27 Things

9x3. 3^3.

Jeez. Getting old, still not close to 30 yet!

27 Things to be Grateful for over this past year:

1) Getting to work in another country for a bit
2) Increasing responsibilities at work
3) Meeting new colleagues and making new friends
4) Breakthrough in Tango Expression
5) Discovering Yoga
6) Being able to do a headstand
7) Travelling to new places (Istanbul, Brisbane)
8) Bettering Tango DJ-ing skills
9) Meeting surprising friends
10) A ton of sweet weddings
11) Performing in Esplanade
12) New sports - Kickboxing
13) New Tango Shoes
14) Frolicks past midnight in the Ocean
15) Letting go
16) Clear skies post haze
17) Saying temporary good byes to key life people
18) Mad Men Finale, and a host of other good shows!
19) Paris/Italy end of year trip
20) Participating in my 1st Rally
21) Diving trips and relaxing island bumming (with rain)
22) Good Concerts
23) Functioning Family
24) Health
25) No worries over where the next meal will come from
26) Potential House Shopping
27) Good Friends

Wow. It really has been a worldwind year! More to come!

Musings

One thing that starting a job and moving past the eduction system has taught me is that, beyond the boundaries of school-primary, secondary and Uni- there exists a world that doesn't care what grade you got, doesn't care what you've done up to that point in time, doesn't care of your past achievement, but cares about what you are going to do. Right now.

Grades stand as markers of achievement, as a signalling effect that you can achieve high standards and you will be held accountable to that. Every job creates a new slate-albeit with expectations from higher ups-but above all, the challenge should be to yourself and no one else. Set your own goals and tick the list one by one.

Somehow it's November already. Where has this year gone? The variety of subjects that I've covered this year has been rather astounding, as is the ease at which I forget information nowadays, because sometimes you just cannot, cannot, cannot care too deeply about everything w/o killing yourself in the process.

The depth of musing that occurred over the last stretch of senior year has been replaced by rather mundane worries-a daily trudge of sort that is alleviated by catching up with colleagues, the people who determine how smoothly your forehead will look, or how etched with stress it is going to be.

But thankfully it's been a blast-support support!

Also good bday with friends around, grown exponentially from last years birthday for sure-thankful to have everyone in the same spot for awhile at least. Transitions, all the time.

Also an ability to make friends quickly, to project your best face forward that is not hampered by teenage drama and gossip. It doesn't really change, no, you still get your stereotypes in the real world, but at least this time you're not trapped in the ecosystem of school for years on end.

I'm kinda liking this grown up messiness =).

You know its funny when you're anywhere on campus and all you see are people on facebook, in the library, in lecture, on their mobile...

What was life like before eh? We've really turned into such a voyeurist culture.

Dinner with the girlies+Salsa night? Sounds like a perfect recipe to me.

Weekend

Penultimate weekend to the end of my internship! I think I'm actually going to miss working...well, some aspect of it...

It's starting to become more dire as I ponder my future. Between me, Cristabel and Lilian we're going to be majorly stressed next year as we start to compile lists of jobs that are open, presentations to go to, networking stuff happening. At least Lulu is a US citizen, me and Cris aren't! I mean working back home does have its pros, but for sure it has its cons as well.

And can I really stand facing the million and one application forms? Questions like "Why do you want to work for xyz company? What are your strengths, what experience do you have?" CHRIST I effing dnt know!? Your company just appears in the media alot and you're like 200 yrs established and you pay well. DUH. But no, of course not, you put on that big plastered smile and think up some complete lie like "ohhhhh, because I am so fascinated with xyz industry and I've done xyz in school."

The weakness part always trips me up, I have a feeling that that's gna be my complete downfall. But in all honesty a weakness of mine is definitely being quite stubborn and adament in my opinions. I also don't take criticism well, or lying down. Which is definitely going to cost me a lot in the future. I'm sorry but I can't be the model robot employee....

I think its such a struggle to go from something that defines your self worth, within your control i.e. your studies/grades/extracurriculars, and having in a sense to sell yourself off in order to fit in with a company's profile or 'type'. I really wonder why I chose such a generic subject such as econs again. But I guess that's what trying to grow up is like isn't it? Learning how to sacrifice.

If I were a kid I could throw a tantrum and no one would care. If I threw a tantrum now everyone would immediately stare at me and go "act your age".

Anyway, busy weekend up ahead, tennis 2moz in the morning then Tsai Chin's concert at night, woohoo! Then dno what wedding dinner on Sunday night then next weekend Lulu's in town!!! yayyy

Spent yesterday going to the dermatologist when I decided I couldn't handle what was happening with my skin anymore. Watched Pelham 123 with Miko and Hema. Great movie that. Travolta ain't a bad actor but his voice still isn't that commanding esp. when he starts yelling, it kinda goes up a couple of tones. very ungangsterlike. Denzel Washington seems to have put on a few pounds...HAH, thought the guy who was the head of the team seemed familiar, he was in Transformers as the ex CIA guy...

Celebrated Hema's bday early at Nerovivo. Was a bit of a disappointment, either that or dnt let the friends order food =S. But Neroteca still is prob. the best one of the lot.

Headed to Lecka Lecka outside starhill after, yeah so much for gelato? Has somehow turned into a bar-restaurant-shisha place for Arab tourists? But shisha was good, paid 3x more than Hartamas Square. SHEESH. So much for location =S. Might bring Lulu there when she's down.

Got home around 11:30pm and went to work today. Tiredness.

