Clarice's Journal

It's the last day of the year 2008! Time for some self-reflection and forecasts for the coming year!

This year really went by in a flash. As I flip through my datebook (which Jess kindly gave me earlier this year), I see that I was busy almost every day, which is a really good thing! :) I am so grateful for all my friends for hanging out with me - I see so many weeks with dinners and karaoke and birthdays and coffee outings, it's really amazing how you guys want to hang out with me!! I also saw some really good concerts this year, including Sonata Arctica, Nightwish, and Oasis. And lots of movies, from really good (Batman! Wally!) to downright bad- but fun, like Doomsday hahaha.

My best memory from early in the year was my birthday, and how many people actually showed up. I was so happy then. ^^

May was the pivotal month for me. When I came back from my Japan/China trip, I decided to have some Michelina's microwave macaroni and cheese for a quick after-trip lunch. I promptly got food poisoned and dropped 10 pounds. It was then I realized I liked the weight I was dropped down to, and decided to try my best to keep it. This launched a crazy summer of nonstop exercise. I wonder if I can duplicate the intensity again LOL ... I jogged/worked out every single day and even woke up at 5 some days to run even though I only got 4 hours sleep. Sadly, I doubt I can reproduce this intensity again... I gained back about 5 pounds but so far I've managed to keep that intact (give or take some bad days). In Japan, I only worked out twice a week, so I've calmed down a bit, not to mention it's not fun to job outside in -20 degree weather in Calgary. I also stopped with tracking my calories daily.. although I have inherited the habit of judging every food by its calories now.

In the intellectual front, I took Chinese lessons with my coworker earlier this year, but starting skipping classes. So. I guess I have no knack of Chinese (unless I'm forced to, I think it's a dead end for now).

After I came back from my trip in May, it was one evening when it occurred to me, that NOW was the time to go to Japan. There would never be a time again to study it. I remember the night when I was frantically searching for language schools and being so depressed when my mom turned down the idea. But I persisted and eventually decided to go to Japan to study for the JLPT.

So, there follows my trip to Japan in late September. The entire experience... wow.. the best I've ever had in my life. There was never a time when I met so many open-minded, friendly people, both Japanese and non-Japanese. My Japanese vocabulary improved considerably, and though my conversation is still lacking, and I am quite certain I failed the JLPT, I would've never been able to gain the experience without going to the country itself. Even people who saw me from the start, and were still there by the time I left, said I really opened up. I think I learned to have fun there, to really let go and not care what anyone else things. Of course, it's not a state I can be in all the time, but even if I am like that 25% of the time, I think it's a major improvement! And I've never kissed so many people as I did in Japan... LOL

In summary, 2008 was a year of socializing and expanding friendships. I feel so lucky to have people around me. Even if they don't know me, even if I may never see the people I meet again, if a person has been nice to me and listened to what I had to say, I am very grateful.

I'm aware a lot of things happened in the world this year, a lot of bad things, a lot of sad and terrible things, even up until this day. I hope that I can continue to be aware of these issues and find more ways to help be in the global picture.

2009 is going start of with some uncertainty. I've made my decisions to let go of my safety net. I will be leaving Calgary again for a few months. I think it will decide my path in my future, and I hope you guys will continue to support me.

Thank you! :)