As usual, I have to send Isa to school before going to work at M*. I was on my way home. I need to make a right turn and I always remind myself to be extra careful before doing so.
There are no oncoming cars and I checked the lane is cleared though it is round a bend.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, appeared a black racing car coming towards me!
I have already started moving and the ONLY way is to continue making my turn and pray hard that the oncoming car would slow down.
I did not know if he/she has slowed down slightly to avoid a crash but my heart nearly jumped out, seeing it speeding towards me!
I was greatly relieved that I am still one piece! My heart was still pumping very fast when I reached home.
I remind myself to be extra, extra careful when making a Right Turn.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Mid Autumn Festival
Today is mid autumn festival.
It is quite a big festival in Korea and my Korean friend, Kwon, has returned to his hometown with his family for a short break from work.
I have eaten quite a few snow-skin mooncakes. This year, Isa fell in love with mooncakes. She follows my preference and likes snow-skin type more than the traditional ones.
My work in M* is coming to an end soon. The lunch and dinner provided have been wonderful. Each day, besides rice with various meat and vegetables plus soup, one can also choose to have cooked on the spot food such as hokkien mee or roti prata with curry or even fishball noodles. For me, all meals have been rice! After a heavy meal, I eat a banana after each meal too.
The afternoon brief was getting easier for me after I have tried once. Nevertheless, I will not have many chances to brief after my stay in M* ends.
It is quite a big festival in Korea and my Korean friend, Kwon, has returned to his hometown with his family for a short break from work.
I have eaten quite a few snow-skin mooncakes. This year, Isa fell in love with mooncakes. She follows my preference and likes snow-skin type more than the traditional ones.
My work in M* is coming to an end soon. The lunch and dinner provided have been wonderful. Each day, besides rice with various meat and vegetables plus soup, one can also choose to have cooked on the spot food such as hokkien mee or roti prata with curry or even fishball noodles. For me, all meals have been rice! After a heavy meal, I eat a banana after each meal too.
The afternoon brief was getting easier for me after I have tried once. Nevertheless, I will not have many chances to brief after my stay in M* ends.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Year-end holidays
Last year around this time, I bought air tickets to Tokyo. Each ticket cost as low as $399 nett by Malaysia Airlines. This year, a similar ticket costs as much as $1000during the Dec period. The 7 days Japan Rail pass cost about $450. The total cost of a return air ticket and a rail pass was less than $900 per person. This year, $1000 merely bought me a return air ticket. So my dream of going to Japan this year-end was gone.
I started looking for reasonably priced air tickets to Taiwan, Beijing and even Hong Kong. Last year, I went to Beijing on a working trip and had a wonderful experience with heavy snow. This year, why not go to Beijing with my loved ones. Again, I did not find any suitable air tickets. In fact, the news said that the prices of air tickets would continue to rise due to recovery of economy.
After a year of hard work, surely I deserve a good holiday? But where can I go?
Sandy in HK has been asking when I would come to HK. Yes, it has been quite some years since I went to HK and I miss the vegetarian meal at Lantau Island. But again, where can I find reasonably priced air tickets?
I started looking for reasonably priced air tickets to Taiwan, Beijing and even Hong Kong. Last year, I went to Beijing on a working trip and had a wonderful experience with heavy snow. This year, why not go to Beijing with my loved ones. Again, I did not find any suitable air tickets. In fact, the news said that the prices of air tickets would continue to rise due to recovery of economy.
After a year of hard work, surely I deserve a good holiday? But where can I go?
Sandy in HK has been asking when I would come to HK. Yes, it has been quite some years since I went to HK and I miss the vegetarian meal at Lantau Island. But again, where can I find reasonably priced air tickets?
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Second Week in M*
The first week of Term 4 was over in a blink of eyes. What have I done? I reached home almost 8pm. After a brief rest, it was about time to sleep.
The 3 days course conducted on 15 Sep at S* has been extremely challenging. The class size was big (more than 30 participants). The participants were eager to learn and thus they asked a lot of "intelligent" questions during the lesson. This has somehow made the learning atmosphere fun and interesting.
The buffet lunch served is still as wonderful as before. I particularly like the salad served and I could not help myself with an extra serving of the salad. The tea-break was still average. Anyway, I just want a cup of hot coffee to perk myself up in the morning.
My next trip to S* should be around March 2011 - about half a year later!
The working days in M* were hectic. First, the working environment was strange. So many people working a small enclosed space. Second, the food served was below average. The rice often runs out due to popular demand. I need rice to survive well.
I am determined to be the first few to reach the dining area to have my RICE served during the coming week.
The 3 days course conducted on 15 Sep at S* has been extremely challenging. The class size was big (more than 30 participants). The participants were eager to learn and thus they asked a lot of "intelligent" questions during the lesson. This has somehow made the learning atmosphere fun and interesting.
The buffet lunch served is still as wonderful as before. I particularly like the salad served and I could not help myself with an extra serving of the salad. The tea-break was still average. Anyway, I just want a cup of hot coffee to perk myself up in the morning.
My next trip to S* should be around March 2011 - about half a year later!
