Work

The 1st day is always bad. That was yesterday. What made it worse was that I am the only temp staff. And I have to work alone, going from department to department, speaking to strangers and working in front of them. I feel like a... never mind. Today was better. I did my job with more purpose and pride. So, many people thought I was a perm staff with HP, and they asked me a lot of alien questions. It is so awkward, I know nuts about computers but here I am, going round, holding a file and carrying a laptop, like a computer doctor. If I wear a tie tomorrow, I might even be mistaken as a director.

I have been abstaining from it for too long. Things have settled. Time to move on. Time to plan ahead. Time to get active again.

Driving Test 1

Surprisingly, I had a good sleep last night. When I reached the centre at 0745, I couldn't find my IC. Well, something had to go wrong. That's when I realised A good thing about my 11B. It saved my life. My warm-up did lots of good. Then, I had tummyache. Butterflies I suppose. I dreaded the wait. I couldn't think of anything else. Not even the music in my hp could distract me. Yesterday, the instructor told me the test was 70% skill, 30& luck. That meant 30% of the battle had already been won, provided God didn't tweak my life last night. And I was lucky today. The tester was quite friendly, circuit was empty, road was quiet, bus lane was usable. And I got my new car keys.

Pre-Test!

1 year ago, I didn't want to take up driving lessons. I was lazy and there was no urgent need for it. When I started, I wanted it to end quickly, so I crammed everything together. Different instructors, different expectations. Some even got carried away talking to me that I wonder if, they were looking at my technique at all. Yesterday, I was excited about the test. I did well during the 2 lessons. The instructors were quite confident, that I would make it. Last night, I started to feel that this is a 'CANNOT fail' kind of test. Re-test would be in APRIL. Crazy, and I want the license badly. As I thought about it, I felt more nervous. Today, I made a wide array of errors during both lessons. The 'best' thing is that I actually learnt something NEW today. Oh gosh, this must be a terrible joke.

Eve's

Friends, friends, friends!! That's what makes the world turn. Friendship lasts forever, love doesn't. So which is better? That was a hell of a party at Eve's 21st. Thanks! Oooh.. I love the sea...and the sky. I LOVE listening to what everyone has been up to. That is, after I drank a bit of beer. The only thing I thought of doing was to shut up and listen. NO, I don't drink, unless I have to.

AND...
No one asked about my recent outbreak. They just looked and wondered. Come on! I am not that sensitive! I don't live by my face. What's more, it will heal. Ya! Rayduin! Actually, there is a good side to this outbreak too. Sorry, not outbreak anymore, it's in healing stage now. Anyway, this has forced me to indulge in a healthy lifestyle. No seafood, no chilli, no fried.

Baby-Face

What the hell!! KANTANG??
My friend said he associated me with KANTANG! YOU ARE KIDDING! That was like just 10 seconds ago. Yah, I take 10 seconds to type that crap on top. I know why. He must be super cheena. That's why! RAOWR! Hey, my chinese is all right. Plus I know my roots.

Next, Baby-faced!
Back to Beijing...

This store assistant was quite friendly. I think those people have a certain SOP (standard operating procedure) to follow. Almost the same pattern. Displaying their wares right at your noses, for you to smell them(shoes alike). Then "cheap cheap cheap, very cheap". Almost like a bird on a tape recorder. Their faces were so full of enthusiasm while peddling their stuff, almost to the point of desperation. Next they quote you some ridiculously high price. At first, I thought it was reasonable. You know me, I don't shop. I only discovered it was ridiculously high when they were willing to go down to as low as 8% of the quoted price. When they finally convinced you to buy, they try to hint to you the sacrifice they made for you at their expense, perhaps in the hope you will buy the entire stall. I'm digressing. OK.
This stall assistant was really friendly. I knew why a couple of minutes later. She was curious about us. Then she asked me my age. I could have sworn that her reaction was too dramatic. I mean, there isn't a big difference between 16 and 20. I wasn't actually insulted by that. I feel that the people there look older. Thicker skin I suppose, to weather the cold.

Back to S'pore...

This mama shop auntie was taken aback to learn that I had already COMPLETED MY NS! Come on! Surely she's seen enough kids at her stall. People don't serve NS after their 60th birthday. I didn't bother to ask her how old she though I was.

