Sunday, January 28, 2007

New Shopping Mall...Square 2

Square 2 is the new shopping mall located near my office and is now one of our favourite lunch time hang out place. It is meant to be a korean hub...similar to far east which is a japanese hub. After going there for lunch over the past few days, my only conclusion of the half opened mall is it is filled with many shoes shop.

Not sure if it is due to the low spirit, i was bringing shopping bag back from lunch over the past 3 days. My purchase include a belt, shoe for the CNY and a tankini for our gathering on 3 Feb.



I really need to control my spending for now. :-(

Final Verdict

The final verdict is out... my application for the wella is a final closed case as both parties didn't manage to give way (ie. Wella couldn't afford to wait for me for 3 months and my boss couldn't release me anytime any earlier). Oh Gosh, how unlucky can i be right? But what to do, all i can say that i am unlucky and poor timings.

I should really thanks those who read my blogs and send me sms and msn to console me. I am okie but i just need time to recover. Not to forget my thai boss, he is a nice guy and did all he can and yet has to undergo my ourburst at him on Friday after hearing that my is indeed a closed case. Even though i have prepared for the worst but it still hurts to hear it again.

So many questions in my mind but no answers to it. (Why must it be me? How come I am so unlucky, I am so closed to it? Am i greedy? Can't i just learn from others and not be an idealist? Why must i chase after my dream so hard? Is there something wrong that i do?...blah blah blah.)

All i can hope or believe now is 天无绝人之路 and when one door is closed another door might be opening soon even though to me now all doors seem to closed on me.

Saturday, January 20, 2007

When I thought all was good or turning towards good......

I should apologise to all who is reading this entry as it will be a sad entry filled with anger, disappointment and saddness. Hence, for those who are used to seeing a happy krissy, this will show another side of her and for those who don't like sad entry...skip this entry.

As far as i can remember, there are 3 instances where i really cry like there is no tomorrow.. to you, you might find the below reason as to my outburst as childish or "夸张" or unneccessary but being a crybaby these are instances where i really can't control:

1. When i failed my second driving practical test, i felt useless as i actually freak out during the test. That was so useless of me, i felt i let myself down so badly.

2. When i was being critised by someone during work doing some stupid stuff and actually quit my job because of that. So unprofessional of me to quit just like that. But i realli felt very 委屈 during the process as i was fresh out of school and doing something that even a primary school children is capable of and i stuck in the place doing that.

3. When i was unemployed and sink into a slight depression. I questioned my existence everyday and why things happen this way? Is it my fault? Is there something wrong with me? I felt super helpless at that time and i always feel that no one understand and everyone is pushing me to a route that i did'nt want to go.

When i mentioned in my previous entry with all the good things or news (ie, wedding bells ringing, new baby on the way and most importantly a potential new job) that i have been receiving since the start of the new year, i am always telling myself that this should be a stunning year or at least a better year as compared to the previous. Who will know that this will happen to me? It is such a big blow to me.

Though i have been to countless interviews but this is one that i thought if i did great, i will have a high chance of getting it. Hence i gave my best shot. When i am thinking everything is looking great for me, my dreams are dashed and not because i didn't do well but because of someone's selfishness. I really can't believe it. I cried till my tears just can't be control (maybe it is because i am someone who's tears glands are more active) but i am really 心痛 and helpless. Side note: thanks to those who listened to all my sorrows and crying. sorry for making you all worried about the useless me. I must be very 失态 but i really can't control. I would be worst if you all never lend a listening ear or provided those encouraging sms...offering to go shopping with me which i doubt will make me better. Nothing would make me feel better now. :-(

Back to where i am.....I have been waiting for this chance to move back to marketing and I am even prepared that it might not be the ideal marketing job or environment sucks but at least it enable me to move back to the path that i am dieing for. Even if it really did suck, i will be able to 忍 for a few years and it would create a better platform for me to move on. Unlike now, where my title isn't helping me a single bit but pushing me away from the course.

