T’was the day
before the new year, and with another year soon to be over, it’s a good time to
recap what’s been an eventful year. 2013 has seen its fair share of challenges
and rewards, and with age comes responsibility; indeed it’s been tough taking a
year off after my studies to do what I wanted to do, have some time off, and
concentrate on my passions, namely music and photography. While I did manage to
have many breakthroughs in my passions, on the professional side, it’s been a
rough year, with little replies from job applications, and still searching as
of now. However I trust God has His plans for me, and I just have to be
patient, but also work hard to get a job soon; after all, God helps those who
help themselves aye!
This was also a
year where many things were laid to rest, where I’d love and lost, but most of
all, loved and gained an awesome friend and person, and continuing my journey
in life, being with awesome friends around; indeed last year I wrote that I
grew closer again to my siblings and besties, and it’s good to be able to still
be close with them now and forever! :D It’s been one heck of a journey, going through
the biggest of heartaches to still be standing and happy, thank God for
everything!
Of course, the
biggest thing was going to School of Witness for 2 months in Singapore; to be
away from home for a longer period of time was one thing, but to go through
everything and learn what we experienced there was amazing! Absolutely a
life-changing experience, and I’m not sure if I did a write-up of my experience
at SoW, but I will soon!
Anyway, as
usual, here’s my year!
January-February
School of
Witness here I come! I still remember on New Year’s Day, the day before, the
day, and I still can’t believe how nervous, emotional I was of leaving for 2
months, and this for someone who’s never been away from home for more than a
week; but it was all definitely worth it! Probably I’d write my experience at
SoW separately, so look forward to that!
March
Coming home from
that experience, I felt like I could fly! And immediately there was RAY Camp
coming, and it was perfect! I was able to use my experience for camp, but as I
was away for the initial planning, I didn’t get involved much, but in the end
it was a memorable camp, because it was the first time I did the final day and
also brief things here and there. Most importantly, it’s good to see that the
people around you learnt something and experienced something during camp, which
makes it all the more worthwhile!
April
Easter time! Met
up with my old school classmates Ameline, Anthea and Lorenzo, then went for a
theatre production by Synergy, EXODUS! After that I went for my 1st
Green Leaf Theatre House play for the year, and the 1st of many ;)
IU Day at Suria was interesting, went to have a look and to meet up with
friends. This was also my first RAY handling after I came back to KK, so I got
the chance to work with RAY again!
May
Lifeteen Bazaar
started off the month, and did my part to help and had fun along the way! Then
celebrated my bestie’s birthday, and it was probably one of the most memorable
birthday celebrations ever! It’s because it nearly didn’t end up happening!
Thanks to a reverse ‘surprise’ and the following ‘negotiations’, it was
definitely a night to remember! Ended the month by celebrating Ka’amatan both
days at KDCA with besties, especially Vina, Jaime and Jiwan! Hehe... Got wet in
the rain and soaked all the way!
June
This was a busy
month, as it was Arts Month, incredible! Another Green Leaf Theatre House show,
this time at DBP, all the way up! This year it seems that I got involved with
them quite alot, it’s because I love to watch performing arts, and it’s
something I like, and it’s all my friends, so it was good! A hobbits outing
came soon, as Shasha came home for the holidays, and miss those kinda outings
now, as (almost) everyone is kinda busy nowadays L Then it was the KK International Film Fest, and my buddy Jo made a
film submission, and it was great! A film about Life, and it won 2nd
prize! This was followed by KK Jazz Fest, and as always, great to watch all
those artists and musicians do their thing and wanting to listen and learn as
much from them! The month closed out with, yes, Talking Sabah! It’s a set of 3
mini-stories, presented by Green Leaf, and for the 1st time, my pals
Edna and Jiwan acted! It was so awesome, was so proud of them and of course the
whole crew and actors! This month also was the build-up to something big in my
career...
July
For the first
time in my life, I performed on stage for a song with my bestie Gabriela in a
competition! It was a new experience, and a bittersweet one; we performed well
and got through to the finals, but we both couldn’t make the finals due to
issues, and it was a missed opportunity, but one that will surely come again J The experience of going on (a relatively small, no, tiny!) stage,
perform in front of a (again, small) crowd, it was nerve-wrecking, but at the
same time exciting! Truly a moment I’ll never forget; 7 July! RAY Anniversary
is always on July, and this time we did something different; we did it on the
beach! We celebrated the anniversary at the beach, and little did I know, after
that it would be the last time we’d see the beach as it was; now it’s different.
