Small roundup.

Now that June is coming to an end, I think it’s time I do a bit of round-up on my life here so far:

Januuary 2005:
– Arrived in Shanghai (in the freezing cold, may I add)
– Enjoyed walking around Shanghai
– Started work

February 2005:
– Went to Hangzhou during Chinese New Year
– Worked my lights out for my company’s project 51jiaolian.com
– My first lesson at Fudan University

March 2005:
– Getting that heavy fine for overstaying (and the bargaining in the process)
– Met the CEO of NUS Enterprise
– Went to Oriental Pearl Tower
– Distributed flyers for the first time in my life
– Went for my first ever networking session
– Went to Wuxi
– Mini-crisis at the office

April 2005:
– Met Prof Teo and Jupe in Shanghai
– Did my first community service here in Shanghai
– Went Nanhui to see flowers
– My first confidence crisis since coming to Shanghai
– My first business trip to Hong Kong
– PSP!!!
– Organised my first ever SHEN event: NUS-NTU-NP-FUSSA Night
– Attended the NTU-GIP dinner
– Watched 《雷雨》with Zihui
– Gotten my own domain http://www.kubicwave.com
– Took the direct train from Shanghai to Beijing
– Went to Shijiazhuang and saw my aunt and her family

May 2005:
– Took a domestic flight in China for the first time from Beijing to Hohhot
– Went to Inner Mongolia and Shanxi during the Mayday holidays
– Reformatted my laptop for the first time in 3 years
– Fell in love with a wrong person, conjured up enough guts and still failed again
– Went for my second business trip, this time to Kunshan
– Had my second confidence crisis
– Almost stupidly ended a friendship
– Went for a hair colouring job
– My first and second rides on the MagLev
– Met the very interesting people from MS
– Met Rena in Shanghai
– My third business trip: accompanying the MS people to Hangzhou
– Met Prof Kau for a discussion on the Startup Business Case
– Elected Min Chuan to become the next SHEN president
– Applied for my Shanghai Library membership card
– Met with some big-shots in the financial industry

June 2005:
– Went to Hangzhou for the third time to see the CICAF
– Took a wrong train
– Went for a dim sum buffet, as recommended by Edwin – thanks matey!
– My fourth business trip to Hangzhou (and my fourth trip to Hangzhou overall)
– Walked home from Xintiandi
– Saw sunrise at the Bund
– Took my first exam at Fudan University
– Completed the SHEN website in time for D&D
– Completed the D&D video in time for… erm… D&D
– D&D
– Had my third confidence crisis
– My fifth business trip: this time to Beijing
– Witnessing the flag lowering ceremony at Tian’anmen Square
– Witnessing the scorching weather in Beijing – 38 degrees!
– Farewell dinner for NCS2
– Company outing to Hangzhou (and my fifth trip there overall)
– Finally getting over her (and with it being a very calm process – I was just telling myself “I don’t love her anymore”)

From what you can see, it’s safe to say that actually my life here is getting more and more eventful as the time goes, so I guess I’m actually really having a good time here in Shanghai. Of course there are a lot of ups and downs, but that’s all part and parcel of a leading a life on my own. Sometimes I think I tend to be too childish and temperamental, and in the process making people unhappy with me. And then there are times that I’m too naive, thinking that people will treat me nicely as long as I do to them. And then there are times I really thought that I’ve had enough of everything, but it turns out to be just one of those random tests that the almighty one is doing on me. And then there are times when I thought I’ve found the one, but it turns out to be just one of the many. Life is full of unknowns and it’s all about how we handle them. I’m sure I haven’t been handling it well enough, that’s why I have those confidence crises that I had. But life is a constant learning process – I guess I won’t learn as much if I try to evade from all these. I can’t be just enjoying the ups, but I must learn to handle the downs. I will need to try to make everyone happy, but I know sometimes I have to make myself happy. I know I’m not going to do myself justice if I were to say that I hate it here in Shanghai, because in actual fact I really love this place. All these talk about me missing home probably comes when I’m really having mental struggles, and to be honest, if given a choice, I would still have come to Shanghai. From now on, I’d just have to focus on things that are ahead of me. It’s safe to say that people like my boss is giving me a lot of chances to do big things, and I simply can’t disappoint her with all these irresponsible personal thoughts.

Sometimes it just feels so good to be able to look back on the past, straighten my thoughts and move on with life. I’ve got half a year left here in Shanghai. It would be over before I know it, so before I do, I’m going to live my life to the maximum here. I’ll enjoy whatever there is to enjoy, play to the fullest, work to my best abilities, and I want to be able to say that “I have a helluva time in Shanghai” when I eventually board the plane to return to Singapore in December.

To all my friends here in Shanghai: I would probably need all your support. It matters not what kind of disagreements we may have in the past, but as long as we are all willing to help one another in this foreign land, I shall be eternally grateful. There are times that perhaps I’m not the best person to work or hang around with, that I seek your understanding. If you feel that I deserve a bashing, please by all means do.

And please help me God.