While waiting to pick up my darling gf from the airport, I stopped the car at the cell phone lot which was right at San Diego Downtown by the marina. The night skyline of the area is really pretty, with dimly lit high rise buildings by the bay. The cool night breeze gently blows. With such a relaxing atmosphere, it is hard not to start reminiscing.

During the pursuit of my career after graduation, I realized I seldom had the time and mood to just sit and admire the beautiful city I had resided in for the past 4.5 years. It had been busy for most parts and if I'm not busy, I'm pretty much at home, at the gym or at the basketball court. I have not really thoroughly enjoyed the real San Diego. Perhaps I'm not that kind of outgoing person who'd prefer to hang out and party, either by the beach, the bay or the bars. The past 4.5 years have been used to move me closer to my aims, although not as close as I had hoped I'd be. Or perhaps my destination appears further than it appeared to be. In less than 2 months, I'd conclude my stay in this vibrant city and the exciting work that is ever-changing.

The gentle night breeze brought back memories about the first time I headed to this city, where I had my first interview for work. I had stayed at my bro's place in Fresno for one full month. I had driven down 5 hours from my bro's place (and up again after that) in my nice little Civic coupe. The mood was something that I'd never forget. Excited. Because it's a new place, it's a new milestone in my life. Everything was so new and exciting. I'd be working in San Diego, California. How cool is that?

I was such a noob at work. I didn't know anything at all. Tried hard, and failed terribly. Tried again, and failed again. But finally, I found my path, and there I was, finally shining brightly like a young star, working hard and contributing to my team and realizing my ideas. I'm glad that my first job has been so exciting, encouraging and interesting, a job which allowed me to do things that I might not be able to if I were somewhere else. I have been groomed. There's an old saying, to leave at your most glorious moment. It's sad that I can't be there to finish what I had started but I guess it's time for me to move on. I've reached the next milestone of my life.

I really can't stress how interesting life unfolds itself before a person. It really felt as if God had everything planned out. Working hard and trying to be innovative even when I'm already a lame duck isn't futile at all. I've discovered talents of people who'd probably be the ones who'd be able to help me in future and built invaluable friendships. Even when I'm not paid for what I had achieved, I've already gained far more than what cash has to offer. The idea of working while studying had never crossed my mind but I still tried to find a way to do it after it has been proposed to me. God knows that it's time to move on and concentrate on what is really important to me, that I should not be entangled with what belongs to the previous chapter. I could see that magic that God had worked out. He arranged for me to build relationships with technical expertise, then pull me away from distractions and focus on what is most important. The magic is all these were never in my plans at all, they just happened. Moving back 1 year, I was totally not prepared to climb this mountain.

Alrighty. 2 months and I'll have to say goodbye to this vibrant city and to my first team of colleagues who'd grown up with me. I can't wait for the day when I'm finally reunited with my family again. After all, it has been almost 7 long years. On the other hand, time is running out. Yesterday I was only a young lad or 21 years old, coming to US to study. Today, I'm in my late 20s, and still not anywhere near what I'm supposed to accomplish in my life. Perhaps my next milestone is at 30 years old. Time shall not to be wasted!