2012: THE END OF THE...Year.

I have no idea how to describe 2012. It's been a year, but I don't feel it. Is it me growing up? Or that time is ticking faster and faster every year?

2012, it's been a year!

For this entry, please allow me to do it the way I do it every year. (Note: click bolded event names for links to respective entries)

Badminton Malaysia Open 2012 is almost always the first major event I have every year (excluding 2011 when I was having internship and worked for the countdown event on December 2010). Malaysia Open this year was the first Malaysia Open I covered without having to juggle between work and school. It was also the only badminton tournament I worked at this year (first time since I started!).

With Yoo Yeon Seong.

Just like the previous years, it was a new experience once again. I remembered that I had promised our local journalists that I'd be better at Korean next year so we could interview the Korean players if their interpreter would be absent again. I have about two weeks left, but hmm... fluent enough to carry out professional interviews? I doubt. *oops*

Tough time. I guess almost everyone's had their share of hard times this year. It seems to me as if it was a long time ago, as ever since the matter was settled, I simply didn't want to think about the ridiculousness anymore.

In short, the case was that the college I graduated from was not so "clean" to begin with, and it caused me a string of problems while applying for a place at universities(local and overseas, no joke). For a period of time, it really did seem like I was not going to be accepted anywhere, though deep down inside I knew that there would be a place for me somewhere.

Finally, after all the hard work, I got an offer from Sunway University to do psychology. I wouldn't say that I'm expecting to go into the field after I graduate, as my goal was (and still is) just to get a degree a.k.a the ticket to survive in the world out there; and of course, to gain more knowledge. ;-)

Trip to Adelaide. In order to take bro there to have a look at the place before he decides to get his tertiary education there, we went to Adelaide in April this year. It was my first time out of Asia - or more like, my first time going to a place less like Asia.

Adelaide was really... quiet, slow, and relaxing. Life seems more slow-paced there, probably because I was there with nothing very important to do - just stay there, travel a bit, and look around. I liked the environment - the buildings, the streets, the houses - very unlike Asia, to me. Although I didn't enjoy myself as much as the other times I went overseas(likely because we had nothing much to do as time was spent on visiting universities), I sometimes miss the serenity of life at Adelaide when life here gets too hectic.

I see Beerenberg products in Malaysia, but why do I see no sign of their famous
strawberry jam?

Now, bro will be leaving next month(on the day Malaysia Open 2013 kicks off), and I'll be left to live life like an only child at home. Pros and cons, but it's a stage of life.

Thomas and Uber Cups 2012. I didn't work, I just thought I'd include this here. It was something to remember, I guess. At least I remember the heart-warming smiles of the runners-up. :-)

London Olympic Games 2012. I didn't work too, but it's definitely something to remember - a big part of 2012. Remember the controversy in badminton? That's for sure something huge in the history of badminton and the Olympic Games.
At the end of the badminton event, I guess the hearts of many Malaysians broke as our national hero Dato' Lee Chong Wei shed tears on the podium.

Officially a university student, and a freshman all over again. Being a newbie at university at 21 years old is... a great experience. Unlike the teens, and how I viewed the world when I was a teen, I'm more grown up now (I wouldn't say matured, perhaps?). To experience being a freshman twice, is something really different. I got to see life, university, education and academics in different ways. I felt the loss of youth, I learnt a lot, and wanted to be more positive so I could help myself and those around me more.

Also, during the one year hiatus post-college-graduation(August 2011-August 2012), I roamed, wandered, thought, and searched for knowledge and enlightenment about life. I found many ideas about life, but being away from the noisiness outside, I wasn't sure if I could do what I understood. So, getting into university was like once again stepping into the mud pile - this time, to see if I could apply what I've learnt about life and live a better(and happier) life than before.

I wouldn't say I did perfect, but I must say I did really fine. I saw how much I've changed, comparing to how I dealt with matters back then and how I do it now. I'm also happy with how I managed to keep the joy in many situations now, which I would have fretted and complained back then.

I guess I'm a better person now than before, and I'm still working on becoming a better person in the future. :-)

I'm officially legal. I finally turned 21. I'm officially a grown-up, but I've yet to enter a casino. I think I'm still young in a way; yet in another way, I'm really old already. Psychologists say there are very different definitions to the term 'adult' - graduating high school, graduating university, getting one's first salary, buying one's own car/house, getting married... and so many more. What's your idea of an adult? To me, I don't think I'm an adult yet, though I've yet to come up with my own definition of the term.

Solibad Day 2012. We did it in 2011, and although I've made it clear that I'd be too busy with university work that I wouldn't have time to work on it this year, I was made to do it again due to the irresponsibility busyness of the original person-in-charge.

Hollywood on Solibad Day 2012!
Credits to rightful owner.

I was thankful, though, as I got the opportunity to work with Wong Choong Hann, a player who I truly admired during my early days as a badminton fan. I worked hard to juggle the handling of the event and university work, and it was a great experience(and my first major event after turning 21).

Test of Proficiency in Korean. As of now, after a year plus since I started picking up the new language, I just passed our language centre's Intermediate II test with distinction, and have taken TOPIK for the first time. Gladly, I got an A for that, and achieved level two at one go. I could have done it earlier, but I had to give up and sit for the one in October due to our Adelaide trip in April. But I'm not complaining, it must have happened for a reason.

Now, a small part of my mission has completed. Shall continue to work hard to accomplish the whole mission a.s.a.p. :-D

More... of some others worth mentioning but I don't know what to title them:
- I finally had a chance to play Running Man, as organised by the Korean Club of our uni.
- I participated in lots of psychology experiments, had lots of fun, and learnt lots of interesting new stuff.

- I entered Sunway Lagoon after a long time, and visited their Petting Zoo for the first time (for free)!

Overall, 2012 was simple and good. If 2011 was the year where I learnt more about life, 2012 was when I learnt to apply what I've learnt while living life.

Two mottos I lived by this year:
- "盡人事，待天命" (Just do your best and let God do the rest)
- "현재에 충실하자, 오지 않은 미래를 걱정하지 말자!" (Focus on the present. Don't worry about the future that hasn't arrived) 

And I agree with the quote JR shared at the end of his post: 'Regrets over yesterday and worries about tomorrow are the twin thieves that rob you of the moment'.   

What I did to my orange.
2013. :-D

As for my hopes for the new year, I just want to keep it up and do better. Also, I'd love to get rid of all my bad habits - laziness aside, I'd love to sleep earlier(possibly before midnight) and get up before noon on holidays, and be more productive. 

Thank you, 2012. May 2013 be kind to the world. 

Happy last day of 2012 and happy new year. ♥