All in all, I'm grateful for a fairly mundane year it has been (read: The 2017 Ride). Life is a matter of relativity and I've applied what 2017 has taught me, i.e. mundane is not a bad thing and not every eventful year is superb. Some of it brings life lessons to keep you moving on in life.
In no chronological order, here are what spiked up my graph of life events for the past 364 days. Easily summarised with family, love, work, nation, travel and personal hobbies.
CNY Wooi Style
The Lunar New Year is one occasion where we go big or go home. It is my first CNY spent as a Wooi and I must say, what an interesting experience of dressing up as part of the family, extravagant family mealtimes especially the ones homecooked by Mama Wooi and giving out angpows for the very first time as a couple.
Look ma, we even prepared our own lou sang! From slicing up vegetables and ingredients to decorating it with photos as guide. We did this for two lunches during CNY! The first one was badddd, thankfully when the extended family came for lunch, we brushed up our decorative skills soon enough with Jean and Jenn leading it this time lol!
Travels
"Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer" - Anonymous
Frankly, we started off the year with one trip in anticipation - Club Med Kani, Maldives.
As an individual, I had a getaway with the Daisies to Bangkok. Shameless to say, it was my first time setting foot in Bangkok in my 28 years of living on this planet. It is said to be every girl's shopping heaven / Achilles Heel and yes, I did go crazy with my purchases so much so that the cash I brought thinking it was sufficient ran out! It was an eventful trip all in all!
Back to Maldives, we planned it to coincide with my birthday in May 2018. Lucky me! :) A bucket list destination ticked and it was a trip we never knew would do us so much good. Ken is typically a hardcore planner on our trips. For Maldives, he practically chilled and the only plan was which food section to go to at the international buffet spread (he goes to the same ones EVERY MEAL) and what activities to go for according to the schedule given by the resort.
Todate, this trip stands as the most expensive one if we were to average the price paid per day per pax. That said, to have Ken truly have a holiday on a holiday is priceless.
As we approached Q3, Mama Wooi suggested for a trip to Vietnam! We held back the decision for a bit as Vietnam was a destination Ken wasn't too keen with because of how underdeveloped it is and that there'd be language barrier. He's very much a City Boy :) With the idea that we'll be on tour, we took up Mama Wooi's generous offer and decided to explore beyond our comfort zone.
This trip exposed us to the mountains and beaches of Da Lat and Nha Trang respectively. Reminded us very much of a higher altitude Cameron Highlands (Da Lat) where we also learned about the differences in coffee beans plantation and Vietnamese Avocados. It wasn't a trip that opened up our horizons on how poor the population is, but rather, how hardworking this part of the nation is yet laid back at the same time. Our tour guide, Xuyen shared stories of how working in HCM (or the locals call it Saigon *cues Vietnamese accent) is too hectic for him coupled with the high cost of living eroded by the influx of expatriates. Bringing up a family is better in the countryside. He also shared about how he leads different but same kinda tours - via bus and even a cycling tour! Imagine cycling 200km up the mountains...
Here's a video recap of our Vietnam trip.
We also headed down south to Singapore, a country I'd describe with so much familiarity and family but we so often take for granted. It's always a rushed trip and I'd almost always regret planning it that way. Then again, for the currency I pay, I might as well spend it somewhere further like Australia ya? :) Ken was there for work, so I took the opportunity to tag along.
Spent a couple of days working out of the Singapore office and spent weekday evenings with family and friends. Auntie Flora brought us to Beauty in a Pot, which we enjoyed very much! Think hotpot with collagen, mmmm~
Also bunked in at Kor's place for the weekend. I miss spending time being seated next to him, getting him to talk to me while his eyes are fixated on the computer. That's how we roll!
Making My Mark for Malaysia
The title of this part speaks volume. I voted for the very first time, missed the earlier one as we had a trip planned to Seoul. Refreshing my memory from May 9, 2018 gives me goosebumps. Six decades of legacy gave way to a reformation that Malaysia needed, badly. It was also a time where we saw the beauty of unity and the ugly judgement passed by Malaysians. The former brought victory to justice and the latter to those who did not vote & jumping the gun / being over sensitive to what our newly elected politicians have said and done.
