World, We're coming!

My feeling during convocation… was similar to what I felt 4 years ago during the high school farewell… all the good memories flashing out, and I reassured myself that I have no regret going out from this school. :)


Yes bear, NTU is the best...

A day before my convocation, I felt very sleepy for the whole day… I got up to bus and slept until I reached my office. When the lunch time came, I realized that my wallet was gone, and I finally all awake. 20 minutes later, I found my wallet in drawer (which I never put there before!) and deemed myself lucky. Afterwards, I happily went for lunch.

My parents came at that day… They reached at 4.30, and I was wanting so bad that I can leave office earlier… however, the reverse happened; I leave office only at 6.30… and guessed what… I can’t find the bus stop to their hotel and worse still, I leave my convocation invitation at the office!!! The invitation card is the single most important thing that I must take for my parent and I forgot it. I realized it only after I reached Novena. I totally blank out, but finally decided to tell my parents the truth (why this thing always happen =.=) and finally went back to my office to take it, together with my parents. My office is locked after 7pm and security code is needed to access… which I didn’t have. Lucky that there are still some people inside T_T

As it was nearly 8pm, my dinner plan was totally ruined. Finally, we’re having dinner at Asian Kitchen T_T I felt bad. And when we’re going back, it was raining hard. I didn’t know where to call taxi… a security guard advised me to wait at back side of ORQ… I followed his advices, only to wait 30minutes without any result. Finally I called to book a taxi and we reached back hotel at almost 11.

Ever since, I never wait for a taxi without booking it anymore T_T

I slept soundly that night, but feel guilty to let my dad sleep at the floor T_T The next day, I woke up at around 7, got ready and left at 8.45… reach NTU at around 9.15, and started to meet friends... and felt happy and sad at the same time. I’m so gonna miss them…

The convocation started at 10… and as expected, went until almost 12. I’m lucky to be seated next to Erikson and Duncan, hence can chat during the waiting time :p Walk out from the auditorium, we proceed to SBS lobby… took pics with friends… family… and I went off at almost 2.


SCEians + MSEian a.k.a dear roomie


Indo SCE, We made it!! Muahahaha~


Thanks for the free snapshot from school XD

Lily sis brought us to eat the most famous bak kut teh in Singapore, which happen to be just one bus stop away from the hotel. The food is real nice. The name started with “Founder” (reminder just incase I want to eat again some day :p) Afterwards, we head towards orchard, shopped, and have dinner at Sakura Buffet… We reached back home at around 10.30

The next day, I slept until 8am.. and found that my parents went off already =.=’ they have a morning walk around the hotel, and bought a char sio rice when they are back… (who stay longer in Singapore, actually?) Finished with breakfast, we settled some stuff before heading to my place at bukit batok around 1. Mum and dad (with the help of provoking drivers) kept complaining that my place is so far and asked me to move house T_T After reached back my place and put off stuff, we went to JP and have lunch at crystal jade restaurant. Not bad, but parents still prefer bak kut teh than something in restaurant… hahaha… After some shopping, we went back again to bukit batok… and set off to Airport at 5.

My parents’ flight was on 7… after they went in to the departure hall, I went to Grassroots’ club to attend SCE Graduation evening. The total tables are 17, but almost 7 of them are empty. The food was overflown, but I still haven’t digested my lunch and hence can’t eat much.

There is almost no one I know there.. but thanks that I found Shi Yi and Hui Min ^^ Have a good chat with them. The MC is very good, and I had a good laugh there. The things finished at around 10… I reached back bb at around 11, met up with Nancy and family (finally! Miss u much roomie~!) who waited outside because dear nan2 forgot to bring key =.=’ hahaha…

I spent my night unpacking my stuff, and only finished when it’s almost 2.30. Don’t feel like sleeping, I browsed until 3++… and finally, when my head can’t take it anymore, I went off to dreamland…

The next day, Sunday, I set my alarm to 9.30. It takes me 2 hours to finally get up from my bed. I rushed to shower and went to Yew Tee as I have promised Agung to return his convocation gown. Thanks for lending me the gown, Gung! Appreciate it a lot ^^ only that the hat is super big.. 7 ½! Seems like my brain size is much smaller. Haha…

The whole round trip to yew tee took me around 1 hour. As I back, I did the home chores, includes cleaning bathroom, sweeping and mopping home, cleaning up kitchen, doing laundry, ironing, etc. Feel super tired and making my mood bad.. until now.