For those who are not aware, when i wanted to apply for this job, i went through the proper channel to inform my boss and they are aligned to it and say as long as there is proper transitioning, i will be able to change. Then now they tell me that considering now that one of my colleague is in hospital, another is leaving, my boss and director is leaving soon so the whole team is only left with my boss's boss while the rest are new so she don't think now is the right time to release me. Gosh! Do you know how i felt at that moment when these words reach my ears? I was still thinking that it will be good news when my boss and his boss ask to talk to me..how naive i am, right? She even dare to tell me that she is selfish and explain that to find a replacement is so difficult. But can't they just look from outside like how they found me? Furthermore, if i were to quit, they will also have to handle that within one month. I am so angry that i told her that i will still continue to look for opportunities outside and i will only be giving her 1 month notice. In that case, she also need to handle that isn't it? So to me it is whether they want or not, right? If everyone's movement was planned, why did they agree to me to attend the interview? Giving me a hope and crashing it right in front is so cruel of them. It is like telling a kid that she will have a sweet if she is good and when she is good, you eat that same sweet in front of her instead of giving to her. Or thinking there is light at the end of tunnel where you have been trapped for the longest time ever but to find that it is a dead end. I would rather they don't let me know and i will be still thinking that i lose to competition and at least i wouldn't feel so bad. Still dare to tell me they did'nt want me to feel that i did'nt do well in the interview but actually i did impress the other departments but just that because of current situation they can't let me go. Promising me that they will now look into planning for my move but can they find the exact things that i want or by then they will be giving me another story? They themselves know that it is so difficult to have such a position available. I have been in this role for 1.5 yrs and this is the 1st time that i come across such position. I can't wait another 1.5 yrs anymore.... I am really moving away from my goal. They are full of CRAP!

Everything that they say are from their viewpoints but have they ever thought how i will feel? They never understand how badly I wanted this. Dragging myself to work for the past 1.5 yrs...motivating myself that something good will be coming my way...Envying others where they are in a job that they like...this is the chance i am looking for the past 4 yrs and now it just slip through my fingers like that. The minute i think of this, my tears just can't be control and start sliping out from my ends of my eyes. I am not sure why i have to go through such a hard time in my career? Why can't I be others? I don't know what i have done wrong to deserve all this? Is it because i went telling everyone such a good chance that i have and so the luck just went away from me?

I am now so helpless, i don't know how to turn the situation around. I don't know how to talk myself out of this sadness. I don't want to end up in something i don't enjoy for the next 10, 20 or 30 yrs.

I didn't put up a fierce fight on Friday as i know my tears are coming out and i don't to be viewed as a crybaby or being so unprofessional and childish. Hence, i will talk to her again on Monday though i seriously don't feel like seeing their face again and i know nothing will be able to change the situation as the way they talked it is like a dead decision and it was just formality that they tell me first instead of me knowing from the other department... but i have to make my points out to her. Let them realise that for saying how good i am and that is what i get... it is not fair to me and super piss with them for doing that to me. I no longer value my stay with them.... I don't value the company or the department as much as they think.

Sorry everyone, i need a way to vent my fustration and make my tears all dry up...preparing for the big showdown on Monday and this is my only venue. I believe that the more i say maybe my tears will just stop and maybe provide a different perspective of the issues. You can't believe how badly I am taking this and sorry for all the poor attitude or black face that i might show you if we ever meet but this is really not a good way to start the year and i am really heartbroken inside. Nothing for me has been smooth sailing since ages. Haiz.

P.s. Please do not be affected by me and lose the faith in chasing your dreams or goals as i doubt anyone is as unlucky as me.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Friendship

I meet up with my friends for dinner at my favourite Japanese restaurant - Waraku Japanese Restaurant...it served very authentic Japanese food at a very reasonable price.

Below are some of the dishes that we order
Appetizers:
starting from left: Hotate Mayonnaise - yummy & cheesy!, Hotate butter, Age dashi Tofu, Okonomi Yaki (japanese pancake)

Main course:


Clockwise from left: Katsu Don, Sashimi 3 Kinda, Chanpon Udon, Hotate Kaminabe, Chicken Kaminabe

That's all the pictures we have that day as usual my friends are all camera shy so my blog will be an wordy one.


