it's not about what you know but who you know.

sipping coffee and flicking through paper, something came to attention.

first here. then here, here & here.

what?! even here!!!

well, i thought it's a well-understood story that all high-level management posts are filled by such people. although i didn't expect that they were way ahead of my "understanding of the world in general" - they were already reaching out to hk offices, so long ago, too.

just another example of my finance professor's famous quote "the only way to get rich is to be rich to begin with." well i guess if you have a great dad/mum also helps enormously in this instance.

quoting TNYer, "there is a difference between 'knowing' something exists and seeing it laid out in the black and white of court files."

simple and naive me.

there are certain things you can't claim their non-existence just because you can't see them. e.g. wifi. 

quote of the day

yep.

sans titre

i've only realised that i haven't properly written anything about miss z's wedding. doh!

partially because i was so tied up with other random shit in life that i didn't bother making time recording this important moment of her life. (just joking.)

another part is that i still haven't adjusted to the fact that she's turned to a new page of life.

it was an elegant and exquisite wedding, minus the weather.

but lucky enough when she walked out of the car to get to the venue, it all stopped.

she walked down the aisle looking stunning in her champagne/ivory wedding gown being super careful (it was raining and the pebbled footpath isn't something on which hight heels are safe to walk), i was so happy for her.

when she took the vow, articulating each word, tears rolled down my cheeks. that moment, i felt like an old lady relative of hers who saw her growing up. and being so happy seeing her little cousin getting married.

i was honoured to be asked to deliver a speech, which, you would think was done ages ago and had had a couple of revisions already beforehand.

but truth to be told, i only did a 2nd revision night before.

i was having memory flashbacks all night, remembering the good old days of us skipping classes to go to all sorts of random places and the not-so-glamourous days of us being stressed and miserably unemployed - i will probably never forget about that horrible winter - all the rain and bad weather.

although i remember a lot of tears from her, and when we hugged, other than happy tears, i was crying on the inside, "gawd, why is this girl so skinny while i am so fat and still dig in every friggin meal."

till this minute, i am still waiting for the pictures taken by the very professional photographer on the day.

i promise to share with you some wonderful pictures when i actually get to see them.

the wedding took place at a vineyard and the environment was superb, english country club style.

big big heart.

i wish you a lifetime of happiness, z.

xxx

goodbye my friend

thanks for all the great time.

a dieu.

temporary tattoo, 2.

yup. being late again.

temporary tattoo

ditto.

get it from here.

i luuuuuv the watch tattoo, so random.

congrats mate!

for more, click here.

a new destination for your working holiday visa programme

喜聞樂見法蘭西終於也加入了工作假期計劃的大軍呢∼

所以現在除卻澳洲、加拿大、紐西蘭、愛爾蘭、德國，日本和韓國之外，法蘭西也榜上有名了呢。

說真的，那些英文國家真的會讓人感覺乏善可陳。

泡菜國，毫不吸引我。日本又會很貴，且畢竟離家太近，無甚挑戰可言。

德國和法國無疑是最吸引人的兩個目的地了！

趁自己浪費一整年的機會成本還不是很高的時候，走出門，換個環境，去異國深入地了解一下別人的文化和生活方式，的確很吸引人啊。

有過這樣的一段經歷，人生閱歷頓時豐富起來。

雖然將來，亦會在很多個無法入睡的夜裡，因為各種瓶頸感到焦慮，輾轉反側。

只是，當你回想起你在歐陸遊學的日子裡遇上的奇人奇事，一定會釋然。

做了別人想做而不敢做的事情——獨自遠走異國，放棄（高）薪（厚）職去面對一個全新的未知的世界。

這，難道不令人驕傲嗎？

adieu lady thatcher

i don't have much to say.

really.

maybe, stop making biographical movies about someone who's still alive?

え？

の。。のつ?

10

.

we miss you so

the long due post - part II

I have developed a new habit of numbering my thoughts, the quicker I tick off an item, the easier my life seems... it's not like am important or anything, just pretending to be logical... (wishful thinking, really)

I promise to write more often whenever possible.

1. what's the difference living in sheepland and outside Sheepland?

    the pace of the whole society. you will feel it instantly after landing into sheepland. kiwis seem to have all the time to do all sorts of random things. and they really enjoy taking it slow and do these in a laid-back way. this is a nice change when you need a break from the "centre of the crazy world" where making quick bucks is the only thing they care about.

2. was it difficult to get over the (reverse) culture shock? Why?

    it was... the "centre of the crazy world" is full of amazing experiences ahead of you. these things are not believable till you see them through your own eyes. i have not seen before a flight attendant snapping at a passenger because she took her headsets from business class (on purpose or not). maybe it's because i am not a white guy who looks like a potential marriage candidate (or a ___ buddy)? and all other sorts of weird things you (might) go through...

3. Positive sides on both sides?

    +ve sides definitely exist. one good example: the existence of taobao, the convenience of placing orders at midnight online and getting the goods delivered at door the next morning.

    +ve side of living in sheepland: the slow pace. the world's not gonna collapse if you do one thing over 5 days (typically these things can be done in 5 hours or less in the "centre of the crazy world").

4. If I had to make a choice again, what would i do?

    i say go for it. better do it then regret than regretting not doing it.

5. What parameters count in leading a life we want?

    especially true today: clean air, clean water, safe food... i kid you not. imagine having to keep the windows shut at all times... 

what? why!