Saturday, May 26, 2007

The new 精英

Last Wed was filled with interesting activities - first the sharing session with potential Management Associates (MAs); then the lunch with Group Head HG and a scholar candidate. Met this guy from another department who went with me to Capital Towers, The China Club (wah, a high-class exclusive Chinese restaurant) to address this young batch of MA candidates. Happened that this colleague was from VJC too and though we were 6 batches apart, there were many things and events in college to reminiscent on (like the Muslim stall's fried chicken wing). It's like 酒逢之子千杯少

This group of 7 potential MAs were eager, young and almost ready to venture out to see the world. Some came prepared with questions; most were concerned about their progression, career paths and the company's adaptability to changes. Hope my answers to their questions didn't turn them away from my company. Haha.

Lunch was at Lingzhi vegetarian restaurant with my Group Head and this scholar candidate, an Indian lady who graduated from RJC and was going to start uni life at NTU. My initial impression of her through her CV wasn't good - you know, the kind who wrote long paragraphs and rather braggy statements in their CVs just leave somewhat a little distaste in you. But the meet-up proved she's worthy of the scholarship as she was confident and displayed sincerity and her true self. But still, as HG mentioned, they will have to go through 3-4 years of work and through trying periods before they are proven solid.

From these interactions with the younger batches, I can tell what's up ahead for the rest of us more seasoned employees in the market and that we should all find our niches. There'll be tough and competitive times ahead, with those who always dress and speak vocally to impress, those that have the flair of the tongue to cut sharp during meetings and who would go out more to get an edge over others. This sounds scary, but somewhat is true. Just look around at the foreign students coming over to join our local cohort and giving the latter a really hard time to fight to outscore them.

In one way, we're lucky to have avoided the influx of these foreign students (that might have secured me my seat in VJC and subsequently in NUS). But going forward, we'll have to focus on what we do best and to excel in them - then can we beat the rest.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Emotions are a hard thing to handle

Today was a blue day though I didn't have to go back to office. Why blue? What else other than to get work-related calls and smses. Boo.

Applied a day leave to attend Business Insight Seminar organised by ST and OCBC. The presentations were rather useful as they provided business tips; some of them were interesting especially when delivered by their fluent presenters. Setting up and running your business do sound tough, but what keeps you going is your passion, not like when you're slogging for some big corporate and doesn't help when you disagree with some of these corporate policies.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Whooshing good time

With our new tennis rackets in our hands, we went to try them out in a hot tennis session. Were at Burghley courts from 11am to noon, getting the direct glaring sun. But hey, it was an intensive workout session where we sweat buckets.

WW gave me this for our anniversary:

A cool Wilson Ncode W6 Wild Crimson! And he bought me this pink Nike sportsbra that I liked. :)On the other hand, I gave WW a tennis racket too! The high-powered N-blade 98.

With these new toys on hand, we'll go for more tennis workouts!

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Influx of Interns

You get in touch with the Uni life and know when their vacations start.. coz you see an influx of them into your company! That's also when we start to feel old, seeing the young ones fresh from school with a curious and inquisitive look on their faces.

Thinking back of my internships, those days seemed so simple. You just aimed to get more work in office and were concerned about issues which we now feel are trivial matters. Each day, you worried about not having a lunch-mate, of not having enough work to do, or not being able to mingle with the rest and also there being a lack of clothes to wear to work.

These concerns, though vividly-remembered, were so far away for me. These days I don't see myself having to worry about people commenting on the same few pieces I wear to work or that no one talks to me in office. These day, we worry more about how to communicate in the most effective way to your boss (according to his/her style) and about making those steps to pull yourself closer to your goal or dream. (I'm also secretly happy that I have a packed wardrobe of clothes to choose from, most of them picked and bought without that financial constraint in mind.)

Back to the topic of influx, yes we welcome them into the company, but that also signifies to me the onset of a change I have to make.

Monday, May 14, 2007

One step closer!

Guess what? My boss gave me this, knowing what I want. The act of encouragement and thoughtfulness left me grinning all the way home :)World Breads: From Pain De Campagne to Paratha (The Small Books of Good Taste Series)

The next step: that bread machine.


Yippie!

I seek liberation

During JC, I was mindful of my sleeping hour and would strive to tuck in to bed early for a more refreshing following day. In Uni, I used to be more free in deciding my sleeping hours, often going to bed only at wee hours of 1 plus am. How I like those carefree days. These days since working, I've instilled a mental alarm in me to remind and hasten myself to finish off my things preferably before midnight so that I can have an earlier night.

But often, especially since taking up more personal activities during the weekdays, it is tough to keep to this good habit. Many a times, I have to deal with a personal dilemma - to continue surfing/ working or to sacrifice on doing these few more things to get an early night's sleep. On one hand I know it's good for the body to get ample rest and sleep, on the other hand I want more time to do my things, a long list of them. If I choose to stay up longer, I end up being regretful for the lack of sleep; if I choose to sleep, I would be grouchy at that point in time for not getting to do the things I like. Such a hard balance.

This internal struggle, though it might look small to you, was bugging me to no end. So I've decided to make choice now to liberate myself from this struggle, which explains why I'm still blogging at 12.30am now. Heck all the considerations about feeling sleepy at work, about body not getting enough recovery and repair time, about having the good of both.

As long as it makes me happy.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

It's our celebration :)

WW and I celebrated our anniversary with a good meal last evening at Modestos, Vivocity. It's my honour to treat him as I've gotten an increment arising from an off-cycle market adjustment. Yippie! It's been a long yet not very long distance we've gone through together thus far. There are many phases in his life I've seen, understood and sometimes accommodated, just the same way he has seen through my life phases and milestones. Appreciate him the way he is, always so understanding and compromising towards me and making me see the bigger picture in things, life and all. Wunderbar Wonderwen! Potato and leek soup to start withFoccacia bread to curb the hunger firstPortobello mushrooms - WW's favouritePromotional beer - Tuborg (under Carlsberg) one-for-one The Nan Ren :)Drinking barOur main courses of Vongole and black ink pasta with prawns and scallopsZooming into the food fast My order of black ink pasta with yummy shrimp bisque sauce We were outdoors seated facing the seas and SentosaYeahThe photos were rather dark, but good enough for a 2 Megapixel camera phone.

Friday, May 11, 2007

A different perspective on goals

Boss talked to me yesterday morning on my life goals and direction. Wasn't willing to reveal initially, but with some reassurance, I shared them. To my surprise, I got support and even encouragement. This is a very unique boss I have. I was even offered the chance to discuss my progress with h-- every monthly or quarterly. No jeopardisment to my career. And boss shared h-- personal probs with me, which was something big and to an extent, could be shattering to one. There's so much we don't see. Sometimes we just live in our holes and not touch base with other things around us.

So, yesh, I'm happy to find a supporter. Not someone who belittles my idea and think there won't be a market for it. Or laugh whenever I mention about it.

A piece of good news: We'll be flying off to New York later part of the year, with free air tickets! Lucky me won 2 return tickets to NY and we'll be off to visit WW's sis & her baby when she's born. Yippie, came just at the right time, many thanks to Overseas Singaporean Unit newly set up by PMO.

Sunday, May 06, 2007

太在乎

有时,太在乎未必是件好事。这份舍不得夕阳西下的心情总让人感到有些优伤,有些依依不舍。想到明日得面对的鱼缸似生活,脸上现出一丝纳闷。

有朝一日,我会过着与阳光共舞的日子。

可爱的妈妈

Written on our whiteboard

Mama's delivering a message in here. Can you guess what it is?