10 big things in 2009 (random order)

1. Going to school in Brigham Young University - Idaho for my bachelor degree
- Being able to study in the other country is my lifelong dream since I was so young. I just can't believe that it happened.

2. Being able to find the sister missionary, Sister Olsen, who introducted me to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and gave me a Book of Mormon
- My life was changed because of that contact.

3.Getting to contact a very important person to me whom I lost contacted with for over 15 years.
- It is a very complicated feeling; I am still learing on dealing with this relationship

4. Rylie Stones got his mission call
- He went on exchange with me quite often when I was serving in Heber City. We just clicked. I am glad to see him receiving his endowment for his mission after many challenges.

5. The first romance relationship after my mission
- We broke up few months after; perhaps the wrong timing, or... I don't know.

6. Eric So and Tommy Wong are called to serve
- My two great friends in Hong Kong. They are both convert; family members are not member of the church. It will bless the rest of their life because of their decision and desire to serve.

7. Being in a court
- I will always be proud of myself because no one believed me at all that I had the guts to sue the company I worked for. Even though I lost the lawsuit, I still felt very good as I know what I did is right.

8. 100% score of my project
- It has been a while that I have never received any achievement for 100%.  That project was for my mass media class.  I wrote a five pages article about a movie against the church standard, and I also made a video for about 15 mins about a show hosted by me interviewing few professors. It was my first time to edit video!

9. Writing blog
- I kicked out my laziness and started writing blog to record my feeling and moment in my life. I always want to write a book; hopefully it is a good begining.

10. Having a thought to be a husband
- I never had a huge desire to get married, I do want to be a father though. Since going to school and having the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, I think having a family can be a thing to me now.

She - a contact had changed my life

One of the great gifts I received this year for Christmas is, I found the sister missionary, Sister Olsen, who contacted me on the street and gave me a Book of Mormon nine years ago.
She has four kids already! I mentioned to her for all the big things happened to me in the last nine years - callings, mission and study.
It's nine years already! It's such a long time! Just a contact, my life was changed!  Too many good moments happened because of that contact; I came to know more about life, time and love!
Nevertheless, I am grateful for who I am because I know myself better now since that contact!

Christmas day

Christmas day! The meaning of Christmas, I know it with all my heart! But as for the Christmas holiday, I didn't feel anything at all! I didn't plan any thing to do for Christmas break as I spent all my time to work and study. Eventually, I decided to come down to Utah for Christmas.
I stayed with the Stone family.  They did prepare many presents for me. It was the first time that I celebrated Christmas in such a traditional way in Utah.  We had Christmas story and movie on Christmas Eve with our pajamas wearing. The Christmas spirit was very strong!
This morning, we opened our presents! It was such a fun thing to do! But everything seems coming too fast; I didn't have time to prepare at all.
I sent some present to my friends in Hong Kong; they are all currently serving as a missioary. Those three hours I was choosing the presents, doing all the wrapping and dealing the mailing in the post office, I did feel that I was doing something for Christmas. But afterward, I felt empty again!  I was happy for what I did though! I enjoy of being a giver!
Christmas is over, what next?

Consistancy

Final Grades were released on Christmas Eve already. I am satisfied of my results very much even though I wasn’t able to get straight A. For the two classes I don’t get A do not bug me at all but the one I got A. I got 97.8%. I should have 98.5% but because of my attendance. What a good lesson to learn? It always takes my life time to lesson about the lesson of consistency. I am quite sure I can be very inconsistent from time to time!
Is it my personality or what? There must be a problem! I think I really should have passion on the things I am doing.
I found a quote from President David O. McKay a couple of days ago when I sent an email to my friend.

"The true measure of a man is how he spends his time when he doesn't have to do anything."

I guess if I am able to live my life on every detail more consistently, I don’t have to worry about if I will have any time that I don’t know what to do.

Where should I go?

I don't know about other people but I always stand at the intersection.  It will be Christmas break after the final next week.  I still have no idea about where I am going. All my time is spent on studying and doing projects; Christmas break seems still far away from me. But, it comes...

It is not strange to think that each of us individually thinks we are always in the middle of something, we all don't know what and how to do.  A letter I just send to a girl I really like, I shared with her a quote that I learn from my mission.

"The distance between the problem and the solution is the distance between the knees and the floor." (unknown)

Perhaps I should do the same way for my Chirstmas break - my future.

How much do I need to pay?

It is not about money, but effort! I had an interview today for a job application, which position is a Marketing Manager in the University Relation Department on campus.  This is my second time to apply for this job; I hope that I can get a full time job or two part-time job during my off track in order to learn more hand-on experience related to my major and save up some money for schooling. 

As for the job title, I don't think I will have any doubt about my skill, ability and experience on business and marketing, whatever the product and the service is.  But it seems like I will never be the one they want.  The department head is very appreciated for all the experience I had in the past, it is just not what he wants!

I really hope that I can gain the working experience here while I am here, that's why I did put down my pride and applied again.  It is because I want to learn; I want to know what I can improve. 

Business experience? Whatever! I have to put it aside and build up from the beginning!  It is always more difficult for me to promote myself here.  Few years ago, the mission president of the China Hong Kong mission, President Ong,  spoke in a conference.  "As a chinese study or work in a western oriented society, I need to pay at least double effort for the same reward." said Ong. In fact, he grew up in U.S., the missionaries said that he is no different from a American.  Ironically, he graduated from Havard Unversity.

Then,  I will not deny that I have to pay more than double! This semester is almost over. When I look back what I did in the last three months: taking 16 credits, working in the early morning, sleeping for about three to four hours a day and spending most of the time in library, I still survive. I will say these are my effort. But effort to build up my personality! I know what I need for now is the effort to build up a profession.