★ アビーの12ヶ月 | 12 Months with Abby : Twenty-Fourteen ★
2014 is coming to an end so I decided I'll do a recap of every month for me, which contributed to a wonderful year. I'll go through each so this might not really look like a recap lol. Anyway, I hope you keep your patience with me if you think this entry is too long. I think it would be worth the read if you are mentioned. :)
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JANUARY(1月)
I welcomed 2014 like the usual, with my family of course. We started the year right. I don't remember what we ate on New Year's Eve but it was definitely good. A memorable memory from January would be when I received a surprise package all the way from Spain, from my online friend named Paula. If you're curious what was in it, there was an album of Thirty Seconds to Mars and a few little goodies that came with a handwritten letter. I still don't know how to return the gratitude until today because that was really unexpected and sweet. Thank you again ♥ January was also the month that I tried ice skating for the very first time in my life. SM Megamall reopened the skating rink at the Fashion Hall area and of course I tried it out with a few of my college friends (Marion, Gavin and Sam) on the second day of opening, obviously there were hardly people (Ah, good 'ol days). It was crazy fun, no joke.
(photo grabbed from Marion - ice skating)
FEBRUARY(2月)
Some more unexpected things happened in February. My childhood friend Theola lost her brother Thales on the night of her Prom. There were so much struggles and sorrow in her family, and to at least help in a little way, my other friend Nicky and I wrote an encouraging and thoughtful letter to Theola's parents, Tita Maidee and Tito Marlo. I'm glad the family is picking up their broken pieces again and forming another chapter of their lives. In another side of February came Valentine's Day and the experience was quite unusual and funny. I met this guy named Nike who gave me a jar of candies, a rose and a Valentine's card on the time of meeting. The encounter was quite funny because we just sat and talked for a few minutes. And we did this jut because the guy's friend wanted me to meet him. Nevertheless, I want to thank Nike for the Valentine's presents. :) Also, though the postcard was meant to be for New Year, I received one all the way from Singapore from an online friend named Khyd. What was cute about it is that the postcard was Hey! Say! JUMP and she wrote a very kind letter as we opened 2014. Thanks again Khyd! ♥
(photo is from Valentine's day when I went bowling with college friends)
MARCH(3月)
On the first of March, my best friend Gavin had her 17th birthday and quite lots happened. I had a Math long test so I had to go to school on a Saturday. In addition, we had this thing called Aeromarathon(kind of like Zumba or something) at school and it was tiring but kind of fun. In the evening of that same day, my other best friend Ea and I had dinner with Gavin's family at Max's then had some bff talk at Coffee Bean & Tea Life. Then weeks later, I smoothly closed my first school year of being a college student. That was really relieving. Well I think it always is when you finish a sem. On the 23rd of March, my college friend Gilliane had her 18th birthday celebration/debut and that was pretty much the very first time I attented a debut that's grand and all. That's when I realized my college friends are just as weird and awkward like me, especially on the dance floor lol. I definitely had a fun time. I also found out that the movie for Divergentcame out, so I decided to get back to reading the book which my childhood friend Dianne gave me on late 2013. I definitely did not have any regrets reading that book. Thanks to Dianne for introducing me to it!! Indeed it was a stressful and great month.
(photo grabbed from Marion - from the debut)
APRIL(4月)
I saw my high school friends after a long time and hung out with them at my friend MJ's. I definitely missed seeing them after the struggles of first year in college. Also, I got to see Captain America: The Winter Soldierwith my best friends KAGE (that's an acronym of our names together) and I can't be more thankful to them that they agreed to watch the movie because come on, Chris Evans (my bæ) on the big screen. Then I finally finished reading Divergentand watched the movie in LQ (the struggle was real). After I watched the movie, I officially got myself in the fandom and wow, I'm like legit 'initiate' now. From the 22nd until the 30th, I was in Tokyo after 11 years. Which means I finally saw my dad, grandma and uncle after a decade and a year. It felt nostalgic and exciting to get back home after so long. It was such a fulfilling 8-day trip. I visited Ueno Zoo after forever, went to Shinjuku, Harajuku and Akihabara. From some of those places I've been to, I got to do a fandom shopping galore (yes, it was heavenly). I also revisited the Sanrio 'ojisan' (that means grandpa but he's not really THAT old yet lol) who gave me a lot of souvenirs from the Sanrio shop at Sunpop. I'll definitely go see him again when I go back there hopefully end of 2015. Then, the unexpected event of watching the stage playNaka no Hito(中の人) happened on April 29. I just walked-in on that same day unsure if I'll get to see the main cast Kato Shigeaki (he's a japanese idol in the group NEWS, if you're wondering). Well, I did see him from the corner of the 8th row away from the stage. That was close. And I can't be more thankful to the Lord and my dad for accompanying me and shouldering for the ticket. April was too good to be true.
