Happy New Year 2024

The last time I published an annual newsletter was in December 2015.  As I wrestle again with the challenge of compressing a whole year's worth of living into one post, I am reminded why I gave it up.  This requires discipline. Of thought, emotion and choice.  To sift through the overwhelming crush of daily living and courageously pick out the things that are of significance.  To showcase to the world what we value, and risk being judged.  

But as Aeschylus once said, "Happiness is a choice that requires effort at times." These are the choices I've made this year on a quest for happiness for myself, and the people dear to me.

Two years ago, I agreed to join Nansen - a blockchain analytics startup serving global crypto investors from Singapore - with a job description that simply read "help out with HR stuff". Those five little words laid the foundation for the biggest adventure in this second half of my professional career. 

Leading HR (or People as it's known today) for a fully-remote company of 100 people across 35 countries requires a deep re-thinking of many of the people practices I thought I knew.  While many of the fundamentals still apply; the audience, context and tools have changed dramatically. And I must change along with it.  I'm really excited about pioneering practices for the new kind of company that has emerged from the global pandemic.  Building alongside leaders and a team who care as much about the technology as they do about people.  Such a rare and refreshing combination!

Other highlights that stand out this year include:

• Taiwan trip with my high-school friends in the spring.  Totally unprepared for the hiking and trekking; but the enforced brush with nature and fresh air was exactly what I needed to relax and rejuvenate
• Hubbing in London with my People Team.  We worked together in person for 3 weeks, mapping out strategies and the operational cadence required to achieve our targets.  Living and working in Central London was really a dream come true for me.  Watching Hamilton in the West End and eating my way around the world cuisines at my doorstep was absolutely fabulous!
• Summer holidays in UK allowed me to return to Birmingham University and enjoy charms of country living in Worcestershire.  A big thank you to Cris for her hospitality and introducing me to Otto - the first and only dog I've ever loved.
• Taking over caregiving responsibilities for my mother from my sister Julie, who returned to California to resume her nursing career.  Monthly trips to Penang became the norm from June onwards.  Coping with the symptoms of dementia is as frustrating for the patient as it is for the caregiver.  I wish I could say I'm more patient now; but I'd be lying. Fully dependent on God's grace with this one.
• Living in Penang has been a journey of discovery.  Thanks to the flexibility of remote work, I'm able to easily step into the culture and heritage of my father's birthplace, which is now just a 30 minute drive from home
• Speaking about driving, I finally got my Singapore driving license.  After 8 torturous months of tests, lessons and more tests, I am driving again. Legally. 😉
• Fangirling for my favourite Korean idol and actor Lee Junho when he stopped by Singapore on 8 December!

 Enjoying family time at Taiping Lake

  

Back in Priorsfield (University of Birmingham)

Hanging out with Cris and Otto - the most wonderful dog in the world

Saranghae Oppa Lee Junho 😍💕

Thank you to all my family and friends who've reached out via calls, chats, social media and in person.  I am grateful for every one of you.

" I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 

always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy." 

Philippians 1:3-4

Happy New Year 2016!

 

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

  

2015 is the year I found a true home in Singapore.  As the country celebrated her SG50 Jubilee Year, I marked several major milestones on my journey to becoming Singaporean.  From the citizenship ceremony in January, to voting for the first time in September, to collecting keys to my own HDB apartment in December, it has been a truly remarkable year. 

Some other highlights include:

• Completing a career break from January to June 2015, which allowed me to travel extensively to meet family and friends, as well as explore the world of technology start-ups in Singapore.  It was inspiring to meet so many smart, energetic young people who are out to make a difference.  They were generous in sharing their vision, teaching me about new technology,  patiently listening to my old war stories, and open-minded when collaborating to solve real world problems.  Very privileged to be mentoring some of the most promising Singaporean entrepreneurs in this space.
• Starting a new role in Mercer, which specializes in HR Consulting.  It's good to be back in the heart of the CBD with lovely offices overlooking Marina Bay.  After spending the last 12 years in corporate roles, it's very interesting to be able to study the latest research and trends in the world of HR and think about where my future contributions will be.  Especially keen to explore developments in the area of the aging workforce and Uber-ization of the workforce.
• A dream trip to Japan in spring to see cherry blossoms in bloom. Those beautiful moments will continue to feed my soul for many years to come.
• Welcoming so many people to Singapore including my parents, my best friends , my godkids and other amazing individuals I'm privileged to call my friends

I 

For me, this year has been filled with much grace, blessing and answered prayers.  I can only conclude that His plans have indeed given me much hope and a future - in a world that has also seen too many dark moments. And I pray that you and your loved ones will continue to enjoy the best of what's in store next year.

 

HAVE A WONDERFUL 2016!

Happy New Year 2015!

"And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" - Philippians 4:19

This is the promise that came to me early in 2014 and has been fulfilled in the most marvellous ways this year.  I am writing this annual newsletter in New Delhi after a dream holiday with my best friends. Christmas is the perfect time to reflect and be grateful for all the blessings enjoyed this year.

