keeping in touch with New Zealand

Recently, I have started to read New Zealand news again. I'm still pondering why I stopped reading New Zealand news while I was in Singapore; instead preferring international news or Singapore news.

Reflecting upon it now, there could have been a few explanations. Perhaps I was overwhelmed with the new culture and could not find the energy to keep up with my own? Living in Europe has suprisingly not given me a lot of culture shock (yet). Could it be because I have friends here that I knew from New Zealand? Could it be because I have more time? Could it be because the European lifestyle is quite similar to the New Zealand lifestyle?

While flipping through one of my farewell gifts - a small book on 'Singlish' - I realised that getting by in a culture completely different to mine required my full concentration. There were many things I didn't understand about Singapore culture - even though some people can live there and not feel "Asia" - I emersed myself, watched carefully and analysed the life of average Singaporeans. In order to make room for it all in my head, I had to limit my brain from processing anything that was not Singaporean or global in nature.

I wonder if I missed much... I'm busy catching up now.

Cherry hugs and chocolate kisses

Got an email from my boss yesterday and today. Well one is my previous boss - I just bought her a box of chocolates to thank her for her generous hong pow that she gave me when I left for Brussels, the second is the boss I had when I left the firm. They're both very cool and great role models for me... in terms of professionalism and also learning how to live life to the fullest. I was so lucky to have two good bosses during my time at the firm.

And replying to another email from a friend I met in Singapore gave me some time to reflect on my times in Singapore and the experiences I'm having here in Brussels. In Singapore I had a hard time dealing with culture shock and the fact that I had to start everything from scratch, meeting new friends and getting to know how to work in a company.

But now that I'm here in Brussels and I have friends here, I have Antoine here and I have managed to find myself a new and challenging part-time job, I'm discussing business ideas with a long-time friend of mine... I feel whole again. I feel like I really need to keep in touch with the people that I love and not let my old relationships collect dust, like they did a little while I was in Singapore.

So I've renewed my promise to ensure everyone dear to me, who's given me guidance knows what's going on in my life!

No mood to write but have new discoveries

I have a temporary writers mood block... so I started replying to emails and clicked on one of the curious gmail tag ads. It was called 'basic chocolate cake' www.101cookbook.com.

In 30 minutes time I had a mini adventure and discovered how to make a chocolate cake without sugar and white flour, who is Ginny Evans, a personal chef who specialises in food for special needs diets and a blog called Chocolate & Zucchini (two of my favourite foods).

It's amazing what you will find on the internet these days just by clicking from one blog to another website to another blog. I discovered a network of female chefs who have made it big and know how to promote themselves - they write cook books, they give private cooking classes and they know how to express themselves everyday to create a fan following.

Interesting concepts, great marketing. Things I now have time to explore and ponder.

Day Trip to Liege

On a spur of the moment idea, Yasmine and I went to Liege for the day yesterday! We explored the city just like any other tourist but with no prior expectations at all and it turned out fantastically :D

Liege being a tiny little town didn't require too much walking and there were churches, a palace, squares and shopping districts as expected. And giant steps, tiny blind alleys and gothic architecture from the 12th century which was unexpected!!

Crazy day out there leaving at 9:30am - one hour train - arrive 11am in Liege, quick pitstop at the tourist office, make a short plan of our we will tackle the town and then we were off! At 4pm we almost made it for the 4:00pm train but just missed it... were back in Brussels by 5:30pm.

Great day, cheap travelling and great time with friends... Yasmine coming at all from Singapore was a bit random but it was nice to have a little piece of Singapore here in Europe to remind me of the good old times.. (they were that long ago!) just one month :)

Getting back into the groove

Well it's been exactly 3 weeks since I landed here in Brussels, Belgium. And it feels like months. Frankly I haven't had a moment of boredom or laziness I feel... although I might feel that taking a 1 hour tv break is lazy, in actual fact I've managed to set up a few things for myself already and I shouldn't discount that!

Positivity :D

In 3 weeks I've managed to get in touch with all my friends here in Brussels and see them all at least once.

I've won a freelance assignment to write a destination guide for Brussels - any help would be much appreciated from Brussel-lites ;) I also finished the first section last week focusing on Travel to Brussels. I even know how to get here by ferry from 4 different ports of the UK!!!!

I've started researching and having meetings for the potential business expansion into Western Europe of SELTI International.

I've called home 3 times and spoken to brother, dad and mum separately so they know I'm safe and sound here...

Wahh not bad at all! :)

party tonight

Time is 9:15am

I'm going to start early today because I have a party tonight at my place :) I hope it's going to be a lot of fun! I'm really excited!! I'm going out to buy more drinks in a little while and then start moving furniture around. Preparing for parties can be slightly hectic but a lot of fun!! I just love having everyone over and seeing people have fun :D

I know my place is difficult to find but it's got lots of space inside and outside and just perfect for house parties. House parties are great - people can chill and bring their own food and drinks. Wear normal clothes :)

The last bbq party we stayed up until 4am playing headbandz - the game where you put a card on your head and ask yes/no questions to get to the right answer. It taught the whole group that you need to be specific! Ahh the lessons we learn aye ;)

Well I hope this party goes well too. It's going to be a global potluck so people will be bringing food from different places around the world :D Hee it probably put off a few people who don't want to cook but it doesn't matter, we just buy pizza haha

So this will be the last time I host a house party in Singapore.. but I'm sure it'll be just as memorable as the last two.

Oh I yeah I just superglued my forefinger to some tissues but at least I managed to fix my broken stuff - the super glue really works.

Time is 9:20am

being into someone

Time: 11:01pm

OK second note this time I'm going to talk about the movie I just watched tonight called "He's Just Not that into You" -- it started out just like the book and began with questioning the advice or perhaps 'lies' we've always come to know and tell each other, or maybe it's just to console each other when we are rejected by someone else. It ended in a very nice way with everyone beginning new chapters in their lives.

Kyoka and I spent dinner time talking about relationships and the movie as well and it really made me think about how much time and energy we invest into life's relationships... and how I feel it's a good thing.

I've been talking about relationships a lot these days, with my boss as well, and we've come to the conclusion that human beings are not built to be alone, we are social creatures, and if being happy means moving locations, moving careers or shifting your own mindset about certain beliefs...why not? At least even if you get your heartbroken in the end...if you don't give up you still have a better chance than someone who gave up.

Oh this goes back to the positive leadership talk again... it was mentioned that insurance salespeople who are more optimistic and more tenacious are more likely tou outsell less tenacious salespeople by 20-50% - probably because they are willing to improvise, change their styles and don't give up. It's not always about intelligence or good looks, it's simply believing that changing your own behaviour and habits will lead to you achieving your goals in life.

Time: 11:07pm oops bit over time ;) that's all right. It's more important to finish my thought.