Getting a bit annoyed at people who obviously get my message but don't bother replying. Well thanks. Just leave my invite on the table waiting for another (better) option to come along b4 replying. Or how bout this. Just don't reply at all. This is the last time I'm gna send out invites.

MZ Birthday

Omfg, you'd think by the age of 20 my stupid face would have begun its miraculous spring cleaning of its acne, but NO of course not.

I think I'm reacting badly to something...might be the salicylic facewash found in my cupboard...or Mei's handmade bathbombs, I'm not too sure. But what I'm definitely sure about is that I'm BREAKING OUT. hate acne hate acne hate acne

Onto happier things. Penang this weekend was a blast, headed off from work to Sentral then to my flight and was in Penang by 9:30pm where I was picked up by the gang. Went back to Mei's where I had some toast, attempted to practice you and I with Colin and Mei and failed spectacularly with me having no clue how to play the rhythm or chords, then headed off to E&O to start the deco around 11pm.

Not too much help I was, after awhile me, Hema and Colin were basically sitting around staring into space while Mei and Miko wrestled with the fake vines that were gna be placed in the bathtub. I was deliriously laughing after awhile coz I was so tired from waking up early the whole week and we were raining petals attempting to artfully strew them on the sheer gauze dangling from the century old lamps. Which by the way looked like they were going to fall very soon....The lamps, not the petals

We were done by 1am and Zoe joined us at Gurney hotel where we proceeded to lug all the foodstuff and snacks into room 2802. Took a shower and promptly fell asleep with Zoe on the floor (as she always seems to be).

Woke up at 10am with Mei knocking on the door asking whether we wanted to follow her to help set up, but yeah, I think we were all a bit out of it, so she and Miko headed there while I proceeded to book the spa day for me and Hema. Zoe went off to get bus tickets while the Americans (at least those in U's there) headed to Gurney Plaza to pick up presents for MZ parents. After much arguing and stressing, decided on foodstuff from Crabtree&Evelyn with their English teas/cookies/desserts.

Didn't want to pay 10 ringgit for a 3 min ride down the road(freaking taxis ripping us off majorly), so decided to walk back which took all of 20 mins or so. Went to the spa and after being told the lulur would turn us yellow, decided on something else instead. Massage was amazing, the cracking at the start was my spine realigning and felt slightly molested by the masseuse seeing how we were totally stripped....barring underwear....damn, awkward. Good thing she was a woman....

Scrub was nice and heating, took a shower after and decided that the skin felt much better. Ginger tea after was yum too, finished Hema's as well since she didnt like it. After that headed back up where Hema was due to be picked up for the hair apptment. Zoe and me headed to the pool for a bit after then back down to shower and get ready. Reminded me of prom so much.

The other two "americans" came back after and after much hassle we were off! Got barred from entering the arctic party area by MZ who looked sooo pretty =), went outside and camwhored alot more.

Then the party started, was nice meeting Mei's other friends from Penang days and some from London, the deco was beautifully done, and knowing Mei's penchant for control, everything was perfect. Good food, yummy champagne and even yummier desserts! Sugar overdose majorly that night!

Was a good night of eating, joking, reminiscing, posing, more eating, eating somemore, stealing candies...performances by Mei, Faiz & Colin, I chickened out of playing the piano seeing how I left the score in the hotel but I took pics with Uncles' gargantuous SLR which was SO much fun to shoot with! I WANT AN SLR!

Party wrapped up at 1am with the teens still around helping to clear the million and one balloons, and us having fun with the helium. E&O rooms are really really nice. Headed back to Gurney at around 1:30 am, changed, attempted to finish off her scrapbook and fell asleep exhausted. Miko was mad and didn't take a shower and fell asleep in the living room area. Her and her paranoia about being clean b4 hopping into bed!

Woke up at 11am on Sunday. Sunday revolved around eating. I'm not kidding. Woke up snacked on the crap we had bought, packed up, went for lunch at the Penang Chinese Association lunch thingy with home cooked food which was amazingly good. Endured bouts of loud singing by the oldies accompanied by the requisite clanging keyboard with backing beat, while trying to navigate the small square table loaded with food and 8 people surrounding it. My mum's cousin is apparently a trustee of the thing as her name on the plaque on the wall shows. Haha, man we're big in Penang =)

Headed back to Mei's where we sat in the kitchen snacking on more snacks. Headed to the market opposite E&O coz it's apparently heritage weekend. Bought candles and earrings from the bazaar with some kickass soyabean milk. Sat in the sauna that was Mei's van attempting not to stick to each other or the seats. Dropped zoe off at the bus station, then decided to go up Penang Hill coz it was SO HOT.

Our driver up Penang Hill also turned into our waiter in the restaurant on the top =S. Hema was very confused at first, but then we ended up laughing over it. Breeze was nice up there, tea was good at higher altitudes and the crepe was decent, small but ok you're not really paying for the food, you're paying for the nice high view n english garden feel....

Headed back down on the bumpy 15 min rollarcoaster ride downhill, dno how ppl walk up it! It's perfect for DOE Platinum!

Went to the airport to see her dad off, sat there and ate more McD. Then went for seafood dinner! Seriously, we ate at EVERY SINGLE STOP.

Dinner was lovely with crabs, tofu, prawns, watercress soup...mmmmm, love asian food!!!! esp seafood at a table set up by a walkway next to the sundry shop within reach of the pails they use for washing the dishes. Only in Asia methinks. Only in Malaysia =)

Got sent off to the airport and hopped on the plane back home to work the next day. Sigh.

Perfect weekend to say the least.