Last words before the fireworks pop!

I dunno what made me wanna write the previous entry so metaphorically. I guess it's always easier to sum things up with a simple image. The passage of time is always likened to a journey...hence my choice of the train and train station imagery to express my sentiments as the year approaches an end.

I would like to do some closure by revisiting some episodes. Meanwhile, enjoy the song tt's playing in the background. I decided it's still the one song that I can call my fav this year (ok i cheenapok i know).

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Sailing101/TOGR regatta training.....Sailing has definitely been an eyeopener for me. It gave me an idea of how sea sports are like and what it takes to battle against not just the forces of nature, but also against myself. I see the temperamental and kanchiong spider side of myself during the regatta trainings, and how I haven't exactly been a good team player :( Nevertheless, sailing's an excellent sport that requires passion and commitment - something that I eventually find myself lacking :(....but i definitely wanna go for a solo leisure sail on a laser sometime soon.

Internship turn job offer.....I have never felt so lucky to have met someone who thinks so highly of me. The internship wasn't particularly tough, but it gave me an idea of the sheer hardwork and passion people put into their jobs. It also kind of confirmed that GPA isn't everything. But that's no excuse to slack off. Knowledge is power and keeping up with information is more for personal learning and development rather than a job requirement. I am glad to have met my boss who's truly my benefactor. It would have been an uneventful internship and a fruitless pursuit if not because of him. I am also glad to have the privilege of 'walking with the giants'. Will be starting work next June. Time to prepare myself mentally for a rough start!

More passport stamps.....It's my first time leaving the country so many times within a year. Pattaya for sailing regatta, Taiwan, HK and Vietnam for holidays. One Asian country after another, and I'm still loving Asia! Not sure if i see it as making up for the lost opportunity of going on exchange. Oh well, at least someone gets to go in my place :) Waiting for everyone to come back and share stories, and start planning for grad trips!

Life is fragile.....Lost my granduncle, an old neighbor and a fellow sailor this fateful year. I was constantly reminded of how fragile life is. I wanna do all that I can in my life time, bring more smiles to people, make my time in this fascinating world worthwhile. You out there, please know that I treasure you even when I don't seem to have the time to tell all of you.

Summer always spells trouble.....And i wished i were more rational sometimes.

Quitter.....And true enough i finally experience my breaking point after forcing myself to keep up with my Japanese language studies for the past 3 yrs. Then i realize this isn't quite the way I want to learn the language. I wish I have a stronger interest for the language though. At least now i've come to realize you can't learn a language like how you learn science or math. It requires abit of talent and natural abilities as well. I guess my interest got killed cos my intentions were too practical right from the start. See how it goes, if i ever regain some interest, I will definitely continue from where i left off.

Still quitting..... I dunno what got me to sign up for StandChart marathon, but I didn't show up on the day of the race itself. I thought it'd put me thru some disciplined regime to get myself fit and healthy. 2008 is the year i lost all my discipline. I hope to find it back soon.

An almost unfinished race.....i swear i will not force myself to do something that i don't like to do ever again. Studying for my last 2 acca papers was indeed an ultra painful and miserable process. I felt imprisoned and tortured, mentally whiplashed. And this is made worse by a lack of motivation, discipline n conviction. I don't think I will pass the papers anyway. So i might need to run this part of the race yet again. But I am tired and I wanna take a break. I am not sure when I will try to finish the last miles of this extremely arduous race again though.

And I'm glad...I have met new people and forged close friendships with many...Sangita, Shuqi, Vanda, Weiling, Denise, JJ, Jo, Xinyee, Kenvia, James, Emily, Mitch, Huihui, fellow interns at ML and just so many more I can't finish naming. Cheers to our friendship for many years more to come! And to all you other 'incumbents' of my social circle, all the best for your future endeavors (esp in tough times like this). Stay true to yourself and be sure to keep in touch (or at least superpoke me on facebook or something)!

Here's wishing everyone a good year ahead (fine, there's a crisis but that's YOUR problem haha)!

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