At work...

I am officially at work now, but actually, I have nothing to do for most of the time. I am paid $8/hr do sit at the counter and do my own stuff. This is really one of the best part-time jobs I will ever have in my life, hehe.. even though it’s a Saturday, I think its worth my time. Was reading ‘Confessions of an Economic Hitman’, but wanted to take a break, so I decided to blog, using the reception computer.

People, book more weekends functions ok? I love to mend the counter during weekends, haha.. maybe because I have no life, plus I think its real good money. I also can focus on my readings and not really slack around. Hope can do this job more often, haha…

Exams are over for me, and I am taking time to earn what I did not during the last long holidays. Will not be really earning a lot, but its still my own well earned money, so I am fine with it. For people reading my blog, enjoy your days ahead!!!

Busy...

Super busy. I realized that my workaholic life is going well and strong, but my body is not. My mind is all right, but sometimes it’s not really clear from the lack of sleep I get. Also, I do reach a certain level of ‘highness’ easier due to my lack of sleep as well. Having a lot more commitments, and I think I might be breaking my limit to host all of them soon. Till then, everything will depend, especially depend on how I use the cliché word of ‘prioritize’. That might come sooner than I hope it to come.

Got 2 of my e-paychecks. Not a lot of money. That’s not everything. However, that’s one of the focuses in my life. Love is still a big part in my life, but as usual, romance is always ‘sold separately’ in my ‘package of love’, and I always can’t seem to get one. In fact, saying this again, I think that’s a part that I would never get. I am glad that my friends have meaningful relationships. Maybe 0.00001% of this world population is those that are not cut out for relationships. No matter how small is the percentage, I am very thick-skinned to regard myself as one of the very rare minority.

Maybe what I said might not make sense. That’s because I sleep at very weird timings. Sometimes a lot, sometimes very little. But certainly not as deprived as some of my other friends. I just daze and get blurred more easily, and I need normal hours of sleep. Objective, maybe I am jealous, hehe… Real sorry if I am such a bastard. I am not good enough to remove all of my weaknesses yet. In fact, I am not good enough for anyone yet. Certain words I make seem to have a warp rhetoric connotation, as though I am inviting consoles of “you-just-have-not-met-the-right-one’ type of concerns. I have nothing against them, but I am not looking for those. Neither am I really looking into a relationship nowadays. So troublesome get into one, and its harder to get out of it if you are sick of it. Sounds like joining a triad. I think the lack of sleep has just gotten to my head. So why am I still wasting time blogging? I think that’s because my confused thinking have made me prioritize blogging over readings my readings. Truly, my head is light now…

Now back to my readings.

Lost count at 5

Yesterday after work, I went out with 2 married ladies for dinner. They invited me along, so I took up the offer. It’s quite rude to turn down ladies when they ask you for dinner right, especially when one of them is your immediate superior. It’s still very different talking to 30plus year old ladies and with ladies that are turning 20. Not that the latter is not mature enough, but just that the topics with the 30 plus year old ladies are quite novel to me. Well, I do not really hang out with such mature ladies.

It’s really a taboo to ask ladies their age. Not that I was stupid enough to ask them. They wanted to ask me for my age, but they quickly told me to pretend that I did not hear that question, so that I would not ask them the same question. I told them I learnt basic courtesy one, and that I know I should not anyhow ask ladies how old they are. They laughed.

Learning office ethics too. But I do not know how to return money when my superior’s superior buys drinks. As in she does not say she treats, and I hear that they do return her the money individually, but I keep on forgetting to return her the money. Next time I get to see her would be next week. By then it might be too late to return her right?

Too tired to carry on. When I have energy I will do so.

Day 4-When work is fun...

Another day of work. Will be working on Monday again. Not bad. I will get to work every Wednesday after next week’s work on Monday. Meaning I will work and study at the same time. Only once a week for this job. Today, I am alone with all the ladies. Saw some office politics, but it seemed to unroll rather frivolously. When it comes to work, I am used to be under a lady. From my Army days, to my Advent sales promoting job, to this current task, I am all under ladies. I think I am ok with this not so recent social re-construct.

