It’s sad…
July 28, 2007
So the other day, Duncan and I were sitting at Oldtown Taipan, just the 2 of us. We just couldn’t find anyone else near enough to just sit back and chill after work. Even Khek went to live in Banting. So to compensate, we started calling Alan, Sim and Jee Wei and tried to use speaker-phone to talk to them simultaneously, before we started realizing that we looked like idiots, since we can’t exactly hear what they’re trying to say, and Duncan was talking extra loud.
It’s sad. The social circle is getting smaller. To make things worse, there’s barely anyone from office to hang out with. So, we’re putting in extra effort nowadays to just even meet people, right Duncan? That’s pathetic. Sigh…
On another note, Happy birthday Jaclyn, Paul and Trevor! There, I got it in the correct birthday order now. To be honest, it’s no easy feat trying to get everyone together, but we eventually ended up in Sri Damansara at this restaurant, eating reasonably priced delicious food, and having a great time just chilling out at Jaclyn’s living room, talking about everything and anything under the sun (or moon, for that matter). I guess that’s probably why we still take the effort to meet up, even after 5 years leaving school, because we know we’ll still have a great time together. Here’s to more of those, people. 🙂
Leadership and stuffs.
July 22, 2007
“So, what do you think? Are leaders made or born?”
“Made” says Khek. “Born”, I answered. Duncan agreed with me. It takes a certain level of initiative, and the instinct of leadership to just take charge in situations where people are just shy to offer themselves. I see it in a few actually, where when put in group tasks, immediately assumes command, not because they’re power crazy, but it’s just in them to do so.
That was probably one of the first profound, serious and deep discussion we had during one of the mamak session. Khek continued to say that leadership could possibly be influenced by your environment, parents and etc, but Duncan and I argued that that’s independence, and not leadership. When you parents gave you the freedom to choose something, to make your own choice, it’s independence. But when you take charge in a group, that’s leadership.
Anyways, the reason why that topic came up was because Duncan and I were already thinking about ways to climb up the corporate ladder. I was in a meeting earlier, and met a young man, probably in his early 30s, heading 4, 5 departments and is practically in charge of the whole radio network for DiGi. Which made me wonder when would I be capable or good enough to be in his position. And how to actually reach there.
Be proactive, Duncan says. Know people, widen your knowledge. Ting meanwhile thinks that jumping companies is essential to get a bigger pay rise, and also in terms of position. And she thinks it’s not a bad thing to actually come back to the same company twice. I’m just a lil worried there, since the telco community is rather small, and there’s practically only 4 operators, and 4 vendors to go to. Let’s not even talk about the contractors.
But all in all, I think I’ll worry about this later, and concentrate on doing a good job 1st. I may not have that many chance to prove myself in this 1 year contract, but I’ll do my best. And oh, to also enjoy the awesome working environment, and the enjoyable field I am.
MEME!!!
July 22, 2007
Okay, here we go. Got tagged by Duncan (Happy birthday 3 days ago to him btw). And Happy 23rd birthday to Chiaw Yin today! Boy aren’t we growing old…
LAYER 1 : ON THE OUTSIDE
Name : Gan Yee Yoon
Birth Date : Soon la, somewhere in September
Current Status : Single and available, I guess.
Eye Colour : Black
Hair Colour : Black too, yes yes, booooring.
LAYER 2 : ON THE INSIDE
My Heritage : Chinese mostly, with a lil Thai and Baba & Nyonya
My Fears : Cockroaches. I kid you not.
My weaknesses : Procrastination. And girls in Levi’s jeans + heels, or in skirts.
My Perfect Pizza : No offense, but I’m not really a big fan of pizza.
LAYER 3 : YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW
My thoughts first waking up : Gotta snooze that alarm!!!
My bedtime : Weekdays :Midnight – 1 A.M…weekend : Much much later, of course.
My most missed memory: My friends, be it the OC gang, Gombak gang, Microwave gang, or Misc gang. Sigh…
LAYER 4 : MY PICK
Pepsi or coke : Vanilla Coke!
Single or group dates : Never had a group date before. How does that feel huh?
Adidas or Nike : Nike for Ts, Adidas for shoes. Never the other way around, that’s disastrous.
