Culture Surprise

Beijing is Still Not Olympic-Ready

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:27:00 +0000

I really really wished the scientists came up with "Mute" drugs. I'd feed all the Chinese there. N then, for once, I'd have peace of mind.

Microphone & sound system will never sell in China. They are the mic & woofers.

And really, sometimes, I really wonder what make their bones so strong. The way they bang through people to walk through. It makes me angry.

Crowd control is ok in Beijing. With so many police & army personnels in e city center, it's extremely safe. But the discipline somehow stop short there. When we went to Chengde, 4 out of 6 taxis we took refused to go by meter. One hawker shout an impossible price when saw my enthusiasm for the sweet potato he was selling.
WE were immediately reminded of all the con men & con women of China when encountering this. Being a foreign tourist & taken advantage off like that, we felt disgusted.

It's really sad. Because, however unsafe Spain can be, we can get information. However stuck up Italians are, we can get information. However it is in everywhere else, we can get information.
I would not allow people to stand up for China in this case for being the 3rd world country.

Msia has information brochurs, even in no-star hotel.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia, made effort to learn English enough to reply tourists & recommend somebody when there weren't
printed information/public service.
Cambodia is, by United Nation standard, an under-developed country.
When we stayed in hostels in Spain & Austria, there were brochures easily available.

Forbidden City & displays in other famous sights like Heavenly Temple & Summer Palaces, were dusty, hence viewing can be difficult & unpleasant. I always fell sick(plus my relatives) after a Beijing trip. Thank goodness for that knowledge, I was packed with "Boost Immune" supplement.

Shopping at e bargain market was even more disappointing. They threw me out of the store when I gave THEIR impossible price. I was already so turned off when they gave an impossible price. It is meant for bargain but they were too much. And I actually know how all of their standard prices. I've shopped there so many times. BUt Beijing this time, is so infested by tourists, and what's worst? Caucasian.

When we went to Silk Market. The population of the caucasian is 95% of the shoppers there, I was very very turned off. We weren't welcomed cos we were not Blonde & BLue-eyed.

Talking about price. A sweat wool cardigan's opened price was 535yuan. After disc(speical Chinese rate) is 435yuan. !!!!! That is S$80++. Can get in London Oxford St for that price.
It's really a turn off. Because I just got a woolen gloves in Chengde for 3yuan. 3YUAN! (It really was wool. I wore it. I knew it. I have many many gloves). I really did not want to spend 1/2an hour bargaining half my soul out for something that's poor quality when I could get it at the same bargain with quality in US or wherever.
And one luggage was quoted at 1350yuan. Best price is 525. That's more than S$100. I can get Lojel in Sg, free small cabin bag.
When I asked for a price of 150(medium size), the sales lady threw me out. Thinking that I'd be sorry. Next to me, a caucasian pair asked 300 for e big size bag. I screamed back at her. She backed off. Looks like that was the culture. My hubby threaten to complain to authority. I told him. I don't threaten. I do it. If I said i'd complain, I do it. I don't threaten. That is not my style. That is my lousy customers style.

Looks like I don't sound disappointed. I was very very very disappointed.
China is a place you need to book tour from home. Which I never like.

It is not tourist friendly.

IT IS NOT ready for Olympics.

Beijing is Not Olympic-Ready

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 08:15:00 +0000

My recent trip to Beijing with my hubby... I shall say... Not Enjoyable. We didn't have that great after-trip feeling, don't have that feeling that we would want to go back there again(except for the fruits).

I have to say, it is quite disappointed. I complained to my cousin that now I wished I was not born a chinese.
Well.. of course, that's out of the context.

Although my hubby can speak & understand Mandarin very well, Beijingers couldn't care to make themselves understood. Mandarin is their mother tongue. It is a dialect of language they treat as their town language and they have spoken it their lifetime. They are not careful about it. This, in turn, unfortunately cause a great diffivulty for my husband to understand them. They slur their pronunciation (I thought I misheard them or just plainly have very poor understanding of Mandarin, which I do), making themselves very very unclear.
They are not patient when you asked them to repeat. For some, they shouted/spoke louder when you asked "Ni chiang se mor?"(Wat did you say?). And if you know Chinese nationals.. when they speak at their regular voice, it's already very deafening.

The most disappointing part was: Beijing is not tourist friendly. Apparently, they have a bit of this mentality: You have got to be poor to not join a tour group from your own country.
We stayed in a 3star hotel in an absolutely fantastic location. Right in the middle of old town, it's jus minutes away from everything.

Unfortunately, they seem to believe that 3star hotel does not need to provide anything. There is no proper Concierge counter. When staffs are asked of tour information, THEY WERE NOT SURE OF ALMOST EVERYTHING.
And not only that, one staff was particularly rude to a guest. Luckily, we were Chinese & able to speak a bit of mandarin, he was rude to the caucasian but a bit better on us.

Both the airport & bus terminals... No. The Airport, the bus terminal & the train station have no tour information at all. No brochurs, no counter, nobody to provide these information. Worse was, there were hustlers for tours & drivers everywhere that it's worse than deafening. I thought I was really used to all that since I've encounter KLIA, Bali & Thailand markets, but in Beijing, it was like that everywhere!!!
Forbidden City, Heavenly Temple, Great Wall, outside hotel, Bus terminal, all e rest of e famous sights are all full with rude & physical hustlers. We looked Chinese, they walked with us, selling themselves to us. No matter how we said no. They pull us physically & talked to us until we must lie that we had either went there or I rudely brushed them off with "DO U HAVE ENGLISH?" with a strong American/Brit accent. I dislike doing that. It's not me. But I had to do it. N I had to do it many times!

When we went to train station to find information & buy tickets for our 2day excursion to Chengde, my hubby was rudely turned away. Naturally we couldn't understand their system. They used terms that aren't used in this side of the world (actually my hubby is well read, he understand HK & Taiwan media no problem). When seeking clarification, they shouted back at him.
The public is so huge & uncontrollable. THey are very rude. They pushed their way through to walk through. So much so that, the stations all hired unnecessary guards to control the crowds just so they'd queue. Simple & basic like that. Barriers had to arranged long & far before entry into train stations.

There is really no brochur & although there is a computer terminal with information, it didn't telly with the information given by the officers at the counters. Most of the time, we were turned away. Major information counter directed us to counter 108 to buy (night) ticket for Chengde, but we walked round the whole station.
There is no counter 108.

Came the day we supposed to go to Great Wall. We were still clueless about the transportation. Travel guides had no information about it either. He read about 5 different travel guides, both mandarin & English.
Instead, we were swindled by this lady in the public bus uniform jacket. We were told there is no such thing as public bus to go to Badaling, Great Wall. It all had to be tour.

We, being experienced traveler, hate tour groups. I especially hate Chinese ones. They don't speak English & yak yak yak yak all the way in Mandarin, non-stop. I simply don't understand why they had so much to chatter when the information given is probably only 3lines long in English.

We wanted to see both Ming(dynasty) tombs & Great Wall on the same day. They were both about the same direction. However, the tour group did not want to go there, hence bullshit about the tomb being very superstitious (a lady dropped dead at the area, or a kid cried non-stop for days post-trip). AS usual, they took us to 2 stores for shopping. And some rundown place called "Old Beijing" which is not the real Old Beijing.
The tour guide did try to be nice to me, knowing that we aren't Chinese. But I frankly was so turned off by how the thing was turned out.
She talked from the moment the bus started the journey to the time to the time we reached Great Wall, and all the way to the both stores & to the old Beijing. That's 5hours trip of her talking!!!! O yes, she talked on the mic. AND, she'd stopped short to go wake all those who fell asleep while she giving her speech.
No, it's not a joke. My hubby laughed at this. I was pissed. I was tired. I wanted to sleep.

