Part-time

I have one minute before my official working hours start, but the bosses aren't gonna be here yet anyway... so here I am, blogging. Haha. And I'm on meebo too.

Today is my 2nd day of this part-time job. I'm now something like a CAD operator, I believe the official term is. Good money. Haha. But the office so c-beh far away from my house, all the way in Manjalara, Kepong. So even though my working hours is from 10 am - 6 pm, I have to wake up at 7 something and ask my mum to fetch me to the KTM station to reach somewhere around 8, get on the train all the way to Kepong before taxing either a taxi or bus to the office. I reach around 9.30 am, meeting another trainee who has the key to the office. Yesterday, I left the office at 7 pm, and reached the train station waiting for my mum to pick me up at 8.30 pm.

Work's fairly easy though. Did some adding of levels to the floor plans. Earning a lot for this kinda business, I think. Kakakaka.... and with the benefit of broadband some more. Even though no music, still can stream online.

Got 2 bosses here. Got one more from Hong Kong associate company. Got one trainee from KBU. She does more odd jobs here and there - like making phone calls, faxing, e-mailing etc.

Ok la... got to work liao. Add more when bosses are not around (they came in and delayed the publishing of this post). Kakaka...

Tidbit - 2 Hole Fish Ball

Tuesday was Dumpling Festival. As such, my family went back to my maternal grandmother’s house for a ‘reunion’ dinner. Almost everyone was there, from all my other 7 cousins to my aunties and uncles. The dishes were abounding – we had roast duck, chicken, fish and some vegetables. The soup was clear soup with some vege and some other things you always find in steamboats, like fish balls, and this other thing – a long-ish, fish ball like, but with a hole from one end to the other end, and always with a stripe of brown in the middle. I love this a lot. And I suppose everyone else at the table. Or at least, those my generation and younger. When the second round of soup came, Mum poured out two of those, and I quickly grabbed one. Grandma remarked, “This time don’t know why… can’t find it in the market, so only got 6 (paraphrased from Cantonese)” Following that, the other remaining ones were quickly gone from the soup too.

Later, after we all sat in the living room, full and satiated, some catching up and chatter began. My 2^nd uncle (the father) asked my 3-year old cousin (the son), “今天为什么那么多人？(Why were there so many people here today?)”

My 3-year cousin said, “因为全部人要吃那个两个洞的鱼圆! (Because everyone wants to eat the fish ball with 2 holes!)”

The 2-hole fish ball in question. I just found out that it's called "Chikuwa Fish Cake". Taken from glutton-island.blogspot.com

Green Fest

I set my alarm for 5.45 a.m. Put my handphone on a stool near my bed. I woke up to my mum shaking me, and I looked at my handphone which said 7.00 a.m. Funny thing is, I don't remember how my handphone came to be beside on my pillow.

Haha... I'm being stupid and digressing. Main point - I was awake to go for the Green Fest Celebration organized by Malaysia's No. 1 English daily (this is written everywhere when you reach), The Star in FRIM, Kepong. We (mum, bro and sis) bundled into the car, spent some time getting lost in KL, and reached the place maybe... in an hour? Not too bad really. Considering we got lost and all.

Me at the banner. Looking dungu... but oh well. Not awake yet ma.

First interesting thing I saw... mobile toilets! Haha. I shall post the pictures here. Have fun imagining how to use it.

The flush is the blue foot pump on the floor. The water for the "basin" is another pump, cannot be seen here.

On the way searching for breakfast, spotted this little boy posing for his dad's camera at a big tree.

Forgive my shaky hands. Still not awake la maybe.

FRIM is really a very big replanted forest. It was a secondary forest, a degraded one. Then some people (I don't remember everything from the talk - still sleepy) had the foresight to 'green' the area, and started planting trees from 1920s, if i'm not mistaken. Thus the many trees continously planted all these years gave birth to the place we have today.

Field near the site of the activities


In FRIM itself got school some more. I kid you not. And seems like not only one.

The initial reason any of us even thought to go was that my mum had to send my brother, who was on duty for the event to Menara Star. So all of us thought we might as well just tag along and go straight to FRIM ourselves (hence the getting lost part). He is a BRAT (if you didn't get the 'on duty' part) and his assignment was to sell popcorn.

My BRAT brother smiling goofily without realising I was taking his picture.

Moving on to activities. We reached kinda late so registration for some events was already over. I was kinda disappointed that the 'Canopy Walk' event was already full. So my sister registered for 'Nature Hunter', an educational activity for school children. She came back, saying" Very sien la... Look at the trees, draw trees..."

Then we decided to go for a colouring session. Lots of other kids were already there, looking like those very pro in colouring contest, complete with their own portable table, crayons and newspapers (I know because I was one once =P).

