Annual Survey
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Ooh, lots. Went to Indonesia, broke a bone, got stitches...it's been an exciting year.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I kept three out of six. I wrote something (and published! woo!), took the JLPT, and visited a new country. My resolutions this year: 1) Take the GRE (rollover); 2) Date (rollover); 3) Run a marathon (rollover); 4) Visit a new county (keeping this one - it's a good one); 4) Save money
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My sister, and my friend.
4. Did anyone close to you die? NO! It's been a good year.
5. What countries did you visit? Indonesia and America. :)
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? ...a boyfriend. Haha
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory? none, I think.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? There are a few! First, I went to a "Teaching Japanese" conference last January in Kyoto. It was a really great experience for me, and all in Japanese for a whole week. Second, I got an essay published in Japanese. I had a second essay published on a different topic in English. Third, Indonesia. Also, until summer I was AJET president, and there were some accomplishments with that...first AJET ski trip, hanami, the farewell party, bake sale, orphanage visit, making T-shirts, etc. Lastly, I took the JLPT. Hopefully I passed.
9. What was your biggest failure? Actually, no failures this year. Oh, well, my body failed to not break. So, yeah, there was that.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Yes. Surely did! Broken finger, and stitches! But, thanks to the broken finger, I got to meet a really cool doctor and a bunch of x-ray technicians, and I learned the word for "broken bone" and "calcification" in Japanese. As for the the stitches, it's a really funny story I can tell at drinking parties. And, as an added bonus, I didn't get the dreaded swine flu! ...yet, anyway. haha
11. What was the best thing you bought? No big purchases this year, actually. So, I guess my trip to Indonesia was my biggest and best purchase.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? America, for electing a black liberal president. Here's hoping they back him up while he's in office. I guess technically he was elected in 2008, but inauguration was in January, so.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Umm, no appall or depression this year.
14. Where did most of your money go? Traveling and horse shows.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Watching my boys play judo in Fukuoka, weightlifting in Nara, going to Sumatra, my essays being published, and the conference in January.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009? Oasis - Whatever
17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder? Actually, probably sadder...most of my good friends left or got married this year so it's been a little lonely the last few months. But, I think things are on the upswing again...I made some new friends. :)
ii. thinner or fatter? exactly the same
iii. richer or poorer? maybe -slightly- richer. I want to write richer next year.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? exercise...I know, that sounds crazy, because I exercise all the time. But, I had to take a lot of time off judo because of my injury, and I didn't run as much as I'd hoped to this year.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Worrying what other people think about me.
20. How will you be spending Christmas? With my family. I can't wait.
22. Did you fall in love in 2009? Nope. I really want to though...just have to get out there and meet the right guy I guess. He's not going to fall into my lap. Though, that would be nice.
23. How many one night stands? None; I'm not that kind of girl.
24. What was your favourite TV programme? ...oh man, do I -have- to tell you? I'm so embarrassed, but the show I watched the most of was One Tree Hill. Why? I really don't know. It's so bad...but I can't stop watching it. Shows I've watched less of but like more (watched less of because there are less episodes, to be fair): Arrested Development and Galileo.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? In reality, really, I don't hate anyone. The fact is, hating people just takes too much effort. I'm the "momentarily frustrated" type.
26. What was the best book you read? I'm going to sound like such a snob, but the only book I've really read this whole year was Existentialism and Human Emotions. In English, anyway. I read some children's and non-fiction books in Japanese, but they weren't good. haha
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? No really great discoveries of new artists, but I belatedly decided I like Oasis. Just, not their singles.
28. What did you want and get? A Japanese tutor.
29. What did you want and not get? ...boyfriend.
30. What was your favourite film of this year? I actually don't think I have seen a single new movie this year.
31. What did you do on your birthday? Good question! Ummm...nothing too special. I worked, then Yui and Motonaga-sensei made me dinner. I missed the big joint party for "May birthdays" because I was sick, so no big parties for me this year.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Man, I don't want to say it again, but...boyfriend! haha
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? Totally whack. I finally came to the realization that I love wearing skirts. I probably always did; I used to test dresses for "twirl" when I was a kid. I just don't like -short- skirts. Or tight skirts. I wear a lot of knee-length or slightly shorter ones. I also wear a lot more boots here. No heels, because I'm already a giant in this country. I like tops that have a waistline, I'm not into the sack look that's in style in Japan.
34. What kept you sane? Nothing. Make what you will of that!
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Fukuyama. Big heart.
36. What political issue stirred you the most? Of course it was health care. I wrote a letter to my house representative and everything. I'm all for the government taking over health care.
37. Who did you miss? So many people. Especially Kate, Travis, Tyler, Nia, Lynn, the Wheelers, of course my family, Mina and Mami.
