+65!

I'm moving to Singapore in 3 weeks!!!


To say I'm excited is an understatement. To say I'm nervous is even more of an understatement.

I know, I know, I've gone completely MIA in the blogosphere and suddenly back with this news. I just have to WRITE it. I can't stand not to. Let's go back from the beginning, shall we?

I secretly have always wanted to work in Singapore. Or Hongkong. Whenever I go there, I'm stunned. Everything is so organized, modern, clean, vibrant, amazing. Yet they're still very Asian. The sight, the smell, and atmosphere. I love Asia. It's in my blood. Anyway, despite I always have wanted to work there, to actually apply is a different story.

In my defense it's because it's hard to get accepted, especially as a junior lawyer. Scratch that, especially as an INDONESIAN junior lawyer (somehow other more developed Asian countries look down upon us Indonesians and me no likey). I didn't want to push my luck. I graduated last year. This amazing firm graciously opened its door for me for my internship, traineeship, and then they made me one of their permanent associates early this year. The work can be crazy but I learn a lot. My co workers, seniors and partners are great and very supportive. I am blessed. What else am I looking for, right?

Something more, I guess. Something more that is actually inspired by the international partners in my office.

All of them, especially my current partner, are really smart. They lead and work on big projects with all these valuable international lawyering experiences. Call me ambitious or whatever, but I really want to be like them someday. I note that one thing they have in common is venturing outside their countries, gaining the necessary experiences and knowledge to eventually get to where they are. Unfortunately because my current firm is already very internationally structured, I can't ask to be permanently transferred to Singapore (they can only do an exchange for 6 months in our Singapore office, not enough for me to soak up and learn as much as I want, IMHO).

I have to admit that I'm also inspired by my current boyfriend, who moved all the way to Saigon (he's Vietnamese American, previously living in San Jose, was curious to see the place where his parents are from but turned out to fall in love with the place and decided to stay there -- thank you God! ) for exactly the same purpose.

So with his support and my intense curiosity, I applied to several Singapore-based international firms that I highly respect. I actually applied for a few firms in Vietnam too so I could live in the same city as he is (I know, I'm cheesy) but apparently I'm still obviously a junior (and I can't speak Vietnamese..yet!) to be accepted there at the moment. Anyhoo, I'm pretty shocked and excited when these firms in Singapore responded to my application. I followed all the interview and hiring process until one of them decided to hire me first. My hands were shaking like crazy when I signed the offering letter and everything really hit me starting two weeks ago, when the HR lady called to tell me they are processing my working permit. Eeeep.

I haven't packed. I need to list the things I will bring from here. The apartment that I rent (which by the way I like a lottttt but this will be for another post) is already fully furnished so I don't think it will be super complicated. Bringing most of my clothes and shoes there though, will probably be complicated.

Fingers crossed. I think I will blog more when I'm there, something tells me it will be interesting.