So this is post where I cover the highlights of my year. Usually, I do a run through the past year, closing the pages on a couple of things and giving my final thoughts.
But I thought how boring that would be (and honestly, am quite tired to do so as well). Hence, the change and hopefully it will be just as good.
So my Top 5 Highlights of Year 2009.
#1. Being with the Juju's :)
This would be Juju 3
And my ever so attractive, Juju 1.
I have no idea how we got about coining the term "Juju" for the three of us without making it sound stupid or lame. Alright fine, maybe it is kinda stupid and lame and so 13 year old, but it's cute and it gives me this sense of togetherness with the rest of them.
Gambling
I remember countless night spent with the both of them while I type away furiously on my laptop, in attempt to finish my assignments that semester. And when it was time to take a break, we'd revert to camwhoring, laughing or Hotel626.
Remember that, guys? :) Good times.
Let's try to keep 2010 that way. Filled with more laughter, good company and making memories that will last us a lifetime. Put differences and drama aside. I think our friendship goes beyond that and it'd be a sad story if it'd ever come to an end.
Yeahhh haha
#2. MAC in Sabah. Whaddup, East Malaysiaaaa!
My first time to Sabah happened in 2009. It was the perfect post finals holiday I have ever had. An entire week of sun, sand and seas? Only times like these I love the tropical country we live in.
So so soooo excited to leaavveeeee for all the sun in the worldddd!
Hanging at the beach the entire day with my muffin, Michelle.
Sabahans are awesome, alright! We only tease you so much because we're jealous.
Come on, you guys got it good over there!
Spending the night in a resort.
Such bliss :)
I just want to take this opportunity to extend all the thank you's in the world to Michelle and her entire family who took us in for that one week and made us feel so comfortable in their home. Not hesitating to go that extra mile for us, though it was not necessary at all! Spending time and getting to know all of you made our trip that much better and even more memorable for us. Thank you, once again, sooo muchhh.
Send my love to this big boy now.
We not only soaked up the sun, but we got the chance to stay a night by the great Kinabalu mountain. Weather up there was beautiful.
Gunung Kinabalu!
What's a holiday without the noms, no?
Sunrise/sunset.
Saying goodbye to that gem of a place was hard.
I want to go back there someday!
Thank you, Michelle for giving us the chance to visit your home and the place you love so much. Now I know why you get so homesick every time you come back for the new semester! Haha. Leaving such a place is not a fun thing. Plus, it's your hometown yo, with friends. But you have me, here in KL! KL is far from topping KK though haha.
Bring me back someday, yeah?! :)
#3. Summer of '09 in South Dakota
My first glimpse of SoDak.
It had nothing but campfires.
Wide open spaces.
And buffaloes.
Lots and lots of buffaloes.
Why was it the highlight of my year? Because I have grown to love campfires, the wide open spaces and yes, even the buffaloes.
In SoDak, I met some of the world's greatest people.
Carmie.
The sister I never had. What would I have done without you?
Thank you for the Chinese food, for your infectious giggles, for your never ceasing humor, for your spirit, for the life in you.
You are truly god sent.
Chanaenae!
I don't know where to start with you. You have the kindest heart I have ever seen. And one of the prettiest smiles in the world, just so you know.
You lighted up my summer in so many ways.
Thank you for the heart to hearts over hot teas and all the amazing words you have said to me.
I love you!
Urbashi, my crazy party bitchhh.
I am flying out to New Jersey next summer just to party with you, woman.
Dance parties in the rec room were not the cleanest of deals last summer but boy did we have fun.
Send me a box of condoms, if you must ;)
Corey
I had so many nicknames for you when I first go to know you. You were a breath of fresh air, something completely different than what I was used to breathing.
I'm thankful we crossed paths. Thank you for teaching me what's it like to be cared.
I miss you and hopefully, we'll see each other again someday :)
Our sexy road trip two-door Mustang.
I miss this baby, don't you girls?
San Francisco as the icing on the cake.
Another city I could possibly find myself living in someday.
