Sunday, January 30, 2005
6:48 PM

Ubin~

Me, Jingwen, Shuying, Meiting, Hui Hui & Zhemin went to Ubin earlier to cycle ard Ubin. Went to Tian Chi and juz stood at the quarry and started admiring the little fishes and terrrapins in the water. We fed them with bread. Those animals are really so cute!!!

Then sat at the hut beside the 1st sluice gate for a coconut drink and ate my lunch, which was nasi lemak packed from Changi Village. As I ate the 4 dogs started crowding ard me and panting and licking and looking at me with pitiful stares. So after eating the chicken wings, I gave the 3 joints to the 3 dogs. I was rather amazed at the fact that they did not snatch the bones from each other and were so obedient. But they seemed so hungry that they crunched the bones once i threw it on the ground. The poor 4th dog seemed despondent after the other 3 dogs got their bones, and juz went sadly away. Sorry doggy, chicken wings only have 3 joints each.

Went to the campsite at NPCC. Wah... No more ruggedness of the past when we got dirty at the mud bath and pitching tents using rocks rather than the pegs themselves. There was a campfire ring there n proper benches... In a way it was juz like a usual camp. I felt it lacked the uniqueness of HCJC OAC camp, which was usually purposely rugged and ill-equipped. Well, lucky there is 9-day OBS. But then again, 30th din go for the 9-day course. So, dunno to laugh (cuz jnrs r getting more n more hygienic) or cry (because jnrs r getting less rugged)...

Ubin Madness!

cUte tErrApiNs

Tuesday, January 25, 2005
10:43 PM

Today...

Not feeling good today... juz tired, dead beat...

I know that isn't gonna be a welcoming place, but I'm going for it for the experience. I hope I have not made the wrong step.

4th Feb will be my last day in HSBC.

Friday, January 21, 2005
11:05 PM

A Stranger...

On bus 700A on the way home, this guy got on the bus den kept looking at me b4 sitting down beside me. After he sat down le still kept looking at me. I thot that he prob found me familiar or wad.. at first i thot i was supposed to noe him oso. Felt a bit uncomfortabl so i juz looked out of the window.... den suddenly he spoke in mandarin to me la... he said "hi miss", held his hand out and said "i'm alvin". He said he's 21 n from NTU studying Acc. Den he asked me where i was from & asked whether i'm afraid. I said no... & told him working now, waiting to go uni.

He asked wad method did I use to study, and den he said he's a bit autistic n he wants to overcome it. Then he asked me whether i can teach him how to "zuo ren". At first I was a bit shocked... den i calmly asked him "wad do u mean". Den he told me his prob lo.. den he had been whiling his time in school n did not make the most of his life and that he had no life basically. He said that other pple were humorous and smart and streetwise and that he wanted to be like the others... to be sharp n accepted in pple's social circle...

And den he kept on talking n talking...

Basicallly tink he wanted me to help guide him how to be accepted socially lo...

He kept emphasising that he's like a kid... he doesn't like to use his brains too much n take things superficially. In other words he not streetwise and tootsy and sheltered... Like no life... only mug n mug... memorise things when he dun even understand the stuff in the books and notes. Anyway he used to be from Chinese High and NJ...

Told him to relax.. dun keep suspecting that pple feel that he's lousy n blah blah... He asked me how to be a bad guy. Said I'll not encourage anyone to learn to be bad cuz there'r more nice than bad pple ard in the world. Besides being nice to a bad guy may make the person feel bad and treat him better... Told him that I felt that wad we studied in sch dun seem to be able to apply in the future, but we have to do well for the future. It's a step we have to take even if we dun like it. Told him to be more willing to take up challenges so he'll eventually find something that he likes and will den find life is meaningful. Advised him not to be afraid of failure, for it's when one fails that one learns most...

In conclusion... he confided in me cuz I'm a total stranger and that he'll not see me an hour after that. He was desperate to change his life and he din want to be the childish guy that he used to be. He wanted to be useful, capable, popular, fun, and basically normal. He wanted to be successful in the future, no longer the tootsy like he used to be...

Well... I wish him all the best...

Thursday, January 20, 2005
10:48 PM

Dilemma

That time i actually sent out 14 resumes thru emails so that I could maximise my chances of getting a job. Then 3 in all got back to me. First was the legal firm, 2nd was the entertainment firm, and now The Learning Lab. Went for the interview today. Wanted to find out more about the job. The boss actually interviewed me personally. He's very nice, very gentlemanly. Had a pretty good "chat" and he walked me out after the interview. He said he was impressed, so I'm pretty flattered.

