2010 has, without a doubt, been an amazing year for me. There were so many incredible experiences and beautiful countries that I visited this year. I'm afraid I couldn't just pick the usual three for Montage Monday. Here are the highlights from 2010:
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| Kyaiktiyo Pagoda with my family |
Spending a month in Burma with my family and visiting my relatives living in Burma was a great experience for me. Burma is such a beautiful country, the people are lovely and the food is just wonderful! I wish I had more opportunities to visit Burma and hopefully, I'll be able to make it back to Burma again before I leave Asia.
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| In an inspired moment of meditation |
Learning to meditate in India was something I was really looking forward to doing and pretty much the only thing I had planned for 2010. The 10-day meditation retreat really made an impression on me and I enjoyed it very much. Unfortunately, after leaving the retreat, I was unable to stay with the meditation program due to, well, mostly laziness on my part. I keep meaning to get back into meditation and I'm hoping that soon, I'll find the motivation to start practicing again.
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| Prayer flags blowing in the wind at Thorung La Pass |
Things didn't start so well in Nepal, but
trekking the Annapurna Circuit all the way up to Thorung La (5,416 meters or 17,769 feet) was an incredible accomplishment for me, both physically and mentally. It was the first time I had ever done anything so physically and emotionally demanding and draining. I was literally about to fall over when I reached the pass but the sense of victory and pride will stay with me for a long time!
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| With some of our students from the volunteer program |
Matt and I spent three months
volunteering in Thailand with Burmese migrant workers and their children. It was such a rewarding program. Matt and I had so much fun teaching English and guitar lessons to the kids, who are, obviously, quite adorable. And yes, I did cry when
we had to leave!
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| In India, one of our first photos together | |
Meeting Matt this year. Yes, yes, we will wait for you to stop vomiting over the gushiness of this 2010 experience I'm highlighting.
Pause. Are you done now? It's a long and rather complicated story, the story of meeting in India, traveling together, falling in love (
sigh) and then the subsequent relationship. We're the first to tell you that we know how unconventional our relationship is and that it has been no easy ride, but we both feel very lucky to have met each other and continue to marvel at how far we've come together.
So as you can see, 2010 was quite the year. I'm pretty sure that 2011 will be even better because of - oh wait! I haven't posted the
BIG NEWS yet! Whew, that was a close one! Sorry to keep you hanging on but the news isn't completely ready to be revealed. Soon, I promise!
© Connie Hum 2010
What an amazing way to spend 2010. I have always wanted to learn meditation but I shy away from it because I know it will be hard, my brain is always working, although I know that means I need the most!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous year 2010 has been! As a fairly new reader I'm most in awe of what you thought would have readers "vomiting over the gushiness" lol. I had no clue you met Matt this year - in India -began traveling together and fell in love! That is SO romantic! I know you describe it as a rather complicated story - but is it one that you've shared on the blog? If not, I'd love to read it :) for a hopeless romantic like me I find that so amazing...maybe I'll meet that special someone in India too ;)
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the revelation of the BIG NEWS!
@Ayngelina I thought the same thing! Even the first few days of the meditation retreat, I kept thinking too much ad freaking out that I was thinking too much. It's okay. Meditation is about learning to quiet your mind. You should definitely give it a try if you're interested!
ReplyDelete@kay*(from india.with love) Love has a funny way of showing up in your life, doesn't it? I actually haven't written a specific post on the Matt situation because what makes it a complicated story is that it's a really difficult relationship. He just sort of started showing up in my blogs. Maybe I'll write a post on it in the near future if people are interested in hearing about it.
And I'm sure love will find you too! Maybe in India, maybe in Paris, maybe in Antarctica. Who knows? That's part of the fun!
oh what a cliffhanger! but i can't let that overshadow a big congratulations on a great year. and i just read andi's posts about india and saw that you were there together. looked amazing. cheers for a great 2011 and i'll be back to get that big news! :)
ReplyDeleteawesome year!!! so exciting what 2011 will bring for you! my biggest accomplishment this year was earning my M.D.!!
ReplyDeleteAmazing year! I tried to learn meditation this year to, but I just purchased a guided meditation podcast. :-) And I haven't even listened to it all the way through yet. I think my biggest accomplishment this year was gutting the young adult novel I finished the year before in order to make it better. Still working on it...
ReplyDelete@Lorna - the roamantics It was a great treat to meet up with a friend like Andi in such an exotic place like India! Hope you have a great 2011 as well!
ReplyDelete@milania dela cruz, md. I'm SUPER proud of you too! AND you lived in NYC! How awesome was 2010 for you? It's just too bad that we didn't work out the timing so that we were both living in NYC at the same time!
@ramblinbess Now THAT was a big accomplishment! I'm excited to read your young adult novel as soon as you get it published. Autographed copy please! =)
It really has been a whirlwind adventure and I'm so grateful to have met Connie when I did. This year has been amazing and we've experienced everything together.
ReplyDeleteOn the eve of a new year I feel happy to know that the ride isn't over yet, we're still on the road and 2011 is set to be filled with more great experiences to look back on in the future.
I love you babe, let's keep living the dream... And keep the awesome blog going. x
@Matt I love you too honey! Can't wait to see what and where 2011 will bring us!
ReplyDeleteConnie, I feel VERY shy, putting my comment under yours and Matt's little moment there!! :)
ReplyDeleteA very, very happy new year to you both and best wishes (and happy blogging) in 2011. If it's anything like your 2010, it's going to be just great!!
@Julia Thanks Julia! You shouldn't feel SHY, you should feel AWESOME! I appreciate all comments from my readers. Besides, it really wasn't much of a moment between me and Matt. After seeing my response, he said "More like happy new queer!" while making faces at me. So trust me, there's absolutely NO need to feel shy! I hope your new year is even better than your 2010!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great year 2010 was for you!
ReplyDeleteNow c'mon with this news already!!!! :p
@Annie Thanks Annie! I promise the big news will come soon!
ReplyDeleteThanks!! yes I hope to be back in NYC soon!! It is a place where anything is possible! 2010 was def a fantastic year and so excited for 2011!! we will eventually be in NYC at some point! :)
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