"What were you doing a year ago?"

It's MEMORIAL DAY today, which means a national holiday in the US, and an extra gain of 1 day for studying for me. :)

Just got a call from Alissa and she had asked me, "Do you remember what you were doing around this time one year ago?"

I thought about it and figured I was in Prague on a business trip, feeling totally excited about being in Eastern Europe and the great career I enjoyed - there's not much places that allow a fresh graduate to zip in and out of a country to evaluate million-dollars investment. In what was 5 seconds, I thought about how the choice I have made in the months following, and how it has brought me on a path of complete divergence now. Choices determine destiny, they say.

Then Alissa poked me further and asked, "Do you remember what you were doing two years ago from today then?" I thought about it, and I knew I was somewhere travelling in Latin America after my Mexican exchange experience; and I wanted to say Chiapas (a border state between Mexico & Guatemala), but somehow, Guatemala came out instead. BINGO, the both of us were in Chiapas and it was Alissa's birthday exactly 2 years ago from today. I had then secretly woken up extra early in the morning (springing up at the first sound of my alarm so I wouldn't wake her up) to walk what was many many many blocks to find fresh berries from the local markets for her birthday breakfast spread. I remembered skipping all the way back with happy thoughts playing, "Alissa loves berries, this is going to be such a surprise!" :)

I thought about how I missed the family whom we rented our little hostal room from and the way tears rolled down my eyes when I had to say goodbye to them - knowing that I will never see the old grandma who had been so kind to us ever again. It also made me realize that probably, I'll no longer react the same way if I have to say goodbye to people now. Having to uproot and relocate so many times in the past year with new people coming in and out of my life has made me more emotionally resilient. It's a double-edged sword. In the process, I have also probably lost part of the child-like innocence and affections I used to have. It's all part of growing up I guess - though I think many of the things we eventually appreciate in life are learned as a child. I think that's also why old friends are gold and especially important to me. Anyway, lest I stray away too long from the books on my desk,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALISSA!!! :)
Thank you for being so very special!

My new idea!

Just stumbled upon a new way to study... :p I took off the mattress from my queen size futon (background) and placed it on my mat and now it becomes softer to sit on to muggggg :) Also took a picture (right) with my crazy study schedule behind me... too much to cram, too little time!

Lessons My Mother Taught Me...

I sent my mom an email + sms and asked her to come check out my blog: so this entry goes out to her! A bit of humour, lots of truth and a "basket" full of thanks! :) HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! I love you!!! Hope you liked the flowers! ^_^

Lessons My Mother Taught Me...

1) My Mother taught me about ANTICIPATION... "You wait! Just wait till Papa comes back!"
2) My Mother taught me about RECEIVING... "You are going to get it when we reach home!"
3) My Mother taught me to MEET A CHALLENGE... "Look at me when I'm talking to you! What nag nag nag?! 你有种就再说多一遍!!?"
4) My Mother taught me about HEALTHY COMPETITION... "Look at _ , _, _, why can't you all be well-behaved like them?" At other times when the situation was less "advantageous" for her, the words became, "Don't compare yourselves to other people ok!"
5) My Mother taught me about FINANCIAL PLANNING... "I give you money doesn't mean you must spend all. Start saving money now, 40 cents a day, $2 a week is more than enough ok!"
6) My Mother taught me about HISTORY... "Many many years ago, when I was your age, I used to...."
7) My Mother taught me to be PROUD OF MY HOUSE "Chalet? Stay what chalet? You got no house to stay is it?!" In my University years, it became, "I don't even see you at home! Whole day business case, business case...You think our house is Bed & Breakfast is it?!"
8) My Mother taught me about GENETICS... "You ..you're just like your father!"
9) My Mother taught me about the WISDOM OF AGE... "我吃的盐比你吃的米多！When you get to my age, you'll understand."
10) My Mother taught me about JUSTICE... "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like YOU...Then you'll know what it's like!" AND FINALLY...
11) My Mother taught me about POWER... "I am YOUR mother, you better listen to ME!"

Thankfully, we know some of the above are only partially true. *Wahaha!!!* :) Mama, thank you for going through a tremendously tough labour to have me (I came out legs first and my mom had to sign this document that stated she'd rather keep me than herself- how noble right), for bearing with my idiosyncrasies through the years, for caring, understanding and loving like no other...

