Good bye, 2011!
I'm less into New Year's resolutions than reflecting what I've accomplished and experienced this year, and how I'd like to go about similar or different things next year. Last year I said vague things about my academic life, but in actuality, I've managed to complete a first draft of my dissertation, which is a MAJOR accomplishment, so hey, not bad.
To sum up some highlights, in 2011 I:
-went to India (loved it, going back in Feb, hopefully again for research!)
-ran a half-marathon the same week I packed up my apartment in Bloomington and prepared to move to Estonia
-presented on my dissertation research at a digital humanities conference and won a paper prize (co-authored with my fabulous friend/collaborator)
-moved to Estonia
-made new friends and learned to cope without a stove or fancy kitchen gadgets
-belly danced and hooped a fair bit, both with my peeps back in the US and my new peeps here
-continued to blog for My Sex Professor, a site whose educational mission I support and adore
-had some academic publications come out
...pause for emphasis...
-finished my dissertation!!!
...another pause for emphasis...
-got engaged! to Pan, my wonderful partner who understands and supports me and talks to me about narrative theory and human development and sexuality, and watches Community with me, and whisks egg whites by hand so that we can have chocolate mousse for New Year's dinner, and totally took me to Spain so we could get engaged on a balcony in the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona. Fuck yeah.
Both our families are supportive, and our friends have been too, those we've told thus far. I'm still processing some of the emotional issues that accompany such a large commitment, but I tend to write about those under a friends-lock, so in case you're new to my journal, let me know in a comment or something and I'll consider adding you.
2011 wasn't all puppydogs and sunshine - I dealt with some rough times and depression - but on the whole it was a pretty awesome year and I'm excited to see what 2012 holds. I don't know enough about where I'll be doing what when or how, so I can't really make a lot of specific goals, so I guess for now, I'll have to try to keep focusing on healthy and creative ways to interact with my various communities (academic, dance, writing, and so on).
Making risotto, salmon with leeks and duxelles, a salad with candied nuts plus a homemade vinaigrette, and chocolate mousse for a small New Year's gathering in Tartu tonight. I'm skipping my family's traditional dish of latkes with caviar, but don't worry, there'll be champagne. Cheers!
To sum up some highlights, in 2011 I:
-went to India (loved it, going back in Feb, hopefully again for research!)
-ran a half-marathon the same week I packed up my apartment in Bloomington and prepared to move to Estonia
-presented on my dissertation research at a digital humanities conference and won a paper prize (co-authored with my fabulous friend/collaborator)
-moved to Estonia
-made new friends and learned to cope without a stove or fancy kitchen gadgets
-belly danced and hooped a fair bit, both with my peeps back in the US and my new peeps here
-continued to blog for My Sex Professor, a site whose educational mission I support and adore
-had some academic publications come out
...pause for emphasis...
-finished my dissertation!!!
...another pause for emphasis...
-got engaged! to Pan, my wonderful partner who understands and supports me and talks to me about narrative theory and human development and sexuality, and watches Community with me, and whisks egg whites by hand so that we can have chocolate mousse for New Year's dinner, and totally took me to Spain so we could get engaged on a balcony in the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona. Fuck yeah.
Both our families are supportive, and our friends have been too, those we've told thus far. I'm still processing some of the emotional issues that accompany such a large commitment, but I tend to write about those under a friends-lock, so in case you're new to my journal, let me know in a comment or something and I'll consider adding you.
2011 wasn't all puppydogs and sunshine - I dealt with some rough times and depression - but on the whole it was a pretty awesome year and I'm excited to see what 2012 holds. I don't know enough about where I'll be doing what when or how, so I can't really make a lot of specific goals, so I guess for now, I'll have to try to keep focusing on healthy and creative ways to interact with my various communities (academic, dance, writing, and so on).
Making risotto, salmon with leeks and duxelles, a salad with candied nuts plus a homemade vinaigrette, and chocolate mousse for a small New Year's gathering in Tartu tonight. I'm skipping my family's traditional dish of latkes with caviar, but don't worry, there'll be champagne. Cheers!