the monotony of being stuck in the suburbs

a vlog encapsulating the essence of my current monotonous life. i did some productive work, reunited with some friends, roller-skated, and more!
for awhile now i've been feeling like i've outgrown the life in my hometown. after 18 years of living in suburbia, it definitely makes sense to feel this way. shoutout to that old disney channel movie "stuck in the suburbs" starring our asian icon, brenda song lol. anyways, i've grown bored of the same routine. i work, eat, sleep, and occasionally hangout with a friend. but even then there's not much else to do ?? I mean.. i can only watch sunsets and talk in a parking lot so many times haha. hopefully y'all will be able to relate when it comes to craving change and growth, yet feeling trapped and restricted. i think i'm going to start looking into apartments soon? moving wow v big step. scary adult stuff ahh.
lots of love,
Dustin
- = * = -
I N S T A | @vuongdustin
T W I T T E R | @vuongdustin
T I K T O K | @vuongdustin
S P O T I F Y | @vuongdustin
D E P O P | @vuongdustin
B I Z | [e-mail]

[@dustinvuong]

RIP cloud mirror u will be missed ;-;

[@sl4981]

I love your room, we have matching fiddle leaf figs. *cheers🥂, heres to us not killing them hopefully 😉

[@jia-zhengyou7405]

mirror was everything ❤️❤️

[@linneadahlin6058]

First ever video of you I watched😭✨

[@auds7326]

share the links for the vinyl sir. this is a Threat.

[@aimeelynn3746]

Dustinnn what brand is your record-player???

[@ReneeVillafana]

both dustin and his little sister saying "WOAHHHH" after they unfolded something new was so cute

[@tellerp3867]

ikr

[@EnyaKellermann]

ommmg yes hahhahha I love it

[@dieegohgs75]

“and that was unboxing with dustin” “ 👀 and me” Well, that was adorable.

[@buttercruffie]

why is everyone in dustins friend group so attractive 😭

[@harithaha]

Like recognizes like 😳

[@melisdantou]

your vid's feel like little movie diary entries I ASPIRE TO BE THIS AESTHETIC ON FILM

[@NadyaOlivares]

The sunset scene is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, especially hearing ur voices in the background. That’s a vibe

[@dustinvuong]

thank you !! i like putting subtle details in my vlogs that almost hint to the theme of the vlog? i love when y'all notice them it makes me so happy

[@NadyaOlivares]

@@dustinvuong yes of course!! I really love ur editing style! It’s cinematic!! Thanks for replying 😩

[@invernessdougherty1048]

i really like how it didn’t feel intrusive idk if that makes any sense haha

[@halenacarpio6837]

I literally cried. It was amazing ;(

[@dobochobo]

not being able to move out after i graduated high school & having to start uni at home has definitely caused me to feel stagnant - it feels like i’ve been stuck for nearly a year, without having gained any closure from my “”childhood””. i’m moving out in a couple of weeks though, and i couldn’t be more excited for some real change! i’m right there with you dustin, cheering you on your own journey

[@dustinvuong]

yes exactly!! hope ur move goes well. we got this!

[@lizziepfaff7247]

the same situation for me! reading this comment made me feel so much better :) best of luck on your move

[@imani0nline]

Flannel is legit the seggsiest clothing item. I don’t make the rules just ask anyone on 2015 tumblr 🧍🏾‍♀️

[@kayzzzzzzzzz]

YES pls i wear a different flannel everyday

[@isam6988]

Same

[@victoria4]

I haven’t finished the video but I think there is something romantic and simplistic about living in the suburbs. I used to always want to live in nyc and I still do for a short time but I think deep down I love how serene and quiet my little neighborhood is.

[@dustinvuong]

i feel this way too! at first i hated living where i lived, but then in high school / senior year i started to appreciate the suburbs more and what it had to offer. at heart, i think i'm a suburbs kind of person and i do enjoy the quiet, slow pace of life. when i move i'll probs still be in a suburb just a new one that's closer to city life.