(that's my family; dad in the left most, grandma in the middle and uncle in the right corner) [ i'm sorry for my dad's unpleasant look, he's not a fan of photos lol ]
(that's the poster of Naka no Hitoin the entrance of Tokyo Globe Theater - YES I TOOK THAT)
MAY(5月)
May went by quite slowly because I just did the usual things I would do on the summer break. The only difference was that I was actually reading John Green's The Fault in Our Stars before the movie came out on June. I also saw my high school friends again for the celebration of Steph's 18th birthday. I tried Yakimix (a buffet with almost everything Japanese) and well, I liked their raw food (so Japanese of me). If I'm not mistaken, I think I also had a sleep-over with my childhood friends including Audrey, a friend who moved to another city/municipality/province for the past 3 years. We had a great time talking to random people on Omegle until 5 in the morning lol.
(photo grabbed from Jonina - from Steph's birthday)
JUNE(6月)
On June 6 (?), I went to watch TFIOS with DANK (acronym name for me and my childhood friends, similar to KAGE) and Audrey at Bonifacio Global City's newly opened cinema. I won't make a review of the movie here but I had a really great time with everyone. And then on the 12th, that's a holiday in the Philippines because it's Independence day, my sister Sera treated me to Yabu: The House of Katsu in celebration of her first anniversary at work. That was such a fulfilling time and meal. I also went back to school as a second year college student. I had some struggles at school because I couldn't enlist myself to any PE course for the sem (college life, sighs). Despite that, I welcomed the sem with a smile.
(photo grabbed from Nicky - from the day at BGC)
JULY(7月)
I started getting busy with school around this time because I had really heavy subjects on the first sem. Nevertheless, I got to attend the launching of Elevate SNL(Saturday Night Live) at CFF (Christ's Comission Fellowship) Center for college students. That's when I realized I have to go back to attending fellowship appropriate for my age even if I have a Dgroup (Discipleship group). July was filled with #offeritup and remembering to get back to the life of a Christian.
AUGUST(8月)
I finally got rid of my braces which I was wearing for almost 2 years (Ah such great feeling). Then my sister turned 22 (no, she's not just feeling 22, she really is). On the day of her birthday, we visited Ozine Fest at SM Megamall (yes, convention after forever) but we didn't really find much either lol. Then we ate at Sambokojin (Japanese nd Korean buffet) like the usual thing we do on somebody's birthday in the family. If I'm not mistaken with the month, I think my childhood friend Nicky moved out around this time. It was a little sad because she was the one bringing us together all time to hang out, but it was also for the good of her family. Then, I also got really busy and somewhat my social life just stayed within school. Not that I'm complaining though. My college friend Marion turned 18 on the 20th, so we surprised her with a cartolina of birthday greetings and a bear cake from Tour Les Jours. There were too much birthday surprises we've done in August, including our friends Nicole, Chloe and Diana. A funny memory of Diana's birthday is that we were doing a video shoot for our report on Cold War in our North American Studies class right before going to the party. That was a total hassle but fun time too.
