You Are What You Choose

Here is a question for you:

When you go for a meal that you know will be paid for by your company, which is the food you will select?
A) The most expensive dish on the menu
B) The dish that is not expensive but have been the one you always wanted to try
C) The same dish your boss ordered
D) Dessert or appertiser as you are already full

Your answer might reflect who you are. So, if you have chosen, read your personalities below:
(A) Greed - someone who does things big and mighty
(B) Modest - someone who cares for others
(C) Lazy - follower as food is not that important to you
(D) Individualistic - you are not afraid to have your own opinions

I tend to be a (B). I feel as though I do not need luxuries as long as I have something to fulfill myself. For example, I do not have the palate for abalone, sharks fin and oysters, in fact I hate them. I feel more comfortable in a small, comfy diner over a fancy, elegant restaurant anytime. At home, I sleep on a hard sofa-bed layered with quilt which I could sleep more soundly than the hotel beds or super thick and soft mattresses. I rather sacrifice a diamond if it means I can travel to somewhere far and exotic. But the only luxury I can't live without is real good ice-cream which means I will choose a Ben & Jerry over a Magnolia anytime. :)

Just like my father, in any Western restaurants, even when they have the most exotic menu to choose from to fill his palate, he will still settle for the traditional Fish & Chips. Tell him why don't you try the Cajun Chicken with Avocado and Duck composte, and he will say "What for?"

So, here, live in modesty but again, that is my style.

Year 2009 in Review

"Change, we don't like it. We fear it. But we can't stop it from coming. We either adapt to change or we get left behind. It hurts to grow. Anybody who tells you it doesn't is lying. But here is the truth, the more things change, the more they stay the same. And sometimes, change is good. Sometimes, change is everything." - taken from Grey's Anatomy, Episode 1, Season 4.

And I like the fact that in this episode, they used change in coins as an analogy to the theme of the show. How they comforted each other at the end of the episode by just passing on the change (coins) as a symbol of hope.

I definitely can't deny that year 2009 has had to be one of my most exciting year to-date! And the central theme of it all is change. Just like Obama preached. The main reasons are due to changes in 2 things in my life: Personal and Professional.

Year 2009 is the year I returned to Malaysia to be with my husband, got officially registered, then thrown back to Singapore again due to a better offer. In Q1 2009, I was prepared to leave Singapore and start anew in Malaysia with good career prospects and a good family-in-law. Until another offer threw a curveball in my direction. I was pensive about moving back to Singapore again, but I missed Singapore. The convenience of moving around, the ease of making friends and the ability to feel safe wherever I go. Plus with a better job offer and prospects, thus better spending power, I just knew I had to listen to my heart.

So, I moved back to Singapore in May 2009 after 2 months of working in Malaysia and I have never regretted it since. All my fears were removed when I got more opportunities for work xposure in the same industry I loved, where I am in a work environment where everyone seems to be nice to each other and where I feel like I belonged again. I changed countries so often I sometimes forget which country I am at, on certain weeks I was trying Nasi Uduk in Jakarta to the delicious Crispy Pata in Manila to the fantastic dim sum in Hong Kong. Even though I go there for business, I make it a point to enjoy myself and see new things as well.

It is also a year that I changed my title from Miss to Mrs. Mrs Tan to be exact as I registered my marriage to my long-time boyfriend (7 years) and best friend (9 years) on 28 Feb 2009 and then held my dream wedding to a group of almost 500 people on 27 Sept 2009. I have never felt anything like it, to be among my friends who helped me so much throughout the wedding and to come out of it successful and better than I expected. And finally to look forward to being husband and wife.

This is the year that I can finally achieve my dream of being financially capable of going for a holiday (aka honeymoon) in Europe for as long as 2 weeks. I did go to Europe previously on work assigment but to be able to afford it on my own is a different achievement. This was an idea that I have thought almost impossible 4 years ago but now, I am proud to say I can! - Yes, quoting Obama again.

This has been a great change for me as I have never been one who don't plan. But things actually turn out better when I do not plan. That I let life happen and embrace every moment of it. I am now agile to changes and am proud to say that sometimes, change IS good.