My resolutions for 2003:
-Stop puttering around on learning Mandarin and regain the rate and enthusiasm I had going when I first got here (which means no more discman to block out the people speaking Mandarin on the bus).
-Learn bo po mo fo so I can type characters on my computer without having to resort to the flashcards I made months ago when I first got the idea to learn it.
-Drink more. Yeah, more people go in the opposite way, but I think I should try to drink a little when right now I might have just 1 or 2 drinks…a year.
-Go to more places in Asia. I’m only going to be here for another year and a half and my travel record is pathetic considering how much vacation time I get at my job.
-Make use of my club membership. I spent $18,000 for an 18-month health club membership which I can count how many times I have gone there on one hand. Hell, I can almost count it on one finger. Takes care of another certain resolution that has been taking care of itself without much effort according to my scale. The thought was that I would never pay that much for one thing if I were still living in the US so that would be my motivation to go and make the most of my money. Hasn’t worked so far.
-Stop being late to everything. It’s a bad habit I picked up from my family since my mother and my grandmother are always late for things too. My clocks are always set at least 15 minutes fast, but at a time that I am not supposed to know so I theoretically am not late since I tend to be 15 minutes late to everything…the problem is, I am still 15 minutes late to everything despite the time change.
-Get organized. My huge desk is at a point that I barely have room on it for my computer…and my computer’s only a laptop.
-Write more often. I have postcards from when I first got in Taiwan that I began writing and have never gotten around to finishing. Same thing with thank you notes, Christmas cards, and RSVPs. I have this strange aversion to post offices here that I never experienced while living in France. For some reason they intimidate me or something.
-Polish up my webpage. If you have taken a gander at it, you can see how much work it needs. I hope to get my own domain as soon as I budget it.
-Learn guitar. They’re slightly easier to carry than a piano and tend to be in tune more than my voice. I want to learn how to play “The One Eye Love” by Heywood Banks…She is the one-eye, one-eye, one-eye…she is the one-eye one I love.
I’ll keep y’all updated on which ones I actually accomplish if any at all.