273

How I spend my final day off on my own?


Yesterday, I had to do a medical check up prior to the commencement of my new job. To my friends, many of you would have known my future path, but to some, who are still clueless, I am heading to an office job. A 9 to 5 position (fingers crossed!).

I was supposed to do it in September, but being me, a procrastinator by nature, I decided to put off what's important and realized that I've been 3 months overdue. So my office, being based in KL has all its panel clinics based so far from where I stay. I went to the nearest one, which I have to cross the LDP toll, BUT upon arrival, the doctor had the nerve to tell me that he declined doing my medical check up. Reason is, payment was difficult to obtain from my company.

Well, suck it Dr. I had to cross the toll  for nothing, and have to pay even more extra toll to get to the other end of the city, to get the check up. At this point, you are damn right that I was so furious to the point, that you can imagine imaginary fumes coming out from every single outlet of my head. The new clinic has problems with parking. The vicinity has all kinds of mechanics and clinics, so every available parking spot was either being blocked or well, occupied. 


Anyway, LUCK was on my side, because I ended up completing my check up, and even went elsewhere (and also found parking!) for a Chest X-Ray. I even managed to sneak a hearty lunch of Fish Head Noodles @ Woo Pin in Taman Desa after surviving the entire morning without breakfast. Now my only hope is that my check up doesn't have any major flaws which will put my job employment at stake. 


So this morning, after dropping the missus off to work, I went for a lone breakfast at Banana Leaf in Centrepoint. For a RM4.70 breakfast, I abandoned it half way, considering there was no  onion in my Roti Telur Bawang, and my Teh Ais KURANG MANIS tasted like crap. 
I decided to patron Starbucks after that, and like every visits I have, it feels like home here. 


The barristas even remembered me, and went to the point of praising me in a red shirt. 


Well, I don't know if it's the Toffee Nut Frap which is making my day, or if it's the people in red merry shirts, but I'm liking it every single minute now. 

272

i iz
HOME !!

16 days of pure fun and laughter. 

271

I cannot believe this is the way I'm spending my Saturday nights. In a local cafe, sipping a pot of Mint Tea, listening to a live band singing to Chinese songs. One of the singers happened to be my friend's girlfriend. So we are sort of baby sitting her girlfriend for her. I can't believe that I actually know every single Chinese song sang by the singers. Most of them are actually emo songs, that I can sing after every painful break up. The missus sits across the table, opposite from where I am now. I hope I never have to sing such emo songs anymore. :) I am really happy to have her. Today we spend the day eating our hearts out. Started our day with dim sum (RM52.80), had our caffeine fix (RM28.40), popcorns and soda (RM7.00) during a movie - Happy Feet 2, fine dining Japanese dinner (RM155) which I had a hard time concentrating on food because the waiters were so attentive and literally breathing down on our necks when we were eating-service tax well spent! Anyway, as a rough figure, we spend RM250 on food today itself. Oh my. No more. But that's what being in love does to you. You eat non stop.

270

Today's my last day coming into this office. 

Usual daily routine would be waking up at 7.15 am, driving to work, reaching at 8.30am, scan my thumb print, punch card and then switching on my laptop. While waiting for it to run, I will check my emails. And then go to specific websites to download HK series, and then head out for breakfast with my colleagues.
After breakfast, it would be light surfing on the internet, watch series/movies, or just talk to my colleagues, and then lunch at 12-ish, and the cycle repeats itself until 5.30pm when I will clock out, scan my thumb print and go home. 

That has been my routine for the past 3 weeks, ever since I tendered my resignation. No work has been assigned to me and all I had was just the internet as a companion. 

I have to return my laptop to the company this evening, and have to do some "spring cleaning" on my device. I have to clear out my personal data inside this computer. Also found plenty of pictures of my 1 year of service in this company. 

Seated: Lee, Brian and Myself.
Standing: Simon

Listening tentatively to briefing.

Safety Manager, Operation Manager, Myself and Simon

 The operation manager has passed away, due to sudden heart attack.
This proves how stressful our job can be. He was only 40 when he left us.

Everytime we go to work, need to don on our coveralls. For extra protection, I always have a small towel to wrap around my face. 

This is the way we eat. Just unzip our coveralls and attract loadsa attention. 

Office staffs - we are a very small organization over here in the Peninsular.

That was taken during my #1 Farewell lunch at Las Vacas, ss5. 

