Since tomorrow is New Year's Eve, allow me this opportunity to share with you what has been a truly amazing and fascinating year.

I am a firm believer that how you ring in your new year sets a pretty accurate preface for what's to come. I told myself this would be the year of travel and I could not have been more correct.

I began 2008 in a pulsating panic, but it was the good kind that was storing loads of cash in my jeans. I made some serious money behind the bar because come January 2, 2008, Dish Restaurant in Atlanta would be closing its doors permanently. I kept going, making drinks as fast as I could while the band played, people danced and everyone got wasted. When 2008 became official, everyone did their "Happy New Year" tugs and kisses and chugs while I kept pouring the champagne, without a chance to stop and cheers. A few minutes later, however, I grabbed a customer's flute and threw back a full glass of bubbly, only to protrude the longest, most painful belch I think I've ever released.

The money was by far the most I'd ever made in one night, and sadly, some months even. I was also sitting on a severance check and contest money I won for selling a bunch of cookbooks. So here I was, unemployed and temporarily loaded. What did I do? Gave my roommate two months' rent and took off on the road in my Mini Cooper.

My road trip was pretty fantastic. The first day was a full day's drive to Killeen to see my dad and step-mom on the way to California. They were a little shocked and surprised when I showed up at 4:30 am. The next trek got me to Tuscon, where I checked into a hotel room and watched Fast Food Nation on HBO. The sights were so damn sickening that I could barely contain the nausea. That's when I decided to really become a vegetarian, for the sake of challenge and change. It's a pity I decided this right before getting to San Diego, where THE best carne asada burritos are from. It's okay though, I lived there for two years and had plenty of them to savor memories of.

As soon as I arrived at the Kerr residence, Bre and I headed straight for yoga. It felt so good to be back on the west coast, soothing California sunshine, minus heavy gloves and so many friggin' layers. I got to see so many old friends and made several new ones. But the trip was far from over. I still had to venture north.

My first stop was the City of Angels, West Hollywood to be exact. I had a show to attend. This wasn't just any show for me, it was something very personal that needed to be put to bed. I desperately needed closure with someone I cared very deeply for, a man who haunted me all throughout 2007 and before. He was sweet and gentle and unavailable, thus it was time to see him again and bid farewell in my own melodramatically private way.

After Los Angeles, Bre and I flew to Portland, OR, to visit our friend Gabe and rock out for a few days. The first night we stayed at the Jupiter Hotel and slept in. Spent the day roaming around with my friend Katie, while fighting a severely annoying cold. Then, with our rental car, we drove to Corvallis to see Gabe and meet his friends we always heard about when he lived in San Diego. Snow was on the ground and whiskey was everywhere, it was a dream come true. In fact, the next morning when I rose my head, I heard the infamous birds chirping after a great night's sleep. The Jameson had killed the germs and I felt better than good as new. Gabe's band played that night, and my favorite was the methampethamine song, it was just so damn catchy.

Bre and I decided to drive to Seattle from Corvallis next, which was the peak of my journey. We stayed at her brother's apartment. We saw Kristina Speed play at the Skylark Cafe, which was truly awesome because I couldn't stop listening to her tunes on myspace, but had no idea I'd actually see her live. She was such a sweet pea. After, we went to Dante's for drinks and this old man was sitting at the bar. As the group of us were about to have a toast, the man interjected and asked, "What's the word to describe a state where you are overwhelmed and underwhelmed at the same time?" Bre's brother, a journalism major with an excellent vocabulary, calmly replied, "Anomie."

After the west coast I spent the next three weeks at my dad's house. I did a lot of sewing, some cooking, and overall spending some good quality time. We took a small trip down to Houston so I could be fitted for a bridesmaid gown, since my cousin was getting married in May. Then we continued on to Galveston. I had not been there in many years so it was nice to walk on the Strand again.

When I first when on my trip, I was hoping to find the answers I was looking for... primarily my career. I was tired of working in restaurants, as it was all I ever managed to stick with. I had been sitting on a college degree for four years. What next? When I returned to Atlanta I still didn't know. I was complaining about this dilemma to my friend Chris online, that I really wanted a job that travels. I already applied for various flight attendant jobs, as well as re-applied for the Savannah College of Art and Design travel job I so desperately the year before. No luck on either end. It was frustrating but I was refreshed from my trip and not willing to compromise myself this time. Chris recommended I come teach English in China, which was what he was currently doing. At first I thought, No way, but then my mind started to turn as he told me all the perks of the job. Minimal hours, no rent, no bills, and plenty of time to travel around the country and beyond. It sounded more and more perfect. I needed a diploma (check!), passport (check!) and letters of recommendation (later, check!). So I put the wheels in motion and decided China would be my next destination at the end of the summer.

I worked temporarily at a sushi restaurant that was full of Asians, not just Japanese but Chinese and Korean as well. One of the chefs taught me some basic words in Chinese, like please and thank you, hello, goodbye, and fuck your mother. I was all set.

For the summer I moved back in with my mom to save money, since Leigh Anne and my apartment lease was finished at the end of May. I made many trips back to Atlanta to hang out, but spent most of my time at home, eating healthy and not drinking. It was definitely good for my body. I had a great 27th birthday, the beginning of my rock star year.

