Summing up my year of 2013, once again in English.
1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
Visited places like Hainan, Guangzhou, Utazu, Taiping Forest Park etc. Oh and yes - visited the Shaolin Temple, one cross on my list of 10 places to visit before I die. See the full list here.
2. Did you keep you New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I made 6 promises. See the list here. This is my opinnion on how I did in them:
1. Normaalipainon tavoittelu / Weight loss :)
2. Lupaan vähentää yksityisautoilua / Less driving, more walking :)
3. Väikkärin viimeistely /Finishing PhD :(
4. Treenaus / Physical excersises :/ hyvin meni siihen asti kunnes tulin kipeäksi marraskuun alussa - tauti jatkuu edelleen:(
5. Hygienia /House cleaning :|
6. IMDB Top250 listaprojektin jatko / IMDB Top250 list movie watching :)
Yes I will make more promises for next year, stay tuned for those.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not in the immediate family. My friend got a princess that we named Amidala though.
Yes, unfortunately our dear friend Stephen died in April.
5. What countries did you visit?
Tough question, I need to revise.
China, Japan, Greece, Belgium, UK, France. I think that's it.
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
Peaceful time at home? I would like to have some space in my schedule, to spend time with my family, just being at home. Just us. I would also like the time to complete my PhD and I'd like my son to learn how to talk and perhaps even to use the toilet. Those are my wishes.
Many dates have been meaningful this year, so here are some of the most memorable:
31.1. Visited the Shaolin Temple
Read the story here. / Lue enemmän täältä.
23.-30.8. Shorinji Kempo World Taikai in Osaka + Study session in Hombu, Japan
Read stories here / Lue lisää taikailta:
Bon Odori
Embukai
Taikai training day
World Taikai
Hombu International Study Session, day 1
Hombu International Study Session, day 2
Hombu International Study Session, day 3
Read the story here. / Lue enemmän täältä.
15.11. My son fell into a manhole cellar - mother's nightmare
Read the story here. / Lue enemmän täältä.
21.11. I spoke in the same event with Krista Kiuru in Shanghai
Read the story here. / Lue enemmän täältä.
25.11. I Climbed the Huashan mountain
Read the story here. /Lue lisää täältä.
I think that being appointed to Visiting Professor of Xi'an Jiaotong University must be it.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Let's just say being extremely thoughtless in some of my time management.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I've been pretty much ill for the whole Autumn in some level, so that was not nice. I want to be healthy again!
I think it was an iPad for aunt Ritva... Or possibly tickets to the taikai.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My husband's, he is awesome. Also my son, he is so easy to travel with, really. My Aunt, who came to China to take care of my son (and has helped us immensily during this year).
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
My own? Occasionnally so.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Travelling for sure.
China:) Japan:) Good friends:)
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?
This year there are some candidates:"Last Time" by Taylor Swift, "Tear Drops" by Emmelie de Forest, "Kaunis Rietas Onnellinen" by Kaija Koo, "Need you Now" by Lady Antebellum and "Something" by Andrius Pojavis
I. happier or sadder? Happier definitelyII. thinner or fatter? Thinner! Yes!
III. richer or poorer? Poorer:/
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Been home.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Been ill. But something I did - I don't think I did anything pointless really. It's been a pretty well lived year I think.
In my mother-in-law's house with my family.
22. Did you fall in love in 2013?
Yes.
24. What was your favourite tv programme?
Homeland, Downton Abbey, Sons of Anarchy, The Walking Dead, Borgen, The Killing .. These remain my favourites. And of course, Survivor.
No.
26. What was the best book you read?
It's a sad year as I don't think I have finished a book this year. Yes I have started three.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Well, as in so many years, main inspiration came from Eurovision, but maybe it was rediscovering Kaija Koo in the summer.
28. What did you want and get?
I got to travel around the world a lot. That was awesome. I got to live in China. I got to rethink my life again from scratch.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
I really enjoyed Silver Linings Playbook
On my birthday I was ill and we had a room party with some vodka in Beijing Park Plaza, I was 32. The party itself was in July (only half a year later) and I invited some friends over as usual.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
It would be nice not to be ill all the time. But yes also booking less stuff into my calendar.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
I lived 8 months in summer! So shorts and small skirts were in. I think I've improved overall, at the moment I'm wearing more skirts, more dark colors, as it's winter. I've started to wear shirts and boots too, which hasn't really ever been me, so that's something new. I love my new boots!
34. What kept you sane?
Really good friends. That's it.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Jennifer Lawrence
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Selling Finnish Education to China, definitely and among that the Pisa results dropping.
37. Who did you miss?
I missed my whole family, England and Finland. I missed Kempo, I missed hot water, I missed my home, I missed cheese, I missed a working internet connection. I even missed my work colleagues:) Same answer as last year.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Probably I need to say Li Xin. But also Angeliki, Kerstin and Christine.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013:
Life is too short to be unhappy.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
Well it should be this:
Sä oot kerran jo nähnyt miten tää maailma romahtaa
Ja silti jostakin tuhkan seasta noussut ylös taas
Sä oot kerran jo luullut ettet tuu koskaan toipumaan
Ja silti siinä sä kaikkien mukana huudat kovempaa
Niin mä voin luvata et aina lopulta sä selviit mistä vaan
Ja ihan todella ei ole rajoja nyt kun tanssitaan
Sä alat vihdoin viimein käsittää ettet sä tarvii lupaa keneltäkään
Oot liian kaunis häpeemään etkä voi yhtään mitään menettää
Joten anna mennä joten anna mennä
Kaunis rietas onnellinen
Hyvää uuttavuotta teille! :) Omani taitaa vaihtua peiton alla candy crush-pelin ja muutaman lonkeron kanssa ystävien tehtyä oharit... :/ jospa ensvuonna parempi tuuri! :)
VastaaPoistaTänä vuonna täälläkin vietetään aika hiljaista uutta vuotta. Ehkä lähtis katsomaan raketteja, tai sitten niitä vois katsoa myös tuosta ikkunasta. Hyvää uutta vuotta!
Poista