I could open an entire blog to my time spent in the United States. This brief summary does not do it any justice whatsoever. It was life altering, so to speak. The people and the memories I've made there are held like precious stones within me.
Yes, I left my heart in America.
#4. Aerosmith at Sturgis 2009!
Honestly, need I say more?
Biggest stage I've laid eyes on.
That was CRAZY day. Definitely making it onto this list of mine. The crowd was amazing. Bikers, biker chicks EVERYWHERE. I cannot even put to words the rock and roll scene out there. Intense? SUPER. It was like a little piece of heaven on Earth, in a very messed up way, if you know what goes on out at Sturgis.
Nonetheless, it was worth every.single.penny. No regrets whatsoever.
The trio!
My own sugar daddy HAHA.
I kid, I kid.
Wanting to fit in! :D
Lars! The original SoDak friend, though you're from Iowa!
Cornfields all the way, eh? haha.
Thanks for everything you've done for me. From driving us out there, to making me a totally radd birthday card, to nursing me on the night I totally passed out by the campfire.
You're such a blessing!
It's coming....
....wait for ittttt...
(did I mention how crazy the crowd was yet?)
OH MY GODDDDD STEVEEENNN TYLERRRR IN THE FLESHHHHH!
I can die happy now.
THE best concert I've ever been to in my life. Got to watch Saving Abel earlier too. Another amazing band. They wowed me, seriously.
I'd do everything all over again in a heartbeat. Bring me back toooo Sturgisssssss.
#5. Starbucks
When I first started getting part time jobs back at the tender age of 16, I'd long so much to work in a coffee house and to be a barista behind the bar serving young professionals and higher class women their coffee during their hi-teas. The job appeared to have this sense of class and professionalism, as if making coffee was only reserved for special people, with special qualities.
Put it in my words, as how I'd usually explain it to people, I thought working in Starbucks was super "glam".
After being with the company for almost 4 months now, I really really beg to differ. Glam and Starbucks don't ever go in the same sentence.
I'm not sure if I would regard being a part of Starbucks as a highlight of my year, but it has inevitably made some changes in my life. For one, I now know the proper name of each size of the cups in the store and how many ounces they actually are.
I also do happen to know a lot more but I'm not gonna rant about all my coffee making knowledge on here.
Photo credit: Yuan Wei.
Photo credit: Sheerah Teo
Photo credit: Amir
Tall decaf double shot vanilla soy latte with whipped cream on top?
Sure.
Working with this company has been really different. The working environment, the rules, the entire feel of it is not what I'm used to. But I've been sticking it out until now because for every bad day, there's bound to be a good day.
But if there's one thing I have grown to love, it would be the people I work with. If it were not for them, I would seriously dread going to work every single day. Thank God for their smiles and their optimism. It really gives me the drive I need.
My beloved partners & our awesome 6am's.
It's an unchanging fact that every job has it's up and downs. Working in a store that emphasizes so much on customer satisfaction can be very exhausting, both physically and mentally. But for now, I'm comfortable with this and it syncs well with my current lifestyle.
So highlight or not, I have not decided, but it's definitely something new in my life, and it happened in 2009!
There you are. My Top 5 Highlights of Year 2009. It's been a whirlwind of events, experiences and excitements. 2009 brought a lot to my platter and I have learned so much from this past year. Yes, I did grow up in so many ways. I traveled a lot and I gained so much more new insights to so many things in life.
I got hurt, I hurt. I cried, and I made cry. I laughed alone, I laughed together and I laughed without. It's been a messy concoctions of emotions throughout the past 12 months and I am so glad everything happened the way it did. I had my regrets but I don't dwell on them.
I haven't changed much though. I have my core intact. If there's anything to bring forth from 2009, it would be just solidifying myself as an individual. I don't claim to know myself completely, just claiming to knowing myself better. It's an ongoing process and I'm in no hurry to look for any answers.
Though much has happened to me in the past year, there are still some things that never change. Some things that I come home to that make me feel as if I have never left in the first place. I cannot guarantee it's place but for now, I embrace it before it's all gone completely.
Thank you, 2009 and bring it on, 2010!