[E] Career Path?!

This is not a new drawing - it's from July 2012...I am just too lazy to upload a new photo :)

I paused my studying progress for the actuarial exams. I am in the process of re-evaluating my life - what I want to do, where I want to live, ...etc. One USA Unit and I so far do not want to live in the State we currently live after few more years. We are considering few cities that we'd like to move to...I am observing the job market in those locations - the big issue is, where I live now and where we want to move to do not offer good actuarial opportunities...so...what am I going to do?!!!!! 

[E] Merry Christmas!

聖誕快樂！

Merry Christmas!

This is the 5th Christmas with One USA Unit

We "celebrate" Christmas by going snowboarding

I don't snowboard enough to actually improve my skill,

and I am not really brave to go downhill super fast...so

I got stuck at the flat area a lot lol

I just couldn't be able to convince myself not to slow down...ugh

Poor husband always needs to wait for me to get myself back to the "hill" area

I feel bad for him but I also like that he's always on the other side waiting for me :)

[E] My First White Elephant Event

Today, I went to my very first white elephant event at work, and it was hilarious!! Everyone wrapped their gift so nicely!!! We all know there are tons of craps under the nice wrapping paper/gift box. The gray box with red ribbon in the center at the bottom of the photo is from me. I used a Neiman Marcus box that I got from my sister last year to put my awesome white elephant gifts in. (My sister did give me the stuff from Neiman Marcus last year, and the box is super cute so I saved the box).  I forgot to take a photo of what I have in the box before I sealed it :( but here is the list of things I put in there:

[E|C] Won an Umbrella

*貼心提醒：中文還是在英文後喔！

In addition to all other free fun goodies, I won an umbrella at Employees Appreciation Day!! Yay...so happy...I've been wanting to get an extra umbrella to leave it in my car for a while and I never actually got it...and now I don't need to buy one anymore!!! So happy ~ especially that I am the kind of person that's usually not lucky enough to win any prices :)

[E|C] Toys at Work!

這是我的辦公桌。。。嗯。。。我想不必多做解釋，你也看得出來為什麼我老公來辦公室看到的時候會嚇了一跳了XD

I guess I don't have to explain why One USA Unit was in shock when he saw how many toys at my work desk lol

[E] No Solution

I am not exactly happy - I guess this is why: I spend 40 hours a week to get $, but I am not really contribute to the society besides some donation I make sometimes. How can I find a balance point to be able to pay off my mortgage and work on something that's meaningful/helpful to others?! I just can't find the answer. 

I need to find my spirit back...

[C] 搬家？！

人如果有一個念頭，持續不斷地想起，那我想，這件事就算不現在做，遲早也會做。我想搬離這裡，幾個月前也差一點搬離了這裡。

這是個神奇的城市，有不太貴的房價、方便的機場、不高的犯罪率、我們住的地方學區也很讚、我也有認識的朋友，但這一切還是偶爾會被瘋狂的保守封氣壓過。

西雅圖很好，除了很常很常的陰天。
舊金山也很好，除了很高很高的房價。
芝加哥聽說也不錯，除了冬天非常的冷。

[C] 薪水 vs 心靈

(My new goal for my blog is - blog "almost" everyday, and blog one in Chinese, one in English, and then one in Chinese...etc :D)

有些人問我，工作輕鬆就好，何必換一個自討苦吃?
我的想法是，每週工作四十小時，如果沒有學習新東西，抑或是對社會沒貢獻，那我到底在幹嘛?!

說真的，我到現在還在找尋平衡點 – 那我也不知道怎麼定義的平衡點: 是說這世界上到底有甚麼工作是可以讓我餵飽自己和家人，又可以讓我心靈滿足的工作?! 是怎樣的工作可以讓我覺得附有挑戰性，卻不會讓我在八小時後身心俱疲?!

Best Time at Work

This is what Mr. Dachshund usually does at work!

Need a Break

Sometimes I feel like I need a vacation...maybe I should have taken one in between job switching :( Now I am at new job, with almost no vacation time.

I think I am still adjusting to the new job - - I guess if I was more out-going, it would be much easier...oh well~

Overall, it's a good decision to make a change.

Special May

Today I bought a parking permit. We have three types of parking permits, and I got the mid-level one...there's just times that I REALLY NEED my car after work. This is United States where everything is so far away that I can just use public transportation. 

I've been at my new job fore over a month now!!! I am still ALIVE!!! whoo-hoo!! This is a special week not just because of that...

Survived the First Week of New Job!

I AM ALIVE (yay...)

after 29 meetings 

(with 2 lunch meetings THANK GOD)

I like the new job/objective/people...etc

Last Day of the Current Journey

I can't believe 2.83 years has gone by; I said goodbye to my very first full time job in the United States. It's been good...especially, I got to meet some wonderful people! 

Career?! Future?!

It's pretty awesome to be "pets"...they don't have to worry to much about $/job. 

Every time I look online regarding jobs, I feel kind of sad. When I was in college, I was like - 4 more years, then I will be getting a job. 4 years later, the economic went south, as a foreigner in States, I didn't have many options besides going to graduate school; at that time, I was thinking - 2 more years, then I will be able to get a job. 2 years later, I got a tiny job while I was on 12-month-Optional Practical Training (F1 visa) and was trying to get another offer so that I can extend my OPT into 26 months; I got an offer, but the employer didn't have E-verify number, so eventually I went back home and my friends were very very kind to take care of my dachshund. 6-month later, I came back with F-1 visa again and worked on another Master's degree. Luckily, this time, I got to meet my true love (and also got selected the green card lottery) and I don't have to worry about my immigration status anymore. We both went to school and started our career at the same time, and bought a house together.