Year 2011

A deep and sincere apology to my blog for not updating it for ages. My prevailing thought being, technical writing has used up all my brain juice and superseded this soliloquy in the name of luvprada that I cherish so much. It was till I read through other blogs about resolutions made for year 2012 and summaries of 2011. I am somehow driven to verbalize my own. Once again here, I would like to exhaust my exhibitionist tendencies to share my deep thoughts without fear of those who need not know finding out information never meant for them. Another say, I am just here to share my meanderings with friends on what are the significant things for me that happened in 2011.

Overall, 2011 was a great year for me. It was the year that brought me one of the ultimate sense of accomplishment and great achievement. I received my PhD and proudly address myself now and then with the prestigious title - Dr.

To recapitulate 2011:

Early January, I moved in to my own apartment after 4 years of residential college life and renting. I cooked, planted, and even walked naked sometimes in the living room. I have so much freedom and I design my life the way I want it to be. My Pooh bears get to have their own spaces, spacious and well protected.

With half a year gone, by the time the end of financial year rolled around, I bade farewell to the age of bus and train. It was the cessation of painful waiting and long rumbling moment to the university.

August, the meaningful one. The trajectory of my attempt to acquire the highest degree has reached its destination having gone through series of disappointment, failure, uncertainties to then solved problem, tackled obstacles. In my succinct summation: “If I were to do it again, I really doubt if I can finish it.”

Also, it was the month I got a full-time job and with less routine work but relatively lucrative pay, where I started to have the luxury to design my own life. It seemed that I encompassed both fame and money. The circulation and intersection between these two are often of cyclical nature with iterative or recursive characteristics, but now I am at where these two coincide.

September, I ran away from University and spent a week in New Zealand, as a retreat for the hard work and time I devoted to my dissertation in the past 3.5 years. There, in Auckland, I met my old old friend and had some great time.

October, I won myself $500 for the photo shooting contest using a picture I took in Rotorua, New Zealand. Life can be full of surprise sometimes.

November, I spent my birthday alone stranded in Melbourne presenting a conference paper, without any cake. For friends who left me a birthday wish, I respond here with a sincere thank you. For A.L. who sent me the email wishes and confessions, I am here to express my gratitude towards your sincere remarks.

December was the month I slowed down my pace heaps. I found myself caught up in self-reflection. I realize I need a strong track record to equip myself ready to the next phase of life. A professorship in 10 years time? I doubt if I am after that, but certainly why not if I can make it. I will continue living, pursue my professional and social goals and would not leave much space for boredom in my life. Resolutions made for 2012? I do not think I have anything specific, but rather I will work according to my plan and schedule in a long run.

I look forward my trip back to home country next week for the Chinese New Year celebration. This time however, "If returning alone is complicated for lack of a better word, then returning with that special someone is complicated because it is the best word."