Tomorrow I will working again T_T seems like I wont have such a long post anymore for the next few weeks.

Where have all my flatmates gone to? T_T
Erlin D

For you, a thousand times over

oTravelling to/from work, is a daily routine that takes quite a big slice of our daily time. I realized it when I started my second week of work (my first week was quite engaged with trying not to get lost).

After realizing the 'free time' I had everyday, I decided to start (again) what I mentioned to be interest in my resume: reading.

For the past 4 years in Singapore, I read only a handful of books… and I called myself a reader =.=’’ but anyway, all the book I read were a good one (or am I just too naïve in this book world), including this latest novel I read: The Kite Runner. Thanks Kite Runner for accompanying me in bus and mrt for this whole week. Thanks Nancy for suggesting the book to me. Thanks Handarmin as the owner of the book (although u might didn’t even know that the book is currently with me :p). Lastly, Thanks blazers to give the book as a gift for Handarmin 2 years ago. Hahaha.. XD

The title of this entry comes as the most touching phrase in the book… The plot was so strong that no matter when I read the phrase, I would think about Amir and Hassan and Kite. After reading the book, I look through the movie… look through this particular scene, but it was quite disappointing for me. Maybe that’s why book is sometime better than movie, your imagination can run as wild as you want =D

Any curious body, go grab the book now! :p

Ok, so much about the novel.

My life has been quite alright… in compare to the novel XD hahaha… I start to get used to work (get used to be ignored, get used to be left out T__T) but anywayyy… they started to give me something to do, and I was so happy =] I have made my very first mistake in office though. At that sunny day, I was really left with nothing to do… and I asked my colleague if there is anything I can help him… he think for a while, then asked me to help him do testing… at the end of the day, I ruined his testing website and postponed his presentation T_T some lesson learnt.

When I was back from office, I was quite stress up… thanks dear flatmates to make me feel better =]… Btw, talking about flatmates, I realized that I haven’t introduced much of my flatmates. Here they are, all single and available :p


Ivana, Fieda, Me, Nancy, and our parents

Last week, I helped out the last moving out of our batch… from NTU to boonlay… (sorry that I was late T_T) I feel that I go further and further from NTU.. am I greedy to say that I haven’t spent enough time there? I really miss it somehow. Being student is one of the best things in life… hahaha…


pizza-hunters @ housewarming. Nyam nyam Thanks!

Next week, I will go to NTU, most probably one of my last visits to NTU. The convocation will be on 25th July 2008, morning.

Leaving student life soon…
(but still using matric card to buy subway student meal :p)
Erlin D

Week 2 – Still Surviving

A: “You do this do that, OK?”
B: “But she still have thing to do, this and that I do ok? Or pending first, can?”
A: “No, she can do it NOW”

The conclusion from the short conversation is:
1. A feels that I slacked too much
2. B doesn’t trust me to do anything
3. I am being psycho

I still haven’t really got used to work YET. Today, I’m finally being late for the first time, late for 20 minutes because of the traffic jam. When I reached the office, it seemed like everyone was staring at me T_T

Every night, when I am supposed to sleep, I didn’t feel like sleeping… then every morning, when I am supposed to get ready to work, I hardly move. It seems like I’m still in adaptation period.

Hope that things will get better soon.

Till then,
Erlin D

Day 4

This is the end of the week. I’m feeling better… maybe because it’s Friday? In the morning, I had a talk with my buddy from other department… she is a nice girl :) Afterwards, I tried to rearrange my table to make it cozier for me… It was 12.30 when our boss started the department lunch with pizzahut, kfc, sushi, etc etc… nyummyy~~ the lunch ended only at 2.30. Afterwards, I continued with some chat… and a muffin at 3.30… then another chocolate cake before 4.30 and went to ORQ to have a short training session. It ended at almost 6. After reaching back DBS, I washed my mug and set off to international plaza to meet other friends.

At around 7.30, we have a nice chat and dinner around that arena (didn’t intend to make it as secret, but I simply didn’t know the name of the place). Afterwards, we WALKED to PuccaRyoma new home. I caps-locked the word to emphasize how near it was to my work place! Gosh it’s in walking distance!