During the dinner, we were recalling our days working together. Back then we were all young (not that we are super old now) and fresh out of school, we work and play real hard together. When we were all together, there will be endless laughter and jokes. Now that we have all moved on to different places, we realise that we have the most fun working together... it has nothing to do with the company or our roles but because we make true friends in the process.

This make me think of a book that i have been reading for the past weeks...A Brand New Friend.
Storyline:
When Rob's girlfriend asks him to leave London and live with her in Manchester, it means leaving behind his friends in the entire world. Believing that Love can conquers all and confident that he'll meet new friends, Rob takes the plunge. Six months in, and yet to find so much as a regular drinking buddy, Rob realise that sometimes making friends in your thirties can be the hardest thng to do. With drastic action needed, his girlfriend places an ad in the classifieds for him. Three excruciatingly embrassing "bloke dates" later, he's on the verge of despair until his luck changes. There's just one problem. Apart from knowing less than nothing about music trivia, football, and the vital statistics of supermodels, Rob's new friend has a huge flaw. She's a girl.

I agreed a lot with the points that the author make about making friends.

In the book, it mentioned that by thirties, we will have meet most of our friends and is pretty difficult to find new friends unless it is through work. If you notice, not all the friends that you meet through work will actually last very long since once you moved on to another job, you will most likely start to lost touch with them since it required a huge effort to always stay in touch. On the other hand, you will be also meeting new friends from your new job and the friendship from your previous job start to fade off.

Another point that was mentioned in the book was that when we start a relationship, our life start to surround our partner. He/she become our focus in life. We will not be hanging out with our friends but girlfriend's of your boyfriend's friends. When our relationship ended and we will try to return to our old friends but we are no longer close to them since you are no longer able to fit into their life since they have move on and many changes have happened in their life which we can't relate anymore. We will be building our friendship all over again. Hence, the point is not to neglect your friends when you are starting a relationship as they are usually the ones who will be there when you hit the rough patch. Furthermore, sometimes the opposite sex just can't understand your views and only your true friends stay by you and hear through all your sorrows.

Friendship is like every relationship which requires alot of maintence and effort on all parties. Even though i am not one that has alot of friends but at least i have friends whom i can share my joys and sorrows with. It is real fortunate for me to be able to meet people who i can click with. I will definetly put in effort to see that these friendship last till my old age or even when we move on to the different phases of our lives.

Sandals

My current workplace doesn't require us to be very corporate in our dressing, hence as usual my lazy self will turn up in my very comfortable sandals aka slippers for work on wed. Never did i expect that i was required to go for the interview at 1130 for the Marketing Asst position i applied for. Hence, i was switched to my panic mood once i read the email for the interview. What could be worst was i have a meeting from 930 - 11am so i have to be super fast or i will be late for the interview which is of course a big negative impression. Hence, i informed the HR that i can only reach by 1145 which they are okie with it.

Next problem to solve will be my outfit...lucky for me i didn't turn up with my usual t-shirt and jeans so my only problem was with my sandals. Thinking of the shoes i eyed previously at charles & keith, i thought my shoes will be a simple problem. Who knows after i rush down after my meeting which as usual ended late, it was SOLD OUT!

Left with no other choice, i actually spend $35 for a pair of heels that matches the color of my outfit but it wasn't comfortable at all. But i have no choice :-(

So i drag myself in this uncomfortable shoe all the way from Novena to Tanjong Pagar. Thank god it didn't create any blister for me. Hopefully it give me some luck to my interview where i will know the results next week. If i really get the job then i shall named it my lucky green shoes.

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

What a nice way to start the new year

Yipee! Nothing beats receiving good and happy news at the start of a new year even though it is only happening on people which i care for so much. It makes you think that the rest of the year will be as good as it can get. So let me do the honour by announcing the below news:

1. One of my good friend from Poly - Mandy is expecting baby no. 2 who is due in August. So there will be a 小金猪 this year for them. Side note: i suspect she like farm animals since her first baby - Issac is a chicken. Hope that she get a baby girl this time so she will have a 好 though the chances are slim since she feel the same way when she is pregnant with Issac.

