A Look Back At The Year That Was

Hey hey~

I saw this done on Dorys's blog and it made me think it how interesting and appropriate it is to reflect back on the past year as 2007 quickly approaches.

In 2006 I...

travelled on 22 planes

spent an amazing week in the Philippines, sleeping only one hour each night

officially graduated from Sydney University

saw my family 3 times throughout the year

took a risk, put myself out there to be judged by my peers for MC elections in Perth

traveled to Europe for the first time

finally came home to find that my brother, Thomas, was taller than me

survived the longest Opening Plenary - EVER!! (95+ countries in over 4 hours!)

visited Auschwitz

doubted myself and my ability to the point where I nearly gave up... nearly

started to really come to terms with being Asian

experienced the loss of a member on my team

came closer to understanding just how similar people across the world are: we laugh, we cry, we love we hate, we have hopes and fears

shared a 3 bedroom apartment with only 1 shower with 7 other people

held the hand of someone who I had only known for 48 hours while they cried

danced my heart out in a gay bar in Krakow, Poland

broke some one's heart

fell in love

considered starting an AIESEC expansion to the moon

watched the sun set on a beach

Who knows what 2007 will bring...

*hugz*

MelMel

On Singaporean Food and Women

Hey hey~

I have been in Singapore for just over a week now and a part from spending time with family (which has been wonderful as it always is ^__^) there have been two main things I've noticed: 1) Singaporean Women and 2) The Food!

Singaporean Women:
I swear there must be something that Singaporean families teach their daughters or something in the education system that has given the women of this country the ability to remain immaculate in their appearance regardless of the the condition of the environment surrounding them.

Exhibit A: It's currently the rainy season here, and when it rains, it really rains. Think tropical torrential downpours with heavy rain for hours on end and you probably get the picture. Yet on these days, every woman I've seen out on the streets literally looks like they have just stepped out of a beauty spa - perfectly styled hair, flawless skin, able to walk in the rain in high heels even!

It reminds of the hostesses on Singapore airlines... even after a 14 hour flight from Singapore to Denmark they always look so fresh and radiant, not a single hair out of place. It must be something in the water.

The results are pretty much the same during the hot and ever so humid summer - perfect complexions everywhere!

Ladies of Singapore, I take my hat off to you all! ^__^

The Food!

I've said it numerous times but you just can't beat the food in Singapore. I'm yet to figure out the secret of how people here can stay so skinny when the food here is sooooo yummy!

Things I've already eaten:

• Roti
• Chicken rice
• Homemade curry puffs
• Chicken briyani
• Pepper crab
• Fish ball noodle soup
• Cereal prawns
• Yam basket
• Aloo Ghobi
• Pineapple rice
• Bim bam bap
• Satay
• Steam boat
• Claypot tofu
• Kai lan fried in garlic
• Chinese carrot cake
• 100 Plus
• Grape favourite Yakult
• Pokka green tea
• Fried sting ray with lime and chilli
• Black pepper beef stir fry
• Char Kway Teo

Things still to eat and drink:

• Beef noodle soup
• Popiah
• Rojak
• Wonton mee
• Duck rice
• Tofu fa
• Teh tarek

Stay tuned for more eating adventures...

*hugz*

MelMel

(Belated) Merry Christmas

Team Muth Strikes Again...

Hey hey~

A photo courtesy of Ruthie (the other half of my Muth burrito) and Marie's camera at IC.

Missing you heaps my dear! I hope you are having a wonderful time back home. Look forward to seeing you again in Adelaide!!

*hugz*

MelMel

24 Hours From Now...

Hey hey~

By this time tomorrow I shall be on a plane on my way to Singapore..... YAY!!

Bring on the Christmas Holidays!

*hugz*

MelMel

Who Can Resist That Pout?

Hey hey~

Even when I'm annoyed and in a bad mood (like Nemo here) I can't help but smile when I see this picture!

*hugz*

MelMel

On Striving for Excellence...

Hey hey~

Late night working in the office...
11.5 hours worth of conference session outlines and materials to prepare for...
4 more sleeps until I leave for Singapore...
Should be focused on what I want to do after my MC term next year...
Craving for a chai latte...

One thought in my head...

AIESEC Australia July 2007:

350 High Quality Members

What will your contribution be?

*hugz*

MelMel

A Time to Say Thank You...

"I will never forget the lunch/chat we had before you went to Singapore! That was soo cool...what are your plans for the next year?"

Hey hey~

In a recent post I mentioned that saying thank you to someone wholeheartedly puts a smile on my face. At IC in Poland, our Chair ran a session where he got us to think about where we were in our lives and who had helped us to get here. Then he asked a question that really struck me:

"When was the last time you said thank you to that person for helping you?"

I recently received an email in my inbox from Tugba, who was on the Australian MC last year. Her email reminded me of a key conversation I had with her before I left for Singapore, funnily enough around this time last year.

Sometimes it's those small conversations that make all the difference. The ones you don't even plan on having, the ones we have in passing, the ones we have when we take time out of our busy everyday schedules.

Tugba, thank you so much for that conversation we had. I will never ever forget you taking the time out to talk with me. I don't think I would be here if we hadn't had our talk. Thank you. ^__^

And to think, one year later, the same question remains doesn't it? What are you going to do next year?

*hugz*

MelMel

Thought of the Day...

Hey hey~

I found this quote on a notepad the other day...

"The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they can give orders better from there"

- Betty Grable

*hugz*

MelMel

Team Muth...

Hey hey~

Mel + Ruth = Muth

It's not rocket surgery or brain science...

*hugz*

MelMel