The Induction Training – Week 3 (2)

Within a glance of eye, I have passed half of my training.

Yesterday, after a tiring day at stonehenge, I have a nightmare… that my bag is stolen for the second time. My boss was there when it happened, which made her so angry to me. At the time she decided to fire me, I woke up… and realize at time is already 11++!! I slept at 12 yesterday.. Simple math shows that I have slept for almost 12 hours O.o


@Stonehenge - nothing but a big stone ^^;

I rush to meet up with other friends and have a buffet at Singaporean restaurant. After the fulfilling lunch, we went to Greenwich and finally stepped on the 0 latitude =D


Singaporean food in London! (for 8 pounds)


On Natioanl Rail Station to Greenwich


@ Greenwich!

We reached back home at around six, then I have some silent time to reflect of what I have done for the past three weeks... but reach no conclusion. I felt that I have been much more silent here than when I’m in Singapore. Hahaha…

I started my communication class last Friday… will continue with negotiation class tomorrow T_T

BTW! Want to extend my congratulations to both of my dear friends... who just get into relationship :p What so special is... both were my highschool classmate for 3 years! (which means that both of them were classmate as well..) that's so sweet~

OK, going to sleep now, 10:51 GMT
ED

I got a niece!

On 23 September 21.34pm Sydney time… My brother became a dad! :p hahaha.. Congrats, my dear sister and brother…

I was quite sleepy when I opened the message, but suddenly become totally awake when I read the news. The baby was expected to come next week, but seems like she just too eager to see the world already.


Aurelie Tiffany Salim

Sweetty.. I wish to meet you soon. Be a healthy, strong, and good girl k! :p

Auntie,
ED

The Lost Passport Case - Closed

Today, I received information that I don’t have to reapply for UK Visa. I stared blankly as the confirmation e-mail was being printed out. Finally… I can close the passport case from my mind… (At least until I am back to Singapore).

It really has been a big mess. First time, I thought I will just need to reapply for a passport, and that’s it. The first adrenalin’s rush came after I heard that Embassy of Indonesia can’t provide me with a new passport, as I’m only holding a business visitor visa in UK.

Indo Embassy: “Sorry, you have to be either a student or holding work permit to request for a passport here”
Me: “Oh, I only have Singapore’s Work Permit”
Indo Embassy: “So you can go back to Singapore to make your passport”
Me: “But, what am I supposed to do without a passport?”
Indo Embassy: “We can issue you a travel document, to certify that you can enter Indonesia to make a new passport”
Me: “But I’m flying back to Singapore! Will I be able to enter Singapore?”
Indo Embassy: “You’ll need a work permit to be able to enter Singapore”

Work permit issuer: “Don’t worry Erlin, we can reissue a new work permit for you”
Me: “Thanks so much!”
Work permit issuer: “No Problem! Just let me know when you have get your new passport”
Me: “…”

At the end of the day, I knew that I need passport to make a new work permit and I need a work permit to enter Singapore and make a new passport. What a chicken and egg situation. I was really unsure if I can enter Singapore.

To make thing worse, I read through the online FAQ that if I lost my passport, I need to reapply for UK Visa. Nothing is being mentioned of what will happen if I didn’t reapply. Great, now I am not even sure if I can exit UK.

And as I can’t get through the UK immigration officer phone, I was so stress up. Top up with the upcoming exam, I was really in a bad mood. Finally after a week of arrow pointing in UK, I asked for help from Singapore. In less than 2 working days, everything is settled. I called Embassy of Indonesia in Singapore, and they told me that I can still enter Singapore as long as I have the copy of my work permit with me (thanks God I have it). And then, my manager helped me to check and confirm that I don’t have to reapply for UK visa. Perfect =D

Now I have nothing to worry and I can focus on my training… but guess what, I was sleepy throughout the training just now T_T Maybe I have been using too much of my adrenalin. Or maybe I need to do some sport to keep my spirit. Or maybe I need more rest. Or I’m simply a lazy pig.

The last one make most sense,
ED

The Induction Training – Week 3 (1)

Thanks to my late sleep on Sunday, I can hardly wake up on Monday. Thanks to my sister to keep me awake by asking some serious questions.

Today, I finally gathered with all the GTO at Prospero House. The breakfast there was good (or because I was bored with the Hatton’s?) And the introduction briefing is not bad.

Right after the briefing, once I know the schedule for today, I decided to go to Indonesian Embassy today, as it will cost less than tomorrow. I called Indonesian Embassy asking if my travel document is ready, then informed me graduate manager, and zooom~ I was flying to there. It took me less than two hours to reach back my training center. See, I’m getting better in direction =D this is not a bad exercise.


My precious, please dont run away again

After another hour of business speaker, I have my first lunch there. I picked some sausage, which taste exactly like the can minced meat ^^; Not that good, but I finished them, as usual. My flatmate is getting slimmer as week passes, my attire is getting tighter and tighter ^^;

We have break until 2.30, then followed by a quiz regarding different GTO functions. The winner got 100 pounds voucher to musical theater! I wanted it badly, but I didn’t able to fully answer all of them.. so.. T_T Cheerz to the winner, who is a guy in the same department as I :p

During the briefing, I got a surprising news, that this is the first time for our department to hire IT graduate, meaning to say, we are the pioneers! We’re the only two for the whole region O.o Quite a huge difference with other department. But seriously, I’m glad to be in my department. All the people are very nice. I mean it.

