Time for the end-of-year meme!
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
A chain-aided rock climb. Worked at a hospital. Applied to graduate school. Got into graduate school. Applied for a visa to live in another country. Moved to another country. Went apartment-hunting by myself. Opened a bank account in a foreign country. Visited Maes Howe. Hiked through the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye. Climbed Arthur's Seat. Climbed a Munro (Ben Vane). Kissed a boy. Visited the Isle of Tiree. Became a regular bus commuter. Bought a guitar and began learning to play it.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My resolutions were as follows:
1) Get a bartending job.
2) Finish five cross-stitching projects.
3) Read twenty books.
4) Knit an afghan.
5) Get an Australian working holiday visa OR a UK student visa.
6) Leave the US.
I kept #3, #5, and #6. I made progress on #2 and #4, but did not ultimately complete them. #1 didn't happen at all.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
A couple of friends from high school.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My friend Mitch's mom.
5. What countries (states) did you visit?
In the USA, I don't think I left North Carolina this year, except for a plane transfer in New Jersey. Scotland of course, and a couple of plane transfers in England.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
More financial security.
7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 4 - The day I started my job at Duke.
June 17 - The day I was accepted into grad school.
August 20 - The day I left for Scotland.
August 22 - The day Mitch's mom died.
September 19 - My first day of class.
November 6 - Tori Amos concert.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting into grad school and the subsequent move to Scotland.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not following through on certain things I said I was going to do.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
The usual colds, and some interesting bites on my legs. The opinion is now that they're from some kind of mite.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Books.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Barack Obama.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Rick Perry.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Tuition and food.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Moving to Scotland.
16. What songs/albums will always remind you of 2011?
Big Country - "In a Big Country"
Goo Goo Dolls - "Long Way Down"
Cake - "Short Skirt/Long Jacket"
The Kooks - "Sway"
The Corries - Barrett's Privateers
Peatbog Faeries - Faerie Stories and Croftwork
Adele - 21
Kate Bush - "Running Up That Hill"
Within Temptation - "Running Up That Hill" (cover of the above)
ES Posthumus - "Ulaid," "Nara," and "Cuzco"
Bjork - "Hyper-Ballad"
Tori Amos - Night of Hunters. "Fearlessness" especially was my other theme song for the year, along with "In a Big Country."
Florence + The Machine - Ceremonials
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Thinner.
iii. richer or poorer?
Richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Opening up to people, and keeping an eye on my money.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Spending money on unimportant things.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent it in NC with the fam.
21. Did you fall in love in 2011?
Maybe. ;D
23. What was your favorite TV program?
I discovered The Big Bang Theory this year, and love it.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
25. What was the best book you read?
Game of Thrones, by George RR Martin.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Peatbog Faeries.
27. What did you want and get?
Accepted into grad school.
28. What did you want and not get?
A better apartment.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
I didn't see many films this year. The Help, I suppose.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 23, and spent the day at Duke, getting orientated for my new job.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I'm pretty satisfied with this year.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
An American trying to look European.
33. What kept you sane?
Holyrood Park.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
James Franco.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
The whole gong-show that Congress has become.
36. Who did you miss?
My family.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Heather from WIS, My Aussie flatmates, and my classmates.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:
Things really do tend to happen for a reason. Also, never play drinking games with Irish lads.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"In a big country, dreams stay with you/like a lover's voice, fires on the mountainside"
2011 was undoubtedly The Year of Scotland. I began the year scheming about coming out here, which led to scheming about how I could come here long-term, which led to applying to grad school...and well, the rest is history. 2011 has been good to me.
I'm off the grid until after the new year. Catch you in 2012!
A chain-aided rock climb. Worked at a hospital. Applied to graduate school. Got into graduate school. Applied for a visa to live in another country. Moved to another country. Went apartment-hunting by myself. Opened a bank account in a foreign country. Visited Maes Howe. Hiked through the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye. Climbed Arthur's Seat. Climbed a Munro (Ben Vane). Kissed a boy. Visited the Isle of Tiree. Became a regular bus commuter. Bought a guitar and began learning to play it.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My resolutions were as follows:
1) Get a bartending job.
2) Finish five cross-stitching projects.
3) Read twenty books.
4) Knit an afghan.
5) Get an Australian working holiday visa OR a UK student visa.
6) Leave the US.
I kept #3, #5, and #6. I made progress on #2 and #4, but did not ultimately complete them. #1 didn't happen at all.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
A couple of friends from high school.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My friend Mitch's mom.
5. What countries (states) did you visit?
In the USA, I don't think I left North Carolina this year, except for a plane transfer in New Jersey. Scotland of course, and a couple of plane transfers in England.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
More financial security.
7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 4 - The day I started my job at Duke.
June 17 - The day I was accepted into grad school.
August 20 - The day I left for Scotland.
August 22 - The day Mitch's mom died.
September 19 - My first day of class.
November 6 - Tori Amos concert.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting into grad school and the subsequent move to Scotland.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not following through on certain things I said I was going to do.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
The usual colds, and some interesting bites on my legs. The opinion is now that they're from some kind of mite.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Books.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Barack Obama.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Rick Perry.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Tuition and food.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Moving to Scotland.
16. What songs/albums will always remind you of 2011?
Big Country - "In a Big Country"
Goo Goo Dolls - "Long Way Down"
Cake - "Short Skirt/Long Jacket"
The Kooks - "Sway"
The Corries - Barrett's Privateers
Peatbog Faeries - Faerie Stories and Croftwork
Adele - 21
Kate Bush - "Running Up That Hill"
Within Temptation - "Running Up That Hill" (cover of the above)
ES Posthumus - "Ulaid," "Nara," and "Cuzco"
Bjork - "Hyper-Ballad"
Tori Amos - Night of Hunters. "Fearlessness" especially was my other theme song for the year, along with "In a Big Country."
Florence + The Machine - Ceremonials
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Thinner.
iii. richer or poorer?
Richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Opening up to people, and keeping an eye on my money.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Spending money on unimportant things.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent it in NC with the fam.
21. Did you fall in love in 2011?
Maybe. ;D
23. What was your favorite TV program?
I discovered The Big Bang Theory this year, and love it.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
25. What was the best book you read?
Game of Thrones, by George RR Martin.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Peatbog Faeries.
27. What did you want and get?
Accepted into grad school.
28. What did you want and not get?
A better apartment.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
I didn't see many films this year. The Help, I suppose.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 23, and spent the day at Duke, getting orientated for my new job.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I'm pretty satisfied with this year.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
An American trying to look European.
33. What kept you sane?
Holyrood Park.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
James Franco.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
The whole gong-show that Congress has become.
36. Who did you miss?
My family.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Heather from WIS, My Aussie flatmates, and my classmates.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:
Things really do tend to happen for a reason. Also, never play drinking games with Irish lads.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"In a big country, dreams stay with you/like a lover's voice, fires on the mountainside"
2011 was undoubtedly The Year of Scotland. I began the year scheming about coming out here, which led to scheming about how I could come here long-term, which led to applying to grad school...and well, the rest is history. 2011 has been good to me.
I'm off the grid until after the new year. Catch you in 2012!