2008: review - 2009: prospects

I'm back in Oxford after the Christmas break. I have spent about 10 days in Vitoria which I have enjoyed a lot. To be honest, I wasn't very keen to go back home as the last weeks before the break were pretty hard and I ran out of energy and good spirit. I just wanted to relax alone at home in Oxford. But once in Vitoria I could rest for a couple of days and after that I charged the batteries to meet family and friends and have great moments. Once back in my adopted home-town, I have found it very cold and still a bit lonely as some of the people I know are stretching their holidays. I'm having my cousin's visit these days. We have been to London along with some friends from the company. It is being good fun. But this first entry of the year aims to be a brief view of what 2008 was and what I can expect from 2009. I'm not very used to these things since for me the years usually finish at the end of June and start in September as if I was still studying and playing basketball (that chip in my head is hard to change). Due to the longish periods I spend at home in Christmas, this actually represents a bigger break than anything I may do in summer.

Well, I think I can say that 2008 was a great year for me specially since March. Have a look at the archives of the blog: learning about GNU/Linux, teaching Spanish, settling in the company, move in a new place, working in interesting projects, getting used to the country, the language... Visits to Peterborough, Cambridge, trips here and there around Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds, Salisbury and Stonehenge, Wales, Yorkshire, the Winckelmann Cup, Peak District... Then concerts of Epica, Linkin Park, Flogging Molly, Skindred... And all this in very good company, enjoying nights out, parties, meeting people and making good friends. I have had some worse moments but the good ones won by far.

Now 2009 comes up full of uncertainty. Everything should keep being the same. I have intentions of studying an MA in York from September or October. I haven't sent my application yet but this is something I shall do in the next few weeks. I will have to move to York if I finally do it of course. I liked it when I was there last May and I already know people who have lived there and have studied the same MA and they all recommend me to go. So the plan is to live in Oxford until the end of August and then move there in September. I have heard that, once they accept your application in the university, you can keep it for one year and do the MA the next academic year. That wouldn't be a bad option to get more experience, save more money and improve my English even more. This is the perfect ideal pink plan...

But at the end of this month I may be redundant as the company needs to get rid of some people due to the crisis. It wouldn't be a big lose as I'm happy with the job but (let's face it) it's not great. I feel more and more comfortable in the department and the company (especially thanks to the people, the human touch) but it's not the job of my life. Besides, I think that Oxford gives all it can give after 2 years and there isn't much more to scrape deeper. If I'm redundant I'll probably go to York directly and find any job there. However, I may consider to stay in Oxford for another year if I keep the job and I am accepted in York University.

Anyway, the future comes across as something very uncertain for me at the moment. I can not make any plan as there are too many things out of my control that can change and knock down any even short-term project I could have. None of them are a problem though. As a friend told me once: problems are opportunities to improve and show ourselves how good we are. I haven't found my limits yet. Let's keep testing if the chance pushes me to it.