...In particular, there is no way I can enjoy the little "success" I have now if not for your selfless giving. Even though I'm far away right now, I wanted to let you know you'll always remain close to my heart! I can't wait to see you exactly 1 month from now!!! :) We'll go celebrate when you come over! :) For now, big hugs and kisses from across the Pacific Ocean, and ...

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! 你要幸福，快乐喔！

It's just one of those days...

that I decided to turn cranky and mess around with photos :) I blame it on mugging-overdose/ short circuit of the brain. :)




Laughter aside (I also had a good time with self-amusement: that's what happens when you live alone, it's a Friday night and you've been looking at bonds for the past 17 hours), it stemmed from the quite, quite serious bit of wanting to showcase the rest of my life for the next 3/4 weeks- loosely based off the philosophy of: "What gets measured gets done".

Taadaa! My daily study plan for the upcoming exam... deceptively innocuous on a mahjong paper :)



It's really 1 big sheet like the one on the left. But my MacBook's Photo Booth does a mirror image of it, so I have to flip it using the mirror function that creates the photo on the right...which eventually got me to play around with other crazy photos such as the 4 on top :)

Anyway, I am so happy today cos' Bong just called me! :) We had a great chat (again, 1 hour flew by like it was just 10 minutes!!) :) and we discussed our plan of starting microfinancing to contribute to people in Laos and Myanmar (our chosen target markets) as ASEANpreneurs tog with PY n Sue. :p Our conversation also bounced to the topic of why all good men are married. Our conclusion turned out to be: because their wives shaped them (of course the guys deserve credit for committing too!). :) Honestly, there's a higher probability than not that the guys we think make good husbands weren't like that when they first got married. So maybe there's some truth in men aging like wine with the lessons that life, wife and strife brings. :)

It's going to be a while

So it's gg to be a while (3 more weeks!) to my CFA exam...so until then, i don't expect much posts here. I have, however, discovered a new way to study today! My chair is too tiny (I like to sit cross-legged) so now I sit on the floor (rather, on my Aztec calendar mat) and use an empty HP printer box as my table. :) I'm well pleased...;)

So much to do...

Not a lot done. Sometimes I wonder if I'm pushing myself too much. It's a double-edged sword right..because on one hand, it's like life is so short, I want to do the most I can and get the most possible out of it. But on the other hand, because life is so short, I feel like I should be out in the sun, spending quality time with people who matter to me, making an impact and leaving a legacy etc. instead of striving and dating Excel spreadsheets and books for most part of the day. (I still like to read though- I think reading a good book is like having a great conversation with a really bright person that I don't always get to meet) :P

But then... it's like I've committed 2 years of my life to this program that I'm now in - living and working alone overseas, and I want to make sure I'm a better person by the end of these 2 years. I want to make these one of the finest 2 years of my life (especially since age is one those fine things that goes up and never quite comes down :p) So I do my best I can at work, look for opportunities to really add value, try to build up professional/ personal knowledge and awareness, get closer to God, volunteer in the community, hang out with new friends, explore and see the world... And needless to say, it ends up packing for a sardine's life.

Sometimes people tell me, "You're pushing yourself too hard. I feel you should relax abit..stop and smell the roses" and I agree... to a certain extent. But at times, I also feel like I am smelling the roses- it's just that maybe our roses are different. Sometimes, this set me going on a little neglect which may end up breeding great mischief as the world keeps spinning and work keeps swelling. (if you think about it...if work never ends, why bend backwards to finish it?) Most times honestly, I hardly feel stressed out with all that I'm doing cos' I'm enjoying it. That's just the way I am- Leisure time is for doing something useful. That could too much of a utilitarian way of looking at things, but I don't think that is something to be frowned upon. For example my love for photography is useful in enriching myself, gaining new perspectives etc. My hanging out with friends is useful for staying connected, building relationships, being challenged and humbled etc.

But at times when there are deadlines to meet, I invariably end up questioning myself (like now!) on what my purpose is in life. We can go on a philosophical debate about a purpose-driven life but that's not for now. Random muses. Now back to my spreadsheet... -_-"'

Ain't Misbehavin'

The plan to go to Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve didn't work out today due to 2 friends who flaked at the very last minute. I don't mind if people change their mind, but I think it's courtesy to at least inform me beforehand. I then endeavored to make the weekend productive with all the hours I've saved to get a financial model/ case study that I need to complete done but looks like I failed in the first part of the day...I did everything but my actual work- I cooked, went apartment-hunting, finished reading 2 books (George Washington's Law of Civility and The Way to Wealth by Benjamin Franklin and caught a musical!




