In this new year (2012 that is!), wondering if there should be a more focused conversation that should happen here. Had attempted to do so with the other blog (interacty.com) but it did not persevere and, hence, had also been neglected quite a bit in 2011.

What shall I do here?

2 key take away:

1. Opportunity – the best time to get something done is when one is young
2. 3 years – you only need to get through the first 3 years to know if you will be a success or not

Looking on the past year, I really have so much to be thankful and grateful for.

Professionally – Working at Razorfish, I have had the great opportunity to work on many top Global brands, which I would probably not have had the opportunity if I had remained in Singapore. The clients I worked with are all digitally savvy and involved in making the internet an bigger marketing channel. The RF team is extremely fun & talented bunch of people. My direct team has been supportive and also has that passion for all things digital. (So, no playing guitar to a cow!) My bosses are understanding besides providing many avenues for learning and growth, is also a great mentor to me for my personal development.

Looking forward, my goal is to win an International Award for a campaign within the next 1 year. I do not have a clear roadmap as yet, but I hope that when I begin to discuss this with the larger team, they will share this same goal.

Personally – I am grateful for dear Fionna who has been supportive and there for me all the time. Without her care and consideration, I am definitely certain that things would be very different for me. Most people might now that I am happily engaged and looking forward to my marriage registration this Oct, and a customary the following Oct. Also, thankful for supportive parents who make it a point to come and visit me here in Shanghai, occasionally bringing over the Singapore goodies, so I do not miss food from back home.

I do look forward to many more years here in Shanghai & RF.

Waking up late, having good meals, cooking up home-cooked food, meeting up with friends, shopping … basically that was it … EXCEPT for a little misadventure …

Went to Carefour last Friday to get a bicycle. We had thought about it for a bit and wanted to get a bicycle so that we could cycle around Shanghai in the great weather. Picked a bicycle that was tall enough so that a passenger could ride behind. Picked out a nice basket to fit in front.

We decided to cycle back from Zhong Shan, which wasn’t too far from our house … mid-way … fionna’s slippers got caught in the back wheel and at the same time scrapped off the skin of her right leg … it was terrible, because we were no where near home and it was a dark back alley. We waited for a cab so that fionna could get home. The taxi did not allow the bicycle on, so fionna went ahead first to the hospital to get her wound cleaned. I cycled on behind and reached the hospital as well.

The guards at the hospital did not allow me to bring my bike into the compound, said I had to leave it outside. However, the new bike’s lock was with Fionna. So, I ran in to get the lock and dashed out to lock the bike. Little did I know that I had locked the wrong bike. When we were done at the hospital and went out to get the bike, I realized that I had locked the wrong bicycle and that my bike was no longer there.

Apparently, in few minutes that I ran in to get the lock, the bicycle was stolen … sighs … bike was stolen within an hour of purchase … Welcome to China!

Anyway, the holiday is kind of over and it was a good break, though I am getting a slight cough which is quite irritating. Hope to get well soon .. no more break till Oct …

Ok, hope you all have fun too.

To my pleasant surprise it was going at a X’mas/CNY promotion. I got it at SGD 599 (UP SGD 749).

Enjoy my sweet sound!

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This year, I followed Fionna and her mum to Penang to visit her relatives (her dad’s side). Met her grandma, aunties and uncles and experienced a really old-school, traditional way of living that I had only seen before in movies. Her cousin, a-pin, was most helpful driving us around Penang and to all the different tourist attractions (Kek Lok Si, Penang Hill, Sleeping Buddha Temple, etc). Her big auntie was also most kind to let us stay in her “holiday” condominium by the sea. Basically, besides visiting, it was just eating good food and visiting attractions.Unfortunately, I caught a diarrhea on the 2nd last day and my tummy is still aching. I suspect it was to do with the food I ate, mainly Chiam Chiaim – sticks of fruits/food which you pick off a tray and dip into a huge bowl of prawn paste rojak sauce. The fruits were clean and all, but the problem, I believe was the huge bowl of dipping sauce which was shared among everyone!

My tummy growls …

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Things go wrong mostly because of human errors. Yet human errors are most easily committed, especially when something is not important enough to care about. To be detailed in what you do you need extra effort. No one is born with the gift being perfect at getting things done. They take the effort and put in the hard work to think the next step and to think about what could go wrong and ensure that those things do not go wrong.

A tad heavy for a 1st day of new year post, but I just needed to get it out. The country where I work, seem to lack people who are willing to think that extra step. My mentor told me that if you only think of 1 more step, that extra next step, you would already be ahead of 70% of the rest. Think about that!

In July 2009, I began a new chapter of life in Shanghai. Leaving Singapore then was both a little scary and I had some apprehensions. It was a new place (although I had been here on a 1 year internship before, this was for real) and a new job in a totally different environment which I had been used to.

After exactly 6 months (today is the actual date), I must say that I am enjoying myself in Shanghai. At work, the client I have been exposed to has been phenomenal and the potential and opportunity for work is tremendous for the clients on hand. Thanks a lot to my current employer and my clients for being such wonderful entities that they are.

On a personal note, I moved over to Shanghai, also to be with my gf and I must say that the past 6 months of living together has been very fulfilling and enriching.

I am happy for the big steps that have been taken both professionally and personally. I look forward to a wondrous 2010 where they will be even more opportunities to break through and grow.

Here’s also wishing all a blessed and wonderful New Year ahead in 2010.

Have found a beautiful apartment in the middle of Shanghai city, on Fumin Road, which has loads of good restaurants and is super convenient as a location. Unfortunately, it is a 1 room apartment, so I have to clarify that I do not have rooms for guest.

Started work for almost 3 weeks now. Work is exciting and going great. It is a whole new challenge working in China, but things seem fine. I have 2 very great clients and I look forward to doing great work for both of them. (Or, 3 of them … ) Colleagues are also cool, though I must say that I do miss the cool bunch of people back at Qais as well. (“,)

I’m typing this in the office while I wait for the development of my website to be launch. I am starving, cos’ I refuse to order “wai mai” rather I want to go back and eat some nice, but trashy food! hahahah!

I’ll be meeting Kobe Bryant tomorrow in Shanghai. (Courtesy of my job) Looking forward to it, even though I barely knew who he was 3 weeks ago.

Totally missed the eclipse that took place on Tuesday, due to the horrible rain in Shanghai. I’ll just have to wait another 300 years for the sun to disappear.

K, folks … wish you all good health and sleep tight!