2011 Year End Meme (the real version! not stolen! :p )
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
I bought a fancy pair of boots! (among other things, the highlights of which have been covered in the rest of this!)
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I appear not to have set any in LJ. If I wrote them elsewhere, I don’t know where
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not really, and I’m kind of grateful. Woman who was my best friend in gradeschool did though, that felt a bit weird.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes. Two of my cats, tragically.
5. What countries did you visit?
India!
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
An apartment I could commit to living in for 3+ years… and maybe a motorcycle?
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 15th, 2011. I arrived home from India and attended graduation. And the whole week leading up to that. Also, I really enjoyed my anniversary dinner with Daniel
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I’d have to say that getting through this year as well as I did is a great achievement. I toughed out the hardest parts of study abroad in India, I graduated, I scraped by with very little income, and I scored a full time job less than 6 months after graduation. I’m proud that I didn’t give up at any point this year, no matter how impossible things seemed.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Huh, I really don’t feel like I failed this year, considering that all is ending so well. There’s always room for changes though, so I’d say that one thing I would have liked to have done differently might be finding a different way to do my study abroad
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing too major, but in September I slipped on some wet grass in the dark and sprained my knee and foot. That’s mostly healed up, thankfully.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I have two: the bangles I bought in Jaipur. I only wish I’d bought more. And my new pirate boots, which I still need to waterproof to wear!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Daniel - he held things together while I was in India, despites all sorts of difficulties and challenges and bullshit, and he continued to encouraged and support me. He also did a lot to challenge himself
Bhagwant-ji - my host stay mom in India. She was accepting and generous and giving. She made my stay in Jaipur much more pleasant
Nick and Josh - great company for long hours alone at home, and great friendship during fun and challenging times both.
Dana - always ready to talk or listen, and making sure I have some goodies for holidays. <3
Laura - for being the awesomest American I knew in India
Malik - who makes work more pleasant
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
A lot of the Americans on my study abroad program
The parents I babysat for
Some of the bigshots at work
14. Where did most of your money go?
India, rent, food, car repairs, and new work clothes
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to India, coming home from India, graduating, getting a full time job
16. What song(s) will always remind you of 2011?
“My Desi Girl”, “My Name is Sheera”,
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder?
Happier. I was excited about going to India last year, but I was sad about leaving home. I’m glad to be settling into my job and figuring out my next moves
ii. Thinner or fatter?
Um, I’m not sure. I think about the same, though there was some definite variation within the year
iii. Richer or poorer?
Richer. Finally Jesus.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Exercise - for my mental/emotional health as much as my physical health
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worry about money
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Big Bang Theory hands down, though I still love The Office and Southpark.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No.
26. What was the best book you read?
Tough call. I did really enjoy Gandhi’s autobiography
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Rediscovery really - Black Eyed Peas became a favorite
28. What did you want and get?
A full time job, mostly, which lead to boots and new clothes and a kitten!
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Almost definitely the Muppets. I also enjoyed 36 Hours or whatever that was I saw in India, and some films I watched at home with Daniel
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 27. Kind of a lame birthday. I was at training in New Jersey and my douchebag classmates didn’t even bring me to dinner with them. Whatevs, a nice classmate bought me a drink and I got hit on by a cute girl. There will be other celebrations
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Highly varied. Wore a lot of Indian clothes for four months, dictated greatly by my lack of funds, then a lot of worn out casual clothes, and now business casual most days.
34. What kept you sane?
Daniel, SGI, Nick, Josh, Gandhi, writing, reading, music
. 37. Whom did you miss?
Daniel, Josh, Dana, Krista, Bhagwant ji, Katie, Jasmina, Anshu
38. Who was the best new person you met?
No bests, too many great ones: Sahil, Malik, Shagun, many people in India
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:
Never expect the title of a program to deter the rich bitches.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
“There ain’t no rest for the wicked, money don’t grow on trees. We got bills to pay and mouths to feed, there ain’t nothin in this world for free.”