What a Year It Has Been!

It is currently 1:00am on December 31st as I write this post. I'm not sleeping because I got 12 hours of sleep last night and am fully awake. I realized sometime earlier in the day that it is the last day of 2010 and have been reflecting on this past year. Today, I was with some friends and we were making our New Year's Eve plans. They asked what I did last year for New Year's and how we could top that. Last years party was amazing and truly the first great New Year's that I had since the awesome dance party for ringing in the millenium (Eem knows what I'm talking about haha :) Anyway, I got to thinking about how last New Year's seemed like it was just a month ago. I can't believe how fast this year has gone and what a year this has been!

Last year at this time, I had just graduated from WMU, was working two jobs and living in Kalamazoo. The idea of coming to Korea was still just an idea. I had no definite plans, no job, and my application was still sitting on my desk. Fast forward 12 months later and I am sitting in my apartment in South Korea with a full-time teaching job and actually living this dream. I will say it again and again, I can't believe I'm here! I am still in shock and awe at myself that I can actually make things like this happen. Yes, I can move to a foreign country, by myself, for a year and make it work. Yes, I do have the guts to venture out and discover myself in another culture. Instead of waiting around for experiences to come to my door, I can go out and find them myself. A year ago, the thought of coming to Korea was exciting, but absolutely terrifying. I wasn't prepared for this 12 months ago and to be honest I wasn't prepared for this 4 months ago when I left, but here I am, making it work.

Tomorrow night, when I am standing on the streets of Seoul with millions of Koreans and foreigners, I will wonder if I can ever top this New Year's Eve. How can any turn of the year be better than the one that I will have in Korea. This is the place that I have and will continue to grow. This is the place that will teach me values and lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. This is the place that I am slowly falling in love with. So cheers to 2010! You've been a great year and a year that will always be with me. Happy New Year everyone! I hope your 2011 is filled with happiness, love, and great memories!