We need to move on

I have been recently enlightened by Farish Noor in his recent book that touched on something that is like a thorn in our minds. Of how our nation has been segregated on purpose before merdeka, and how we are still doing it. so we typically stereotype the malays are lazy, the chinese are greedy and the indians are sleazy & drunkies. but in reality this is not entirely true. there are drunk chinese...and there are greedy malays and etc etc.

the point is that we are Malaysians. we went wrong in the first place when we allowed the british to brand us that way. To ensure that we are 'properly controlled' konon. and that we are all 'specialized' in our own ways, and how the brits have just made us more 'effective' by leveraging on our strengths...

so primitive, kan.

and yet, we have not broken away from that stereotype. how many of us are guilty of making racist remarks or even a casual commentary about other races and stereotyping typical behaviour based on race.

and today, I am again reminded by our ex-PM, read: chedet-racist .

the truth is that not all of us think that way. or maybe that's what I hope we are. it's time to take a step forward to a new Malaysia. one that sees a man as a man, and not if he's brown, yellow, or black.

peace.

Statistics...

Take it easy no matter what you're doing. Do what you can and do it while you still can. Afterall, we end up as part of the statistics anyways :). (quote: SK) have a great weekend.

My 1st Week

I told myself I'll never leave my ex-company...unless this current one offers me a job! and IT DID! Although I do agree that things would have been different if I actually got the job much earlier. My ex-company was an eye-opener to many fantastic work experiences that I would take away with me. always.

I guess hard work does pay off. And hell it's been a tough road for me. From automotive, to telco to recruitment/outsourcing and now to oil & gas. It hasn't been easy and my learning curve has always been quite unimaginable. I've also given up a managerial position twice. And with no regrets. If i'm paid more everytime to learn something new, it's ok to give up a comfort zone in a managerial role. That's my opinion anyways. it's good to never stop learning....

I really do hope I'll make the cut here though.

What Your Teacher Didnt' Tell You

redefining and clarifying the Malaysian's history ........

I'm gonna be missing Breakfast time

there won't ever be another pest who would always pester me for breakfast..

one who made me addicted to pakcik's nescafe c ice...

i'll miss the endless chatter,

the monday catchup time....

as we while away an hour or so, before work hits us at 8.30am.

sigh. my timeout sessions shall be missed.

Exploited!

The more I work and the more I see, I can't help but feel exploited at times. You know, I'm the type who doesnt say NO, same as few friends of mine, O and Jo. We both got this problem and tend to be the natural fall guys whenever there's 'extra' work to be done. I dont mind the work really. But it becomes a problem when people take advantage of your weakness and pile you up with work.

The solution is easy. Either you suck it in and do the work, then plan to leave. Or just say NO and risk being labelled as 'NOT A TEAM PLAYER'. I always opt for the first solution, and always tell myself, I'll do it and embrace the work and learn, but I'll have the last laugh when I leave.

Sadly, this may form a pattern in my next few years of employment. I really need to do something about this, else I'll risk leaving every employment just because I can't say NO. OR.....I could just be self-employed!

....And the Hardest Part

I'm leaving again, for a new job. I hate to leave when the tough gets going, but it was an offer I could not refuse and it was the right thing to do. This time around, is the hardest to say goodbye to. Not only was my boss a great mentor, but the journey thus far has been a most memorable and challenging of all. Not only have I triumphed over the toughest clients and outsourcing units, but I've also proved that I can do it! Alas, it was just not my calling. I have come to a point where I realized that I can do just about anything so long as I put my mind and soul to it.

And that I have. Along with some of the best team mates ever, from one project to another, I've really pushed myself and realized my limits. It's just that, I'm not ready to take up a leadership role. I know I should be happy to be promoted after barely 2 years, but I'm happier as a team player. How unambitious, I know!, but that's just who I am. I enjoy the adrenaline rush in winning and execution of projects, no matter how hard it is. I dont enjoy taking the blame, or putting the blame on someone, or worrying about resources and business forecast. It's just not my thing.

