Career Dreams

A sudden realization hit me this evening. I better write this down before I forget it..

I realized my ultimate dream career would be a journalist for something casual, like the 24 Hours newspaper. My current job has made me fall in love with words even more, but I know I lack the professionalism in putting them together eloquently.

I have always loved reading and writing from a young age, and still do. I remember I used to make dozens of little "books" in elementary school and fill them up with words as I dreamed of being an author when I grew up.

Now, I do not want to write books. I just want to write for a living. With my current editing experience, I wonder what kind of future I can go after. If I become rich, I might go for a journalism degree and learn to write better.

My job has two sides: the financial side and the language side. I certainly am more interested in the language side, especially because English is such a whimsical, fun language to play around with, at the same time being so expressive about emotions and feelings. Financial stuff? Not for me.

I find it almost repulsive to study how people are manipulating something that does not actually exist -- MONEY. People try so hard to earn more and more, but ultimately it's a never-ending ceiling they are trying to reach. Why not just sit back and watch the world go by, spending a little more time thinking about just, thoughts?

We live in a materialistic world. I have said this numerous times, I really do not need money to be happy. Just enough to live by, and derive happiness from simple things like viewing breathtaking scenery or feeling the ocean breeze by the beach.

Someday, I'd like to follow the journalist career path. :)

Live life, spend money

A coworker always talks nonsense and makes useless remarks, but one of his nonsensical statements actually got me thinking and writing this post.

He always asks, "So Nikki, you make all this money; where are you going to find the time to spend it?" I always give him a useless answer or just ignore and continue with my work, but now that I give it more than 5 seconds of thought, it is a really important answer to ponder about.

True, I make enough money to pay rent, buy groceries, pay bills.. Basically, enough to survive. More than enough, I'll say.. I put away almost half of every paycheque and it's just sitting in the bank account. At some point in time, I'll probably have to give a portion to it to my parents (they've been asking me! Can you believe that?!), but I'm still hoping to save up for our future in Canada.

Living standards are high in Vancouver, one of the most livable cities in the world (fell from No. 1 spot already, but still No. 1 in my heart).. It certainly is important to save up for a house, probably a car, and most importantly, to start a family. I may still feel young but it's about time to start planning (or at least giving it a thought) about these things.

But contradicting my own previous statement, it is also important to know when to spend my hard-earned money. As they saying goes, "If tomorrow never comes.." What are you going to do if it was the end of the world and you don't even have a chance to enjoy life and reward yourself?

I used to be very tight with my money, never eating out unless I am hanging out with friends, deter myself from buying pointless things, etc.. But the boyfriend has encouraged me to spend more on the things that I like to make myself happy. I used to think that was bad news for my bank account, because money would hypothetically flow out faster than it flows in.

But now, he's the one keeping a vigil eye on his bank account because he put away some savings.. That kind of makes two of us who are saving our money. Now I'm more used to spending, it's kind of strange to be holding back again. I realized the difficult task of spending to make yourself happy and yet keep track of what you are spending and saving.

These days we don't eat out as much because school has started and he's so busy! That also means less activities and date nights, but we did so much in summer it's time for a break!

This might have gone a little sidetracked, but I realize that as I keep earning money, I should also keep spending to reward myself once in a while, at the same time put away enough for our future.. Spending money is not a rational action, so you have to make it justifiable most of the time and keep irrational spending to a minimum.

I'm glad that I still do not wish for branded clothes/bags/accessories.. Back to the topic, I think I value my free time more now that I am so swamped with work days.. I spend all these time working, so I should also find free time to enjoy myself, instead of squirreling away all this money. Work is important, but knowing when to spend your money is more important.

Boris Gardiner - I Want To Wake With You

Boris Gardiner - I Want To Wake With You

I want to wake up with you
I want to be there when you open your eyes
I want you to be
The first thing that I see
I want to wake up with you

I want lay by your side, baby
I want to feel every beat of your heart
And throughout the night
I want to hold you tight
I want to wake up with you

All the love inside me has been sleeping
Waiting till the right one came along
You can share the love that I have been keeping, baby
You can put the music to my song

I want to wake up with you
I want to reach out and know that you're there
I want you to be
The first thing that I'll see
I want to wake up with you

And throughout the night
I want to hold you tight
I want to wake up with you
All the love inside me has been sleeping
Waiting till the right one came along
You can share the love I have been keeping
You can put the music to my song

I want to wake up with you
I want to reach out and know that you're there
I want you to be
The first thing that I'll see...

-- Because you're the only one I want to wake up with ♥ I love you so much...

Back after 8 months?

Sorry for going missing for errr... practically 8 months? I didn't really realize how much I blogged here before.. The whole entire reason why I went missing is of course... WORK.

I managed to find a job that is what I like to do and have thought of doing, which turned out to be great. It was a whole new experience, but I settled in very quickly. I like the paperless environment, non-personal communication. I can't say that I like the early hours of 6am, but I can't say I dislike getting off at 2pm.

Making more money makes me realize how busy life can get, and earning money is not the main purpose. We have to get out and enjoy life, breathe the crisp air and bask in the beautiful sunshine. Money is also meant to be spent, and I did that with a lovely 2-week vacation back home. It was a short time, but it was enough to make me realize Vancouver is the place I want to be.

Many many life realizations have come to me in the last few months, but I haven't had any time to pen down my thoughts. Maybe I ought to start again, so that one day I can look back and wonder why I was at that stage and learn lessons from myself.