Ok, here's the greatest irony. When we finished the trip, we saw the counter that is legally & publicly the Beijing tour groups booth opposite the bus terminal.
That morning, we happened to get off at the wrong side of the bus terminal(out of the subway).

Fine. Recover from that. It happens. We look forward to another trip perhaps. Our Ming tomb excursion wasted & burned. WE went in to look for information. It was 7pm. It was closed.
There were posters of the tour trips information. THey have destinations, they have price. They don't have the timing.

We came back the next day only to find out almost all the trips depart at 7am. As usual, there were hustlers outside. I should have bring ear plugs.

Rich, poor & show off

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 15:16:00 +0000

I’ve just came back from a whole week stay in my home town with some constant trips to the city.

Disappointed I am, but this trip truly reminded me what I am in for if I were to move back to Msia for good. It was the very same reason I left home, the very reason that gave the joy to be out of it.

People really judged us(my husband & I) based on your appearance {judge a book by its cover?}, based on where I lived, what I wore & what I have. Apparently best behaviour isn’t good enough. I needed to know how to flaunt my assets & cash.

I have missed home for so many years. Now I am not sure.

On my job of almost 10years, I have served many.

I have met & served the people of 1st world countries, 3rd world countries & under-developed countries.
Some ‘1st world country’ behaved like 3rd world. Some 3rd world do have e grace of better than 1st world. Under-developed sometimes are the most gracious; without all the pretentions & hypocritic behaviour.

I have also MET & SERVED rich & famous, filthy rich, newly striked it rich, richer (who basically are just relatively richer than the people they know), on the rise(people who are climbing the ladder), middle class, affordables & poor people.

I have seen all sorts of attitudes & behaviours.
Some of them impressed me, some disgusted me.

My benefit: I get to choose who I want to be like, how I want to behave.

There is a chinese saying:
Comparing & competing amongst yourselves have no end.
You’re only digging your own grave.

An uncle once told me:
The greatest competition is yourself.
Not the neighbour or the top student in your class or that guy with the Sports BMW.

Some people live lavish lifestyles. Some want to show off. Some just want to survive.

I just want to live my life.
Happy & comfortable.

Hopefully the world allows me.

Learning Cantonese & Cooking

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 07:40:00 +0000

Asked my husband how to say Pumpkin in Cantonese:
"Nam kua"

And yesterday I kept talking about Winter Melon:
"Tong kua"

He brought up the topic and realized that there is no such thing as "Pat kua".

I looked up to him; my eyes blanked.

He explained:
East South West North : Tong Nam Sai Pat
There is "Tong Kua" (Winter Melon)
"Nam Kua" (Pumpkin)
"Sai Kua" (Watermelon)
but there is no Pat Kua.

Paintball in Jo-burg

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 16:44:00 +0000

Man, I did not know what is Paintball. When my colleague invited us go play paintball, I heard 'Pinball'.
And I questioned, "Pinball could be played psysically??"

Well, an ignorant bimbo like me seriously never heard of or seen Paintball. Moreover, I never really excel in sports, so I've decided long ago that I'm not good & won't get active anymore.

So it turned out to be an outdoor game. I don't mind. I like outdoor. Been couped up in room too much these days.
But I did not know until the day we went for it.

And miss bimbo here wore white as snow skinny jeans with 2-inch high heels. Seriously I didn't bring any other clothes or shoes. I've been to Johannesburg numerous times, but never do outdoor activity. How would I know...

We had our fun. Shooting & posing for fierce pictures. Acting like refugees, prisoner of war & terrorist.
It was funny. Even all the rest of the South African looked at us & grinned. The staff included.

1st round: We had one life. Once shot, you're dead. Raise hand in sign of surrender.
We heck care

2nd round: We had three lives. Shot 3times, you're dead.
The shields were big cushions. 1st all of us got good cover at triangle cushion. But had to move ahead to attack. Moved ahead to cillinder cushion.
Bad choice. Got attacked from left & right. It's too small for cover.
Somebody shot my leg. Big ball of blue ink splashed my white jeans on the left leg.
Damn! They had to shoot my jeans!

Ahh.. What a bother! I chose to go there. Play to the max!

3rd round: Then I realized each 'war field' has a name. This one's Kuwait. THe shields were 'hill' for covers & triangle of tins.
Someone got hit at the neck. We tried to help her though can't see where it hit with all the paint. Our worry was if it hit the limph point.

At few times, girls were hit on the head & paint splashed through the hair & the mask disable us from clear vision.

4th round: The -=+;' River. There is a tent in the middle. And in the tent there is a blue flag. Each team goes to each extreme end of the field. When whistle blow, go for the flag and bring back to base.
Prrrrrrriiiiiiiittttttttttttt!!!!!!!!!!
We ran as quickly as we could. Just ran forward. The was a tiny river (or longkang) to cross. My team guy ran straight & grabbed the flag. Within one minute, the game was over. He brought it back to base.
Change side.
Prrrrrriiiiittttttttttttttt!!!!!!!!
Again, our team ran as quick. My other team boy fell. But he fell so gracefully he continue to crawl belly down. He managed to get up quick & ran for the flag. By this time, the opponent guy got it. But we shot him. He dropped it. My guy grabbed it. Ran back to base. We won again.

When the guy fell, they all thought he was ducking for cover to avoid the 'bullets'. hehe...
The power of national service training.

We decided to rest awhile before the next round.
Most of us are gasping because Johannesburg is so high in altitude (I was told that it's about 4000feet above sea level!!). I was already gasping in the 1st round after running just 5steps!
Well.. Obviously my asmathic background does not help.

5th round: The Baghdad.
Unlimited lives. Shoot until bullets finish or surrender. The shields are L-shaped walls.
I was shot at the leg! Again! And this time it was at a very close range. About 5meters. It was excruciating painful. I couldnt' move for awhile. I was holding my calf in pain when a guy ran into my cover. We both point our rifle at each other & found that we are team members. That was a close call. With such close range, if any of us hit, I could not begin to imagine the injury.

I surrendered not long after that. My rifle is empty.

At times we surrendered because our rifles was stucked.

The winner was a girl from my team. Hip hip hurray!!!!!!!

Man.. The last one was a yellow paint. The staff, looked my mighty white jeans, told me to immediately soak my jeans in water. Otherwise the colour might stay. The paint is actually water based.

So I did. Squeeky clean white.

But the yellow paint did not come off. It was not their paintball. It was probably personal paintballs that those locals brought. We kept picking paintballs from ground, hoping to load our rifles more.
This is a bad one.

I rubbed with Dynamo. And soaked in Vanish. Ok. Can do.
Thankfully it's still a good white.

Paintball.. My 1st experience.

Thank you guys, for all the fun!

Cotton wool over the City of Johannesburg

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 06:59:00 +0000

I have just landed in Johannesburg, South Africa. The land of safari.

Unfortunately it is very very cold. We arrived into the morning of 1degree centigrade. It was indeed surprising for me. For I normally encounter JOhannesburg with heat & sun. It's still sunny & bright as usual. But the chill & dry climate really got into my throat. We all look like we smoke cigar whenever we breathed.