My friend Chris came back from China and flew to Atlanta so I picked him up. We saw Spiritualized at the Variety Playhouse with my good friend Karissa and her then-boyfriend. In all the years I had known Chris he was always bashing Georgia and the south, so I figured I'd try and show him that not all of it was bad. So we went to Athens to see my friend Kaleb, eat good vegetarian food and go to shopping. I bought a sweet Carole King record and some shades. It was good to see Kaleb again, as I wasn't sure I'd see him again before I left for China. After Athens we went to my mom's house, then drove to St. Simon's where Chris' mom lives. It was a pretty eventful weekend, went to the beach, had oysters and Pacificos, went to (yes) a Brooks and Dunn concert courtesy of his mom's boyfriend. It. was. rad. and I don't even like nu-country shit.

I left Chris in St. Simons and went back to my mom's. Worked pretty hard that week doing freelance then went back to Atlanta. Later, I drove to Valdosta, my college town, for two nights of debauchery. It was fantastic. Made it back to Athens again one last time to see Kaleb, had my farewells with all my friends in Atlanta, then the surrogate family in Warner Robins. Finally, FINALLY got my visa, bought my plane ticket to China, and took off.

If you are a devout reader of this blog, you probably already know that getting here was a very difficult challenge. I missed my flight to Toronto and lost my luggage. When I got to Baoding, after 2 or 3 days (I forget) of a total mindfuck, I was overwhelmed and feeling doubtful of coming. What was I doing in China? Everything was so...dark. I was used to the city skyscrapers, to light. But here, it was cloudy and dark, with red signs glowing in the dusty air that I could not read. I met Kim, Alex and Yusi with mascara down to my chin, not the way I wanted to meet them. But then we went to Chaliba, I had my first shot of Baiju and got to spend the evening in what soon would become my favorite place in China. Coming back from Beijing, I unexpectedly found my luggage at the Baoding train station. That right there was my big moment that I was doing the right thing, that I was supposed to be here and it was going to be rad. Lady effin' madonna.

I became a teacher. I established some great relationships with students and made some awesome friends I intend to keep forever. I met Misha. I spent Thanksgiving and Christmas with all the other orphans. Megan was my secret Santa and I was Slava's.

There were a few downfalls of this year, however. My dad got in a terrible accident and is in a lot of pain. I've felt very helpless that I cannot be there for support. Bre and Pete lost two family members, which was a real heartbreak for both of them. However, they welcomed baby Charlie early this month, so I can't wait to meet her. I also found out my friend Tim died, which really shook me up, since he died the night we were supposed to see the Liars together in Austin. Unexpected stuff that happens to everyone I guess.

All in all, I'm very grateful for my progress this year. Grateful for my family in their support of me being here, for my friends in Atlanta who keep in touch with me, grateful Chris told me about China, grateful for Kim and Alex (among others) who have made the transition so easy. Who knows what's next. I've decided to stay here another semester and teach a full year, but after that, who knows what's next. I might pick another country to teach in, or I might become a student again. We'll see. If I return to America to stay, I better have a decent idea of what I'm going to do. I really don't want to regress, like I never came here in the first place. This experience has been far too rewarding for me shove in my closet like my diploma. We'll just see.

Tonight Chali is taking us out for jiaozi, a Chinese New Year tradition, even though they celebrate it by the lunar calendar. Tomorrow is completely up in the air. Ideally I want to spend it here, with Misha and my friends, low-key but fun. I'm hoping to start 2009 off like last year, not having any answers but feeling confident I'll make the most of it like I did this time around.

Ni hao! Greetings, again, from China. I haven't had much time to internet lately, partially because it didn't work for a week. Plus I'll admit that Misha and I have been inseparable since the night we first hung out.

So yeah, I have a boyfriend. Weird. Good weird, but weird. Can I be girly and gush for a moment? Cool, thanks. He's so sweet! No really, this kid's mom raised him to be a gentleman. It's rad. I'm so used to holding my own, it's nice having a boy who offers to carry my bag for me. I like it when we take the bus together around town. It gets so crowded and bumpy on such trips but I just hold onto him and it becomes better than bearable. Our communication skills get better and better each day, we're always laughing at our little inside jokes.

In Russia, it's a huge no-no to belch. In some places you might be punched or shot. I learned this three days after getting here, when I first met Slava and Dasha and we went out for jiaozi with Kim. That's when Kim and I had the belch duet, and watching Slava squirm in his chair was enough to make anyone choke with laughter. Since Misha has been with me, he'll belch once in awhile and it's funny as hell.

Russian language is interesting to me, it seems very DIY like American English. People make up their own words by juxtaposing other words. Slava was explaining it a bit to me and it made me want to learn it even more. I wish Russia didn't get so cold in the winter because I would surely take an interest in going to study there. I give Misha English lessons and he gives me Russian in return. Already in the past month has his English improved dramatically. Whenever we cannot get our points across he pulls out his electronic translator. Sometimes we have to rely on other Russian friends to help when it otherwise seems impossible.

Another fine point, he'll shop with me. Tomorrow, the company I work for is sponsoring a snow-ski excursion to Beijing. I had to find some ski clothes and he came along, patient as always and honest with his opinions. And he wasn't a constant pessimist either. We spent all day yesterday trying to find a decent coat to no avail, and I grew tired and cranky and pissed off, yet he kept his cool. Sometimes I get short and bitchy, and it's a super plus when the guy can handle it and maybe laugh at me. And today we found what I was looking for so it was all good.

It's getting really cold here. I knew that would be the case, and as it has come to mid-December, I wonder how much colder it will get? I'd say it's been between the 20's and low 30's F these past few days, cold but bearable. Will it drop down to the 10's? The negatives? I can handle it... I can handle it... I think... Once again it's nice having a human jacket.