New Year has just begun. Every year about this time, I get excited thinking and planning for the New Year. It feels as if full of hopes and fantasies are floating in the air. Where will my life boat go this year? There will be fresh breeze that helps me to get where I wanted to head for, but also wild storms, too. Storms would be unwelcomed probably, however, I can’t wait to confront them! It always makes my journey of life more exciting than planned plain routine. Although some of them might be really tough, I believe that it’s tough things what make me stronger. Let me show you one of my favorite quotations by Stephenie Meyer, Twilight.

  “I like the night. Without the dark, we would never see the stars.”

     Looking back, so many things happened in 2009. At the very beginning, I quit working at the Yoo Chang Hyuk Baduk Academy, and studied Baduk more seriously for a while. Then I have played the best of three final of Female Kuksu Cup, the biggest female tournament in Korea, against Rui Naiwei 9P. Although I lost by 2 to 0, it was certainly an experience of life time.

    After the final, I moved into my parents’ place in 12 years. Because I left home when I was 9, it was a little awkward at first. Yet, that awkwardness disappeared soon. Living home with family is definitely comfortable and stable. In spring time, I took violin lessons, squash lessons and did a diet. Being on a diet was quite painful, but after the 2 and a half months' long diet, I could lose about 5kg.

    Then I spent summer in the USA. It was happy, happy summer. I met many nice people, went to amazing places and tasted great foods there. Coming back, I took TOEFL test, which wasn’t so successful. Anyway, LASEK eye surgery was followed, and I went to Kent School, Connecticut for a week. Then I retook TOEFL and got 100 points out of 120. Last, I passed driving test in December. Moreover, I have read 33 books and gone to the movies 15 times for a year.

    In 2010, I want to go to a university. I am not sure if I will get accepted though. It seems the result depends on Interview, which will be done in mid-January. Although I may be a little older than other applicants, I hope the interviewers find me distinguishable from others.

    Once I become a college student, I want to study hard and get along with the schoolmates at the same time. In summer, I’d like to go to European Go Congress in Finland if it’s possible, and visit other European countries as well. Oh, I need to visit Kent School, Mexico and Australia sometime, too.

    In addition, I’d like to keep teaching in Korean-style Insei Program on KGS, and establish a Go Club in the university I belong to. Then I will promote the game to the schoolmates and faculties. Wait, it doesn’t mean that I give up professional matches. Though it won’t be easy to make good results as before, I will always do my best as a professional player.

   Oh, it will be the whole different life!

   Happy New Year to you all!!