My surprise today is:
It was so foggy in the city when we arrived at 0610hrs. Bright & sunny but I was so shocked when I looked outside the window. I thought what I saw was the ocean/sea! But look closely it is actually the fog covering the city. We could only make out from the 4 factory chimneys! (Well, surely nobody can possibly place factory with chimneys in the sead?!)

We thought (or kinda hope for diversion. More $$$. Chance of 2 1/2times wage. hehe) there will be either circulating or diversion. It looks really impossible to land. When pilot announced 'Crew to stations', I thought they're just hoping for the better.
I could feel for the captain-in-training pilot. It would have been a tremendous pressure of test & decision.

So we sat quietly on our seat. Constantly looking outside. It really look like cotton wool covering the city. In my sleepy mind, disgusting thought like moth covers came across my mind.

Nearing landing, I really didn't think that they're serious about landing in that condition. In my opinion, or rather, my vision; the visibility is less than 100m. In fact to really see things clearly, it's actually a visibility of about less than 50m.

Now I really understand what the www.yahoo.com/weather's visibility is for. Not for me land airplane-lah of course,
but for possible drivers too.

We did land.

Not only we landed, it was incredible. Smooth & extremely safe, I wanted to clap. I was kinda disappointed that nobody did. Because European normally do.
Everything went extremely well.
Never have I felt this kind of pride for the pilots that SIA trained.
What looked like the most dangerous turned into the safest ride.

We praised the pilot for the landing. But the humble guy accredited to auto-pilot.
Auto-pilot or manual, the plane needs a man.
We had a great team that did that today.

Thank you for the safe flight.

Out of Sight

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 07:25:00 +0000

HBO kept showing Out of Sight this month.
I consider this movie one of the sexiest movies of my time.

That was George Clooney & Jennifer Lopez at their best. Not that they don't look good now.
They definitely still do.
George Clooney is still on top of the list for Sexiest Man while Jennifer Lopez, who finally decided to keep her profile extremely low, is still on top for best-dressed celebrity. That goes to say that she looks hell best in whatever she wear.

But boy.. don't they look young in that movie.

Ahh... how time passed.

I think these two celebrities look awfully good now.

I think my prime was at when I was 24. I'm 29 now. I understand that I'm beginning to look quite haggard after all those hard work suffering from late nights, jet lags & physical strain.
All I could do is hide beneath great make-up, nice clothes bought from overseas & branded bags. All to hide my flaws.
Not that I do that deliberately.

People compliment me that I look better now. But I do kinda feel otherwise.
I'm aging & I'm getting tired.
I'm not unhappy, but neither am I truly joyful.
Life has treated me both good & bad.

But whatever it is, I do hope that I look good like how Jennifer Lopez can maintain hers in years to come. Or decades to come.
Without all those cost of $$$$ for botox, facials, skincare, spa... etc.
Hopefully regular products are sufficient.

hehe...

Me Bullied. No way?

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 07:33:00 +0000

I was 'zapped' at work recently.

i still can't get over it. Call me petty. But even if I were at fault, she didn't have the right to tell me off so rudely. Because everybody realized that I wasn't all that wrong either, or the only one at wrong.

She's very pretty but decided that she'd have two boyfriends in different places. Can you believe that? I thought that is so 80s or 90s! Whatever happen to self-dignity.

I did not judge her at first. But her conversation with a colleague was so darn loud (I was sitting about 2feet away) that I thought I was invited to listen to the conversation.

Later, she snapped at me for being nosy.

I did my apology.

But she wanted her own win-win situation. So, again she 'advised' me also that 'there is a better way of correcting new staff'.

Talk about double-standard. Well, she didn't do a better job herself.

I felt very upset with how the whole thing was twisted into her benefit.

She wasn't even in the position to 'advise' me this way in the most intimidating manner.

I complained this to another fellow colleague.

I agreed with her comment thereafter:
She's just a pretty face.
She's not beautiful.

Elite 300 Staff.. My foot!

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 01:34:00 +0000

I went for the training to understand the leased equipment. It's built on 1996 but refurnished on 2006. I don't quite understand why the owning company wanted to sell it.

Some high post man came to talk to us about our new assignment. Yes, I do understand the management point of view. I do understand the predicament that my company went into because of French's stupid & silly company. I also understand that it's only cost effective & it's wise to phase out our equipments as the French equipment was supposed to be received June last year, 2006.

So should I really blame the silly & stupid French company? Some blame the company. Some blame the staff union.

They selected 300 staff to go on this assignment for 10mths. And they selected the staff based on their low MC rate per year (or last year). These low MC that we're talking about is 1 day or less.

What a severe punishment..

Now they tried to make us feel good by saying "We're the Chosen ones". So what? Are we crossing the Red Sea or what?

3 Auckland projects with English & Japanese/Shanghai projects per month. Sound so lucrative? How about my exhaustion? How about the long rest in order to back Malaysia? So what this is a so-called more lucrative offer? I'm already receiving such income anyway.

THey had totally robbed my joy of my work. I could have go anywhere, especially USA & Paris the next 14months. Now the whole thing about staying on the job till next year seems so empty. Not only boring & empty, it's torturing also.

Man.. I'm gonna be hating New Zealand even more. I haven't been having good experience in there.

What a News...

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Thu, 31 May 2007 01:08:00 +0000

I just came back to 'earth' yesterday.

And now, I received a horrendous news affecting the prospect travel of my job.

I have been selected to do at least 3 projects on Auckland, New Zealand every month! With an equipment leased from another company!

O man, I hate Auckland! It's terrible hard work & minimum rest!

I'm kind of on the denial moment. Hopefully this is a mistake. Hopefully it's really not so bad.

Alaska Cruise

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Tue, 29 May 2007 12:12:00 +0000

Just came back from the Alaska Cruise with hubby on Norwegian Cruise Line.
O yes, I enjoyed myself thoroughly. My hubby, .. as usual.. is quite emotionless with the holiday. Even before I left for the trip, I was all so excited.

For the first time, I could relax. I didn't have to wake up or stay up for work. I don't have to unpack or pack within 2days of stay. I don't have to put massive make-up. (In Fact, I couldn't even put make-up because just after lasik operation) I don't have to walk or stand up more than one hour. I don't have to worry about time. I don't have to worry about anything! I don't even have to do anything.

Our flight to Vancouver (from Singapore) was quite long with a transit in Seoul. Of course, we utilized our transit devouring the Korean soondobu(spicy tofu soup). I watched movie till I stoned. I laughed at Diane Keaton in 'Because I said So' until people thought I was nuts. I laughed at the girl in '200Pounds Beauty' until the crew was startled with me. And then I cried on e same movie until the crew became even more startled with me.

Upon reaching Vancouver, it's a long queue at the immigration interviewing people this & that. Exactly like USA.

I was all excited going into the cruise. Immigration this time was easy. IT was very interesting though. USA immigration in Vancouver at e cruise departure.

The cruise ship was beautiful. Painted with the sun as the title 'Norwegian Sun', it gives me the feeling of bright & cheery. Indeed it did. But hubby has one complain. It's so full with elderlies, we were about the youngest people in the ship. I guess in between the lines, he was complainining of no chicks to feast his eyes on.

3port of calls. Ketchikan, Juneau & Stagway.
All existed for the same reason. Gold Rush.