Air Marine has played its part to form me the person I am today. Serves well as a stepping stone to what seems to be my career in the future. 

Will definitely miss this company of mine. 

269

Don't usually attend gym classes on my own, because surprisingly, I am a shy fellow.
However, last night, the missus bailed out on me, as we promised to attend Combat class together, after 2 months of absence from the gym. She had to work late, so I canceled on the class and decided to stay home to wait for her.

Before shower, I decided to just do a bit of sit-ups and as I was about to do so, couldn't see my toes! Oh the horror! The bulge has grown so big that I can't see my toes at all. 


So, I decided to fuck the ego, and just sped to class 10 minutes before it start. Made it on time, and did not regret at all.

268

Nothing much to update. 

Except for constant clearing of my work station before I leave for good. Didn't know I have so much stuffs to clear after a year of service. Mostly papers.

I know I could just throw everything away, but instead, I chose to divide them between recyclable papers and those that ought to belong in the rubbish dumps.
My Chinese colleagues (originated from China) told me to just throw everything away, and spare the trouble of separating them, sigh. I am sad for the future of their nation.

I wished I could just put some sense into their numb skulls - that some traits have to be adapted. Like compassion and the sense of responsibility to Mother Nature, in some ways.

Anyway, I'm down to my final 3 days here. Checking in daily on FourSquare makes counting down even easier. 3 days to go before having to let my current seat go. I even managed to send my car for servicing today, even though I am supposed to be working. Ah, such is the pleasure of flexibility here. I think I will miss this the most. 

I have packed my coveralls and jackets to be returned too. I will miss the coarse rough texture brushing against my skin, under the hot sun. My new job will not require me to rough out, perhaps one day, I will return to having coveralls as my daily uniform. Where the money lies. 

Anyway, a recent picture of us both. Celebrated Yenny's 30th birthday. Another 5 years till mine, wonder how I would look like then. 

Love this picture of us. Maybe we should frame it up. 

267

I know it's unusual for the nons to be interested in working for the government upon graduation. Reasons such as racial discrimination and lack of work satisfaction were what I usually gather from "intellectual" conversations with people around me. However, I shall not deny that these are thoughts from the Gen-Y. Older generations, such as my parents and Grandparents were delighted that I was chosen to attend the PTD PAC Assessment after passing the 1st stage which was the written test. 


Why are the Gen-X so happy that I am in the running to obtain a governmental position?
In the past, those who were given a chance to work for the government is reflected as lucky, because their jobs are secured, and at the end of their retirement, they are given pensions. There's no fear of recession because the government have no records of giving the boot to their staffs and of course, let's not forget the perks and benefits of being a civil servant : i.e, housing loans, year-end bonus, health and medication benefits (in government clinics and hospitals) and also "tabik-hormat" respect and recognition from the public. 


With all that said, many would still say that working in the private sector has proven to be of better perks and higher pay checks which I do not deny. Even after going through the 1.5 days of assessment, I can't help but feel that those who sincerely wants to join the civil service had other intentions rather than looking at the pay check only.

In my opinion, you have got to be someone who REALLY WANTS to give back to the nation.
You don't expect that the government will give you big fat checks, because at the end of the day, the reality is, working in a private sector pays more. And also better perks, no doubt. 


Anyway, back to my story, I was chosen filtered from 20,000 candidates who went for a 1-day written test, down to 1200 candidates who are supposed to attend a 1.5 day of Assessment in various JPA centres across the country. At first, I was excited that I was chosen (and also AMAZED that I passed a written test which comprised of essays both written in English and Malay, and also questions on General Knowledge)  and when the day starts nearing, I wanted to back out. Like really bad.
During the assessment, we were assessed based on our proficiency in both English and Bahasa Melayu, and also physical activities such as a 2.4km hike. I felt that I could not do it, especially in Bahasa Melayu.
When the day came, the missus told me to try, at least, since I did take the scholarship offered by JPA and it would only be right to be responsible. And seeing that I am currently serving a 1.5 months notice upon resignation, it seems that everything is well planned. Most of them were assigned to various parts of the country, but I was send to a JPA centre, 15 minutes from where I live at the moment.

Everything was well planned - there was no reason for me NOT to go. So I did. 


