Looking back on my Big W experience

Later today, another sub-chapter in my life story will close when I clock out for the last time as a rostered staff member at Big W Doncaster, and maybe the last time for good.

It has only been in recent days - as my final shift draws nearer - that I've taken some time to reflect on two-and-a-half years with one of Australia's biggest retailers. I will always remember this job as an answer to desperate prayer for a part-time job with regular hours, something I had been pleading with the Lord for several years.

But thanks be to God for His sense of purpose and timing. When I landed my job at Big W, I had just begun studying part-time. This made it easier to arrange work hours, which had been a problem when I had tried to look for previous work. God's timing had also shaped my attitude to be one of immense gratitude at having a job, small as it was. I also came into the job in the knowledge that it was to be a temporary "stepping-stone" job, a necessary path to something bigger, which I now know is language teaching.

From the hectic preparation for store opening, learning how to recover a section of the store (I can still hear our inaugural store manager, the great Marcelo Camargo, saying "bay by bay" in his wonderful Brazilian accent!), through to the hustle-bustle of the various yearly sales and stocktakes, I have gained valuable work experience. The skills I have developed - teamwork, being able to work unsupervised and adapting to a constantly changing environment - will no doubt come in handy when I start full-time work in the education industry. Then there are also the colleagues whom I will miss when I leave, but can still keep in touch with on Facebook, haha. Thanks to you all for making my time at Big W unforgettable.

After work tonight, I will be heading to Box Hill to check out the Chinese New Year festivities. Sadly, Australia doesn't observe Chinese New Year as a public holiday. This year it falls on Thursday 3 February, so celebrations will be taking place this weekend and also next weekend. This coming year is the Year of the Rabbit, my Grandma's zodiac. Traditionally, people born in the year of the Rabbit are said to symbolize graciousness, good manners, sound counsel, kindness and sensitivity to beauty. My Grandma definitely embodies all these traits, but most importantly she has used these qualities to build and raise a godly family. I hope this will be a special year for her, especially when she becomes a great-grandmother in May.

Finally, I want to wish well the contestants of the Australian Open singles finals - Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, and Kim Clijsters and Li Na. May the best players win!

Thanks for the memories, Big W!

A new year, a new start ...

Greetings, dear reader(s)

First let me wish you a belated Happy New Year. I hope 2011 will be a year of excitement, prosperity and growth for all of you. It certainly promises to be such a year for me. After cruising through 2010 and letting it pass by, one of my resolutions this year is to TRY and make the most of the days God has given me.

I've also resolved to develop better discipline and self-control. One practical way I've decided is to limit my food budget to $3000 for the year, which breaks down to $250 a month, or less than $60 a week. On top of that, I'm going to start paying monthly board of $200 to Mum.

That already amounts to $5400 out of my budget for 2011, not including other things like church offering and transportation. But I'm not worried about where this money will come from, as God will provide for my needs like He always has.

A large piece of 2011 fell into place on Monday, when I received an offer to undertake the accelerated stream of the Master of Teaching (Secondary) at Melbourne University! As it turns out, it's a good thing I didn't follow Mum and my siblings to Malaysia, as I have to rock up to the Parkville campus tomorrow to formalize enrolment stuff.

As it is, Mum needn't worry about me or Dad at all, as we're not starving. Far from it! We have brought Grandma over for dinner most nights (as Grandpa is now in aged care) and usually end up cooking way too much.

Now I want to turn my attention to the recently completed Ashes series. Cricket haters, look away now! This hasn't been the first time Australia has lost a Test series at home 3-1, but it's the magnitude of the losses that really hurt. All three losses were by over an innings (the Australian football equivalent of getting beaten by 100 points or over), and the losses in the 4th Test in Melbourne (which I went to with some friends on Day 2, and saw Jonathan Trott teach the Aussies how to bat) and the 5th Test in Sydney meant that for the first time, Australia had lost consecutive Test matches on home soil by more than an innings. I'll put the rest of my thoughts in another posting for those of you who are getting bored.

So to sum up, it will be a busy, exciting year with the intensive Master of Teaching at Melbourne, but also expecting a visit in July from my cousin Hwee Yen, Fifth Uncle's (五舅) youngest daughter, and another cousin, my First Aunt's (大姨) second son Pau Han and his girlfriend from Holland later on in the year. Despite the anticipated busyness, please pray that I'll remember to put God first in all that I do.

Before I sign off, I want to convey my support to those who are battling the horrendous floods up in Queensland. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this very trying time, and rest assured that the rest of Australia is aware of your plight and doing all it can to help.

Cheers and God bless.