I'm doing my 4th load of laundry now and I've finished doing the house chores that I'd planned to do. Hmmm, I've still got most of the day ahead of me. Julia, one of my lifegroup (bible study group) girls is in Nelson at the mo. YAY! I'm excited. Will be hanging out with her this afternoon. We've decided to go to Rabbit Island.
I love Nelson. It's so beautiful. Dunedin just doesn't compare. Although, Dunedin does have a great student life :)
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Friday, December 29, 2006
working
The restaurant has been very busy so I've been busy. It was flat out today. I'm tired. Day off tomorrow though. yay :) Hmmm, how I long to do laundry. I'm not having much of a social life but that's ok. Been hanging out with mum. Catchin up - good times.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
First day on the job
Michelle (our Richmond manager) is sick at the moment so I'm working instead of her. She's been working for mum for about a year and has improved tremendously over this period. Work was good today. I enjoyed it and the time went by fairly quickly. I suspect that working for my mum for the next few weeks will bring the perfectionist out of me again. It's hard working in a family business because it's your FAMILY'S business. The floor could be cleaner, you notice any watermarks on the cutlery etc etc. I do my best to appreciate her employees and give them constructive critisms (only when I think it's completely necessary).
I've changed so much since being away from home these past 5 years though. I use to be VERY tidy. Otago Uni [especially flatmates (=room mates for my north american friends)] has definitely helped me to be laid back. I learnt to just let things go. For example, I use to iron on a weekly basis. most recently? I've only used an iron once in the last month or two! huge difference.
BUUUT, in saying that, when I'm at home, I do something that I only occasionally do in Dunedin. I clean up after other people. I have a different mentality here than at Uni. At uni, I'll tidy up a little every now and then and will do the odd dish that's left lying around. People can rely on my to do my chores but I certainly wouldn't do other people's. However, when I'm back at home, I'll just do whatever needs to be done! Hmmm, I'm not sure what the exact reason for it is.
on a completely different topic; I was chatting to a dear friend of mine from high school. He's a DJ and is fairly big (world famous in NZ amongst the alternative crowd at least). I've known him since my early teenage days. Heck! It's been nearly a decade! Wow, how time flys. I told him about my blog and said that I would talk about him and put a link to his profile on Myspace. So... Tom a.k.a. COSM He's got lots of gigs coming up in the next month. "World famous in NZ" is an understatement for sure. cos he just got back from a tour around Oz and was in South American not too long ago. I gotta warn you all though that he's not exactly squeeky clean ... try not to be too shocked. He's a great guy. No matter how hip, pyschodalic and outrageous he becomes, he'll always be "Bolie" (his nickname from school) to me.
I've changed so much since being away from home these past 5 years though. I use to be VERY tidy. Otago Uni [especially flatmates (=room mates for my north american friends)] has definitely helped me to be laid back. I learnt to just let things go. For example, I use to iron on a weekly basis. most recently? I've only used an iron once in the last month or two! huge difference.
BUUUT, in saying that, when I'm at home, I do something that I only occasionally do in Dunedin. I clean up after other people. I have a different mentality here than at Uni. At uni, I'll tidy up a little every now and then and will do the odd dish that's left lying around. People can rely on my to do my chores but I certainly wouldn't do other people's. However, when I'm back at home, I'll just do whatever needs to be done! Hmmm, I'm not sure what the exact reason for it is.
on a completely different topic; I was chatting to a dear friend of mine from high school. He's a DJ and is fairly big (world famous in NZ amongst the alternative crowd at least). I've known him since my early teenage days. Heck! It's been nearly a decade! Wow, how time flys. I told him about my blog and said that I would talk about him and put a link to his profile on Myspace. So... Tom a.k.a. COSM He's got lots of gigs coming up in the next month. "World famous in NZ" is an understatement for sure. cos he just got back from a tour around Oz and was in South American not too long ago. I gotta warn you all though that he's not exactly squeeky clean ... try not to be too shocked. He's a great guy. No matter how hip, pyschodalic and outrageous he becomes, he'll always be "Bolie" (his nickname from school) to me.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Boxing Day
I'm so over shopping! Retail therapy can be so unnecessary and wasteful especially when you really don't NEED anything. I wasn't at all tempted to check out the Boxing Day sale (it's similar to the post-thanksgiving sale except a lot less crowded).