• 2014 got off to a roaring start with a family reunion in California.  Daddy and Julie jointly celebrated their birthdays for the first time in many years, and the Yeohs ushered in the Year of the Horse with friends in Julie's Citrus Heights home
• Visited the US three times this year.  Fell in love with a beautiful place called Pacific Grove on the northern California coast in winter.  Enjoyed it so much I went back in late spring to vist Monterey and Carmel as well.  The mountains around Lake Tahoe provided more inspiration in the fall
• One of my career highlights this year was a visit to LinkedIn's headquarters in Mountain View, as part of a global group of customer advocates.  The time spent in Silicon Valley and a fireside chat with Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn's co-founder, about "tours of duty" motivated me to wrap up my role at SingPost in July, and take a career break to recharge
• The wonderful thing about a career break is the opportunity for more leisurely travel to catch up with friends I haven't seen in the longest time!  A big thank you to Selina (Penang), Ian (KL), Martin and Tariq (London), Kathleen (LA) and my sister Julie who have been such gracious hosts to me this year
• Spent my birthday in London with Martin and Tariq, two wonderful friends from my MBA days.  It was quite a homecoming being back in the UK after 14 years. Visited the Kentish coast and Canterbury  as well
• Ending the year on a high note with a tour of India. Till now, Taj Mahal, Rajasthan, Old Delhi have only been figments of my imagination, and to be able to experience them personally has been such a treat!  Even more wonderful, are the new friends I've made while in New Delhi. 

While I have chosen to focus on the positives from 2014, I'm also reminded of the heartbreak in the shape of airline disasters, epidemics, terrorism and wars and I ask you to join me in a silent prayer for those who have gone before their time, and for sanity to return soon.  

Despite this, I am still very excited to see what 2015 will bring. It is another year for us to celebrate life, family and friendships.  To become all that we were created to be.  

And so to all my friends, old and new, I wish you all the best for a fruitful and blessed 2015.

Blessed Christmas and Happy 2015!

Happy New Year 2014!

Aunty Jo Jo with Jared and Justin during Christmas 2013

How is it even possible that we're bidding Farewell to 2013 and saying Hello to 2014?  This year has really flown by! As always, I've had more than my fair share of fun and many blessings for which I'm truly grateful.

• Family and friends have been front and centre this year.  The Yeoh family witnessed a double birthday celebration with both Mum and Dad turning 70 this year - hearty, healthy and happy - and we really thank God for His goodness. My Penang cousins introduced two beautiful babies - Bryan and Min Yee - to the family. I also had the pleasure of welcoming many loved ones to Singapore including my parents, my sister Julie, my beautiful goddaughters Kiersten and Katelynn, Corrine from Austin, Grace from Melbourne, Glenn from Perth, Thiam Kit from HK, the Gekoskis from Philadelphia and my long time friends from England.

• Seeing Donny Osmond sing Puppy Love ten feet away from me was a dream come true!!  Swoon...  

• Wonderful trip to New Orleans in January.  Enjoyed the charm of The Big Easy, while learning more about the after-effects of Hurricane Katrina.  I also got to pretend to be Scarlett O' Hara while staying at Oak Alley Plantation - a beautiful antebellum mansion on the Mississippi River.  The only thing missing was Rhett Butler.  Haha!

• First trip to Japan in June opened my eyes to another culture so rich in beauty, elegance and precision. Loved the rustic charm of the seaside town of Atami, the beautiful symmetry and elegance of historical Kyoto, the frenzied madness of Osaka.  Loved the inns, bullet trains, bento sets, cute little desserts, latest cosmetics and the sushi and sashimi is just so...oh....to die for!

• A surprise second trip to US for work saw me spending a lovely weekend in San Francisco and a week in Vegas.  A friend has been teaching me to appreciate jazz this year and can't wait to hear Wynton Marsalis and Chris Botti live.  Thanks RP :)

• Two work trips to Hong Kong allowed me to indulge in many happy meals especially roast goose and dim sum . It was very good to catch up with Simon and Helina Wong, and their two adorable boys, Marcus and Isaac. 

• Work has been very intense yet rewarding this year.  One of my projects contributed to a win for "Best People Management" at the World Mail Awards in May while I also won the "Best Passive Talent Influencer" Award from LinkedIn in April.  And yet these public awards, while flattering, have not given me as much satisfaction as the privilege of training over 350 staff in Emergenetics - a profiling tool that helps individuals to understand themselves and team mates better.  It's been so rewarding to see people appreciating each other's strengths and striving to become all that God created them to be.

It really has been an amazing year and I wish you and your families all the very best for a fruitful and blessed 2014.

All my love,

Joanna a.k.a Aunty Jo Jo

Happy New Year 2013!

 Aunty Jo Jo with Kiersten and Katelynn during Christmas 2012

As fireworks pounded the skies at midnight, I spent the first few minutes of the new year in prayer, thanking God for all the blessings that came my way in 2012.

