My mentor was on leave today. I ended up reading M5 the whole day. The only highlights of my day is lunch with two seniors, and sneaking to Amoy for dessert with another senior. This was not the first day I had to act busy at my current posting. However, today is the only day I did nothing but read the text in preparation for my examination in March. I am so tired of asking for work to do every day. At the same time, I feel bad that other in my workplace is probably getting "jealous" that I am paid to do nothing. I wish I could help but there's limited things for me to do. I know so little at the moment to be of much assistance to the rest in my department. What can I do?
P.S. I am attaining the highest level of how to appear busy when I am not busy. That's a technique I have mastered so far.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
For The Sake Of Beauty
The final cost for my dental will be SGD 5.5K. The dentist has suggested an alternative plan to a surgery of my upper jaw. The latter would have add another SGD 10-20K to the initial quotation of SGD 5K for the braces. This alternative plan will, however, mean a little sacrifice to be made. I shall not reveal what it is. It will be a little secret. Most importantly, I can finish up the whole treatment in a year or so. That would certainly help cut down the long and painful process of having the braces on. For the sake of beauty, I think any girl would be willing to fork out a huge fortune like me.
2009 will be the ultimate year to achieve the dream I had 11 years ago. At the same time, I am also counting down to the most important month of that year - September. That will be exactly two years from the day I start work. I have a bigger plan ahead then. I hope I can achieve that goal too in 2009.
2009 will be the ultimate year to achieve the dream I had 11 years ago. At the same time, I am also counting down to the most important month of that year - September. That will be exactly two years from the day I start work. I have a bigger plan ahead then. I hope I can achieve that goal too in 2009.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Study Time
I have to clear Module 5: Rules and Regulations For Financial Advisory Services within a month. That's the deadline set by my boss. Hence, I am taking my exam on March 12. I'm still less than halfway into the book. At the moment, I am still trying hard to remember whatever I've read. My memory has never been good. I normally have to work twice or thrice as hard as others to memorize things.
Meanwhile, I am planning to go for my braces. Apparently, my layout of my teeth is very problematic. The dentist quoted me $5K for the whole process. I think the cost would increase further given that my wisdom teeth are affecting the growth of my other teeth. I will probably have to go through surgeries to pull them out. Each teeth would probably make myself "quarantine at home" for two weeks. This may sound too good for many people (to have two months of medical leave with 4 wisdom teeth being pulled out). However, the most crucial thing is that I can't afford two months' of break with the current work status of mine. I have to meet up with the dentist and see if we could work out a plan such that I won't delay the plan to put on braces (since normally such process will take at least two years) and not resort to taking too many days off work. I really can't afford at this juncture. I will be doing a switch to another division in March.
Meanwhile, I am planning to go for my braces. Apparently, my layout of my teeth is very problematic. The dentist quoted me $5K for the whole process. I think the cost would increase further given that my wisdom teeth are affecting the growth of my other teeth. I will probably have to go through surgeries to pull them out. Each teeth would probably make myself "quarantine at home" for two weeks. This may sound too good for many people (to have two months of medical leave with 4 wisdom teeth being pulled out). However, the most crucial thing is that I can't afford two months' of break with the current work status of mine. I have to meet up with the dentist and see if we could work out a plan such that I won't delay the plan to put on braces (since normally such process will take at least two years) and not resort to taking too many days off work. I really can't afford at this juncture. I will be doing a switch to another division in March.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Naturally Careless
After a session with my department head, I am handed more assignments to do these days. However, I am still relatively unfamiliar with the documentations. And I am given my first "hanko" rubber stamp with your name engraved on that is used in many Japanese firms). Now I must stamp on every documents I've processed, which represents that I've undertaken responsibilities to check through any details stated in the documents.
Perhaps I'm born naturally careless. Despite numerous checks, I still continue to make mistakes. I think my mentor is not very happy about my current performance. I think she has already formalized a bad impression of me. This is really a bad start! I have to really "watch my back" (literally, that phrase applies to my situation where my whole division is sitting behind me again). This department is one of the worst gossips area. Everyone is watching over you. A very high political risk region.
