(no subject)
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Lots! Went to Nepal, ran a marathon, took the GRE, went white-water rafting...those are the big ones. Oh, and I got lasik surgery. That was new.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I kept four out of five. I took the GRE, ran a marathon, visited a new country, and saved money. So I only have one roll-over: Date! We'll see how 2011 works out for that. Also, some others. 1) Stay healthy and run a half-marathon next December. 2) Write 1 letter a month. 3) Visit the places in Japan I still want to go: Yonaguni and Yakushima. 4) Visit a new country, or a new part of a country I have already been to. 5) Start learning Chinese. 6) Finish Simple.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Not this year! But my sister will be having her third very, very soon.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Denna Johnson, the owner of Full Partner's Farm.
5. What countries did you visit? Nepal and America. :)
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? ...a boyfriend. Haha
7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory? 12/12, my first full marathon
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Well, the marathon is up there. But actually, I think the GRE tops it. I studied pretty hard for it. Also, actually applying to grad schools took a lot of effort and coordination. In a small personal victory, I let people read my statement of purpose. I really hate letting people read stuff I write.
9. What was your biggest failure? A few of these, too, but actually nothing huge. I had a few personal misunderstandings.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Well, I hurt my hip leading up to the marathon, but nothing too major. I didn't need a doctor or anything, just overuse.
11. What was the best thing you bought? My nike and new ipod. They are pretty much my best friends on the road.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? The first-year judo boys, for kicking ass and taking names at Kentai this year. I'm looking forward to next season.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? This one goes to upper-class America for not having the strength to sacrifice a small percentage of their income for the future of the nation, wall street for not knowing what the heck it's doing, the government overall for failing to decrease the deficit, and especially the media for offering nothing but biased and misleading information which, on occassion, has even been made up.
14. Where did most of your money go? Traveling and savings.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? The marathon, choosing grad schools, and as always, judo matches.
16. What song will always remind you of 2010? Unfortunately, it's that horrible 'I Love Youuuu' song by AKB48, even though I hate it.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder? Sadder. I'm coming up on the end of my era in Japan, and it's pretty sad.
ii. thinner or fatter? exactly the same
iii. richer or poorer? Richer. But that's going to change when grad school comes up.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Sleeping and studying. I did study a lot, but I should be more on the ball about Chinese and trying to get a head start on grad school. And I waste a lot of the time I should be spending asleep.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Worrying what other people think about me. Still true.
20. How will you be spending Christmas? I spent the morning with my 'parents' in Nakatsu, which was awesome! But the tomagokakegohan I had for breakfast made my stomach hurt, so I spent the afternoon watching Naruto, which I haven't had the urge to watch for at least a year. I got caught up.
22. Did you fall in love in 2010? Nope.
23. How many one night stands? None.
24. What was your favourite TV programme? I watched Avatar, the last airbender for the first time. I really love that show!
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? No, I may say I do, but I don't.
26. What was the best book you read? I haven't read many books lately. I mostly read articles in Japanese these days, and that's mostly to work on my language skills. I read Baron's GRE study guide cover to cover about four times, but that hardly counts as a book.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? I have to say none. Radwimps came out with a new album either this year or last year, anyway I bought it this year and I like it. Also, I may be becoming a fan of TOKIO, but I'm not sure yet. Oh, wait. It's definitely P!nk. I know she's been around forever but I only discovered this year that I love her. Oh, and Ellegarden too.
28. What did you want and get? A good score on the GRE.
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! I really don't remember. I think I had just gotten back from Nepal, and I was suffering from the Death Stomach Bug. (I ate raw cucumber at a roadside bus stand while suffering from some sort of 24 hour illness Tyler also caught a few days before me...anyway all I wanted to eat was raw veggies and fruit. Not a good idea, but luckily it didn't hit until I was back in Japan.)
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? Whatever I feel like wearing, including whatever crazy Japanese fashion happens to be floating around. Also, I bought a lot of pink and pastel blue.
34. What kept you sane? Nothing. Make what you will of that!
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Still Fukuyama. Big heart. Also, Anai-senshu, who had the audacity to get married in June, and not to me. Damn.
