Catch up 2010

1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?

Travelled to a lot of new places, became absolutely fixated with being by myself (and not in a relationship) and joined the best firm in the world :)

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? No but will make the same one this year, To go the gym religiously and get myself toned up! <--- thats from three years ago but I HAVE been very good this year. lost a lot of weight.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Nope

4. Did anyone close to you die? Nope, thank God <--- thank god again

5. What countries did you visit? Sri Lanka, England, US, Germany, Netherlands, France, Wales, Switzerland

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? A full time job offer, but everything else can stay the same

7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? The day I got a call saying I got the placement offer. o.m.g.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Finishing my masters at my dream uni, getting a job at my dream employer, having some amazing friends around me.

9. What was your biggest failure? Losing my relationship

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing significant

11. What was the best thing you bought? An ipad for mum, those fantastic trips abroad

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My mum, my friends,

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? mine, my ex.

14. Where did most of your money go? uni fees, travel tickets, hotel, food, partying, clothes

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? my job offer!!!! every work week ending!

16. What song will always remind you of 2010? dont stop believing - journey

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

I. happier or sadder? Happier.

II. thinner or fatter? thinner - thank god

III richer or poorer? richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? not being so caught up on doors closing, working a bit more harder

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? complaining ;)

22. Did you fall in love in 2010? yes

23. How many one-night stands? no comment

24. What was your favorite TV program? Grey's anatomy <--- 3rd year running, gossip girl, how i met your mother, DH

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Probably not. More disappointed in certain people, proud of a whole bunch of other people!

26. What was the best book you read? Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Stuck to my old tastes and developed a liking of pop

28. What did you want and get? keep the old friends, make some fantastic new ones, passed all exams, my offer.

29. What did you want and not get? someone to make an effort for me

30. What was your favorite film of this year? how to train a dragon, HP7

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 26, had a small party and dinner

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Cant ask for anything more than what I received <--- Amen

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010? As always, comfortable yet trendy.

34. What kept you sane? Faith in God, Mum and a Few Good Mates

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Sanath Jayasuriya :P <-- as always

36. What political issue stirred you the most? the sri lankan presidential elections.

37. Who did you miss? My ex, my mum wen i was livin away from her n my friends from home

38. Who was the best new person you met? the MBAs

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010: I#ll be okay :)

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: All I can commit to is maybe

Very late catch up for 2009

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
- Finally got accepted to the university Ive been wanting to goto since I was 15! Travelled a lot, was a bridesmaid!

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? No but will make the same one this year, To go the gym religiously and get myself toned up! <--- thats from two years ago but I HAVE been very good this year so far.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Nope

4. Did anyone close to you die? Nope, thank God <--- thank god again

5. What countries did you visit? Sri Lanka, India, England, Spain, Malaysia

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? 2009 was pretty great. less drama would be good too.

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? The day the war finished. for a variety of reasons

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? passing level 1 cfa, getting into the uni of my dreams!

9. What was your biggest failure? Losing my relationship

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing significant

11. What was the best thing you bought? my bberry, my new laptop, some awesome clothes, and some fantastic trips

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My mum, my friends,

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? mine mostly.

14. Where did most of your money go? uni fees, travel tickets, hotel, food, partying, etc

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? going to uni!!!!!!!!!!!!

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? dont stop believing - journey

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

I. happier or sadder? Happier.

II. thinner or fatter? thinner - thank god

III richer or poorer? poorer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? thinking decisions through a lil better, getting less drunk on occasions

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? CRIBBING <---- 3rd time nominee

22. Did you fall in love in 2009? no

23. How many one-night stands? None!

24. What was your favorite TV program? Grey's anatomy <--- 3rd year running, gossip girl!

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Probably not. More disappointed in certain people, proud of a whole bunch of other people!

26. What was the best book you read? Road to Elephant Pass

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Stuck to my old tastes

28. What did you want and get? keep the old friends, make some fantastic new ones, passed all exams, my offer.

29. What did you want and not get? someone to make an effort for me

30. What was your favorite film of this year? wolvering and some others but now forgotten

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 25, had a small party and dinner

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Cant ask for anything more than what I received <--- Amen

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? As always, comfortable yet trendy.

