Mind-numbing work..

Money is indeed a powerful motivator.

It gives me the ability to to wake up at 6am (or earlier)
It causes me to trudge my way through the train stations in the cold mornings.
It makes me click click click and stare at the computer screen all day.
It makes me willingly endure mind-numbing work.
Connex is now my 2nd home - 2 hours every day, plenty of time to read/eat/sleep.

Finally started working this week. Location - far. We work in teams of ~15, abt 8-10 teams in the building. I finally understand how it feels to be working in one of those call-centre environment type of roles. The monotonous nature of the job gets to you within the first few hours. We're not a call centre, but it feels that way cos of the routine.

The job involves marking exam papers, each person's allocated quotas of certain questions which results in a ppl marking the same question over and over and over and over again. 5 days so far and I've done 20 THOUSAND (for just 2Qs) O_0 Candidates number more than a hundred thousand so obviously there's many more teams working. Music, fortunately, is allowed hence everyone tries to get by the day in their own ways. Someone mentioned he was planning out his future, another thinking about travelling with the cash etc. Me? I've been thinking/dreaming..

We were "behind schedule" according to the project leader hence was asked to work longer hours. These 2 days 8-6pm. They're paying by the hour so no complaints, plus its optional whether you want to come in or not. Everyone's motivation is $$ and more $$. Even though we were all dead tired, when they said Saturday 7 (morning!) to 12pm extra shift, most of us said "okay" without thinking. Its ridiculously early and I checked the train schedule - it would've meant leaving the house at 5.30am or so?! The hours were later adjusted to 8-1pm. ahhhhh I wanted to scream when I got back yesterday. Money, think of the irresistible lure of wads of cash! (ok perhaps "wads" is overstating it since everything's via EFT now). Or not needing to ask any precious cash transfers from the father..

I kept going "think of the cash think of the cash think of the cash..." while facing the comp screen. Relatively high pay by normal standards, I've earnt enough this week to get a nice LV bag, or a trip to somewhere. N0000oooooo no LV bag unfortunately :( There're more mundane things to think about - like rent for instance. Wondered too about the rate of withholding tax (PAYG) they're deducting from my pay and I think its 18-28% (anyone care to enlighten me?) All the pay from these few weeks will go towards living costs in the coming months. MinHui was going "work is good, at least got income" hence the bright side of all these tiring days eh...

Yepp money is a strong incentive for getting things done.

My mind wandered alot during work. Thought about alotof things. Travelling. Further studies. Friends. Not going back. Work. Drumming..Its been ages since I've touched a drum set. 3 years or so.. My drumsticks are still wasting away at home, had no reason to bring them over. Now my wrists feel abit stiff (maybe its all the click-click-click lately), and I can't imagine being an accountant-drummer (oh..the irony of it when accounting students tend to be synonymous with the whole adjective "boring" and its associated negativities). Suddenly feel like picking it up again, just a thought..

Schedule is fairly packed with work and more running around. Lunch with Kiong Sunday, off day on Monday! (actually i cannot tahan and decided to take a day off), Monday going in CFV half day voluntary, back to more work on Tue and so on... welcome to working life, everyone sniggers..

Its awesome how things are sometimes. Just a while ago, I'm tired out, slouched on my chair. The phone rings and I reach over lazily. Someone has just called to sing a short ditty - "the 3 bears" (from Full House drama hahh) to cheer me up. It was a hilarious effort!!! ::HugZ:: it has made my day!

CFV / YAA / WorkWorkWork!

This week have been in to CFV office twice already. Went in for an extra few hours today cos there was soo much to be done and Gia couldn't come in this week. After work I took the usual leisurely stroll back from Southbank. It takes about 15 minutes or so, passing by the Victorian College of the Arts, NGV Intl, the Arts Centre, the bridge and then Flinders. Although its peak hour, there's space aplenty for walking and the evening's pleasant weather was such a nice change from the chill of the past weeks.

The CFV's got a small&cozy office in Southbank, on a leafy street lined on both sides by modern apartments. Natalie just told me she's moving into a new role in PR working with Stephen-the-CEO. She's really pleasant to work with and I suppose I'm enjoying the work there cos she's patient and teaching me bout their operations/events. Its nice to go into work and feel familiar knowing where things are kept, what goes where, donor management system, knowing where the spreadsheets/info are etc..

*A certain someone overslept while waiting for me to finish work today..hence we missed dinner&coffee (you know who you are!). So is it your fault or mine, I wonder?!

On other things, I finally got the long-overdue notice to start work next Monday. The bank balance was really starting to worry me and to say I'm ecstatic to start work is an mighty understatement. Timing's actually okok - exams finished this week, I've had time to clean my room, attended the YAA workshop this week too, "big S"interview also done. Most of the distractions taken care off..

Its nice to be getting paid for work again.. While I'm enjoying volunteering, my state of finances is much worse than I thought. Will prob ask for a day off weekly from the Pearson job since I've got to take time off for the weekly YAA meetings (yeah this one also voluntary aka unpaid basis hehh). As a mentor this time round, I get more flexibility regarding attendance at meetings, thats a bonus..