• The first sight of Jerusalem in March on an unforgettable trip to Israel.  My eyes have seen the wildflowers around the lake of Galilee, the valley of Elah where David defeated Goliath, the Western Wall where a temple once stood, the empty tomb at Gethsemane and the port of Caesarea where Paul set sail for Rome.

• A place where I can go to every day to make a difference.  It's not often in one's career when one has the opportunity to shape the DNA of an organisation.  That's precisely the challenge I accepted in February.  To be part of a team that's overflowing with intellect and heart to transform a local postal provider into a regional ecommerce logistics provider.  I can't remember a time when I've been so excited to go to work every morning with a head brimming with ideas, an expectation of meeting and working with new people, an energy to charge through my tasks knowing that their completion means that another piece of the jigsaw is in place.

• An afternoon on a yacht with girls whom I had the privilege of growing up with.  We left school 25 years ago to build careers and families only to gather again one day last September to revel, not in our individual glorified achievements, but to find "delight in simple things" - hugs, laughter, memories, cupcakes and champagne.  To celebrate the years of friendship.

• The final closure of the chapter of my life in KL with the sale and handover of all my properties.  I am leaving behind the city where I was born and bred in order to "root myself in where I'm going and not where I came from, to be an honorary citizen of tomorrow.  Because home is something I construct within, invisible and portable, a state of mind or part of my soul more than a piece of soil." (words in bold italics borrowed from Pico Iyer)

• Being able to sow into the future of others with financial rewards from work and investments.  My parents' new church building in Bayan Baru, Penang and a children's library in Cambodia through the Room to Read foundation.

•  And finally, the company of family and friends (both old and new) who have accompanied my journey in 2012, whether in person, online or in spirit.  I am always encouraged by your kind words, thoughtful actions and generous gifts of time and companionship.

Here's wishing you and your families all the very best for a fruitful and blessed 2013!

All my love,
Joanna

Season's Greetings from Joanna (2011)

"Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, The one whom the Lord loves rests between His shoulders"

Deuteronomy 33:12

2011 has been a year of resting secure in God's promises. I am writing this newsletter at the end of a six-week vacation in America with my sister, Julie. I've enjoyed the fall colours, celebrated Thanksgiving, harvested oranges and lemons, visited friends in New York and Los Angeles, seen one of my favourite Van Gogh's, and watched the taping of Anderson Cooper's talk show! All in all, a very good holiday.

This after celebrating the anniversary of my first year in business, which has been going well, thanks to the support of clients from Singapore, Malaysia and China. I've also been blessed with connections to new partners in Germany and US. The independence and flexibility of managing my own time, coupled with the intellectual stimulation of meeting new clients, training partners and coaches are just some of the rewards I enjoy about of being a business owner. Thank you very much for your prayers and words of encouragement, and I look forward to sharing some of my reflections with you in the near future.

The freedom of time has allowed me to discover two important things about myself. Firstly, that I truly love singing and miss using this gift. So in August, I auditioned for the New Creation Church choir and got in! I debuted in early November and look forward to serving with the choir in 2012. Secondly, I have gained a clearer view about my personal mission - how I'm meant to channel my skills, experience and networks to serve in a new field. It is very exciting and I look forward to obeying the call as His plans are further revealed in the next few years.

I pray that you will all enjoy the Love and Grace of God in your lives and homes this season. Until we meet again next year,
Merry Christmas and Happy 2012!

Season's Greetings from Joanna (2010)

Dear Family and Friends,

As day breaks over the last day of 2010, I pause to reflect and count the many blessings that have taken place this year. More than any year, this has been a year filled with new beginnings, in body, mind, heart and spirit.

You must have many memories to share as well and I thank you for the honour of sharing some of my highlights with you...

• Starting my own business, Five Talents Consulting, in Singapore is a long-cherished dream come true. HR consulting and leadership development programs are the focus and I'm delighted to report that we signed our first deal yesterday! Hip, hip, hooray!
• Celebrating my 40th birthday in style with a champagne brunch at the Ritz Carlton in the embrace of some of my dearest friends and ending the day watching my first ever Formula 1 race live
• Riding a camel into the Sahara desert to spend a magical night under the stars
  
• Wandering around the ancient souks of Marrakech and enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of mysterious Morocco. The men were pretty hot too! ;-)
• Falling in love with my Saviour all over again while attending New Creation Church, believing and enjoying unmerited favour and restful increase
• Spending a week at Date with Destiny with Anthony Robbins in Bali learning about moving towards love and contribution, and channeling abundance into places of scarcity
• Starting a fitness regime by eating properly, joining a gym and exercising with a personal trainer has resulted in a 3-inch loss all round and I'm fitting back into clothes I wore ten years ago! :-)
• Visiting Perth and Melbourne in August and it was wonderful to re-connect with old friends while making new ones
• Showing off sparkling Singapore to a host of visitors who dropped by throughout the year: Rene from Switzerland, Corrine from US, Grace from Australia, my parents from Penang, and the Lums from KL
  
• Spending quality time with all my godkids: Justin and Jared in Singapore, Kiersten and Katelynn in KL and Alyssa in Melbourne

Wow...even as I'm writing this, my heart is so filled with joy and gratefulness, and I'm excited to think that a fresh new year awaits with still more blessings and abundance to enjoy!

