New Year! 2012
I've been having trouble posting on LJ recently, so this should help :D
First, I just want to say that 2011 was a great year. It had the same ups and downs as any other year, but I feel like I was able to regain my footing enough that 2012 should be productive. Thanks to all of my friends who supported me in 2011, I hope that I can be a good friend too!
http://youtu.be/CosNVK-jKPA
Yay 2012!!
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Willingly ate red pepper. Kept rats in a foreign country. Went to see figure skating.
I'm sure there were more important things, but nothing really comes to mind.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Absolutely not. I said that I'd cut out cola and only drink water which was an utter fail. I am however on a 2 week challenge right now where I am doing just that and doing really well. I think rather than a "No X No Y" diet, I just want to make more of an effort to take care of myself. I am not really to the point where I can go out and exercise, but if I at least do it at home I think I'll feel a lot better in every way.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Only Misty.
5. What countries did you visit?
I've just been here in Japan. Going to Korea in March though!
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
More confidence. I say this every year, but maybe it will slowly start to add up?
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
11-11-11 !! I know it is technically not exciting, but since 11 11 is my lucky time, this was a very cool day :D I have since come to learn that MANY people think that 11:11 is lucky O-O its odd that I'm not the only one.
Also, March 11th. I didn't even feel the quake and frankly I don't usually have enough sense to be afraid of nature, but I will tell you what, standing up on the roof of the school with the nurse and tea lady as we stare at the bay and they should "It's coming! It's huge! Look at the waves," sent chills down my spine. There were no waves BTW ...
I went home, without anyone explaining to me what was going on or how bad it could get. I had no electricity, no food at home and it took me awhile to figure out how to use my cell to get online. The scariest thing however was the terrible alarm on my phone that couldnt be turned off and went off over and over and over that first month as aftershocks came. As some sort of Pavlovian response, tears came to my eyes each time I heard that awful noise.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I became a teacher. Last year I taught students, this year I actually started to give a damn. I learned who my students are and worry when they are sick or having a bad day. I'm not good at talking to people, but I made an effort and frankly I'm rather popular among my students. The fact that they prefer to ask me questions in place of the real English teacher is kind of cool. I am also not the least bit strict, but thankfully with dark humor, excellent dog like hearing, and looks of disapproval there is no one getting the one up on me.
Also, I managed through optimism and denial therapy to get about 3 days where I had 1-2 minutes of clarity from my depersonalization! It's not much, but it was enough to bring me to tears of joy (dangerous since I was at school) maybe there is still some sort of tiny tiny hope?
Also, I finished NANOWRIMO in 8 days O_O I was really surprised since I didnt think I'd win this year. It is a terrible story still, but yay! Working on another one right now... or procrastinating I guess.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I could have tried harder. If I had the courage I could have made so many friends and helped so many students and done so many memorable activities! Instead I shut myself inside. I like being on my own and the majority of my hobbies are inside, but I can do that anywhere and THIS experience is going to be over soon. I need to make the best of it while I can.
In addition to this.. people at my work are always super nice to me, but I fail horribly at communicating, so I never thank them as much as I want to and they probably all think that I hate them, but I really dont.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
The flu!! I was really scared because it was the highest fever I have ever had in my life. Too scared to go to a doctor though, I worked myself ragged until a teacher found out that I had an extremely high fever (I said it so matter of factly to her "Yeah.. this morning I had a 102 fever). She freaked and went with me to the doctor (she sat with me the whole time which I really really appreciate) The doctor told me to take a week off so I did. Everyday a teacher would bring me delicious sick person foods and check up on me :D
Also, only since coming to Japan have I started loosing my voice every time I catch a bad cold. Lame since I kind of need my voice to be an ALT.
Also, had a horrible drinking experience which convinced me to finally give up drinking for good. NEVER AGAIN
11. What was the best thing you bought?
RATS!
They caused me terrible worrying and exasperation, but I just can't live without pets. After loosing Misty and having a horrible horrible Christmas break I realized that for the first time in my ENTIRE LIFE I was petless. I know that non pet folks might not understand how horribly lonely a thought that is, but trust me it's bad.
Thankfully, not even a month later my package of two cute beady eyed friends arrived in the mail! Maybe its because they are dumbo rats, or because they are the fabled "husky" rats, but they are SOOOOOO friendly and being able to come home and have someone super excited to see you is something that never gets old. Rikki even follows me around to every room I go to just like a dog would.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My speech contest students did amazing. Especially Johnny Michael with his randomness. I was so happy at Speech contest when we could all just play and enjoy the day and not worry ourselves sick like the other school's kids. Got awesome photos and he and the 1st years even managed to place!
