Bidding farewell to 2019

Time for an annual pitstop.

Career Wise

Didn’t die as Retail Technology Lead and managed to launch 2 Maxis concepts stores with the kick ass team within a crazy ass timeline. 6 projects within 6 months, even I'm amazed. I believe that was what got me the accelerated promotion! Played multiple roles during this timeframe, from still managing the previous system, product owner to our newly developed WebApp used in retail stores, part time program manager and etc.

It was an interesting time trying to recreate the ideal customer journey/experience. Also being exposed to design thinking and scrum methodologies. The only regret I have is not getting myself certified for any of that. Should have been a little more selfish towards my own development and took a bit of time off from the project to sort those out.

However, I took a BIG leap of faith and decided to tender my resignation. Scary times ahead. Anybody looking to hire?

Adventure Time 

I may have overkilled with the amount of travelling I've done...

🇯🇵 Visited Japan during Chinese New Year, specifically for Shirakawa-go but did a nice route through Nagoya > Gero > Takayama > Shirakawa-go > Kanazawa > Tokyo. I will eventually write about the rest of those places, I hope.
🇯🇵 Visited Japan again... this time just for Tokyo!
🇦🇺 Flew to Sydney for Tommy’s wedding. Always a beautiful occasion to see you friend tie the knot.
🇨🇳 First ever mother and daughter only trip to Shanghai. Stuffed ourself silly with local cuisines, those Xiao Long Baos were dead good.
🇦🇺 Visited Jen in Melbourne because LDR is always a pain.
🇫🇷🇮🇹🇨🇭 Went on a crazy ass 8 days hike around the Mont Blanc massif. Through France, Italy and Switzerland.
🇹🇭 Partied (sorta) in Krabi.
🇦🇺 Weekend getaway to Melbourne, yes again.
🇲🇾 Hiked in Sabah with Raleigh KL, experiencing the beauty Ulu Papar before it gets destroyed by a dam.
🇰🇷 Wore a Hanbok and ate live octopus in Korea.
🇹🇭 "Eat, pray, love" in Bangkok.
🇻🇳 Shopped in Vietnam. And of course, enjoyed some Vietnamese food.
🇨🇳 Froze myself in Mohe, with close to negative 40 Celsius. Once in a lifetime experience in which I will never ever forget. So cold that it hurts.

Fitness and/or health

Same old. Injuries take a real long time to heal. Twisted my ankle back in late November and it is now mid January as I'm compiling this post, it still hurts. 

Hangover is as bad. 

Oh and my goal was to complete a full marathon. On the day of the Standard Chartered race, I was down on food poisoning! Had to missed out on 2 weddings for the same reason. Boo-freaking-hoo.

Growing up

Or rather, I'd like to rephrase it as what have I learnt?

(1) I didn’t have a theme or a specific goal in 2019. I just winged it as it came and the year went by like that. I can’t say that I’ve achieved what I’ve set myself up to (since there’s none to begin with, ignoring what I've mentioned in my last year's resolution to start tracking my expenditures) but I know for every assignment I was given, I did my best.

But now, it’s time to not just do my best for what’s assigned to me but seek for the assignments that I desire.

(2) About myself. I’ve learnt that I’m quite a workaholic because I had Monday blues for not being required to go to work.

 (3) The world is too big and it’s impossible to see it all. So really, there’s no need trying to cram everything in the itinerary. Towards the end of the day, you’d probably forget half the sceneries you’ve seen but you’ll never forget who you went with and how that made you felt.

What’s next?

I’m moving back to Melbourne and that’ll be a whole new chapter. I’m scared because I’ve got no idea what’s ahead of me but I’m excited at the same time.

Last comments

🤞🏼 2020 please be kind to me. I promise not to crumble.

FYI here is the link to 2018 pitstop.