2009

Well, not exactly. Most of all it’s because some of my friends ain’t there anymore, ‘Disneyland’ has gotten a minor makeover and the fab is much more in order in terms of 5S. Coincidentally I’m also using the pedestal and car sticker of my former colleagues. Work wise it’s getting a bit more serious that what i encountered before, no more extreme slacking around and sitting in the office surfing the net for the whole afternoon. Anyway, I’m glad I retained quite a lot of the things that I’ve learned the last time around, that I have a kick-ass boss and for having the rest of my colleagues I know that are still there.

2288

It’s still too early to tell how crazy work will get, good or bad I’m still determined and looking forward to what is ahead. Bottom line is that, I’m satisfied with where i am with my work now. Of course we can always complain about work, about the pay but we often overlook the good and what we have currently. Everyone wants a higher pay but how much is enough? We often feel that we’ll be satisfied with ‘this amount’ of salary but when we’ve reached that point, dissatisfaction can still surely take over if we don’t learn to appreciate the basics or what we had in the first place.

2010

Also at the same time I’m gonna have to channel every possible extra juice that i have left to finishing my studies. Thankful for my latest results as it was a better than i had expected so now I’m on my final year, my final stretch to crossing the finishing line and i do hope i make it!

:)

Semester 2 exam
I had my exam one day after my last post. I hate the fact that the exam time is never enough for those exams that require lots of writing (essay/short answers). It’s writing all the way from start to end and sometimes it feels like if i pause to think, i’ll be losing my marks from not having enough time to finish answering. My right hand always feels abused after ever non-calculation exam. Anyhow, i felt a bit better about this sem’s final and although i knew that i was only 1 mark away from the next best grade when my results came out 3 weeks later i was still overall satisfied. Classes for my third sem started even before my results were out and because it’s sort of a short/summer semester, everything is squeezed into a much tighter packed semester. Bad news is that i have less time in between assignments and my up coming final exam is a week before chinese new year. cock!

Penang
I was over at Penang in one of the weekends after the long wait (I bought the ticket in July this year). To be honest there aint a whole lot more places to shop there compared to Kuching so most of the time i was just going places, looking for food. My top priority was the cendol (mission accomplished!) but other than that i got to try the indian ox tail soup, super delicious dim sum, prawn mee, loh mee, curry mee, lok-lok, some roti-canai look alike wrap with hot-dog and cheese, J. Co baby donuts, Winter Warmer afternoon tea, Char Siew Puff and Paddington HOP Pancakes!

Cendol

My last trip to Penang Hill was probably almost 20 years ago so it was great to be back there on this trip. The weather was perfect and we could not have gone at a better time (5pm sunset).

Bukit Bendera

Indeed i had the holiday withdrawal syndrome when i got back to Kuching 3 days later and im really looking forward to another trip somewhere. Only problem is that i practically have z-e-r-o leave…nada. Sigh…it’s especially hard having to see all those Airasia promotions almost every month and not able to plan a freaking trip. Case of got money also cannot go holiday. WTF!

Big THANK YOU to my friends in Penang who were very accommodating.

Work
S-U-C-K-S!

A lot of factors contributing to the fact that i getting very demotivated at work. In OB this sem, i came across this topic about motivation in an organization. Apparently there are many theories about motivation such as Maslow’s. Yeah it’s just a theory but it’s fking true because i can so relate to it. Really i’m not trying to be a fussy/fked up/over reacting employee and everyone knows there’s no perfect place to work.

However, at my current position in my department and the way the organization is structured,