Instead, we had another big gathering for lunch before all my out-of-town relatives went back to Christchurch. I then caught up with a very good friend of mine who's leaving Nelson tomorrow morning.
Hmmm... I've nothing else to say. My extra long Christmas blog has worn me out.
Instead, we had another big gathering for lunch before all my out-of-town relatives went back to Christchurch. I then caught up with a very good friend of mine who's leaving Nelson tomorrow morning.
Hmmm... I've nothing else to say. My extra long Christmas blog has worn me out.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Christmas came by so fast for me this year. Was I prepared? Hmmm, not really. Usually it is Danny and I who go grocery shopping for Christmas day. And it’s usually Kate (now Danny’s ex) and I that set up the Christmas tree and decorate it.
But this year, Danny and I had been traveling before Christmas. I went to Australia and American while Danny went to Japan, China and Hong Kong. So we were both quite busy and Christmas kinda took us by surprise. We drove from Christchurch to Nelson (5.5hr drive) on Christmas eve. By the time we got in, the supermarket in Richmond was closed.
But we decided that Christmas would still be ok without a turkey and all the other goodies that come with the occasion. After all, we still had each other. When we got to our house in Richmond, the house was empty but there was a Christmas tree :) Mum had put the tree up with her “granddaughter” (a family friend’s daughter). Once mum got home that night (she was at a wedding), we catch up with her and told her about our fun adventures overseas.
On Christmas morning, 3 of our employees from Blenheim (1.5hr drive away) came over to our place bearing gifts. They had cooked us a turkey and also had a Christmas hamper for us. It contained lots of Christmas treats. All we were missing now was Christmas Crackers. Well… I found a box of 12 Christmas Crackers hidden in the pantry that we had left over from a previous Christmas.
Our Richmond manager and her boyfriend joined us a bit later too. We all had lunch together. We didn’t have a shortage of food (one of the joys of being in the hospitality industries). I looked over at one of our chefs who was carving the turkey and said “wow, it’s beautiful. Looks almost like you’re a professional!” ;)
My family taught them the tradition of popping Christmas crackers together around the table. There’s an art to it, trust me. We had so much fun and everyone got into the spirit of it all. One of the boys had clip-on earrings in his cracker which we convinced him to wear. I told him he looked pretty. His girlfriend agreed.
It was great to spend time with them. I think that the most fantastic part of it was that they chose to spend time with us on such a day as Christmas. Yes… feel the love. Hehehe. Jack (my brother) managed to get into Richmond in time to hang out with us before we started clearing away the lunch. So all was well.
When they were preparing to leave, we were joined by a large group of family friends. They just came over to spend the later part of the afternoon with us.
In the early part of the evening, my family had time to relax and do our own individual things like talking to friends on the phone and napping. It was good to recharge before socializing with lots of people all over again.
We went over to a family friend’s for Christmas dinner at about 8:30. Since lunch on Christmas day is usually so big, they knew that no one would be hungry til quite late. Many members of my extended family were also there; a grandma, 2 uncles, 3 aunts and lots of cousins.
The family on the back porch
The Poppy Thai Restaurant crew (plus Tiger our cat) in the front yard
My Grandma and I just before xmas dinner
So Christmas was filled with food, family, friends and fun. At the end of the day, I felt a little unfufilled though. I didn’t feel that Jesus had been honored by the day that was coming to its end. The main reason for Christmas was lost by all (or most) of those whom I had spent the day with. What was also sad was that I was partly guilty of ignoring the reason too. I think that the fundamental reason for Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus; a baby who was born approx 2000 years ago to a virgin girl. A baby who would later grow to be a sinless man and save the world. So simple, yet so often neglected. I felt such better (and satisfied) after spending some time with God in prayer and honoring Him. As for my family and friends; I’ll continue to pray for them.
