1996, 2006, 2016

A friend has just summarized big events in her life happening in the years of this post's title. It made me think of my own life events.

1996 coincides with my High School graduation and my entering university. No more uniform! I could start wearing whatever I wanted to my classes. Well, pretty much so until they made a rule that during exams the girls had to wear black skirts and white shirts and black shoes. Bah humbug! I've always been a tomboy and I prefer wearing pants/jeans in a humid environment. The only occasion I liked wearing skirts was for a wedding party where they had air conditioner in the building ha ha ha...Back then I kept on daydreaming of travelling around the world someday, never really knowing how and where. I was also daydreaming of getting a boyfriend, since I had never had one before. Back then I had no idea I'd end up where I am today. 

Here's my High School graduation photo. I was wearing some traditional clothes (rented):

2006 was the year when R2 and I got married. Can't believe it's almost 10 years ago. It doesn't feel that long, you know? Feels like only yesterday that I was still struggling with all the necessary paperwork for us to get married in Indo. Lots of paperwork and stress as even after the wedding, I couldn't come to Finland right away since the Finnish government wouldn't allow me to move to Finland using a tourist visa. We were agonizingly separated for about 3 months after our wedding and honeymoon. I remember that Christmas and New Year 2006 being a dark time. I hated the fact that other people could be with their loved ones, but we were separated by bureaucracy he he he...Needless to say we were so happy to be together again when I could finally move to Finland in March 2007 (bringing with me only 27 kgs of my life LOL!). 

Here's a photo of us in summer 2007 (my first summer in Finland):

2016 marks my (ongoing) struggle with bilateral tennis elbow and a long sick leave. Last Christmas and New Year felt like any ordinary day with some dark clouds looming above me, but the highlight of this summer would be my mom's visit to Finland for the first time ever. She's just submitted her tourist visa application to the Finnish Embassy and they told her it'd be ready within two weeks' time. So it seems that she doesn't even need to go through any interview. Hope she stays healthy for her travels 'coz it's going to be a LOOOONNNGGG way from home. And 2016 will also mark our 10th wedding anniversary in November. 

Here's a photo of us last April in Prague:

Looking back, life has so many surprises (good and bad) and twists and turns. I'm thankful that R2 and I can be together and are still alive and can enjoy our togetherness. I'm also thankful that we're both still working and that despite my health situation, I can still work part-time and my workplace (bosses and colleagues) have been very accommodating to my limitations. I'm also thankful that my mom can finally visit me here this year. Thank you, Lord!