Happy New Year everyone. As a response to Everyday Stranger, I will review my decade too. Sounds so scary, 10 years of our life, gone, just like that. It’s unbelieveable how the past year has flown by and yet it appeared excruciatingly long for me when I was living it. I will do a more detailed one of the year that has just flown by as it has been one that wasn’t easy to live at all.
In 2009 Jan, my contract was not renewed even though I thought I stood a pretty good chance since I got along very well with my boss but alas it was not meant to be. There were other job options in the same industry at that time but being highly optimistic and thinking of trying some bravery, I decided to take myself to the US for a month in February to visit my friends and also to embark on a journey of self discovery. I wanted to do something else besides what I’m doing for a living. I wanted to get out of this industry and try my hand at something I’d really like to do. What did I discover in the in the land of dreams? All I had was lots of fun and quality time spent with friends in San Francisco, New York and Boston. Yet with regards to the real purpose -discovering myself and my calling? Aucune idée. It’s scary when you are young and clueless and you still haven’t figured out when you really want to do.
March and April was our honeymoon trip to Japan where we toured 10 cities in 23 days. Akihabara is amazing and Kiba loves the vibe and all the comic bookstores of the electric city. We got to know our friend’s parents a little better and felt the warmth of their family. Japanese are such warm and welcoming people that the whole of Japan feels like a home away from home. We even had the crazy idea to take an overnight ferry ride to Pusan and back just to “take up the challenge” of a friend’s funny suggestion since he was poking fun at the Singaporean in me whom had the need to cover as much ground as possible in order to get the best out of the honeymoon. Haha. It was nevertheless fun although it results in nights where we almost had no hotel rooms/ryokan to sleep in since Kiba is the adventurer who loves to go on trips with minimal preparation. Challenging yes, gave me lots of heart attacks, yeah too.
Oblivious to how bad the economic climate was since I was still floating on a cloud after the honeymoon I just let myself be free and did not bother to really look for a job in May.
My friend came to visit in June and we did London together. One huge funny story which she swore me to secrecy which I’m not supposed to tell. Key words are “heavy machinery”, “human error”, “backbreaking”, “geographically challenging” , “Opéra in Paris” and you could piece the puzzle together.
July to November was the fall when I realised that job fairs are totally useless in Europe and all they do is to make you depressed. When you had to jostle with people with tired looking faces, the men with suits unironed and women, décoiffée, you knew that they had been out of jobs for quite a while. Nothing came through and job agencies were cold. Doors did not open and it was a difficult time. Panic attacks, anxieties, self doubts, exasperation and a myriad of negative feelings set in. Mostly against the world, against Europe, against France.
December saw me with a permanent job which I felt grateful for in these difficult times. Sadly, I’m still in the same industry. Bravery and guts were ungulfed by the crisis. However I’m still learning to be contented with what I have. How many of us actually have the good fortune to be in their dream jobs right? I guess jobs are not everything in life and what you do after work is what really matters. December was also the season of snow, delicious christmas log cakes, champagne, more horse riding sessions, chocolates from Maison du Chocolat, more good food and laughter.
That sums up my 2009 in review and here comes the rest.
2008: Married Kiba for the second time traditionally and this involved great preparations, amusing cultural differences and lots of handshaking at the door of the banquet hall. The poor appalled French family who couldn’t believe that a wedding banquet serves 8-10 courses but lasts less than 4 hours in Singapore.
2007: Struggled and finally got my first job in Paris. Was so happy that I had finally managed to fit in somewhat.
2006: Got married to Kiba civilly and threw a small buffet reception. The big move to France away from my cosy comfort zone, armed with dreams, the t-shirt on my back and a degree in my pocket. Left my family and all my friends behind. Struggling with the French administration. Excited and looking forward to the future.
2005: Graduated from university and had my graduation trip in Europe.
2004: Met Kiba for the first time in an exhibition that we were both working for. According to him, it was my downfall good fortune. He poured his savings into the airline companies, taunting fate to try to make it work for the numerous flights he took to fly to see me. The most touching was when he flew back just to spend the Mid Autumn Festival with me and boarded the flight the next day as he needed to go back to work. It was a surreal night on the balcony, a glorious full moon in the sky, colourful paper lanterns with candles in them hanging off the rails of the balcony, mooncakes, tea and sushi takeout. (ok that doesn’t really fit into the theme of the chinese mooncake festival, but we do love sushi so) Thus started the 2 years of long distance relationship.
2003: Decided that guys are complex in universities and those who play the field are franchement nuls. Decided that friends are the best after all.
2002: Entered university where I joined an adventure club. Climbed mountains,waterfalls, made some other lifelong friends.Hitchhiking and sitting behind trucks barely sheltered from the rain in Malaysia. Night cyclings and sleeping on park benches. Those were the carefree days of the young and fearless.
2001: Slept in classes in front of my tutors as life was all about canoeing and dragonboating. Skipped classes to eat all the time. Climbed over/ Rolled under the gate to get out of school to hang out at Hebrew’s cafe with cheese nachos at 2nd Avenue, Western food at Prince in Coronation Plaza, Venezia cafe at 6th avenue with their glorious selection of gelatos. Who can ever forget KAP and the grand staircase that I love so much.
2000: Entered junior college where I joined the canoeing team and make some lifelong friends that I will treasure and hold close to heart.
Well, that’s about it. My decade in review. It was not a bad one. Quite fun, full of laughter and joy, sadness and insecurities too. Quite fully charged with emotions. I do not know if I have emerged a better person but I hope so. I thank Kiba for putting up with all my various nonsense as the move and fitting in had not been as easy as expected. I’m turning 27 soon and it’s particularly fearful. Older but not wiser. Still finding my calling. Still seeking contentment.
I hope the new year will bring cheer and joy and everyone who reads here and the closet reader who is involved in the “funny story”, happy new year to you too. =p May good health and lady luck smile on us all.
Happy New Year! A toast to you! Tchin tchin!
3 Cheers for 2010!
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