NATALIETENAYA

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obligatory end of the year post

2011 is over in less than nine hours here in Korea so I think I should get started on that annual blog post where I recount the things that have happened this past year.

I don’t know why I am not more enthusiastic about this; 2011 was a pretty great year. I’m just not in the best of moods today. I made it through the holiday season pretty cheery despite missing my friends and family at home. Maybe it’s because I have this week off and there are no obligations to distract me… because suddenly I am wishing I could just skip this holiday spent away from home. But alas… it’s New Year’s Eve and I am going to dress up and see friends and attempt to turn a notoriously disappointing event into a memorable one. New Year’s is always under so much pressure to be great. WOW, STOP THAT. Moving on to 2011.

TWENTY ELEVEN was a ridiculous year. It started with the most stressful quarter of my college career when I completed my senior thesis while working 20 hours a week, tutoring twice a week, and taking a full course load. That wasn’t too bright. But it was academically my best and most fulfilling quarter so I guess it was worth it. Those last two quarters at school went so quickly but were a lot of fun. Somehow I managed to enjoy so many things (including my first Vegas trip as a 21 year old) while saving a big chunk of money for my summer travels.

In June I graduated university…. after 18 years I was suddenly no longer a student. Even now that seems really strange to me. The summer was a great transition phase. Phil and I took and amazing trip to Europe, which may be my greatest memory of 2011. I got to visit family in Ohio and Peter in Seattle. I spend a month finishing up with work at my great campus job and enjoying my summer freedom with friends in San Diego. I moved out of my last college apartment that I shared with two of my favorite people. I even “moved back home” for a couple of weeks.

In August I moved to South Korea where I have spent the last four months working and travelling and enjoying the new places and people I have encountered. Here I have started my first full time job and lived on my own for the first time. I have made amazing friends and have learned a lot about myself and what I am capable of. 

So much has changed in 2011. I think to date this has been one of my most defining years. Just as in January of 2011, I don’t know what to expect going into 2012. I will be living in Korea until August and have no idea whether I will be staying or moving on to who knows what. I’m 22 years old and I am happy with where life has brought me going into this new year… so I am not too worried about what’s to come.

Happy New Year!

  1. annotatedreality said: You - miss - are brilliant!
  2. natalietenaya posted this