But this year, Danny and I had been traveling before Christmas. I went to Australia and American while Danny went to Japan, China and Hong Kong. So we were both quite busy and Christmas kinda took us by surprise. We drove from Christchurch to Nelson (5.5hr drive) on Christmas eve. By the time we got in, the supermarket in Richmond was closed.
But we decided that Christmas would still be ok without a turkey and all the other goodies that come with the occasion. After all, we still had each other. When we got to our house in Richmond, the house was empty but there was a Christmas tree :) Mum had put the tree up with her “granddaughter” (a family friend’s daughter). Once mum got home that night (she was at a wedding), we catch up with her and told her about our fun adventures overseas.
On Christmas morning, 3 of our employees from Blenheim (1.5hr drive away) came over to our place bearing gifts. They had cooked us a turkey and also had a Christmas hamper for us. It contained lots of Christmas treats. All we were missing now was Christmas Crackers. Well… I found a box of 12 Christmas Crackers hidden in the pantry that we had left over from a previous Christmas.
Our Richmond manager and her boyfriend joined us a bit later too. We all had lunch together. We didn’t have a shortage of food (one of the joys of being in the hospitality industries). I looked over at one of our chefs who was carving the turkey and said “wow, it’s beautiful. Looks almost like you’re a professional!” ;)
My family taught them the tradition of popping Christmas crackers together around the table. There’s an art to it, trust me. We had so much fun and everyone got into the spirit of it all. One of the boys had clip-on earrings in his cracker which we convinced him to wear. I told him he looked pretty. His girlfriend agreed.
It was great to spend time with them. I think that the most fantastic part of it was that they chose to spend time with us on such a day as Christmas. Yes… feel the love. Hehehe. Jack (my brother) managed to get into Richmond in time to hang out with us before we started clearing away the lunch. So all was well.
When they were preparing to leave, we were joined by a large group of family friends. They just came over to spend the later part of the afternoon with us.
In the early part of the evening, my family had time to relax and do our own individual things like talking to friends on the phone and napping. It was good to recharge before socializing with lots of people all over again.
We went over to a family friend’s for Christmas dinner at about 8:30. Since lunch on Christmas day is usually so big, they knew that no one would be hungry til quite late. Many members of my extended family were also there; a grandma, 2 uncles, 3 aunts and lots of cousins.
The family on the back porch
The Poppy Thai Restaurant crew (plus Tiger our cat) in the front yard
My Grandma and I just before xmas dinner
So Christmas was filled with food, family, friends and fun. At the end of the day, I felt a little unfufilled though. I didn’t feel that Jesus had been honored by the day that was coming to its end. The main reason for Christmas was lost by all (or most) of those whom I had spent the day with. What was also sad was that I was partly guilty of ignoring the reason too. I think that the fundamental reason for Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus; a baby who was born approx 2000 years ago to a virgin girl. A baby who would later grow to be a sinless man and save the world. So simple, yet so often neglected. I felt such better (and satisfied) after spending some time with God in prayer and honoring Him. As for my family and friends; I’ll continue to pray for them.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Home sweet home
I arrived back to NZ last night. The plan? I'm going to go to Nelson tomorrow with my brother and my extended family. We're all goin to spend Christmas there with mum. Then, I'll be waitress there till about mid January before setting up my life in chch for the next 3 years.
From my trip overseas this time, I learnt quite a bit about myself. I guess that my submersion into a foreign enviroment really aided my self evaluation process. I'm moving into my clinical years next month so now is a good time to sort out what I want out of life. I still don't know the extact details but I definitely have a much better idea. For example, I don't know what kind of doctor I'd like to eventually be but I know the qualities that I'm looking for.
I received a letter(that I wrote earlier this year) in the mail yesterday. I know that it sounds a little odd but it's actually very helpful to evaluate the year that is about to pass. Did I achieve all that I wanted to? Were my priorities kept in check? Have I grown as much as I wanted to? Has my life this year been a blessing to those around me?
I think that I did a reasonable job of it all. But is that what I actually want? In my eulogy one day, for my life to be discribed as "reasonable"? NO! I want it to be an extraordinary life full of God's love and gace. A life fulled with adventure and excitement and much much more. I'm going to write another letter sometime in January. There's going to be more of an emphasis on God and my big plans for life will also start to take shape.