Today...

This one is the best. Direct and to the point.

Auntie:
Xiao Di(little bro), tong shi(colleague) huh?

Me:
No. Part-time. (Auto translation to eng at "ON")

Auntie:
No, I was asking you if you are Sec4. (Sec4 and colleague sounds the same in chi ya?)

Me:
... No, this yr 21.

Auntie:
HUH?

I felt like telling her those are men's pimples. Not puberty pimples. Hello!
Please tell me how to look old. This face of mine is ridiculously young. Ridiculous. Yes, my new vocab. 16, OMG. The age when people can decide whether or not to use their little treasure. Is that right? Do I look like I've just been enlightened on that? This is crazy.

Great Wall

I was quite disappointed actually. I expected a different feeling, different touch. It somehow felt new and fake. That's why I would love to go on an archaeological dig. The items there are real and in the original state. The only thing I learnt from that trip was how the soldiers felt when they were guarding it during winter. I almost became a permanent fixture on the Great Wall. A slab of ice. But I'm sure they enjoyed the view. With a little water, they can even play water slides on those steep parts.

Evening Train

Things happen everywhere. You just have to pay attention.

I was standing in the middle of the 2 train compartments. Is it called cars?

There seats were filled, but there were only a few people standing around. Then, this lady got up to alight. This man, standing near the door eyed it. I happened to look at him, then at the seat. When I looked up again, he was looking at me, trying to figure out his next move. A few seconds later, he looked away. Gentlemen. I think he finally settled on giving up the seat to me, which I never had the intention to occupy. Well, I guess he thought I wanted it. Interesting how a story can arise just by looking around.

There was this baby in a pram. Extremely cute one. Ok, which baby isn't? The problem with this one was that he/she was trying to do gymnastics. He/she was trying to reach for the toes while being strapped. That went on for a minute. The agony and determination on the face was the thing which made it so funny....and cute.

Ok, my mind was starting to drift away when this happened. There was a lady who suddenly let out some desperate pleas. It turned out that she was stuck in between the doors. I know it's evil, but I found it hilarious. Her head and left hand was in and the rest was outside. "Ah.. Help!" Haha. It tickled me, but of course I controlled it.

All in 1 evening. Wow!

Work

Ok. I have stopped acting like an emperor at home, dreaming of things. From a pig, I have turned into a monkey. My new job is to climb up ladders to hang those decorative stuff and banners. Enough said. I'm just working for a week, helping my aunt. And if I didn't keep my sanity while up above the sky so high, my head would have cracked like an egg so many times over. My head isn't an egg. It just cracks like one....if it ever does.

Why must Singapore be an oven?
Why must I be the one being baked?

Dreaming

I've been dreaming so much recently. Not in dreamland. Just before going there. Beautiful dreams. Happy dreams. REALISTIC dreams. Oh how I wish time would pass faster.

Flying

If I hadn't had to wear specs, I would seriously consider flying as a profession. Oh no. Not fighter pilot, commercial pilot. The plane just took off from Beijing when I looked out of the window. And I just stared out for a couple of minutes. I mean, normally, those scenes are in photo form. And behold! Now they are real before my very eyes. The mountains, hills, knolls, frozen rivers, farmland, clouds. The sight was breathtaking I tell you. The evening sun made it even more glorious.
Another thing about flying is that when I am above the clouds, I felt so relaxed. It feels like no one can reach me, no one can find me and I don't have to do anything but to eat, slp, pee and sit. Ok those are facts, except for the radar bit. I am above the world! Ok, so imagine, the spirit is at peace and surrounded by all the immensely wonderful sights. What more can one ask for? It's out of the world. Really.

2007

I forgot about this!

2007 New Year resolution:

Just 1,

Life is short, enjoy it.

Holidays

It is raining now, and if this were where I went, it would be snowing.

I had such a great December, especially the last 2 weeks of it. First, the class resort stay. Then this Beijing trip. Eating, massaging, shopping, sight-seeing. that was a really nice experience. Beijing is such a beautiful place. So beautiful that I had to convince myself to come back to Singapore.


Food!


Massage..Ouch!


Shopping.


AND sight-seeing!

I have ALOT of photos. But I'm lazy to post it all of them up. Oh boy, Beijing is nice!