The towns are very tiny. I suspect it's because they're just port towns. The profile of the people was very petite for girls & very slim for the guys. No, no, no. There aren't igloo or eskimos. These towns are at the tips of the Alaska geography. It's not even the mainland of the big Alaska yet. These are coastal area. They weren't even all that cold. Definitely nothing compared to Moscow in nov, 2006.
They looked & sounded regular British Columbian Canadian. Perhaps a little bit more American accent. Definitely minus the fat & obese issue.

And so we took the excursions of glacier visit & Yukon territory visit.

The glacier was an incredible sight. Now I truly understand why it's called 'as white as snow'.
Not only white. It's blueish white. When we were on the helicopter, the snow covering the mountain top looked so smooth, I wish I was a giant able to sweep my hair through the snow. Snapped a lot of photos.

But the photos doesn't justify the beauty on sight at all.

We were encouraged to try the water from the river running through the glacier. Tasted so sweet. What is Evian, man!!!!!!!!

Yukon territory is in Canada. It's a territory on its own. Once again the snow is incredible. But some of them look so smooth they can be very deep. So we weren't allowed to go too near snow land.
However it's so weird that there was a desert in the middle of the snow covered territory.
Carcross Desert. It's officially the smallest desert in the world. I touched it. It was really warm!

But funnily, the whole feeling of the environment's temperature wasn't too cold. In fact, when I returned to Vancouver, I felt that it was almost the same temperature.

The cruise?
I think it's nice. We had balcony. When we had the very near encounter to the glacier, it was simply amazing.. No words could describe the beauty & enchantment of the sight & experience.

And we were so darn free, we ended up sitting by the coin slot machine waiting for money to drop. Well.. it did. Drop, slot in. Drop slot in. Lucky strike, drop a lot. We had USD10 from USD1. Small fry lah us. But it was really funny.
We both agreed that there is no luxury of casino else where in the world that we could sit there & wait for money to drop.
Oh I forgot to mention. The casino is literally empty. With almost 50 jackpots machine, only about 10players. With almost 10tables, only 5players.

I like the cruise. I don't know if I'd go for another cruise. In Asia, cruising was mostly for gambling. I guess there isn't appreciation of sight. But here, it's genuine relaxation & appreciation for beauty of nature.

I Don't Wana Go Back!

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Sun, 27 May 2007 12:50:00 +0000

Today's my last day on cruise. I enjoyed myself just being away in serenity, I really don't wana go back.

There aren't any of my company's staff here. No Singaporean here at all. No people with Singlish or Sg lingo.

People here are always minding their own business. Yet, there are warmth & calm mood filling the air the whole time during the trip.

I dread going back. Where to all the rush hour & hustle bustle belonged.

I'm so happy here.

First Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 00:50:00 +0000

Today is our first wedding anniversary.
We deliberately chose this date as this was the date we started our relationship 5years back.

I was surprised he wanted to celebrate our anniversary with quite a special way. We had a night at the JW Marriott at Orchard Road. We had our Krug brought there (I intended the Krug for our wedding, but didn't use).

We toasted to our celebrations on the eve of the anniversary quietly in our room. It was a small room but I like being on high floor. They had us upgraded to suite on 26th floor.

Abi, Happy Anniversary! I hope we have happily ever after life..

Parisian

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 16:41:00 +0000

Had my trip to Paris early this month.

I realized that either Parisians have improved helluva lot, or I had begun to understand them better.

They were universally known to be proud & rude people who'd refused to speak English although they can speak almost perfectly well. Not in those lousy French accent that Hollywood movies love to pretend & emphasize but decent English.

However, I don't know if it's because they had been trying to vie for the Olympic Games venue or they really decided to improve, but I found that they're noticeably nicer & more polite.
Of course, my friends who had tried learning French would always defend for their courteous manners & kind heart, especially those from suburb & rural.
But then.. who from suburb & rural aren't nice???

My recent trip, which involved heavy shopping (I blew my credit limit for the first time) & exclusive wine & dine was indeed a very pleasant trip.

To start with, the first meal in the city was great in the sense that they actually had English menu for us. Then the waiter took his time to explain terms that we might find unfamiliar. All happy & well.. food went ok. We ate & drank. We ordered bottle after bottle. So many bottles.. it caught up with some of us (lucky me was spared) the next day. When we talked about it over lunch the next day, I discovered that it was a total of 12 bottles!! The were 15 of us.

At lunch.. I ordered real beef tartar. We had a Greek guy in the group. He told me he'd like beef tartar just before heading for a ciggy break. WAitiers in Paris always asked if I knew what beef tartar is if I order it, seeing that I'm an Asian.
Well.. true to the waiter's surprise, the Greek guy gaped with shock when his meal arrived.

I was equally shocked, "I thought you knew!"
Greek guy: "I ordered beef tartar"
"This is.. beef tartar"
"I didn't know it's raw meat"
"...err.. Don't worry. It tastes like sashimi. Trust me"

Lesson learned: Never assume European knows everything about Europe.
Luckily he found it a good meal after all.

Oh.. back to PArisian.
I noticed: They won't tolerate impatience. They won't tolerate this thing they'd call "Rude" (by their culture).
While our culture, or in our fast-paced lives we aren't used to waiting patiently, they served customer one-on-one AND they would not divert or leave the customer untill the customer is all done. This can either be when the customer is done purchasing or is done enquiring. Before the sales person can excuse oneself, one would check that the customer had permitted one to leave when customer finally said, "THank you" or "I'm fine, thank you."

LV is still very much a famous brand. I was actually treated very well. No, thank you. Not because I looked like I'm rich, multi-million dollar, high-rised-hair Indonesian or shrieking Japanese. It just seems that they have finally learn to treat customers well.

Of course we must play our part.

In a regular pharmacy, I enquire lots of things. The poor pharmacist would not (could not) serve other until I release her. Well.. of course, my English isn't French. She patiently tried to decipher the name of the drug or item I told her. The other poor customer had to wait quite long, because they do not do multi-serving. This ain't Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong or China. This is Paris!
And the other customer really waited. I apologized for my hesitance. She pardoned me. This is their culture. This is their courteous manner.
WAIT TO BE SERVED. Do not skip queue or ever interrupt. They would never work like that.

And this is proof, that even when there was only one staff, so be it.

I learned this quite long ago, in fact. It's just that I thought it was because I was a yellow-skinned, that was why I had to wait. (You know.. some where, some people 'taught' us that yellow is inferior to white). But it didn't occured only to us, it applies to their own people too.

Well.. It has been kind of them to kind to us. Truthfully. We, proud Asians, who'd only speak English & our own mother tongues, never learn a single word of theirs (except for thank you), dared enter their country. Even the 'great' American (the best spender) would take up lessons learning the language before venturing the destination for holiday. Believe me. They do.

I have never really believe in learning a language I'd forget after the trip. Now I understand that it only shows that I have disrecpect them if I failed to do so. That is their culture.

France is the most visited country in the world. I don't think they do this merely to keep that spot.

Remember, many don't visit a country just because people there are nice(you would live there instead). They visit the country because they had a lot to offer.

France indeed does.

Mandarin & Han yu pin yin

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 18:57:00 +0000

I dislike it when people refer me by my Chinese name & try to disregard my English name.
First of all, my English name was finalized at birth far before my Chinese name. Hence, my Chinese name was 'created' for the sake of pleasing the older generation (my grandparents). My parents both were true Chinese illiterate & gave me weird name for my 1st Chinese name, Yen. I have always been addressed by my English name. My 1st name.

