before 2008 goes away~

little did i realised that i had almost been through 2008...

it's time to reflect on what i had done in a year~

i would say it's a good year!

probably one of those special years for me too~

me accepting an offer for overseas training program

(thinking back.... this was what i really really wanted to try for,

when i didn't even had the chance to apply for it without a degree)

being able to fulfil my initial target now...

AND i got the opportunity to come to US...

US was really not on my travelling destination list,

(UK and Europe are always on my list even now)

until i know i'm going for this training in US and not UK...

i'm glad i'm here....

blogging this entry with temperature outside to be -6 degrees Celsius!

it's a norm for me now...cos it's winter~ haha....

i'm not totally adjusted to the cold though...

*sigh* i'm still catching a cold on and off...

i'm experiencing another totally different climate, culture, people

exploring almost everything around me...

as much as i could reach out to within my limits...

been learning from the 1st day i arrive...still learning,

taking in, understanding and exploring every new thing that comes by~

there's alot of things that had became usual for me here too...

cooking meals for myself and for the group,

enjoys baking cakes, pies and new recipes,

driving a car to work and errands,

going to work in a lab which i feel so comfortable with,

going to a different place for sightseeing over the weekends,

events/activities/festivals going on somewhere at anytime...

there's always something to do...

something to plan on the list next....FUN~

******

when you have pros, there will be cons...

i missed out on many things that happened back in SG too...

nothing stops for you when you are not around~

a few friends' weddings that i wished to be present,

feel and share their happiness at that very moment on that special day!

even for my sister, i wished i had been around to "comment" on her bridal gown and not having her to email me pics of her gown fitting session...

(seriously...there's always more weddings going on when i'm away than when i'm in SG! the SAME phenomena happened when i was studying in Aussie too!!)

so next year when i get back to SG,

most of my friends might either be married or having kids already...

the thought of this is pretty scary!!

eeeeeee....i don't want my friends' kids calling me "Auntie" before i'm married...

i don't mind playing, entertaining or babysitting those kiddos though...

maybe i should be a nanny instead of a chemist!

******

25-26 Dec 2008 - Christmas Day + Boxing Day

it's almost like a dead town outside during Christmas Day...

shops are closed...lighter traffic...fewer people...

most of the people will staying home or flying back home,

spending family quality time catching up together...

unwrapping presents under the xmas tree...

having nice and delicious homemade meals...

for us...we had a surrogate family to spend the day with!

Joli who's the overall coordinator for our training

and assistant director for my department,

invited us to her house on Xmas day....

her family was there too...warm and friendly people!

we all felt very comfortable around them...

eating Filipino dishes, singing Karaoke,

listening to stories of Joli's family in Philippines

White Elephant gift exchange with presents all prepared by Joli...

Rules of the White Elephant gift exchange:

everyone will draw a number,

the 1st one will get to choose a present first and opens it,

followed by the 2nd person to choose another present and opens it,

but now the 2nd person gets to decide after seeing the present

whether he/she wants to exchange it with another person or keeps it.

this goes on with the 3rd person till the last person,

the one with exchanging power can exchange for any present opened,

and after the last person decides on his/her present,

the power of exchanging goes back to the 1st person for the last round!

it's a game full of twists...

now you got it, but next moment it might be gone~

so you wouldn't know till the game ends...

i think it's a pretty fun idea...

maybe i shall do it in SG next time!

******

*25 Dec 2008 - Christmas Day*

all the food prepared by Joli and her sister...

Rum cake bought by her niece, Jomina...

Xmas tree with presents....

the group getting ready for food!

i made my exchange with Winnie...hehe~

Jomina exchanged with Winnie...

all of us with our final presents...

us sitting around Joli as she tells her stories and photos...

our xmas present for Joli....

an aromatherapy neck wrap!

exploring the basement of the house....

laughing while singing Karaoke...

******

* 26 Dec 2008 - Boxing Day*

there's no such thing as Boxing Day in US...

only in UK, Canada, Australia etc...

it's a holiday anyway,

so those of us who are around in Albany

decided to go for a fancy nice dinner at The Creo!

we made reservations way ahead for it...

heard it's a busy restaurant to get a table at peak hours.

