My unit has some of the most helpful/nicest ppl I've ever met. When ppl are so hao3 to the frequently clueless(work-related) me it makes me want to cry. Lucky I didn't, else would have scared them, suddenly tear in the middle of those let's-figure-this-out discussions...

Secret Pals
There was some commotion early this morning at the pigeon holes. From my workstation, I could hear a bunch of ERU ladies wowing and ah-ing... cos someone's secret pal had left her a small rose bouquet! And that someone turned out to be me! :) It certainly made my day, but my secret pal was thereafter accused of 'spoiling the market'... 'cos secret pal expectations were "upped" as a result. Tmr's our Christmas gift exchange; and I shall find out who has been so sweet to me, showering me with lil gifts every other day :)

At end of day, the junior officers also decided to re-collect all the tiny gifts we had given one another the past week or so for a secret-pal-gifts 'group picture'. Someone who got a donut last week then joked... already eaten want me to spit it out meh?? Though we're no longer kids, it was somewhat cute that this Christmas-secret-pal-initiative brought out the kid in many of us... like making ppl really happy for 3 minutes when they discover small gifts in their pigeon holes.

Hmmm, feel slightly guilty of this (go to article). Perhaps that's why I can get super stressed easily. And overly self-critical. And kill a lot of brain cells for NOTHING. But sometimes I just can't stand being slipshod leh.

Am back and all traumatised by my JLPT test... Considering how many answers I tikamed, will count myself lucky if I pass. If not, I will just try again next year... and make sure I pass then!! Sigh, am still not quite there yet, esp my comprehension and listening... but nmind, will take a short break from Japanese for time being; then start all over again early next year. And I deserve to give myself tiny pat on shoulder for religiously going for Jap lessons almost every Sun the past year... even if I dun pass, I did learn quite a bit :)

On a unrelated note, Sg feels more and more prosperous these days... with so many shopping malls undergoing facelifts and shops opening everywhere there are so many things to buy... places to eat and shop... takes some willpower to resist buying something everytime you hit the stores.. yet at the same time I feel somewhat disturbed... this place feels very materialistic (not like it wasn't before)... What do ppl want for Christmas? This voucher, that voucher.. this branded bag, that branded wallet... Of course I sometimes have a weakness for these things too, but yeah, try to remind myself from time to time that these are often transient possessions that wun really make me truly happy... (Sadly, "face" matters so much in our society huh) And seriously, women's mags I pick up are frequently unrealistic.. half the things they recommend are totally unaffordable. Few hundred bucks for a pair of shoes. A dress. And the list goes on... Who buys these things?? If I ever publish a women's mag, I will try to jie4 shao4 value-for-money-yet-look-good thingies... so that poor ppl can be happy too :P