So, when people do that, I strictly feel that it's a disrespect toward me.
So much so that I condemned it by suggesting that I should really omit my Chinese name.

When my hubby found out that my friend recently named her baby without a Chinese name, he said it would be difficult in Chinese class, presuming that the baby would finally be receiving her education in Singapore. (Chinese is a compulsory 2nd language). That would be so sad for her. Not because she had to learn Mandarin/Chinese, but because there would be no condusive environment for her to learn Chinese. Both parents Chinese illiterate. So are all the four grandparents. So, what mother tongue are we exactly talking about?

I have always been against Mandarin education as I was brought up to believe such. Today I realized how Chinese education lead to so many auspicious believes: how they played with number 8, certain characters, numbers, births, dates etc. Because I remember how my poor aunty was rejected at birth because she's believed to bring terrible disaster to her family. Even her foster family returned her to my grandmother after few years believing that all the 'disasters' were brought upon them by her. Having no where to give her to, my grandmother had to keep her. She was always 'verbally' tortured, brought up to believed that she's not meant to be.
All that lead to low-self esteem.

She became someone's else's 2nd wife. Not legally. You know what Malaysia in the older days are like..

I may be exaggerating by bringing this into the picture. As I read the recent books I bought about Chinese culture & literature, I understand why Chinese believed the way they do.

Only surprisingly, they still believed in 'auspicious' & 'omen' after thousands of years.

Even as the society progress, when they have no answer to their misgiving, they turned to this for excuse. Without sometimes looking at their own behaviour & up-bringing.

Okay, culture aside.
I seriously dislike Mandarin because (I found that many people who learned Chinese/Mandarin as their primary language) I have difficulty understanding them when they speak English. They either speak with direct translation from Chinese (which is pure insult to either language) or they can't pronouce many words properly.

It takes few seconds to translate their pronounciations,.. as
b & p,
d & t,
g & k,
z & c are used totally confused from the master creator of the alphabets.
Besides, they somehow believe they can't roll their tongue to say R. Mostly the same 'species'.
Oh, it does drive me up the wall. (ANd now, they're affecting me TOO!)

German, Dutch, French, English, Portugese & Spanish may have use them differently, but the basics will stay. Only a few letters will change. Even with my Malay education background, English isn't a problem to me.

So who says anyone can't master two languages or more????

I have laid the rule that my children shall not receive Mandarin as their primary education for the fear of this problem.

So what(?!) that I'm of Chinese heritage? As far as I know, when my grandparents sailed out of China, they knew there was no turning back. Besides, both of them (sorry, all four of them) DO NOT SPEAK A SINGLE WORD OF MANDARIN.

Yes, with China booming, Every 'Chinese' all over the world are swarming in to learn Mandarin. But with Taiwan having a major influence, some may get caught in between as to which Mandarin to master (namely HongKonger). And with both China & Taiwan being loggerheads with each other, I doubt they'll unify the Mandarin usage. Imagine, American English, British English, Australian English & New Zealander English. All four English language countries, sometimes you can barely understand the other if you're familiar with one (excuse frequent travelers please). I'm not just talking about accents, but Pronounciations & grammer usage.

Well,.. back to people "Swarming In" to learn Mandarin. With so many people trying to enter the market, they'd be extremely proud. And when the society or market matures.. They'd be very judgemental.
Remember when people were so keen to learn Japanese?
People stop not because Japan became less popular. But because they are so proud of their language, if you can't speak it well, pls do no insult the language by speaking you menial Japanese.
Eventually, they learn English too.
The same is already happening for the Chinese.

Many Chinese are learning English. Their population is so huge, their society is advancing fast. Thinking about entering Chinese market? Now is your chance. DO it late, you''ll be scorned. For your lousy Mandarin. Remember, for you to be up to par with them, no matter how, your mandarin will never be up to their standard.
They will see you as 'hua-ren', but you are no 'Chong-kuo ren".

Call me stubborn. But I don't care. I can learn Mandarin for public's sake. But don't condemn me just because I'm have yellow skin. That is how 'English' students in Singapore gave up learning Mandarin. That is not challenging, that is oppressing. This leads to discourage.

My mother tongue is Hokkien.
My husband's mother tongue is Cantonese.
Mandarin IS THE national language of China.

You can never accused me of neglecting mother tongue.
Truthfully, I think people who can't speak their own dialect are the one neglecting their mother tongue.

I only neglect my ancester's national language. But they had decided that China is long past them anyway. I'm not migrating back to China. THey would never accept me anyway. Why bother?

Chinese New Year 2007

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 11:46:00 +0000

Sometimes I dislike Chinese New Year. All expectations & expenditures arise during the festive period.

This will be my first Chinese New Year as a married lady. My hubby will be away though. From 1st day to 6th day. I will be around on 2nd day. But ain't looking forward to it. I don't even feel like going back hometown. DOn't want to give ang pow for the first time without him around. So incomplete.

It isn't that I don't want to give ang pow. I think it's really fun. I was proud standing next to him when he had currency notes changed in the bank. We were talking about the amount to give closest relatives, relatives, friends & acquaintances.
'yan mo tou, hong pow to yu tou'

Now I am planning to work throughout the Chinese NEw Year to rid of the lonely feeling.

Heck with the CNY days itself. Now the preparation period is merry & jolly. However, certain businesses isn't pleasing.

I have always like to eat ba-kwa (dried meat). I would even buy it for consumption from time to time. However now is the busy time for the ba-kwa sellers.
I went to buy some today. Simply just want to eat it myself. I'm home alone for few days.

I don't know how cocky & weird people can get sometimes. I went to the stall yesterday. They snapped me off to tell me to queue. I queued awhile. I gave up. I see so many people working in the store but only one serving customers. One serve, one pack, one seal, one cashier. I think my nieces & nephew can do a better job. (They are 9, 6 & 3yrs old). What the heck???

This only happened during the season.

I went to buy today. Normally buying one packet takes about 2minutes. I didn't have to queue today. Yet, it took 10min. That's 1/5 of the regular productivity. Is the trick to make them cause queue to look famous? I counted 7staffs in the store. I shot a remark about the scene. She defended that it would be chaotic if everyone does the same job.
Take customers order of types & weight, wrap, pack & pass to cashier. Why is it chaotic?
The store is well secured & lined. & this is Singapore.
Chaotic is probably mismanagement & thef. I wonder what are their worries.

Duh..

Anyway, she took wrong order. I don't know if she doesn't understand Hokkien. Because I told her 'pua-ken' (1/2 kati). She packed half kilo for me.

Singapore.. Probably nobody will be able to speak their own dialect Hokkien after 20years. I wonder who are really the banana people then?

Chinese History

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 11:03:00 +0000

Meet my latest craze & interest: Chinese history.

I took interest since the multi-award movie Hero. The Great Qin ShiHuang 1st 'united' China. I would rather think of him as the one who 'formed' China.

Next was the drama of the beautiful concubines & their feud from the Qing dynasty (last dynasty of Imperial China): War & Beauty. I began to understand more. Turned out history isn't just about war, war, war & war.
I have always been more interested in cultural development & cultural revolution. Because, it is culture that builds charater. It is culture that makes us of what we are today. And it is culture that we behave the way we do.

