The new year bandwagon

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

• Went to an Ilam camp (there's a reason why they're legendary)
• Learnt Latin (or tried to. Still can't read the mottoes on bridges though)
  
• Went to the Wearable Arts in Wellington
  
• Attended an art exhibition opening and bought some art
  
• Became a Sunday School teacher
• Went to a comedian's gig/concert thing (Bill Bailey)
  
• Did the whole networking thing and got myself a writing job
  
• Voted for a party my parents hate (but I am secretly proud of)
  
• Created a painting (of sorts)
• Wrote poetry while drunk... and posted it on the internet
  

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for the next year?
No. I suspect it was something about finding God, and I had all these good intentions about going to Taize services and things. Sort of worked in first semester (yay Ilam), epic fail in second semester. So I'm not going to do them this year - I have a couple of things I'd like to try, I'll see how those go.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
A few friends had daughters. Scary to think people my age are mums.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, fortunately.

5. What countries did you visit?
None, sadly. Unless the North Island counts? Am planning to make up for that this year.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Confidence, maybe? Yeah. Liking who I am and figuring things out with my faith.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched in your memory, and why?
I want to say the dates I handed in those mental assignments, but I've forgotten them already! My birthday, my friend's birthday cos we filled her room with balloons, December 23 cos it was a bit landmarky in an unhappy but good way.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

• Being confident enough to approach someone about the merest whisper of the possibility of an internship... then following it through, and ending up with both an internship and a job. I still can't quite believe that happened! Very un-me like.
• Finishing my final theory paper of the GDID without getting sick. Yeah.

9. What was your biggest failure of the year?
Mucking up a couple of friendships with good mates. All guys, weirdly. I'm sorry. I was a prize idiot.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope. Oooh wait, there was that incident with the tram tracks. Nothing major, though.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

• With money: my usability textbook (sad, I know).
  
• With my company's health plan: some counselling sessions. Best investement ever; I wish I'd done it a decade ago.
• Without money: clothes from the clothes swap. I love the fact that incredibly styley people decided they didn't need those clothes anymore :)

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Some of my friends, for being courageous through an extremely tough year. Another friend for being very gracious in an awkward situation. And of course, I'm tempted to say Obama.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Mine, and one or two other people I can think of who did daft things.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, food, books, that kind of thing.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My job! Finishing my theory paper and going to Wellington were pretty exciting, too.

16. What song will always remind of you of 2008?
Opshop's Maybe and Sufjan Stevens' Sister Winter.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
Both. Happier in myself and more secure financially, emotionally, etc, but sadder cos a lot of my mates are moving away this year.

b) fatter or thinner?
Thinner. First time in a decade :)

c) richer or poorer?
Richer.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Had fun with people and travelled. Read. Relaxed.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastinating, stressing, getting stuck in my own head (oh intraversion, you sneaky thing).

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With family, and a couple of orphan families. Then with friends who came round when I was sick, you guys are awesome! Great day.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Nope. Almost... nah.

22. What was your favourite TV programme?
I watched Firefly a lot, then became addicted to Gossip Girls. So trashy but so good.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope. Am frustrated with one or two people that I had no issues with a year ago, though.

24. What was the best book you read?
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Emily Louizeou (I know I've spelt that wrong).

26. What did you want and get?
Happier; a decent job.

27. What did you want and not get?
The end of my study; a certain relationship.

28. What was your favourite film of this year?
Stardust. So. Incredibly. Awesome.

29. What did you do on your birthday and how old did you turn?
Worked in the morning, sat in the sun and read in the afternoon, turned 24.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Finishing that freakin' internship! Oh well...

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Less scruffy than 2007's? I discovered skirts and tights and colour.

32. What kept you sane?
Several completely awesome friends, my flatmates.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None. I admire Bill Bailey and Jon Stewart though.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The US election, and the situation in Zimbabwe. Meeting Zimbabweans makes it a bit more real.

35. Who did you miss?
Richard, Sam, Alethea.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Lots, actually. Mostly Emma, Sarah, Hannah and Andy.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Sometimes you just have to be assertive or proactive, even if it seems scary.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Can't think of any, really.