Tea or Nestea : I’m a caffeine addict.
Chocolate or Vanilla : Chocolate! Got some super sweet tooth here.
Cappuccino or Coffee : This is absurd. Cap is a subset of coffee. It’s like asking if you like chicken or meat. Pftt. But those close to me knows I’m a cappuccino freak.
LAYER 5 : DO YOU…
Smoke : What? *puts on an extra innocent face*
Curse : Trying to tone down.
Take a shower : What? Do you think I’m an ogre like Duncan?
Have a crush : It’s only human to do so.
Think you’ve been in love : Definitely. And I miss that feeling.
Go to school : You think???
Want to get married : Of course.
Believe in yourself : Totally.
Think you’re a health freak : Sometimes. When I’m in the mood.
LAYER 6 : IN THE PAST
Drank alcohol : Yeah..
Gone to the mall : Just got back from 1 earlier. What’s life without them?
Been on stage : Yeah, but not very fond of it.
Eaten sushi : Yep. Kinda like those baby octopus.
Dyed your hair : Never. Kill me if I do.
LAYER 7 : HAVE YOU EVER…
Played a stripping game : Where do I sign up?
Changed who you were to fit in : Yeah. Gotta do what you’ve gotta do.
LAYER 8 : AGE YOU’RE HOPING…
To be married : 27, 28. Gotta find that right girl 1st.
LAYER 9 : IN A GIRL.
Best eye colour : Brown. Definitely. I totally melt at the sight of girls with brown eyes.
Best hair colour : Their natural colour, please. No dyed ones.
Short hair or long hair : Long, and wavy. Now that’s nice.
LAYER 10 : WHAT WERE YOU DOING…
A minute ago : This meme? Duh.
Hour ago : Sitting at the mamak, discuss some serious leadership/management issues with Duncan and Khek.
1 day ago : Out with the family.
1 month ago : Bumming at home. Did I get my job offer yet? Oh yeah I did. Appreciating my last chance of bumming at home.
Year ago : God I have no idea. Enjoying my student’s life I guess.
LAYER 11 : FINISH THE SENTENCES…
I love : my family, and friends. Dearly. No kidding. And owh, my life too.
I feel : oddly satisfied and happy now. But I know I can push myself further, where career is concerned.
I hate : people who wakes me up from my sleep, and tell me how to drive my car.
I hide : my emotions, most of the time.
I miss : my friends, my friends, my friends! and my complete freedom.
I need : more money of course. There’s that apartment and car to buy, yada yada. Probably a gf? 🙂
People i am tagging:
1. Sim – Blog, you lazy bum!
2. Jasmyin
3. Cc
4. Iso – if you’re not busy working, that is.
5. Sharil – you need to update more.
It’s not going to be…
July 19, 2007
Now. Definitely not.
Not anytime soon. I think.
Perhaps not even in the near future.
So when is it going to be? Sigh…
“Build your dreams around her, and not on her, or risk having everything crumbling when she leaves. When it’s around her, you can find someone else to replace her at the very least.”
It’s been 9 months. Three quarter of a year. Why am I still counting?
Something to share
July 19, 2007
Was given this link by Duncan earlier today. I thought I’d share this, and you graduated people who’s busy working now should most definitely read this.
Taken from The Star
OVER the past six months, two of my best friends from university in Australia came to Malaysia just to catch up.
We made up for lost time and spent almost every single minute together. We caught up over food, shopping and tours around Kuala Lumpur.
If I had to work, they came along with me.
Jacqui, who was here just last week, said she complained constantly to her mother that her friends had dwindled after university ended.
Her mother once replied, “Well, I told you not to make friends with international students, they all have to leave the country after graduating!”
Between fits of laughter, I told Jacqui that her mother was probably right. I never thought of it that way, but what she said is indeed true – most of us international students have left Australia and are now working in various countries around the world.
Thinking it through, I wondered if we would have honestly spent more time together if we had been in the same country.
Before they made their plans, they emailed, SMS, and called to check on when the best time to visit would be.
I always replied that they should come when it was convenient for them, and that I would work my schedule around the visit.
What I have come to realise is that no time is the best time. There is always something going on – work we have to finish, appointments we have to keep and people we have to see.
