Happy Belated New Year!

So, friends and relations, it is a new year and a new decade. Growing up under a large rock as I did, I have spent many a New Year's Eve quietly in the backwoods of Maine, sipping champagne and singing Auld Lang Syne in front of the fire as I reflected on the past year. It's not a bad way to do things, really, despite what notions of elite, glamorous parties Hollywood has inspired in you. This year was hardly more exciting for me on a personal level, because I spent it quietly reflecting on the past year (no fire or champagne this year - budget cuts, you know). I hope you spent it in whatever way seems best to you, and that in its afterglow, the new year looks bright indeed. (If you have no desire to know anything more personal about my past year, look no further, but go your way with my good wishes).

So... 2009

I'm sure it seems obvious that the biggest change in my life was moving to the other side of the world, but if you asked me, that's not what I would say. I think the biggest change was graduating. I'm on the Other Side (of the Desk) now, for the first time in 17 years of school. It's a strange feeling to be so autonomous in my learning. I imagine I will someday dive back into academia and feel at home in many ways, but at the moment I am exploring the world of full-time employment. It is brave. Also, new.

I think moving is probably second on the list in terms of importance, and it comes with a confession: I took this job because I was angry. I was incensed, actually, that someone kept accusing me of not having thought about my future, of having done nothing to provide for myself when I graduated, because I never talked about it. So I looked for a method of provision that would make the biggest statement, and here I am. I don't recommend this method for decision-making, because I think it is spectacularly unlikely to result in anything good - I was just lucky. I'm very happy to be here, actually. I like the country and the people, and I like my job so far. Also, holy mackerel, I like the food (food post coming soon!). So moving has turned out okay. I regret only the motivation for my move, not its actuality.

I learned a lot this past year, too. A lot of it was about people I knew; how they'd grown, especially. Being eternally childlike (as I am, dear readers, as I am), it's eye-opening to see everyone around you getting all... mature-like.

I did a lot of things in '09, some things I'm proud of and, like everyone else, some things I regret. Obviously, in 2010 I will not only be perfect but accomplish the following: lose 20 pounds, write award-winning novel, end world hunger, cure cancer. (I know at least one of you is going to go to town on my anti-feminist inculcation and why I wrote "lose 20 pounds" as my first goal, it's okay, go ahead). I hope all of you have lists both ridiculous and wonderful, that you regret little and create much, and that if your 2010 brings you to Daejeon, you look me up.