Can I live this year again, please? Seriously, I don’t know how I got to be so lucky.
1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Many things, but the big one: Lived abroad, both by myself and in a flatshare.
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t usually do resolutions.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My kiwi friend Rachel.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Luckily not.
5. What countries did you visit?
New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Germany.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A regular income. (But I would never swap that for this year’s experiences!)
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
February 2nd – moving in with the best flatmates ever. July 25th – leaving New Zealand. September 6th – returning to Switzerland.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting my Human Resources diploma.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Seriously? It’s been pretty much all good.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing major. Sprained my ankle in Australia.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Hm. My ticket to see Fall Out Boy, maybe.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My little brother, for growing up and making some big decisions.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Emotionally ending my oldest friendship – I had to realize that it’s really over when I had to hear about his baby and wedding from my mom.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Traveling of course. 🙂
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
New Zealand. God, I love it so much! Also, bandom and Fall Out Boy, obviously. *g*
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Probably ‘The Call’ by Regina Spektor – it’s my “goodbye New Zealand” song. And “Saturday” by Fall Out Boy.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? happier – this was the best year of my LIFE!
b) thinner or fatter? fatter, but I don’t care.
c) richer or poorer? poorer, so much poorer, but again – best year of my LIFE, so I don’t care.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Spent time with my New Zealand friends.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Procrastinated over my inbox. (This Christmas break, I promise – hey, that could be my new year’s resolution!)
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With my family again. *happy*
21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
No, just a crush or two. 🙂
22. What was your favourite TV program?
Too many. Torchwood, maybe, because series 2 was awesome!
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don’t usually hate people. But I very much dislike Mr. Interfering Bossguy.
24. What was the best book you read?
I read quite a lot while traveling. Probably the ‘Temeraire’ series by Naomi Novik, to which Bronwyn introduced me last year.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Bandom bands, especially Fall Out Boy, HELLO? *g*
26. What did you want and get?
Amazing experiences down under. Proof that I can live away from friends, but not as far away as New Zealand because of my parents.
27. What did you want and not get?
A job that actually interests me, in the UK or Ireland. But that’s just postponed.
28. What was your favourite film of this year?
Hmm. Possibly ‘Juno’. Or ‘Once’. But I didn’t see a lot of movies.
29. What did you do on your birthday?
Went out for dinner and drinks with a few friends in Wellington. Not a lot of people, as I didn’t really know anyone yet.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I didn’t have to leave New Zealand (or knew that I could go back very, very soon).
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
A bit more sporty (jeans, chucks, t-shirts) with a dash of emo. 🙂 One of my favorite things about Wellington: No one gives a shit what you wear.
32. What kept you sane?
The daily realization that I was in the country of my dreams. The kiwi motto of “no worries”. 🙂
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Hey there, Patrick Stump! 🙂
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Switzerland’s parliament not re-electing Blocher and the ensuing SVP bruhaha. The American elections.
35. Who did you miss?
My family. My friends in Switzerland.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
Only one? My South African friend Celia.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
New Zealand is the home of my heart, Switzerland is the home of my soul. I am definitely one of the most blessed people alive.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Drum tauch i i und gumpe dri, au wenn i nit gnau weiss, wie’s wird si – es bruucht kai Zit, nur e chli Muet. Es chunnt scho guet. (Michael von der Heide – Ruggewind)
“Therefore I dive in and jump, although I don’t know exactly how it’ll be – it doesn’t need time, just a bit of courage. It’ll be okay.”
Or maybe, to be pathetic (in the sense of meaning “full of pathos”): Ka mate! ka mate! Ka ora! ka ora! […] HÅ«pane! HÅ«pane! HÅ«pane! Kaupane! Whiti te rÄ! (Haka by Te Rauparaha – the All Blacks haka)
“‘Tis death! ’tis death! ‘Tis life! ’tis life! […] One upward step! A step upward, another step upward! A step upward, another… the Sun shines!”