2011 marked a turbulent year for financial market: the full-blown liquidity crisis in Greece, the terrible tsunami in Japan, the wild ride of commodity, and the drastic slow down of China economy..But all these are financial market related developments, you may say, how about you, Kai? What was your most memorable moment for 2011? Well, 2011 was definitely a transitional year for me as I became a full-time air force sergeant, only to be discharged this past November and now a senior equity analyst in Taipei. I definitely had my ups and downs for the year, but God really was good to me since I was honored with the nickname “Sergeant Goodtime” (which just says so much about my easy life in military) and military, God again provided me a high paying job when economy is really struggling all over the world.
To put things in perspective, I look at the five most memorable New Years in my life:
1. New Year in South Africa (2010): I saw the bright full moon and fireworks over the great African Plain. Jeffrey, the best South African friend you can possibly have in this life, showed me all the hospitability in the world and we danced into the New Year of 2011.
Also see the link from New Year in South Africa
All the fireworks Jeff bought. big or small, everything must blow before next year
nice bright full moon for the last night of 2009
Tshikhudos danced and partied into the New Year
2. New Year in High Desert (2004): The most lonesome but awesome New Year I had in my life as I just graduated from Baylor and struggled to find direction for my future. I drove 11 hrs by myself to Big Bend National Park and spent a night under the amazing starry night and Milky Way.
The desert in Big Bend
Stunning View of canyon in Big Bend
The last sunset of 2003
3. New Year in Taipei (2008): After being gone from home for 5 years, I finally got to go back for Christmas at the end of 2007. I travelled all over Taiwan with my family and visited friends from Kaohsiung to Taipei. The famous fireworks at Taipei 101 definitely made it memorable as what happened after I returned to the states completely rocked my world.
Fireworks at 101
2008, here it comes!
4. New Year at Boot Camp (2011): The most uneventful but crowded New Year in my life. Two weeks into my basic training at Boot Camp, I celebrated the New Year with men from my company, all 74 of us. The master sergeant let us watch TV, eat sneakers and hang out as much as we wanted in that cold December night in Tainan County (no picture, just memories).
5. New Year in the office (2007): That’s right. This got to be THE HIGHLIGHT of my career as a hedge fund analyst. To complete the portfolio manager ranking and performance attribution project for Highland Capital. I worked EVERY SINGLE DAY from Christmas Even to New Year Eve. I was going to WORK all the way into 2007, until my friend Jaron called to get me home for the New Year party. I got home just fifteen minutes before 2006 ended. Man, that was good time because I actually got a 50% yearend bonus t and 25% salary rise, but still quit my job to join Ned and SunTx. Well, that was another story.
The notorious Highland Capital, my home for 20 months of endless hard works
The 24 kitchen of Highland. Always stacked with food and drinks. Great place to get fat and paid, at least back in the bull market
My cubicle at Highland with 20 Red Bull cans lying around anytime
These are my five most memorable New Years. So, did I do anything funfor 2012? No, just hanging out with my friends from church and watched the fireworks in Kaohsiung (as much I hate my life in Taipie, I leave this place with any excuse I can find). Anyway, Happy New Year to all of you and may God save us all from a total disaster in Euro Zone (please, don’t let Euro blow up).