36. What political issue stirred you the most? The tax issue. So annoyed.
37. Who did you miss? So many people. Family and friends.
38. Who was the best new person you met? I met Nichole. She's cool.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010. Sometimes you just have to buckle down and do whatever it takes.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I'm in the sky tonight
There I can keep by your side
Watching the wide world riot and hiding out
I'll be coming home next year
Into the sun we climb
Climbing our wings will burn white
Everyone strapped in tight
We'll ride it out
I'll be coming home next year
Lots! Went to Nepal, ran a marathon, took the GRE, went white-water rafting...those are the big ones. Oh, and I got lasik surgery. That was new.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I kept four out of five. I took the GRE, ran a marathon, visited a new country, and saved money. So I only have one roll-over: Date! We'll see how 2011 works out for that. Also, some others. 1) Stay healthy and run a half-marathon next December. 2) Write 1 letter a month. 3) Visit the places in Japan I still want to go: Yonaguni and Yakushima. 4) Visit a new country, or a new part of a country I have already been to. 5) Start learning Chinese. 6) Finish Simple.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Not this year! But my sister will be having her third very, very soon.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Denna Johnson, the owner of Full Partner's Farm.
5. What countries did you visit? Nepal and America. :)
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? ...a boyfriend. Haha
7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory? 12/12, my first full marathon
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Well, the marathon is up there. But actually, I think the GRE tops it. I studied pretty hard for it. Also, actually applying to grad schools took a lot of effort and coordination. In a small personal victory, I let people read my statement of purpose. I really hate letting people read stuff I write.
9. What was your biggest failure? A few of these, too, but actually nothing huge. I had a few personal misunderstandings.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Well, I hurt my hip leading up to the marathon, but nothing too major. I didn't need a doctor or anything, just overuse.
11. What was the best thing you bought? My nike and new ipod. They are pretty much my best friends on the road.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? The first-year judo boys, for kicking ass and taking names at Kentai this year. I'm looking forward to next season.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? This one goes to upper-class America for not having the strength to sacrifice a small percentage of their income for the future of the nation, wall street for not knowing what the heck it's doing, the government overall for failing to decrease the deficit, and especially the media for offering nothing but biased and misleading information which, on occassion, has even been made up.
14. Where did most of your money go? Traveling and savings.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? The marathon, choosing grad schools, and as always, judo matches.
16. What song will always remind you of 2010? Unfortunately, it's that horrible 'I Love Youuuu' song by AKB48, even though I hate it.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder? Sadder. I'm coming up on the end of my era in Japan, and it's pretty sad.
ii. thinner or fatter? exactly the same
iii. richer or poorer? Richer. But that's going to change when grad school comes up.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Sleeping and studying. I did study a lot, but I should be more on the ball about Chinese and trying to get a head start on grad school. And I waste a lot of the time I should be spending asleep.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Worrying what other people think about me. Still true.
20. How will you be spending Christmas? I spent the morning with my 'parents' in Nakatsu, which was awesome! But the tomagokakegohan I had for breakfast made my stomach hurt, so I spent the afternoon watching Naruto, which I haven't had the urge to watch for at least a year. I got caught up.
22. Did you fall in love in 2010? Nope.
23. How many one night stands? None.
24. What was your favourite TV programme? I watched Avatar, the last airbender for the first time. I really love that show!
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? No, I may say I do, but I don't.
26. What was the best book you read? I haven't read many books lately. I mostly read articles in Japanese these days, and that's mostly to work on my language skills. I read Baron's GRE study guide cover to cover about four times, but that hardly counts as a book.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? I have to say none. Radwimps came out with a new album either this year or last year, anyway I bought it this year and I like it. Also, I may be becoming a fan of TOKIO, but I'm not sure yet. Oh, wait. It's definitely P!nk. I know she's been around forever but I only discovered this year that I love her. Oh, and Ellegarden too.
28. What did you want and get? A good score on the GRE.
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! I really don't remember. I think I had just gotten back from Nepal, and I was suffering from the Death Stomach Bug. (I ate raw cucumber at a roadside bus stand while suffering from some sort of 24 hour illness Tyler also caught a few days before me...anyway all I wanted to eat was raw veggies and fruit. Not a good idea, but luckily it didn't hit until I was back in Japan.)
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? Whatever I feel like wearing, including whatever crazy Japanese fashion happens to be floating around. Also, I bought a lot of pink and pastel blue.
34. What kept you sane? Nothing. Make what you will of that!
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Still Fukuyama. Big heart. Also, Anai-senshu, who had the audacity to get married in June, and not to me. Damn.
36. What political issue stirred you the most? The tax issue. So annoyed.
37. Who did you miss? So many people. Family and friends.
38. Who was the best new person you met? I met Nichole. She's cool.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010. Sometimes you just have to buckle down and do whatever it takes.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I'm in the sky tonight
There I can keep by your side
Watching the wide world riot and hiding out
I'll be coming home next year
Into the sun we climb
Climbing our wings will burn white
Everyone strapped in tight
We'll ride it out
I'll be coming home next year