SZTM Annual Dinner

A dinner, not a meeting

With most members away before Spring Festival, the 960th meeting traded the regular format for an Annual Dinner at 码头见, a Chaoshan restaurant in CapitaMall 领展中心城. Thirteen people squeezed into a private room meant for twelve. No prepared speeches, no evaluations, no timer. Instead, everyone took one or two minutes to share freely over dishes and red wine that Josh had brought along.

As someone put it when the sign-up filled within hours: “干活嫌人少，吃饭嫌人多，这是人类存在本质.”

Around the table

Tina and Poornima stood out with their sharing. “Tina 和 Poornima 是社团的学霸，今天领教了,” one member wrote afterwards. Emma echoed the sentiment: “@Tina I really enjoyed your share of life experiences tonight.”

The evening also welcomed a new member, Mr. David, joining at the very last meeting of the year. “在今年的最后一次会议，加入我们，这应该叫关门弟子吧.” David responded warmly: “Thank you guys. It’s a honor to be a part of this club.”

Toast and takeaway

Vera raised a glass near the end: “a toast to our glorious 2025.” The bill came to 1,120 yuan. With 330 yuan from the club treasury and members splitting the rest, each member paid just 36 yuan. “36 吃顿潮汕菜，比吃湘菜还便宜.”

The next day, one member summed up the evening: “The positive energy is off the scale in this group. I hope all of us will get a fresh start in 2025 with the inspiration and encouragement from each other.”