questions about 2005

got this from priscilla and it looks interesting. let me see what i can say about my 2005. here it goes.

1. What did you do in 2005 that you've never done before?

uh, wow, what a question. lots of things really. i waitressed, found myself strongly attracted to someone i barely knew, organised conferences, felt at home in (western and northern) europe and enjoyed solitude without feeling guilty.

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for this year?

I didn't have any resolution listed last year; only had a wish of receiving some scholarship. for this year, no, not much i can think of. i just do whatever seems reasonable to do.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

hell, no.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

no. thank goodness. there was a friend who had that concern at one point though. it seems strangely distant to think about it now. we barely talked to each other after that thing happened.

5. What countries did you visit?

italy. hong kong (china). taiwan. south korea. copenhagen. the states.

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?

hmmm. nothing i can think of now. wow, i guess i did a good job last year.

7. What dates from 2005 will remain etched in your memory, and why?

email conversations. being hurt by a friend. the time when another friend who was, as said, in peril. feeling thankful for having some deep friendships for more than a decade.


8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

well. got a scholarship, finished my masters in nsysu and did my upgrade. but mostly it was about the fact that i managed to feel secure and not deprived- that was really hard.

9. What was your biggest failure?

not taht i didn't fail in things; on the contrary, i think i screwed up quite a few. but it's difficult for me to say that they were failures because they were more of a process for me to grow and change and learn. i feel reluctant to designate them as failures. but if there has to be one thing, i would say it's my terrible command of english. i always feel so frustrated by it although i know i am doing my best and it's not terrible.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

caught a cold. nothing serious.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

books. i spent all my money on books in new york- didn't even go to museums, galleries, or broadway. i am going to suffer a great deal because of this when i move. *sigh*

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

lots of people who were kind, sophisticated, intelligent and patient. among them i have to focus on my supervisor- we really manage to grow together and benefit from each other's working together i think. (i hope this does not sound too arrogant or anything)

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

uh. a flatmate of mine. . .

14. Where did most of your money go?

accommodation. food. tuitions. books. transportation.

15. What did you get really, really excited about?

deep conversations. organising events.

16. What song will always remind you of 2005?

cheerio chen's 還是會寂寞.

17. Compared to last year, are you happier or sadder?

happier. i was whacked by financial concerns and possible withdrawal from phd in 2004.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

knowing how to switch on my social mode even when i dont want to. this is not so much of something i wish i had done but more out of curiosity- wonder what would have happened if i had tried to please people more. but i suppose i just don't really have that kind of energy and willingness to do so.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

endless chatting with people.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

so this shows that i am a bit late in doing this questionaire.

21. Did you fall in love in 2005?

yeah, crushes and others.

22. How many one-night stands?

wish i were that material.

23. What was your favorite TV Program?

don't watch tv but i seriously thought i'd watch star trek every saturday at one point. though what happened was that both my housemate and i didn't remember at all until days after.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

yes. . . sadly.

25. What was the best book you read?

many of them. all very very good. almost all academic. but i do enjoy the best _virtual girl_ as a novel.


26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

al start. :)

27. What did you want and get?

seeing my friends in taiwan. finding someone special. chocolates and icecream (<-- i am serious about the last one).

28. What was your favorite film this year?

Before Sunset, HUman Stain, Mystic River, Closer, Gia, The Constant Gardner, Saving Face, Clean, Tipping the Velvet, Proof, Happiness. . .


29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

it was a thursday and we had our research-day meeting. My supervisor bought a small toffee cake from the Thorntons and brought some wine. Yi-han also baked a chocolate cake for me. I was at first worried that I was going to be the focus of the crowd and felt afraid of such occasion. but it turned out good, just another day of having academic discussions with wine.

Also, before that day, we did a Japanese night at the flat to celebrate my 26th birthday, made sushi together under my Japanese flatmate's instructions, and had (only I did though) Tuna Sashimi (yum!).

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

more money?

31. What political issue stirred you the most?

the political issue that I got worked up over, i would say, was about race, nationality and belonging.

32. Who did you miss?

diana. 秋文. lucifer. veronica, janina and maria.

33. Who was the best new person you met?

adi.

34. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:

always try to listen to the heart. find a balance between self and other. also try to be as helpful and patient as you can.

35. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

hmmm. never done anything like this before. lets see, maybe this one: 喜歡一個喝著紅酒的女孩，但不能喜歡太多。 (trans: 'i like a girl who drinks red wine, but cannot/should not like her too much'. in mandarin 'cannot' and 'should not' are expressed with the same phrase.)


35 questions. wow. that was fun. though a bit time-consuming.