I think it was one of my favorite memories this whole year. Johnny Michael shouting "HELLO SHAMUS!" at Nate (another ALT), Izu kun doing anything that JM did, uber serious Ryoji with his awful awful speech, Mrs. Meguro making us go on stage IN FRONT OF EVERYONE at the middle of intermission so she could take our photo and Johnny Michael did a ridiculous pose (like the one above) and Ryoji going "Dammit now everyone is doing it and i'll be the ass if I DONT do it", oh and the ice cream float I got afterwards that tasted like ground meat.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Not appalled, but the new JTE wasn't really my favorite person. I think the worst moment was when one of my very favorite 9th graders, a shy girl, said she wanted so so so bad to be in speech contest. For no reason this teacher decided that was stupid and instead of letting her audition she pulled the girl aside and told her that she wasn't good enough (which isnt true at all) That made me SO angry I could have punched her. I love that kid and now she will always know her teacher thought she wasn't good enough.
NOTE: The girl reacted to this awfulness rather well with a "WHAT? I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH?" that freaked out the teacher and between me and the girl we did get her an audition though she didn't make the final cut.
Depressed? Maybe longtime friends who never write/ respond to my messages. I have also been guilty of this last year though. I am sorry.
OH and after I gave up drinking I went to karaoke with other ALTs and was horrified at what alcohol does to folks. They were total assholes to me, my car was horribly broken and I was called a bitch because I wouldn't drink. Did not help my ever increasing dislike of people. .... I did get many nice man hugs that night though, with very humorous reactions by one of the new ALTs "OMG THAT WAS THE BEST HUG EVER! GUYS! GUYS! YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS! OMG IM GOING IN FOR ANOTHER!" .....he had many many drinks that night.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Food and karaoke. I did manage to save a lot this year which I am grateful for... I'm going to need that money next year.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Rats!! English speech contest!!! Sports festival!!! Paradise kiss movie!!!
How could I not be excited about events where my students pummel each other? Look! Ren is punching that red team bastard right in the face!
(I was white team)
16. What song(s) will always remind you of 2011?
Good question. Nothing really, but maybe Gotye's "Somebody that I used to know" since it is on pretty much all of my playlists.
Click to view17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder?
I guess happier or about the same? I am happy that I have achieved a lot since coming to Japan, but also sad that I am going home when I like this job so much.
ii. Thinner or fatter?
I never bought a scale because I feel like it is a bad thing to check often, but I always stay in the same 10 lb range and I think I am on the higher end from being a lazy laze o.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Traveling, studying, talking to coworkers and students, going out and getting fresh air.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
With Anpan and Liz! Eating foods and being bears!
22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
Not with anyone non fictional. Did have two "could be asking me out" experiences, but honestly I don't want to start anything while I am in Japan. Getting old though, so hopefully 2012 will be my year!
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Hm... I guess the Office? I also watched a lot of trash programs like Hoarders, Extreme Animal Phobias and My Strange Addiction.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
As a rule I don't hate people. I did greatly dislike my new JTE for most of the new school year, but that is slowly turning to semi pity since she is technically a nice person, just a terrible teacher. All of the students bully her.
26. What was the best book you read?
I reread all of my Tamora Pierce books and all of my Anne Bishop books this year. The Alanna series really is the greatest and most defining book(s) in my life so I guess those? Also read the new Tamora Pierce book "Mastiff" which was incredibly boring, but introduced a great new character!
No one is as badass as Alanna..
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I dont really like music lately. Got into Mumford and Sons and some more chill stuff though. Still loving everything that Sam Hart does.
28. What did you want and get?
Rats? Giant Master plushie!!
29. What did you want and not get?
I got everything I wanted.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I watched SO MANY MOVIES!!!! I really loved "The Kings Speech" because hey, Colin Firth. Also I enjoyed "The Help" and "Paradise Kiss."
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 25! I had wanted to sit alone and languish in my impending death from oldness, but went to Rosso Bianco with Anpan instead and had a lovely quiet birthday with ice cream cake and beef kalpacho!
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If all family members came to visit. If I was able to visit home. If I had joined club activities at school.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Toss a coat over it and no one can see anyways! :D
34. What kept you sane?
Wondrous friends and rats that force me to stay out of bed and stay sane enough to take care of them.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I liked Neil Patrick Harris and Neil De Grasse Tyson.
I could listen to Neil De Grasse Tyson talk for HOURS. He could talk about foil and I'd be excited about it.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
All the police violence during the OWS protests. Also, the many many many accounts of police randomly killing people's dogs for no apparent reason and totally getting away with it.
37. Whom did you miss?
My brothers, My parents
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Mmm... maybe not new.. but I LOVED my 1 nen speech students! The girl is wonderful because she doesn't act like a normal Japanese girl and is very tomboy-ish and amazingly smart. The boy is so doofy and ridiculous and I want to adopt him. Or I want the boy and girl to marry each other. I think I'd be happy forever if that happened. I have a thing for childhood friendship romances :D
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:
A healthy sense of optimism can get you though the worst of times.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Will I stay this way forever? Sleepwalk through my life's endeavor."
-Going through the motions
Oh Buffy Musical.. how I love you...