So here's wishing you and your family the highest favour, deepest love and greatest blessing for 2011.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Season's Greetings from Joanna (2009)

Dear Family and Friends,

Firstly, let me wish God's richest blessings on all of you and your family this holiday season! How truly blessed we are to find ourselves in the bosom of dear ones - a truth that I've been powerfully reminded of in 2009.

When the bottom fell out of the economy earlier this year, I received a call informing me that my role had been axed. Although it wasn't easy to bid farewell to a wonderful team of colleagues and the security of a paycheck, this news gave me exactly what I needed - a six-month break and a healthy bank balance.

Within 48 hours of reaching out to family and friends, I was enveloped in kindness and received invitations to stay in homes all over the world - a privilege I happily exercised. The Glass Half Full series chronicles this welcome break.

My heart overflows with gratefulness when I think of the many precious memories that were created this year:

• Our Yeoh family was reunited with Julie's homecoming to Malaysia during Chinese New Year, and family ties were further cemented when we took a family vacation to Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, Bodega Bay and Las Vegas
• A wonderful vacation to Candidasa, Bali where I enjoyed massages, snorkelling, fishing, massages, drinking, making new friends and I did mention Balinese massages didn't I?
• Spending time in New York City with my friends Andrew, Isabel and their beautiful boys. The many hours spent wandering through the inspiring Metropolitan Museum and Central Park has deepened my love for the Big Apple. And a big Thank You to Elaine Li for showing me the world beyond Manhattan, and to my NYU friends for the intellectual stimuli
• Hunting down the Liberty Bell, Independance Hall and Philly cheesesteaks in historic Philadelphia with Julie was good fun! We also made a side trip to Washington DC where we narrowly escaped a deadly train crash...thank God...
• Visiting and learning about the Amish community in a town called Intercourse ;-)
• Witnessing the gala reunion for BBGS (Bukit Bintang Girls'School) at the Pavilion KL was a dream come true. Thousands of girls and teachers came together to celebrate the spirit of a school that has outlasted its bricks and mortar. I am so blessed to have contributed to the event by writing the Back2BBGS blog and the Women of Vision exhibition
• Travelling to Australia to witness the wedding of my cousin, Aaron and the baptism of my god-daughter, Alyssa. Being able to catch up with so many good friends made it feel like a proper homecoming
• Enjoying 5 minutes of fame when the Star newspaper published an article on my career and travels, through which I connected with old friends and a gentleman who asked me if I liked younger men...YIKES!
• Watching all five of my god-kids grow in stature and spirit is such a joy. I'm so grateful to their parents for allowing Aunty Jo Jo to contribute to their development in her nutty, unconventional way

Let me say a big THANK YOU to all my family and friends for your kind words, hospitality, a warm bed, storage space, countless coffees and cakes, food, wine and friendship. All good holidays must come to an end so when October came round, I found myself another position at a oil & gas services company in Singapore. This city state will continue to be my home as I believe it's the perfect beach-head from which to ride the crest of the Asian century.

As we bid farewell to the noughties ('00s) and enter a brand new decade, let's continue to be grateful for all that we have and become all that He created us to be.

Here's wishing you a HAPPY NEW YEAR and a blessed 2010!

Season's Greetings from Joanna (2008)

Dear Family and Friends,

How quickly the years have flown! This is the 8th edition of my Christmas newsletter and I'm so grateful for your feedback and encouragement. An amusing refrain that I've heard over the years is this - "Joanna, where do you get the energy? I'm tired from just reading your letters!" Ha..ha..I promise not to disappoint this year :-)

2008 has been a very fulfilling year on a personal level because I spent six months living in Shanghai, China. During that time, I kept a blog journal entitled The China Diaries, which you're welcome to read in full. Some of the highlights include:

• Visiting Xian and seeing the 2000-year old terracotta armies of Qin Shi Huang with my parents
• Climbing the magnificent Great Wall of China
• Entering the majestic Forbidden City in Beijing
• Exploring the noisy, bustling streets of old Shanghai while living comfortably in Pudong - the new city
• Sailing along the Grand Canal that stretches almost 2000 kms from Hangzhou to Beijing
• Eating scorpions, whole frogs and duck's tongue and all other manner of bizarre Chinese delicacies
• Seeing the treasures of the Chinese dynasties at the National Palace Museum in Taipei
• Making some wonderful new friends along the way
  

More than anything, I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn the language, history and culture of my ancestors. Being able to speak Mandarin is really a dream come true.

