Here are the highlights of the last week:

• Finally got my paperwork together for the post-graduate work permit! After following up with the School of Graduate Studies a number of times, I finally got the letter thanks to a follow-up by my department. Now I have to wait for my work permit…
• Notified IBM about possible delays. I’m glad that they’re flexible.
• Applied for IELTS, an English proficiency test that will be useful for my permanent residency application.
• Started working on proposal for Emacs book. Read A-C of the EmacsWiki.
• Attended a Toronto Linux Users Group meeting that promised to be a vi vs. emacs debate. Greatly amused to hear it turn into an ed vs everything else debate due to old-timers.
• Watched “Philippine Science” with W- at the Toronto International Film Festival. Imagine that—a movie about my high school!
• Baked a cake for Mark Chignell, my research supervisor. Well-received. Also, got back in touch with Calum Tsang.
• Had another driving lesson. Reviewed 3-point turns. Also, practiced driving with W- in an empty parking lot.
• Gave a presentation on blogging to around 15 people at IBM. Convinced a few people to start blogging.
• Booked tickets for a flight home this March. W- and J- are coming. Yay!
• Picked up tons of books from library. Current reading focus: personal finance, work-life balance.
• Had a good conversation with W- about medium- and long-term goals.
• Still working on improving relationship with family.

My goals for the next week include:

• Clarify my vision for the next few years and develop a plan.
• Develop clear financial plan.
• Summarize advice on transitioning into real world.
• Send professional update to people.
• Spend more quality time with people.
• Post book notes.

Random Emacs symbol: gnus-parameter-large-newsgroup-initial – Function: Return GROUP’s initial input of the number of articles.