Today’s work is more monotonous. Did lots of filing. Clearing backlog is like that. 2 days of filing but I am still unable to clear all the stuff they gave me to clear. That’s why I am heading down on Monday. I guess that’s why they want me to go down thereafter once a week. It’s quite an important job actually, but it’s also the most tedious one. Its like us students need to keep our notes in place. Anyway, it’s a super big corporation less grand office in Singapore. However, I am contented with what I have. It’s considered quite a good paying job I would say, though being a university helper pays more. However, mixing around with a different crowd, getting to do other form of administration jobs is quite an interesting training for me too.

Work is great, as you can tell from it filling up blog. When a lady says I can ask her out to lim-kopi, is she hinting that I can ask her out? Haha… I wouldn’t think too much. I have more intensive thinking to go through.

Does anyone know that China has 7 Military classics manuals? I have read through a few of them, will be going through the infamous Sun Zi’s Art of War soon. Reading my notes I took down from my previous reads for now. Need to recap before school reopens. My faculty needs a lot of time for reading. Actually, it’s that I am not a very fast reader to be exact.

Day 3-Mature Lady Killer, hehe...

First day at work. It was quite boring. Finally understand what clearing backlog means. Clear all their filing stuff. Never did so much punching in my life at once. Paper punching that is. The ladies there were awesome people. Kind to me, my immediate superior actually apologized for the workload, commenting that she hope it would not scare me. Haha… She forgot I am paid by the hour, and that more work meant more money for me. All those documents filings are cash to me in a few weeks time.

Joined them for lunch today. It felt awfully like some of the meals I have in arts, a table full of ladies with only 2 guys, the other being the guy that introduced me to the job. Just that they were a tag more mature. Not bad, my hour lunch break was quite fun. We talked a lot, and laughed quite a lot. Did expect I was able to hang out with ladies that were generally older than my brother’s age. Our topics were quite interesting too, from Primary school entry woes of parents to plastic surgeons to gay issues. Never knew I could enjoy the company of more mature women, haha... Makes my monotonous job less dry.

After the first day, most importantly is still that I will be paid. Hoping that I can help OAR soon again, because it pays me like an undergrad. Looking to save as much money as I can. I was able to resist the temptations of the GSS, but I would still want to purchase a new pair of spectacles. Quoting from my friend, it’s a worthy investment for my eyes, as I am losing its focus.

Annoying father? Annoying work?

Today I did something different from my normal vacation routine. I woke up at 6am to help out my father in my uncle’s factory selling business. Actually, today there is a special function, which is that NTU ordered a large piece of goods to be delivered and fixed up. I was called to help out that case.

Before reaching the factory, on routine, my father was telling me how tough life is, how youngsters should go out and endure some hardship or else we will just become useless bums. He talked about how tough his life was, my mother’s life was, and how he is trying to think of ways to help make his uncle’s business better, as times are not as good as before. It was early in the morning, and these words took a toil on me immediately when the first words came out. It felt sickening, for I thought I knew everything he has to say, and that I am better than a lot of youngsters out there. Then, it struck me. I am just another arrogant bum that thinks he knows everything there is about this world. My father’s words were about the same, but this time it had special meaning. I took time to think about my thoughts during the journey to the factory. No matter what, my father had gone through more things in his life than me, and I should respect what he has to say. Gladly, I realized my mistake, and tried my best to make the most out of my father’s words.

The day was nothing much, though I have to admit that I saw one particular cute girl in NTU that actually talked to me. She just asked me if I am going to the floor that she was going. I doubt she would realize that I am an undergrad from her ‘rival’ university, as I had an uncle's outlook (I did not care about my appearance today knowing that it was a day of contractor's work) as well as a trolley load of planks and boards. The day did humble me much, for 16 years of education did not prepare me for this day of screwing, bolting, moving, shifting and carrying. A routine contractor’s job, what my father and uncle did before they had their own men work for them. I was delegated the simplest of task, in case I screw up the screwing, haha…. Neither did anyone really want to give me any real work. I am supposedly the “Towkay’s Nephew”. I always feel my presence is a hindrance, blocking people's paths while they still have to keep track of my ‘progress’ at work. Worst of all, I took all of their slackest duties!!! How can such a person be welcomed at work right? What a day at work… What a day…

Job application

Tomorrow, I will be going for the first job interview of my life. Thereafter, I will go the second job interview of my life. On Friday, I will go for the third job interview of my life. Thereafter, I hope to land one or two of the jobs, depending on pay and time management. My hopes are best for the bank job, though it’s working time is the weekend. Firstly, it will reflect better in my resume that I have worked for a bank, even though I do not think they will give their temp workers big responsibilities. I’m hopeful, because the timing of the job is not the most appealing, occupying all of the weekends of my holidays (and most people’s). However, I still feel its better than my regular friend’s job. Now, pay would be a great factor too, and of course whether they will accept me or not.