38. Who was the best new person you met? There are some cool new people in town. Elaine, May, Nathan and Megan top the list. And Ricky and Norman from Sumatra. They are so fun.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009. Broken things take a long, long time to heal. :(
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
造ってくれたのは
救ってくれたのは
きっとパパでも
多分ママでも
神様でもないと思うんだよ
残るはつまり ほらね君だった
Ooh, lots. Went to Indonesia, broke a bone, got stitches...it's been an exciting year.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I kept three out of six. I wrote something (and published! woo!), took the JLPT, and visited a new country. My resolutions this year: 1) Take the GRE (rollover); 2) Date (rollover); 3) Run a marathon (rollover); 4) Visit a new county (keeping this one - it's a good one); 4) Save money
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My sister, and my friend.
4. Did anyone close to you die? NO! It's been a good year.
5. What countries did you visit? Indonesia and America. :)
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? ...a boyfriend. Haha
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory? none, I think.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? There are a few! First, I went to a "Teaching Japanese" conference last January in Kyoto. It was a really great experience for me, and all in Japanese for a whole week. Second, I got an essay published in Japanese. I had a second essay published on a different topic in English. Third, Indonesia. Also, until summer I was AJET president, and there were some accomplishments with that...first AJET ski trip, hanami, the farewell party, bake sale, orphanage visit, making T-shirts, etc. Lastly, I took the JLPT. Hopefully I passed.
9. What was your biggest failure? Actually, no failures this year. Oh, well, my body failed to not break. So, yeah, there was that.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Yes. Surely did! Broken finger, and stitches! But, thanks to the broken finger, I got to meet a really cool doctor and a bunch of x-ray technicians, and I learned the word for "broken bone" and "calcification" in Japanese. As for the the stitches, it's a really funny story I can tell at drinking parties. And, as an added bonus, I didn't get the dreaded swine flu! ...yet, anyway. haha
11. What was the best thing you bought? No big purchases this year, actually. So, I guess my trip to Indonesia was my biggest and best purchase.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? America, for electing a black liberal president. Here's hoping they back him up while he's in office. I guess technically he was elected in 2008, but inauguration was in January, so.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Umm, no appall or depression this year.
14. Where did most of your money go? Traveling and horse shows.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Watching my boys play judo in Fukuoka, weightlifting in Nara, going to Sumatra, my essays being published, and the conference in January.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009? Oasis - Whatever
17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder? Actually, probably sadder...most of my good friends left or got married this year so it's been a little lonely the last few months. But, I think things are on the upswing again...I made some new friends. :)
ii. thinner or fatter? exactly the same
iii. richer or poorer? maybe -slightly- richer. I want to write richer next year.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? exercise...I know, that sounds crazy, because I exercise all the time. But, I had to take a lot of time off judo because of my injury, and I didn't run as much as I'd hoped to this year.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Worrying what other people think about me.
20. How will you be spending Christmas? With my family. I can't wait.
22. Did you fall in love in 2009? Nope. I really want to though...just have to get out there and meet the right guy I guess. He's not going to fall into my lap. Though, that would be nice.
23. How many one night stands? None; I'm not that kind of girl.
24. What was your favourite TV programme? ...oh man, do I -have- to tell you? I'm so embarrassed, but the show I watched the most of was One Tree Hill. Why? I really don't know. It's so bad...but I can't stop watching it. Shows I've watched less of but like more (watched less of because there are less episodes, to be fair): Arrested Development and Galileo.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? In reality, really, I don't hate anyone. The fact is, hating people just takes too much effort. I'm the "momentarily frustrated" type.
26. What was the best book you read? I'm going to sound like such a snob, but the only book I've really read this whole year was Existentialism and Human Emotions. In English, anyway. I read some children's and non-fiction books in Japanese, but they weren't good. haha
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? No really great discoveries of new artists, but I belatedly decided I like Oasis. Just, not their singles.
28. What did you want and get? A Japanese tutor.
29. What did you want and not get? ...boyfriend.
30. What was your favourite film of this year? I actually don't think I have seen a single new movie this year.
31. What did you do on your birthday? Good question! Ummm...nothing too special. I worked, then Yui and Motonaga-sensei made me dinner. I missed the big joint party for "May birthdays" because I was sick, so no big parties for me this year.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Man, I don't want to say it again, but...boyfriend! haha
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? Totally whack. I finally came to the realization that I love wearing skirts. I probably always did; I used to test dresses for "twirl" when I was a kid. I just don't like -short- skirts. Or tight skirts. I wear a lot of knee-length or slightly shorter ones. I also wear a lot more boots here. No heels, because I'm already a giant in this country. I like tops that have a waistline, I'm not into the sack look that's in style in Japan.
34. What kept you sane? Nothing. Make what you will of that!
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Fukuyama. Big heart.
36. What political issue stirred you the most? Of course it was health care. I wrote a letter to my house representative and everything. I'm all for the government taking over health care.
37. Who did you miss? So many people. Especially Kate, Travis, Tyler, Nia, Lynn, the Wheelers, of course my family, Mina and Mami.
38. Who was the best new person you met? There are some cool new people in town. Elaine, May, Nathan and Megan top the list. And Ricky and Norman from Sumatra. They are so fun.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009. Broken things take a long, long time to heal. :(
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
造ってくれたのは
救ってくれたのは
きっとパパでも
多分ママでも
神様でもないと思うんだよ
残るはつまり ほらね君だった