I met up with my Venezuela teacher that day. She gave me some good pieces of advices about work life. I might have to heed her advices in order to survive in the department. Stay focused at work! I will have to be extra careful with my own work (especially those I need to "hanko"). Then I have to "open one eye, close one eye" to the things around me. People might stabbed you without you knowing, even those whom you treat you as friend. But you can choose not to backstab them at all. Stay clear of such risks! Colleagues are colleagues. Concentrate on giving your best at work and hopefully they will finally change their bad perceptions of you to good ones.
P.S. As of date, one of the graduate trainee colleagues has already decided to tender and grab a better opportunity out there. That means 11 of us from the programme are left currently. I presume more will soon leave too.
Perhaps I'm born naturally careless. Despite numerous checks, I still continue to make mistakes. I think my mentor is not very happy about my current performance. I think she has already formalized a bad impression of me. This is really a bad start! I have to really "watch my back" (literally, that phrase applies to my situation where my whole division is sitting behind me again). This department is one of the worst gossips area. Everyone is watching over you. A very high political risk region.
I met up with my Venezuela teacher that day. She gave me some good pieces of advices about work life. I might have to heed her advices in order to survive in the department. Stay focused at work! I will have to be extra careful with my own work (especially those I need to "hanko"). Then I have to "open one eye, close one eye" to the things around me. People might stabbed you without you knowing, even those whom you treat you as friend. But you can choose not to backstab them at all. Stay clear of such risks! Colleagues are colleagues. Concentrate on giving your best at work and hopefully they will finally change their bad perceptions of you to good ones.
P.S. As of date, one of the graduate trainee colleagues has already decided to tender and grab a better opportunity out there. That means 11 of us from the programme are left currently. I presume more will soon leave too.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Friends Or Foes
I quoted this from a friend's blog...
"When friends lie or disappoint me time and time again,
I get a little tired.
But I still go along with them,
Accept the lie,
Continue listening to their mistakes,
Struggle to be unaffected by the hurting words, actions, decisions,
Just because i want to be there for them."
I admit I am slow in observing things happening around me. I don't jump into my own conclusion till I have enough concrete evidences. However, it hurts to know that someone you treat as friend hasn't been telling you the truth again and again. He/She has to repeatedly tell more lies to cover the first lie he told you.
Friends or foes? Honestly, I rather make one more friend than one more enermy. However, I really have no more courage to accept him/her as a friend whom I can trust anymore.
On a happy note, I finally understand what has been going around me. I also found out who has been real to me these days.
"When friends lie or disappoint me time and time again,
I get a little tired.
But I still go along with them,
Accept the lie,
Continue listening to their mistakes,
Struggle to be unaffected by the hurting words, actions, decisions,
Just because i want to be there for them."
I admit I am slow in observing things happening around me. I don't jump into my own conclusion till I have enough concrete evidences. However, it hurts to know that someone you treat as friend hasn't been telling you the truth again and again. He/She has to repeatedly tell more lies to cover the first lie he told you.
Friends or foes? Honestly, I rather make one more friend than one more enermy. However, I really have no more courage to accept him/her as a friend whom I can trust anymore.
On a happy note, I finally understand what has been going around me. I also found out who has been real to me these days.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Show No Indications
I went to a friend (Mr. Y) 's house for a mini potluck gathering. The rest used to be classmates. I went in the name of a special guest in a way because I know all of them, but I was only in the same class as some of them (not on close terms though). Mr. K was there too. He was probably the closest friend there for me.
A few of us stayed for mahjong session. I was dragged along to play with the promise I will be sent home. (^^,) We played one full round (that means going through all the 4 winds). In the end, Ms. J won $11, and made herself the ultimate winner. This time I managed to win $1. Apparently, this was not as stressful as the last time I played with my colleagues, who are apparently all mahjong experts.
