• Lack of trust
• Lack of communication
• Too much communication
• Sick of each other’s faces
• Taking each other for granted
• Too little freedom
• Too much freedom
• Too costly to spend time together
• Insufficient time spent together
• Too much time spent together
• Jealousy
• Family/peer disapproval
• Unrequited/unequal affection
• Cheating partner
• One or both parties are psycho
• One or both parties have psycho families

What can go horribly wrong in a long distance relationship:

• Technology failing on you/your partner

And that just happened to him. (Gulp.)

I thought this was an absolutely brilliant question! I’ve never pondered over this. I began to think about my whole year – which is highly appropriate seeing as to how this year is coming (really close) to a close.

But I’m proud to say I’ve done the following these year for the first time, ever:

• Run a marathon

Acutally I did two – and I was the kind of girl who barely scrapes through her fitness tests. Running actually is a huge feat and possibly unimaginable a year back. I’ve gotten lazy again though, hopefully next year I would get my act together and run more.

• Watch rugby

Who knows, maybe I’ll understand a new sport every year. This was thoroughly interesting for me. The sport itself is great, the players are huge but gentlemanly, and understanding the need for hakka and such was such an eye-opener!

• Watch a musical

I finally did, I finally did! I caught Wicked (Australian cast) and it was so bloody brilliant, I was mesmerized by everything – the props, the costumes, the acting, the singing, the live orchestra – they were amazing. I would highly, highly recommend it and this will definitely be the start of many to come.

• Drive

I finally passed my driving test this May, and got to drive only a handful of occasions – nevertheless, I love the feeling of empowerment when I’m behind the wheel. This is not to say I’m a brilliant driver though – I’m a horrible reckless driver. (Honesty is the best policy?) That’ll improve over time, I hope.

• Graduate

Hell-freaking-yeah, I did. I had the gown, the mortar board, and all that jazz. I threw my mortar board up in the air. I didn’t trip while getting on stage to receive my certificate. I’m finally a graduate with a Bachelor degree.

• Work, full-time

Yeah, following the above, I’m thankful I’m employed – in a rather well-perceived company, with rather lovely people. Hopefully when I’m back in the office (and receive the full blow of what my working life really is gonna be like), I’ll like it. One can only hope right?

• Work in F&B industry

Oh gosh, this was the best holiday job ever. I loved the food, the people, meeting other people, collecting money, counting money, chopping up vegetables, making coffee. This was honestly, truly, deeply a huge interest of mine that I’ve discovered. Who knows, maybe some path in the future will lead me to F&B!

• Travel to Madrid, Lisbon, Amsterdam, Brussels

I visited the above places for the first time during graduation trip and I liked them! I think I grew as a traveller, to better able to pack light, get more comfortable with wherever I was at, to desire indulging in a local’s life, walking down the streets and enjoying a good cup of coffee, as opposed to filling up my days with monument after monument. Great days!

• Be in Paris alone

This was quite a feat – I’ve been on exchange but I’ve never spent days wandering around the streets of Paris on my own. On one of the days, I walked from 9th arrondisement to 2nd to 1st to 4th to 5th – all in a day. I saw more sights from an aimless walk than I ever did. That was really etched in my mind as I refused to check the metro map. And to be reminded of good memories, and still be fascinated by a city – that is the magic of Paris for me.

• Be in a long-distance relationship

Mmm, I think it’s so damn easy to keep thinking about differences (in time, space, culture, language, traditions, backgrounds, etc), so I think the toughest bit about an LDR is to focus on the similarities and be accepting of the changes we’re undergoing separately. This, I definitely didn’t expect a year ago.

• Witness a lunar eclipse

I swear that was really fascinating. I’ve never seen any before – but apparently there’s a solar eclipse in 2012, looking forward to that!

What have you done for the first time this year?

So what I want to know is – what is the opposite of Murphy’s law?

Some time ago, everything that could go wrong did go wrong. These days, I seem to realize that things were quite the opposite. For example, I’ve been on course these days and things could go either way. I had the company of one colleague and I have never heard of her prior to the course. Thankfully, since Monday, I think we were pleased to have each other for company, and to be able to share a bunch of stuff without worrying about horrible things (e.g. backstabbing, not being able to click, different preferred language of conversing…) I was pleased. We’ve also tried to abstain from snacking, which is rubbing off good influence on one another. Plus the stroll to the train station after work!

I’ve been trying out different routes to get to work these days too, since work was away from office. And thus, also trying out different routes home. Just today, while walking to the station, it was cloudy and threatened to rain. The moment we arrived at a sheltered walkway, there was a downpour. I saw my bus and made a dash for it – and caught it. When the bus was approaching my area, it stopped raining.

Almost whenever I’m down, within less than 24 hours, something or someone cheers me up. I also got to take a morning stroll (from the station to work), and a lovely cup of english breakfast tea that keeps me awake through most of the day. And today, I decided to treat myself to a good ol’ pain au chocolat, which brought me back to lovely Paris days.