(photo grabbed from Diana - on her birthday)
SEPTEMBER(9月)
I got too busy at school that I don't remember much that happened in September. I think all I've been doing was write papers and shoot videos for reports. But I do remember having a fail birthday surprise for our college friend Jica because she saw me and my friend Anjoy carrying the cake lols. I hardly had any social life around this time if I can remember clearly. We did our epic video presentation though for our North American Studies class and we were glad our hard work paid off with a grade of 99 plus the entire class' appreciation of the video, some even downloading it. Our biggest thanks on the video reports go to Anjoy, who gave her utmost effort on the editing and conceptualizing the videos♥(with some of my help in the concept - I did not want her to work on her own obviously). If you want to see the Cold War video, check it here: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Saj14H0y64Y
(photo is from our Cold War video report; original photo from Anjoy)
OCTOBER(10月)
The struggle was very real in October. I did my first all-nighter for my final Philippine Politics & Governance paper which I by the way, got a perfect grade for (frick yes!!! and i'm not bragging bruh). I ended the stressful first sem with flying colors, with a lowest grade of 2.25. I cannot be more thankful to God and everyone who helped me get through all that. My sister also went to Tokyo for the second time in the year with her friend Jessie this time. Though it was just 4 days, I was excited and happy (a little sad because she went on the time I was extremely busy lol) for her to be able to go for the purpose of fandom. In relation to fandom, Tokio Hotel released a new album with brand new music after 5 years. I cannot be more happy about it. I went to two consecutive debuts on the 25th and 26th which were birthday celebrations for Camille and Pat & Pam (they're twins okay). Then on the 27th, I slept over at Ace Hotel with Gavin for Anjoy's 18 birthday. We went ice skating and had super epic 3-hour concert at the KTV of Ace Water Spa. Had lots of fulfilling times on October to be honest. Can't be more thankful.
(photo grabbed from Anjoy - on her birthday celebration)
NOVEMBER(11月)
I had a very excruciating beginning for November because of the second sem enlistment. So the summary is that I stayed for about 10 hours in school just to get myself complete number of units/subjects. Great thing is I have PE. Then on the 8th, I turned 18 (ew legalization) and spent my birthday in Legend Villas and had lunch at Tamagoya Noodle House (damn that wonderful restaurant). That was a very very great birthday since right after that, I came home on the 9th to find 18 wonderful presents and balloons which my childhood friends prepared for me. Much gratitude to Nicky, Theola, Dianne and Kristinne ♥ And then I got a birthday scrapbook from my college friends a week after my birthday. Thanks to Gavin, Anjoy, Marion, Nicole, Chire, Diana, Gracey, Sam, Jica and Gilliane ♥ (if I forgot to say your name, pls do tell me lols). Then again I want to thank everyone for the wonderful presents, the greetings, and any effort you've done for my birthday. I attended Leslie's 18th birthday celebration on the 18th and reunited with some of my high school friends. I didn't see them since May to be honest lol. It was nice seeing them. On the end of November, I went back to SNL after months since I got really busy for school that my weekends were pretty much eaten as well. So much good and bad happened in the month, but I definitely want to see it with a positive vibe because you obviously wouldn't want to be full of sorrow in the end, right?
** I will attach the photo for here when LJ will let me (-_-;)
DECEMBER(12月)
My first memory of December would be meeting fan favorite Philippine senator, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago with Anjoy for the launching of her book, Stupid is Foreveron the 3rd. It was a tiring but fulfilling experience. Then on the 6th, I attended the album launching party for Tokio Hotel's Kings of Suburbia. It was in a bar at BGC so the experience felt new and all. I finally ate at Banapple and Baskin Robbins hahahaha. That was irrelevant but had to share. I was itching to reach Christmas break and with much regrets, I yolo-ed my exams for Chinese Studies, Philippine Society and Culture, and Philosophical Anthropology. But nevertheless, my break is going really well so far. I celebrated Christmas the other day with my family and my high school friend Carlos, who came over on Christmas Eve. I received really great gifts.
*Again, I'll attach a photo when LJ lets me
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2014 was truly a year of struggles and happiness for me. And it has been a year of so much new experiences that I'll definitely want to go back to. But then again, we have to 'let it go' (ugh I hate my reference lol). I want to thank first and foremost, the Lord for this great year with so much blessings and everyone else who has been part of it, be it you have been mentioned or not. I hope 2015 will get even better with more things to experience and learn from. I'm ending the year with this entry.
Again, thank you all for everything and let's make 2015 double the good times! ♪ ٩(๑´3｀๑)۶
xoxo, Abby.