Happy New Year, everyone! I hope everyone enjoyed their New Year's Eve and their day of rest afterwards.
After work on New Year's Eve, Nick and I went out to the home of a couple of my coworkers to ring in the New Year. When midnight hit, it was a whirlwind of action - shooting bottle rockets off the balcony of the apartment (everything is legal in Taiwan), drinking champagne, watching fireworks from across the lake. In the midst of the (fun) chaos, time sort of slowed down for me... I'm celebrating New Year's Eve in a completely different country, and am lucky enough to be on this great adventure, with so many exciting possibilities ahead.
I've spent some of my time over the last month being homesick, missing my family, and missing Christmastime at home. But, with the end of the holiday season comes the beginning of a new year. One to enjoy and explore, where anything can happen, and one to celebrate. I'm not saying I won't be homesick, or miss my family (or my kitties), because I'm sure there will be times when I do. But, I'm saying that I'm happy that last year brought me to Taiwan, and I'm ready for this year to start. I'm ready to have fun and enjoy the freedom of being young.
I don't believe in New Year's resolutions, because they're often forgotten by the second or third week of January. This year, instead, I will set goals for myself. I plan to spend the next few days (or maybe months) deciding what those are, specifically. But... to name a few:
#1 Be accepted to anthropology graduate school for the Fall 2008 semester.
#2 Become more serious and committed to running and yoga (both the keys to my inner peace, I believe).
(side note: more concrete goals to come)
#3 Take better care of myself, physically and emotionally. I need to treat myself with love and compassion, and simply just stop being so hard on myself!
and...
#4 (and most important) When I hit a bump in the road, I want to remember what I felt like at midnight this New Year's Eve. Luckily, I have all of you to help remind me of that.
I hope this finds you all happy and well, and I wish you the very best in 2008.
Much love,
Katie
p.s. These pictures are from my New Year's celebration!