2. My best friend of 14 years is getting officially married this year though the dates is not fixed yet. This is the first wedding among our group. Really happy to hear that there will be a wedding dinner in place and so i will have chance to be a "啊姨". Should start thinking of ways to "te kan" the groom but still the bride-to-be being such a nice wife would most likely prohibit us for making things too difficult for the groom. If the bride is reading my blog, remember to invite me when you go for the fitting session. Sorry for being such a kay poh but want to tap on your good luck mah. Excuses again. :P

3. Lastly, i have asked for an internal transfer to Wella Professional department as Marketing Assistant. Though it is a not a fancy role but at least i am back to marketing if ever i get the job. Furthermore, it is such a rare instances where there is an A&T position in marketing since their minimum level is Band 1 or 2 Manager. So those who are reading this entry, please pray hard for me that i will succeed in the interview either this week or next week...please lend me all the luck u have. If i am selected, i promise to return the luck doubly.

That's all the good news i have been receiving since the start of the year. Please do update me if there is any more good news happening to you since i enjoy sharing the joy with people who i care for. :-)

Sunday, January 7, 2007

Looking Back 2006 and Looking Forward for 2007

The last week of 2006 was actually spent at home recovering from my wisdom tooth operation, sofa searching and house cleaning. I was dragging myself back to work on 3 Jan like all the school children returning back to school (no more chance that I can sleep till whatever time I like, watching my favorite TV programmes in the afternoon and most importantly no more slacking at my sofa, etc...argh). I shouldn't start my first blog of this New Year with all these negativism.

One interesting thing on my way home that day was seeing this secondary school girl on my bus. I assume she is a secondary 1 student and this was her first time taking the bus back home alone. Apparently she don't really know which stop to align so she was a bit panicky asking 2 other girls which is the bus stop that she should align. But we couldn't help her as we are also not familiar with the area so she ran to ask the bus driver which i think she is brave. When she align, i saw her dad with her younger siblings waiting for her at the bus stop... can tell her dad is also worried she will align at the wrong stop and her siblings all excited about her 1st day in school...so sweet. Then I started to recall my first day in school. Lucky for me I have an elder sister so I always have someone to test the route so I just follow. But I always remember this story that my mum tell me about my first day in kindergarten. As my parents are not very educated so I went to kindergarten without being able to speak a single word of English and also can't write or read any word. So when the teachers asked every one of us to write our names... I freak out and start crying at the parents waiting outside our classroom, asking them for help to write my name...I bet it must be a scene since I was a crybaby. On the other hand, I think I was smart to use my tears as a way to ask for help. HeHe. Another lame excuse by me.

Looking back 2006 has been a better year for me when I compare what I have been through in 2005 (for those who have not been with me in 2004 & 05, I was hitting an early mid life crisis or the rock bottom of my life with unemployment of close to an year...I started to question my abilities, reason for being in this world, etc...to simplified I was in a state of depression...trying to stay strong in front of people but the inner me was crashing to bits and pieces.) Hence below will be some of the accomplishments that are important to me and my goals or resolutions for 2007:

1. Career

I have stayed in a job that I don't enjoy a single bit and work culture that is totally different from what I wanted for coming close to 1.5 yrs. If not for my long unemployment in 2004 - 05, I will have long quit this job like what I will normally do in the past but I didn't choose this option. Instead I try to adjust myself to stay in this role and treat it as a way where I can be stronger as a person and a place where I can learn new things even though I have not stop complaining and comparing with those lucky ones who are in a job that I am so envy that my eyes turned green (a bit exaggerating lah :p).

I always believe that this are part and parcel of life and this is just a path that I took wrongly but eventually I will still be where I want to be if I believe and continue to try real hard to find the right path to lead me there...I am just not like those lucky people and all I need is more time and I will still be at the same destination as the lucky ones. I will continue and use my current company as a good platform for me to reach where I want to be in my career. I believe I have the talent and qualities to reach the ultimate destination and there will be people out there who can recognize and see this so I should not give up my goal. 加油了!

