Origami

Taking some time off to blog about this girl I met at Origami (I find this more meaningful than blogging about my frustrated day at work).

Origami is a fine dining restaurant in Ridgedale, Minneapolis. The food there is quite good, but of cuz I'm not going to talk about the food here. Anyway I went there for dinner once, and it was where I saw this girl who was working there. And this girl just took my breathe away.. She is one of those whom you can say possesses a face of an angel and a figure of a devil. All the time I was there, I'm thinking how it would feel like if I have a girlfriend like her. I stole a few looks at her now and then, and sometimes I think she caught me looking at her.. haha.. When our eyes met, somehow I don't feel comfortable. I feel weird. Why do I feel so intense about a girl whom I just met less than 10 min ago, and whom I have no idea what lies beyond that pretty face?

Thern there is this other girl who I would like to mention here. She works at Aeropostale at Albertville. I met her the day after Origami. I bought a few things from there, and had the privilege of having two conversations with her. Both times she stuck me as a friendly and easy-going person. She's not the type who you would classified as good-looking, but there's something about her that attracts me. I feel very comfortable when talking to her, even though my English isn't very good. It is not just good customer service; I think it's more about her personality.

It was then that started me thinking. Who am I really looking for? Am I looking for someone with a pretty face, or someone with more than that? What's really important? In a long term relationship, having your other half who has 'eye-candy' qualities is not really important. In fact, I don't think it's sustainable at all. I used to like this girl and gave in to her most of the time, but at the end of the day it's just isn't sustainable. I think what's really important is a mutual understanding of one another. I may still do not know what is truly important, but at least I know what is unimportant now.

After that day, I suddenly thought of this girl in our Accenture office. She's from the HR department. I don't know her well, and have just spoken to her a few times at the lift. (In fact, I don't know her name yet). I then made a resolution to ask her for her name the next time I see her in the office. Sadly, I didn't have a chance to go back to the office, since I'm posted to this project in KL right after I reach Singapore. Hope will have a chance to meet her again.,somewhere, sometime, and soon. But lesson learnt: next time I won't be so shy anymore.. haha

Steven King

Today marks my first complete day in Singapore, after my vacation and my business trip. Took a two-week break, then went to KL on a project. Only stayed in Singapore for 7 hours the last time I was back, so am really glad I can spend time with my friends and family here.

Today is quite a hectic day. Woke up at 10am and then get dressed up for Bryan's wedding. It is pretty much what a person can expect from any other weddings, except for one particular thing. You know that during weddings, the groom, and sometimes the bride, will say a few words to the people who are attended the wedding. Well, Bryan gave a speech (I don't think he prepared it beforehand), and it was one of the best speeches ever (this coming from an ex-toastmasters, you should be honored Byran, haha)! It was humurous and sincere, and everyone in the audience got his message. Well-done Bryan! And hope to be working with you again if we have a chance. :) (it's good to know insider-information. haha, why do i always manage to find out about such things.. hehe)

Today some of my ex-project mates told me that they have been reading my blog. Good to hear that and thanks for saying that it is interesting *blushing*. Well guys, if you are reading this, hey leave some comments then we can keep in touch this way. Especially since we met up so seldom. And hey, maybe we can even have a mini-intellectual discussion here! ;) But of course I don't want to frighten you guys off, it's ok even if you leave stupid comments. =p

Steven King once wrote a novel online. He put the first chapter online for all to read, free-of-charge. And then, every month, he would upload the next chapter online for all to read again. But there is a catch: he will only upload the next chapter only if a minimum number of readers pay a small sum of money each. So if you enjoy the first chapter, you have to pay $1 to the fund. And if the fund exceeds a pre-defined amount, he will post the next chapter online for all to read.

Well, we can do the same thing in my blog. Guys, if you want to read my next blog, pls post your comments and when I have 5 comments, I will post my next blog. C'mon, it's gonna cost you nothing. ;)

Until next time, adios amigos!

