16 Moments, Experiences, and Books of 2016

I wanted to change things up, this year, as 2016 comes to a close. Instead of launching into a long post detailing the best of my reading log this year, I want to simply reflect on sixteen of the biggest moments, most life-changing experiences, and most pleasurable books I picked up this year. I've had a year unlike any other--full of travel and challenges, equally--so I feel like this is the best way to share my year with you all. 

Note: This list is in chronological order (January - December).

1. Ringing in 2016 in India! I usually spend the New Year with my small family of four in New Jersey but this year, I got to celebrate with my grandparents and grand-uncles and grand-aunts and aunts and uncles and cousins and...it was just so special. This is the first time I've ever gotten to ring in the new year with so much of my family present and it's a moment I will always remember. 

2. Presenting at JMM in Seattle! I presented my math research from the previous summer in Seattle, earlier this year, and I loved being part of a huge group of math majors and enthusiasts, even if it was just for three days! 

3. California with the Wellesley College Choir! My choir tours every year and this year, as we stayed with Wellesley alums and road-tripped from San Francisco to Los Angeles, was so very incredible. I love and miss the choir with all my heart but our time together in California was some of the very best. Even though my Spring 2016 semester was incredibly tough (as you may remember), the choir kept me grounded and sane so I am so grateful for the close-knit bonds and unbreakable friendships forged on this tour together.

4. My favorite FANTASY novels of the year! Obviously, A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab (by far the best book I read this year) which is closely followed by Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo and The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon.

5. Spring semester at Wellesley! This was my hardest semester, ever, for so many reasons--study abroad applications, juggling multiple jobs and classes and leadership positions, friendships--so while I have so many stressful memories from this semester, I also want to remember the best parts. Marathon Monday. Pub Night. Choir. Graduation. During the tough moments, the bright spots always shine a little brighter and somehow, this semester wound up being special and utterly remarkable all the same.

6. Spending the summer with my grandparents in India. I will always regret how little time I have to spend with my grandparents, so to be their sole focus and company all summer was such a gift. It wasn't a summer of much activity or excitement, but there was so much love and affection and I miss the peace of it all. 

7. PARIS! I've been wanting to visit Paris for years--years!--and the opportunity to spend ten days in this amazing city as I began my study abroad experience was simply unbelievable. Paris was everything I wanted it to be and more and I cannot wait to go back, again and again and again. 

8. My favorite ADULT reads of 2016! Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates is a gem. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi is incredibly moving and Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng is a book I couldn't stop recommending or thinking about, far after I'd finished it.

9. Living in Aix-en-Provence for four months with my incredible host family! As you all know, there were plenty of ups and downs to my time in Aix, from micro-aggressions to feeling homesick to simply needing to be in a larger city. But, I made life-long friends in my program, not to mention with my host family, and I will always be grateful that I had a chance to travel as much as I did and live in a relaxed, truly wonderful part of the world. 

10. Traveling Italy with my mom! I was so lucky to be able to have this wonderful experience with my mom, who is one of my best friends in the world. We had such an incredible trip and I can't wait to travel with her again, hopefully soon!

11. Falling in love with Athens, London, and Barcelona--far more than I expected. I didn't think I'd love these three cities as much as I did, but, gosh, I just want to go back!

12. Meeting Jasprit in London! Jasprit is one of my earliest blogging friends and we started our blogs at the same time, reading and discussing books together and even sending packages across the ocean to one another. It was so lovely to finally meet her in person and spend a wonderful day with her! She's the first blogger I've met, but hopefully definitely not the last! :)

13. The best CONTEMPORARY fiction of 2016! Of course, Morgan Matson's The Unexpected Everything, Kirsty Eagar's Summer Skin, and Act Like It by Lucy Parker.

14. Taking my first solo-trip to Amsterdam! I love the city of Amsterdam and I love even more that I was able to do this trip entirely alone, conquering any fears I might have had about being incompetent without the company of my friends or not being able to eat a meal alone. It was such a wonderful trip and I cannot wait to take my next solo-adventure!

15. Adventures in Morocco! During my five days in Morocco, I took an overnight train to Tangier, knowing that there was no overnight train back to Marrakech where my hostel was located (and the return trip of my flight based in), and then found my way to the beautiful town of Chefchaouen, all while taking a long, winding path back to Marrakech through Fez. I saw so much more of Morocco than I planned and I loved every bit of this beautiful country. I have to go back--after all, I didn't get to visit the Sahara yet!

16. Other ROMANCES I loved? The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski and The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron--both so much more than mere romances but featuring some of my favorite couples of all time. 

What were some of your best moments, experiences, and books of 2016? Are there must-read titles that I didn't get to, this year, and that I absolutely need to bump up my TBR for 2017? Please let me know in the comments below as I'm always on the lookout for recommendations and if you're interested in my full list of 2016 favorites, a.k.a. books, you can check it out HERE. A very Happy New Year to everyone! :)