Well, this has certainly been quite a year. I know, I'm one day late, but I was a bit preoccupied last night, so my apologies. Sadly, I cannot remember all of the good times that i've experienced this year, and if you are reading this blog, you have probably contributed to my happiness several times over the past 12 months. Recalling some of the memories from the end of junior year has not been easy, as my brain seems to have combined all of them under the label of "2nd half of the year of death." Strange, though, that we complained so much last year thinking "oh, just wait until I'm a second semester senior..." But no one ever talks about being a first semester senior. Personally, I think that I worked about as hard or maybe even more so first semester than I did during Junior year, probably because of college apps and other pressures of grades. So, here are several of my most memorable moments of 2008:
Wild Wild West: Definitely the most fun field trip I have ever been on, and with the outdoors excitement, mostly unrestricted freedom, and the creative energy of my roommates, these memories will be hard pressed to escape me anytime soon. From our lipsync videos in the hotel room to spending time with both Jason sans clothes and Sandeep just being Sandeep, this trip was probably THE highlight of Junior year.
AP Bio: Yes, we all know we love to hate this class, but I would definitely take this class again. Despite all of the complaining about the reading and studying and test and grading, I still think I hated this class. But I also loved it. I can't say why. Kucer is one of my most interesting teachers I've ever had, and the subject material was incredibly interesting. Too bad we had to make up the data for pretty much every single lab. Oh well, lots of memories in room 1013.
Band: Well, I've already written a post about band, and I am sure that joining was one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. All of the friends I've made, the people I have met, leaves me speechless. There are no words for how I feel about band, but I love you all. Truly epic.
University Chicken: Yes, after first semester finals Junior year a group of us decided to commit suicide and try the 911 challenge. We spent an hour first driving around to our houses getting antacids and getting butter and milk for the kids who wanted to prep for the challenge. Skip to end of story: we failed. And it was disgusting. That was seriously nasty, but I wouldn't put it past Ray to finish the challenge next time. Good thing I inherited a stomach of steel from my Japanese side. Other people were shitting fire for the next couple of days.
The Rock: No, not Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, the place up waaaay past Sandeep's house that people are scared to go to. Hearing people's stories about their lives, running off from the group into the dark and jumping out at them as they pass by, gazing at the stars and enjoying time with friends. I love this spot. It's so peaceful, and the it's remoteness brings about a tranquility we sometimes forget in our hectic lives.
Vetegating: This is a word that Jenna and I coined during one of our many escapades of bashing on a certain director of a certain department. Yes, he has gotten very mean over the past 4 years, and his yelling makes people cry. That is why we have an entire word devoted to him. This may seem a bit mean, but those of you involved in one of these particular groups know what and who I am talking about. All in all, it has been fun complaining, and I know there are many of you who join Jenna and I in this activity.
Sandeep and Jason: Yes, these two people need their own section. Sandeep's encounters with cement and wet paint and his wonderful stories are enough to make you gasp for air laughing, and his fake _______ (rhymes with smorgasms), well, you'll just have to see for yourself. Jason has a wonderful ability to hang out with people with some or all articles of clothing missing. Trips to Pho, Wahoo's, and Top Cafe all compliment the good times at his house(s). If you ever want to make friends, these two are some of the most unique and nicest people I know.
Ok, I did not mean to singly you guys out in that last paragraph, or to make anyone feel less than unique. The memories I have with you all are too many to count, and I wish that I had the brain capacity to remember everything that I wanted to. Watching movies, playing fugitive, watching videos, making videos, are all activities which have been fun. Because of my friends. Hanging out at all of our houses, enjoying our driving privileges, and making memories where ever we go are now stuck in my mind, the causes of my smiles. Here are some more memorable times from 2008:
Halloween dragon
Mission Peak
Choir
SF Choir Trip
Kauai
Tricking people to think that I am from Hawaii
Poi
Times at Beach
making videos for class
Jello-ing
fake ticketing
Going to Top Cafe late at night
Pho runs
Wahoo's runs
Yogurtland runs
staying out really really late
As I reminisce in my head, I hope that we this next year will be even better. It's been fun. But this is senior year, and then we go to college. So lets make this year amazing.
stay safe. Happy new Year.