[@courtneyjasper4429]

the numbness rant at the end has been the most relatable thing I've heard this year. I'm tired of this state and really want to move omg

[@KIYANA.2]

i love how dustin's little sister is included and with him every time he goes out with his friends and stuff. it's a cute sibling relationship to see

[@qayxsw5900]

Right?? I used to look and act like her and it brings some so much good memories

[@adamfoley1381]

JAZZY AND DUSTIN UPLOADED! BEST DAY EVER

[@ohmanholyshiteu1869]

i was so sad that both of them didnt post anything for week/2 weeks and it made my night honestly sjsjjsjx

[@natalieolmstead2286]

LITERALLY ME

[@rainajanai]

RIGHTTT

[@pieceaisa5046]

YES OMG THE TASTE

[@salem7501]

OMFG YES

[@okhei7536]

dustin's visuals are just **chef's kiss**

[@yeobo]

completely relate to the whole friends and running out of things to talk about, it’s such a long tedious part of life? and i’m also really craving change and wanting to move, it sucks but atleast now i know im not alone

[@sophjadv]

"my neighburr tutURO" 😩😩😩

[@lynxsoh4098]

please- that actually made me laugh

[@qayxsw5900]

GIBLII hsgssg its ghibli aw :’)

[@clar_ssa]

choosing to skip adventure of a lifetime by coldplay is actually a crime i think

[@dustinvuong]

i thought so too

[@CarolinaLopez-gk9mj]

I feel you. For me, these last weeks have been bored and tired, every single day seems to be the same than the day before, living in the same place, with the same things, studying in a place where I do not want to study, but I guess I have no choice. I can not move somewhere else (I do not have money at all) and I do not know where I could go. I hope everyone who is feeling the same finds a way out soon.

[@plant9184]

your moving situation is quite a pickle, but everything will work out once you bite the bullet :) when i moved back onto campus, i thought that everything would go 100% smoothly and my life would be amazing again but sadly just because my external circumstances change, it didn't make my life anymore fulfilling. it was a short-term high, but once i got settled and everything got normalized i felt the same dullness again. but dullness in a very peaceful way. I started to, and is still trying to, be very present and grateful will all of the little things in life. i had this video recommended to me, Jo Franco's "I got shot 4 years ago..." and it's a reminder of how important it is to appreciate life and all of the little things, i highly recommend :3 also, everything will work out when you move. maybe not exactly in the way you plan it out to be, but it'll all work out for the end and it'll be a nice refresher. in terms of making friends at the new place, your vibe will attract your tribe, dw you got it

[@michelle-zi3qs]

aw you worded this so beautifully

[@everyoneswife3922]

i don’t want this coming off in the wrong way, but your videos showcasing these different parts of your day makes it feel like a movie and it’s so beautiful. i hope you can find that place you would want to move to and you feel happy there, it’s a scary thing to have such a big change but i hope you will find that place where you feel the most comfortable

[@stellatheestar]

I can’t believe we get this for free!! this is literally a film🥺

[@Jasminesscarlett]

Sorts old person here (and very late to the video). I felt this way when I was 18 and moving away didn't solve all my problems however it gave me a huge appreciation for home and how great it was. I think this is why a lot of people move out and move back as they have a greater appreciation for being close to family and friends. Saying that I haven't moved back but going back home is such a magical experience and really draws on your heart strings and honestly I wouldn't want to fall out of love with it again. Sometimes distance is needed from not just people but places.

[@ArtisticPainter2364]

wow that is so true! thank you for sharing that.

[@fefobowie]

dustin has had so many moments and phases from before high school to college now sharing with us. I'm going to spend this year on my leave from school in the middle of a pandemic while I think about how much I missed from my teenage years and I feel like him many times... these videos are a lovely place to come when I think too much and I thank him. it's like a movie come of age cliche sometimes, we grow up, we get old and we have to let things go away like friends, a mirror with painted clouds, old clothes and memories that always come back in some way. not wanting to be too emotional even though I’ve already kind of done that lol but I really really want to thank you for sharing your thoughts, life and how everything is going despite some difficulties cuz we all are kind of fucked lately. I can understand so much how it's like to grow and the fears of change, but we have to go through it and start phases as soon as we finish. I'm becoming a man and it fucking scares. anyway it's a good cycle to continue I think. thank you d, with a lot love someone becoming an adult soon.

[@okellie]

clicking this while sitting in the monotonous suburbs 😀

[@coolbeans3674]

same bestie 😀

[@andreina3251]

me too 😀

[@danbz30_]

I just wish that my life could be as aesthetic as Dustin but when I think again, I should be enjoying and thankful for the life I had. Dustin really taught me to just live my life by watching all of his video. Glad that I found him on this KZbin platform.

