Goal #23: Go to at least 10 other countries

I love to travel.  Since my first trip outside of the country to Poland, I've caught the travel bug and all I want to do is visit as many countries as possible!  I love learning about other cultures (to the point that I wish I had chosen Anthropology as my major) and want to experience as many as I can!  

1. Poland
2. Japan

Note: I will post journal blogs with each country I visit!

Goal #4: Go to Japan (Complete)

I went to Japan!  I am so excited!  Even though I graduated, I got to go with the Japan travel class at my school for ten days.  I had asked the professor about it last semester and he said that even though I wouldn't be doing the actual class, I could still go with them!  Japan was amazing.  Absolutely beautiful.  I went with seven other students and two teachers and their wives.  We traveled to Kyoto, Hiroshima, Kurashiki, and Tokyo.  We visited lots of different shrines and temples, a few castles, and BOTH Imperial Palaces, in Kyoto and Tokyo.  It's hard to pick my favorite parts.  I'm posting a separate blog that follows the journal that I kept on the trip!

http://2japanjournal.blogspot.com/

Goal #55: Take Yoga Classes (Complete)

As mentioned in my last post, I had to take two gym classes in order to graduate from college.  My school offered a yoga class, which fulfilled another goal!  I actually liked yoga.  My mom had told me for years that I should try it in an attempt to relax myself, so it was a good idea for that reason, too.  I have to admit, though, I didn't find it very relaxing.  Some of those moves are pretty straining!  I guess it was relaxing when you were all done and were doing the last poses, like "Child's Pose" or "Corpse Pose" (disturbing, huh?), but the rest of it could be pretty difficult.  It was interesting, though, and if given the opportunity, I guess I would do it again.  But I don't see myself becoming one of those yoga people, doing it every day, seeking out calming beaches and mountains where I can contort myself into strange positions and seek tranquility.  I'll leave that to the people who are graceful, I just look silly trying to do that stuff haha!

Goal #29: Learn Self Defense (Complete)

When I was in college, I was required to take two gym classes.  Knowing that this was one of my goals, I decided that I should take a women's self defense class.  My friend Bee and a couple other girls I knew were in the class as well, so I figured it was a good time to try it.  The class was okay.  We learned a lot of moves in a short period time.  I have to admit, I didn't retain much.  Even after each class, Bee and I sometimes struggled to remember what we learned.  It was an interesting gym class, though, and I did learn some interesting things.  It was also fun flipping the instructors over!  Even if I don't really remember any moves now, I'm sure they'll come flooding back to me if I'm ever attacked (God forbid).  Watch out villians, I'm going to kick your butt!!!

Goal #47: Learn to play an instrument

The past couple of weeks, I've been trying to learn how to play piano.  When I was little, maybe around 6, I had been taking lessons but I wasn't enjoying them.  I tried again in high school for a short period of time, but I was learning from the same teacher who was giving me voice lessons, and the voice lessons were more important to me.  So here I am, trying again.  I found a book from the library and I'm basically trying to teach myself.  It's going okay, but I have to admit, I'm getting stuck and slightly frustrated.  I also haven't played in a few days, but I gotta stick with it.  I don't want to lose the progress that I've made so far!

Goal #47: Meet Somebody Famous (Complete)

Wow, I thought this one was going to take awhile, but I finally met somebody famous!  Granted, he isn't as  famous anymore, but he was on Nickelodeon for years!  Drake Bell.  Best known for being on "The Amanda Show" and "Drake & Josh."  Not only is he an actor, he is also a musician.  Earlier in February, I was on the website of a music hall that's a few towns over from me, and I found out he was going to be playing there!  It's funny because that was the first time I had been on the website, and as far as I know, they don't normally have names like his playing there.  So I told my friend Sam and we decided to go.  The show was great!  I loved the two opening acts, and Drake Bell was a lot of fun to listen to.  After the show, Sam and I got his autograph on our ticket stubs and we got a picture with him!

Goal #8: Get my BA in Broadcast Communications

My diploma came in the mail about 2 weeks ago!  I can't believe I finally got it!

Goal #39: Donate My Hair (Complete)

Also in August 2011, I finally donated my hair, completing goal #39.  My hairdresser usually objects when I tell her that I want to cut my hair short (because she says my hair's too pretty!), but I guess this time it was okay because I was donating it!  I donated it to Locks of Love.  It's strange to think that somebody is probably wearing my hair right now, but it's nice to know I was able to help someone who needed it.  Plus, I loved my haircut!

BEFORE

AFTER

Goal #17: Get a Tattoo (Complete)

On August 30, 2011, I got my first tattoo!  My friend Kaitlyn went with me to Nightmare Tattoo in Westfield, MA to get it done.  She decided to come so she could watch me and see how much pain I was in, to decide whether she really wanted to get one in the future or not, haha!  It really wasn't bad.  I guess the best way to describe it is its like getting a deep scratch on a sunburn.  The tattoo artist was really cool, he joked around with us a lot.  I had decided to get cherry blossoms on my right leg, with the kanji for "beauty."  I am very pleased with how it came out!  I would like to get another one in the future, but it won't be for awhile.