Which also reminds me of the pending Europe trip, coming up in 5 months. That also reminds me that S is coming in 3 months. (I bought a card from the stationery store at work yesterday and I’m really excited to send it out!)

And Christmas is in 11 days.

What’s not going well? I think the question is what’s going well – and many things are. Even as I’m typing this, WordPress decides to let snow flakes fall along my screen. I guess it’s a matter of perspective. I could whine about the fact that I was late for work on Monday, but I could also be glad that it forced me to find more enjoyable and quicker routes to work!

As OneRepublic would sing, what’s there to complain about?

Probably because I’m not someone who knew exactly what I wanted, and thereby had many options presented to me instead of having to fight for a specific route. And I guess my parents empowered me with the decision-making authority.

My very first big decision I had to make as a kid was deciding which secondary school to go to. Even with this, I leaned towards school A, but ended up going to school B – thank god because a large number of my great great friends were people I knew from here. Would I have been able to speak better mandarin had I gone to school A? Perhaps. But the joy of being in a girls school (ie school B) was something I thoroughly enjoyed, to be honest. It was a good time to hide from them boys.

Deciding which junior college I wanted to go to was next. And I ended up in the one where I met my ex. No doubt it was clearly scarring experience seeing as to how we’ve left each other’s lives completely, we had good times and I don’t regret having gone through them.

Deciding which university to go to was a close call. But in my university, I met the best group of friends ever and are still in close contact in spite of our hectic lives since graduation. Wouldn’t have had it any other way. I also got to live away from my parents by staying in a hostel with my best friend. I loved that independence though I didn’t love the distance or the ‘book-in’ sundays.

Deciding where to go on exchange – yet another close shave. I had wanted to go to Canada but was rejected. Had I gone there, I wouldn’t have been this head over heels in love with France, French culture, Europe as a whole, etc. I wouldn’t have met these amazing bunch of friends from all over the world (because the French school I ended up in consisted of international students making up 50% of the school population!) and I wouldn’t have met S.

Deciding whether to jump onto the first job offer presented to me was yet another huge dilemma I was going crazy about. Had I taken it, I might be thoroughly unhappy (because it deals with unhappy people), and I would have hated commuting. I would also not have been able to take S around when he came and we may not have ended up the way we are. I would also not have taken up a holiday job at the salad bar, which was so much fun! I loved it, loved the people there and loved what I did for the month and a half!

Lastly, I recently found out that a guy I used to hang out with quite a bit, and used to have a huge thing for, is now engaged. Had anything have happened, things would be so, so different!

For all of above, I say a big WHEW.

Et voilà, things to be thankful for:
1) a happy & healthy family
I’m thankful for my parents who occasionally drive me mad, and probably vice versa. This applies to my brother too but I know they’ll be there. Hmm I hope I can still say this when (or if) I make life changing decisions against their favour! Lol

2) an amazing support system
I often say I’ve not enough friends because it’s terribly difficult to ask for company these days. But I know I can still always speak to them and they’ll offer me a listening ear. I’m glad to have support even in crazy times, and shared angst in terrible times. Empathy works wonders, really. I’m thankful for these amazing friends.

3) a job
I’m thankful for my job. I don’t necessarily love it yet, and I hope I do when I eventually get a sense of ownership and belonging. But I’m thankful that I’m earning and I’ll be able to rejuvenate (coughtravelplanscough) as a person every now and then.

4) life’s surprises
I’m thankful for all the surprises life has sprung on me. It often makes me question whether the path I’m taking is the better one and often I find something else to be thankful for. All the little roads I had to take to be who I am today, I’m glad I took them.

5) love
I’m thankful for love because it taught me to be the kind of person I want to be. Past loves have taught me so much and present love taught me to appreciate.

I’m thankful that I have all of the above to keep me going, and make me glad to be alive.

So to those who celebrate it: happy thanksgiving! What are you thankful for?

This has gotten my head spinning the past few days, going crazy with excitement. Partly because it’s a holiday, partly because it’s Paris, and partly because of who I’ll be there with. It’ll probably just be a short visit this time round (I had no intention to go there at first, but since the particular airline doesn’t fly to the particular city directly…) – But every time I’m there, I try to do something new that I haven’t already done. And as you’d imagine, I’ve to do more research this time round…

So far, I’ve got these…

• rent a bike to cycle around
• visit more traditional cafés
• hop over to Canal Saint-Martin for a picnic

I want to put the catacombs on the list too but I don’t know if I’ve enough guts to put myself through that. Hmmm…

I wonder if anyone has suggestions for less of the tourist must-do/see things (i.e. Louvre, Eiffel, Champs Elysees) I should do but may have missed out on the previous trips?

Well, and for the remaining cities, I don’t think I need to do any planning at all.