[@elena_Ann44]

Your little chat at the end literally explained my life right now,,, like I’m literally in shock 😭 (but it’s comforting to know I’m not alone)

[@mooshyy_frog9989]

I love how certain he is that, despite the dryness of the rice, the frozen tikka masala still SMACKS

[@weirdo_s1cko]

As a 15 year old with 0 control over there life your videos make me exited to be able to leave when I graduate high-school. It makes me still have hope that when 20 I'll be able to have expericences that Im not allowed rn . thank you dustin

[@tylerchoi7101]

Omg I feel you too. I haven’t done anything in my life during this whole pandemic and barely making any memories. I haven’t felt happy or sad but just numb. I can’t keep conversations even though I love talking. My life is just sleep, eat, work, draw and repeat and I just feel so... ugh.. ya know? I’m glad to see that I’m not the only one going through this so thank you for sharing!

[@jessicamarie2421]

adventure of a lifetime is so good y’all can’t tell me otherwise 😩✋🏻

[@emilykaneshiro2894]

Thats rant at the end is a mood. I dont really have friends here. Im 18 and so ready to just move out from my parents and start again. Cultivate my own space and whatnot

[@landy9345]

As a person in 2nd year of university, I can relate with you wanting to distance yourself from your highschool self. It was hard during my first 2 semesters, specially because of quarantine. It didn't feel like I was a uni student, but I didn't really feel the same way as in highschool. A year has made a great difference. I feel like I've matured and become more mindful. I'm 19, about to turn 20 and I don't feel like an adult yet, but I don't feel like a teen neither. Hopefully I figure things out and finish university but in the mean time, I'll just go with the flow and enjoy life without really overstressing anymore.

[@LanieBrice]

Clicked on this video because I too am stuck in the suburbs and this was super comforting. I really related to redoing your room to get away from your high school self (because I'm currently doing that too). But being stuck in a pandemic has made it hard. (Also, what if it's us is such a cute book)

[@crescentflower444]

Idk if I’m the only one but your videos always make me emotional

[@ashluv8723]

this made me miss my free days, just days without school works and genuinely enjoying your everyday life. Online class is making me feel drained even if im just at home bcs home should feel like a place where you take rest and just relax but right now everyday at home feels very exhausting i can't even feel weekends anymore😔

[@user-cd6xy5vb9e]

I 've been stuck in my boring ass town for the past 4 months cause we have many Covid-19 cases and I literally can't handle it anymore. Thank you Dustin for posting these videos.

[@briramirez7970]

It's so hard for some us to experience growth being stuck in the same place for a long time. I understand it completely and I'm so happy that your so open about wanting change and experiencing self growth. You honestly inspire me so much and encourage me in some ways to become the best version of myself. Thank you for sharing your journey! I will always be appreciative of people like you☺

[@TheEthanGonzales]

homie really be having the dopest aesthetic in his vids 🤚🏽

[@felix.mp3639]

ive been stuck in my apartment for so long. sometimes i would go grocery shopping or to my grandma's house but im usually stuck in my apartment with my brother and dad while my mom works. and yea i agree with you Dustin, every day feels repeative and borning.. hopefully we will soon find a way to make the days intresting and worth enjoying so they dont feel like a bland straight line.

[@candelariast.patrick1690]

I strive to have the economic stability & safe net of the suburbs. You live in such a beautiful and safe town, it looks truly nostalgic. Struggling in the city is so draining, forget about meeting people where 43% of the city crime is violent crime.

[@cathiewndrlnd1197]

I really feel this part of feeling numb but at the same time having a lot of different feelings at the same time, I think it will take a lot of time until we get we‘re we used to be when it comes to our emotions, when life might come to normal again someday.

[@lemonboy1490]

you’re one of the realest youtuber ik, so underrated, your videos are literally the best i’ll never get bored of them

[@mindongincali4089]

Im really jealous on your chill mood :) Good luck on your next move!

[@eroticjayda3770]

I wanna move too but I don't feel like leaving my mommy. I'm 18 and still make my mommy call for appointments BAHBHHABA.