34. What kept you sane? Faith in God, Mum and a Few Good Mates

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Sanath Jayasuriya :P <-- as always

36. What political issue stirred you the most? the terrible way the war ended

37. Who did you miss? My bf :( when I was living away from him, my mum wen i was livin away from her

38. Who was the best new person you met? the uni lot. fantastic!

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009: The great unknown really isnt that scary

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: hold on to that feeeling

Please Sri Lanka, No More. Take a Stand.

On the eve of the Presidential Elections 2010, I realised no matter how busy my schedule I must return to my blog to write this post. As a Sri Lankan studying abroad, I currently have no way to exercise my vote however as a Sri Lankan - I have to do my part to assist even one person in making the right choice at this Election.

Anyone who has read my blog or looks through the archives knows well my position for this elections. I have never and nor ever will be a fan of MR. I have written a majority of the posts regarding the political situation in Sri Lanka from within Sri Lanka. However, now, writing from abroad I feel significantly less fear at the thought of speaking out - for what is right, what is democracy, what is constitutionally our rights. I do not wish to be labelled a UNP supporter or be embedded within pointless party politics. How can we, civilians, even begin with party politics when the politicians themselves in these parties have no sense of loyalty? Jumping hither thither like rabbits on a fiery ground?

As a nation, we have been through an immense volume of anguish, sorrow and fear. From a 27 year old war to a ridiculously destructive tsunami to levels of poverty that are inhumane. When MR first assumed power in 2005 it was amidst a scandal of extortion - who can forget the tsunami funds embezzled from Hambantota? Embezzlement ironically became a reigning theme in his Presidency over the next few years. We do not need a Royal Family. This incessant need to counteract the 'prestige' built up by the Bandaranaike family has made fools of the public. Brothers, Sons, and Cousins assume post over post - spend tax rupee after tax rupee - in an internal race to become the richest of the rich. We hear of the treasury being ransacked to zero. We hear of runaway fiscal policy. We tolerate.

The countless number of hours I have spent sitting in road blocks because a member of the Family is passing 3kms away from me is time I will not get back. Each time I am amazed by the patience of our people. Is this resignation to a fate where each government has simply taken from us but not given much back? People sit in their cars, stand outside talking to each other or to the army personnel guarding the road blocks till the time comes for the cars to whiz by with ambulances following (who's money pays for this convoy of 20 cars?) and then we get moving. This has happened as early as 8am or as late as 11pm. Before the war ended, the road closures were due to the Family and its consortium of sycophants being fearful of suicide bombers - yet how about those cars that wait at the closures? What if there was a suicide bomber amidst the masses gathered waiting for the roads to open so that they may end their long day and go home to their families? What about them? No one cares. So, we patiently wait. We tolerate.

What about dissent? What about Lasantha Wickrematunga and the countless number of media personnel harassed, abducted and murdered over the past 5 years? We have a right to dissent. I have a right to speak out without fear of white vans abducting me or a family member in the middle of the night. I have this right through a constitution that is upheld by the Supreme Court of our country. Yet when a politician decides he is above and beyond the constitution and instead promotes propaganda that he is Supreme King, we have a larger problem on our hands than ever previously encountered. Lasantha died for bringing us the truth. I have written about him before and it is IMPERATIVE that we remember him now. It is not enough that we stand there holding candles at a funeral. We must take a stand whenever we can. And this is the BEST time that has ever come about. We cannot tolerate.

You tell me MR ended the war. I ask you at what cost? The war vote, which I do not agree with, has thankfully been split. If we are going to take credit for the war - who deserves most of the credit? The politician drinking night after night in Colombo, entertaining his many guests using tax payer money, afraid to even travel on a road without army personnel guarding him, providing instructions from the safety of Colombo? Or the Army Commander who was present with his forces at any given moment at the heart of the battle? Yes, I don't agree with the war. But give me the man who was doing his job well any day over the corrupt, cowardly man who saw personal gain in taking the route that won him glory.

Many things are uncertain in life. Many things are uncertain with the crossroad we are at. But one thing is certain. Sri Lanka as it has existed over the past 62 years since Independence (even with its wars, its poverty, its issues), cannot exist ever again if it is to be pillaged and ransacked for the next 8 years the way it has been with the current administration. There is a limit to tolerance and patience. We will have no economy to speak of, no successful businesses left as profits and assets are seized at the whim of the Royal Family, no intelligent persons left to contend with the rulers that defy dissent. Yes, the Prabhakaran threat to our nation was over as of 2009. But what now plagues us is as dire to our future growth.

Please, do not tolerate. Please, take a stand. Please, vote intelligently. This is our last chance.