And with this, I bid farewell to a promotion, to a wonderful journey, to one of the best employment thus far, to my wonderful and fantabulous team members, Aa.C,His.O,Fx.T, Y, T.Jan, J.Ash, W.Pin, Monz, L.Kuo, M.J, Gd, O.T, N.Th, J.Ch. You guys are the best!

Material Girl 2

It baffles me how some people put so much emphasis on their possessions, but I think it's inevitable these days because of commercials and to some extent peer pressure. All the MUST-Haves that is seasonal. All the gadgets that they need to have. All the clothes/accessories they just gotta have. And the latest phone (it's like everyone has to get an iPhone).

Now we can choose to ignore it, and go by our own ways... Or we can succumb to the lure of the MUST-HAVES. Either way, I think it's just fine...as long as you're not getting yourself into a debt unnecessarily. If you can afford it, why not.

I guess I was never one to envy or to have such wants. Maybe it's the McScrooge in me, or the practical me. I feel like I should succumb, to conform to what's considered a norm these days. Seriously people think I'm odd that I dont change my phone, but I have the luxury to chuck it wherever coz it's so old that no one would steal it anyways. M was using her nokia butterfly phone(with the blue screen) for ages, and had it not been an accident that broke it, I think M would have continued to use it till now. I just dont see the logic in spending so much on something, then worrying later if you'd get robbed.

What is in your must-have list?

The Bargaining Chip

I had an interesting conversation about how one should plan their career. Find your bargaining chip. It will be the deciding factor for your boss whether to keep you or let you sail.

More often than not, your bargaining chip would be EDUCATION which determines your qualification. With that you can GO anywhere. It's always good to be in pursuit of higher academics whenever you can, be it in language or a professional certification to further enhance your profession.

Although a good experience under your belt would be good, make sure that the experience is relavant enough to be your bargaining chip. Try not to be jack of all trades.

Find your bargaining chip.

Imnes Got Hitched!

If you don't already know it, imn got hitched on the 30th April 2010. It was too bad neither of us back hom could attend the registration in UK but we're happy for imn + jason nevertheless. We will have to make it there next year for the first church wedding in the family!

aaron and kyra would be much much older and 'controllable" (i hope).

thx to Eva and Atami for representing us....but, erm, when are we gonna see the pics? Larn? Imn?

Eva

My mom was just telling me how I've known Eva for donkey years...since I was a 5-year-tot. You cannot imagine how much we've shared and been through together despite parting our ways after Form 5. I have to tell you that despite the years, she's still the same! Domineering and our Miss Datin still.

It's always amazing to be reunited with old friends and we really do connect in different levels and ways that no other can understand. And we dont have to explain in great lengths to one another (which saves a lot of time!!). Our dinner and coffee-of-the-day was just like good old times. Except that this time round, Tzewei was back and it was double the fun. oh, and also Ming's little addition in our group of ladies!

so since I know....you'll be reading this, Eva, get home safe and be a great Witness to Imn getting HITCHED and make sure you get your ass back for my BIG Day in DEC!

love from all of us here :)

When It's All About The Money....

It's always the freshies who ask me how much is the job paying.... It's always the freshies asking what benefits the company can offer, even at the 1st interview. Either they have not learned how to be tactful when it comes to when is appropriate to ask these questions ; or they just want the blatant truth, what are they worth.

And that's the irony. They aren't worth anything until they've proved themselves. And to have the audacity to 'bargain'. What is your bargaining chip? Being young and having a degree means nothing if you dont have any experience. As far as employers are concerned, your cv is a blank cv. The only thing that can entice someone to hire a freshie, it still boils down to attitude. That's what wins an interview, I think. People love to see a young, energetic, HUMBLE, willing to learn gungho attitude from freshies. Being arrogant and flashing degrees from reknown universities really doesnt help at all.

