But as I fix my new timetable, bid for new modules, send out resumes to a few employers hoping for a new part-time job, look through SEP and contemplate taking on the seemingly impossible task of picking up Japanese again (laziness always gets ahead of me). Wait. There's an irony in there.. Laziness always gets ahead of me. Hahaha.
So this is about time I sum up 2009, 5 days into the year!
While 2009 felt like it went by too quickly, it's actually the last 4 months of semester that did. Earlier in 2009, I did so many things and time passed so slowly.
In 2009, I took on many jobs. The first job after 'A' levels was with Goh Joo Hin as a promoter. Ad hoc basis, sometimes I worked with friends like Jiexin Jamie and Cindee so I really enjoyed it. The people at Goh Joo Hin were also very nice. Also made new friends although sadly but quite predictably, we don't keep in touch anymore.
Goh Joo Hin
1. Asiasoft Fair (1 day) 2. New Moon Fair (4 days) - worked with Jiexin Jamie and Cindee in this.
3. Courts Megastore Sale
4. IT Show - where I earned commission that never in my life thought I could.
5. Fairprice Xtra @ AMK - I didn't enjoy this stint at all. It was probably after this one that I decided I had enough. The pay always came in late and the job nature boring.
I later joined Food for Thought, somewhere in February. While initially I only allowed myself to promise 1 or 2 months, I ended up working there until August, becoming the most regular worker there. I worked up to 5 times a week, almost like a full-time staff. It was a very warm and nice environment over here. But I got a bit sick of the menial chores. Anyhoo, I got better at cleaning (wtf) though I still don't do any at home.
I managed to get a vet internship but didn't stay on for more than three visits there. I was unhappy with the way the vet handled his own clinic, and us. We were free labour more than "interns". I didn't learn anything about the animals, but I guess I learnt something about myself. Working environment is really important for me.
A three day stint as an admin girl at Christwater. Mainly photocopying and filing. Bore the shit out of me, but it was good money... The second highest pay that I've ever gotten - $7/h for part-time work. I have Kevin to thank for this! Haven't spoken to him in ages since Semester started. Even when semester ended I was so loaded up on activities. Ahh feel really guilty :X
Another ad hoc project as a packer for APEC. One day labour. Helped packed the goodie bags for APEC. Worked together with Cindy Teo, Jamie, Jiexin, Xueling and Oxy. Got the highest pay here! Think they urgently needed people $8/h.
In 2009 I also took up my first fulltime job in my life at Recruit Express. While I was greatly underpaid I appreciated that Audris was so patient with me. All of them treated me really well. I liked this environment that I worked in, but eventually, I got burnt out because I was juggling too many things and this job the most mentally draining out of all. Still, I made good friends, went to JB with this buncha friends, and still meet up so I never regretted working here!
Tutoring Cheng Boon. Reserved and shy guy. He can be funny if he wants, after all despite looking so tall dark and handsome, he really is just a 13 year old boy. Wish he would concentrate on his studies more. I'm not teaching him this year anymore, because his results didn't improve and they withdrew. I was silently very happy so I didn't feel any self-blame hahaha.
Tutoring Dedrick. Dedrick, Kevin's recommendation. I'm getting closer to him and he kept cracking jokes about me. I'm still teaching him this year, for Sec 2 maths. My only source of income now.
In 2009, although I had an 8month long holiday and talked a lot about going overseas with the DH people, nothing worked out eventually. The only overseas trip during this 8-month holiday was the trip to JB with the Recruit Express gang. I lost my whole bag there. And found the answer to something I have been wondering about, "What happens if you lose your passport overseas?" Realised that you still can come home, by making a police report and pleading with the customs. Even though something so tragic happened, we still managed to have a lot of fun. We still went to eat and play at the arcade after we lost all our things! :/
In 2009, I got my driving license, after failing once. I still haven't driven all that much, but I just bought the P plate recently, on the first day of January. That's an improvement. Haha. But my parents are so unwilling to let me drive the family car because it's new. GRRR.
In 2009 I had some major hair changes. I got first highlights of my life, which damaged my hair so badly. After my first dye job in December 2008 it still wasn't so bad. I felt so irritated I chopped off my hair in November. It's been around 2 months now and it has grown out of the pomelo shape.
In 2009, I matriculated and went to FASS. This is when time began to fly. Made so many friends at O week and even though I only attended half of it because I was sick during the camp, these friends stayed with me. Yuxuan, Ken, Emily, Shinni, Amy, Weixiang.... Bryan! Of course not to forget, John Tan. Even outside of the OG, I got to know Alan and Xavier, brothers who always helped me out. Made friends from projects, Xinya, Hannah, Sophil, Gwen, Xinyi, ... It was a good semester.
Also in NUS I picked up windsurfing. I've been asked more than once why windsurfing. I don't know why. But I guess I can come up with a few reasons. I was so busy working I left all the envelopes untouched and when I did, The July Windsurf Camp was among the only few left. Windsurfing seemed exotic. I wasn't from a sports background, so windsurf was a sport that I can expect most people to start from the same level, being quite unorthodox.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Windsurf Camp, because it was so lax, so agenda-less. Later on I was persuaded by Choon Peng to sign up for a position in the committee and I got the position of the training co-ordinator. I'm almost always there during weekends now, and I've improved a lot. I like this committee, everyone's so fun and warm and helpful. I've received encouragement constantly from the seniors, even Zai (the office guy), even Rodin (random guy). It's not an easy sport I think and I still have a lot to learn. I attended the December Windsurfing Camp and tried to race at the NUS Internal Race in December. I didn't start two races and didn't finish one. After three races I headed back to shore, entirely drained of energy. At the training last Sunday for one I was so crushed and discouraged. But I guess for once in my life, I should put a foot down and stop giving up.
2009, I fell in and out of love, in and out of love, and finally someone came along. This one stays. He makes me feel so included. And we're always at the same frequency.
Last year I also met oh-so-sexy Tao Zhe! I shook his hand! AND as a couple me and John won TWO PAIRS of tickets to his concert three days later. How blessed! :)
In 2009, I climbed a mountain. Mount Rinjani changed my life and I'll be always thankful I made the impulsive decision to sign up for it with Yuxuan. Was a great trip, an eye-opener. It made me feel like, I didn't want to go to cities that looked like Singapore anymore. There's so much out there. To regard shopping as a highlight of travelling suddenly became frivolous, because one can experience so much more by stepping out of home.
I loved 2009, even with the heartbreaks, the periods when I felt so down. Maybe I could have used my time better during the 8 month break. But I can only push this "maybe" forward to this year. 2010 will be better. :)
