Friday, January 22, 2010

Trolak!

Last weekend was a team building event at the office, it was a pretty interesting experience. It gave me a chance to observe my colleagues and how they are outside the workplace.


According to the itenary, we were expected to be at the office lobby between 7.30 and 7.55 am. Yes, on a Saturday morning, sigh. But nonetheless I along with the rest of my colleagues made it to the pickup point by 7.55 am.


Unfortunately, due to the god damn Malaysian timing bull shit, the bus driver only came at 9 am!

Of course it pissed me off, cos I could have been sleeping given the late night I had ;)

Staff were against the event considering that the weekend was the only time they could recuperate, also majority were married, hence they had to factor in the welfare of their children and spouses.

Anyways, considering that this event was a chore to many as it was taking up their weekend, the delayed bus was added annoyance!


It fueled more side remarks from a number of staff. And it was sad that most of the comments led to the organizer of the event, when in actual fact it was due to the incompetence and irresponsibility of the bus driver.


Initially, when we were gathering at the office lobby, it was strange to notice that the staff had segregated themselves into two groups, separated based on one criterion, sex. This is one factor I don’t understand in my office. Perhaps it might be due to the fact that we’re in Islamic banking.


Nevertheless, me being a non-muslim female, I could have mingled with the men, but somehow I felt I would be out of place. Another problem I have with my workplace is language. Informal talk is done in Malay, and I just can’t bring my self to converse in Malay. Just not used to it! so I guess that would have added to the awkwardness had I gone to mingle with men. But some men did come and hang out with the women, so that wasn’t so bad.

During the wait for the bus, many groups had already been formed. Those from within the department had already grouped together and were gossiping amongst themselves, however there were one or two who took the initiative to welcome those from external departments, and that basically is the purpose of team building, to get to know your supporting departments!


By the time people were boarding the bus, groups had been formed, and people found their bus partners.


I went and sat by myself, and let who ever who wished to sit next to me.


Oh, another thing that irked me was that room partners were determined based on Race. Malays were put together, the two Indian women and 2 chinese women were put in room together. This I felt was unnecessary cos aren’t we supposed to be in the spirit of 1 Malaysia?


In the bus, everybody prepared themselves to sleep the 2 hour journey, but instead, we were interrupted for a treasure hunt at the Rawang rest stop. After the stop, we made another stop at a hot spring!


The hot spring was fun! We had to fight hot waters, trying to put our feet in, and attempting to relax at the same time. I somehow didn’t see the benefit of hot springs considering the fact that putting your feet into the water was terribly stressful! The water was hot for heavens sake!


People were even cooking eggs in them! And the whole time you’re sweating by the way! See what I mean by not relaxing!

When I got back into the bus, my colleagues thought I had showered! And even though I didn’t I told them I did, at least that way I’m not some kinda sweaty freak!


We finally reached our destination (Trolak) at about 1.30 pm, and by this time it was waaay past lunch time for most, and everybody got of the bus to have lunch first.


And of course, being the rare vegetarian, I tend to get forgotten. Lucky for me, one of the senior managers was also vegetarian for the month, so I knew vege food would be taken care of.

But due to the natural incompetence’s of some people, it didn’t occur to the resort to prepare our food in advance, instead, they waited for us to come, and make a request. Sigh…


After eating, we got our luggage, and prepared ourselves for the next item on the itenary.

Even when going to the rooms, there was whining along the way, about how there was no lift, and how come the organizer of the event got a room all by herself.


Malaysians just don’t stop complaining innit? Rather than coming up with a solution instead.

Lesson learnt from this: I am going to try very hard to not complain! Even if it’s about the weather. You might as well spend that time coming with a solution instead!


Next on the itenary was walking on a suspended rope. Suspended 20 feet high. And ure being supported by a belayer. Who weighs lighter than you do.

s.c.a.r.y

so walking across the first rope was fine for me, but the second one, you had to balance on suspended ropes, that were miles apart, this was farking hard okay!

And to make matters worse, we had to jump halfway through the rope, and trust the skinny belayer. It took me a good ten minutes just walking about 50 metres, and another ten minutes to jump!


Not easy okay!

I jumped mainly cos my ceo said I should jump, and considering that my confirmation depended on his decision, I did it!


Na, I’m just kidding, I actually felt confident of jumping because of his encouragement.


Here’s another thing, when people look at me, they immediately get the impression that it would be fun to bully me, so when I jumped, my lovely belayer suspended me in air for what seemed like forever! Then he dropped me inches above the ground ever so suddenly making me scream all over again *grr*.


Then we trekked back to our rooms, got some rest, went for dinner and prepared for the next item which was a blindfolded night walk

This I thought was an effective game as we were grouped in groups of ten, blindfolded and were led to some place. We were required to finish a trail blindfolded, having faith in the person at the front of the line.

The purpose of the game was mainly to improve your communication skills, as you are required to pass on info to the person behind you as well and makes sure it reaches the last person.

I was in put in the same group as my ceo (pee’s in pants), however, I did feel that I excelled at this game, as my colleagues got to know that I can understand and pass on messages if any. Also, I think my malay improved here, cos I ended up giving quite a bit (by my standards) of instructions in Malay! *pat on the head*

So this game definitely improved my communication skills! Yay!


Oh btw, my team won! Nyaahhahaha


After waiting for the rest of the teams to come, we headed back to our rooms for a much deserved shower and sleep!


Oh and I made so many new friends! Lynn's one of em, it's funny, she's from the legal department, and hehe, she has a lot of movies...

This piece has too many words :S

The whole team in out green shirts...

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Stress? What's that? La la la

Ok, I just had the craziest 2 hours of my life and it was fun!