Mum with Sis colouring. Sis still has 'war paint' left from her 'Nature Hunter'.


So many families joining the 'Nature Treasure Hunt'. Have to have at least a father figure in each team. I don't even have a male, since my brother is a BRAT on duty.

There was a truck where all the entertainment was held, called the 'Gegar U' truck. I didn't manage to see much, 'cos I attended talks in the auditorium instead. My sis took these pictures.

School children as the brown things in a play.


Performance by the Orang Asli committee. The leader here translated their song title from a tongue twisting alien dialect to "Saudara saudari, datanglah ke sini".

The main reason I was attracted to go was because of certain exhibits and talks related to my field of study. I listened to a talk about the MBIPV system, more commonly know as the "Suria 1000" project. The speaker is the National Project Leader, albeit being so young (he says he's over 30 though, so he's "not so young"). And then there was a talk from Lucas Works, "Sustainable Energy House". They were presenting the Smart&Cool Homes, a sustainable building technology that offers cheaper and environment friendly materials (discarded car tyres), cheaper cost and energy efficiency. These pictures are from a model at their exhibtion booth:

You can see that the box raft foundation under the house is filled with tyres (up to 3-4 layers).


Here you can see that the tyres are used for the retaining wall as well. I think it's a nice aesthetic touch.

At the end of the day, I felt like doing what this little girl did.

After all, I wasn't very awake the whole day.

I am small, perhaps insignificant. But I am strong, and free.

Flowers

*Taken from Cameron Highlands

Quandary, quandary.

I am in a quandary. For those who don't know what this word is, look here.

The quandary in question is - architectural job or not? Professional or not? Study-related or interest? Sigh....

I have received 2 calls for second interviews. The first architectural company has contacted me and asked me to go again soon, which I am fulfilling by going there later today. The second company is the one I went for an interview yesterday, the Spa Lover. Haven't set a date yet.

Most of the people who hear about my situation would ask me to go for the architecture job. Why would anyone drop a professional job for something totally unrelated? I think that was the question in everyone's mind. And doing something related would give me the portfolio when I continue my studies in future. My dad asked, "Are you gonna split yourself into a few persons? Going for so many jobs..." Haha XD But I do like both lines of job, because both are such a big challenge and would totally stimulate my mind.

Finally, one piece of advice I felt was most useful: Since you're planning to save up for your education, just take the job that offers you a higher salary. Haha. Perfect really.

Spa Lover Interview

As my potential employer has asked me yesterday for the address of this blog, I am gonna tread carefully. Haha.... kidding. But still - at the risk of being read by her. So, I'll give a brief summary.

Contrary to my worries, I found the office with ease (thanks to the Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley Street Directory on my lap). I didn't really form a preconception of the office in my mind, just so I'll not be taken aback by any expectations. But, I did find it rather odd that the office did not have any signage no matter on the outside or inside (before you enter the office). And it had just the essentials - tables and computers. And a radio. And a room where the principal sat.

So. I met Eunice Ng. First comment - she is thinner in real life. Haha... XD I saw only 2 other female workers in the office. Another male - but I don't know really what is his role there. After the usual filling up of forms, I went into the room to be interviewed by Ms Eunice. I found her rather serious in the beginning, and she spoke in precise, clipped tones. But then after a while, it kinda lapsed into a rather comfortable conversation. She tested my language, speaking to me in English and then switching to Mandarin. Truth be told, I was rather nervous when she asked me to read Mandarin. Hahaha... But it was still fine, I think.

It was a comparatively long interview, approximately 45 minutes long. In that time, I was questioned rather specifically, about everything. And especially what was my objective (as this job has nothing to do with my studies). I was also informed of the nature and services of the company. The interview ended with a word that I'll be contacted again.

I'm experiencing a sort of writer's block for this post. So sorry for my lack of ... anything. Hehe. Perhaps because my thoughts are rather in another post. Gah! I shall stop before this becomes terrible.

My 1st Driving Lesson

On Wednesday, 6 June 2007

6.40 am I woke up blearily. I was supposed to go for my first driving lesson. To say I was nervous was such an understatement. I prepared myself and exactly at 7, I received a call from my instructor who had arrived outside my house. Ok… so this was it, I told myself. I’m gonna start learn driving. Haha…

I saw my “L” license attached with my lesson card. After signing a few things, I was off to the driving school. He was bringing me to learn in the school, which was also a test centre. So there a circuit with all the necessary “road conditions” there, although it was really a very cute one – mini roundabout, mini slope, place where 4 parking lots were designed for testing and a small pocket of road for 3-point turns in front of them.