Juz called me up to tell me they'll accept me. Sounds sincere. Think i'll have good prospects there since in the first place the boss is impressed. So told them I most prob can join only after Chinese New Year. But think after this I wun be job-hopping le. Haha... enuf of floating ard. But still considering cuz this is at Novena. Gotta change bus to Newton den change train. Train all the way is too far. Both sides got friends. HSBC more renowned, but too specialised that it seems boring and mundane at times. The Learning Lab treats us as interns, so we learn while working, which is great. Like the professional outlook and treatment though it's an enrichment centre. Pretty big and reputable one too.

So I've got to make a choice here le... Heez...

10:25 PM

Typical Day At Work

0640

Alarm clock rings
Wash up
Eat breakfast
Bathe

0740

Rushes to the bus interchange to try to catch the first bus.
If first bus, may need to stand.
If second bus at about 0800, reach at 0840.

0830

Reaches on time.
Look thru files that I have to call up clients.
Check the fax machine for documents attn to me.

0910

Time to make my first call. Before this, it's too early to call pple up.
Call clients for details missing from their application forms, or fax documents required for the application.
Call somemore and receive more fax.
Receive more applications for QAS (ie. for me to call).
Spoke Mandarin to clients who can't speak English. Had to translate words like "Application Form", "car loans", "computerised payslips", "CPF", "details", "company", "income"& "fax".
Receive fax attn to "Huifen", "Huifeng" or "Huisen". Some of them probably thought I'm the boss, since HSBC is hui feng yin hang.
Get kb-ed by some clients or car sales agents.
Call to remind forgetful ones to fax.
Call to request blur ones to refax a correct and acceptable doc.
Explain why the application is not as easy as expected, why certain docs are considered as unacceptable.

1200

My frens will come over to ask me for lunch. Either Meridien or PS.

1300

Return to office.
Resume job.

1800

Official time to knock off.
But usually can't since table will be stacked with forms.

1930-2000

More or less clear the pile.
Pack up and leave.

2130

Reach home.
Bathe.
Eat dinner & fruits.

1030

Dry hair.
Wash clothes.
Iron clothes.
Pack bag.
Sleep.

Saturday, January 15, 2005
9:23 PM

Filial Piety

Talk about filial piety.

About weeping loudly during funerals.

About making wakes and rituals grand.

Spend as much as u can.

And wail when the show starts.

Then the forgetful ones start playing mahjong

And cards as if to dispel grief.

9:04 PM

Weekend

Friday

Today, my colleague who is an adult and waiting to open a business praised me that I am the most capable out of the youngsters there. I mean, most pple go there to play a fool la, to work more OT and earn more money. Most imptly I wanna learn more in the job la. I dun want to be slacking my life like that. So actually tink I most likely try to request for a rotation of my job in the company or look for another job to gain more experience... See first oso la. Anyway, not that I din learn much in this job. At least I learnt how to handle certain pple who appear nice on the surface but are not. Gosh. Office politics sia. A bit er xin la.

Was at the bus stop, about to go home from work and Jiahui called me to go for gathering. She told me Jessie is going to treat. I was thinking who was Jessie. Haha... So it was Peishan. So glad to see her after such a long time, since she had been studying in Australia. Met them at Paragon Thai Express, and Jiahui, Peishan, Huimin & Jiehui were there. Called Mel and she came over to meet us! haha... =)

Saturday

Started work at 1030. Worked 7 hours today. Today tried to retire from calling so much. So they called the clients to get stuff we need to get... While I did more of the data entry. yepz... later went to Shuying's house to get geog notes for my sis. Zhemin and the 2 nanrens were there too... watching this pretty cool cartoon.. =)

Thursday, January 13, 2005
10:56 PM

oopS...

called up this person, said "good evening" when it's supposed to be morning.
Kai Jing thought I was 20+ adult le... diao.
said bye to my friends anddin see where I was walking and knocked into the pillar.
enter the lift and as I stepped, my heels fitted to the gap of the lift entrance, and I looked silly.
pulled open the glass door to the linkway to the mrt station and used too much strength that the door slammed into the dustbin. A lady and a guy behind me were taken aback and hesitated to enter thru the entrance. I dared not look back.

Wanling was saying though it's 13th but it's Thur not Fri. Well.. maybe juz a stupid silly day for me.