Some equally memorable moments in 2008 include:-

• Exploring the ancient temples of Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Phrom in Siem Reap, Cambodia
• Boarding a school boat in Tonle Sap Lake to present stationery to Cambodian schoolchildren
• Learning about the battle of Alamo in San Antonio, Texas and seeing Davy Crockett's rifle and hair!
• Celebrating Barack Obama's win with Californians in Sacramento
  
• Tasting meatloaf for the first time at Mel's Diner in San Francisco
• Enjoying my fill of musicals with "We Will Rock You" and "Avenue Q" in Singapore, and "The Color Purple" in Sacramento
  
• Accepting Permanent Residency (PR) in Singapore, which effectively binds me to this city state for the longer term
  

And as I reflect on this past year, my heart is filled with gratefulness. I thank God for carrying me safely through these journeys in a fragile world of earthquakes, terrorist bombings and political & economic strife. My prayer for 2009 is that all of us will continue to dream big dreams, live full lives and believe that the world can be a better place because we're all M.A.D (Making A Difference).

Here's wishing you a HAPPY NEW YEAR and a wonderful 2009!

Seasons' Greetings from Joanna (2007)

Dearest Family & Friends,

I trust you have had a wonderful year! As I think back on 2007, two words perfectly reflect my state of mind - GRATEFUL and BLESSED. It is a simple statement of God’s goodness, for which I have done so little to deserve.

Many of you who know me well will understand that change is a constant in my life. This year has been no different. In September, I accepted a new job at AMD with responsibility for the Asian region and am now based in Singapore.

Here are just some of the many blessings that I’m grateful for in 2007:-

• Starting the year with a BANG when the roof of my hotel room came crashing down on the spot I was standing just 3 minutes before!
• Blogging my way to fame on 2 of my favourite topics: BBGS (back2bbgs.blogspot.com) and travelling (aunty-jo-jo.blogspot.com)
• Re-claiming my musical skills by signing up for Play By Ear piano lessons. My repertoire has been steadily increasing and I was practicing so feverishly that my neighbour thought I was a piano teacher :-)
• Spending a weekend in Belgium with Martin, Claudia & their 3 kids. It was the first time the little ones had ever met a real-life Asian so I felt like a natural history exhibit! I enjoyed their company and my first visit to Brussels’ La Grande Place, Mannekin Pis, European HQ and Galeries St Hubert – the world’s first shopping mall built in 1847
• Experiencing the spring floral paradise that is Keukenhof Gardens (Holland). The thrill of walking into a park filled with thousands of tulips, lilies and flowers of all kinds was a dream come true
• Discovering inspirational Dutch painters from the Golden Era like Vermeer (whose painting “Girl with the Pearl Earring” is now one of my all-time favourites), Gerard ter Boch and Jan Steen
• Celebrating my 37th birthday in New York City with my sister Julie and dearest friends, Isabel & Andrew. Their boys are gorgeous and the accommodation …sigh…how does one describe a house with views of Manhattan & the Statue of Liberty?
• Soaking in the quintessential NYC delights like “Spelling Bee”- this season’s Broadway hit, the Warhols and Mondrians on display at the Museum of Modern Art, strolling through Central Park, Gray’s Papaya hotdogs and massive pastrami sandwiches from Carnegie Deli
• Puzzling over the “weird”ness of Austin, the capital of Texas – which isn’t really like Texas at all! I just couldn’t get enough of the Tex-Mex food especially the breakfast burritos
• Visiting China for the first time, after my ancestors left four generations ago. I’m amazed at how fast the country is developing, how hungry the people are for knowledge and business skills and how proud they are of their historical heritage. The ancient classical gardens of Suzhou are pristinely beautiful, while Shanghai is BUSY, with a capital ‘B’

Here’s wishing all of you a Happy New Year and

a Fantastic 2008!

Season's Greetings from Joanna (2006)

Visiting San Francisco, Great Ocean Road (Melbourne) and Scheveningen (Netherlands)

I hope you’ve all had an exciting and enriching year in 2006. I’ve had heaps of fun, as usual :-)

As you’ve probably guessed from the photo spread above, the theme of this year’s newsletter is the RETURN OF THE NOMAD. I have again succumbed to the lure of the suitcase and spent much of the year working and holidaying abroad.

2006 began on a bittersweet note when my little sister Julie flew off to California search of greener pastures. She has happily settled into the American way of life, but we still miss her very much. In May, I also took a big step and bid farewell to life at Genting, choosing to return to consulting – this time with Shell Global Solutions, which is based in the Petronas Twin Towers in KL. This new job gives me the opportunity to travel again. Trips to USA, Australia, Netherlands, Philippines and Singapore means a lot of frequent flyer miles and I’m loving it!