Anyway, my lesson first was to learn the gears. So I practised changing the gears - 1, 2, 3, 4 and Reverse 'R'. Then I learnt how to control the clutch and drive the car forward and backward. Did this a few times. Then I went on a slow drive around the circuit once, all the while following instructions from my instructor (Peter).

Peter is a very funny person. He's someone I would regard as "uncle" category, I guess. Haha. He has the typical pot belly, and is bald as well (or maybe he has very short hair, I can't remember). And he has a kind of... how should I say; for example, when he teaches me something, then he likes to go, "No one will teach you this wan, you know? Only Peter will teach wan!" He repeats it a lot of times too. Kaka... like when he taught me how to turn the sterring (in order that your car tyres will always be straight) and parking formula, and talking about teaching how to drive in the dark (as in night la, but he used the morning dawn time, around 5.30-6 am).

My class lasted 3 hours. 3 hours!!! Haha... so long. My arms and legs were so cramped. And I was sweating too. As in, from all that exertion. Oh, and I haven't mentioned how I had to adjust my seat. I pulled the seat to the front to its limits. And then I found that I still couldn't lean on the seat otherwise I would not be able to step on the clutch and still be able to see what was on the road in front. Adoi... Peter was quite nice about this though. He said it was always slightly more difficult for him to teach "not so big sized" students and for them to learn as well. So next class I would need to bring a pillow. =P

I think this post has reached the proper length already. And I can't think of what else to write anyway. Hah! I shall end here. Till my next adventure. Driving, that is.

I got into The Star!

Well... not me, actually. What I meant is, something I did. No, er... something I wrote. Haha. I was a day late reading the newspapers today. And as I was browsing through the Youth2 section of the paper, I spied the "Poetry Corner" edged towards the bottom right on the 2nd page of the "xXx" counselling section. And there, was my poem! My eyes went wide when I saw it. I'd sent it some time ago, and when nothing happened I just put it out of my mind.

To cut the dramatics... (hehe) the poem that was published was "Unrequited", which I had previously posted here on this blog. And just for fun, the poem at The Star's online page (which I think would only work before next Wednesday when the next poem comes out).

And another appointment

Hahahahaha.... actually this was the one I really wanted to write about. After finishing that interview, I got a call for another interview appointment. This time it was for "Creative Writer", for a spa and wellness company called The Spa Lover Wellness Group.

The conversation was simple actually. "Are you interested for this job?" she (the caller) asked. I was curious as to what the job entailed (this was just an application I did for fun). She said, "Well, we have a few spas under our promotion group. Then you have to go visit them and experience it then write about it." (not her exact words but you get the idea). Fu-yoh!! This job sounded waaayyy interesting. I was definitely interested now, if I wasn't before. Haha.

So of course I agreed for an interview. She gave me the address, and then said, "If you cannot find your way on Saturday, call this number" and proceeded to recite a number, then mentioned the name of the number's owner, "Eunice Ng". I said, "Ok" and thought nothing about it, aside from being so curious to see how it would turn out.

Since I was gonna go for the interview, I needed to know something about the company, right? I went to the website I linked above, and then - I saw Eunice Ng. THE Eunice Ng. Oh my goodness.... She's a celeb! Hahaha.... and I just had her number too! For in case I couldn't find my way. Goodness....

Ok, for anyone still in the dark, or if her name doesn't ring such a bell (after all, it didn't strike me =P), she's an actress in last year's series "Falling in Love" and she hosts quite a variety of lifestyle shorts (which I believe are aired on Astro). Otherwise, just click the link! Hahahaha...

Another Interview

I'm just fresh off another interview, still with an architecture company (Quirk and Associates Sdn Bhd). Position that I applied for is internship as a Design Architect. Basically I'm paper-qualified for the job, but I just applied for the internship instead of the long-term one (which is also vacant). The interview was fine, I guess, but they're gonna consider other applicants as well. First time I had an interview with more than one person.. kinda nervous actually. Haha. Especially since they looked sooo serious. They felt undecided about what would they hire me as, in their words, "intern or trainee architect"? So they'd give me a call by the end of this week.

The office was fairly easy to find, being in the vicinity of Mid Valley City. They were housed in the newer offices though, the Northpoint Offices. Very posh and comparatively high class, I would say. Well, at least from the outside. Haha. The office was not bad. Though I don't understand why it felt like a oven from the lift to the office. I had to answer an intercom before allowed entry. Then a flat panel of the wooden finish clicked, and I pushed it to reveal a door. The reception was kinda dim, with coloured lights shining against unfinished concrete. As soon as you walked in, there was a mirror too, in front of a few upholstered chairs.

The office definitely felt like a design office. I saw an angmoh too. Hee hee. But it was kinda.... quiet. And serious. People talking with whispers. Or maybe they have very good sound insulation on the walls. Haha.