I didn't read the instruction letter thoroughly, so when I was there, ALL the females were in Baju Kurung, and the males in white shirt and black pants. Guess what, I was in the same outfit. All the eyes were settled on me, and I really felt that I was in an awkward position. At the moment, I was like, "screw this, I don't have to bear with such attention" and wanted to leave almost instantly, however, I did not. My rationality (and I hope maturity) told me that if I really leave at that instance, I would be a disappointment to my parents and myself. If I fail the assessment after going through, means I have done my best.

I stayed.

And was registered as "Candidate No.1" - more attention bestowed upon me.
I would think that a lot of attention will be given onto me, because I would be known as the girl who came earliest so she got No.1, when actually, it so happened that one of the officers in charged pulled me in, did all my resignation, and given me that number. 

We went through a series of "Group Discussion", both in Malay and English. My game plan was to NOT be a dominate speaker but to learn to listen and speak when I want to. Actually I don't know how we are being assessed, my mum thinks I ought to be outspoken, but I feel that other people should be given a chance to perform too, you know? Sad to say, during a Malay discussion, I couldn't speak much, because I kept forgetting the right words to say. It is so easy to use Bahasa to order food in Mamaks, but when it comes to serious discussions, I really have to admit defeat.

We also had various team activities.

And had a 2.4km hike run, and I finished within 13 minutes. I was not proud, but am amazed.

I was also not assigned a room mate, considering I had 2 beds in my hostel room. Whereas the rest which had 3 & 4 beds each were all full. Until today, I still don't understand why wasn't I assigned a room mate. Was it because of my outer appearance, thus the organizers thought it's best if I didn't have one?

Sexual discrimination?

I made a couple of friends/acquaintances along the way. Most of them were already working for the government and some, in the private sector. I shall not deny, it was a great experience. Like going back to the days when I used to stay in the old USM hostel blocks back when I was a freshie in UTP. Like the whole floor shares a common bath room.

Oh yeah, I also had to do a presentation (in English) in front of 20 candidates and 4 panels, with 1 power point slide. Reminds me of the time we had to do a Poster Presentation for my Final Year Project (FYP). I'm really happy that I came from UTP, because we were expected to take this course (PCS) - Professional Communication Skills, when we were given training on how to do good presentations in front of a crowd, and also how to sound professional while being in a group. My only regret is that the course wasn't offered in Malay - which resulted me in failing all Malay assessment this time. 

266

I hate my plans for Singapore drafted on my Notes section on my iPad, but because it was too troublesome to type word by word and I found that actually writing on a piece of paper with a solid pen could be much faster, so decided to just abandon the plans halfway on my notes. So the missus saw the note and then left a short remark underneath :
"Why none of this happened??? Who did you initially plan to go to Singapore with??(sad face icon)"

While I agreed that this could be annoying to most people, but such short spark of false jealousy really carves a smile on me.

266

I wanna reinvent a sound space in my head - I will learn. 

265

In the loop too soon. 

264

I don't know if you have read, but I'm down to my last 15 days at work.
Like any other people who decided to resign/quit their jobs in a nice manner would have to serve a notice period. During this time, it is when you are supposed to handover their existing/remaining tasks in hand to a colleague who is going to take over your position.
However, mine was a little different.
I received a phone call from a colleague of mine to take over a new task and expected to complete it, before I leave. Which means all the paper work, calculations and drawings have to be handed in ETD 15 days.

I am not complaining really, because it keeps me occupied.
Ever since I have completed my work, I tendered my resignation letter and have been literally shaking legs since. Usually my day at work would begin with me clocking in (literally!), heading out for breakfast, back to my workstation and do light surfing, and then to lunch, yak with the colleagues, continue the day with more light surfing and also catch up on TVB dramas and then it would be 5.30pm.

Sounds awesome-possum eh?

No. You are wrong. Maybe it is fun during the first few days, but then it gets boring and routine, and you run out of dramas/series to watch, and the newsfeed on facebook has nothing posted (if you keep refreshing every 10 secs that is!), and eventually, your life gets meaningless. You don't even know why do you ever need to serve such notices and it is a waste of mental juice....get the drift?

So anyway, I have work to be done in 15 days, which I have it 50% completed. Oh well.

My colleague once told me, the longer you are in the work force, you will learn the term "Pull the brake!" which means, you don't have to work so efficiently, because you don't want new tasks, but you want to keep yourself occupied during office hours at the same time. 


You learn a lot when you join the work force, and this is just the beginning, baby. 

263

WHO IS COMING IN FROM TRONOH, PERAK?