But stubborn people like me refuse to believe that until I encounter it myself. Yup, I agree now – it is. Believe it. Believe every word.

It’s just tricky when both parties have lives of their own to lead, and continue to do so. In addition to that, there’s time difference. On top of that, there’s difference in amount of time spent on the internet between the parties. Top it off with all things couples face – trust issues, jealousy, miscommunication, etc.

No wait, there’s more.

I think with distance, something’s gotta give. In fact, no – wait. Someone’s gotta give. Someone has to make that sacrifice at one point or another. And that’s the trickiest of them all.

With that, I can only humbly respond – Challenge accepted. Here we go…

I spent the last six weeks at a salad bar, and while it started with a casual idea of spending time more meaningfully apart from waking up at noon and going out all the time, I’ve grown so incredibly attached to my job and my colleagues. Job because I mean, I took pride in what I was doing – be it shredding chicken, peeling hard-boiled eggs, halving grapes or cherry tomatoes, chopping broccoli, plucking basil and mint leaves, baking muffins, making coffee, wrapping bread, preparing yoghurt, making trips to the banks, delivering, serving or being the cashier. OK, I take shredding chicken back. But everything else, yes! Top it up with amazing colleagues I get along so damn well with, we’re bitching, singing, laughing all the bloody time. OK, it’s mostly me laughing uncontrollably because I’m so damn exhausted from waking up at 5am, but mostly all of us laughing.

It was really a joy getting to work and getting through it. I never have to countdown, I had no qualms about going to work on Mondays, I enjoyed small talk with customers, I was happy when Fridays came but never because I didn’t have to work the next day. It was really a joy.

And I hope I brought as much joy to them as they brought me. Gulp.

Anyway, since I’ve spent a good solid six weeks in my first F&B job, I’ve actually learnt a lot of things.

• Don’t piss off the people who handle your food

I say this with utmost sincerity to those who wish to have good food be in portion or handling. If you’re nice, I tend to handle your food with a lot of care. If you’re not, I don’t care. If you’re nice, we try to give you as much as possible without it being too obvious. If you’re nice, you get extra smiles, and extra pleasant wishes for your day to be a good one. You also get offered more options if available. And you absolutely do not want us bitching about you and threatening to spit in it. Hahahaha. (Excuse my french, but we are absolutely professional and would never do this although we joke about it all the time.)

• If there’s a long ass queue behind you and you’re up, decide QUICKLY.

Some people really, really like to take their time to decide. Granted we have a world of variety, but if you wanted to think, take some time while queuing or outside of the queue to do so. If you’re causing a holdup, and letting our queue grow longer and we grow increasingly stressed out, you’re not gonna enjoy your experience with us! If you hear us joking about you deciding whether or not to (make huge worldly decisions like) go to war, you probably deserved it.

• When you have decided, stick with it.

For heaven’s sakes don’t say you’re eating in, then make us put it in a takeout box when there isn’t any seats, then ask us to put it back onto plates because a seat opened up. Just take 5 minutes and wait for a damn seat!

• When ordering, open your mouth.

Seriously some people have golden mouths. They just refuse to open their damn mouths like it’s too damn precious and we’re too lowly to hear you speak. Then don’t order.

• When paying, hand the cashier your cash/card!

I absolutely hate it when people throw their cash/card on the desk when I’ve reached out, all ready to accept it from your hands. What the hell is your issue?

There’s a lot of other personal things like how I’m extra nice to customers if they flip open their wallets and a girlfriend/wife/family portrait is in it. I’m like awwwww, okay, have a great day! HAHAHA. I’m warped and biased but hey we’re only human.

But dang, I can’t actually say “we” or “I” anymore since I’m no longer part of the crew. This deeply saddens me and I sincerely hope I’ve made an impact to someone’s life despite being there for only six weeks in a place with extremely high turnover. Gah. I miss it already.

Here’s to a new chapter tomorrow…

Today was one of them.

There’s something about this outfit I can’t pinpoint that makes me really drawn to it. It could be the gorgeous fall floral print on the dress. It could be its gorgeous cutting from the neckline to the sleeves. It goes right up to her knees without drowning her. And the above-ankle socks paired with those heels. I absolutely love it. It’s feminine with an edge yet could be passed off as both dressed up and dressed down.

But if we take her out of Paris and put her on our sunny island, she’d get lots of stares. How unfortunate.

Some time in July, I got myself into a fix. This story traces back two years where I fancied someone (this person will hereonforth be referred to as S), and we recently reconnected and – surprise, surprise – realised things weren’t one-sided.

The only issue now is that S is about 10,000km away. Mmm, smart.

Nevertheless, this is a huge part of my life now to be thankful for, on top of the amazing holiday job I have, great colleagues, great friends. Alors, this is my short introduction of this new character! Please be assured that S will make more mentions soon.