Iskandar.....

White Elephant?
Why Iskandar when you have Cyberjaya?
Hello KItty???? omg....

Between love and madness, lies xenophobia

Between love and madness, lies xenophobia....

Will You Be My Bridesmaid?

Well, and so I thought I'll be really creative (and not lazy!) and instead of just asking someone to be my bridesmaid, I'll make a blog for my bridesmaids. Just so they know how special they mean to me, no joke!

It will be a portal for them especially those overseas, to plan for their travel itinerary, and also for me to upload maps and info for them. And there are also some 'male' bridesmaids...well whoever said they have to be female anyways :)

Also a good portal for them to plan the 'games' for andrew...

But it's still early. But, it's always good to be prepared.

Here's a poem I extracted from some card and modified....

As friends, we have travelled many roads together

.....through difficult times, and happy times,

Laughed and cried together,

Would you take one more step with me...

Would you be my Bridesmaid?

Macau

It was a surprisingly good trip. We scaled the hills and lonely roads in Macau and had a greatttttt time. From St. Paul's ruins to Cotai Strip to St Francis Xavier church in Coloane, it was all a great experience and we had a lot of good photographs.

The only bad experience was us getting on the cab to our hotel. I told the taxi driver in Cantonese to take us to Ole London Hotel. He screwed us and said he doesnt know where that is, and I gave him the address in printed in English, and kena screw lagi. Finally, on my last bid, I pronounced London in a chinese-y way, and THEN he knew where it was! GOsh!!!!!!!!!!

The only thing that really irks me are the Chinese nationals who were on the flight back to KL with us. I had to sit next to a chinese lady, and it was ok until I saw her wearing those disposable gloves. My mind was running wild thinking what the hell is she trying to do. Then she proceeded to take a plastic bag out from her bag, and starting eating ROAST PORK.... with the hand in glove! and spitting bones out to the vomit bag in the other hand. Well prepared I must say, except that she left a big patch of oil (porky) on the tray...... Let's not even talk about her digging her nose profusely before her 'meal'.

CNY 2010

it was a quiet CNY this year... I was the only sibling back for the new year eve dinner this time round. But I really enjoyed bumming in Ipoh...there's just something about Ipoh that I can't quite pinpoint. Maybe K is right about Ipoh being the best city in the world.

I spent a few days reading Zen and Taoism comic books. It's like a weird ritual whereby I always read them before CNY.....THe same books year after year. Something calming about that (or maybe it's just cause there's no ASTRO in Ipoh..hehe). I keep discovering new things..and there's something that I took away with me this time....that we should never succumb to materialism. we should not get attached to material things. It's silly but there are many amongst us who are slaves to branded stuff.

Another thing I learnt from my mom this CNY is GREED. Greed is I think is what breaks a family. I learnt from my mom that it's ok to be generous to a greedy person. One may think that he/she has gotten the best out of you, but God knows and God sees.

happy CNY and have a prosperous year ahead.

CNY bowling

Had a good time today with the kids from Agathians.. I must say I have not done any bowling since forever! Almost forgot how good it feels. I still suck at it, but enjoy it nevertheless. It was a bit chaotic though... Had a chance to see their quarters today, it's a bit congested and messy. Feels good to do something different for this CNY. The experience only makes me appreciate my life more. Peace.

The Boat That Rocked

I'm surprised how much I've enjoyed this. Haha. I think all these movies (ever since Zombieland) have hit my funny bone. This is a movie about Pirate Radio...and if you love music, especially the 60s...you'll like this movie. It's about a pirate radio station on a boat, about recklessness, rock 'n' roll, the 60s, about deejays and love for music. I like the end when they rolled an array of album covers. Nice. Reminded me of that book on music albums Imn bought for me. Watch it for the music!

Zombieland

Seriously just for fun!!!! loads of laughter and a feel-good movie. enjoy.