I intended to write this article since a week ago but with holidays and all the time, the time again, went by. I'm thinking about a retrospective of 2011 before its end, cause from tomorrow on, for a few days, I'll be out of my computer.
As usual I'll condiment my story with pictures.
The very first moments of 2011 were spent at the mountain side with friends in a joyful party. For my surprise everyone went sleeping earlier than usual. I had no sleep so I spent the time till dawn playing cards with a new friend. It was nice, a new beginning for me, like a good sign for the year to come.
And as the year moved on, despite the cold and winter I dislike, I've decided to make some changes. One of which was changing my hairstyle. And I wanted a drastic change. I kept looking over the internet on all kind of styles and colors but in my head I knew it already. Even though I've backed up a few times because asking others, one day I got the courage to do it. So, for the second time in my life, after a looong time, I'm having a short hair. Haven't I told you how much I love it?
And so the spring began. It was a cold Easter but the sun began slowly to shine and in enjoyed its warmth day after day. What more can I say about the blooming flowers. The image speaks for itself.
Spring meant meeting with friends, taking a quick trip to the mountain side in April, going to the Speech contest in Japanese the second day after March 11, participating to a Spring Matsuri at the Botanical Garden and trying to practice for the first time Shodo (I am terrible at calligraphy). Then my name day and the first reunion with friends on that spring, their shock at seeing me with a short hair, warmer days, the first time ever complete lake tour at jogging (a huge personal victory), traveling for the first time by train in the city, shopping with mom, shopping with friends, a friend asked me to tutor her, progress in Japanese language learning.
Then the summer came and a wedding initiated it. We are 3 best friends ever since college and one of my friends had her wedding in June. What can I say: it was a blast for 3 wonderful days. I had fun and felt great. I'm always well received in her family that feels like mine each time I get there. And it also was the first time ever I've been a maid of honor. My favorite season of all continued with a party at the japanese school before the holiday, then with a barbecue with friends at my place, in the garden (I just love summer in my garden), playing tennis and visiting the National Arena on its opening night, and the great holiday with friends at Piatra Neamt, exploring the country. A few weeks later we headed to Balcik, a place I was fascinated with ever since I was reading about it years ago in the interbellic literature. A well worthed experience on the steps of the former Queen. Not to forget August when I had the chance to be that close to Bon Jovi at their first concert in Romania. The feeling cannot be described :).
Fall arrived as quickly as everything happened this year. It brought a new wedding and again being the maid of honor (this time around I somehow managed to faint in the church right the moment the bride and groom were exchanging rings), then the class reunion after 10 years with some of my ex-classmates (we tried to organize but it was almost impossible to gather everyone), a conference, participating to a Japanese traditional musubi workshop and the Japanese movie festival, subscribing for the Japanese proficiency test and going to classes with new great classmates. October came and brought new surprises for me. When I thought that my B'DAY was approaching and everything seemed to be the old same, I was hit by some incredible happenings. And among the dates and new/old experiences that I never thought will happen to me, I also had the chance to have a dream come true. Thanks to my friends I've seen and got into airplanes and helicopters. Although it was a cold windy day, I only felt the joy of being there :). It was an incredible Bday this year and I'd like to thank to someone up there for it.
The winter caught me learning, learning and re-learning. I must confess that I haven't studied as much in years. But it was a nice thing to do even though I knew nothing except it for days in a row. Then it was the exam and afterwards the holiday craziness begun. One minute I was struggling to finish my exam and the next one, when I opened my eyes, the city was ready for Christmas. My friends sent emails talking about organizing New Year's Eve holiday and the Japanese School announced the Christmas party. I had the chance to see a Japanese Santa this year and received a Japanese calendar. Some of my friends took an acting class and invited us to their show. It was our cultural weekend with theater and opera and all. I had my respiro moment when, after the play, I took the way back home with a dear friend walking through the city and admiring its holiday decorations. And there was Christmas marathon with family coming home, visiting and giving. My, I feel sooo tired. Tomorrow I'm leaving. Not much hope there in my luggage. I think I need a miracle.
Bottom line: this year has been a year of changes, of firsts and, most of it, a year of friendship. Some incredible things happened along it and maybe there was a sign that things can be different. I'm grateful for 2011. Who knows what brings the next year. Let's see!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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