It's May and I'm about to embark on my second job. My 1.5 month-long hiatus is coming to a close. "So what have you been doing?" is the question I get most. "How's the job hunt?" is a close second.
Now that I think about it, they always come in a pair, like parts a) and b) of a general, unspoken question - what the hell are you doing with your life?? Because, nobody can be a bum in Singapore, right? We literally can't afford it.
Don't get me wrong - I feel blessed to have lots of people caring about me. Another blessing is to have spent this hiatus quite meaningfully, if I do say so myself! Let me record the ways:
April 1 - 15
China: Upon my last contract day, I flew solo that night to join my parents at dad's house in XJH, Shanghai. What sets this apart from all the other China trips I've done? This is probably the last time for a while - and is the first time I went in the springtime! It was properly gorgeous. Flowers bursting into lusty bloom along streets and in parks, and a beautiful spring temperature. Granted, I caught the flu and was coughing up half a lung the whole time, but thoroughly inspired I was.
Favourite parts of the trip was the cherry blossom park and the trip to Mt Huangshan! Dad and I visited Xi'an as well, that beloved city of noodles, and saw the must-sees - Emperor Xuan Zong and YGF's pools, QSH's tomb (or at least, a theme park-ish replica of it, seeing that the original still remains sealed because of all the apparent mercury inside), the Terracotta warriors, etc. What I loved the most though was riding bikes with Dad on the old city walls. It took us about 1.5 hours to circle the city, and it was a gorgeous day throughout :) I have to come back someday to climb Mt Huashan though - the one with the freaking scary barely-there trails.
April 18 - 22
Met up with dear old colleagues and friends. Got a whole bunch of perspectives, all very interesting. Some about work, but largely about careers - and as I've learnt, these are two things to be looked at and thought about very differently. Though didn't meet everyone I want to, these are definitely wise relationships I hope to keep a long time :) Job hunting ensues.
April 26
Met an interesting fellow and new friend :) Time will tell I guess. (I give deference to Time, the All-Encompassing, while keeping my fingers crossed behind my back.)
April 28
First test for job application. Felt good to be back in action! Basically took the whole day, but thank goodness I didn't need to wait too long for the verdict :D
May 3
Second test and interview. Found out first test indeed did go down well w/ the interviewers! Thankful.
May 4 - today
With one worry out of the way, time to start thinking about all those projects! Freelancing, self-studying, possible CFA, designing, financial education. Not to mention lots of reading and drawing <3 .="" p="">
Tougher, busier times ahead, but with the memory of this well-spent break, I shall try to meet them all head on and make this a worthy Monkey year.