[@dani_aalstein]

Dustin be living in a coming of age movie, and I'm here for it ✨

[@alicebiella6504]

14:07 this is SOOO relatable, i'm sorry you're feeling this way 'cause that's how i kind of feel right now as well, i just don't know what i am actually feeling and i know that i can't do much about it because i don't even know what i need to feel... less emotionless ?? i'm definitely too young to move out by myself but i've seen that moving in a place where you finally feel safer and more free can really help, i hope you'll understand if you're ready to make a change or if you feel more like waiting a little longer ♡ also i've just discovered your channel and i fallen in love with your aesthetic and your open mind, just wanted to say that

[@witchiiex]

its always so comforting to watch your vlogs and videos because im the same age and class as you and i have similar feeling about college and feeling numb and bored and the things you talked about,,, especially the moving thing, but im from the chicago suburbs. all in all its just nice to see im not struggling alone, even if we've never met, even though you're unaware of my existence and life. thank you dustin so much for showing your journey the past few years - as someone who only has one or two close friends that can't really relate, your channel means a lot to me. hope you are safe and well, and wishing you the best on your apartment search and decisions

[@mikkotan9734]

Dustin's vlogs calms me and help me cope up with a dayjob that I hate. Whenever I want to pass the time while in office, I just listen to his vlogs while working. Thank you so much for your vlogs!! Looking forward for more!!

[@michelle-zi3qs]

dustinnn this was filmed so beautifully!! as someone also living in the suburbs and trapped at home bc of the pandemic i related so much to what you said in the last part of your video. i really feel like there's only a handful of things to do home and i've already squeezed the town dry and i just feel restless and bored all the time. being online for so long has honestly desensitized me to everything and i feel numb about life so often because there never feels like there's anything concrete to look forward to and every day is the same. you worded that feeling SO WELL and still was able to capture the occasional beauty of the suburbs which i think is amazing

[@annakolesnikova1029]

it’s like you shared my thoughts omg ... like I totally understand the exhaustion with emotional talks, it’s nice but right nö it’s also too much. I just wanna have a passion ,something that motivates me

[@astrxlogical6166]

Hi Dustin! I definitely resonated a lot with what you had to say in this video as I too felt everything being so repetitive and monotonous and having nothing to do, and especially with outgrowing a hometown. I definitely think that is what caused my mental health to really go downhill in addition to so many of my friends moving and being left here had left me feeling completely lost in life. But moving has definitely helped a lot with those feelings and not having friends is hard and I wish i could make friends but with the pandemic and college (community college woohoo) being on online, it's been quite tough. It's not easy being in this kind of mental state and feeling stuck with nowhere to go but I hope you find happiness and peace :) best wishes

[@naomiblair1924]

Not the cloud mirror!!! 😭😭😭 But I'm proud of you for moving on to a new chapter of your life! Best of luck!

[@HiThere-ex5rh]

He is the main character and we are just living in his movie

[@andreahenao8069]

i feel so safe watching your videos, i feel like im not alone and what i feel is valid and people feel it too. Thanks for your videos i love them so much and im so happy i found you

[@imporish1456]

0:50 remembering that we're the same age and we're going thru the same transition from high school to adulthood... it's so weird you can share a phase in life with people you'll never meet

[@ohmanholyshiteu1869]

while dustin was holding the matcha ice cream and talking i was like how are his fingers not dying from the cold ice cream like i would drop the ice cream on the floor after 2 seconds of holding it djksjdjd

[@samanadirli]

I fell in love with every sunset clip of this vlog.

[@meimei_bear]

OMG I REMEMBER WHEN YOU PAINTED THE MIRROR PLEASE SEEN HOW MUCH YOU HAVE GROWN FROM THE PAST YEARS MAKES ME SO PROUD OF YOU

[@divyagovind9204]

Your videos are literally ghibli movies come to life and it makes me so happy to watch them i love them so much!!