1. My bosses will never know who’s doing the real work because they spend a whole lot of time away from us in the office. I once read somewhere “You’ll be surprise on how far you can go if you careless about recognition” and for a short time i tried to live by that motto but I’ve come to realize that it’s only true in a certain way. I mean, when everything is going right, when im trying to work my ass off to make sure things are going well, no ones really gives a damn. Ok fine i can live with that but once something goes wrong, it’s like all eyes are on me, grilling my ass over how did it happen. Another scenario, sometimes after a hectic morning working like a horse i go for my lunch break and i may take a slightly longer break (knowing that all the machines are running ok)…but any of my top superiors see me, they give me the ‘wtf are u still out here catching snake for’ look. In a way i cant fking blame them rite, they dont know who actually did the freaking work. So how? I’m not ‘recognition’ crazy but i believe personal development also relies alot on feedback and recognition. Feedback good or bad help and recognition (higher appraisal marks) motivates people to work but if your bosses don’t know who’s doing what in the first place, how are they gonna rate you based on individual performance. It’s sad to say that just few days ago, i was putting in some extra effort refurbishing some of the machine parts and few of my colleagues walked pass and said “Don’t need to do lah, do so much for what? Nobody sees what you are doing also”. At the end of the fiscal year, everyone gets almost the same pay rise/bonus even for those people who never put in any effort. How would the employee feel? So yea, the culture that has been around is “Why do so much? Got do or not also same” and 10 years down the road, everyone is not very far off in terms of personal development from where they started, no?

Who's who, doing what?

2. We all know there’s no place on earth that’s free from people that just plainly get on your nerves but amplifying to the first issue above, there are people who are experts in taking credits but never do anything. I know one who not only does exactly that but also a retard in prioritizing his work. Not tending to important machines that have broken down to do something extremely unimportant. So retarded that is like telling his wife who is in labour at home that he has to finish mowing the lawn first before taking her to the hospital, so retarded that is like him insisting on trying to finish brushing his teeth in a burning house.  Almost 99.9% of the time either he finds something unimportant to do or not do anything at all when there’s an important task at hand. Not only that, after everything, he claims credit for the work or at least act as if he done something in front of the bosses. Sadly again that’s how he climb the corporate ladder to where he is now.

And all the little other things regarding leave, duty on Saturdays, no office table, computer for us is enough for me to want to leave. I wont die there but i rather not be there. Of course there are wonderful colleagues there too who can make certain days less agonizing that it really is.

Semester 3
Im taking accounting and organization behaviors this sem but i only have one exam. The latter only requires me to submit two long assignments in which one is about scenarios related to organization behaviors such problems with communication, trust, motivation, employee behaviors, appraisal, empowerment , corporate culture etc. Maybe my problems mentioned above are, in a way blessings in disguise.

I admit, sometimes

There are times i feel like this part time study thing is such a burden and i feel like giving up but say what you say, i really do learn a whole lot of new interesting stuff foreign to my current discipline. Sides, no pain no gain.

END
I should end here. A too long of a post gets boring. Till then.

Tomorrow is a brand new day.

Tonight was great, being with friends, being with people i know. Laughing till my cheeks hurt, seeing people i lost touch with. Despite the fact that maybe fate has it that it’s still not the right time for me, i know for sure that at least, i can go to bed tonight with a grin on my face, not that best smile but for tonight, a grin will do. :)

To my family, bradas and friends. For without whom, I’m nothing.

Goodnite!

Someday…

Anyway, i’ll just sum up the last few weeks here, writing what i remember la and throwing random pictures. Actually im supposed to be studying but i figured i might not have time to blog anymore until after my exams which is in about…3 weeks time, so i’ll do one post.

Cant remember when but it was a wednesday la, went to my ex-colleague’s house for a farewell bbq. I met him during the interview and we ended up joining the company at the same time. Recently he got an offer from the marine police and so he’s off to Kuantan for training. Last i know was of him getting a head shave when he text me few weeks after he left. Anyway, i wished him good luck and asked him not to forget to share the confiscated stuff he gets while on duty.

One

Two

Three

Great bbq food but too bad i had to leave earlier to pick up my dog, Spike from the vet. He was there to get neutered after a lengthy lengthy decision making process that took months. It’s been 2 weeks now and i think he’s still the same, not gay or anything…i think.

Iron chef

Siburan community hall

Bride, groom and the usual people

Also attended one of my fellow colleague’s wedding at Siburan. I didnt really know where it was so i had to call my friend up every 2-3 minutes to make sure i wont miss the turning. They had free flow of beers but i decided not to take any because i was driving. Useless effort because after that, i met my friends for JD. All those ‘holding back’ and saying ‘no’ to my friends at the wedding for nothing.

