2008 Year In Review

January 14, 2009

Leah’s yearend post inspired me to do some sort of a review of the past year myself.  I’m also doing a round up of the first sentences of the first posts of each month.  Who knows, it might magically paint a vivid picture of what I’d gone through the past year.  The sentences are preceded by the title of the post.

 

January 2008. Choices:  If given the choice, where would you rather live and work?

I guess this was around that time I was weighing the pros and cons between HK and DXB.  I had two competing offers and, at the same time, was also speaking with a Singapore-based headhunter.  If one could only turn back time.

 

February 2008:  System Solutions will not address Personnel Problems:  unless, of course, if it totally replaces the people amen

I don’t really recall what the specific issue was but this sentiment still holds true.

 

March 2008: So there was another rally:  For Filipinos, it’s just one of those things that happens on an almost daily basis in the Philippines.

This was my first photographic coverage of an event. Hehe

 

April 2008:  First Week in Dubai: I’ve been in Dubai for 5 days now.

My hopes were still so high then.

 

May 2008:  A Country of Excess:  Dubai is a capitalist state much like any other capitalistic country. 

I guess this was an attempt at an objective look at Dubai.

 

June and July 2008:

Nothing.  I think this was around the time when I had very limited access to the net.

 

August 2008:  Major Update:  It’s been three months since I last blogged.

There were enough words in this post to make up for those three months.

 

September 2008:

Nothing.

 

October 2008:  Telephone:  We call the television a “TV” then why don’t we call the telephone a “TP”?

One of two posts for the month, wasted on ridiculousness. Hehe.

 

November 2008:  What to Buy?  I just got my driver’s license today, after several months of waiting and days of waster effort at the local driving school.

A major positive change that drastically uplifted my spirits - in general and towards Dubai. 

 

December 2008:  New Car Pics:  Here we are picking up the car from the showroom.

You can tell how happy we were from the pictures.  We really got into the materialistic side of Dubai.

 

It’s pretty disappointing.  I thought this round up was going to result in something more poignant, that it would offer some insight that I could only see by looking back at the past year as a whole.  Oh well.

 

Anyway, here’re some of 2008’s highs, some with their corresponding lows.

• Highlight:  Got married twice (to the same woman!) - one a civil wedding the other a church wedding.  Had a rocking time at the wedding, reception and afterparty with friends and family - many of which will concur.  Lowlight:  Reminds me of how good I had it in Manila.

• Highlight:  Moved to Dubai.  Lowlight:   Moved to Dubai.

• Highlight:  Moved to a higher paying job.  Lowlight:  Realised some things are simply not worth the money.

• Highlight:  Moved to a higher paying job.  Lowlight: Moved to a high cost location.

• Highlight:  Bought a massive new car.  Lowlight:  I feel guilty when I drive.

• Lowlight:  Gaining more weight than ever. 

• Highlight:  Moved my family to Dubai.  Lowlight:  Can’t afford a two bedroom apartment.

• Highlight:  Took a risk.  Lowlight:  Paid the price.

Period.