The other interview is a 5-day work week job. I do not know what is its job scope. The lady said I registered for a financial exec job, and she asked me for an interview. “By all means, just go!” That’s my mentality. People are also choosing me too, so I might not get it either. Anyway, I should practise my interview skills, haha… When I registered with Recruit Express, the lady (younger than me) said I looked like a shy person, so she asked me whether I am able to accept the sales job. What a great first impression! Lucky I did. That was my first normal job. I took it for the sake of money, but I got more in return. Jobs are not just about money. They could be about pride, service if you are really that great a person, self-improvement, job-filtering selection, so you know next time what kind of career to not look into, and many more.

The last one is even weirder. It’s a freelancing job on bank loans. Sounds rather sleazy to me, and the company is some unknown company. I will just go to see what kind of jobs people offer to people, and see what is up the company’s sleeves.

Last thing to note, friendship is valuable for its quality, not its quantity. I am quite confident to say that I have quality friends, and not quantity. I keep quiet nowadays because I want to shut up, and if people, you all see me not being quiet, sorry, because I am still at the changing phase. Other people that think I am too quiet, I am sorry too. I am still at a changing phase, so my quietness might look like a form of 'sianess' to you all. It really is not. I guess I do not know how to be quiet yet. It’s not for anyone but myself. I have said my piece, and I do think I have said enough crap to last me a lifetime. I will now hand the mike over to someone else that has a better use with words. Peace to my mind. The world can never have peace.

Weird

I wanted to go out, but I could not find anyone to go out with. Neither did I really ask. I told up my phone, search through the whole list, but in the end, I did not know who I could ask. So, I sat in the sofa for most of the day, watching Japanese drama serials in the native tongue while I read the subtitles. It’s nicer to hear them speak, rather than translators. Actors are better than translators, at least the feeling is expressed better, even though I do not know what they are really saying, except through the English words below.

Feels rather weird that now everything is settling down, and I have a lot of things to do, so much so that I do not know where to start. I did not apply for driving lessons yet. I really do not think driving is a thing for me yet. It’s like the relationship thing. I am not for that now either. Maybe I will grow over it. I do not know, most people do right?

Looking at jobs remind me of a lot of things. Reading is an interesting habit that I am trying to have. Off now. Resting for tomorrow, for I am going out tomorrow. I find it weird. People I sms do not reply me. I hope its nothing wrong with my hand phone. It should not be. 2 people got to me, and my replies too. I think too much, and should just let things be. Bye.

Adjust

Need to do a lot of things. I am rather taken aback by NUS system. Mid Term papers. I find them rather distracting. I had 5 Mid Term papers. It was quite a draw. So much that I was already burnt out. I did not do much these few days in terms of studying.

Work 2 days at Taka selling baby products. Pacifiers, baby bottles, breast pumps. Yes, breast pumps. I did not really sell them. I specialise in sterilisers. Actually, any staff can sell them, just that due to my gender, I'm best suited for selling sterisliers. Interesting to work, because I will be able to get money, see a lot of people, learn new things and experience different things. Learnt a lot of things about babies and saw a lot of cute babies (Babies, not babes). Feels great to have some sense of independence. At the age of 22, I do feel awkward drawing pocket money from my parents. Unforunately, I do not work enough hours to be self-sufficient.

Bought $500 worth of products at the IT fair. A digital camera, a webcam with microphone and a 40G harddisk. I have not really explored every thing that I have bought, because after I bought the stuff, I had 2 full days of work selling baby products. Today I am suppose to study. I am trying to.

Earning money

Things that I am doing nowadays...

