the year 2010

well 2010 has come and gone. I've tried think about how to sum up this year and find it is very difficult, especially compared to other years as on the surface it seems less exciting or adventurous. In 2008 I graduated from University, travelled to Thailand, Cambodia and Hong Kong and moved to Korea. In 2009 I changed jobs, changed cities, and managed another tour of SE Asia. 2010, in contrast, had no massive trips, no new and better jobs, no big move. It was a much more low key year. That's not to say cool stuff didn't happen. Geoff moved out here, my Dad came for a visit, I saw more of Korea than I had thought I would, but overall it was a less exciting year.

However, it was a successful year in many respects.

As of January 10th I will have no credit card debt. THAT is a huge accomplishment that was made possible only by working the way i did this year. Of course, I'm fairly sure that I'll be booking flights to Japan for May on it, but I won't fall in to a massive debt again until I go back to school. I also managed to contact several grad schools and profs and feel that 2011 will be the year I finally go back to school (though I haven't ruled out working and being completely debt free by 2012 and going back then). I also finally began a serious study of Korean language with the result that, while I'm VERY far from fluent, I can have basic conversations and actually understand much more of what I read around me. I also can read about 100 Chinese characters, which if I keep going will eventually give me some literacy in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and to a lesser extent mainland China and Japan.

That being said, I hope that 2011 will also bring a few changes. I'd like to change jobs by either going to school in Seoul and work part time or else move to a university job. I'd like to slim down a bit, get back to my 2009 figure and corresponding energy. I also hope to do a bit more travelling; in particular, Japan (Tokyo or Kyoto) and Beijing in July. I'd also like to get back to Vancouver for a month to see friends and family.... maybe after Beijng.

So to sum up this year, I feel that it was good; not great, but good. The work I have put in this year should make for a great 2011 (I felt this way in 2006 and 2007, knowing what 2008 would hold) but the year itself was not as memorable as the two that preceded it. Needless to say, I'm excited for what 2011 and 2012 should bring.