A Premature 2019 Year-in-Review
Usually, a year-end report is done at the end of the year. Sleep eludes me tonight, 4th of November, for numerous ideas running randomly in my head. One of which is that in less than two months, we’re about to enter a new decade. Imagine that, two decades have now passed the turn of the 21st century and the 2nd millennium.
All these emotions because of this rendition of a song from the Eurovision Songcontest. This song brings me back to places, to memories, through time.
As we enter a new decade, I look back at the past 10-11 months. Last year, I vowed to pause from travelling and focus more on stabilizing my financial security. Much to my delight (and frustration), travel has no way of evading me.
I think travel is extremely fascinating. I can’t imagine I ever thought about pausing because it’s almost the air I breath. Knowing I’ll be off somewhere soon keeps me pumped. You can just imagine my happiness when I knew I will be jetting off unexpectedly, not once, not twice but thrice! Not to one, two, not even three but countless destinations!
The biggest surprise of 2019 was that it took me places when I didn’t even think I’d make it out of my city. When I look back at every month, the greatest highlight not only of this year but any other year, really, was when I was out and about. To keep my feet on the ground, I still want to give credit to other significant events for this year.
In January, my best friend K got married where I was maid of honor for the first time. I was also responsible for their foreign guests and took them around the campus and eventually became good friends with them.
In February, I finally found the time, money and willingness to officially enroll in Korean class and relive this old passion of mine.
In March, it was my sister’s turn to get married where I, surprise, surprise, was maid of honor (by default?) for the second time this year.
In April, I get to (anxiously) fulfill my dream to be an official French interpreter, even for just a day. It was such an exhilarating experience that I sort of want to and not want to do again. Additionally, at the end of the month, I went on an all-expense paid official weekend trip to Malaysia with an unexpected yet very pleasant companion.
In May, I guided and witnessed my first thesis advisees through their thesis writing and defense. Also, I toured a French guest around Manila.
From June to July, on a last-minute decision I had to make, backed up by so much support from my French and Filipino families, I went back to France for the first time after two years, for a short vacation, a training and a fulfilment of a dream: to see the lavender fields! I also managed to drop by Monaco and Italy in a single day.
In August, I attended my 2nd year of Lithuanian summer courses, with side trips to Riga and Tallinn and layovers in Thailand, Poland, Copenhagen and Doha. So much story of delayed, missed and rerouted flights. Definitely one for the books!
In September, B bought a ticket to Manila so we can attend a franco-filipino wedding. During this two-week trip, I took B to Boracay. It was also the first time for B to stay over at home instead of booking an apartment or hotel room.
In October, I went on a beach trip to Camiguin for Daddy’s 60th. Right after that week, I had to organize, publicize and hold the 2nd year of a national week-long training for French teachers.
Obviously, nothing to write about November and December yet as I am currently and still about to live my life for these months. To anticipate, I am going to have to throw two bridal showers and be a maid of honor for the third time this year. I’m quite convinced this is going to be the last time I will be one, unless somebody else presents her desire to have me as her maid of honor, though I highly doubt it.
Most of the time, I think life is unfair because I tend to look at the bigger picture: a helpless world where I cannot make a significant contribution. But when I step a little closer and just see life as it is to me, life is actually pretty good. And in times like these when I am highly in doubt of [my] life, I’m grateful I can stop, breath and reflect on how life has indeed been good all along.