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Haha, we can get wiser by either making mistakes and learning from them, or by learning from the mistakes of others. I'm just kidding about what I said above. Just some food for thoughts on how the world would be a better place if everyone becomes a little more civic-minded and just start doing small things on our part. Together we can move mountains.
For the record, Steven King did not manage to finish the novel due to lack of paying readers. And similarly, I'm not going to take the number of comments posted as a consideration of whether to blog or not. Afterall, we are all blogging for ourselves and no one else right? ;)

Friends and Origami

Back from a long vacation, and would like to blog about this trip. This trip was a little sudden, and I am very very lucky to be able to have my leave approved. Special thanks to my team leads Alex and Alid; and to my team mates, Shruti and Esther, who covered up for me during my absence. It has been a good project, would be nice if I get to know them better.

Anyway, back to my trip. First stop, Minneapolis. Minneapolis is a very quiet place, nothing much to do. It is however a very good place to retire in. I enjoy the quiet and peaceful times there. Good to be somewhere where I don't need to worry about work. Of all the trips I have taken, this is the first one which I have voluntarily stayed away from my phone. Usually when I go overseas, I would be hoping to receive phone calls or sms from Singapore. Kind of like the feeling of being connected to Singapore, or maybe the feeling of knowing that someone is looking for me. This trip however, I don't really care if anyone is looking for me or whatsoever. Think this is a good thing. Afterall, there's not really anyone whom I was hoping will call me or something. Anyway, something to add: I don't understand why there are people who call me, but simply do not sms me when I don't pick up the phone. C'mon, if it's important, pls sms me instead of just calling and getting no answer. The feeling of not caring too much about what other people think of you is good...

Some highlights of the Minneapolis stay is:
1) I did a LOT of shopping. And I mean A LOT!! Didn't have a chance to sum up how much I spent, but I think it's almost close to 1k.. No more shopping for me in the near future man..
2) I met Oscar again!! And I met Eva, his gf. So glad to be able to meet Oscar again. Didn't expect we would see each other so soon. It's a regret that I can't visit him at Wisconsin this time. If only I knew how to drive.. :(
3) Speaking of driving, I drove for the first time in my life in Minneapolis!! I can't believe my sis allowed me to drive her car!! Haha, that's the difference between family and friends. Dave and Oscar had never once let me sit behind the steering wheel.. haha

After Minneapolis, I went to Tokyo for a few days. Since we are going to pass by Tokyo, and since mom has never been there before, why not stop over there? And that's what we did. Special thanks to Yohei for helping us get the wonderful hotel at Shinjuku. If Minneapolis is a retirement house, Tokyo is a stock exchange place. The pace of life is so fast there that it is stressful even to watch the people.

This tokyo trip is very special, because it feels like being home. Every day I was there I was never alone. Yohei and Yuko was nice to come to the airport to welcome us. The train ticket easily cost them $40 each way!! Man, they shouldn't have come..
On our second day, Atsushi-san was very kind to drive us to the subsurbs to visit a volcanic region as well as a shrine. Took him 3 hours to reach there, and 5 hours back due to a nasty traffic jam. :(
Santoshi-san joined us for dinner. Good to see him again!! Had raw liver (chicken I think), as well as raw pork for the first time. Interesting, but a little scary. But the raw pork is very nice! Can't remember the name for it though.. :$

On the third day, Suzanne showed us around tokyo old town. Haven't seen her for three years, and we chatted a lot that day. Very kind of her to spend the whole day with us. Misato and Yuko joined us for dinner later. Good to see Misato again. Been 3 years, and I think her English has improved a lot. But she still have the habit of talking to me in Japanese.. haha, fortunately this time I can understand a little bit more. Thanks to Yuko for organizing this get-together.
Managed to met up with Mr Higuchi and his wife and his two beloved pets later that night. Good to see old friends again.

On the fourth day, we went to Kamakura. Thanks to our guide (whom I am obligated to not identify), we had a great day there! Excellent guide and friend. After which, had dinner at a friend's place. It is definitely one which I would always remembered. Again, can't give details due to my commitment to my friend :(

We left Japan on Sunday with wonderful memories and incountable debts to our wonderful friends in Japan. Hope to see them in Singapore, so that I can return the hospitality. =)


PS: As for Origami, time to sleep.. Maybe next time..