OCEANS AWAY

Boy, 2011 sure seemed longer than most years

Filed under Daily Life

I still have scars on both heels from when I wore flats around Maastricht all spring and summer. They bring back memories of university, days at the library, farmer’s markets, the river front, routine work-outs, the best peach ice tea, cobblestone streets, and – most clearly – giving my all to complete my degree in the relentless heat of the summer when most students had left the city already. Most of the first half of 2011 feels like a different life entirely – which, in a way, it was.

January
I started into the new year struggling to adjust to Life After Sweden. I booked my flight for a return trip to Sweden immediately, and recapped my amazing trip to Gothenburg to make the time pass more quickly.

February
I reminisced about meeting my friend Linn in Oslo. I officially started into my final semester at university. And I celebrated my weight loss progress of the past year, while realizing that my eating problems may be more serious than I’d like to admit.

March
My mom came to Maastricht for a short visit. I went back to Sweden, and was disappointed by how much my role in the group had changed. I was at my lowest weight since early high school, and I got my tragus pierced! And I fell in love with Maastricht all over again, and spent a long weekend back home in Germany.

April
I studied hard to meet my exam and thesis deadlines. Then I was told I would not graduate in 2011 because of a mandatory course I hadn’t known about, and started stressing about my future. Spending Easter at home with the family was a much needed break, and among the most blissful holiday weekends of all time. I also went to Brussels, absolutely loved it and swore to go back as soon as possible.

May
I started a kitchen garden. I got frustrated with my life in Maastricht but then San sent me Skittles and Reese’s and my world was ok again. Heh. I committed to loose another 10kg. I spent four days at the beach on Texel island with the family.

June
I suffered from terrible allergy attacks, and became increasingly frustrated with writing my thesis. My parents came to Maastricht for a surprise visit – and why wouldn’t they have, Maastricht is lovely in June! Sadly, I had to decline going to Dubai with a close friend.

July
I interviewed for an internship in Cologne; my parents came along and we saw some of the main tourist attractions. I got the internship and promptly started hating Cologne when the apartment hunt turned into a nightmare. I turned in my last university paper ever. I went home to Germany to catch my breath (and take pictures).

August
I went to my cousin’s wedding. I attended a 2-week Dutch class offered by my university’s language school. I began to really appreciate Maastricht. Then I moved to Cologne.

September
I graduated from Maastricht University with a Bachelor of Arts, and went back to Maastricht for the ceremony. I began my internship, and fell in love with Cologne almost instantly. I bought plane tickets back to Sweden.

October
I explored my new city. I finally recapped the “business trip” I went on with the entire office in September! Too many people were fired at work which was tough for everyone. I resolved to get back on the weight loss train.

November
I joined a weekly Zumba class with a friend from work. I ruined my laptop, and bought a new Asus Eee netbook. I gained weight back, a big ol’ chunk of it.

December
As every year, I’d been waiting for winter and Christmas to finally get here and I really enjoyed Christmas in Cologne. Work became too stressful to keep up with blogging. I had to have my tragus piercing removed because it wouldn’t heal properly. My grandma passed away two days before Christmas. Two days before New Year’s I left for Sweden.

I wrote down some resolutions last year, and none of them stuck. I began 2012 in a drunken stupor with my closest friends in a small, unknown town in Sweden and my grandma’s funeral a couple days later – I’m not sure what that might mean for the year ahead. Maybe 2012 will finally be the year that I grow up but I really hope it isn’t. One thing I learned in 2011 is that adulthood will come soon enough, there’s no need to rush into it. People are people, even those who seem to have everything figured out deal with the same problems and fears as everyone else. Also, KINDNESS. It is so simple, yet The Most Important. If I had to make one resolution for this year, it is this: be kind, and appreciate kindness in others.

Happy New Year, everyone!