Twenty one and a bit.

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"The precipice is always so beautiful and scary" text from a friend on us turning twenty one. Definition of precipice: a cliff with a vertical, nearly vertical, or overhanging face.

And really that's where I'm currently standing, on the tipping edge of adulthood, officially shedding that inhibiting but also protecting label of 'child'. From here on out, it's a fast downward rush, exhilarating but daunting. I feel like I could blink and miss it all. 

appreciate the small things.

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The small things that make me happy:
i.                     Making someone laugh. A genuine laugh, the sort that extends beyond the limits of the mouth, one which crinkles the eyes and warms the ears. One in which you can’t do any less than share a chuckle as well.
ii.                   Seeing someone enjoy something you made. Whether it be food, artwork or a story you’ve written. There’s something special when you’ve invested time into something and another soul understands.
iii.                  Sticking a hard hold or finishing a hard climb. It’s the feeling of achievement, pure and simple. When everything comes together like clockwork, you flow through the air, momentarily weightless.

If we all learned to appreciate the small things, the world would be a much happier place.

shanghai.

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A month spent in Shanghai has come to a close, and it felt both agonizing slow yet fleeting in retrospect. Twenty years and a month is the longest I’ve ever spent here. I may be Shanghainese through and through, yet this place has never truly been my home. Though temporarily, I feel as if I had a glimpse into the culture of my parents and what it is like to live and grow up here. It makes me feel extremely lucky and grateful for my life back in Sydney, and all the opportunities I’ve been given to grow up in such a beautiful place.


Weekends spent exploring the city and its highlights with a newfound friend. The culture of the city engrained in the mouthwatering wafting scents of the street food carts, the small street markets where you take care to not get splashed by the live fish in styrofoam boxes and in the friendly banter and bargaining leaving both parties outwardly grumbling but inwardly satisfied that they got the upper hand. Easily making friends and connecting through climbing despite the language barrier and even participating in their games. Shopping, so much shopping, each buy done with a calculation to Australian dollars and exclamation of how cheap it is. I’ll miss the food, even the lowliest little dingy street store offering more authentic chinese food then the best that Sydney offers for a fraction of the price. It’s not just the taste but the surrounding, the setting, the people and their livelihood. But most of all, I’ll miss the precious time I got to spend with my mum, in the country that will forever be her home.

Work experience has been daunting, difficult, and at times mind numbingly boring but an undeniable growing experience. Daunting as it’s a first in a professional setting, in a different country with people I’ve never met. Working on a large real project and filled with doubts that because of my involvement and minor errors, that a building could be built and fall down. Difficult in the sense that I can barely speak mandarin at an adequate conversation level, let alone in a work setting with all its technical language and complexities. Boring since I know so little, and can barely be of any help so often I sit watching the minutes creep by, eager to be of help but not wanting to interrupt.

Nonetheless, a learning experience because I received a glimpse into how an architectural company functions and the actual development of the conceptual phase of a design and all the considerations required. And though I still seem to know so little, I participated and attempted, and presented at informal meetings and even had involvement in a couple of slides in the final presentation to the clients. It went pretty well, if you were curious. I feel grateful and happy to my coworkers who tried hard to understand my disconnected mandarin, and brought me along to lunch with them every day, and helping as best they could.

Though I’m happy and thankful, it’s not one second too soon to be heading home because day by day I find myself missing more, my friends, the other half of my family and just Sydney life. But for once, I feel eager for the start of a new semester. A chance to prove myself, to grow and learn and really put in the hard work where it’s required.

six foot hike.

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 Midway at the apex.

Completed the 44km Six Foot Track and it was an amazing memorable experience! The first day from Explorers Tree to Coxs River Camp (16km) was quite a rapid decent of 1000m to the bottom of Blue Mountains where the first campsite was located. Not difficult, but definitely toiling upon the knees, my legs trembling like a leaf in the wind, at the bottom. Sadly, midway through the farmland we took a wrong turn and went off track for more than half an hour before we reached a dead end and realised we had done so. Tenuously retracing our steps and searching for the lost track was demoralising but the last leg of the journey went smoothly and the festive camp beside the river was a welcome sight. 

The second day, we continued on from Coxs River Camp reascending the 1000m elevation up the mountain to reach Black Range Camp (18km). Steep steep hills which continued for miles sapped our strength and breath, leaving us praying that around each bend and hairpin turn would be the last hill. With luck on our side, a foggy rainy morning accompanied our climb instead of a baking hot sun. Pushing on and reaching the apex of the summit where we finally allowed ourselves to settle for lunch was a gratifying achievement. Making friends along the trail as we met at different checkpoints and chatted over our little stoves cooking away was fun. A boisterous extended family of eleven gathered around the campfire, livened the mood as we shared our chocolates, m&m's and marshmellows, and learnt new games together.

The last half day from Black Range Camp to Jenolan Caves House (10km) was smooth sailing and shorter compared the terrain of the two previous days. Waking early, we avoided the heat of the midday sun, walking briskly eager to finish and a hot pub lunch to cinch the deal. At times it was painful and tiring, but pushing ourselves to exhaustion and aching feet, blissful to merely sit and eat a hot can of soup was a indescribable experience. Reaching the end, before we even knew it, was amazing, well worth roughing it up for three days and almost twenty hours of walking.  
Finished, at Jenolan Caves.

appreciating the small things.

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Appreciating the little achievements, which step by step pave the way to the larger goals. Like jogging six out of nine days in the new year, after a long hiatus of absolute no jogging. Each feeling of accomplishment and runner's high which follows. And shaving off seven minutes off my original time in nine days on the same route. Eating right, exercising portion control but at times still indulging. Each little thing makes me feel good, and when my motivation begins slack, I need to remember so.

new years resolutions

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And so with a burst of fireworks, twenty fourteen is welcomed in with open arms. Each year, we receive a chance to wipe the slate clean and start anew in our own internal endeavours and aspirations. To get the ball rolling, here are a couple of mine.

University/Grades: do well overall, achieve a D wam.
· procrastinate less, exercise self control
· start early, do not leave til last minute and cram
· prioritise my time, schedule/timetable

Fitness: be the fittest/strongest version of myself that I can possibly be.
· cardio, more regular weekly jogs, work my way back up to 10/15km endurance
· strength, current 2013 prs: 7x75lbs bench, 4x145lbs dead lift, 10x115lbs squat, increase
· bodyweight exercise: pull ups, push ups, muscle ups

Bouldering: always improve, don't lose my passion.
· enter a competition, place if possible
· current 2013 stats: done three 11's, regularly achieve double digits by end of 2014
· more outdoor bouldering, complete sloper dan (v5)

Work: experience
· casual job, for financial income
· architectural work experience, continue to perfect portfolio
· apply as much as possible, be brave, learn from mistakes

Social: make more friends, be a better friend.
· be proactive, outgoing, don't be shy
· maintain friendships with those I care about, make the effort to meet up
· enjoy life fully

Drawing: practice makes perfect, why squander a useful skill?
· practice, practice, practice.
· fill up both random and architectural sketchbooks by end of year
· continue to work on and improve my etsy, make sales

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