Mr. Daniel

Chee-vas

Then on one of the weekends, my friends from Penang came back for the graduation. It was exciting because it meant i was gonna get my long waited early Christmas present, and of course because it was great to catch up with old friends again. That weekend, we went to one of the clubs in town and drank our asses off. The Core wasnt that bad la, and the crowd was not too bad either but maybe because Soho is still closed for reno. Music was good too, we had Boom Boom Pow, I Gotta a Feeling, Right Round, Sugar, Hatin on the Club and classics like Low, Dangerous, RIGHT NOWW NA NA NANANANANAANANANAN!!!!!!, KRAZYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY, BOOM SHAKE DROPPPP!!!!!! (*shrieks*) *Ahem* Not only that, we were krazy crazy enough to go back a second time the following weekend.

Gang

A new friend...

and the old ones

It was real great fun and it made me missed December 08 a lot and those crazy internship days and all my intern bradas and gang. Till this day i think that period was one of the most insanely sad and happy moment of my life. I also dunno how to describe also. Now everyone’s sort of all over the place so things cannot be as it used to be but oh boy, there wont be a moment i’ll ever forget. Anyway, also thanks to my friends that night, The Core gang, because u guys…hahahaha…love you guys! :P I bet i’ll regret so so badly if i didnt turn up that night.

It’s been almost a year since officially step out of Swinburne for good but i missed the last graduation so i had to wait almost 365 freaking days for this year’s. To be honest it felt a bit, how to say…potong steam already because we waited so long…but it was a once in a lifetime thingy so wtheck la. I had to take the day off and that means using up my very precious and limited annual leave >< After the graduation, i had to rush off to the studio for a family and personal portrait shoot with the all so famous fake book shelf backdrop. lol SO LAME

THEN, i went for my first street shoot with Louis and Allen. I felt so damn awkward at first holding a camera and take pictures but good thing i had those two shooting veterans and i settled in quite quickly. It was packed with people so take pictures was a challange…had to dodge ppl’s smelly heads and armpits. Although ironically, it’s those things that gives the place the atmosphere…hahaha. So far I found that like shooting people/humans more. My camera has also been great, even though like i said i still havent got the time to read the manual. Learn as i go lah! Really really happy with it but it’s quite a wallet cum bank account destroyer. I got a few more accessories few days ago and told myself this is where i should shop spending on my camera before i get declared a bankrupt. Anyone who is reading this, just send me a email if you have any photo shooting gatherings ok. Thanks!

Thanks guys! I had fun

MBO, The Spring

Also we went to Spring’s new cinema twice but unfortunately the two movies we watch kinda suck. The cinema was really something different though. And and…My Restaurant’s food is really good…drool.

Porky's Ribs

Slow Roasted Porky

So i think that pretty much sums up my last few weeks, now it’s back to normal again with my friends gone and me back to work without any public holidays until…i dunno when. Like i mentioned before, my exams are not round the corner but straight in front of me T.T so it’ll be revision revision revision until November. Oh ya im still scratching my head over Christmas because i’ll be off from 24 till 27 and im looking for something or somewhere to do/go.

I’ve posted more pictures on my facebook profile. GTG now. Cheerio!

i’m still using the same road to work everyday, but to a different gate.
i’m still wearing a bunny suit, but of a different colour.
i’m still attending passdown meetings, but in a different room.

i still go through air showers, just a much smaller one.
i still have to communicate everyday, but in a different language.
i still have a bunch of colleagues i see everyday, but they are of different names…

…and as Cygnus is once again visible means it’s been a year since i first walked across that pond and had my would-be friends doubt and smirk at me when i introduced myself (Heehai!). first few things that comes to mind now when i look back at my first week there are ‘i sat right next to my boss’, ‘how i started speaking mandarin with lai hee’, ‘how loi was SO HELPFUL and SO OBIDIENT’, and ‘late for my first meeting’. Fast forward eight months later, i made new wonderful friends, i learned so much more than i ever expected, i went through life’s obstacles that were of small sizes to very big ones, laughed so much, cried too, boom-shake-drop, learned what ‘family’ means, created ever lasting memories, left my footprints and said my goodbyes.

