Prelude
I missed writing my summary for 2008 and my new year resolution for '09 (life has been relatively occupied these days). So I thought before the first month of the Chinese New Years ends (it is 'Mooooooo...' Ox Year this year), I better write something about it before the month ends! So here goes....
A Quick Summary of 2008
Let's see....2008 has probably been a year of planning and preparation for me and sadly it is also a year of 'friends departure' too. Here goes some long rumblings on some of the stuffs I gained in 2008.....
1. SCWCD
I started off the year with the idea of 'ok I think I really want to go UK' in my head. But I set a goal for myself to complete my Java SCWCD 5.0 certification first before I start looking into UK. So in the first quarter of the month, I was just studying my way through the book learning about all the Java web components and finally achieved my certification with a happy mark in May! : D
2. UK Visa
After my SCWCD, it was all about getting my visa for UK. You see the UK visa system had a big change in June. It changed from the old 'Highly Skilled Migrant' way (which was a very long and tedious process) to the new 'Tier 1' UK visa'. Although I could almost send out my visa application under the old system back in June. I was recommended not to. And due to the unforeseen new visa application requirements, I had to wait 3 months before I could submit my application. Although the process of visa application was long, repetitive and requires heaps of patience; but I would definitely say no matter if I got the visa or not, it was a good educational life experience! You have to do research, read through various documents and all the fine prints on the application. LOL now I know why there are people out there who charges for helping you to submit (although luckily doing it myself wasn't too bad....it was actually quite ok!). In the end round about October I got my visa! : )
3. Reality Check
Although I have got my UK visa, I didn't realise that the 2nd part of my UK plan was actually the hardest part of the equation, i.e. the actually GOING OFF to UK part. Taking it literally, yes I could've just bought a ticket and just *zoom* (fly) off to UK! But of course being a bit more pragmatic and logical in my decision making (which I guess I'm still glad to still keep a hold of), I need to consider my basic needs. One of the most important ones on my mind was "getting a job".
You see my initial plan didn't work out quite as I hoped. My company has no more vacancy in our overseas office and then there was the sudden downfall of global economy. All thanks to the HK trip I took towards the end of last year (which was a somewhat unexpected yet expected event <- yes contradicting mysef). It allowed me to hear a lot more and to gain much more awareness of just how bad the financial condition is around the world! (Extra thankful for the trip because I know that if I was still in NZ, I wouldn't get as much exposure to all the news and media about the global recession!!!). It was because of what I gained during my trip, that I decided "I better be safe then sorry"! And opted for the safer option for the time being...
4. An Extra Extra Extra Worthwhile Trip
Another thing about the HK Trip was that it was extra worthwhile and meaningful to me this time because I get to meet up with my awesome pals who have gone back there to live. It was really really great to see them again. And I really do mean 'great'! You know how there's a saying that goes something like...'you don't realise you miss something until its gone'. Well haha unfortnately the really funny thing that I got out of this trip was actually even further than that.......'you don't realise how much you miss something, until you lost it and then see (found) it again'! : I (My usual saying applies here: "How Stupid!") I actually have a theory I thought up around this. May be I'll post it some days I hope! hehe just really really thankful for my trip (and my parents...if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have the opportunity to go on this trip)! : P
My Ultimate Goal for 2009
This can be described in just a few words: "Learn, upskill and change"! : P Hopefully what I didn't complete in 2008 will be done in 2009. And perhaps like the year we are in, I wish I'll be as hardworking as a 'cow' in '09! Go Mooooooo Year!
