Happy New Year everyone!
First post of the year, on the 1st date of the second month, February. Better late than never, right?
Thing is, I started a .tumblr, (mizzijam.tumblr.com) for the tail-end of my trip abroad, so that (possibly combined with laziness) is some kind of an explanation to my lacking blog presence.
Needless to say, this blog has been left abandoned for far too long...as you'll see from my tumblr & facebook pics that I've been out and about immersing myself in a couple of the amazing places (Kunming, Dali & Lijiang of Yunnan, leaping Tiger Gorge, Shanghai & Harbin) China has to offer, since finishing my semester at Peking Uni.
What has prompted me to write and reignite this blog, and I'll be honest here, is stumbling across a friend's blog -also a student on exchange in China- about his travels and experiences. Frankly, I am awestruck and inspired by his writing style, impressed by his descriptions and well, eating a bit of vinegar ( 吃醋chicu 'eat vinegar' meaning 'jealous') that I was no way near as consistent, dedicated or even as observant as he makes out to be! Mike, if you happen to ever be reading this, AMAZING work! Your stuff has seriously encouraged and inspired me to jump back into what I should never have paused for so long, or even at all.
So, here's a list of my New Year's Resolutions I've been brewing in my head for a while, and not yet poured onto a page (virtual or otherwise), PLUS -unlike other year's- HOW I endeavour to achieve them.
In no order whatsoever:
GET FIT.
That is, be able to run 5km in under 60mins.
Increase flexibility, something hopefully close to the splits by the year's end. ACHIEVABLE.
How?
Insanity with Shaun T. Daily exercising (min 30mins) and stretching before bed. Sign up & have a shot at Bridge to Brisbane!
EXPAND MY VOCABULARY.
Chinese AND English.
How?
Read an article, or SOMETHING Chinese everyday. Before bed. Remember RIBIT? (Read In Bed, It's Terrific) YEAH! ENFORCE IT!
As for English -news each day, and a complete a novel every 1-2 weeks.
DISTINCTIONS for Uni.
Namely, 6's. Nothing lower than 5.5. Why? Usually I'm not bothered by marks but I'm graduating this year and feel it a) IS POSSIBLE and b) want to work hard and do WELL. I'm here to learn, right?
SIGN UP FOR A PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS.
So that I can get my skillz up and running and hopefully get a portfolio of some sort up and running!
RENEW MY RSA.
Responsible Service of Alcohol
I'm keen to try this student by day-worker by night thing, and being a bartender would be an interesting job I feel.
GET AN INTERNSHIP/WORK EXPERIENCE.
Gotta think of the future, duh! Nah kidding, well only half. Opening doors and potential careers etc!
VOLUNTEER.
With Vinnies, Red Cross or Red Frogs. Mater...
READ AT CHURCH.
So I pay more attention to God's word. Gain more confidence in reading out loud. Greater understanding of the Mass. There's no way I'd go up there and read it halfheartedly, you see. THIS IS THE PLAN.
PICK UP THE GUITAR/UKE.
Knock on the guy's door across the road and ask for lessons. Worst he can say is no.
TRY PAINTING. CONTINUE DRAWING. ART ART ART.
Cos you love it. Cos you really shouldn't keep stopping like this. COS HOPEFUlLY IT'LL ADD TO YOUR PORTFOLIO THAT WILL GET YOU INTO GRAPHIC DESIGN IN THE NEAR FUTUREZ.
BUY A CAR.
nuff said.
SAVE MONEY.
So I can travel.
JOIN A UNI CLUB/SOC
You know you always wanted to and never had the guts/time/commitment
It's your life, you make it what it is.
EXPLORE BRISBANE/AUSTRALIA!
Cos you've seen more of the entire globe than your own backyard, silly!
COOK MORE.
Like, once a week, for the family.
Benefits all around, YOU KNOW!
Okay, I think I've covered it all. I think they're all quite realistic. Now to find the time for it all... Haahahahaa, shall need to borrow Hermione's time-turner fo sho!
Love and sweet dreams from Malaysia!
-Mizz
