Year in Summary 2016
1. What did you do in 2016 that you'd never done before?
Started working in the video game industry, like, for reals. This was something I thought I'd never be able to do back in the day when I was strongly advised to drop out of computer science. Look where I am now, bitches.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
As always, I don’t make resolutions, but one of my biggest goals of getting out of my dead-end job in Monterey has officially happened. I'm definitely a lot happier in terms of work because of the amount of autonomy I have, and also because of the fact that I am, in fact, one of the more senior people in the company (due to my work experience etc. etc.)
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, so many people had so many babies.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Japan for reals this time, not because I missed my plane. It was amazing. I want to go back.
Macau, for the first time. I had a blast.
Hong Kong, multiple times.
USA (well, duh)
China, because there's where I am living now.
6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
Last year, I said: A job I enjoyed in a major city, in China. Also. A boyfriend.
And I have a job I enjoy in a major city in China. Basically what I'm saying is, this year, I really should figure out how to get myself a significant other.
7. What date from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Not a lot of specific dates, honestly, but 2016 while an awesome year for me, was a pretty shitty year in terms of politics and world events. What with Brexit, Trump as president, Pence as US VP..., the growing conservatism of Chinese leadership, the decision in Russia to invite Chinese officials to teach them to erect an internet firewall, Aleppo, all the bullshit happening in the Middle East... Fuck 2016.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Working on what is pretty much the biggest project in company history. And pretty much knocking my part of the pie right out of the ballpark.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not losing the weight I said I would, and not keeping up with my exercise routine.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I've been sick off and on, mostly due to stress, I think. I have a cold right now, in fact.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Plane tickets to Japan.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Siv. My accountability partner who really helped to set me straight. Jenn who invited me to Japan and we had a blast.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The ridiculous management style (and I use the word management loosely here) of my company's C-level executives. The idiot decisions made by HR. (Why yes, there's a level 7 typhoon coming through tomorrow. But you might have to go to work, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE IN THE EYE OF THE STORM RIGHT NOW. Idiots.)
14. Where did most of your money go?
Student loans, and rent.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My bullet journal, which is an awesome way to put in structure in my usual journaling/planner ways.
16. What song will always remind you of 2016?
Don't Let Me Down by The Chainsmokers ft. Daya
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Much, much happier. I'm out of my career rut.
ii. thinner or fatter? I think I'm a little fatter, but working on getting thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? No change. I'm earning money and paying off debt. Sure feels like I'm poorer though.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Kept a larger emergency fund. Exercised more. Lost more weight.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Sat on my ass all the time.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Unsure, but a group Christmas dinner is in the works.
22. Did you fall in love in 2016?
No.
23. How many one-night stands?
None, I'm clearly not the type
24. What was your favorite TV program?
I didn't watch TV, but I did watch quite a few documentaries. The Supersizers go eat... BBC series is something I'd been enjoying for a bit.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate takes too much energy.
26. What was the best book you read?
I don't know. I read a lot of frivolous urban fantasy/romance novels, and made absolutely no headway in my stack of self-improvement reading.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The electic selection from the Thursday dubtrack/plug.dj music channel that work does.
28. What did you want and get?
A new job in China working in video game localization.
29. What did you want and not get?
A significant other
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Meru by Jimmy Chin was freaking insane. I loved it.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 33. I went to work, had dinner at 木屋烧烤 with people at work, and then went home to meet up with the A/C guy to fix my A/C.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Definitely a significant other. I miss cuddling, companionship and having somebody there to lean on.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
"Oh my god it is so hot right now"
34. What kept you sane?
Making new friends.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Natalie Portman obviously.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Trump's election.
37. Who did you miss?
Family and friends in the US.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
All the people at work.
Dmitry for being an amazing, crazy Russian dude.
Yong, because forever Yong.
Ring, for always having my back, and also, laugh attack.
Claire for being insanely competent and for being the gif master.
