NEW YEAR, NEW YOU

seems like this catch phrase is a favourite among advertisers in this country. i guess in a place where the average disposable income is higher than many other countries, marketing ads such as this would be more effective here. all you need to do is give these people the slightest rational reason to spend. and spend they will. you don't need to give them discounts. just a reason. it's so different from back home where price is the main factor to push consumer activities in the country (wah.. very academia ayat ni ek? but it may not even be true. eheh)

let me tell you how i was greeted this new year. a couple of days before the new year, i received a notification that says the daily newspaper would increase it's price from AED 2 to AED 3. (from RM 1.80 to RM 2.70). i don't usually buy local newspapers so it was ok. but i was amazed at how they can increase something by 50% overnight. and since the price of newspaper (and many other things) is not government-controlled, this is possible.

then the day after the new year, i had another surprise. the office cafeteria (where i religiouly take my lunches everyday) has introduced a new price list. a lunch set which used to cost AED 15 is now AED 18. A measly-looking chocolate eclairs is now AED 7 - it used to be AED 4. Mineral water is now priced as AED 2 instead of 1.

and on the 3rd of january, the Malaysian Ringgit was at a 10-year high against the US Dollar / AED.

so that's pretty much how 2008 has greeted me. by stronger signs of inflation and the further weakening of the local currency. i am new me. a new, more-depressed me. eheh.

ok enough about the depressing local economy. as the new year approaches (ok la, i know the new year is like 11 days ago. i was busy ok?), the time comes for me to reflect what has happened in the previous year and express my aspirations for the coming year (eceh). some people don't give a crap for new year, but i do. i do believe that i need some objective for the new year just to provide myself with a sense of direction. in 2006 last year, my main resolution was to stay in this country for another year. alhamdulillah it's 11 january 2008 and i'm still here. this year, i've decided not to give myself a target about how long i should stay here. there are so many variables that may affect the decision whether to stay or not to stay. so i'm just going to see how things go. but i do have a few things which i wish to accomplish this year.

1. take my professional examination
i'm a firm believer that paper qualification means squat. experience counts. unfortunately, i can't hire myself (i would definitely hire myself if i could though. eheh). and i think i have to finally succumb to the pressure of the outside world and take up my professional exam. urghh.

2. not to be too near the limit of a healthy bmi
alhtough i have finally fell within the range of a healthy bmi, i really wish that i could push it further within the healthy range. (anyway, you guys don't want to know which range i was in 3 years ago. eheh). by the way, i've joined FF. so make way the new mucle mary in town. hahaha.

3. to blog more
yeah. i'm determined to write more. so that you guys can read more crap from me. how's a 5-entry-per-month minimum sound?

4. to finally .....

oops. number 4 tu censored sket. but for those who know me, no prize for guessing it correctly. eheh..