It seems like I update this blog every few years now. I am pretty sure no one checks this blog anymore so this post is solely for Future Catherine to read through when she's feeling nostalgic and sentimental (like right now).
So what happened during the past two years? A LOT has happened, but let's start from where I left off from my last blog post.
2018
I ended my 5-year relationship two months after my last post. It was so abusive and so toxic. I really don't want to talk much about it, but it took a lot of therapy for me to unlearn my toxic traits and repair the damage I have gone through during the past five years.After graduating, I have taken up the hobby of pole dancing. It's something I've wanted to try for so long, but I knew my ex would never approve. I fell in love with this art after my first class. Pole dancing is so fun and so empowering! I recommend everyone, regardless of their gender, to take at least one class. I still continue to pole dance and I share my progress here. I have met so many wonderful people whom I now call my pole sisters and I have performed in shows. Pole dance really has changed my life.
Also between you and me, I ordered a pole recently (finally!) and I just received an email that it shipped! IM SO EXCITED!!
Other than pole dance, I learned Carribean dance. I've always loved listening to dancehall and soca, but I never knew how to dance even though I feel the music in my bones. So basically, I can't stop dancing now.
2019
Only three major things occurred last year:
1) I have a new partner whom I love with all my heart. This is the first relationship I've ever had that is normal and healthy. We don't argue, the most we have are heated conversations that we always resolve before the day ends. I am so grateful for his patience and understanding whenever my toxicity acts up again.
2) I took on two jobs. Unfortunately, dance classes are extremely expensive in NYC. At that time, I was also working in two different psychology labs (unpaid), so I was actually taking on four jobs. I was tired, but I always had time for dance. I would usually take classes in the evening after work or during my one day off. It was worth it.
3) I started graduate school! I am in a Cognitive Neuroscience program. I was initially super excited but turns out it was hard as hell. I cried within the second week of grad school because I failed the first quiz. I ultimately dropped that class and am retaking it again this year (2020). I actually started seeing a therapist about graduate school because that class scarred me so much.
2020
This is probably one of the worst years of my life, as well as pretty much everyone on this planet. So much shit has happened, that it feels like a fever dream. I'm just going to list out the shit that has occurred so far by month, because it feels like every month is some new shit happening and everyone is just bracing for what's about to come next.
January:
- Literally within the first few days of the year, we have the threat of WW3.
- Kobe Bryant died
- Australia is still on fire
- A respiratory disease called COVID-19 was discovered in China, which became a pandemic that's still going on today.
February:
- COVID started spreading through other countries. I don't really remember what else happened during this month except that people were very racist towards East Asians (including me) because they think we were the cause of COVID.
Like seriously what the fuck do I gotta do with this? Anyway, it was the first time I experienced racism directly in years, so yeah experiencing it stung a bit.
Anti-asian racism and hate crime against Asians quickly increased throughout the next couple of months.
March:
- COVID arrived to NYC. The city pretty much shut down. It was a very stressful time for everyone. Schools became remote. Dance studios shut down, as did restaurants, markets, salons, etc. I temporarily lost my job. My family (and many other people) were very paranoid because we never had a global pandemic since 1918.
My relationship became long-distance because we have to social distance now. It actually made our relationship stronger, and I've learned to be even happier spending time by myself.
April:
- I spent my birthday at home. All the bakeries were closed so my mom decided to bake a cake which did not taste that great tbh :(
- I learned to knit
- I think Kim Jong Un faked his death or something, I'm not sure if it happened in April. Everything is like a blur.
- Also, I think murder hornets was this month??
May:
- Finished my first year of graduate school. My grades were average, but at least I passed...
- Protests and riots in response to racial injustice. NYC was placed on curfew for the first time in a very very long time. Protests are still going on today. Black Lives Matter!
June:
- Protests continue throughout this month (and still does today). I wanted to protest but I couldn't out of fear of the pandemic. I took my activism online, sent emails, made calls, and spread awareness. I made a linktree full of resources for the movement: https://linktr.ee/asians4blacklives
- My house went under renovations! It took about two months. The basement was completely redone and my brother moved there so he would have a bigger space. We also got new floorboards in the first floor of our house.
- Also, finally saw my partner again!
July:
- I got my job back! I now tutor remotely with 6th and 9th graders.
- Something about the Bubonic Plague coming back.
- It's also not safe to be in Hong Kong now. The government passed this bill where if you say anything remotely against China, you will be prosecuted. I regret not coming to HK last year. I was about to but I changed my mind last minute because I just started working two jobs and was in the process of applying to grad school.
August:
- The city is slowly opening up again. I got to see my friends!
- A lot of hurricanes. We had like two in NYC so far.
- Beirut explosion
- Chadwick Boseman passed away a few days ago. His death was one of the first celebrity deaths that I felt strongly about. It was very unexpected because no one knew he had cancer. He made an impact on so many people.
- Second year of grad school started, all my classes are remote (thank god because two of my classes are at 9am). I am retaking the class I dropped last year, and I am just as lost as I was the first time I took this class.
ANyWAYs,
That's what happened so far this year. There was also this part where the government released papers confirming the existence of UFOs and that we are part of a simulation. However, everyone else was so preoccupied with everything going on in the world that no one really cared (except Twitter?). I don't remember when that happened, all the previous months have felt like a blur. March felt like ages ago albeit it has been six months since NYC has dealt with this pandemic.
So... yeah. It's 1:31am right now so excuse any grammar mistakes. I am tired and also hungry so imma eat something and then sleep.
Good night! I will update this blog again in a few years (hopefully).
PS: If you're not Future Catherine and you have read through the entire thing, thank you for reading! My instagram is @clitosaurushex. I update my life there now :^)