******

here's The Creo...



See we are all dressed up...

care for some wine??

i'm up for a Blood Orange Margarita...

the appetizers came in time...*HUNGRY*

hey...there's an orchid on the dish!

my pricey dinner order...

awesome seafood stew....totally worth paying for it!

a quick pic with my food before it's gone~

Waitress: Do you want me to take a group pic for you??

Reply: Ohh...Okie!

(actually i cant wait to start on my food!!)

*stomach grouching*

all the girls...happy and satisfied customers!

the "photograher" needs to be in the group pic!

don't i look so dumb??

standing straight like a woodblock!! haha...

cos it's sooo cold that i'm not moving....brrrr~

24 Dec 2008 - it's all about the Joy of Christmas!

it's for all my Christmas spirit in US...

decorations put up in my apartment, office area and lab...

festive cookies baking...xmas gifts and card making...

writing and sent out xmas cards to special people...

did the mininium compared to those who went all out...

Americans spent and do alot in prep for Christmas...

inside and around the house in the front yard...

******

lucky enough, we got invited to a tree trimming party

where family and friends get together to decorate the Christmas tree!

here's the actions at the party...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=57158&l=fb103&id=742489079

******

one of the best places to be during Christmas will be NYC!

the huge Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center...

beautiful holiday window displays...

busy holiday market booths...

and everyone totally embracing the Christmas spirit~

New Yorkers LOVE Christmas to the core!

see my pics...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=57174&l=92dfd&id=742489079

******

**Look around my apartment!**

Welcome to 104, Apt 12!

"Put your presents in the stocking!"

we have no letter to Santa though...

our xmas corner~

Snowman from my housemate,

mini Xmas tree from me...

our angel on the tree!

Cute, huh?


my room door...
mini xmas wreath and stocking~

doorknob hanger with a bell...

my housemate's door...

a brunch of jingle bells~

her stockings inside the room...

my office desk has got some festive mood too~

my colleagues did dropped some small gifts into my stocking!

Santa window cling on the lab door...

(finally people stopped messing up Santa pieces!

if not, i gonna hunt and put it back in shape~)

got some printed window clings on my hood sash...

i got everyone in the team one too!

haha...don't care if they think it's too girlie for them!

isn't it so sweet?

doesn't it melts your heart when you see that??

******

**festive baking**

i picked up and started baking alot since i came...

was initially influenced by Agnes, with an oven available too...

i became to like baking cakes, pie and stuffs...

so when Christmas's here,

the 1st thing on my mind is GINDERBREAD MAN!!

and i wanna decorate each and everyone myself...

decorating all those cookies was abit of work...

******

Red Velvet cupcakes with festive sprinkles...

Mini sugar cookies...

Mini butter cookies...

my Gingerbread men!

no one is the same...cos everyone's unique~

Mini gingerbread men...

When the Big meets the Small....

Handmade mini Xmas cards with mini ornaments....

goes in a tin with chocolates or a bag of cookies~

Christmas is all about sharing joy...

this year i hope i brought some joy to a less fortunate child,

being a Secret Santa with this "shoebox" filled with presents...

the special Xmas gift for Crazy Eight...

personalised Snoopy sock stocking,

stuffed with a "I heart NY" glass ornament and candy cane...

hanging by the window on Xmas's eve...

all the presents under the Snowman...

Yeah~ everyone got their exchanged presents...

i'm ripping off the wrapping...

cant wait to see what i got??

a cocktail shaker!

*hehe...more reasons for drinks~

my xmas presents for my housemate...a beanie and Tee~

kisses from the girls~

all my presents for Xmas!

i think i got alot more this year~ hehe...

a digital photo keychain, a shaker,

a pair of earrings, a pair of home slippers,

a photoframe, a pack of Eggnog mix, a teddy bear,

a set of handmade keychain and felt ornaments

i'm happy with everything!