I sold beer for 2 days. Singha Thailand beer. My employer quite happy with my sales, and say he will want to recommend me for the next assignment they have, haha... Not that I sold a lot, but I sold enough to defy the odds. Tiger and Clasberg right in front of me, blocking any possible customers that want to buy beer. Behind, the view was mostly blocked up other goods. My section was hardly visible. On top of that, my section is located right in the middle of canned food, and those people that actually came in are housewives or uncles, looking to buy canned food stuff. I sold whatever I could, and hope the people that bough the beer really like what they bought, especially the one that bought 2 cartons at one go from my, my biggest client.

Asking my uncle to bring in some simple accessories to sell in NUS bazaars. Shld I be earning, because I am doing one for GeoSoc. I should not earn anything at all right, even though I am tempted to do so. I should not ba, GeoSoc needs any amount they can have. I will think about that, but even so, I hope I will get something for helping people out, because its not under my job scope to do so. I am just helping my friends out...

My mother might be selling some food stuff somewhere in some school. I do not know if saying the name would affect anything, so I would not. Its never safe to really post anything online nowadays. I do not want to get sued for nothing. Anyway, if that thing comes to anything, I should be helping her. Good, although its not me that is getting any income, at least my family will have increase our income. My mother promise me wages if I help her, but do not really need, cos she is still giving me pocket money nowadays. I will just help her if I can.

My story is almost done. Last few pages already. Looking out for publishers that give me the best price, plus also the capital that I need. That is the reason why I am thinking whether I should charge a very small fee to GeoSoc, because I would need some funding for my book's self-poblishing also. A little bit of coffee money I also would not mind, hehe... Look out for my story ok? If you read my blogs, I hope you will buy my story also :)

1st day on job

1st day on job very tired. Stood for only 3.5hrs, but already was leaning on a pole for the last 1 1/2hr. I on the streets doing survey. Was quite a interesting exp, cos 1st time doing such a job, n was suppose to do w a friend one. But she last min din feel like doing it, so i was left alone w 2 other gals that i dunno. Din tok much to them, but think they shld have done a better job than me, haha...

It for the exp, cos the pay is meagre. Threw myself into the sea to try to learn sth, haha... Just wanna talk to strangers, hahaha.....

Last nit could not sleep. only fell asleep at 1am plus, haha... that adds to the fatigue. The feeling of working is quite interesting. a certain level of responsible, yet a certain level of not really wan to do it. so different from army. It army, u have to do it, no matter wat. Like my friend, she can just leave cos she din feel like doing, but i stayed on, dunno y, but i knew i had to stay on, for some unknown reason.

Moody...

Today woke up 1100am. considered early to the past few days of 12+, n some more i slept at 430am in the morning. Cant seem to sleep already. Dunno y also.

So strange, today music din seem to have its affect on me. Keep on changing to different genres of music, but none seemed to lift my spirits from the abyss. Dunno y, felt abit empty. Ended up w a werid tot in my mind. Why shld i eat, when my soul will still be hungry after that? So, i din eat, n went out for a job interview.

The job interview went quite ok, but its some lousy job, but at least it can keep my occupied, that is if the guy dun sack me....

Dun feel as moody already now, but still, im finding sth to quench my thirsty soul. Music is just stopping it from going any lower. Nothing seems to be keeping my spirits high.

A day at a factory

Went to my uncle's furniture factory to help out. Had to wake up at 5plus, although the nit b4 i slept at 1am... Din know wat to expect there. Dun even think my father knew which i will eb doing, neither do i think the person that tasked me stuff to do knew that i was coming. I ended up being a phone operator, answering phones n just transfering to the respective people.

Finally got to c how my father have been working for the past 20 yrs. Also got to help my uncle bank in some cash, helped in the planning of the route of the people delivering the furniture, call customers to confirm their delivery for tml, n also saw how the person there does the selling. But guess i was too tired, w just 4 hrs of sleep the nit b4, haha... Also spent alot of time reading my own book. Was a meaningful day on the whole. Learnt n experienced alot, although i felt if could have learnt n experienced more =)

Tml, i have plans to go to the library to do some reading on interior design, watch some Cantonese TVBI Serials to improve my Cantonese, n also carry out actions that i have read from AR book, so sorry father, cant go to help u tml.

(Actually, its more like their work expanded to include me, cos im not really needed there one, ah haha...., but i appericate they trying to give me things to do so i can learn =>)