After the mahjong session, as promised, I was sent home by Mr. K. He looked really tired, driving less than 60 km/h on the way back. He tried asking me if I want to go for MacDonald with him so he can grab some coffee to keep him awake for the ride back. Eventually, I gave up ignoring his persistent requests (I turned down a few invitation from him yesterday). I went for my hotcakes at a 24-hour fast food restaurant near my house. I think I only returned home at around 6 a.m. and get some sleep. However, I woke up at 10.30 this morning. I haven't had enough sleep for the last consecutive nights. I must start replenish my sleep soon.
A few of us stayed for mahjong session. I was dragged along to play with the promise I will be sent home. (^^,) We played one full round (that means going through all the 4 winds). In the end, Ms. J won $11, and made herself the ultimate winner. This time I managed to win $1. Apparently, this was not as stressful as the last time I played with my colleagues, who are apparently all mahjong experts.
After the mahjong session, as promised, I was sent home by Mr. K. He looked really tired, driving less than 60 km/h on the way back. He tried asking me if I want to go for MacDonald with him so he can grab some coffee to keep him awake for the ride back. Eventually, I gave up ignoring his persistent requests (I turned down a few invitation from him yesterday). I went for my hotcakes at a 24-hour fast food restaurant near my house. I think I only returned home at around 6 a.m. and get some sleep. However, I woke up at 10.30 this morning. I haven't had enough sleep for the last consecutive nights. I must start replenish my sleep soon.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
First Posting Week
I owned an assignment to my mentor from the last internship. I had no choice but to "moonlight" to complete the work. At the same time, I must learn to be diplomatic this time, so I did not dare to tell anyone from my current department. I secretly finished up the paper and finally finished up the paper on Wednesday.
I had a mentor attached to me for two weeks. Basically, she will teach me the various products and how to process their application whenever she has some time to spare. After the brief lesson, she will give me some new assignment to try out. Most of the time, I can knock off very early. However, I am still trying to get used to that because I hate being the first to go home when my whole department is still around.
Anyway, I was glad I joined my division (there are currently 3 divisions in my department, with the 4th coming up soon) for a dinner event. We went to this Japanese restaurant for dinner. I would say the dinner was an informative session for me. I discovered who are their common targets within the division and within the department. In addition, I also get to know some information on my various Japanese bosses. I won't try scolding them in Mandarin because a few of them can understand and speak the language. After dinner, we went to St James. Most of the locals sneaked home. As the lowest status ranking officer, I went with them and only reached home close to 1 a.m. The next morning I nearly overslept again.
Yesterday I went out with some university friends after work to Geylang for some steamboat. Along the way, we saw many "ugly sight of life". Or put it in a nicer way - "the real side of life in Singapore". We see people peddling drugs, selling smuggled cigarettes, and feel many eyes of the guys on us. We decided to go for KTV session after dinner, but the place was fully booked. We decided to head down to Loof for some drinks.
I had a mentor attached to me for two weeks. Basically, she will teach me the various products and how to process their application whenever she has some time to spare. After the brief lesson, she will give me some new assignment to try out. Most of the time, I can knock off very early. However, I am still trying to get used to that because I hate being the first to go home when my whole department is still around.
Anyway, I was glad I joined my division (there are currently 3 divisions in my department, with the 4th coming up soon) for a dinner event. We went to this Japanese restaurant for dinner. I would say the dinner was an informative session for me. I discovered who are their common targets within the division and within the department. In addition, I also get to know some information on my various Japanese bosses. I won't try scolding them in Mandarin because a few of them can understand and speak the language. After dinner, we went to St James. Most of the locals sneaked home. As the lowest status ranking officer, I went with them and only reached home close to 1 a.m. The next morning I nearly overslept again.
Yesterday I went out with some university friends after work to Geylang for some steamboat. Along the way, we saw many "ugly sight of life". Or put it in a nicer way - "the real side of life in Singapore". We see people peddling drugs, selling smuggled cigarettes, and feel many eyes of the guys on us. We decided to go for KTV session after dinner, but the place was fully booked. We decided to head down to Loof for some drinks.
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