Random Things I Learned in 2009

• China is way more advanced and much more developed than I thought it was.
• The whole world is hungry for knowledge on genomics information and how it will change medicine and impact them.
• I have feasted around the world and yet still crave home cooking
• Singapore is the most civilized country with the best and fastest airports I have ever been to.
• France has the best deserts and pastries in the world.
• Singapore has the best pepper and chilli crab I’ve ever tasted.
• Hong Kong has the best dumplings and street food.
• London has the best Lebanese food that I crave.
• The Peking duck in Beijing doesn’t taste like the Peking duck in the US or UK – its much much better!
• People of Jewish decent are not allowed to enter Saudi Arabia and women must be accompanied by a male at all times! (Shocking!)
• The great wall of China is the most overwhelming, picturesque place I have visited especially when covered in an inch of snow
• People in Texas think I’m a weird Hispanic looking girl who talks in a very strange accent.
• Social media is addictive but the addiction can be turned into a very functional tool for education, marketing purposes and creating communities.
• The kindle is my best friend and has changed what and how I read.
• Having a roommate is a wonderful experience although I admit, I thought I would hate it and it does depend on who the roommate is.
• Everyone you meet has purpose in your life, some are meant to go the distance and some are just transient and meant to teach you something and move on.
• Someone needs to create the ultimate device – iphone one side and blackberry the other – call it the Blackphone or the iBerry.
• I can never get sick of shoes, no matter how many pairs I acquire.
• Most people can’t see the big picture but are focused on the fine details – apparently the devil is in the detail.
• Everything and anything can be negotiated.
• Weddings are the most stressful experience a family can go through – if they survive the wedding without killing each other, they can survive anything.
• My parents are faultless angels (most of the time)
• It’s very important to have a job that you love doing – it’s what can get you through days when other things get really bad.