Allow me to share some other highlights with you

• Inspired by lots of exhibitions this year including “Monet in Normandy”- Legion of Honor San Francisco, “Picasso & Dora Maar” – Victoria Art Gallery Melbourne and “The Golden Era” – Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
• Visiting the hideout of Anne Frank in Amsterdam evoked many emotions ranging from sadness, anger and despair to hope, courage and awe - all of which culminates in my belief that discrimination, however well-justified, cannot be right
• A vacation in San Francisco saw me traipsing around Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, Napa Valley and every single premium shopping outlet within a 100-mile radius. I love COACH handbags!
• I've certainly had some gastronomic adventures this year such as learning to cook an authentic Spanish paella, enjoying Filipino delicacies like balut (15-day old duck embryo – beak, feathers and all) and sisik (pig snout fried with vegetables), all-American fare like IHOP and Denny’s pancake breakfasts and authentic Mexican fajitas and tortillas…yummy to all
• It was a rather strange experience watching the World Cup in the States, listening to insipid comments from US commentators. I much preferred watching matches on the passionate Spanish channels although the only word I understood was GOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!

Most importantly, here are the people who made 2006 sparkle with special moments….

• Playing godma to Kiersten & Katelynn and watching them grow up is an absolute delight. Another little Australian bub named Alyssa Joanna Wong was also added to my list of godkids in July – she’s a darling!
• Lovely farewell karaoke party with my Genting mates saw us polishing off 6 bottles of wine, 2 bottles of whisky and a couple of jugs of beer …it was a good night J…and a rather painful morning after L…
• A return trip to Australia saw me catching up with good friends, and making new ones. Also took the opportunity to see more of Australia and sample some lovely new wines.
• My dad was awarded the Pingat Jasa Kebaktian (PJK) by the Governor of Penang for community service and we’re all very proud of him.

Season's Greetings from Joanna (2005)

Dear Friends

Has 2005 been good to you? I bet it has. It’s just whizzed by for me - filled with work, work and more work. Very challenging year on the career front, as I consolidated by skills and knowledge as a HR & Change professional.

Still, I’ve found time to make some changes and collect new experiences. First change on the vanity front is my hair - it’s now long, straight and flecked with chestnut streaks..super cool!

Other highlights include:-

• Taking ownership of my property in January. First came the keys; then came the light fixtures, wardrobes, cabinets, air-conditioners, bathroom fittings as my poor wallet groaned in agony. Still, I’m happy to report that it’s now gainfully collecting rental so eat your hear out, Donald Trump!
• Visiting Hong Kong for the first time in July. The food is amazing -roast goose, dim sum, shatin pigeon, XO sauce chicken, “char chanteng” goodies – I ate myself silly. Hong Kong is also the most brand-conscious city I’ve ever seen. Everyone was Gucci-ed, Prada-ed and Burberry-ed from tip to toe. Not wanting to be left out, I quickly bought myself a gorgeous Louis Vuitton handbag (that almost required me to take out a second mortgage J)
• Learning a lot about occupational psychology – trained as a psychometric test user and Responsible Gaming counsellor. BTW, that was the real reason for my trip to Hong Kong
• Playing golf for the first time…err.. actually, my game looked much more like hockey. Complete with bald patches spread liberally throughout the course
• Appearing in the local newspaper as a poster girl for British Postgraduate Education – what a laugh that was!
• Preparing for my sister, Julie, to spread her wings and leave for USA. She’ll be pursuing her nursing career and earning US$ for the Yeoh family. HURRAY for JULIE!

Introducing Kiersten & Katelynn...

Julie & I also became godparents to twin girls, born September 18. These little angels are such a delight to be with!

I love spending weekends with them – cooing, bouncing, feeding, cuddling, singing and talking gibberish. I bet they often wonder if Aunty Jo-Jo is actually a blithering idiot disguised as a career woman :-)

Season's Greetings from Joanna (2004)

Even the fear of death is nothing compared to the fear of not having lived authentically and fully” ~ Frances Moore Lappe

Dear Friends,

I really enjoy sharing my year with you through this annual Christmas newsletter. The process of writing it usually begins in November, with a frantic search through my diary for exciting events that have happened throughout the year.

This year has been a little different – my story wrote itself on Friday, 16th January. At 6:30 pm, while lifting weights at the gym, I had a Transient Ischaemic Attack (otherwise known as a mild stroke). For 30 minutes, I had no control over the left side of my body and experienced a slurring of speech. Thanks to my alert sister, a 3-day hospital stay, a brilliant neurologist, a cocktail of medication and a thousand prayers - I have achieved full recovery. Thank you so much for your prayers and well wishes.

As is the case for anyone confronted with their own mortality, many questions flooded my mind.
What caused it? Work stress? Hypertension? Obesity? My Type-A personality? Perhaps, a combination of all these things. I’ll probably never find out the real cause but one thing I know for sure - being trapped in your own body is one of the most frightening things ever. So from now on, I will make every effort to take better care of my physical health.

Why did it happen? I believe it was God’s way of reminding me that He’s still in charge. In the last 10 years, I’ve rampaged through life on my terms: obtaining an MBA, building a career, travelling round the world, seeking excitement at every turn. It’s been very good fun, but I also have a responsibility to do God’s will.

