2010 in Review (Part 1/3)

It’s funny, a lot of people seem to be pleased with 2010. Is it because it was Year One of a new decade? Or was it truly a great year? On my Twitter feed, my contacts refer to 2010 as the Best. Year. Ever. (which, incidentally, is “BYE”). Great for them, but what I concur with more is that this year zoomed by so fast, seemingly more so than any other year.

I’ve become more of a realist in recent years — before, every December 31st, I would bid the year a fond adieu and be gracious of the ways it has fortified me to be a better person. Now, I just call a spade a spade and, no, 2010 is not the Best. Year. Ever. in my book. Not that it wasn’t a good year. For me, 2007 was a great year. 2008 was shitty. 2009 was less shitty. My 2010 was better than my 2009 in more ways than one but far be it for me to call it a great year. If anything, the past 12 months were interesting for both good and bad reasons.

So, let’s take one final look back!

* * *

What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?

  • Take a picture every day of the year (more on this later)
  • Eliminate poultry, beef, and pork from my diet from Day 1 to Day 365 of the year!
  • Experience more of Laguna and neighboring towns
  • See a movie at iMax HAHA
  • Get a (henna) tattoo HAHA
  • File a police report (well, technically, it was my mum)
  • Witness a close friend’s wedding
  • Co-host a national awards show
  • VOTE!!!
  • Co-author a book
  • Amass 15 pairs of shoes
  • Shred paper HAHA
  • Drop my three-year-old iPod for the first time ever
  • Buy an MRT stored value ticket
  • Fixate on froyo
  • Climb a water tower
  • FINALLY find that darned lava lamp
  • Thrift-shop HAHA
  • Win the big bingo prize

Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

  • Yes. Funny because I was supposed to include this as a bullet item in the previous question. I think my answer every year has always been “Yes” but I guess it was only this year that I was fully committed to each resolution from January to December. Will I make more for next year? Not really, I guess.

Did anyone close to you give birth?

Did anyone close to you die?

  • No.

What countries did you visit?

  • Indonesia (yet again). Additionally, I’ve applied for a Visa!

What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?

  • Probably a new lens for my camera. I want an 18-200mm, just like my cousin’s.
  • More travel opportunities, starting with Asia!
  • And, of course, a fully realized research (proposal), but don’t tell my adviser I said that.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

  • Hmmm. The first thing that comes to mind is the publication of a story I wrote. But there must be something else. Keeping my new year’s resolutions!

What was your biggest failure?

  • Losing slight focus on my school requirements as a graduate student.

Did you suffer illness or injury?

  • Yes, happens every Christmas break! Since 1996 I’ve almost always been sick during the vacation.

What was the best thing you bought?

  • A thrifted polo shirt for P150! (Though I know P150 is not the best bargain yet.)

Whose behavior merited celebration?

  • Well, my three closest friends at work each had a reason to celebrate!

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

  • I’ll keep this one to myself.

Where did most of your money go?

  • Laptop stuff
  • Shoes
  • Gym
  • INSURANCE

What did you get really, really, really excited about?

  • April 8 — well, not April 8 per se, but my last hurdle was scheduled April 7 so the next day meant that my troubles would be over.
  • Visiting Jakarta.
  • Frozen yogurt, like you wouldn’t believe it.

To be continued…