The only reason I had time for my friends when they visited was because I made time. I shifted appointments and completed work in advance.
I spent more time with them over a few days than I have in a year with my Malaysian friends who live within driving distance.
Knowing that we can see our friends any time, ironically, makes us see less of them. There is always tomorrow and next week, but if our friend had gone overseas and come back for a few weeks, we would be making more effort to catch up.
When I was studying abroad and came back for holidays, I saw more of my relatives than I do today. My aunt from France who has been here for a week has spent more time with my grandmother than my mother has in the past several months.
There is no explanation for this, we can simply put it down to human nature. Something has to happen before we take action.
There have been many occasions where I have said to a friend, “Hey we really have to catch up,” but that hardly ever happens unless we bump into each other coincidently.
We do not just take our friends’ presence for granted; we take time for granted.
If someone pays you a short visit, you know that you only have a limited amount of time, therefore you treasure every second. If that same person lives down the road from you, you can catch up anytime, but somehow the time hardly ever arrives.
How important, then, is friendship?
I have been working non-stop for the past couple of years, thinking that perhaps it is all right to focus on my career instead.
When my girlfriends took the trouble to visit me, they reminded me of what I was missing out on – fierce loyalty, unwavering support and never-ending giggles.
Growing up does not mean losing our sense of humour, working does not mean giving up our soul and being successful does not mean sacrificing friendships.
Making money can’t buy good friends, but making time certainly can.
Finally!
July 15, 2007
God, I have no idea what took me so long, but I’m glad I finally did it. I’m practically kicking myself for taking 2 weeks before actually achieving it, but it’s all good in the end. Yes people, I’ve finally watched Transformers. Is anyone actually later than me in doing this? *looks out for hands up – sees none*.
It was a blast anyways. Being a 80s baby, this was practically THE cartoon, THE show, and THE toys to play with. And since they were so costly last time, I had to resort to using Lego and some imagination to come up with my own ones. Ah, the memories.
Thanks a mil Iso for the company. Hope I rewarded you enough with that orgasmic dinner of yours. LOL *wink*.
It’s going to be a long week ahead
July 15, 2007
Last Friday came, and as I excitedly settled down on the last day of the week, I opened my mail just to find another 2 new assignments in my mail from my boss, due end of next week. Now these stuff takes a long time to do, and having to finish it by next week plainly means 1 thing. I shall not be going home at 6 as usual next week.
Okay, enough about that. I can see many people reading this, and cursing me in their heart saying “I don’t even get to go back before the sun sets” and yada yada. One of them would probably be Joanne Fong. Or Joanne Chow for that matter. Or Ka Wai who was still in the office on Sat, and Sun. And a few others that I can’t think of right now. So, I shall stop bitching about it right now, and rejoice in the fact that my cute colleague also have around the same workload, so we both can be expected to OT next week. *Rejoices!*
Fast forward to yesterday, Saturday. The dudes from Penang came down, namely Sim, Jee Wei and Gusman. You can bet there’s a high level of testosterone when they’re down, especially when you have 9 guys hanging out. Alan and Woe Ping came down from Cyberjaya, Ah Fai from Sri Petaling, Duncan, Khek and myself from Subang, and + the other 3 of course. What ensues is hours of pure manly fun, a lil booze, lots of smoke, a yumcha session with our ex lecturer Mr. Jayaseelan, and reaching back home at 4.30 A.M stinking with a mixture of smell of the places we went to. And then sleeping till 2 P.M.
Ah…The lifestyle we used to have as a student. On a much much happier note, I think I’ll finally be watching Transformers tonight! Yay!
Moving on to week 2
July 10, 2007
I admit, I bitched about my work last week. I was given what seemed to be an extremely complicated task to complete, which requires my full concentration, will power, strength and everything else in the middle. Couple that with meeting a new bunch of people, and trying my very best to learn up on the terms they use around here, I was already sick of the working world.
Coming into week 2, the place looks and feels more familiar. I got closer to the already close knit team. Events that we can take part are coming up. My boss is extremely friendly, and easy going. And the best of all? I’ve got a new colleague. Let’s just keep that at that.
