Reflections num Novo Ano

So 2008 has come and gone, and I'll be honest, I'm a little sad to see it go. As I get a little older, the years seem to come by a bit faster, and all of a sudden, it's another new year. And this New Year was a bit more poignant than most that have come before it in my young life. As far as years go, 2008 was one of the most defining of my life. Okay maybe not “one of the most” as much as by FAR the most important year of my 22.

Let's see. Where was I a year ago? In SF, with some Tours friends, excited to be having fun and excited for what the new year would bring. I had just finished up the first part of senior year and was both looking forward to and dreading the last six months of my college life. I knew I was graduating in June, but past that I had no idea where I would be spending the summer or, much more importantly, what I was planning to do with my life when I graduated. I had ideas, sure, but nothing substantial, preferring to live in the moment of senior year rather than face realities of the future and the “Real World,” those two words that instill fear and loathing into college seniors everywhere.

And what has happened since then? Way too much to recount in a blog entry, and not very exciting for anyone but me. But to summarize, the next few months saw my fourth and final Dance Marathon; applying for the Peace Corps; deciding to return to O-Staff as an OA and stay in LA for the summer; a fun trip to New York, a place that always seems to feel so much like home; then Spring Quarter and Senior Dis-O and Joshua Tree and more FACs and marg pong than I can actually remember and more FUN than I can actually remember; so much laughter and so many tears; dealing with that I'm-a-senior complex that had me out partying more nights than not and still pulling a 4.0 every quarter thanks to extreme lack of sleep; the most epic weekend in Vegas EVER that had me stressed to the gills but also will go down in history as one of the best weekends in my entire life; turning 22, staying awake for three entire days straight so I could manage to take multiple finals, finish a 60-page paper and still go to undie run and Margarita Mondays and tours bonfire because it was the last week of college ever, after all; and then finally Phi Beta Kappa induction and then the worst/best UCLA college graduation ceremony EVER; and then Oh-My-God-I-Just-Graduated-!!!!; and that was just the first half of the year. Then followed by Erika’s wedding—I can't believe we're growing up; and a “senior trip” of sorts to Palm Springs with my girlfriends for some bittersweet last hangout time. Then back to Westwood to move into my first apartment ever with Bethy; O-Staff retreat and the beginning of Hurt Brigade Bread and Butter; Tahoe for the 4th with some of my favorite people in the entire world; a summer of fun and sun and drunkenness and drama and all the beautiful things that happen in college or when you're a recent grad in denial; the Orientation Office and BrewCo and Maloneys and Family O and OCíng and M.I.A. and Miley and more Vegas and San Diego and all those fun things; and then all of a sudden it was saying goodbye to LA, the city I really consider home, so much so that I sometimes miss the 405 traffic… bursting into tears alone in my car just as I reached the Valley, fully realizing that my life was irrefutably changing and would never be the same again, and then biting my lip and resolving to proceed with strength into my next chapter. Then home in Sacramento with the family for two weeks, saying more goodbyes, and then all of a sudden I was on a plane to Philly and then to JoBurg and then to Maputo and all of a sudden I was in Moçambique; and then moving to the town of Namaacha for ten weeks to learn about culture and lifestyle and learning Portuguese and learning how to be a health worker in this country, and then celebrating Thanksgiving away from home and learning I was moving to Vilankulo… and then saying goodbye to many new friends and moving to my bamboo hut in this sleepy coastal town where I am prepared to stay for the next two years. And that was the last 12 months.

It is safe to say that a lot has been happening in my life lately.

But what will 2009 bring? In the past the years were easily divided into stages: winter quarter, spring, summer, fall. And each comes with its milestones—DM, Spring Break, Vegas, finals, etc. The year divides itself so easily at UCLA. 2009 will be a bit different. The schedule: live and work in Moz. And possibly going back to the states for the holidays, an entire year away. So this year will feel a little bit different than the ones before. But that’s okay. So often I have lived my life always looking ahead to the next big thing without pausing to truly experience the present. But that is going to change this year. I hope. Little by little. Pouco a pouco. I have no idea what I will be reflecting upon about 2009 a year from now. But it is sufficient to say I am excited.

Happy New Year everyone.