I can go on and on hoping to get my point across of "not judging Malaysians who did not/ could not vote". But that's going to remain as my personal argument. With victory in our hands, Malaysians has a lot of growing up to do. We are not there yet, my friends. Malaysia is bruised, over capitalised from the core, and I'm not just making financial health references but the state of the Rakyat.
Deep down, I have a passion to stand up for what I believe in. People closest to me would jokingly say that not being a politician is truly a waste of my passion. I've said it. I'll also let God make a way. Perhaps, one day...
All-in-One Gift
Ken has always been talking about getting me a new purse. It stems from the thought of wanting me to be teased lesser by society arising from my (selective) frugality. Giving me the liberty of time and budget to choose what I wanted but I just couldn't bring myself to go shopping. Shopping gives me headache. #funfact
It took us easily more than a year to spot what I wanted. Joke is, I didn't get it right away and then we went scrambling over FIVE (5) malls only to find one mall back in our hood that has stock.
So yes, this is my generous husband with my Christmas-ROM Anniversary-Dating Anniversary-Birthday gift all in one!
If you were one of those who beh tahan my free wallet which I've been striding around in pride, the day I got this was the day y'all should rejoice for me. Haha!
Hello Kitty
When what you've always wanted meets what you love = Converse x Hello Kitty. Nuff said.
Embracing my love for Hello Kitty, my colleagues gave me a surprise birthday party @ McDonald's which came with some Hello Kitty elements! It was too cute and I loved every bit that allowed us to relive our childhood. For the record, I've never had a birthday party at McDonald's. I don't recall bugging my parents to have a birthday party at McD, maybe I'm just good with Daddy's delayed gratification life lessons :)
As if I'm slowly coming out of my closet with my love for Hello Kitty, I was thrilled to know that was an Our Sanrio Times exhibition going on in Kuala Lumpur! The power of a working adult is that I'm an independent woman who is perfectly capable of purchasing entrance tickets and convince my husband to come along while at it. :P Containing my excitement wasn't part of the plan and we went on the first day of the exhibition!
#LifeAtPage: MP Represent
Taking pride in what I do is best expressed when I'm given the opportunity to represent the Company. This year, I got two of such opportunity!
Being part of our very first Client Appreciation Lunch Event was refreshing an experience as we got to mingle with Clients whom we've personally worked with, putting a face to the name because it does get too busy for us to schedule a meet up but everyone has to eat lunch right?! The session was held over lunch and we invited a distinguished speaker from Leaderonomics, Caroline Ong who shared insights on the next generation of recruits.
The second opportunity came in the form of speaking to TARC students. It was nostalgic for me as we stepped foot into TARC, had breakfast at their cafeteria (where food was "student price") and walking around campus being the best form of workout. The audience were a mix of first years to final year students. Partnering with my fellow Daisy, Patricia for this experience was the icing on the cake! I loved how we complemented each other as our content for this single session was seamlessly combined. Truly the perfect expression of our passion for what we do!
Photo taken 2 years apart
I also took up an offer from my colleague to help manage our Company's social media account. Talk about combining the social media addict in me with work? Puuurrrfect!
#LifeAtPage: Promotion
With a roaring drive at the start of the year, I've finally achieved my next level of promotion in February 2018. It was an arduous climb worth every failure, sweat and tears leading up to it. #drama
Grateful for the team who has supported me in one way or another, not forgetting the #DeliciousDaisies who've been the anchor along the way.
#LifeAtPage: MVP Award
Culturally, Page had lots to catch up as we didn't exactly set off on the right foot for 2018. The management introduced an award where every month, there'll be an individual from the floor as "Most Valuable Pager" (MVP).
Well, when I first joined, they told me I can be anything. So, I became an MVP. #jokes
Extremely grateful for this token of recognition and assurance, whilst savouring my passion on the job. I've always strived to stay out of the limelight, hence, this is a testimony that recognition at Page goes beyond a popularity contest. Thank You to all those who believe(d) in me. God is good!
As I share with you the career highlights of 2018, I've subconsciously ranked work at the bottom of my list. I must say that amidst these highlights that are extremely minute to many at work and probably doesn't weigh the slightest, I'd bluntly describe the year to be an overwhelming one. Not in the best way, if I may add.
I wouldn't go into details but suffice to say, with change comes discomfort and I will continue to pray that this shall pass soon enough.
As always, time flies and here's a wrap for 2018! May 2019 be better and will time please slow down already?
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