Fast forward another four months, some of my bradas and friends have finally decided to close one door only to open another with the aspiration that it leads them to a better future, in search for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow elsewhere… i sincerely hope they get their hands on it and wish them the very best :)

Same situation minus the oversized engine

For me, well, i guess im still managing. I feel that sometimes im just deliberately going against the current and stressing out at pointless things. I was frustrated, i was angry but somehow coincidentally on the very day i was super pissed, my boss talked to me about fate, destiny and returns. It really made me think and really cleared my mind off those stupid worries. Of course im not stupidly leaving everything to fate and have a mental delusion that everything will fall into place by itself but i guess as long as i do good, returns will come in different forms. I will learn from this and there’s only so much i can handle.

A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. ~ Proverbs 16:9

Anyway, blame my busy schedule for the lack of updates. Working for two weekends back to back, quizes and assignments due soon. Been longing to blog because like i said, past weeks were really really frustrating, needed to vent it out but i usually fall asleep even before i get to logon to Wordpress. Also, give me another month or so, i’ll be officially lonely. Even im seriously reconsidering getting my camera because i dont know who to go take pictures with. wtf. So sad. I told someone, “I know i have such a good life, just a very lonely one and in a way i have myself to blame”.

Not looking forward to work tomorrow and the busy work schedule for the next two months.

*This post specially dedicated to my beloved bradas and friends at the X + those that are not there anymore. Yea, it’s not My Restaurant voucher or anything close, only a blog post but it’s the thought that counts la ok. Though I know you guys would still rather choose a My Restaurant meal even if there’s no ‘thought’ to it. =P Hope you lot stay happy and crazy.

BTW, not today's picture ah...a year ago. 'Understand' or not?!

Miss you guys… :)

Sarawak Rock Party 2009

After that Gary, Shane and I dropped by Silhouette for drinks. It was a Sunday night so we had the whole place to ourselves. Was supposed to be just one drink but it sort of turn crazy and we ended up with liquor + beers + two big bowls of peanuts. The surprise txt at that moment also gave me a reason to drink more as i was getting more emo by the minute. I was really depressed then. (*actually even now)

Where else?

Good thing i wasn’t driving but still i ended up throwing up in front of The Spring’s carpark, by the road at Jln Ahmad Zaid Adruce and at home in the bathroom. All my Baileys and Heineken, down the drain. Thinking of it now, I guess it wasn’t a good idea at all because my poor tummy was still recovering. Feel like an idiot :( Also, thanks to the cb peanuts, i have oral ulcers.

Sorry to the cleaners at The Spring, didnt meant to.

My cough is still around and it’s making certain things like sleeping and exercising real difficult. It’s hard to breathe with so much fluid around. I dont want to get asthmatic.

Laihee photography

Thanks Loi (Link), Calvin (Link I, Link II) and Faith (Link I, Link II, Link III) for the pictures and posts. Also big big thank you to Yet, Adrian, Janet and Wilron for the buffet :)

Heloes...oops, i mean Heroes (Buatan Malaysia)

]]> http://www.imterence.com/2009/04/10/%e8%b0%a2%e8%b0%a2/feed/ 3 http://www.imterence.com/2009/04/06/x-traordinary/ http://www.imterence.com/2009/04/06/x-traordinary/#comments Mon, 06 Apr 2009 12:24:46 +0000 Terence http://www.imterence.com/?p=363 [...]]]>

My row

It was August last year that I walked into the building that would be my office for the next 8 months. To me, a company is nothing without the people or souls who are working there and my colleagues have given me the best reception throughout my tenure there. My time there can only be described with one word – amazing, because of amazing people.

Fav spot

Hallway

I can’t say that the past 8 months have been a smooth ride; in fact, it was one hell of a roller coaster ride. Going up and down and twisting all around. Most of my buddies would know what I mean. There were times I laughed, and times I cried at X-FAB. Of course there were also times when the tasks given to me was very time consuming, frustrating and tedious and I complained but honestly, I was willing to get it done for my friends because I knew it was worth it.