I seriously love musicals!!! Love 'em so much, I caught my life's first hip hop musical on Thurs - Venice (loosely based off Othello). That made for 2 musicals in a week. LA is such a big city that there's always something happening, somewhere. :) Despite all my tragic monthly encounters, I try to remind myself that I'm lucky to be able to combine professional growth with personal development. ;)



So now it's time to get to real work. Hope to get the model done up asap..it's been taking too long! Btw, I loved reading The Way to Wealth quite alot and ended up googling to see if it was available for free...Read it here!! (Won't take you more than 30mins)

Personality test!

Got bored and decided to try a random personality test:
I'm a O90-C96-E89-A83-N4 Big Five!!

The Way to Wealth

Came by from work early today before night fall. Just decided to lie down, chill and read a good book. So I finished "The Way to Wealth", one of Benjamin Franklin's famous essays in 1 hour ;) In essence, the ideas were:

INDUSTRY:

• Taxes by the government are heavy, but we are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride and four times as much by our folly (WOW!)
• If you love life, then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of (WOW!)
• The sleeping fox catches no poultry
  
• Lost time is never found again
• He who rises late must trot all day- Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise
• There are no gains without pains
• At the working man's house, hunger looks in, but does not enter
• Industry pays debts, while despair increases them
• Plough deep, while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and keep
• Never leave till tomorrow what you can do today
• Little strokes fell great oaks
• Since you are not sure of a minute, do not throw away an hour
• A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two different things

CARE:

• Trusting too much to other's care is the ruin of many
• A man's own care is profitable; for if you want a faithful servant and one that you like - serve yourself

FRUGALITY:

• A fat kitchen makes a lean will
• If you want to be wealthy, think of saving, as well as of earning
• Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship (WOW!)
• Buy what you do not need, and soon you will sell your necessities
• A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees (WOW!)
  
• Always taking out of the pot, and never putting in, one soon comes to the bottom
• If you want to know the value of money, go and try to borrow some
• Pride is as loud a beggar as need (WOW!)
• It is easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it
• Poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue - it is hard for an empty bag to stand upright (WOW!)
  

KNOWLEDGE:

• Experience keeps an expensive school, but fools will learn in no other
  

U can't be robbed of your happiness

30 seconds ago, I have -finally- gotten connected to the internet at home! So HURRAY to blog updates & the ability to go on trading sites. >.<"' I've missed out on so many market rallies because of the inability to get online at work. (the trading sites are all blocked) Ugh.

But for now, something more serious stops me from these- My house was broken into last Mon (!!!) and the burglar(s) (& you thought they only appeared in primary 1 essays!) took away many things (e.g. electronics, watches, bags, wallets, cash, credit cards) and freeformed thousands of dollars on my credit cards. Ughhhhh. >.<''' I was tempted to ask, "Why do so many bad things keep happening to me one after another?" (e.g. unkind folks, car accident, getting a viral infection that left me sick for 3 weeks, house break-in)...And whether it was simply a wrong decision to come to the USA. Then today, revelation struck me. Instead of asking "why", it's more constructive to dissect the matter by asking "how"(yes, age old analytical me that needs an explanation for most things).

"How can I learn to be adaptable under all circumstances?"
"How can I find joy and manage emotions?"
"How can I be resilient?"
"How can I surrender, trust and accept, even if I don't understand?"

It increasingly seems to me like each lesson happens to bring me to the next level that I need to go. I'm a pretty let go, let flow person without much worries but I think these experiences have taught me really not to sweat the small stuff (& to increasingly expand the context of what "small" means!!) Sure, these lessons could have come in kinder forms like learning from the mistakes/ experiences of others - but maybe God wanted to give me a steeper, first-hand learning curve. So anyway, I have digressed from my original point. The burglary has taken up a lot of time from me, from the police reports to looking for a new house so now I have a HUGEEEEEE backlog of CFA studying and work to do...so maybe my blog posts will be sporadic :( Still, I'll stay in touch!!! ^_^

Lesson learned: No one can rob you of your happiness but yourself. :)