[@jazz3647]

the vibes are so prettyyyyyy I can’t get over it

[@teenybee467]

I felt that part about running out of topics, so hard. Silence is something that I also feel so awkward in, and before this whole covid year I found it pretty easy to fill up, but now bc I don't do anything its just kinda like :(

[@peanutbuttersquid6124]

I relate to this video to an espiritual level. I'm three weeks away from moving to japan, I'm so excited it has been my dream since first year of middle school... I want to change my life completely, I want to experience something new I can't in my own country. The pandemic and the quarantine were starting to get me a little bit depressed but this changed everything, I'm so ready. Everyone keep pursuing your dreams and you will reach them in the adequate time, love you all and Dustin 😌😌💕

[@maijas_music]

Have lost of fun in Japan! I hope to travel to South Korea but it’s so expensive haha

[@kay_l0v3s]

i love watching videos such as yours because I always find such a deep connection to them for some reason. As if I see myself in the people

[@kayzzzzzzzzz]

i can literally put on the most basic fit but throw on a flannel and all of a sudden i feel so hot and powerful 😩🤌

[@Happygurlforeva]

Dustin! 🥺 this video made me cry but it felt so good. Seeing you clean out your room, I’ve done the same recently since moving into a smaller new apartment. It needed to get done! I graduated from college last year during the panny and some days it feel like I’m still stuck in the past: whether it be high school or my last few years at college. This video was so refreshing, especially seeing you trying to make the best of your situation and controlling the things that you can 🤎

[@silverdove9911]

I live in a Minnesotan suburb and Dustin-- the way I relate to this video is on a spiritual level

[@isandrepolman8392]

4:44 "n mii" 🥺

[@hele1458]

every time i watch your videos i feel like watching a sitcom of a cool and chill person

[@veerasonninen3368]

14:47 i can totally relate to this. im usually the person who never shuts up and i always have so much to tell my friends but lately, just like you said, i don't have anything to talk about and ive noticed that my social battery runs out so fast now days. idk what has changed but something's just weird with me. im really glad that im not the only one feeling this way

[@kmoneythe3rd]

bruh that seasonal numbness tho🤭🤭i’ve never related to something more in my life

[@subak1589]

i moved from a city to the suburbs and honestly it feels so fresh but i do miss my friends a lot

[@viivi4196]

I really relate to some of the stuff you said at the end of the video. I moved into a whole new city in september 2020 for uni but obviously we have online school so I haven't met anyone and I didn't have friends here to start with so I'm here all alone. Luckily my family and most of my friends don't live too far away so I can go home sometimes, but it's tricky trying to handle being by yourself all the time, it's such a big change. Anyway, I hope that if you do move you will be happier there!

[@turbanid]

I’d recommend moving to a college town or near one so that you’ll at least be around ppl your age and then if you wanna make friends you could just go on campus or some :)

[@maryh6225]

this might sound rlly weird but i feel like the entire quarantine anytime i had anything to look forward to it doesn’t feel like it’s going to happen until it does, or like i’m never that excited and it’s only fun for a little.

[@sjae-ni1xi]

6:09 omfg you just gave me such a good prompt for a song or a book

[@doveygirl9518]

San Diego is a wonderful place to consider tbh. San Diego has a lot of things here that never get old. Lived here for 14 years of my 18 years of life, and the sunsets, the parks, missions, and the beach are just a couple of the perks. The downtown area is urban and fun, and its cheaper here than LA. Also people here are generally pretty chill (in comparison to the rest of Cali LOL). Ive never met someone who’s moved to San Diego that didn’t immediately see it as home.

[@mackenziesmith2421]

I related a lot to this video. It was really comforting to hear that someone is going through similar things to me. Lately I've been feeling lost, similar to how you were saying, I've been having a hard time transitioning from my high self. I barely ever see my friends let alone talk to them. I just feel stuck.

[@fionalyubarsky8807]

I live in nyc (manhattan New York) and honestly I’m stuck in the same routine except in a apartment. Since everything is closed and its still freezing its just a endless cycle everyday.

[@neoholic2933]

my junior year just ended today, my favorite teachers moved and ive been so busy with council or extra curricular and icb im becoming a senior its so fast seeing you grow and move forward is really comforting and seeing the cloud mirror go too its so nostalgic !!

[@mariajoao5243]

Im from a small town too and I'm a little older than you, still in college tho. I know that feeling of outgrowing your location and situation in life, but moving is not a solution on its own. It's super cool if you want to move and it can definitely be a great motivation to change your situation and promote growth and fulfillment, but those things have to come from within (I know so cheesy and wtf does it even mean, Im not sure either, still figuring shit out). U have to be able to appreciate the present and be fully contempt with your current reality, even if you crave more in life, or else you'll always be miserable and feel like something's missing, cause you're just gonna come up with new dreams and goals. It's the same old story of "enjoying the journey, not just the destination". Sorry for the preach but it really spoke to me what you said and your situation.

