A look back at 2006

I was initially thinking of sitting down and writing about this look back in history at my little quiet Delifrance restaurant in the city but I realise I'd be without a computer. So I just have to do it now, and thank goodness I'm all alone at home.

Let's see, what exactly happened this year where I turned 25? Ah, I started this blog from the first day I returned to PGP for my final semester in NUS with the intention to capture every little essence of my undergraduate career. I remembered fondly the very affordable PGP gym membership - S$10 a month! Oh I got a new phone as well, the K750i which was actually a phone I sorta wished I had when I was still holding on to the Panasonic X70. That was a major event I think, as it banished the barrier of not having a handy camera around when all I want is to grab a picture for memory. Now looking at my room it sounds so awww, with the bits and pieces of Australia stuff like the surfing posters. Then since school is obviously the mainstay of my life then, I think I was pretty hesitant and full of worry of whether I can pull of HYP, Japanese and every other module and graduate with USP certification. Sigh!

Opps! I still haven't gotten a replacement copy of my transcript from UQ. Hope it's not really required!

Ah, then there was also Chinese New Year. Nothing spectacular really! Oh then there's also meeting YH again in IP class. Then there's also very, very nice RY, and speaking of which I've received your card from Cambodia, THANKS! It is indeed my excellent fortunte to have met such an inspiring and confident youngster. I really missed those days in PGP (i.e. the parts without the parents and living independently) and definitely not the schoolwork.

So that was Jan. Then in Feb, ah that was when I started giving tuition in the English language to HB, MJ, SH, Mika and finally J. I really enjoyed the cultural exchanges, though I had a couple of brush-ins with their parents particularly. Oh well! Ah, then there was the tussle with parents about JET which would last the next few months as well... Actually I will still love to stay in Japan for a prolonged period and JET will be the choice if nothing else crops up in the near future! That was my very first job interview by the way... I remembered I applied for Bloomberg and never heard from them. Oh well!

Then March... it was blank, maybe I was too busy or something? And April.. I was accepted for JET! That really felt like a blessing from the skies! Then oh there was that awful interview with MOE and subsequently the rejection (for Primary school teaching). However I could not convince my parents...

In May everything almost came to an end so I spent a few late nights exploring the "University Town" Clementi. Like watching King Kong at the Empress cinema (euke). Then oh! SG and I taught some incoming PRC scholars programming which paid pretty well. Quite fun as well, though not really fantastic. Then.. about my results, what's done is done! Then there was hanging out with the group of TJC/SoC friends which we still do pretty regularly and is a good thing. Oh, then there were the attempts at finding a job, oh well. Then my results came out! I'm a penniless graduate trapped in debt!

Ah, then in June I went to HK with SG and after that fun and escape, it was back to reality as a jobless graduate. There was the struggle with IT (and still persists till today) Oh there's also the little blurb on goals as well.. Then there were the few attempts at earning some cash meanwhile, such as through primary and secondary school relief teaching. Quite fond memories there.

July... a few scammy interviews, still trying to get myself into IT, feeling a little desperate.. GRADUATED! Then in August there was EMC... a small and really employee-oriented company. Then there's the RP interview.

Then September was the start of my professional career as Communications executive. A lot of adjustment, a lot of uncertainty, a lot of doubt. Thankful for the opportunity but questioning the self. Then MDL and I opened up more and more especially in October when we had a few fun times together like mooncakes. Then there was lunch with YK... hmm, I think I initiated first and it paid off! He's great company and really helped to tighten my purse strings. Then there was also the little steps to claim independence from parents when the paychecks came..

Then there was the reacquaintance with TWTMC.. a really wonderful bunch of regulars and it is indeed heartwarming when they received me with open arms like a long lost friend! Then in November, I had to make the decision and I resigned. So fast. There was also the Roundtable too.

Then this month there was the countdown, some awkward words exchanged on my exit interview (frank words I think) and then the KL trip.

Special thanks to HY, YJ, SR for leaving their marks on my blog as well. I really appreciate your kind words. I really thank EMC as well especially AGL and MDL for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime.

PGP
Koreans
JET

So what's in it for next year? Dunno leh, I feel a little OOBE now actually, not really focusing. I think the draft resolutions work! :) They shall be the new set. Hope I stick to them and all the best!

National Museum of Singapore with CS

Last day in EMC

Last days in EMC

Uncle LTH wasn't around at work the day before yesterday and being quite idyllic, I took over his seat and made sure his team did actual work. They were all pretty demoralized and exhibiting withdrawal symptoms due to the lack of internet access thanks to the earthquakes in Taiwan.

JM, SR and YK pretending to do real work when they are actually reeling from the shock of internet-less computers.

JM going crazy.

That's of course SR and she's pretending again to be busy...

This is what SR sees whenever she turns her head up after processing some paperwork. Small wonder why she chose YK to be her new colleague eh?

Oh gosh! She spotted my camera! Does she look like her husky or what?

Urgh, the white pig I gave her as a Christmas cum farewell present.

Green plants near her desk.

A very nationalistic JM!

YK catching me and SR at an awkward (i.e. siao) moment.

A feeble shot of the lobby at Republic Plaza.

Hehehe...

And finally I TOOK A PICTURE WITH MY BOSS! Just me and her! Oh boy will I miss ya!

Our KL trip

HY and I boarded the coach at 1030am on a lovely Saturday morning. It was pretty sunny and kinda fun! We had 2 seats right at the back of the bus.


The bus ride was long and arduous. Finally we reached Yong Peng and we had lunch, though we were pretty full from eating the bread and snacks that we brought.


Then finally we reached Puduraya! It's really the hub of travelling between states in the Malay peninsular and prices for coaches back to Singapore are in RM and exactly the same number, so it's around half the price to travel back to Singapore based on the conversion. Great deal huh? Muddy and dusty place though, cancerous!


Then we went around hunting for hostels and most of them were full (opps). Here's a Holland Village lookalike which we decided to check out again later after we found a place to bunk for the next 2 days.

We were almost at our wits end when we finally found a double room. It has aircon, a hole in my bed and a common bathroom with tons other backpackers.


We went back to the Holland Village looking place and decided to have Japanese food. An excellent choice! The food was good and the cocktails, fantastic. We were tipsy after just 2 rounds!



This is a view of the street from our room the next morning. Euke so sleazy!


We thought we'd go to Times Square to shop and then head to the Petronas towers before going to Petaling Street/Chinatown for more shopping. With the irresistable price of the amusement park, we just had to play!




HY and her evil flowers.


HY looking for a forlorn lost lover. Any takers?


Yumma yamme!



HY hasn't heard of Baskin Robbins before so we ended up having that for lunch. I miss Bens & Jerrys!

It was into the afternoon when we finally left Times Square so we thought we'd head straight to The Shopping at Petaling Street and give the Petronas a miss. ;) A great decision! We bought lotsa stuff!


Guess who had to carry all that stuff back?


We found the long-lost A&W that has disappeared from the face of Singapore since donkey years ago!


Then I spotted The Nandos Outlet in KL (I had 'em in Australia!) and just had to drag HY there. Sadly the chicken was served cold though, sadly...


To our room...


And home!


A fun time? You bet!