The working days in M* were hectic. First, the working environment was strange. So many people working a small enclosed space. Second, the food served was below average. The rice often runs out due to popular demand. I need rice to survive well.
I am determined to be the first few to reach the dining area to have my RICE served during the coming week.
Monday, September 13, 2010
School Term 4 Starts
The Sep school holiday was over and today marks the start of Term 4. There will be no CCA from term 4 so that kids can have more time in their studies.
Looking back, besides finishing the school holiday homework, there was little time left for revision and recreation activities. But I was glad that we managed to go to West Coast Park to fly a kite on a cloudy afternoon.
The Oral exam will be a couple of weeks later. The main exam will be in the last week of October. Yesterday, I submitted my prep-registration form for my overseas working trip which falls during the exam period.
I pray hard that the dates of this trip can be changed but I doubt the chance is there. It is a big meeting which involves participants from all over the world. How can the dates be simply changed in such a short notice?
I have yet to start thinking what to present during this meeting. But I know time is running out.
Today, I shall start working in M* and due to various reasons, the working hours are odd and this is again another test on my ability to adapt.
My next 3 days-course will starts on Wed and this means more travelling and speaking. This course contains an exam and I have to find time to mark the papers.
2 more 1 day-course in early Oct and late Nov to be conducted, and perhaps another before this year 2010 ends.
On one hand, I hope to conduct more teaching courses to gain more experience and be away from the desk-bound job. On the otherhand, I know this means more work but without extra pay. How to balance this situation?
Looking back, besides finishing the school holiday homework, there was little time left for revision and recreation activities. But I was glad that we managed to go to West Coast Park to fly a kite on a cloudy afternoon.
The Oral exam will be a couple of weeks later. The main exam will be in the last week of October. Yesterday, I submitted my prep-registration form for my overseas working trip which falls during the exam period.
I pray hard that the dates of this trip can be changed but I doubt the chance is there. It is a big meeting which involves participants from all over the world. How can the dates be simply changed in such a short notice?
I have yet to start thinking what to present during this meeting. But I know time is running out.
Today, I shall start working in M* and due to various reasons, the working hours are odd and this is again another test on my ability to adapt.
My next 3 days-course will starts on Wed and this means more travelling and speaking. This course contains an exam and I have to find time to mark the papers.
2 more 1 day-course in early Oct and late Nov to be conducted, and perhaps another before this year 2010 ends.
On one hand, I hope to conduct more teaching courses to gain more experience and be away from the desk-bound job. On the otherhand, I know this means more work but without extra pay. How to balance this situation?
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
My Trip to Jurong Island
This day finally arrived.
The weather for today was quite unpleasant. Some areas were flooded. In order to arrive my destination on time, I decided to leave the office earlier than initially planned.
The cab arrived even earlier than the stated time and very soon, we were on our way to Jurong Island.
From my workplace to Jurong Island, it was a journey from the east to the west. I planned about an hour for the travelling. To add in the time to change pass at the checkpoint, maybe one and a hour hour before the presentation would be sufficient.
The journey was quite smooth despite the annoying light rain.
I was worried if I would be arriving too early.
At the checkpoint to Jurong Island, there was a long queue to exchange my ic for a visitor pass. I was glad to have taken this waiting into consideration.
As the company has already applied clearance for me, I obtained my visitor pass smoothly. From the checkpoint to my destination was quite a distance.
Along my way, I saw only trucks, private cars and a few taxis. I saw a few public bus stops but I did not see any public buses running.
The cabby driver was an excellent driver and he knew the way to my destination.
When I reached the main gate of the company X, I was asked to use my visitor pass to exchange another vistor pass. Representative from X came shortly to bring me into the office.
My presentation was done in a short while. In fact, I think I spoke too fast and perhaps did not elaborate further or allow audience to have time to think what I have said.
I wish I will have another chance to do this presentation again.
This is just like sitting for an exam. After the exam, all the reasons or excuses came and wished we have a second chance.
Well, this is life and how many people have a chance to re-do something.
I don't know when I will make a trip to Jurong Island again.
I was glad to ask for the cabby's contact number because after my presentation, I did not find any taxi at the main road at all.
It seems public transport is still not well-developed on this island.
The weather for today was quite unpleasant. Some areas were flooded. In order to arrive my destination on time, I decided to leave the office earlier than initially planned.
The cab arrived even earlier than the stated time and very soon, we were on our way to Jurong Island.
From my workplace to Jurong Island, it was a journey from the east to the west. I planned about an hour for the travelling. To add in the time to change pass at the checkpoint, maybe one and a hour hour before the presentation would be sufficient.
The journey was quite smooth despite the annoying light rain.
I was worried if I would be arriving too early.
At the checkpoint to Jurong Island, there was a long queue to exchange my ic for a visitor pass. I was glad to have taken this waiting into consideration.
As the company has already applied clearance for me, I obtained my visitor pass smoothly. From the checkpoint to my destination was quite a distance.
Along my way, I saw only trucks, private cars and a few taxis. I saw a few public bus stops but I did not see any public buses running.