Numbers, numbers, numbers

Every morning "without" fail

I think the best part of my training, is that I made new friends, something that I really needed because usually when you finish uni, most of your friends would go their separate ways…either that or everyone just get carried away with studies/work of their own. So to the bunch of bradas (including one girl brada, lol), thanks for everything. I love you guys. Also to the rest of my colleagues, thank you…even if it was just a smile, it was one that made my day.

I have my own namecard too!

8 months may be or may not be a very long time, depending on how you see it but so much happened during that time. Probably my post would be super un-organized and long if I were to list out everything me and my colleagues did. Therefore I made this short video slideshow, to simplify things because a picture is worth a thousand words. It doesn’t cover everything though.

Keluar

I may not be with X-FAB anymore, I may have walked out the door for the very last time already but it doesn’t bother me because I’ve brought with me all the memories I have with you guys…and I’ll know we’ll meet again ;) “It’s not the end”

All the best to all of you.

Looking ahead, continuing my journey...

~ Don’t cry because it’s over, Smile because it happened. ~

Dedicated to my lovely colleagues and friends…

It sucks sometimes to watch these movies with people falling in love, enjoying each other’s company and doing everything together. Dont get me wrong, I’m not being bitter about the whole romantic thing because it still gives me a sense of hope to my fairy tale/miracle beliefs. I want it to happen to me…i want to fall in love.

Anyway, today was my last day at training. I actually wrote a short post about it but because Streamyx is having some problems with the international internet routing, i can’t seem to get my pictures uploaded onto photobucket. I got so fed up so i ended up not posting it. I’ll put it up when i can get everything to work. It was a little sad leaving the people that i enjoying being around so much. Though i must say that it’s real nice to have a break after 8 months of continuous work except the public holidays and the 2-3 days when i got sick.

Another interview tomorrow morning. Hope all goes well.

Would like to share this video with you guys. One of my fav song because i like the lyrics. Wanna dedicate it to my bradas and also to a dear friend who called me about a week ago that’s having a tough time with life. Dont worry, these things have a way of working itself out.

That’s life, Frank Sinatra

That’s life, that’s what all the people say.
You’re riding high in April,
Shot down in May
But I know I’m gonna change that tune,
When I’m back on top, back on top in June.

I said that’s life, and as funny as it may seem
Some people get their kicks,
Stompin’ on a dream
But I don’t let it, let it get me down,
‘Cause this fine ol’ world it keeps spinning around

I’ve been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate,
A poet, a pawn and a king.
I’ve been up and down and over and out
And I know one thing:
Each time I find myself, flat on my face,
I pick myself up and get back in the race.

That’s life
I tell ya, I can’t deny it,
I thought of quitting baby,
But my heart just ain’t gonna buy it.
And if I didn’t think it was worth one single try,
I’d jump right on a big bird and then I’d fly

I’ve been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate,
A poet, a pawn and a king.
I’ve been up and down and over and out
And I know one thing:
Each time I find myself laying flat on my face,
I just pick myself up and get back in the race

That’s life
That’s life and I can’t deny it
Many times I thought of cutting out
But my heart won’t buy it
But if there’s nothing shakin’ come this here july
I’m gonna roll myself up in a big ball and die
My, My

Hiro Nakamura

The F-22 Raptor has an onboard avionics computer with a processing power of a supercomputer, combined with the most fool-proof mechanical systems, making it the most advanced fighter jet in human history. Still, two of them crashed in the middle of the Californian desert due to systems failure.

Sometimes even when we try to be as careful as we can be, accidents still do happen. At that moment, no point for us to start pointing fingers even if it’s towards ourselves because no matter what we do, it wouldn’t rewind time. It’s at times like these that makes us appreciate everything around us more. We certainly reflect and learn from it.

Maybe God was looking over you?

The sun set was breathtaking. Such a shame that it happenend.

What's left

Anyway, we’re glad you are ok brada, that you live to see another day. Let’s all be more careful next time :)

Yatta!!