mutedtempest (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mutedtempest) wrote2010-01-01 05:45 am
mutedtempest) wrote2010-01-01 05:45 am
Goodbye 2009
Exactly one year ago, I was sleeping on the floor of my girlfriend's bedroom, wondering how the hell I'd managed to get so lucky. I'm still wondering that, although she's my best friend again instead of my girlfriend and I have a bed to sleep in this time. :P
It's been a wild year. I guess everything seems that way in retrospect, but when I stop to think about everything that happened to me in 2009 it really makes me take a step back and realize that maybe I've done a little more with my life than I usually think I have. I was living in Scotland until March, and saw the Highlands for the first time in February. Fell absolutely head over heels in love, even more intensely than I'd been with Edinburgh. Still adore the entire country though and my heart sometimes literally aches to go back to Scotland. I'm making tentative plans to make that happen in the very near future, hopefully with one or more of my amazing new friends.
In late March I moved to Ireland. That didn't last long since the cost of living nearly killed me and I wasn't too keen on the place anyway, surprisingly. Loved Scotland a whole lot more, but I'm immensely glad I had the experience of living, however temporarily, in the land of my ancestors.
Moved back home to Illinois in April and worked for the Army for a couple months, then got laid off. Got accepted to a master's program at Lund University in early May. Finished my bachelor's degree in late July, which was something I never thought I'd be able to do, and received my official degree in early August.
Fought with the Swedish Migration Board all summer in the attempt to get a student residence permit, and was continually denied based on what I still believe is complete and utter BS, but I won't dwell on that because I decided to give them the finger and came over anyway in October. Have been here since, and have met some of the best people I've ever had the good fortune of being around. For the first time in my life, I feel completely at home, even in a place where I don't speak the language. I have an apartment that I adore and feel very comfortable and safe in. I have never in my life been as social as I've been the past two months, and every day I'm grateful to have such wonderful, beautiful friends that I know I can count on.
My best friend is amazing and although it still hurts me that we can't be together, I'm immensely thankful that she's in my life. I adore her and living so close to her is wonderful. I love being able to see and hang out with her rather than just converse on MSN all the time. Losing her love was the hardest thing I've had to go through, and still is, but I'm slowly learning to deal. Not sure I'll ever get over it completely but I'm doing the best I can, and really working to move on.
Can't think of much else to say about the year. There was a mixture of good and bad, as is necessary in any time period, but I feel that I can safely say that 2009, for all the heartache, was one of the best and most educational years of my life so far.
It's been a wild year. I guess everything seems that way in retrospect, but when I stop to think about everything that happened to me in 2009 it really makes me take a step back and realize that maybe I've done a little more with my life than I usually think I have. I was living in Scotland until March, and saw the Highlands for the first time in February. Fell absolutely head over heels in love, even more intensely than I'd been with Edinburgh. Still adore the entire country though and my heart sometimes literally aches to go back to Scotland. I'm making tentative plans to make that happen in the very near future, hopefully with one or more of my amazing new friends.
In late March I moved to Ireland. That didn't last long since the cost of living nearly killed me and I wasn't too keen on the place anyway, surprisingly. Loved Scotland a whole lot more, but I'm immensely glad I had the experience of living, however temporarily, in the land of my ancestors.
Moved back home to Illinois in April and worked for the Army for a couple months, then got laid off. Got accepted to a master's program at Lund University in early May. Finished my bachelor's degree in late July, which was something I never thought I'd be able to do, and received my official degree in early August.
Fought with the Swedish Migration Board all summer in the attempt to get a student residence permit, and was continually denied based on what I still believe is complete and utter BS, but I won't dwell on that because I decided to give them the finger and came over anyway in October. Have been here since, and have met some of the best people I've ever had the good fortune of being around. For the first time in my life, I feel completely at home, even in a place where I don't speak the language. I have an apartment that I adore and feel very comfortable and safe in. I have never in my life been as social as I've been the past two months, and every day I'm grateful to have such wonderful, beautiful friends that I know I can count on.
My best friend is amazing and although it still hurts me that we can't be together, I'm immensely thankful that she's in my life. I adore her and living so close to her is wonderful. I love being able to see and hang out with her rather than just converse on MSN all the time. Losing her love was the hardest thing I've had to go through, and still is, but I'm slowly learning to deal. Not sure I'll ever get over it completely but I'm doing the best I can, and really working to move on.
Can't think of much else to say about the year. There was a mixture of good and bad, as is necessary in any time period, but I feel that I can safely say that 2009, for all the heartache, was one of the best and most educational years of my life so far.