I began my craze & ask my poor hubby so much question. I take as my Chinese encyclopedia simply for the reason of his Chinese literacy. i'm not kidding. His command in Chinese is very good.
Of course that doesn't mean he would know Chinese literature or history. But he has the basic knowledge better than anyone I can ask. Anytime. His father has an even greater knowledge, considering his Hong Kong background. But everytime he talks, I felt that I was listening to Cantonese literature instead. TAk faham.
And of course, that's where poor hubby came in as translator.

Recently having completed watching The Conqueror's Story (another HK TVB production). I directed even more question at details to my 'Chinese encyclopedia'. He gave up & told me to get some books to read about Chinese history. He went on to say that Chinese history is so long, I might have to read till 80yrs old and still might not finish them.

Now I would admit that my interest wouldn't last that long.

Asking question is the shortest route mah. Once he sent me off to evening nap so that he'd be left alone to watch the final Tennis match involving Federer. Too bad. I woke up at the last moments of the match.

Passed by MPH yesterday. Ah!!!! My luck! Illustrated book 'History of China from ancient to 1911'. Save all the physical description! Crown with beads.. Crown with bun. Whatever.. Just look at the pictures & read description of period & incidences. How nice.

Oh the names do drive me up the wall. I the Malay & English educated, can't make out of the Hanyu Pinyin words half the time. I'll probably be waiting for my 'Chinses encyclopedia' to be back for further clarification. But without the chinese characters, he'd stil be lost sometimes. That's the art of Chinese. To me. Chu & Chu are the same. Tell me about the strokes I would listen but keep my silence (thinking that it is Pluto language).

So.. for the moment I'm burying my nose into the 'comic'.

Fruit Frenzy

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 04:13:00 +0000

I thought having a trip to Adelaide is really bad after my 2 days training. It was really disappointing having to work so continously when my work is pretty much physical. I stayed up mighty late during the night of training to study.
Then I went ahead to work a 3 day work.

No joke, it was indeed easy but I was so exhausted. By the time I was back, I could hardly move a muscle. Just laze on my sofa. But damn.. gotta wait for hair to dry.

But.. it was a nice trip. A girlfriend & I went 2 Central Market in Adelaide shopping for fruits. See... I heard cherries are in season. I'd rush for my dearest cherries, regardless the price (they claimed it very expensive). Heck, I always go for Marks & Spencer cherries in London! Costing £3.99 per 400gm!

And so, we did our fruit craze. Knowing that we'd eat all the fruits alone, we still buy as though we could freeze them or keep them. I bought a good 1.5kg of cherries (sorry friends. I've been devouring alone. If you wana share, you gotta drop by Marine Parade Road!), 2 big mangoes (one is still in my fridge), 4 figs (Hell! I didn't know figs are so mighty expensive!!!!!!!!), a humongous avocado (also still sitting in my fridge) plus 4 big portobello mushrooms & 400gm big white mushrooms.

I could have finish the mushroom, if not for my lousy so-called-fantastic-branded-Smeg microwave which failed on me after few heat.

Fruits in ADelaide is indeed cheap. Some people would insist on Quenn Vic Makt in Melbourne, but it's such a distance & erratic timing makes it impossible.

Besides, we had a fantastic dinner at an Argentinian restaurant, Gaucho. The beef is absolutely... delicious. Even the bread (olive bread) is va va voom!!!! (No wonder they charge for the bread) Plus we were having a good time teaching a Caucasian colleague pronouncing Deborah(Nicholas Tse) ala Hong Kong style: Ti-Po-Lah. I said Ti-Po-Lah. And he went Ti-Po-LAAAHHHHHH!!!!

Oh.. To the guys, did I mention the girls in Adelaide are very pretty???
The weather was absolutely lovely! People.. very laid back, nicer(slightly) than any other city in Australia or New Zealand.

Maybe it isn't too bad working continously once in a while. With all the nice company & environment.

But I can't take it. I think I'm growing old. To my friends working in office, I take off my hat to you!

Me as "Teacher"

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 19:29:00 +0000

I had a trainee under me guidance 3days ago. He's a guy. 1st day he behaved pretty badly. All of us saw him as potentially-murdered-guy at our work in the near future.

True. I had the intention as I knew he would be under me the next day.
I guess he read my body language. That I wanted to 'kill' him.

But that wasn't what I did. I trained him well. I tried so hard. (Yet, I still need to do my job) I teached him so much that I have never been so exhausted after the 'easiest' project. Pardon me. It's taught. Not teached. See? I'm still drained after so many days.

He isn't an easy student/trainee. Receptive as he is, but he isn't too initiative. His 'high-&-mighty-character perceived' makes is all the harder. He takes as much rest he can in between when I wasn't even done. Even the supervisors were picking on him. They told me. Instructed me to tell him. ( ....)

Based on this exprience I seriously doubt I can be a teacher by profession. I gave him my all for the duration of the day's work. But I still think it wasn't enough.

All my colleagues thought I was very nice to him. I explained so many things to him properly.
But at the end of the day, I had to fill in his 'report card'.
He didn't want to talk me after that.

To Hear or Not to hear.. Listen?

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 19:17:00 +0000

I wanted to talk about my appraisal but didn't know how to get about to start.

My first appraisal this year. I'd have to admit it was good. Well.. my best so far. And it is from someone in the management instead of my direct supervisor.

I asked about my possibilities of job advances. He explained to me that I should be fine, along with many good comments that I was very good with customers & that I indeed have a great potential of a good leader.
Something very nice to hear.

Until the end of the day. When he handed the appraisal to me, he admitted that I was great, I was an ideal worker.. BUT I am not a role model.
??????

"There isn't fire in you! The enthusiasm & passion is dying." Heck, how did he see that (maybe he's angel in human form) when he just said all the best things that a staff could have????

"Be very careful. Because once the fire is off, it's very hard to reignite it."
True. Very true.

Frankly.. I have been demoralized on this job for so many years. And as the day passed, the more I feel the days I'm dragging my feet to work. Even when it's the project I most look forward to. No joke, being this tired, this "condemned", who wouldn't?
I'm only human.

Still.. why he bothered telling me?? Is it because I care? Or is it as he said; I have great potential & it'll be too bad to see it go to waste?

It was a nice day at work. Although.. I was quite shocked at the end.
But that's ok. I take it as.. he sees that I care to improve. In Which I do.

Driving...

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 18:42:00 +0000

I drove home from stadium last week. With hubby's guidance, I did reasonably well. Even at parking. We did some practice late night at deserted parking before that.

My 2nd experience: Yesterday to work. This is a different office compare to the one I always go to. The traffic was busy. I didn't do too bad. But when it was up-sloped, I almost went backward. Well, there is panic there.

My 3rd experience: AFter work. That was bad. I was so busy with concentrating & taking care of gear, clutch & staying within the lane, looking so far ahead... I almost missed the red traffic light. I almost gave my hubby a heart attack. He was so panic.

Right there, a friend called my hubby. He saw me driving. My hubby hurried the phone call fearing I'd be abandoned in the guidance.

Today, my friend teased me with his motion of me holding the steering wheel with shaking hands. I messaged him last nite: "Pls pardon my driving. Only 3rd solo. And..That's only after 3 refresher classes".

I didn't wana go for further refresher classes till I'm more comfortable handling the clutch & all. The uncle spend lots of time talking. I didn't quite get him. Bcos as my hubby guided me, I felt he makes driving easier. The uncle... typically Singapore education system... must have a formula to every skill. Shifting gear, stepping on clutch, left turn, right turn, up-sloped, parking..
He said this, my hubby said that. He insisted on this, my hubby relaxed on that. But my confidence raises with my hubby's guidance.