2. Health

Being a 胆小鬼, I have phobia for needles, operations and hence I never donated blood or even draw blood for any examination. However, I have my first blood test this year. Maybe I should try to do something more meaningful like donating blood...really wonder when I will have the courage to do that.

Above that, I was also having problems with my wisdom tooth and have been delaying the removal for close to 2 yrs since everyone around me keep telling me all sort of horrible stories with the dentist. But with 2006 coming to an end, I actually went for the removal and the bravest thing is that I not only remove 1 but 2 teeth at one go. Thanks to Dr Justin Ang at Smile Dental. He is so good that I actually don't feel much pain throughout the process. He really makes me feel so safe and brave.

So morale of the story: Get a good doctor even though it will cost more and telling the doctor that you are actually afraid and if they are good, they will be able to help you overcome your fears.

3. Lifestyle

Being a sucker at sports (运动白痴) and I can even remember how much I hated PE during my school days... having coming up with all sort of excuses and stunts to avoid PE. There is actually some breakthrough for me, I actually picked up rollerblading though I am not very good and is very slow at it. But at least now I am exercising on a weekly basis though it is not having any impact at reducing my weight. For this, I really should thanks Yovi for accompanying me every week and teaching me how to blade and most importantly motivating me to complete my rounds.

Above that, she also helps cultivate another new hobby for me and that is reading. I have always been a magazine people and it has been like how many donkey years that i last read a storybook. After reading Something blue by Emily Griffin and Murder list by Juliet Garwood, I decided to start reading more for 2007. Now I am in the midst of reading Brand New Friend by Mike Gayle and Monday's Child by Louise Bagshawe.

Not forgetting, we also have 8 lessons picking up Salsa but because of the lack of guys in our class we didn't continue. So should I found my prince charming, I will pick it up again.

Hopefully in 2007, I can also learn another new sport and that is swimming or golf and I also thinking of joining a fitness studio with SJ so I can work out more and maybe bring down my weight. Otherwise my life will be so boring with just work, home, sleep and the cycle continues.

4. Savings

I don't remember if I hear it from someone one or I read it somewhere but there is this saying that we should at least have at least 6 months of our monthly income as savings. This year I see myself finally repaying all the money that I borrowed from my mum during my 2 years in uni as well as during my unemployment so finally I am seeing some savings in my account. Hence, this year goal is to save at least 6 months of my monthly income before I can proceed to get my life insurance and then investment. Hopefully in 2007, I will see my financial in better conditions.

5. Pass It On

I grew up in a family where my parents are not very well off and we are neither extremely poor but as both of them are not very educated, I have received a lot of help from people around us. I always believe in passing it forward. With my sister and I now in the corporate world and finally graduated from uni, my family conditions have improved quite a bit. Hence, i believe that the best way to repaid people who have helped us along the way is really to help other people who are in similar situation as we used to be... Hence, I have been helping my neighbour’s kid in her school work, assisting my aunt in coaching my god brother and also doing some charity work. These are little ways that I can pass it forward. I really hope that I can sponsor a child through the world vision programme this year after my financials become greener since sponsoring a child is a long term thing and I don't want to overly drain my financials too.

6. Blogging

I shouldn't forget that I started blogging late last year and I should continue blogging this year even though I don't have much readers but at least I have a channel to put down my thoughts. Maybe I will inform my friends once I become a more regular blogger.

7. Travelling

Travelling has been more of a work related event in 2006 where I visited Philippines and Ipoh. Being someone who enjoys travelling, I really hope my financials will allow me to visit different parts of the world more this year and also visit my friend in states which is long overdue. Not forgetting that I always wanted to bring my parents to overseas when they are still healthy. At least I know that there might be a potential Hong Kong trip coming in may'2007 if ever I decided to tag my colleague back. Another trip to Guangzhou in July if I am still in current role since there is a 3 days workshop and I believe that my boss will allow me to go but i hope i wouldn't be able to go as that will mean that i am still in the role that i don't like.

Well done Krissy and there is lots more to accomplish in 2007! I shall be off to an even better year in 2007 :-)

P.s. sorry for the long and wordy entry.