Recap of 2009

Despite what I made it sound like in comparison to 2008 (@Jasmin), 2009 really was an awesome year when I look back on it. There was traveling, fun experiences that were new or traditional, and I learned a lot. Here are some particularly notable highlights:

• New Year's 2009 - I had just gotten back from my study abroad in Japan when 2009 hit, and I began the year in the same place that I ended it: at Winston's house.
• Return of the Jasmin - Jasmin had been in Guam up until the beginning of February, when we threw her a killer surprise party. Except, you know, it's not really a surprise when the secret is spoiled. :[ Pictures
  
• One Year - Jasmin and I celebrated our one year anniversary together in February, and it was lots of fun; a whole day of our favorite things. ^_^
  
• Snowboarding with Friends - it was my second year snowboarding, and for my third and fourth tries I think I was finally getting the hang of it enough to teach our friends. Jasmin got her dream Tokidoki board so it's a shame we can only go a few times a year. Pictures 1 Pictures 2
  
• Celeste Visits - my friend, Celeste, who I met in Japan visited DC from Chicago in March with her boyfriend. It was the first time I was able to have this reunion of sorts, and it certainly won't be the last! Pictures
  
• Sakura Matsuri - now armed with knowing first-hand how Japan performs festivals, it was interesting to compare it back to how we imitate the Japanese. Oh how I wish I could have seen the sakura bloom in Japan! Pictures
  
• March of the Animals - I have to mention this event because all of us bringing our dogs and meeting for this march in Baltimore was just so much fun. Let's do it again in the future! Pictures
  
• End of Semester - there were lots of ways to celebrate the semester's closure. For one, the departure of a friend to study abroad; for two, it brought the beginning of summer; and for three, the graduation of other friends. And events for all! Departure Pictures Summer Pictures Graduation Pictures
  
• Philippines - this was, without a doubt, the biggest event of the year. Jasmin and I traveled to her parents' residence near Manila, and we had an amazing two weeks hanging out there and traveling all over the country. I will never forget the delicious food and how kind Jasmin's parents were for showing me a great time. Hopefully I'll be able to return in the near future and see and learn even more. Blogs
  
• No Summer Job - though I failed in my attempts to work during the summer break, I did learn a lot about how to search for jobs and how to perform in an interview. I also learned how to look for places to live, which is good.
  
• Otakon - my sixth year at the convention, and the second time I stayed all weekend in a free hotel *dances*. Still no cosplay yet, but I actually worked this year and got into the convention for free. Which reminds me, I never got a refund for my original badge... Blogs
  
• Van Visits - one of my best friends from Japan finally drove his ass down from Philly to chill in Baltimore in August. Still as fun as ever, it was good to see. Hopefully we'll hang out again sometime soon. Pictures
  
• Birthday, Take 22! - I spent my 22nd birthday similar to how I spent my 21st in Japan - with Japanese food and karaoke. It was a great opportunity to expose this lifestyle to some of my friends, and I think they enjoyed it. Pictures
  
• Halloween - the first time I really celebrated Halloween with my friends like this in the states, from what I can remember. We all dressed up and waited for kids to come by, but only one did. ;_; Pictures
  
• Graduation - marking the end of my college career! It feels so good, but sooo wrong... O_o Blog
  
• Snow Storm - just a couple weeks ago we got two feet of snow in MD of all places!! I haven't seen this much snow in a while, and luckily I drove home just before it got too thick to see through, much less drive. Shoveling was a pain, though. Pictures
  
• Haircut - yes, it's that big a deal.

So there you have it, folks. My 2009 experiences in a nut shell. I also managed to learn more Japanese, including almost 400 kanji I think, and if you've been following my blog I wrote a ton more of my events in Japan (16 to be exact). I have a fresh new motivation to learn Japanese, so I'll be continuing into 2010. And of course, exciting things are to come with Jasmin, I'm sure of it!