It was great to meet up with people at the YAA management skills workshop a coupla days ago. "So posh this year" was my thought when we started. Held at the Melbourne Town Hall's Swanston Room, the crowd seems to have quadrupled. More sponsors have come onboard this year - Salmat sponsored the workshops, and is sponsoring 2 teams in 2006. Accenture also taking 2 teams. Loads of other sponsors. The venue was impressive, and later I was also at the Yarra Room upstairs. It's another grand room with 20+feet high ceilings, lotsa imposing HUGE potraits of impressive gentleman framed by gilded frames, impeccable tablecloth ( a speaker even commented on it hah), grand swinging chandeliers (well, maybe not swinging) etc.

The 1st session involved mainly introductionary talks by Nicci, Kristie and Stephen Birch (Repco's Natl Trade Mgr, very involved with YAA each year - always a lively speaker!). Kristie was my mentor last year but she was on the podium speaking as 2004 State & National Business Person of the Year (BPOY) and as MD of the company that won of 7 of 9 State awards, won more at the Nationals etc. The crowd of students/undergrads went "woww" when she listed her achievements, imo truly well deserved seeing how much work she put in then. We were both glad to see each other involved again this year albeit with competing teams!

I received a somewhat amusing email when I got back that night. My current team's marketing director emailed me asking if I could ask Kristie whether she was willing to advice him on some issues. I chuckled to myself.. thinking "heck this fella has no confidence in his mentors eh.." There's FIVE mentors from BAE (engineers, BAE's commercial manager etc), plus Reuven (who did the program before) and me. 7 people weyy! I've adviced him to conduct market research but it hasn't been taken onboard. They've making decisions not on what the market(consumer) wants but by what they want. Risky approach me thinks, but still, its their choice and thats how they'll learn I suppose. I wasn't a BPOYfinalist last year for nothing, I do know what I'm talking about ey..

*On something else entirely.. next week's contract is till 20 July. Am waiting for news on the 2nd job, unrelated to the 1st (Jul28-Aug28). The timing is perfect from one job to the next, but they're still processing the 2nd rounds. Nadia got in touch to let me know the interview/assessment date'll be sorted out next week (thats bcos I've been patiently waiting. and waiting..) and THEN its probably another week of waiting. Patient I'll be, no worries cos the pay's almost the same as Pearson, extra benefit of paid half-hour breaks and city location .. I pray I get it. God knows how handy the money'll be. "I do my best and leave You to do the rest eh.."

Oyasuminasai, I am tired.. tmrw yumcha with the ladies..

Mamak thoughts..and on food in Melb

A thought struck me today. I was making coffee and realized somehow this year, I don't miss mamak as much as I did a year ago. Usually its during late quiet nights in Melbourne that I tend to go "ahh if only I'm at mamak now..."

Maybe when I was back over the summer, we didn't go mamak-ing that often. At least not Murni (SS2's infamously-always-super-crowded-mamak). Always ended up somewhere else because Murni was just way too packed and it was always difficult to find a table and enough chairs. Although their garlic cheese naan is still a fave of mine, by no means its unobtainable over here. Coupla weeks ago, a housemate's mother made some "flat bread" which actually looks/tastes exactly like naan. So much for mamak-style when China-style tastes just as well. Come to think of it, naan is everywhere. We had it with dips for my birthday dinner at Soul Mama (vegetarian restaurant @ St Kilda Sea Baths), where even the the steel plates look just like Murni's plates (the one used for naan/other roti). Weird eh..

Sitting for the Japanese exam in a few hours time, weather's been freezing cold at night keeping everyone up and me moody.. The whole week was pretty much a waste, felt like hibernating under my warm quilt and fortunately my schedule allowed for it. Thursday we actually took the intercampus shuttle to visit Berwick campus. We'd always meant to visit other campuses but never got around to doing it, till now. Its not as far as I thought and only took 20 minutes one-way. Took some dreary pictures and had a look around their uber-small campus. Landsize-wise its some 55 hectares I believe, but built-up space isn't much to talk about. Design was relatively "clean" but we went "aww" when we saw the positively tiny library! Quite quaint with lotsof land, but only 1 cafe and a McDonald's across the road. I still prefer Caulfield :)

Over the past weeks have tried out some restaurants/cafes in Melb. Some have been good, others nothing to shout about..

~ Seoul (city, the one upstairs not the one at Little Bourke St) - Korean food. Disappointed they didn't have "dok pok ki", service was quite bad (they kinda forgot our food), the kind where "tak berapa layan". Food was alright, but could've been better. Give me Kimchi Grandma / 7&7 anyday! (both in Carnegie, highly recommended!!)

