Happy Birthday 2011

It is my birthday today, it is a Thanksgiving day.
I took a day off work, because I don't want to be surrounded by the nonsense in the office on my birthday.

This time last year, I bought myself two pieces of cakes and a coffee from a Starbucks in Manhattan. I was travelling in a train in New York, heading to my colleague's house. I was preparing for the Thanksgiving dinner for the next day with my colleague.

This birthday, I woke up late in the morning, quarrelled with my mom and went shopping with her, and spent the rest of my day writing and sending wedding invitation cards.

Over the past year I
... drove in the snow for the first time.
... scraped the snow and ice off my car the first time.
... visited automated car-wash the first time.
... had an amazing experience in the US.
... found out I have some relatives in the US.
... sold my car for the first time.
... left US and returned to Malaysia.
... said good-bye to the best boss I ever had -- Mr. Porche.
... joinned Mr. Porche on a very fruitful field inspection in Kuala Langat.
... received my Engineering Chartership title.
... gave a lecture as a guest the first time. Though the attendance rate wasn't good due to the date chosen was before a long holiday -- most students had left to their home town.
... had my first car accident.
... successfully grown my own passion fruit.
... took shower in LA and HK airport. Nothing to boast about, but I thought it was cool to shower while on the move.
... pierced my ears.
... went for facial for the first time.
... went to Vietnam and China for the first time.
... conducted the first product performance acceptance test on my own.
... met a crazy couple, but also met a lot of good people.
... got married.
... experienced the pre-wedding photo shooting session.
... resigned and stupidly retracted my resignation due to trusting the vague words from the HR, without negotiation.
... ended 2010 after dining with friends and wines.
... started 2011 in a fresh, chilly, beautiful morning, and spent the first day writing my 2011 goals.

It is hard to believe that I was still on the other side of the globe, walking in thick snow and ice, driving the 2nd-hand 2008 silvery Corolla in the beginning of the year. And now, I am in this warm and humid place, driving my little pearly 2008-fresh-from-factory Myvi, which ironically costs more than that Corolla.

There is about one month left for 2011, these are the goals I listed for this year. I still have about a month to make it up...

1. Complete my Engineering Chartership.
    Done, got that in July.
2. Work towards a promotion or pay increment.
    Done, I had a increment upon returning to the office at the beginning of the year.
3. Steer my career direction towards project management, in order to gain some exposure in project finance control.
    Failed, because our office do not have this position anymore. And my contributions in my cross-functional role has not been taken in well.
4. Hold my values close to my heart when facing office bullies.
    I think I am doing fair on this, except I missed a couple of chances of speaking out by staying quiet.
5. Learn to relax.
    I didn't do well in this, because I am not having quality rests due to various reasons.
6. Find a venue that is safe for me to exercise at least 2 times a week.
    I registered myself to the gym, visited it 3 times a week during the first 5 months, and only once a week over the past two months.
7. Find a wedding dress.
    Done. Will be wearing my mom's.
8. Giving myself a small reward once a month, for the hard work I have done.
    So far so good, it takes money to reward myself, and I haven't been watching my budget well, so I wasn't able to reward myself for quite some time. I guess taking a day off on my birthday is a kind of reward.

I think I should start planning for next year. It will be difficult to set a goal, as I will be living with my husband and mother in law...

Thinking back those good memories I had in US, the nonsense in the Malaysia office now and the uncertainties that awaits me at the life after marriage, I am not feeling positive on this birthday, at times like this, I recall Mr. Porche's words before he left --
You are good enough as who you are. You need to be confident in your own skin, know what you want and work your way there, you will do fine.