2019-2020 Fall Semester; Complete

We're done, after 2.5 years. It really has gone by so fast, I still remember submitting my application, my first day on campus, my first exam, my first friend. Masters of Science, Big Data Technology.

It's not so much the degree but the memories and the events that took place along the way.

So then, the question is, what's next?

Passing away

I haven't had a chance to sit down and reflect over the year that was 2019. Have I had a good year? What were the highlights? What am I grateful for? What did I learn? What would I have done differently? Then there's the extension of those questions and applying that to the past decade. I can think of a couple of things this year that have been defining.

I can already think of a couple of things that standout, progress with school and career, as well as the highlights that aren't so much me but events that will standout when I look back. Marriages, holidays, new friendships. Sadly it's also the decade where I've seen members of the generation above say good bye. It is inevitable, but it's a reality check that Father Time has now turned his attention to the more immediate group of people; a group we hold near and dear.

Within the space of a month two figures in my life have passed away. My auntie, and my babysitter. Only when you take a quiet moment to sit and think about your relationship with these people. The relationship that continues in nostalgia is so clear, almost clearer than when they were alive. For them, the moments that replay are of me as a child, running, laughing, playing, and then older the interactions are them being curious about my life and making sure that I'm adulting correctly.

The news breaks and suddenly there's a weird emptiness, a surreal feeling. That's the problem with being overseas, sometimes you feel disconnected such that when things actually disconnect, the feeling and the event become less defined and it's just numbness.

Home stretch

It feels a little different to undergraduate, there's less of a "I'm finally done with school" feeling and more of a Friday morning at work vibe.You know that feeling? It's a Friday, you've already been at work for a few hours and as soon as lunch is done, it's the home stretch until the weekend. This has a distinct feeling of that, the last stretch and then the weekend.

My final semester of school, all assignments have been submitted and all that remains are the final (take home) exams and then I'm finish, or then it's the weekend. I have a sense of anticipation and excitement and I can taste the feeling of freedom. I'm trying to take this all in, and am especially enjoying the intellectual stress and looking forward to releasing the student shackles.

Thanks

Out of all the American traditions, the two that I look forward to the most are Halloween and Thanksgiving. It's the latter which I've grown particularly fond of, it's the combination of feasting and the company of close friends and more importantly taking a moment to pause and relish what we're thankful and grateful. I'm grateful for concept of Thanksgiving and that I have close friends in Hong Kong that make this something I look forward to each year.

Classes canceled

Universities announce all remaining campus classes have been canceled and the remainder of the semester, exams included has been moved online. I'm kind of relieved, but also mindful that online exams aren't necessarily a good thing...

East Coast

The annual trip out to the East Coast, I'm grateful that this year's trip is earlier in the year. I still have (traumatic) memories of last year's post-Thanksgiving trip and being severely underprepared clothing-wise. The confronting reality that I'm a thirty-something year old profession who is incapable of keeping myself warm is concerning. The already positive of this year's trip is that it is earlier in the school semester so I'm less troubled about school and missing out on assessments.

Marketing trips, on paper sound glamorous. Business Class flights, Five Star Hotels, Client Drinks and Meals. However, there is a side to the travel when you're sitting in a bar trying to keep warm waiting for the next meeting at 10 pm. I can't imagine having to do this trip solo, so I'm thankful that I get travel with one of the more senior colleagues. Who admittedly, managed to keep me sane especially during the times of attrition, late night meetings, early morning flights. Our trip this time of the year was targeted, hitting up prospects and clients mostly in New York, Virginia, Washington DC and finally Chicago. Another successful trip, multiple clients, plenty of wins as well as some quality downtime around the East Coast.

Sydney