~ that new Vietnamese restaurant on Swanston St, opposite Trampoline I think - prompt service, friendly folks with very decent prices. I speak nicely of this place cos first time we were there they gave us complimentary desserts :P Food was the standard fare, not too bad. So far have tried their broken rice and the standard beef noodles. Just like Springvale's. If you're in the mood for wine, they seemed to have a fair variety.

~ Bento in QV (i think thats the name, else look for the signboard) - mix of Japanese/Korean-style food in bento boxes. Its located at the food court area, prices are reasonable but find it abit too oily for my liking. But convenient if you want a quick take-away.

~ Kimchi & Bab, Caulfield East (easy to find. Just turn left at the Caulfield train station) - another Korean place! yupp Di likes Korean food. But a note of warning, their service is absymally slow, compared to the other eateries around. Lunch specials are bento-style bulgogi (stir-fried beef/pork/chicken) but I'd recommend going for the Kimchi-Tchiggae (stew with pork/tofu/kimchi/other bits 'n pieces). It comes with the standard side dishes, perfect for winter! And I must add, the tchiggae is better than Kimchi Grandma's..

~ De Los Santos @ Brunswick Street, Fitzroy - Spanish restaurant (remember to book as seating is limited). We had their tapas (the calamari recommended), paellas (tried abit of both - seafood mix and duck & sausages mix) I personally prefer the latter, washed down with a nice glass of sangria :) Service is prompt, dessert range isn't very wide though. Better to go with a bunch of people and you'll get to sample more dishes, like what we did.

~ Lemongrass @ Lygon St - Thai restaurant at the corner you won't miss it, its diagonally across the road from Casa del Gelato/Koko Black. We were there for dinner last weekend, ordered 2 curries, 1 mixed stir-fry, tom yam goong (essential le) and their coconut rice. It wasn't exactly fantastic for the kind of price we were paying, but I suppose Melburnians think its an institution since it caters to their tastebuds (most of the patrons were non-Asians). Food wasn't spicy enough for the group's liking, but imo the service was good. They have a different menu for lunch so perhaps one day I'll drop by again for the laksa.

Myohmy sounds like all we do in Melbourne is makan makan makan eh.. oh well there isn't much to do here at night anyways. Anyone wants to join our weekly "outings" leave me a mail/msg :)

Aus-Msia forum...

Am planning to apply for this position and while reading up on the company's website just now, I noted a rather daunting statistic:

In 2005,
85000 applicants
34000 interviewed
423 employed.

O_o OMG thats like a 0.005 percent success rate. Just proves how tough the competition is these days.

Been catching up on much-needed sleep over the past coupla days. Fri was interesting as I was at the Aus-Msia forum in the city. One speaker (Mr Ian Buchanan) captivated us with his short 10 minutes talk. Prob'll blog more bout his speech later.. We had a few other speakers but alot of it was "gloss" (my slang meaning "glossing over the issues without offering much comment of substance").

I was annoyed with one Msian speaker who made comments to the effect of "Msian chinese who are dissatisfied are that way because they always want more. They're millionaires but they want to become billionaires.." What in the world was that?! He needs to get out of his shiny office in KL and look at how people out there actually live. He mentioned that chinese makes up a large proportion of Forbes list of Richest Malaysians (recently released, available on Forbes website). So what does that tell you? -- that averages mean very little when the majority of wealth is concentrated on the hands of a few, and not like what he said. He shouldn't be generalising this way.

I know they're trying to present Msia as this "multicultural-conducive for foreign investment-everyone loves everyone" country but it totally misses the realities of how things are. They had relatively more open discussions after the foreign minister left. Mr Buchanan was good enough reason to stay on. Later, I noticed the minister (and his large entourage) had merely left the hall after his keynote address, but not the hotel. They returned only during the reception, I wonder why? It could've been a good opportunity to listen to what questions/concerns were raised by members of the forum. Come all the way to Melbourne to speak but then not bother to listen..?

Was quite entertained at the reception by the combination of a few things - wine :P and a British fella telling me stories about the days when he spent time travelling in Ipoh, Penang etc -- 30 years ago! So refreshing to have good ol' conversations once again, instead of meaningless chatter.

On other things, my involvement with this year's YAA team has got me thinking alot - How my fellow mentors do things, how the team members work with each other, and what I'm learning from them all. Things're quite different from last year, where I feel my mentors gave us more free rein to do things ourselves, but at the same time guided us and gave appropriate advice. We seem to be much more competitive last year, compared to this year's team which has a more laidback attitude towards things.

Instead of making everyone contribute, most of the work falls on shoulders of individuals. Individuals come up with the work and ask the others for feedback (which isn't always responded to). I believe 5 minds are better than 1. If thats the way they choose to work, I can't imagine how it'll be when it comes to manufacturing/selling. Emailed them about my suggestion they setup an online forum but communication seems to be the least of their priorities at the moment. Their current method's using emails, so in a day I might get 4 separate emails regarding 1 issue (& 3 feedback emails) which I have to reconcile separately, trying to figure out who's saying what at the same time. Its confusing, even for me. Ahh they'd better figure something out soon..