2005--looking back
1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
stay in a chinese home; visit germany, holland, czech republic, austria, italy, switzerland, and france; and take my GREs
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
i had no resolution last year. however, i have an aug 9 resolution. i'll probably try to keep that.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
yep, my sister-in-law. i think that's it.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
no one close to me now, but elsie (old neighbor) and rachel (family friend) did
5. What countries did you visit?
china, england, holland, germany, czech republic, austria, italy, switzerland, france, america
6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
more chinese language skills
7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
probably july 14th, the day i left china
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
being able to travel in china as the primary communicator
9. What was your biggest failure?
choking on the GRE
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
nothing big. a weird bug bite thing on my ankle after europe, a weird blister thing a week or two after that... but they (mostly) went away on their own.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
hm. i've never answered clothes before, but i guess i will now. this sweater and the jeans i'm wearing right now (they actually fit properly). and the sunglasses i bought in shanghai. and my skull bracelet.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
all the chinese people who insisted on spending money on me and going way out of their way to make me feel wanted and welcome.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
my students' head teacher/the chinese educational system. seriously.
14. Where did most of your money go?
plane and train tickets
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
going to london. seeing wicked. italian food in italy.
16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
"take me to your heart", "pretty boy ", "big big world", "sway" (as done by michael buble)
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
same
ii. thinner or fatter?
fatter
iii. richer or poorer?
poorer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
reading, visiting people i said i'd visit
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
i can think of nothing
22. Did you fall in love in 2005?
no
23. How many one-night stands?
zero
24. What was your favorite TV program?
csi, what not to wear
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
no
26. What was the best book you read?
either monkey or story of the stone (part one).
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
oo, let's see. the boo radleys and dodgy, i guess.
28. What did you want and get?
an ipod
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
tough one. hmm. new release fave = harry potter, i suppose. new-to-me fave = waking life.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
i went to sheffield, england to hang out with one of katie's friends on my birthday. and i was 25.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
first half of the year: a laptop. second half of the year: a community of peers i could see on a daily basis.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
moving in the right direction;)
34. What kept you sane?
journalling
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
still mark ruffalo
37. Who did you miss?
daniel, mac (by a mere matter of weeks)
38. Who was the best new person you met?
oh geez. by 2005, i already knew all my students, but i didn't get to KNOW margaret better till feb. i met jason later. jason's "sister" in xi'an was awesome. and cari/ciar/sarah/ronnie at kohl's.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:
europe's not a fun place to have reverse culture shock and bus stations/train stations in beijing are the devil.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"so as long as someone else
controls your history
the truth shall remain just a mystery
for you can lead a horse to the water
but you cannot make him drink
you can put a man through school
but you cannot make him think
when the people lead
people take the lead
children you've got to take your lead
or you shall be led astray"
-people lead- ben harper
"but if you walk in the footsteps of a stranger
you'll learn things you never knew you never knew."
-colors of the wind- from pocohantas
"I've been thinking about the good old days
Decorated in a candy glaze
Each pretty ink blot panel
Tells a different tale
Each photo on the mantle
Sweet memories that will never go stale"
-g.o.d.- fastball