What next? While it has crossed my mind to give up everything and spend the rest of my fragile days wrapped up in cotton wool, it’s just not me. I will continue to live life to the fullest but will be careful not to break any more speed limits.

So here are some of the “speed-adjusted” highlights of my year:

• Regained perfect eyesight through Lasik eye surgery. From the moment I open my eyes in the morning, I can see my toes and the alarm clock….it’s wonderful!
• Tripled my reading speed through an Advanced Reading Skills course. Now, I can get through all my reading material so much faster.
• Led my team to take part in the national Career Fair and collected over 5000 CVs in 3 days!
• Bought a second property in KL for investment purposes
• Enjoyed live concerts featuring Mariah Carey, Ten Tenors, Kitaro, Richard Clayderman, Annie the Musical and Peter Pan

I would love to hear about your year soon. But until then, here’s wishing you and your family a Happy New Year and best wishes for 2005!

Season's Greetings from Joanna (2003)

"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it."
George Moore

Dear Family & Friends,

I’ve been back in Malaysia for a whole year and have thoroughly enjoyed every moment. I am so thankful for all the people who have welcomed me back with open arms, despite my seven year sojourn abroad.
Family, friends, faith, fitness, finances, fun, food – I’ve had it all in 2003!

Allow me to share some highlights with you:-

• Celebrated Daddy’s 60th birthday with a 10 course dinner, 200 guests and a raucous karaoke ‘n dance party! The entertainers gave us a 30% discount because they only managed to sing four songs before the Yeoh family took over!
• Joined a gym to keep fit and started an addiction to “Body Pump” classes. Lifting weights for a solid hour, three times a week is good fun. Of course, the “eye candy” helps ;-)
• Established my friendship network quickly by contacting 1 old friend & making 2 new friends daily.
• Dyed my hair chestnut brown, interspersed with bleached blonde streaks…super cool!
• Risked life & limb attempting to climb Mt Kinabalu, the tallest peak in Southeast Asia. The scenery as well as flora & fauna were breathtaking; especially the bonsai forest growing at 2800 metres.
• Stayed one night in a rustic Sabahan longhouse fighting off mosquitos, mad cocks crowing at 3am, kerosene lamps swinging from the rafters whilst the village headman settled into air-conditioned comfort in his modern longhouse next door!
• Climbed aboard a yacht to sail round Langkawi Island…in high heels!
• Tried archery for the first time. Fired 6 arrows: 3 hit bullseye, 2 bounced off the ceiling and 1went missing.
• Visited Bangkok for 3 days and managed to tear a ligament in my foot. Treated with painkillers injected directly into my heel…ouch!
• Spent a wonderful week in Singapore where I caught up with old friends, shopped, watched Tosca & shopped some more.
• Sang “Sweet Child o Mine” by Guns & Roses dressed in a red wig, neon green dress, black feather boa & platform shoes during annual PwC dinner. Won a prize.
• Work has been fantastic! I was offered 4 jobs in the first 6 months of my return, despite being attached to PwC. Finally accepted a position as Vice President of Human Resources with Genting, one of the largest public listed companies in Malaysia. It’s a great opportunity to put into practice all the change and people management skills acquired in the last few years.

It’s been an amazing year, and I’m grateful for finally being able to see and appreciate the things that make Malaysia so special. Glorious food available round the clock, shops open till 10pm, lower income tax rates, family & friends a phone call away – these are things I must remember not to take for granted. And that’s not all. Sparkling new developments such as KL Twin Towers, the city rail network, urban highways & yuppie hangouts are definitely improvements in my book. I look forward to welcoming you to Malaysia soon.

Have a wonderful 2004 and may God bless you richly!

Season's Greetings from Joanna (2002)

Hello everyone–your favourite nomad has finally returned home to Malaysia! After 7 years of roaming the earth, I’ve finally left antipodean shores and moved back to KL in November.

Before I begin my 2002 chronicles, let me say a big “Thank You” to everyone who responded to last year’s newsletter. The deluge of emails, letters and phone calls was extremely heartwarming and I’m grateful for your friendship.

It’s been a very eventful year. It began with an intense workload and monthly trips to South Korea, went slightly awry in September with a retrenchment from PwC Consulting but finished in a blaze of glory when I decided to return home to take up a managerial position with PwC Malaysia. Here’s to new beginnings.

