Since I did this last year, I shall do it again!

January

We’re just hours away from the new year, but somehow it doesn’t quite feel like it to me. For me, the last day of the year is usually associated with having to get ready to go back to school, despite not wanting the holidays to end yet. Of course, this is not the case this time round, which is probably why today feels like a normal day to me.

Most people left around noon today, but because I had to do plasmid extraction, restriction digestion and run a gel, I stayed till around 2. I was expecting to be the last one to leave the lab, but it so happened that Patricia and Priscilla were clearing their stuff and eating ice cream (I got one too!) after they were done with their midiprep, so I left together with them. I would probably be feeling really lonely if they had left earlier. In fact, that was what I was feeling when I went upstairs to run my gel at 1+ pm. Sabna and Yen Hoon had left, and I saw 2 of the guys going off somewhere. There was no one else in the lab when I went in, and I don’t think there was anyone else in the office either. The fourth floor was really quiet, and as I was loading the gel, I had this urge to call someone, just to hear a familiar voice. I didn’t do so in the end, as I didn’t know who to call. Managed to finish up soon and I got some results, so that was good. I don’t really like doing stuff on the fourth floor at night or during the eve of holidays, because there’s hardly a soul around. I like quiet places, but that’s too quiet for me! At least on the third floor there are more labs, so there are usually people around even after working hours.

Anyway… the last day of the year is always a time for me to look back on the year, and think of how it’s been. This year has been one where a lot of friends weren’t around because they were on exchange, or had gone overseas to study. In the later half of the year, when I was on attachment and when I started my FYP, I had to get used to being in a new environment, without knowing anyone. I’m so thankful that I met Jasmine and Adrian during my attachment, because I really don’t know how I would have gotten through it if they weren’t there. Han Fang and Denise as well, though I spent comparatively less time with them.

As for FYP, I’m glad that Nicholas is there, and I’m not the only student in the lab. I’m glad that Patricia, Priscilla and Jasmine (not the same as the one from the attachment) are there as well, because I usually as them for help if there’s something I’m unsure of. Too bad today’s their last day (they’re attachment students), but I’ll still see them around from time to time. I’m thankful to have Sabna teaching me in the lab upstairs, and for Yen Hoon to be around as well. And of course Eugenia! I’m so glad that she happened to be on attachment in the lab upstairs, and I had someone to disturb when I’m free. Also thanks to Yvonne who taught me how to do cell culture. I’ll have to bother her more once I’ve finished the part I’m doing upstairs.

In church, this is the second year that I’m teaching the same class, and the familiarity I had with them really helped. I taught together with Ling Hao this year, and though I didn’t know who he was before serving together, I really enjoyed having him as my partner. I’m so thankful for my trusty partner who has helped me out when I needed it!

This is the year that I transited from year 3 to year 4. Being in my final year now, I’ve been thinking more about the future, and sometimes I feel quite uncertain about what happens after graduation. As graduation draws nearer, it really makes me feel that I have to treasure what little time I have left as a student. To treasure the time I have with my friends, both new and old, because our lives are just doing to get busier from now on, and it’ll be more difficult to meet up. Friends from secondary school, JC, uni, church etc… there are too many names to mention, but you should know who you are. I’m glad that I’ve met each and every one of you, and let’s meet up whenever we have time!

Most importantly, thank God for guiding me through the year!

In 2009, I really hope to give my best as I follow my Sunday school class up to sec 3. I’ll be partnering Wei Jie, and I hope to learn from him! It’s going to be tiring managing FYP (and later work) with having to prepare for lessons, but I really hope that I can manage fine and prepare in advance for my lessons.

Hopefully I can learn to worry less and be more optimistic as well. It gets frustrating when experiments don’t work the way you want them to, and you have to keep repeating them. I tend to get anxious when that happens, and it really just makes things worse. I really want to stay optimistic and keep trying even if things don’t seem to be going smoothly.

As for getting a job, let’s think about that a bit later. I wonder if I’ll be able to secure a job before I graduate…

2009 will be a busy year with lots of changes, but I hope that it’ll turn out to be a good one!

How was everyone’s Christmas? I had a nice and quiet one, spending most of the day at home and then heading to church in the evening. It’s more or less the same every year, but I like it that way. I got a new laptop on Christmas as well! I was intending to get a new one since my current one is pretty old, and I also need one that I can carry to school. (My current one weighs 3+ kg, which is a pain to lug around.) I wanted to place my order on Christmas eve, but by the time I was going to ask my dad about it, he was already going to bed. It was a good thing that happened, because on Christmas day itself, there was a $200 cash rebate on the laptop I wanted to get.

Met up with Wan’e today to go to K Box. It’s been so long since I’ve been there! The last time was before Serene and Wan’e left for their exchange. Since it was just the 2 of us today, we could sing more. Too bad I had a blocked nose, which is really irritating because I can’t sing properly that way. But in any case, it was great seeing her and catching up! Feels like she had never left, but I guess that’s because we have been chatting over Skype and MSN while she was away. Will be meeting the rest on the 9th next month since we have a workshop, and it’ll be nice to have everyone around again. With everyone doing their FYPs at different places now, I’m sure there will be lots to talk about.

This week seems to be passing so quickly; it’s already going to be Sunday tomorrow. I got a lot of rest this week, and all that slacking around makes me not want to go back to the lab next week! In any case, next Thursday is a public holiday, so that will be something to look forward to.

皆が会いたい！

Merry Christmas everyone!

This Christmas season feels kind of different, because I’ve been busy with FYP until now, and quite a number of people are away as well. I had a Christmas party last Friday with everyone in Mark’s lab, and we had food and games. And then on Tuesday we had log cake in the afternoon as well. I haven’t spent much time in Mark’s lab thus far since I’m currently running my experiments upstairs, and so I’m glad to have the chance to interact more with everyone from Mark’s lab.

In the midst of partying, shopping and whatnot, let’s not forget the true meaning of Christmas as we celebrate it today. Merry Christmas once again!