The cabby driver was an excellent driver and he knew the way to my destination.
When I reached the main gate of the company X, I was asked to use my visitor pass to exchange another vistor pass. Representative from X came shortly to bring me into the office.
My presentation was done in a short while. In fact, I think I spoke too fast and perhaps did not elaborate further or allow audience to have time to think what I have said.
I wish I will have another chance to do this presentation again.
This is just like sitting for an exam. After the exam, all the reasons or excuses came and wished we have a second chance.
Well, this is life and how many people have a chance to re-do something.
I don't know when I will make a trip to Jurong Island again.
I was glad to ask for the cabby's contact number because after my presentation, I did not find any taxi at the main road at all.
It seems public transport is still not well-developed on this island.
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Sep Sch Hols
The one week Sep school holiday has started and today is already the 2nd day of the week. I managed to take vacation leave but since Isa has to return to school for her project daily, this means I am alone at home most of the time.
J is busy with the upcoming Exercise. My 3 days course has ended and tomorrow will be a short presentation at a company in Jurong Island.
Another 3 days course will start next week. Before this month ends, I have to submit my teaching material for a 1 day course in early Oct.
I am hard pressed for time to prepare the various teaching materials. I want to read up more on the subject before I start writing the teaching materials. But usually I ended up copy here and there, cut and paste etc, to get the job done.
A visit is in the pipeline and I am unsure if I will be arrowed to do the presentation. In early Oct, a new staff will be attached to me for 2 weeks but I dont know what to teach or say to him!
I am very, very tired! All work no play makes me a dull woman!
I plan a No-Laptop for this weekend.
J is busy with the upcoming Exercise. My 3 days course has ended and tomorrow will be a short presentation at a company in Jurong Island.
Another 3 days course will start next week. Before this month ends, I have to submit my teaching material for a 1 day course in early Oct.
I am hard pressed for time to prepare the various teaching materials. I want to read up more on the subject before I start writing the teaching materials. But usually I ended up copy here and there, cut and paste etc, to get the job done.
A visit is in the pipeline and I am unsure if I will be arrowed to do the presentation. In early Oct, a new staff will be attached to me for 2 weeks but I dont know what to teach or say to him!
I am very, very tired! All work no play makes me a dull woman!
I plan a No-Laptop for this weekend.
Sunday, September 05, 2010
Sep School Holidays Start
Although Isa has tons of holiday homework to do, we decided to make a trip to Asean Civilisation Museum since the entry is free and there are free goodies to be grabbed.
The weather was quite hot and I still have much office work to do. We left home around 4pm. By the time we reached there, it was already very, very crowded. Expected since free entry and there are free goodies. The goodies bags were fully redeemed. The queues for free pop-corn and free cup of hot coffee were extremely long. Upon seeing the throngs of people, my heart was felt cold and disappointed.
Mum and I decided to walk around the crowded museum while Isa and her dad decided to queue to have their body art aka "tattoos" done. By the time we have finished our brief tour, they were still in the long and slow-moving queue. To add "misery", mum and I decided to join the queue.
After spending close to 2 hours waiting in the queue, we have our "lotus" done on our arms.
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Tomorrow is Friday but today after work, I started to feel a relief "TGIF".
This week is again another stressful moment. I have to conduct a 3 days' course. The plus point is the participants are all from the same office. The negative part is I knew it only on Friday and thus my targeted audience was wrong. I have prepared my teaching materials in a very simple and brief manner to benefit the laymen. So my teaching materials became quite easy for the participants and I wonder if they felt bored or a waste of time.
Anyway, we have a fun time; chit chatting during the tea and lunch breaks. We shared our working experiences and challenges we have faced. As usual, we "complained" about the bosses and their attitude. We also made comments on various measures taken by our office. It was good to share anything except office work.
Tomorrow is the last day of the course. The participants have to sit for a test. I am not feeling any anxiety at all since I am not the one sitting for the test. But I recalled during the First Aid Course I have attended some weeks ago. Despite the lecturer said that he has not come across anybody who has failed the MCQ test, I could not help but felt nervous before the test.
I wish my participants Good Luck for the test tomorrow!
This week is again another stressful moment. I have to conduct a 3 days' course. The plus point is the participants are all from the same office. The negative part is I knew it only on Friday and thus my targeted audience was wrong. I have prepared my teaching materials in a very simple and brief manner to benefit the laymen. So my teaching materials became quite easy for the participants and I wonder if they felt bored or a waste of time.
Anyway, we have a fun time; chit chatting during the tea and lunch breaks. We shared our working experiences and challenges we have faced. As usual, we "complained" about the bosses and their attitude. We also made comments on various measures taken by our office. It was good to share anything except office work.
Tomorrow is the last day of the course. The participants have to sit for a test. I am not feeling any anxiety at all since I am not the one sitting for the test. But I recalled during the First Aid Course I have attended some weeks ago. Despite the lecturer said that he has not come across anybody who has failed the MCQ test, I could not help but felt nervous before the test.
I wish my participants Good Luck for the test tomorrow!
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