Celebrated Wanling's bday at Pastamania at Cineleisure with Tze, Sophia and Fenniu. Haha... Quite lame la today. Sophia was late as usual. Gave Wanling a musical photo album. Told her I made it myself and she actually believed it. Tze gave a kaleidoscope and a cutesy notepad. Really enjoyed the evening with u all!

Happy 19th Burfday Wanling!

Wednesday, January 12, 2005
10:32 PM

A Fast One

4 days working in HSBC. Gosh.

Mon: OT till 6.45pm before I met Jazreel and Mel.
Tue: OT till 8pm. Ate dinner at 9+
Wed: OT till 8.45pm. Ate dinner at 10+

Conclusion: No life. But at least tmr gonna celebrate WL's bday with her! yay~

*Miss ya ...

Sunday, January 09, 2005
5:13 PM

Work Out...

Today went to MacRitchie Tree Top Walk with Tze, Soph, Shuyun & Zhengwei. Soph was late by 1/2 hr! Already warned them that the route there isn't as short as imagined. In total we walked abt 10k ba i tink, for 3+ hrs. Then I oso warned Soph n Shuyun to wear at least sandals n no flip-flops... Aiyoh... poor Shuyun was splashed with mud on her legs, butts and bag, cuz she was wearing flip-flops. The whole route there wasn't very muddy except for this part near the golf course. Then, Zhengwei and Soph were complaining abt the length thruout the whole trip. Well, no pain no gain rite? But then actually the view at the bridge wasn't as picturesque as they expected ba i tink. Basically the whole route we were juz walking n walking, climbing n climbing lo.

Zhengwei dared me to say "yoyoyo" to the next angmoh that comes running towards us. And obviously i took up the challenge. It was chicken feet manz! The guy appeared stunned according to Shuyun. So got a lunch treat from ZW. Muahaha... As a whole tink the trip was rather interesting la... Not that we were high-spirited thruout, but was juz stopping to look at the reservoir view, at terrapins and being juz plain crappy, esp Zhengwei la... Kept niaoing Shuyun abt Yanxi.

Later took a bus to Toa Payoh. Wanted to eat the renowned Bah Chor Mee, but had to wait for 45 min!!! So in the end walked all the way to Central to eat at the food court. Soph only brought a $10 note, so only asked her to treat us to Ice Kachang.

Now basically slacking, and juz waiting for dinner. Tmr gotta start work again...

Saturday, January 08, 2005
6:16 PM

1st Day of New Job

Yesterday was the 1st day of work. Started work at 8.30am. Met Huilin so I could enter the workplace, since I do not have the card for access to the office yet. There were many temp staff over there, so felt at home in the office. It was dress-down Friday, so every one was so casual, while I was in long-sleeved shirt and long pants with heels. Some were casual to the extent of wearing mini skirts, 3/4 pants, racer-back, halter and spag tops, as well as flip-flops. Can't imagine that rite? But I was told by Huilin that usually the attire there isn't exactly very formal too.

I don't belong to any section in the department yet, but yesterday helped out by calling certain workplaces and clients. For me, I don't mind making calls, but some of my colleagues don't really like making calls. Luckily I'm pretty bilingual, so I was able to speak in mandarin to some of the clients, while Ken, from AC, had to pass all the mandarin-speaking ones to me. Counted cheques and tallied information too. In comparison, my previous job was definitely tougher. Had to multi-task and figure out how to do things all by myself in the past. Was actually left to survive on my own in the past, since pple were too busy to constantly guide me thru. This time, the job is much easier and straightforward. When I faced problems with the clients, I could readily consult Debbie, the other temp worker who already worked there for a mth. So she was pretty experienced yeah.

That morn, Markhan, the legal firm I went to for an interview as junior secretary, called me to ask me to report for work. Quite puzzled as to why they had to take 4 days to get back to me. So I frankly told her that I have got a job le. Din bother to ask the pay and wadeva, since I dun intend to job-hop from HSBC to Markhan, since this job is pretty gd le. Besides Markhan is at Cecil Street, so it's quite far. At least HSBC is so accessible!

Din do OT today, though it's $9/hr, since I arranged to meet Wanling for dinner at coro. It was oso Wanling's 1st day of work at Jurong Port. Ate at Prince with wl, Chia Yuen and Jenson. Then saw Ou Xuan at Prince. Gosh, the stupid Chinese High kids were there staring at her. I bet the guy she was with (highly likely her bf) was tempted to gorge their eyes out. Tink Ou Xuan was quite annoyed la... Anyway she looks the same as on TV la. Her makeup was quite thick u noe. She's not very tall oso, and 2 SC gals ran after her for her autograph. Wl was saying bad choice to come on Fri night when many students hang out there.