Highlights of the year included:-

• Losing 10 kgs…hip hip hooray!
• Spending a dinky di Christmas and New Year with the Mawbey family in Dubbo, New South Wales. Their hospitality was outstanding – one of the clan threw a goat on the barbie and put on a special “bull riding” rodeo show just for me!
• Driving through the Blue Mountains at the height of the Sydney Christmas bushfires accompanied by fire trucks and heli-tankers
• Completing the “City to Surf” which is a 14km race from Sydney CBD to Bondi Beach and yes…I have a medal and certificate to prove it
• Winning 50,000 won in a karaoke competition in South Korea, with an earth-shattering rendition of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen”
• Enjoying Korean cuisine to the fullest – kimchi, bulgogi, bibimbap and boiled silkworms!
• Stumbling into Tamworth to enjoy a good dose of country music in the form of John Williamson (the guy who sings Waltzing Matilda during Wallaby Games) and Troy Cassar-Daly
• Watching the rugby union test match between France and Australia. Wallaby no.16 is a real cutie!
• Buying my first apartment in KL which will be ready for visitors in 2005. Bookings are now open to all overseas visitors - who are invited to bring in their full quota of duty-free alcohol
• Being invited to give the “best man’s speech” at a mate’s wedding in Malaysia.
• Combining weekend drives with some glorious walks in Bundanoon (Morton National Park), Mudgee (wine), Jervis Bay(dolphin & whale watching), Berry (shopping), Canberra (Floriade & Italian masters exhibition) and Hunter Valley (more wine!)
• Hauling mum & dad on a farewell tour of Oz. We drove from Sydney to Brisbane and back. Stopped by Coffs Harbour to see the “Big Banana” and fell in love with a beautiful little town called Armidale on the way back.
• Saying goodbye to my old love Russell (the Nissan Pulsar) and falling in love with Boomps Elvis (the farting gnome)
• Realising that I want to be in the People Investment Business. I have found my passion in Change Management and cross-cultural communication and these will form the basis of my career aspirations. This focus makes it so much easier to get out of bed in the mornings!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this year as much as I have. In many ways, the world has become a scarier place, but there are still so many beautiful people to love and wonderful places to see. I have missed my family and friends during my years abroad but I intend to fully savour this homecoming.

Peter Drucker, an eminent management guru, once said: “The only way to predict the future is to create it yourself”

So be brave, live your dreams and have a wonderful 2003!

Season's Greetings from Joanna (2001)

Hello – it’s time again for the annual chronicles of your favourite nomad!

Surprise..surprise…I’m still in Sydney and it’s been a relatively quiet year after the frenzied round-the-world trip in 2000. Apart from a visit home to Malaysia in April, my passport has remained under lock and key for most of 2001.

Instead, I’ve spent many hours exploring the beautiful areas surrounding Sydney with Russell. He’s the love of my life – so quiet, confident, strong and best of all – he does exactly as he’s told. In case you’re wondering, “Russell the Muscle” is more than a man – he’s a brand new Nissan Pulsar Auto 1.8 ST. Russ eagerly awaits the arrival of more of my family and friends in Sydney – as do I. We both promise to take good care of you.

Highlights of the year for me included:-

• Spending Australia Day weekend on a Sunshine Coast beach that was being used to train new lifeguards. Grin…
• Catching up with family and friends in KL during the Easter break. It was a powerful and gratifying reminder of all the precious people who’ve enriched my life in Malaysia. God bless you all!
• The Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Southern Highlands, Hunter Valley and Canberra are some of the lovely spots I visited this year. The Floriade festival in Canberra featured a breathtaking display of spring flowers including tulips, irises, crocuses and daffodils.
• Visits from my parents, sister and aunt who enjoyed their stints in Sydney very much. I spent ten fantastic days with my sister Julie, who is now dead keen on moving here too!
• Spraining my ankle while leading a disco dance revolution during a performance of “Mamma Mia - the ABBA Musical” atthe Princess Theatre in Melbourne.
• Immersing myself in Sydney’s eclectic music scene ranging from classical to Kylie Minogue; Hillsong Music to “Puff the Magic Dragon”. Go figure.
• My first ever skiing trip to Falls Creek in Victoria was wonderfully wet and cold. I am proud to announce that I can now ski, stop and turn - on the kiddie slopes.
• Learning to sing the Australian national anthem to the tune of “Gilligan’s Island” after several rounds of peach schnapps.
• My 31st birthday party was celebrated in the company of my sister and some of my closest mates. It was a boisterous evening filled with animated conversation, laughter, fine food, wine, champagne and a broken window – enough said.
• Deciding to move from the heart of the city to a picturesque suburb in north Sydney. In my new home, I wake up to the sound of bird calls instead of police sirens. Such bliss is mine…
• Choosing to specialise in HR Strategy & Change Management in my consulting career. This springs from my belief that companies must focus on their most valuable asset – people.

Yet the events that have left the most profound impact on me this year were the shocking attacks in America and the ensuing war on terror. On my visit to the Big Apple last year, I remember looking up at the World Trade Towers thinking “I’d give my right arm to work here in New York City!” Sigh… words seem so futile and inadequate in the face of such unspeakable horror.

However, if there’s one thing I’ve learnt through all this – it’s that life is for living. I must not waver in my zest for life, my love for family & friends and most importantly, my trust in God. Friends, I urge you to be brave and keep walking onwards and upwards. In the words of Robert Frost,

“Two paths diverged in the woods; and I
I took the road less travelled,
And that has made all the difference.”

Have a very blessed Christmas and Happy New Year!