Off to meet some friends for dinner! But I will be back! I have all these thoughts in my brain that I would like to declutter and sort them out. Till next time, ciao!

The rest of the 30 Day Challenge

Oops, 3 months later, and I continue my 30 Day Challenge.. LOL! So much for doing it every day!~ Let's just do the later half all at once now! I am so funny~~

Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play

I don't listen to music on my iPod.. I listen to music on the radio :D

Day 16- Another picture of yourself

Too lazy to post pics already :D

Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why

Hmm, this is interesting to think about.. I cannot think of any right now...

Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have

Learn Italian! Learn Korean! Get married! Be Canadian! Take great photos with my (new!) DSLR! So much to do, so much laziness :S

Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them

Chunz: The secondary school gang; we all have some part of our names, and we add a 'z' to the end.. Just sounded so much cooler yo. And then we used Zebra marker to write it on the cement floor at the "hole", our secret hideout during recess.. Sadly we cannot go to revisit these memories, since the old campus has been torn down..

Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future

I don't want to jinx it.. Y'all should know who it is ;)

Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy

No pictures, but sunshine and blue skies make me happy :)

Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else

I don't like things that are too popular... Examples would be Jay Chou, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga..

Day 23- Something you crave for a lot

Sushi! Chocolate!

Day 24- A letter to your parents

Hi parents,

We sure are an odd family.

Love, your only child

Day 25- What I would find in your bag

Wallet, 3 X Lanyards (one each for camera, keys, bus pass), phone (but usually in my pocket) -- these are the standard things..
Not-so-standard things range from: Candy, tissue, pad, lipstick, phone charger..

Day 26- What you think about your friends

Friends? What friends?

Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge

Wanted to test my perseverance (obviously an epic fail), thought it would be an interesting road of self discovery, and boredom.

Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?

My looks haven't changed much.. I have opened my heart to love again and I now feel like the luckiest girl on earth ;)

Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned

- Jobhunting is not easy.
- Having endless jobless days is torturing.
- Unemployment is not fun.

Day 30- Who are you?

Why do you want to know who I am? I don't even know who I am.

HAHAHA DONE! Half-arsed answers, I know! I just want to get this over and done with!!! :P

Goodbye, 2010 ♥

Happy New Year to all!!! It's 2011, and today's a special day: 1/1/11!!! :)

Let's recap 2010, shall we? I'm sure everyone agrees with me that it went by way too fast! First of all, I am so glad I had someone special this year and it's been wonderful to have someone beside me and there for me.. Thank you and I hope 2011 will be another great year for us!

Let's do a recap...

January

Spent time with a very special person, whom I grew more and more fond of, and had the most number of birthday meals ever (4! with different groups of people!).. It was a memorable birthday year, turning 22!

February

Olympic Games or the start of a very special journey, I can't decide which one is more life-changing.. Haha... It would be the first (and possibly last) time I'll ever have such an opportunity to see the Games very up close and with my own eyes.. And earn money while doing that! And it was a very wonky Valentine's Day, but I'm glad everything turned out great.. Also the year that V-Day coincided with the first day of Chinese New Year..

March/April

Went on with school, not much exciting things and exams were BLAH. Almost thought I was going to fail the course my favourite professor taught, was very relieved that my student life at UBC had ended on a graceful note.

May

The first time going to the Canadian Rockies, saw many beautiful natural sights, mountains, glaciers, lakes.. I HAVE TO GO BACK during the summer some day. It would also be a first vacation together for us, so it is especially sentimental.. Really wish I can go to explore more of inner BC's nature..


And of course, my graduation ceremony! It was drizzling a bit but it still turned out picture-perfect! It is a siginificant milestone in my life, isn't it?

June

Spent the sunny days going to many places around Vancouver, seeing more new sights and hidden gems in the city. Explored a lot, took a lot of pictures; this is just one of them. Many beautiful sunsets, endless blue skies, cotton white clouds...

July

Finally found a place I now call home, living with the best family anyone can ask for (3 young kids, and the cat above who sits in the flower box). I have a nice big room to put all my junk, and it screams LOCATION all over! Nice neighbourhood, 10 minutes to groceries, 10 minutes to UBC, direct bus to Downtown, I don't want to move out anymore!

August

Alone in Vancouver for a month, spending evenings on Skype. (Thank you technology!) On the bright side, time passed fast with my first full-time job, even though it was a temporary one. I settled well into it, tried not to make too many complaints and stay positive, ended staying there for 4 months instead of 4 weeks.

September

Baked a cake and celebrated a special 21st birthday for the special someone, it turned out semi-disastrous but still edible. Hey, it's the thought that counts right? :D

October

Not much happening, just regular work and date nights on some weeks. What a bore work turns you into huh! Actually lost my job for the long weekend and then they called me back. That was something. Oh, got a short short haircut too! Hello bangs again!

November

Got our first crazy Vancouver snowfall, ridiculously sub-zero weather for a couple days. It was sunny and snowy, too bad didn't get to play in the snow at all. But everyone was thankful when the snow was finally gone, as it was becoming quite a nuisance than a pretty sight.

December

The month for joy and festivities, and my job assignment ended. I try to stay positive and enjoy it as much as possible. Ate lots of good food, went to lots of good places, visited many Christmas sights in the city, met up with some friends. It was a great month!

My 2010 was the best year anyone can ask for, all I hope that 2011 will be even better or equally as good! :)