The home is... super spaciousssss, even for 8 people to stay together. It's nice, but I might cry during my turn to do the cleaning duty. haha.. it's a 'penthouse'... very windy up there.. and the scenary is definetely one of the best!

After some food and fruits (thanks minaa), we went back at around 8.45… taking bus and reach bb at around 9.45. Not bad.. still manage to rush to fair price and buy some stuff. Afterwards… we took 176 back to our place… and then chit chat with flatmate until almost 2am.

Sorry if the blog sounds monotonous… I’m too sleepy to think of a more expressive vocabulary to use :p

Happy… weekend… zzzz,
Erlin.D

Day 3

Finally have a short chatting session with my supervisor. But nothing is confirmed yet. It’s funny how A thought that B had given me something to do, B thought C has given me something to do, and in the end no one is giving me anything to do. Still, in the end, I was the one in trouble when A asked “If that’s the case, what have you been doing in these 3 days?”

Still in the same state with yesterday, I haven’t found a key motivation yet. I read a motivational blog entry yesterday, but I’m still on my way finding my own motivation. Haha…

In the same meeting, my supervisor told me to be more confident, outspoken, and open minded. Does she really know all my weakest point in these 3 days or she just happened to get it all right? I admitted that I’m weak in soft skill… Thanks for your input… I’lll try to improve it :) Anyway, my supervisor is an awesome woman… I’ll say that she is someone that all career women will dream to be: smart and pretty.

Tomorrow will be Friday… but I still feel nothing T_T I would have been more ‘looking forward’ for it if I have done something meaningful.

Wondering,
Erlin.D

Day 2

Today, together with another new comer, I have an informal briefing of how my departments work. We chatted about a lot of things, of how the departments work, of its contribution to the company, etc. I didn’t manage to grab most of the points, as it’s overly “financialitic” for me, but the manager made one very clear point to me.

No Development in this specific IT Department.

I was totally stunned at that time. He continued that we’ll be focusing more on business analysis. In other words, I’ll be required to truly understand the business model before suggesting any module to be added.

I don’t mind doing that.. but… with my current finance knowledge… my dear company… I afraid that you have hired me for (almost) nothing T_T if there is anything I can be sure to be at least better than my peers, that is my IT knowledge. Now that you mentioned you will hardly need it… well…

I know that everything can be learnt. I know that there will be a very steep learning curve for me. I know that moving out from my comfort zone will be beneficial for me. I just really hope that I can contribute something along the way. I really wish for that.

I’m still in a very labile mood… I just realize that working is really a big turning point for me… from student to worker… and I still haven’t gotten the right mindset for it. For the last 16 years of study, I always had the mindset like “this is temporary… I just need to survive for 3 or 4 years and it’ll be over.” Even during my IA days, I will have the same temporary-thingy mindset. I can always see the upper bound. But now… I can’t. There is no time upper bound to this job thing… and I’m somehow lost the meaning of it.

I’m not sure if I could continue to write anything regarding about my job T_T More and more things become confidential and I shouldn’t break it if I don’t want to get into trouble…

In the middle of finding motivation,
Erlin.D

Day 1

- Wake up at 6, roll here and there for few minutes, go for shower.
- Dress up, drink a cup of milo, ready to go.
- Reach bukit batok MRT at 7.20, take direct MRT to raffles place, reach raffles place by 7.50.
- Go to toilet to change shoes, go to 7-11 to buy some drink
- Walk around, grab newspaper, read newspaper, go to registration counter at 9am
- Reach the intended meeting place way too early
- Chat with fellow graduates
- *Confidential*
- Go to my office…. Which is at level 12 of… DBS Tower 2!!! =.=’’’ all the time I thought I will be staying at One Raffles Quay.. I am so wrong =.=’ From tomorrow onwards, I will be stopping at Tanjong Pagar MRT instead of Raffles Place XD
- Being introduced to the team members
- Being told that my direct reporting boss is on leave
- Read through terms, conditions, agreement, compliance manual, etc etc
- Sign here and there
- Go back at 6.20
- Arrive at bukit batok MRT on 7pm, switch from shoes to sandals, pack chicken rice $2.5, take 176 back
- Walk for another 10 mins, reach home sweet home
- Eat, chat, call, sleep at 11am.

No Turning Back,
Erlin.D