[@kamillaj7631]

I feel exactly the same way and to hear you talk about it makes me feel less alone, thank you! I think I got used to constantly working towards something or occupying myself that now when I don’t really have any drive for productive things I feel overwhelmed and bored. I’m trying to just wait it out but it’s really hard when all day I’m just looking for things to do

[@BenjoSama]

going to watch the disney original 'stuck in the suburbs' thanks to this video

[@invernessdougherty1048]

i sort of understand the feeling not having that closure in a sense. covid started when i was in the seventh grade and ill be a freshman next semester, and it’s sort of hard for me to believe

[@MayaZoey123]

Whenever I watch dustins videos I can always 100% relate to him and it feels like I’m just on ft w/ a friend 😭🖐🏻 I’ve been in such a numb stage as well where at this point in quarantine I’m sad that I don’t get very excited anymore :/ It’s hard to when you feel so stuck and unable to end the cycle- But I hope and pray that I’ll be able to get out of this rut and make some changes bc bro idk what to do ✨

[@mirandagalindo6442]

hi dustin just wanted to say that i really appreciate the god dammm beautiful editing and i was so happy to listen to a chat once again, its so relatable and I like how everyone can relate to each other in the comments. Hiiiii everyone!!!!

[@lidyadirar346]

I live in a suburb so close to a big city, but I too feel this sense of longing for change and craving company that isn’t my own..

[@ktnguyen4412]

Hey idk if this would help but finding roommates to move in with is a great way to make some friends in a new place bc of the pandemic and usually there's people looking for roommates on Facebook or on craigslist I have a hard time making friends and having your roommate introduce you to their friends is always helpful bc you can kinda network from there if you don't feel comfortable moving in with a stranger I totally get you but just keep in mind that you can become online friends with them before moving to see if you're comfortable with them another plus to the roommate situation is that rent is SO MUCH CHEAPER i really hope this helps at least a little I love your vibes!

[@marammaaroufi6093]

I relate to this on so many levels, especially the outgrowing my hometown part and running out of topics while taking with friends, the same old routine and the same activities for years, I’ll be moving out next year after the virus starts to lessen ❤️ I wish you the best Dustin, you and I both deserve it!

[@woxinling]

I relate to this so much, I feel like I have outgrown this place too... and that means something since I have my village, the town where I go to school and my hometown all around me... but nothing is exciting anymore. the only times I’m really happy is when I’m out with friends

[@karazzzyk8786]

the "luke's" sweater cutest thing ever

[@ZPiiLe1]

That moment 6:30 can top everything singing in the car with a friend at the sunset

[@kayzzzzzzzzz]

dude that sunset scene actually got me emotional woah

[@miadun5860]

Man. Thank you for posting this, it perfectly put into words exactly how I’m feeling. It’s so comforting to know that someone else feels the same way 💗

[@dibahp9964]

I felt every bit of things you said in the end of the video. And there's so much I wanted to write but I wouldn't be able to talk my feelings properly but anyway just wanted to say I feel you in so many ways 💙

[@EllyClark96]

You've literally just ready my thoughts on moving out!

[@omgisthatchristian]

you’re so pretty omg 🥺 i hope you are doing well in life !!

[@rodiyah5061]

I literally gasped when you said you were giving the cloud mirror away 😭

[@katnixx6278]

I love this so much i mightve teared up somewhere along the vid idk. also, the visuals are really to die for

[@anad1411]

the whole video is just athletic peace. It made my mood

[@jaystillamonster]

Keep going Dustin! I used to be in your place and I even asked random strangers about have they ever experienced repeating a cycle as if you're moving nowhere. I don't really get the answer that I'm searching for though. I guess taking small steps should do. I'm saying that if you're craving for a change then you shouldn't stop looking until you found it. At least, that's what I'm currently doing. Of course, I don't exactly know what it is but I convince myself to keep going until I found it. Or it found me. Nevertheless, I'm rooting for you! May you find the thing that could move your story too💗

[@mariaapaz7]

i love that his videos feel like ur hanging out w him