Today, we practice smooth stopping (braking), going up slopes & stopping at slopes (although I finally managed it, I still rolled back at times).

Wow... Productive practice. Happy.

Thank you hubby!

Do Unto Others As You Wish On You

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 17:00:00 +0000

Being away from my home country Malaysia for a such long time (almost 9years), I always love a trip back to Malaysia (preferably my own home town outskirt of KL) whenever I can.
The food is fantastic, people are fine (though might be ignorant at times) and environment are pure & less metropolitan.
My best friends & longest friends are from Malaysia.

Only that my parents had ways of making these trips seem hell instead. I had enough from work. I am tired. I wish I could take a break. As a kid, I always dream of going far away (as far as USA. Moreover, USA has every freedom & rights.)
I always got screamed at & scolded at for anything that will irk them.

When I cried, I had to hide from them, cause my dad hates kids who cry. He'll be running with a sharp-&-long-as-a-sword-kind of cane if I show sign of sobbing. However, due to my fear, timit & suppression, I did end up a cry baby. I'd cry when I got angry, when I fell helpless and most especially when I had the most pathetic self-pity.

I didn't like being born this way. IT was indeed a childhood nightmare. I felt that as a kid, I was deprived of so many things, of material things that I now ended up shopaholic because I felt that I never had anything as a kid. I love to buy things that I could never have in the past. I ended up dreaming so much because I never had the chance to experience much.
Which is why I love to travel. I could be far away. Far from all the problem, far from the people who depressed me.

I came back to a sibling's home to stay. You would think there isn't anything wrong staying in your own sibling's place. However, my folks would always discourage me from going to my brother's place. Saying that I'd trouble him, or his wife, or his children. My brother & I have a fantastic relationship. And my nieces & nephew adore my husband. I adore them a great deal too.
My mum has a great way of answering questions with questions. She also has a great way with questioning everything. Plus defining answers or statement in the most unexpected way. This is where you must believe that "What you say may not be what is heard".
While I have only one sibling to love & to care. Her generation has lots of siblings to hate & to rival.

I seriously do not understand.

Whatever happened to "Blood is thicker than water"?

We ended up hiding facts from her & some other elderly. Frankly, if some people learn that "Mind Your own business" is true, there wouldn't be so many problems in our lives.
We have problem at work place, worries for our children & their safety, care & aware of our future needs & providence. Even the government make lives difficult for us. Why do people want to create more problem in lives than there already are? Worse, by our own relatives or immediate family member?

I had to harshly tell my mum to reflect on herself. Of what she has made herself to look like. Why she has grandchildren who do not really want to be close to her. (I can't say that to my dad. Because he's a stubborn Stalin who would never listen or bend.) I do have personality problem myself. But I always had to do self-reflection. No matter how I fail ( I normally blame it on upbringing) but I had to try really hard to improve myself. And although I look like I have the dream job or easy job, it's a tough surviving world. It's no joke.

Many people said I'd mature after I get married. There is a truth to this. I somehow mellow down quite a bit. My husband has been really kind. He has been very tolerant & compromising. He leads me by example. And he try to comfort me by his love. He does pampers me. Now I feel that I must do him some justice.

As for my mum,.. she found out today I came home without letting her know. She complained that we behave as though she's dead. I answered her "We treat you as though you made our lives difficult. This is true. We don't think of you as dead but I did have my many moments where I wished I wasn't born at all". Then perhaps.. I wouldn't have to face all this. I wouldn't have cause all the problems & trouble I never intended.

We behave the way we behave because we just wanted to stay out of trouble. We just wanted to have peaceful lives & live life happy ever after. Now, would anyone let us?

BAd day at Work

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 21:43:00 +0000

I normally work on days per 'project'. My last work was a nine days trip. I have a reasonably good team of people. However, I had a nightmare boss for this particular project.

He is a slave driver. When our work was almost done, he made us go around with work again, leaving us no time for our meal. I find that an inconsiderate & mean. An at every beginning of the next day at work, he'll gather us & brief us about how we never reach his standard of performance. That is not only unnecesary, but also embarassing. We had to do this in public! Gathered in our uniform & had him talked down on us as though we are kids or criminals.
I seriously don't know if he chose to be blind or he is just setting an extremely high standard for himself. Our customers at most times were pretty contented. TO think that all he does was just point fingers & order people around. I had work with bosses who personally help us on our work.

We had to be so careful of our attire, work, behaviour & everything. For everything that we do, we got negative comments or reprimand by him.
One the first day, I was over confident because I had never failed (not even once) the past 3years. I had learn lots through the hard way (some easy ways) & I had worked with all my heart & might these years. Somehow, my effort was sabotaged by one specific silly girl (one describe her as extremely hard-working but all the things she does are SALAH wan) with her silliest effort at the most wrong timing. Thus a customer was extremely angry. It was actually a small matter.

But hearing this matter, the boss & my immediate superior blamed me without finding the truth. Basically I had to take e blame simply because I am so senior on e the job, I should have known better. Besides, I'm on the direct contact with the customer whereas the other girl was an assisting agent.

I was deeply upset by this. I had to apologize profusely to the affected customer. Made myself looking like a bloody shameful idiot, swallowing up other's mistake.
Boss was deeply upset. Cause this was only the first day.

I had no more chance to prove myself.
2nd day at work. I had massive gastric. Somehow I still show up for work, despite the inability to work. I had to finish this off. Not much of a choice. Otherwise..
I seriously believe I had the gastric attack due to my uncontrolled emotion. Yes, that was bad; How my emotion affected my health. I didn't know how it was possible. BUt I remember I was in one of the most terrible state of emotional mood since a long time. Yet, my sick condition irked him to his limit. We were down by one staff. Besides, I need taking care of. I was a burden.

My next immediate supervisor is a lazy fella. I really hate her. I don't understand how lazy can a newly promoted supervisor can be. Just stand around & watch people do things. That project, it was as though short of two effective co-workers.

THe whole work lasted nine days. The whole nine days .. was a torture.

When it was finally over, I had a teammate that sighed: Finally this is over!
I felt the same way. But was worse, I never looked more tired. I normally finished work looking as though I ready to start work. This time, people asked if I had a super rough day.

9 days. 9 days was normally a pleasant project for me, for all.
But this 9days was a torture.
I felt that this 9days was more like 90days. 90days in Alcatraz. No matter how you try to escape, you'll never succeed. And no matter you manage to run, you'll still die.

I had a bad day at work.
I was very down. I feel like leaving the job. Because I may work with half this people again.

Kiasuism?

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 20:21:00 +0000

When I arrived in the shore of Singapore 9yrs ago, I didn't feel to much of the kiasuism. Well not until I had a Singaporean boyfriend. It was a rather big adventure & experience. That's when I had personal encounter of Singapore's infamous Kiasuism. After that, I had all the visions of their Kiasuism. Call me racist, call me pessimist. But I'm really afraid of thise specific culture. I don't find it the least healthy.

I recently found out that a friend (who always complain she 'has no money') sends her only son, 5yrs old, to an extremely reputable childplay/nursery school. It costs a good price of just a little 1000S$.
My husband's friend sends his 3year-old daughter to another reputable playhouse/nursery at over S$500 per month.
I met a colleague who did the same, sent his youngest son to a kinderdargen costing over S$1100 per term.

WE joked that this cost more than our university under-grad tuition per year.