Went back to HC for campfire. Tze, Soph, Shuyun, Fenniu, Huihui, Meiting, Sanmei, Jingwen, Nini and Peigeok went too. Sang the reminiscent HC songs and danced HC mass dance too. But since I was still in working attire, I was perspiring profusely, so stopped dancing after the 3rd dance. It's pretty fun to juz hang out with the OAC frens... =)

Thursday, January 06, 2005
8:46 PM

New Job...

ok... today went to send JZ off to his BMT... haha... okie... so he's botak by now... the tour is the almost the same as the tour I went 2 yrs ago... yepz... he's in Hawk company as were the rest of the guys who went in the morn... yeah... den had lunch there too... the food not too bad la... but I bet the guys will tink that the food is damn nice la...

Trisha from Kelly Services called me today to tell me about the job at HSBC. So after that, went to Int'l Plaza to find out about the job and sign documents. So, yepz... I got the job at HSBC, as admin clerk, situated at The Atrium @ Orchard, which is at Dhoby MRT. Good cuz it's very accessible and it's a job in a bank which is what i'm most interested in. Besides, heard there r many temp staff there, mostly students, so i'll have company. It's a big company, so it'll reflect well when I apply for scholarships, universities, internship, attachments and jobs in the future.

But then the pay is pretty low cuz of CPF contribution. But it's enuf for my expenditure, and at least ensures that I dun spend too much. It starts pretty early, at 8.30am, till 6pm, and expected to work overtime, since it's peak season nowadays.

Okay, at least I dun idle around so much, and has a job to occupy myself now... =)

Tuesday, January 04, 2005
10:50 PM

Friends Forever

Vitamin C - Graduation

And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives
Where we're gonna be when we turn 25
I keep thinking times will never change
Keep on thinking things will always be the same
But when we leave this year we won't be coming back
No more hanging out cause we're on a different track
And if you got something that you need to say
You better say it right now cause you don't have another day
Cause we're moving on and we can't slow down
These memories are playing like a film without sound
And I keep thinking of that night in June
I didn't know much of love
But it came too soon and there was me and you
And then we got real blue
Stay at home talking on the telephone
We'd get so excited, we'd get so scared
Laughing at our selves thinking life's not fair
And this is how it feels

1:
As we go on, we remember
All the times we had together
And as our lives change, come whatever
We will still be, friends forever

So if we get the big jobs and we make the big money
When we look back now, will our jokes still be funny?
Will we still remember everything we learned in school?
Still be trying to break every single rule
Will little brainy Bobby be the stockbroker man?
Can Heather find a job that won't interfere with her tan?
I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly
And this is how it feels

Repeat 1

La, la, la, la; yeah, yeah, yeah
La, la, la, la, we will still be friends forever

Will we think about tomorrow like we think about now?
Can we survive it out there? Can we make it somehow?
I guess I thought that this would never end
And suddenly it's like we're women and men
Will the past be a shadow that will follow us round?
Will these memories fade when I leave this town
I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly

Repeat 1 x3

1:16 AM

Juz A Thot

Feel so full now, and broke after eating Fish n Co with Barkers...

Really miss the times in 9-Day OBS... Miss the outdoors...

Saturday, January 01, 2005
3:18 PM

.: New Year :.

So fast... Using adult fare... No longer a HC student officially... neither here nor there... Honestly, sometimes i feel a bit lost... And I really look forward to all the outings with friends... =)

Here'r my New Year Resolutions...

Be a friendlier person. Cuz when i'm friendly to pple, pple will be friendly with me n other pple (hopefully), and the world will be a better and more pleasant place to live in...
Continue to be a motivated person... I shud continue to exercise and not let my muscles "waste" away...
Be a more caring person, so that I can show pple that I care and not always care silently, and let pple misunderstand me... But this is the hardest flaw i've got to overcome...

My biggest wish for the new year for there to be WORLD PEACE... haha... well... we all noe that's almost impossible... When there's no terrorism, there'r natural calamities, or civil war, or cold war. Juz hope the world will be a better place to live in. There's no need for advanced technology and intelligence or over-serious population planning, juz friendlier nations and less schemes... Let it be, let it be, let it be... Y be so serious...