Sunshine in Singapore

[location: Singapore]
[mood: quite alright]

Another new week - how exciting ;)
I just came back from another working week in HongKong, where I 've attended an 'Interpersonal skills - Effective communication' training. Let me tell you, that this was a real waste of money & time.
I actually was kinda looking forward to go for this course, as I did one of these beforehand in my old company. It is an amazing course, where you learn a lot of things, you are not able to find in books. For example, last time I did it, I had to give a small presentation, where they were recording a video tape and afterwards they were discussing the body language and presentation skills. It is a very valueable lesson, to see for yourself, how you act in front of others and which secret/unconcious messages you tell them.
Nevertheless, this course was really useless - I mean the prof obviously knew what he was talking about, but 1) the training material was very, very old (1972) and 2) the course was most of the time around controversial statements, where time-wasteing discussions started about basic principles.

In the end I was able to spend the rest of the week in the HongKong office, where I had to catch up with several people for my new project. Yeah ... this time I got my own project. *wohoo* ... I've done some small projects already, but so far I have never been responsible for my own budget - got free resources available - and am the 'real' project manager. Unfortunately this all has a huge back side ;) ... I have to deliver an application by end of this year, to be used globally across the whole company.
So far we are doing fine and I've just finished the business requirements / information gathering phase. Functional design is almost done and now the technical design kicks off - that's kind of the best part of the project. You have the ability to create new functionalities and have to interact with tons of people, to make sure in the end you get what you need and want. You are an architect of intellectual property and putting together a piece of 'art'. Thousand little pieces of software and in the end you link them together. Et voila: the final product - a hopefully good and realiable tool.

Beside of work, also in my private life a lot has changed. My cousin and his girlfriend were over for 3 weeks, before I left to HK. It was soooo good to see them again. I picked them up from the airport, went out with them almost every night & day (if I wasn't stuck at work ;)) and we all together enjoyed our time.
We ate yummy Thai-food and I was - maybe for the first time in my life - able to see him speechless. I assume it was more due to the hot chili's in the soup - but anyway ...
We went to Indonesia to spend some time at the beach and then these 2 were flying off to Thailand for a week. From what I saw (pictures) and the stories they told me they must have had a great time there. But I am sure you guys will see the pictures soon anyway ;)
Once they came back to 'sunny' Singapore - it was time for Kathrin to say good-bye, as she was heading back to Germany that night.
One more week to go and us both together. I mean - everybody who knows us both will confirm, that it can't be good to put us together in one room. Our parents started early to separate us from each other, because they knew, that we would end up in stupid things and were causing trouble. Anyway - this time no more parents were around and we both decided to go on tour. Drinking - Partying - Gaming (I actually like far-cry ... but not if I am just the canon-powder. I can't even see this ***censored*** while he is already killing me... I need more training!!)
It was his first time in Asia and from the feeling i got, he really enjoyed it. I hope you'll come back!

Another change in my life is love-wise. Since 3 months now already, i got a new girl-friend. First of all, why didn't it work out with my ex?! Hmm ... it just didn't. That is the most plausible explanation.
Sabaa, yes - that is my new girlfriend, I met her through a 'mutual friend' on a night out. I made her walk with me through half of Singapore in the morning and ended up TALKING in front of the Esplanade, watching the sun-rise.
Since then, we are spending quite some time and do travel together. Apparently we've got another Thailand trip planned in 2 weeks *yippie*.
It has been a while now, but I think I am in love ... Sounds cheezy?! Hmm ... maybe!

My new apartment is also getting more and more in shape. Just bought a new set of pillows & a blanket (OMG u can not imagine how bloody expensive this is!!)
On friday my new curtains will be delivered. Since I moved into the new pad, the curtains in there were more like 'existing piece of fabric without much sense'. It did not block the light at all. You would be awake at latest 9 am in the morning on a saturday. I finally got my ass up and had a tailor coming to my place to get me new ones ... *looking_forward_to_friday*

I just need my sleep!! I can be very, very bitchy in the morning ... So better let me sleep loooong.
Another good news: My sister might be coming to Singapore for a training. Isn't that great? 6 months she'll be staying here.
This means, that also my parents might be coming to town, to celebrate Xmas with us. Actually that is a good question to all of you: Could you see yourself celebrating xmas on the beach?!
Actually i just can't ... I need my snow, the xmas tree, the cold ... Otherwise it doesn't feel like a real xmas!?
Let me know what you guys think - actually i assume it largely depends on where you grew up. If I ask someone from OZ, they will tell me that they don't know it any different.

Ah will see - one after another ... will see what happens next ;)

Au revoir ...
Ste[ph]an