All these 'reputable' nurseries/playhouses are what they called top schools. They said that these age are the most important in fundamental education.

Now, what will happened to the children who are late bloomers? Or those not-as-well-off?
Are they doomed to be 'stupid'?

I remember I only entered formal education at the age of 6, into kindergarden. Oh yes, I was a lost kid. Didn't know what I was learning, didn't know what I was speaking. I seriously do not know if that makes any difference. (But frankly, I believe that lies more in my upbringing. My parent believed that if I want to, I would put in full effort) Yes, there were children much 'faster' than me. But after all these years, I did earn a good job, & my degree after all. I attained a degree late not because I was slow, but because I had to earn my tuition funds first.

Has society change so much to be so demanding? Where are all the fun in being a child? Where are the fun in growing up? In being mischievous? Having so much free time that you start doin nonsensical things or learning other things that aren't in the school syllables at all?
I was so free during my childhood days, I spent the days counting the countries in atlas & learned all the countries. Until today, I can place where each country is in the continent or which city belongs to which state/country. (I stopped Geography lessons at 16yrs).

While Malaysia refuse to do 'class streaming' at all, Singapore starts from as early as primary 4. It sounds as though you need to know what you want to do in life from as young as 9! (Streaming is based on previous year's performance)
I wish they could strike a balance.

I have always wanted to go back to Malaysia to raise my children simply for this reason. I remember my care-free childhood days. Or at least, it wasn't as stressful as what I'm hearing. It may so silly to think about avoiding all this by 'abandoning' my husband in Singapore just so that my children would live a 'normal childhood' lives.
People say I'm crazy because "Singapore has the best education system". However, I've come to believe that education does not lie only in the school, but at home too. I have met many well-educated & well-qualified people. No offence but, I'm afraid their parents might have forget to instill manners & humanity in their characters. Moreover, it's proven that well-educated/well-qualifed isn't necessarily intelligent. They just do well in examinations. Some may even have zero knowledge in areas out of their formal qualification, but they believe this is perfectly normal. I find it rather shocking. It's as though engineers will never know anything about accounting. And that, bankers will never know anything about aviation. They're too busy for hobbies.

I do find it sad that society is showing that education & manners have a negative correlation.

Competition is so stiff in Singapore. They have 'express stream' secondary education & 'normal stream'. My poor ex-boyfriend hid the fact that his was in normal stream until much later when I found out by doing all the mathematics. He was so ashamed by the fact that he wasn't in the express stream.

Society can be very judgemental, yes. However, I do not see being average as a crime. Because, brain & intelligence is defined in many, many different ways.

I've observed that society has mellowed down about this matter. But that's because this has become norm. Not a big deal anymore. But people work so hard to pay for such prices. They sometimes do not see the day outside the office. All just to earn the big bucks to pay all this price. So that their children can deserve the best. But is this truly the best? They spent weekends together shopping, holiday far away to luxuriously location & have the latest technology of toys & gadgets. But is this the best upbringing? I do not mean to judge this. I deal with public very widely. I've seen so many sort of upbringing (& behaviour). Some, I find are empty. Some, I find, are sad. Some, I find, are the pride of the nation. Some, I find, are heart-breaking.
Some are great, some are terrifying. It gives me a whole load of ideas of what sort of parent I wish to become.

Whether I can achieve it or not, I do not know. But I only hope for the best & joy in my children. That they would live life without regret or lost hope.

I do have my fear. I am afraid if my children will ever blame me for not sending them to better schools, or to less-stressed schools. I have no idea. I do not if Malaysia will also be entirely a safe place for children, given all the crime reports everyday in Malaysia.

That's why I'm delaying parenthood.

Greatest Culture of All???

noreply@blogger.com (Duh...) — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 11:39:00 +0000

Everytime I make a trip to overseas, no matter what, no matter how, I'd always find something rather interesting or shocking in the nation I visited.
I have been on my job for a good 8 1/2 years. Some people say it's been too long, some people say it's a waste of career opportunity, while some people envy me. Frankly, I don't really know what to think of the job I am in. It is rather devastating that I have never made any career advances during all this time. However, I have learned that career joy is what I choose to believe in. Success & achievement is how you grade it. People may be judgemental, but my life belongs to me.
I, after all, did not waste my life away.

I just came back from Osaka, Japan.
Japan, as many know, has always been the most successful nation in the world for a long long time. And, being there so many times, I have always understand the reason.
Everything about it is ever intrigueing. I love to shop in Japan. It's pretty silly to do only that when the country itself has so much to offer. Of course, I will never fail to enjoy gastronomy of Japan. The Japanese take pride in everything that they do, from serving food to providing accomodation and merchandises.
They, as we all known, were the only nation that provide staff to operate the lift in every departmental store, along with all the announcement(I don't understand a single word) & the bow (sometimes to 90º low) when all the customers jolly well knoe how to operate the lift.
And when you purchase something, every item is carefully wrapped & tied with the most beautiful packages that you may see in your life. When it's food item, sometimes, I do feel 'too sayang' to open up & eat it. When it's a consumer product, I feel 'too sayang' to throw away the packages after opening them. AFter all, they were made with care & pride.

I normally go out alone whenever I can. I can look & shop for as slow as I can. Walk however far my feet may take me.
In their culture, there is always bowing & constant responses, be it you the customer or the staff. I normally try to dress to the style of the nation & I get assimilated qutie easily (since I was alone) as I would bow like how they do to me. I would think it to be rude if they display such polite grace & I ignore it all. The only thing I can't do is to reply to all their "How may I help you? or What are you looking for? or perhaps #$%)O(I^(*&^% ??"

I have trouble finding products & places at times, I tried to ask strangers on the road, but it is very tough to get through to them is I speak regular English or if it is any term they are nor familiar with. But what impresses me the most is, although they couldn't describe it, they would seek every help they can or take me (personally) to the location I'm looking for. I asked an executive about Sogo, he walked me there. I asked Takashimaya, the young lady patiently walked me there. It may be near, it may be on their way, but remember, their pace of life is also very fast.
In our culture, some may say (Chinese has such saying), "You think I so free ah? Bring you there?!!??"

I was looking for this specific rum raisin biscuit of ROYAL brand. The pastry staff understood nut what I was trying to describe. She directed me to the information (walked me there) and would not leave my side until I permitted her to. And the information counter, the size of a working table, has at least 3 staff to help. When they couldn't understand me, they try ask another staff who may speak English better. Wow.. they never give up.
And the next lady, still try very hard to understand my point. I still did not find what I was looking for. Not because they couldn't understand me, but because indeed the specific brand is impossible.

After all the shopping, time to go back. I bought my ticket & went to the right platform. #2. I was shocked by the crowd. I simply stand waiting. But after 1min (good thing only 1 min!!!), I realized there is a formation in waiting for the train. They queue!!! 2 by 2, at each door of e train car. I can't see the indication, but heck, just followed the crowd.
I am so amazed. Where else in the world, have we seen such civilization?
My train arrived, I boarded. THen I noticed another: Each alternate queue line entered the train, while the rest waited again. THere is another train (to out-of-town) & they were another queue. Errr... luckily I went into the right queue (Phew!)

We were always to queue when entering public transport & to give up seats for the needy ones. But do we really practice as taught? Giving up seats is simple, as this is personal virtue. But queueing up still depend on public responses.

This is just a shopping trip. But it sure is an eye opening experience. A sight seeing trip indeed.