, as well as any feelings of inadequacy you might have when it comes to your professional life.
Scene 2: Law Class and Disconnection Transitioning to a classroom scene, you find yourself among international students and a male lecturer, which can illustrate feelings of being an outsider or in an unfamiliar situation. Falling asleep at the start of the lecture suggests feelings of disengagement or a sense of being overwhelmed by new information or experiences. Seeing the Japanese students leave for work might indicate the sacrifices people make for their careers, reinforcing the theme of work-life balance. The emptiness of the dark classroom and being left behind echoes feelings of isolation or abandonment, perhaps a reflection of your concerns about being left out of opportunities or a sense of disconnect from your peers and their pursuits.
Scene 3: The Narrow Elevator with an Ex-Colleague The narrow elevator signifies feelings of confinement or restriction in your current life or job situation, possibly hinted by the presence of an ex-colleague who reminds you of past professional dynamics. The awkward interaction – with you teasingly trying to make a connection while he resists – may represent a struggle with boundaries in professional relationships. The elevator stalling suggests a fear of stagnation in your career and highlights anxiety about not being able to meet expectations, especially with festivities approaching. This aspect echoes the earlier theme of urgency and impending deadlines.
Scene 4: Bright Town and Cultural Imagery When the elevator opens to reveal a picturesque Chinese-styled town, it symbolizes a transition or escape to a place of cultural richness and perhaps comfort. However, the presence of tourists labeling you as "outsiders" suggests feelings of alienation. This bustling environment reflects the vibrancy and richness of life but also hints at anxieties regarding belonging; you may grapple with fitting into your surroundings, whether in personal or professional realms.
The imagery of children playing, falling, and being picked up reinforces themes of care, support, and the trials of growth. You may be longing for nurturing relationships or a reassurance that it’s okay to stumble and seek help when needed.
Conclusion: The heavy price tags of "9885" and the confusion around numbers could symbolize feelings around value and expectations in your career or personal achievements, perhaps feeling they just miss the mark of what you desire. This moment of reality about perceived costs in your life mirrors personal assessments of worth and goals.
Overall, your dream explores themes of connection, professional identity, and a need for community amid feelings of isolation. It suggests taking time to reflect on your career aspirations, your place within social networks, and the importance of seeking support from those you trust as you navigate your journey. This is an invitation to align your professional ambitions with your personal identity and to assertively seek out opportunities that resonate with your true self.