Boring Being Alone

You know, when I first found out I'd only be working two days a week and have the rest of the week off, I thought sweeeet free time!

However, when you're all alone and you've got no one to enjoy that free time with, then it's not so cool...

I've got to say, today was a pretty boring day! Both of my brothers and my dad were at work, and my mum went out. That left me all by myself. I had to get a few things sorted so I walked down to the bank, and once that was done I just wandered the mall and the shops.

We have a youth group camp coming up in three weeks' time, and I'm kinda organising it. I'm in charge of camp concert and helping organise the Friday night discussion. So far I'm struggling for ideas! They will probably come eventually. I was hoping that by wandering in some shops I'd pick up a few ideas.

I kinda feel a bit under pressure, as I really don't want to let down the youth group and want to make sure the camp runs smoothly, everyone has fun and it all goes well. Sometimes I feel like I'm doing everything myself though and get overwhelmed a little! I guess at least it gives me something to focus on right now. I don't know what I'll be doing with myself after it's all over, probably looking for another project!

One thing I did realise as I wandered around West City today was that I really need to get out more! Ever since I took up the pharmacy job in Albany, I haven't really been out in the city or at the shops much. My social life seems to revolve around church. I really need to catch up with old friends and meet some new friends too!

I guess I have a lot more free time to do that now...

Ten Rules for Happier Living

I saw this on the wall at work today and found it quite interesting:

Ten Rules for Happier Living

1. Give something away (no strings attached)
2. Do a kindness (and forget it)
3. Spend a few minutes with the aged (their experience is a priceless guidance)
4. Look intently into the face of a baby (and marvel)
5. Laugh often (its life's lubricant)
6. Give thanks (a thousand times a day is not enough)
7. Pray (or you will lose the way)
8. Work (with vim and vigour)
9. Plan as though you'll live forever (because you will)
10. Live as though you'll die tomorrow (because you will on some tomorrow)

The Values Auction

Tonight in youth group we played a game called 'The Values Auction' where we got into pairs and bid on certain things in life we would like to experience (with a maximum of $10 million spending money). 

Such things put up for auction included discovering a cure for cancer, donating $50,000 to a charity, having a loving family..you get the drift.

Anyway I teamed up with Hamish, and our main objective was to score the SUPER HOT GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND!

Along the way we ended up bidding for stupid things like doing something special for the family, scoring a professional sports contract for two years (that was a slip of the tongue when the highest bid was $1 million and I just accidentally called out $2 million without thinking!), feeling safe (we were only told after we made the highest bid that we'd only be feeling safe, not actually being safe! I suppose at least life would be better somewhat...), and having the respect of your peers.

It was interesting to see that the girls were doing all the bidding initially while the guys decided to proceed cautiously and wait a bit to see what other auctions there were. The girls soon started to run out of money, which left all the good ones to us!

A common theme seemed to revolve around making your life being better than Calum's, like getting a degree you really want unlike Calum, getting you dream career, unlike Calum, and having respect of your peers, unlike Calum who gets bullied by little girls. Yes, yes my life's become a joke!

Anyway, finally the auction for what we most desired came up - for the super-hot girlfriend/boyfriend! Let's just say Hamish and I took it out for a little over $2 million! That makes up for all the other things we wasted our money on!

(http://youtu.be/AUPCQLydx6w)

Crossing off the Dates

I cross off each day on this calendar beside my bed every night. Half way to go!

Re-prioritising My Goals

I think I've finally decided what my study goals will be alongside doing my pharmacy internship and becoming a registered pharmacist!

For a while I've been set on trying to either do some online distance learning course or taking evening classes to get a Graduate Diploma/Certificate in something like Arts (Chinese), or maybe something relating to the health field. However, it would require me to take university papers which cost almost $1000 each, and I would have to study part time which means I wouldn't complete it within a year. Because I plan on doing post-grad studies next year anyway, I don't want to waste my money on a half-completed qualification! It also costs so much that if I end up not being able to study properly for these papers because of work or the assignments/tests I have to focus on for pharmacy and end up giving up on those papers, I'll have wasted a whole lot of money!

Therefore, I've decided instead to aim for two exams that are a lot cheaper to sit and I can study for on my own...more or less:

- HSK Test: This is a test on a non-native Chinese speaker's ability to read, write, listen and speak Mandarin Chinese. I've been meaning to learn Chinese for a while, so this will give me motivation to keep on going and recover all of the Chinese I've lost over the past four years since high school. I should really get my Chinese blog going again!
- Trinity Grade 6-7 Music Theory Exam: I bought several music theory books late last year, so I might as well make use of them and fulfill my dream of passing grade 8 music theory!

At least by working towards these two tests/exams, I will also be trying to fulfill my New Years' Resolutions:

12. Sit a music theory/Chinese exam

20. This should've come earlier but study Chinese and return to at least NCEA Level 3 Chinese level..and be more Chinese (throw that in as well) 

Once I finish my internship, I may even consider going to China for a few weeks or maybe a semester to study...if it's feasible. If not, I'll just do post-graduate study while working part-time! I think I'm starting to get somewhere with my life planning! Any further advice or suggestions welcome!

14. Decide what I want to do with my life after I (hopefully) complete my pharmacy internship

'Tis the Season

I was shopping at Lynn Mall for a 21st birthday present today and all the Christmas decorations were up, and Christmas songs were playing in the background...don't you just love that Christmas atmosphere?

Guys Make the First Move!

So I was watching my Asian Drama Devil Beside You as you do when you have nothing to do and you're addicted to drama, and there's this guy who has trouble initiating things with his girlfriend, and got told by his grandma to make the first move!

It's kinda funny because lately everyone's been reminding me about this, peer pressuring/persuading/encouraging/motivating...whatever you like to call it...me to make the first move! 

Sometimes I think what's the worst that can happen? Lose my dignity? But then I get the occasional reminder from my friend who brings me back to Earth, that it can make things weird or awkward, or wreck friendships!

I guess this makes life interesting doesn't it?

First Day of the End of my Life?

It was my first free day today and I did absolutely NOTHING! It may sound great especially after studying and exams, but I honestly had nothing to do! It did give me quite a bit to think about though...

Assuming I pass my exams, graduate and do my internship, where does my life go from there? I know my intern year will also involve assignments and exams to become a registered pharmacist, but what next? Does life become a repetitive chore in which I wake up, go to work, come home, sleep, wake up, go to work, come home, sleep...? I could have an aim of saving a million dollars by a certain age, but what am I going to do with that money? It all goes away when I die. I can't take it to Heaven with me.

I really don't want to live a meaningless life. My greatest fear is to get to an old age and realise I haven't achieved anything notable and that I haven't left an impression on anyone. I'd like to know that I've made a difference in people's lives...somehow, and that I mean something to someone.

I was asked for our annual Pharmag (pharmacy magazine) where I see myself in ten years' time and I jokingly said

'owning 15 pharmacies'

but what I really hope for in ten years' time is to BE somebody.