Yes, there’s definitely work. Plenty of it. But the nature of my department doesn’t really require me to stay overtime, or to rush for something, unless if I procrastinate. Which I don’t at work of course. The environment’s relaxing, and you don’t hear people cursing that often (compared to my old company where my boss goes “Shit” every few minutes, and my colleague who doesn’t leave for lunch just to complete her work). All in all, it’s good. Good place to start off a career, and perhaps to continue with it for some time, I definitely hope.
Here’s to the rest of the week, and the 1 year contract that I have.
Week 1 is over…
July 7, 2007
There. It’s been 5 working days. And the weird thing? I felt like it went by really fast. I would go to work, spend most of the day looking at my laptop and working, come back, have dinner, rest, sometimes go out, come back, sleep, and repeat again the next day. Unlike most of other fresh grads who enter their new company with a training period, I was thrown right into the midst of work, with a proper assignment, attending their meetings and etc². Knowledge is gained only if I have the initiative to ask the other engineers there (which I definitely did). I’m still suffering, since I’m struggling to catch the terms that the other engineers are using, and they speak really fast. Everything is in abbreviations, and I sometimes wonder how they can remember all of the abbreviations. And then there’s the diagrams, and countless of databases to refer to, and circuit advices to fill in. Want to feel my agony? Open an excel file, make tables, and fill them with font size 8. Then zoom out to 75%, and scrutinize it for the rest of the day.
The job’s requires me to be extra meticulous, and I can’t really afford to let my mind wonder whenever I’m really working. But time flies, unlike in my internship company, so I have no complaints. On the 1st day I got my new Sim card with a call allowance of Rm 300, I rang up a bill of RM 23, calling people up, getting updated on them, and even playing tricks on them. Sim’s one such example. But I’m quite happy with that, mainly because I have the opportunity to keep in touch again with my friends, without worrying too much about how much it’s going to cost me. My boss initially challenged me to fully utilize the allowance, and would even give me money if I did. After checking the balance, he immediately pulled back his challenge and started asking how did I actually spend so much in a day. A quick check with my colleague shows that her bill was currently only at Rm 5. LOL, Ganas-ness.
Anyways, chilled out today to welcome the weekend. Had a nice not-so-quiet work initiation dinner at Italiannies (yet again), and was given a really nice gift by Jo to ensure that I’m fully loaded with energy throughout my working days (Thanks Jo!). Life feels pretty content right now. Great friends all around me, a career up ahead, steady financial income. What more can a guy want, right? 🙂
P.S: Congrats Sim for joining us in the working world. Happy slaving, and I just want to say that it was just so much fun tricking you the other day.
Day three
July 4, 2007
Rather exhausted now. Haven’t exactly been sleeping well for the past 3 nights, and it wasn’t done on purpose. I just can’t get myself to sleep that early. Still trying to make that transition from Student to Working adult. Sheesh.
It’s day 3, and I’m in the deep of things. Them people here train you up real fast. Currently, I’m already doing complicated jobs that I’m supposed to do when I’m fully trained, except that currently I am assisting the other engineers to complete theirs. And the fact that I would keep going over every few minutes to ask them this and that. The atmosphere in the place is pretty nice, relaxed, but my colleagues aren’t the best bunch when it comes to communicating. I guess it’s because we’re just engineers. Nonetheless, coupled with a nice environment, coffee, some cute chicks I see occasionally around the building, and a budding friendship with some other new hires, I think I’m going to like this place pretty much.
Just in case some of you are wondering what I do, I’m in the core transmission planning department. Together with the core switching planning and access transmission planning department, we’re called planners. That’s essentially what we do. We analyze the capacity that is available currently all around Malaysia, determines if a place needs upgrading, and map it out. This is so that you don’t get that annoying ‘Network Busy’ messages that often. Or not at all, if we’re doing our job right. And since I’m in the core department, we’re in charge of the backbone connection, which is wired using fiber optics and microwave throughout Malaysia. I’ll essentially be in charge of the capacity around the central and southern area. There, that’s the summary. 😀
Now, allow me to let my mind rest a lil, go meet up with some pals to chill out, before I climb back to bed early tonight. And hopefully fall asleep straightaway. Till tomorrow morning.
Transitory moments in life 