On Fridays, it's sort of a self declared 2 hour lunch break, so I grabbed this opportunity to go for a job interview.


Situation:


Didn't have cash


No ATM around me (regardless of the fact that I work in a bank)


Low on Fuel


Airconditioning was conked


Late


worst, I got a summon =(


So I sped like a mad woman to hartamas, that's where the office was, and reached at 12.40 (terrible of me), I would have reached earlier, had I known the way, but Thank God for Quah, I got directions, found my way, found a parking immediately and thankfully, reached the office, went through the interview.


Unfortunately I didn't get it, as I already had another job which I was not willing to give up. (it's complicated, don't ask)


Left that office at 1.30, again, don't forget I'm terribly low on fuel without cash. Manged to get to a petrol station with an ATM, did the neccesary and it was 1.50 by then!


Got slightly lost on the way back again =.= but I managed to tackle it, so it wasn't too bad, reached work, needed to find parking, and rushed back to office, only to realise I had left the money I withdrew in the car, so no lunch.

8(


Rushed back to office and thankfully, my boss hadn't come back, so I was s.a.f.e. not to mention got time to blog as well


;p


Today taught me that if you truly believe that everything will be alright, it will, it really is alllll in the m.i.n.d. I was also surpridingly calm, and entertained by how I wasn't being stressed.


Lessons learnt:

If you're going somewhere new, make sure you drive beforehand to check it out.

Don't try and squeeze time (like a hero)

Always keep cash in hand ( a good idea would be to hide some in your bag, each and every bag you have)


Basically before doing anything, be it a meeting or just going to play a game, think of all possible scenarios and how you'd overcome them. So you get to prepare in advance.


And I guarantee you, life will be awesome. And always be calm. There really is no reason to S.t.r.e.s.s


Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Weird? No! That, highly likey!



Today, on my way to work, I saw this lady smiling to herself, and her eye caught mine, I looked away, it was waaay to early to smile back.





However, it did cross my mind that this lady was weird! Smiling to herself, early in the morning.




But then, it occurred to me, I also tend to smile to my self. That too, pretty often!




That's when I realised, if you were to see someone smiling to themselves, be sure to smile back, or at least feel happy for them instead of thinking that they're weird! (like what I did)




Smile people!


But one thing you wouldn't want to be caught doing is this!

I found this guy sleeping in the McD at Ampang Park. Poor thing, must have fallen asleep after having a session with himself!
Yuck!
In Public!!! Well, one good thing is, it brought a smile on my face! hahahaha
Eew!
Cheers,

Friday, January 15, 2010

Day one of Cycling to work

Phewww, I was quite relieved when I came home alive yesterday! Na, i'm just kidding, I knew i would!

But omg, you guys out there, please, don't think cycling's easy, it really isn't.

Even after having done a test run the night before, boy was I exhausted! I was sweaty when i reached Dang Wangi LRT station, but luckily, for one, I was prepared, had a towel with me, and toweled down all the way to work. Felt better after drying up, I wasn't uncomfortable as such,

BUT

I was exhausted to the core!

I was almost gonne turn back and wake my sister up, but I pushed my self, and in my head all I thought was, if I die, it'd be for a good cause.

Anywho, i locked my bike, when to work exhausted!

At work, my dad found out I had cycled to the LRT and called up to give me an earful. =.=

Dad's can be too over protective I tell you.

SAD thing is, everybody who matter to me are very much against me cycling to work.

Initially I contemplated against doing it, but then today, I was reading 'The monk who sold his Ferrari' and I'm back on my original plan of always always cycling to the LRT.

It makes me really happy to know I am, though in a very small way, contributing to the betterment of the environment.
So I shan't stop. Soon enough, I'll work on petitioning to the government about bicycle lanes!
Yay!

oh and yes today I didn't cycle to work today, cos my sis woke up, or rather, we were both woken up ;) dreadfully early, that too!

But Monday I shall be back on my two wheels! Taking life, just, simply...

Ps: I'll be off to Trolak for the weekend on a team building camp. Early morning tmw ='(

Off to bed now!
Night kiddies =)

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

It's never too late

For new years, I promised I would find a more convenient and green way of getting to work.

It's the 13th of January today.... better late than never right?

;)

So,
step 1:

today at work, during lunch, I went to the bicycle shop that's on Jalan Dang Wangi, near Heritage Row, and bought my self a bicycle lock!



It cost me only RM 15, from a pleasant old man, who talked about how selling bicycles alone wasn't enough to survive...

Next,




Get the bicycle ready!

When I went to get it, I found out that the tyres were flat, actually i only found out after taking the bike out of my house... Like far far away from home, so i had no choice but to cycle to the LRT station, since it was also near a Petrol Station.

Basically I was forced.

At the station, I put on the most pitiful face I could, and luckily there was a guy who was pumping air into his bike, looking at me clueless, he helped me pump air into my bike!

yay puppy dog face!

So here's what's happening, I will be cycling to the Damai Lrt station, after a test run today, here's what I found out

> It takes about 15 minutes to the station
> I might get sweaty, so must bring extra towel
>If I'm wearing a skirt how do I cycle?
>I will not be able to handle a hand bang and cycle safely simultaneously
>oh and it's pretty tiring ='( on the plus side, this would work my body and stamina, so all good yo!

Nevertheless, I will do it, for the sake of the environment at least.

So last but not least, I should remember the



Yup Yup! the key! tres important! Else, I won't be able to lock my bike and somebody might steal it.

So I have have have to remember that.

And on days my sister goes to work in the mornings, I'll be getting a ride of her, I'll wear skirts and make up on those days
hahahaha

Wish me luck for tmw! Hopefully I don't give up!