...and then it is July.

Wow, this year is passing so fast. I really wish there was some time to stop and smell the roses. Alas, there is so much to do. Everything is moving at lightning speed. In less than 2 months, I will be starting work some place else. About a month after that, I have my vacation in Malaysia. Then its back to Norway and then its Christmas. No time to breathe :/

In three weeks, I have to replace the wardrobe in my apartment. The current one is not bad, but the shelves are falling in and the beam on which you hang stuff on - its falling out. I wandered around IKEA a few weeks ago and saw a nice one that is a bit more reinforced. Much more robust. So I figured I'll switch it out.

I would also like to have a small wardrobe at the entrance of the apartment so that I can hang all my winter coats, etc there. Those seem to take up a lot of space sometimes. Hmm, maybe later, when I can justify the expense.

Somewhere between all this I have to psych myself up for my new job and for my trip home. The trip home involves a lot of challenges, to be honest. I'm extremely sensitive, and sometimes, offhand remarks/comments can hurt me a lot. Just people nagging about when I'm going to get married (it is difficult to be a hot 25 year old expatriate, the family tradition does not let you be unmarried because people assume you must be miserable and unhappy). Someday, I would like to take all my relatives, sit them down, and explain how much fun it is to not be married. To make your own decisions, to arrange stuff in your apartment the way YOU like it. To not have to pick up the phone and report you are.

Don't get me wrong. There's nothing bad about marriage - but I haven't reached that point yet, you know? I'm really happy being on my own, having lots of friends, bumming around, traveling, reading, watching lots of movies. When I reach that point in life, then it will be different. For now, I am content. But I really hate being nagged about when I'm going to get married. It is extremely frustrating :/ ..as though grooms can be found in the supermarket for 5 ringgit each or something :)

The other tough question is "when are you coming back for good?" I know people don't mean harm when they ask these questions, but I wish they wouldn't. The thing is, even I don't know. I don't want to live a boring life. I don't mind living far away from home. It's not that bad, at all. I have a good relationship with my family, but at the same time, I want to explore all sorts of possibilities. I love my lifestyle here in Norway. Norway is a very nice place to live in. Very peaceful and calm. I have learned the art of patience here :) ... and picked up minor coffee addiction, but that's another story! I wish people asked different types of questions, rather than questions that are uncomfortable. It gets even more awkward when they try to suggest things like "Why can't you work in Singapore?" "You should start looking for a job closer to home." ... its just weird. These types of questions make me eye the nearest exit....and airport.

Sometimes we don't pick our destiny. I never thought I'd be in Norway trudging through snow for 3 months a year. I really didn't think so. I'd like to enjoy it while I am here. I have no problems working in Singapore, in fact I applied for a job there but did not get it. Jobs don't come easy, especially niche jobs like Technical Writing. I just wish people understood...rather than ask insensitive questions. Time to psych myself up for all this :) Maybe I should get ear plugs...