All questions originally made from here. I copied and didn’t change them, but wanted to answer them in my own post.
2017 is about... two hours and fifty-five minutes from being done, and while I’m tired, I do want to stay up until the new year comes so I can drink some Hello Kitty kid’s champagne with my mom then pass out on the sofa bed.
So here’s a detailed review of my 2017. Below the cut since it’s quite a bit wordy.
1. What did you do in 2017 that you’d never done before?
This year, I tried Koto! My teacher for shamisen plays both instruments -koto and shami- so I decided to give it a try. No regrets: I absolutely love it and will be playing my first concert on 1/27. It’s really exciting and has inspired me to try my hand at a few other instruments.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No and yes: I didn’t make resolutions, but I have made goals for next year that I truly plan to keep. All of them are completely for me: I’m really making 2018 about my care.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No. I think not at least. A close friend got married though.
Wait, no! One of the ALTs got married and had a son: she lives in Tokyo now.
4, Did anyone close to you die?
Yes, a family friend at my church back home. It was quite sad, but I feel that she’s at peace right now. I, thankfully, think few others passed.
5. What countries did you visit?
Can I count Japan because… Japan. I am planning on going to South Korea in 2018 though!
6. What would you like to have in 2018 that you lacked in 2017?
Time and patience with myself. We’re working on both starting tomorrow. I would also like the ability to budget my time for me better.
7. What dates from 2017 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 25, 2017. It was the day that after an active four years of being in love with my best friend, she inadvertently gave me the courage to confess to her, only to find the feelings are mutual. It’s 9:39 p.m. on the last day of the year and I still can’t believe this happened.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Recontracting with my school, earning my TEFL, and going to therapy again. Also, really mastering riding my bike with two baskets: that’s a huge achievement in my book.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not getting help before I needed it and letting others influence me too much.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
In August, I got food poisoning, in September, I caught a cold, and in October, I got strep throat. It was a....rough time for my body these last four months.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Honestly, my slow cooker, bamboo tableware, and my chromebook, all last quarter purchases!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My homestay students. They showed up for a week straight to afternoon lessons with me and ended up having the experience of a lifetime in Australia. I’m just so, so proud of them.
Shoutout to my supervisor too: she’s really come through for me even though we just met.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Quite a few ALTs who are actin’ like we’re not twenty-something year old adults in charge of children and the man who spit on me.
14. Where did most of your money go?
New computer/chromebook, Yuri!! On ICE, books, and clothing.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The re-release of the W.I.T.C.H. comics. I’m still hyped, enough that I keep listening to the playlist on repeat everyday.
16. What song will always remind you of 2017?
Echo feat. Gumi by Crusher-P
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c ) richer or poorer?
Happier, thinner, and so-so on the cash.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Loving myself.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Being hard on myself and trying to change. I was incredibly critical of myself this year, and that… was not always good.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
With my mother in Japan and with my friend James in Tokyo. There was lots of FMA with the latter.
21. Did you fall in love in 2017?
All over again. I expect that in 2018, I’ll say the same about my precious partner. Once again, I’ll confess that I’m still in shock that someone is as into me as I am them, and also thinks I’m sexy. I feel immensely attractive.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Shinya Shokudo, Super Sonico, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Blazing Transfer Students.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No, and that’s a blessing I think.
24. What was the best book you read?
I really loved Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers and also Fran Wilde’s Updraft.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
REOL and Crusher-P. Shame that REOL is breaking up, but honestly, I love all three members so much.
26. What did you want and get?
I wanted to finally own lolita clothing, and I got my first outfit from indie label Lady Sloth. It’s a chocolate themed coordination, and let’s be honest: I look splendid.
27. What did you want and not get?
I really wanted to take the JLPT and I just didn’t have the chance. NExt year though.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
It came late but I really did like the new FMA live action. Also, I really loved Koe no Katachi a lot.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 25 this year and spent it with a 102 degree fever in bed. Next year, y’all.
I did, however, receive lots of drawing goods which means people listened to what I wanted. Rather pleased with that.
30. What one thing made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Discovering the joys of taking myself on a date. I am really good company
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2017?
Soft Librarian Chic
32. What kept you sane?
Hope and knowing that everything comes to an end in time.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None really.
34. Who did you miss?
In no particular order: my mother, my friend-turned-partner, my dog, my father, and my sisters, who are really two of my best friends from childhood.
35. Who was the best new person you met?
Probably my supervisor and principal.
36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2017.
I’ll give you a few, actually:
You can tell how much a person values by how they start a text conversation.
Nothing can prepare you for crying on a bus ride home.
Listen to a river: it’ll help you understand what to do next.
Sometimes, people who you give to will never care to give back. Stop giving to them once you realize that’s all our ever going to get.
It’s not selfish to expect kindness in return for giving kindness.
37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
So since I got big back into Italian comic series -and American animation series- W.I.T.C.H., I want to share lyrics for what I found at the end of this year. It’s Taranee Cook’s imagine song, and really helped me when I was hurting a lot. Taranee is a character that really inspired me growing up and continues to now: though timid, bookish, and often the first to be considered weak, Taranee’s ability to overcome inspires me.
Let’s end the year with her image song “Fire”.
I often wonder what’s my purpose. I always would search deep inside. I found myself lost in the dark until the day that I let my light shine.
Each day I know I’m getting strong. The path is much clearer to me. Now I can with the world the gift that I have, for everyone, around me to see.
There’s a fire that burns deep inside. There’s a light that I use as my guide. I can put all my troubles behind me when I warm every heart with the fire that lies inside me.
ablogwithaview : I think most PhDs in the US are course-based /and/ include an MA along the way.
junglemean : Like ablogwithaview said, almost all American PhDs include the MA, and also require way more courses. My uni's English PhD in Canada requires 4 courses, while many in the US require up to 14. We often have to add up our grades in Canada too because profs only post the final grade online, not for each assignment!
~ omg thank you for answering my tag rambles <3 so by courses do you mean like modules/papers relevant to your area or??? cos like an arts/humanities PhD here is basically a 3 / 4 year research project with a thesis of up to 80,000 words and that’s p much your only assessment, there aren’t like modules or things you have to complete
Hey! Hope you're having a lovely holiday season! I love your blog-- do you have any recommendations for similar blogs or a list of your own fave Tumblrs?
Hello lovely! Aw this is so cute thank you, I love your blog too! :) I don’t know about similar bc all these blogs are far better than mine, and I love every blog I follow, but the ones I’m really loving atm are:
t-ransparenthings
ablogwithaview
theclassicsreader
hoursinalibrary
literatureandlibraries
mrgaretcarter
bookworminabox
leatherlaceliterature
bibliochor
and that is probably leaving loads of wonderful blogs out! also if anyone has any blog recs for me/wants me to check their blog out I’m always looking for new people to follow, esp since my blog became less fandom and more study/literature/space/place oriented!
"# rory!!! # is this a little anne on your bedside table as well # i love this" Once upon a time, I went to London without Rory and went to the National Portrait Gallery and said hi to Anne's portrait for her. Then, in the gift shop, my boyfriend saw the mini Anne and immediately asked if Rory already had it and so I brought it back for her. (She also has a mini Queen Elizabeth from the same collection and I have a mini Jane Austen, and they are awesome.)
OLIVIA!! this is SO adorable!! those little dolls are so pretty and they look quite fancy in my opinion! anyway thanks for sharing this lovely story that once again melts my heart!!!