MY convocation was also the end of the month, so I was off to KL and Nilai, and
also Singapore until early August ;) heheh... The convocation was nice, get to
meet my old classmates, and for the 1st time, we stayed (so far) way
out of town! Thankfully my bestie Joey drove down and we spent time together
around; miss those moments already! Went to the beach in Sepang, drove to Nilai
town and beyond, exploring the area!
August
Singapore
calling! After the convo, we were off to Singapore! It was an opportunity to
catch up with my friends from KK and SoW there, and that’s just what I did! It
was nice to see them all again after the experiences we had at SoW, and it was
fun catching up! The month was definitely memorable for one thing though:
BARCELONA IN KL!! Well, Shah Alam to be exact, and the organisation was
shambolic; last minute change of venue, but nothing could dampen the spirit! To
be able to watch Barcelona in front live, and to watch their technique and
ability was breath-taking! Definitely one for the memory, along with watching
Liverpool in 2011! It was a crazy 2-week trip; KL-SG-KL then home, incredible
haha! On 31st August, another hobbits gathering, but this time for
Jaime’s farewell, and we’re missing her already! Managed to crash a wedding at
Putra ballroom again!
September
If the previous
months was the highest of highs, this was the lowest of lows; it was the time
my laptop and camera got stolen, 2 precious things that I really use, and
really need, and both are gone now. It started off well though, with Bonding
With Gaya Street, meeting Adam Tambakau and watching Roger Wang, as usual ;)
Then another Lifeteen Mini-Bazaar, and it was the 1st time there was
2 bazaars in a year, but they have their reasons I guess ;) then the big shock,
and just very painful...
October
This was another
first; Borneo Performing Arts Festival at Le Meridien, comprising of many arts,
and it was a new experience, even as a spectator. There was poem recitals,
strings, and all sorts of arts! Then had a celebration at my bestie’s house
with old friends, a nice night, went out to had lamb as well! Ha! Then we
celebrated Abigail’s birthday at MetroTown, another new experience. A nice
place, hope to be back there soon!
November
ASPAC was the
theme of the month, and also many friends started to come back for the year-end
holidays! I got invited to go to a conference about Pro-Life and Family Living,
and it was an eye-opener; that some things are just so hard to believe, but it’s
true, and sometimes the things we take aren’t that necessarily good for us.
Earlier we celebrated JJ’s birthday at his place, BBQ goodness! Ha! It was the
month before Christmas, and as usual, preparations aplenty!
December
CHRISTMAS! Ah
the good tidings ;) What better way to say this month than Christmas and carolling!
This time, I co-lead one group in RAY with JJ, and it was a sporadic carolling!
Not many days, but it was good; at least we had some rest in between, and
managed to catch the Gaya Christmas Festival! Caroling was a blast, with all of
them really great! And during the off days, managed to catch up with Jude and
hobbits carolling! It was their last this year, and sad that I couldn’t join
them on their last ever day, as I had my own group as well, but glad to see
them having a blast. It was also the time for 11-12-13, and this time I spent
the day with my besties Katrin and Adriana, which was lovely: 3 caroling this
year was different; it was memorable but
also something else... This time, I went to Christmas Eve mass with my bestie
Gabby, and it’s a blessing to be able to be with a close friend J On Christmas Day, went back to my cousin’s house on a roadtrip,
nice to get away from the city and relax, perfect way to (almost) end the year!
So another year
has come and gone, and this time, the highs were really high and flying, but
the lows were really depressing and crushing, but it’s all part of life,
growing up and handling everything. This year has been really challenging
spiritually, emotionally and mentally, especially after SoW, and being jobless
for a year. The pressures of society is greater, but I won’t let that affect
me. I’ll carry on and do what I have to do ;)
To be honest,
this year felt so fast, too fast, like it just flew by, and I’m not really
looking forward to the year ahead, but then again, sometimes life is a mystery;
you never know what will happen next, so just gotta keep positive, and say
goodbye to 2013, and hello 2014!