I also appreciate my family a little more now. As I'm sure you're all aware, every family is imperfect. Every member has strange quirks that can drive us mad at times. But we love them to bits anyway. I'm not sure whether it's that we love them inspite of their faults or because of them. Maybe it's a bit of both.
My brother (Danny) was in China and Japan while I was in the states. He's now thinking of moving to China to study Mandarin. If he does, he'll be leaving in mid Feb. If so, I'll probably visit him in late October of the coming year. It'll be a huge challenge for him (and our family) for many reasons but I think that (if the plan goes ahead), it'll be a great learning experience for him (and our family).
From my trip overseas this time, I learnt quite a bit about myself. I guess that my submersion into a foreign enviroment really aided my self evaluation process. I'm moving into my clinical years next month so now is a good time to sort out what I want out of life. I still don't know the extact details but I definitely have a much better idea. For example, I don't know what kind of doctor I'd like to eventually be but I know the qualities that I'm looking for.
I received a letter(that I wrote earlier this year) in the mail yesterday. I know that it sounds a little odd but it's actually very helpful to evaluate the year that is about to pass. Did I achieve all that I wanted to? Were my priorities kept in check? Have I grown as much as I wanted to? Has my life this year been a blessing to those around me?
I think that I did a reasonable job of it all. But is that what I actually want? In my eulogy one day, for my life to be discribed as "reasonable"? NO! I want it to be an extraordinary life full of God's love and gace. A life fulled with adventure and excitement and much much more. I'm going to write another letter sometime in January. There's going to be more of an emphasis on God and my big plans for life will also start to take shape.
I also appreciate my family a little more now. As I'm sure you're all aware, every family is imperfect. Every member has strange quirks that can drive us mad at times. But we love them to bits anyway. I'm not sure whether it's that we love them inspite of their faults or because of them. Maybe it's a bit of both.
My brother (Danny) was in China and Japan while I was in the states. He's now thinking of moving to China to study Mandarin. If he does, he'll be leaving in mid Feb. If so, I'll probably visit him in late October of the coming year. It'll be a huge challenge for him (and our family) for many reasons but I think that (if the plan goes ahead), it'll be a great learning experience for him (and our family).
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Dinner and proposal?
I went out for dinner last night with my aunt and some distant relatives from Cambodia (they're in Sydney on holiday). We went to Golden Century; the best chinese seafood restaurant in Sydney (well, in my opinion anyway). Mmmmm, abalone... lobster... fish... all of it gets freshly caught when you order (a bit disturbing? -slightly).
From here onwards, I'll refer to the relatives as the "husband", "wife" and "son". After only a few minutes of meeting the husband, he asks me if I'm married or not. He slips into the conversation about how his younger brother's a millionaire. Before our first dish arrived, he's already told my aunt that he's thinking of making an arrange marriage proposal to me (and my family) for his younger brother and asked for her opinion! eeekk!
My aunt said that his younger brother doesn't have a chance (she's definitely got gumption!). The husband went on to tell us that his brother's very successful and lives in a huuuge house. I said that I wasn't big on houses ;)
Apparently, I'm in the prime age for getting married and give it another few years and I'll be an old maid. Heck! I'd rather be an old spinster than be some random's trophy wife!
Anyway, I thought that I'd share that with you all. Pretty crazy hah?
From here onwards, I'll refer to the relatives as the "husband", "wife" and "son". After only a few minutes of meeting the husband, he asks me if I'm married or not. He slips into the conversation about how his younger brother's a millionaire. Before our first dish arrived, he's already told my aunt that he's thinking of making an arrange marriage proposal to me (and my family) for his younger brother and asked for her opinion! eeekk!
My aunt said that his younger brother doesn't have a chance (she's definitely got gumption!). The husband went on to tell us that his brother's very successful and lives in a huuuge house. I said that I wasn't big on houses ;)
Apparently, I'm in the prime age for getting married and give it another few years and I'll be an old maid. Heck! I'd rather be an old spinster than be some random's trophy wife!
Anyway, I thought that I'd share that with you all. Pretty crazy hah?
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