Salut, 2014! Salut, 2015!

While most people have their thanksgiving in November, I'll be having mine at the end of the year.

I started a thing last January, where I wrote down my best experiences in small post-it notes and put them in a big champagne glass. At the end of the year, which is 2014, I'll open each one of them and look back on all the fun and exciting memories I had. I never did fill that glass up to the brim, but as I hold those tiny post-it notes in my hand, I realized that I still had gone through a lot. A lot has happened, and there is a lot to be thankful for this 2014. What better way to immortalize those memories than to write about them. So, let's start!

Valentine's Gifts
For Valentine's Day this year, I got tons of gifts. My students gave me notebooks, chocolates, soap, and a bunch of other stuff I can use throughout the year. Our dear President gave us all roses. The best gift I got though was not from them. I had no choice but to accept the bearer as my valentine, because it wouldn't let me see other people. Life is a romantic little turd this year, because it let me be with something so foreign. Happy valentine's day to you, too, German Measles. :)

HK 2014 and Family
Oh, I love this one. I am so grateful that I got to celebrate my birthday in HK with the other side of my family, who I don't see much. They may be a little rough around the edges, but they are good people. They made sure that my Mum and I were well taken care of during our brief stay, and they were more than helpful when we needed directions or favors from them. I learned to appreciate them, despite their imperfections, and saw them in a different light. My Mum's friends were there, too, and they also taught me a valuable lesson: With the right attitude and perspective, you can always have a good time, no matter who you're with. :) Thank you Dad's side of the family and Mum's barkada for giving me such a memorable birthday this 2014. :)

Hello, aunts and cousins! :)

I will always be thankful for my wonderful family. I never get tired of spending time with you guys, finishing 1000-piece puzzles in 2 days or rolling up our sleeves and buckling down attempting to win the most impossible boardgames. We always come up with the most creative schemes and  jokes that only we can understand. We also have the most far-fetched plans that only God knows if and when we will accomplish them. Life may seem impossible to go through, but having you nerds near makes all things better.

Insert Ahia and Dad here and there

Employed!
This is probably the best of all my experiences this 2014. Some people live their lives doing a job they dislike and working with people they have don't agree with. But I was fortunate enough to get just the opposite.

I love my job. I love the kids. I love my co-workers.

Because of my job, I got to experience things I never would have in my lifetime.
I never would have celebrated my birthday in school where everyone is singing just for me.
I never would have gone twice to a theme park for free and hugged a (stuffed) penguin.
I never would have gone on a fieldtrip with the kids and gone on a zipline and realize that humans really were meant to walk on earth and not fly.
I never would have taken part as organizer of a program and have kids crying and throwing up all around me, but still end up successfully pulling it off.
I never would have met such awesome co-teachers and done tons of crazy stuff with them like watch horror movies along the beach,

Look for Mr. Parker and Mother

ride a flying fish,

kayak, learn to float and look at coral reefs.
I never would have painted my face green and danced alongside them as She-hulk at the company Christmas party.

Such flawless green skin I have

All these things would never have happened if I didn't get this job. So, here's a great big THANK YOU to my Cambridge family. >:D<

Gatherings
My friends are a plethora of personalities and I cannot be more thankful for that. My life becomes more colorful and louder and more interesting because of them. They spice up my otherwise humdrum life. My CKSC friends make me realize things about myself each time we meet up and my UP friends bring out the side of me that I didn't even know existed. Both groups contribute greatly to who I am and how much I've grown this year, and I cannot wait for more memories with you this 2015! :)

Family Picture?

2014 truly was a beautiful and blessed year. However, let this be a wake up call for year 2015. Do not let your predecessor shame you. I am expecting more new experiences, more life lessons and more memories!

Happy new year! :)

P.S. I'm sorry UP friends, I can't find our Army Navy picture together. HUHU.