Happy New Year, Minna San

Every year, I like to reflect a little about the old year and do some thinking about the new one. When I think about 2009, it's pretty much complete information overload. 2008 was a great year, and when I was at this point last year, there was a part of me thinking that I'd pretty much topped out the greatness factor for a year. I was wrong. Last year was simply a springboard for this year. If you had told me 10 years ago that life would just get better each year, I would have thought you were slightly crazy.

Highlights of 2009:

I taught my first college class (Professor Hall, yo - ok, I'm not really sure if my students knew who the heck I was, but whatever)

The utter agonies of the wringer known as the JET Programme Application Process (this was exciting more in hindsight ;-)

Experiencing the absolute shock of Googling Soya Subprefecture and learning that I would be moving to the northernmost city of Japan

Living at home for a few months

Leaving my secure, full-time job after almost 6 years

Standing by one of my best friends as she married a wonderful, godly man

Leaving North America for the first time

Leaving everything dear to me to land almost halfway across the globe in a place where I could barely say "Good Morning."

Experiencing the aching beauty of a Hokkaido summer

Experiencing the pure joy of learning katakana and hiragana

Skyping with my family - oh, Skype, I could write poetry to you!

Learning important things like "Watashi wa terebi o mimashita, demo wakarimasen" (I watch television, but I don't understand"

Going from being the office techie to the person who is like, "Uh, does this say Start?"

Watching snow fall at midnight on the first of November

Writing my first novel (well, at least my first 50,000 words)

Writing all 50,ooo words in the month of November

Walking through a blizzard

In one week, taking buses, ferries, taxis, trains, cars and airplanes

Coming home for a Christmas visit!

And naturally, blogging ;-)

There are so many more as well. This has really been one wild year! I can't wait to see what is in store for 2010!