Friending Policy: I do not friend random strangers because I like to friends-lock personal entries.

Enjoy your stay, however long or short.

I can now say I've seen all five members of DBSK live in concert (even though it was separately as DB2K and JYJ *muffled cries*).

JYJ was awesome though!

This is definitely a memory I will cherish. It's not everyday you get to see your favourite =)

Minus JYJ, almost a dream come true.

Over the past year I've pretty much averaged 1 post a month.. and they were pretty much all about books haha. But aside from the books, it's been a crazy year.. A year of endings and also new beginnings.

January-April was all about finishing up school and completing my practicum. School actually feels like a lifetime ago. I'm trying to think of the classes I had but I'm coming up blank. I can't say I miss being a student just yet. I am in NO hurry to go back lol.

Practicum is a lot easier to remember. I really bonded with my students, and I can still remember my last day, where I was moved to tears by their gifts and the party they threw for me. Even though I probably won't see them ever again I hope they're doing well and go on to have bright futures.

May-June was pretty relaxed. There was my convocation in June, which was alright I guess. I don't remember feeling overly proud or ecstatic, but just glad that I survived. But I'm glad I could share those moments with my family and friends =)

I was also still working at my part time job. That was a good job and it's a shame I left a couple months shy of one year. Working at a paint-your-pottery studio was super fun.. not too demanding, and of course from time to time you could paint stuff too. 

July-August.. was definitely not what I expected. First of all, my 2 week trip to HK in July was completely unplanned. I think I decided to go in the last week of June, when my mom said that I should go back to talk with her friend who owns/works at some kindergartens to see if I could get a job there. Grudgingly I said yes.. and boy oh boy was I in for a few surprises. I didn't end up meeting with my mom's friend. Instead, a day after I land, I got an email from a children's art centre saying that they've received my job application (from June) and that they would like a phone interview with me. It just so happened that I was in HK, so I said I could meet for an actual interview. Within one week of being in HK I was interviewed, offered the job, and signed the contract. Crazy!

It was an abrupt transition since this move wasn't something I was planning in advance. Having to pack and say goodbye to everyone.. not easy and of course a little nerve-wracking. If you told me one year ago that I would move to HK to start a job I would've been like no way. But, here I am. 

September til now has been full of ups and downs, and a lot of learning and adjusting. I've really been enjoying my new job (and there were a few surprises with that too, since I got promoted after just 3 months). I've joined a new church and have slowly been building a few new friendships. With my parents flying back and forth I've been able to get a taste of independence without feeling too homesick, but of course I've been missing all my friends back home. There have been challenges too, like figuring out how to reach out to a certain family member, and struggling with being open to new people..

God has been so good to me this year.. taking care of my needs and answering my prayers. His Grace truly is amazing. This year has proven that God really does work in mysterious ways and I honestly have no idea what He has in store for 2013.

2012 book challenge is almost done! Phew.. it's been fun, but also a lot of reading. Next year I think I'm going to continue reading (there's still a lot of new books sitting on my shelf), but I don't think I'm going to do such a big challenge again. Maybe 25? Next year I want to set a new personal goal for myself.. probably something involving art. Perhaps keeping a sketch book again =)



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39 books down, 11 more to go!



Read some good books these past 2 months.

The Help - I was wonderfully surprised by this book. It is very well written. The characters are compelling, the story is tense, and you feel like you really are there in 1960s Jackson, Mississippi. I saw the movie afterwards and the book is definitely much richer. It made me laugh and made me cry- a sure sign that it's a captivating book.

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Thoughts from HK - In a nutshell: I've been in HK for 6 weeks now. At times it still feels surreal. I think to myself, "Am I really here?" Of all people it seemed unlikely that I would end up here. But really, it's been good so far. I have much to be thankful for. 

You`d think with school done and all the extra free time I have that I`d power through books, but I actually have to remind myself to read because more often than not I end up just vegetating in front of the laptop. I was able to read & finish the entire Percy Jackson series while on my two week trip to HK, so that made up for the book count. 



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Good riddance bye York!

Now that school/teaching is over, I finally have more time to read when I'm not being lazy.

I have read 7 new books over these past two months. Some of them were good, and some of them were bad.



The Book Thief - I wish I could travel back in time to when I did not read this book, so that I can experience reading it again for the first time- it is so good. Without giving too much away, it is about a girl living with her foster parents during WWII. I cried through the last quarter of this book. It's tragic but beautiful. There is supposed to be a movie adaptation of this.. I hope it comes out soon!

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