One Year and Change

Wow. The last time I was on here was April 2013! I can't believe it's been over a year!!

2013 was a trip. The last year has been incredibly trying but immensely rewarding as well. A year really can make all the difference. So, UPDATE of my crazy year and then some!

I left off in April.....hmmm. Let's see if I can remember what the rest of 2013 looked like.

In 2013, I.....

> Started a part-time job at the museum as a collections tech. Fun :)
> Helped coach some high school rugby at a campus with a view.
> Completed an internship with HHF and subsequently completed my certificate in Historic Preservation.
> Defended my thesis......but didn't graduate.....long story....was very confused.
> Went to a wedding and managed to spend some time with my fav Bay Area peeps!
> Tried out an aerial intro class. It was awesome and one day I'll get to it.
> Cat-sat for the first time in my life. Little did I know that cats can be pretty high maintenance...
> Outsourced a portion of that cat-sitting :D Outsourcing shit is amazing!
> Started a second part-time job doing CRM. Because 1 part-time job wasn't enough. Obviously.
> Renewed my greencard!! Yay! Not illegal!
> Got to tour Doris Duke's Shangri-La for free!
> Got re-introduced to Kpop as a music choice.....uhhh....no comment.
> Had moar roomie drama and then experienced that feeling of euphoric freedom that comes with the roomie-from-hell moving out voluntarily! But of course she'd screw us over as a farewell gift. That B*.
> Had a shovelbum-ish stint via my CRM job. Yeah, no. But apart from the rotting deer carcases along our transects, Maui was pretty.
> Lost a hubcap to a pothole. Thanks Honolulu.
> Went surfing for the first time ever!
> Had an awesome Christmas with some kickass people.
> Tried to work on thesis...grad school is depressing. 
> Obviously had to say goodbye to some friends because that is the nature of being in school and being on an island. But, met some amazing people and made them friends :)

All in all, kind of a stressful year but there were some great moments there too!

2014 was just as eventful. I.....

> Had a great start to the year with my rugby girls.
> Went for a conference in Cambodia and got to go home for CNY right after! Spent some time with friends and family in both countries just catching up with all my fav (and not so fav) people and eating my weight in comfort food.
> Had to adjust to a new bro-in-law.
> Went on a family trip for the first time in about 8-9 years.
> Started traveling once more. Vietnam with the family, Busan and Seoul with couchsurfing and airbnb. Traveling is definitely going to be a staple in my life once again. I think I've sufficiently recovered from the epic 2008/9 couchsurfing tour of Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
> Had to deal with a bunch of admin BS from the uni, financial aid, etc. Swore off a PhD at UH.
> Spent an awesome week in Hilo doing research with some fun (and funny) people, listened to coqui frogs serenade us in the boonies, and got edumacated in country music (aka torture. pls, make it stop. I don't think your tractor's sexy!).
> Spur of the moment Easter meant a chill time with friends. Could definitely use more of those in my life.
> Tried a TRX class. I definitely need to start that shit. and aerial. and yoga, and......
> Kona Rugby trip, 2.0. Not as fun but pretty interesting all the same.
> GRADUATED!!!!!! effing finally.
> Mum and Charl come for graduation and stayed on to visit. I have never shopped more in my life. in one week.
> House-sat and dog-sat for the first time. As expected, dogs are more high maintenance than cats and doggie daycare is a thing and is incredible.....also, dumb but lovable labradoodles are dumb but lovable. And can cause heart attacks when they escape.....also, also, I am a gullible fool and animals apparently can smell it on me. Totally got trolled several times by that doodle. Many life lessons learnt. 
> Indulged once more in one of my first loves when I hit up the McKinley Friends of the Library book sale and bought about a bazillion cookbooks, sci-fi/fantasy fiction, and Hawaiian arch books. I might have a book problem....
> Realized that I'm essentially a single mom of three....which became four once summer started and Wei got here to start her internship.
> Started pole back up again. Our on-off relationship is now back on :)
> Going back to being more social now that I'm done with school.
> Got a real job. Kinda. Just scored the Collections Manager position at the museum. I'm moving up in the world :P I'm really excited but slightly apprehensive. Guess I'll be in HI for a few more years.

One year. So much change, so many ups and downs. I do regret some things but for the most part, it's a learning curve I just gotta keep up with and learn from. I'm setting new priorities and goals in life and the changes/improvements are noticeable. The lower stress levels are definitely a plus for 2014. The rest of the year looks pretty good so it can only get better from here :) I can't believe it's been (only) one year!