Vincent, for flipping tables.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016:
A person can only take risks when they have a stable foundation to work off of.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Baby I don't need dollar bills to have fun tonight
(I love cheap thrills)
~ Cheap Thrills by Sia
Started working in the video game industry, like, for reals. This was something I thought I'd never be able to do back in the day when I was strongly advised to drop out of computer science. Look where I am now, bitches.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
As always, I don’t make resolutions, but one of my biggest goals of getting out of my dead-end job in Monterey has officially happened. I'm definitely a lot happier in terms of work because of the amount of autonomy I have, and also because of the fact that I am, in fact, one of the more senior people in the company (due to my work experience etc. etc.)
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, so many people had so many babies.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Japan for reals this time, not because I missed my plane. It was amazing. I want to go back.
Macau, for the first time. I had a blast.
Hong Kong, multiple times.
USA (well, duh)
China, because there's where I am living now.
6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
Last year, I said: A job I enjoyed in a major city, in China. Also. A boyfriend.
And I have a job I enjoy in a major city in China. Basically what I'm saying is, this year, I really should figure out how to get myself a significant other.
7. What date from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Not a lot of specific dates, honestly, but 2016 while an awesome year for me, was a pretty shitty year in terms of politics and world events. What with Brexit, Trump as president, Pence as US VP..., the growing conservatism of Chinese leadership, the decision in Russia to invite Chinese officials to teach them to erect an internet firewall, Aleppo, all the bullshit happening in the Middle East... Fuck 2016.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Working on what is pretty much the biggest project in company history. And pretty much knocking my part of the pie right out of the ballpark.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not losing the weight I said I would, and not keeping up with my exercise routine.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I've been sick off and on, mostly due to stress, I think. I have a cold right now, in fact.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Plane tickets to Japan.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Siv. My accountability partner who really helped to set me straight. Jenn who invited me to Japan and we had a blast.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The ridiculous management style (and I use the word management loosely here) of my company's C-level executives. The idiot decisions made by HR. (Why yes, there's a level 7 typhoon coming through tomorrow. But you might have to go to work, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE IN THE EYE OF THE STORM RIGHT NOW. Idiots.)
14. Where did most of your money go?
Student loans, and rent.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My bullet journal, which is an awesome way to put in structure in my usual journaling/planner ways.
16. What song will always remind you of 2016?
Don't Let Me Down by The Chainsmokers ft. Daya
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Much, much happier. I'm out of my career rut.
ii. thinner or fatter? I think I'm a little fatter, but working on getting thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? No change. I'm earning money and paying off debt. Sure feels like I'm poorer though.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Kept a larger emergency fund. Exercised more. Lost more weight.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Sat on my ass all the time.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Unsure, but a group Christmas dinner is in the works.
22. Did you fall in love in 2016?
No.
23. How many one-night stands?
None, I'm clearly not the type
24. What was your favorite TV program?
I didn't watch TV, but I did watch quite a few documentaries. The Supersizers go eat... BBC series is something I'd been enjoying for a bit.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate takes too much energy.
26. What was the best book you read?
I don't know. I read a lot of frivolous urban fantasy/romance novels, and made absolutely no headway in my stack of self-improvement reading.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The electic selection from the Thursday dubtrack/plug.dj music channel that work does.
28. What did you want and get?
A new job in China working in video game localization.
29. What did you want and not get?
A significant other
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Meru by Jimmy Chin was freaking insane. I loved it.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 33. I went to work, had dinner at 木屋烧烤 with people at work, and then went home to meet up with the A/C guy to fix my A/C.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Definitely a significant other. I miss cuddling, companionship and having somebody there to lean on.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
"Oh my god it is so hot right now"
34. What kept you sane?
Making new friends.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Natalie Portman obviously.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Trump's election.
37. Who did you miss?
Family and friends in the US.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
All the people at work.
Dmitry for being an amazing, crazy Russian dude.
Yong, because forever Yong.
Ring, for always having my back, and also, laugh attack.
Claire for being insanely competent and for being the gif master.
Vincent, for flipping tables.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016:
A person can only take risks when they have a stable foundation to work off of.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Baby I don't need dollar bills to have fun tonight
(I love cheap thrills)
~ Cheap Thrills by Sia