The briefing finished at 5, then we have a drink and dinner session for the whole GTO. Eve and I decided to go back at around 7. After some dinner in a nice Chinese restaurant, we went back home and called it a day.


Finally after two weeks, a chinese souuup!!

We’ll be starting the real training tomorrow. Heard that everything won’t be that easy anymore. Wish us luck! :)

Nite!
ED

Appendix – List of hassles caused

I took back my words – I indeed want to note down how exhausted I was last week.

Saturday
1815: Inform my friends
1830: Inform KFC Manager, Mr. Wang
1900: Inform Police @ Police Station
2000: Call Singtel to terminate my card
2015: Eve calls GTO training manager but goes to voice mail2030: SMS my manager, but texing the wrong person (just realized it after 2 days)
2045: Inform Travel Card assistance, but they asked me to call other party the next day
Back Home
2130: Inform City Tower security guard
2200: Call Crown Lawn manager
2230: Call AMEX card
2245: Call DBS Singapore

Sunday
0900: Inform my family
0930: Call Travel Card Lost department regarding the lost of card – 1
1000: Call Oyster Card help desk to get my Oyster card number – 2
1100: Call Travel Card lost department again regarding the lost of card – 3
1130: Do online reporting of the Oyster card
1200: Sister texted to asked if I’m fine
1300: Brother called to asked if I’m fine
1700: Email to managers at Singapore office

Monday
0730: Call Crown Lawn manager regarding keys
0830: Managers from Singapore called to asked if I’m fine – touched!
0900: Inform Instructor about the incident
1000: Inform Graduate Training team about the incident
1100: Call GTO training manager to request permission skipping class tomorrow
1200: Call Embassy of Indonesia
1400: Email to secretary at Singapore office for insurance
1800: Get reimbursement of my oyster card with 10 pounds fee
1830: Get my apartment keys, but lack of the other 2 keys
1900: Email to managers at Singapore for Singapore Police Report
2000: Call Crown Lawn manager regarding lack of keys

Tuesday
0830: Tell security guard regarding the lack of two keys
0900: Reach Indonesian Embassy
0930: Go to another department at Adam Row which settled Visa
1010: Explain my situation to office
1100: Fill documents
1130: Go to take photos
1200: Go to buy 30 pounds postal order
1300: Reach back training center, talk to Graduate Training Manager
1500: Call UK Immigration Office, no one picked up
1600: Inform Graduate Training team, they advice me to write email to Lucy
1830: Security guard told me that he couldn’t find the original keys and most probably need me to pay for engineer
1900: Email to secretary at Singapore office to query about insurance form
2000: Call Crown Lawn manager to inform about the missing original keys
2100: Call Crown Lawn manager again to inform that my flatmate has the key

Wednesday
0800: Inform security guard regarding the keys
1000: Email to secretary at Singapore office to ask help in posting the insurance form
1030: Call UK Immigration Office, no one picked up
1100: Email HR people in London to schedule the posting of the insurance form
1200: Call HR online, but Lucy is away for lunch, was advice to email hr admin
1300: Email HR admin explaining the situation
1500: Ask HR people in training center if it’s possible to post the help post internal mail
1530: Call UK Immigration Office, no one picked up
2000: Ask if ETC provide scanner to scan insurance document
2045: Explain to new security guard regarding the keys, get the two keys
2100: Completed police report form and sent

Thursday
0900: Inform new security guard regarding the keys, return back two keys
1000: Ask Graduate Trainer available regarding possibility to send internal mail
1200: Ask another Graduate Trainer to send internal mail
1300: Call UK Immigration Office, no one picked up
1500: Call HR admin about UK Visa, but the person asked me to search google! How stupid can it be?
1800: Being informed that the mail has been sent for delivery
2000: Inform and get two keys from security guard
2100: Email Graduate Training manager that I need help
2300: SMS bro that I’m fine

Friday
0730: Explain to security guard to return my flatmate key, but they insisted not to
1200: Call Cameron, the firm that helped us settle UK Visa in Singapore
1800: Get email from graduate training manager that I must contact HR
2000: Being interrogated by friends

Saturday
1200: Inform mum and dad, dad suggested me to write snail mail to UK immigration
1300: Email Cameron regarding UK Visa
1800: Inform managers at Singapore regarding my situation

Sunday
1000: Manager told me to calm down and enjoy my weekend
1200: Inform mum and dad, dad suggested me to go to airport and ask the immigration there
1300: Inform friends
1600: Inform sis and get lectured for 15 minutes of how careless I am. Sis suggest me to call embassy of Singapore in London
2330: Inform blog

This is by no means an exhaustive list. I can’t remember most of the chronology, but this is roughly what happen. Am I tired? Yes. I’m quite tired with this case. I will be very glad if people can talk to me with another topic instead of this one…

Time to sleep! Another formal dress tomorrow T_T
ED

Appendix - List of the things lost

Incident: Lost of handbag
When: On an unfortunate 13 September 2008, 18:00
Where: KFC Marble Arch, Oxford Street


Last pic with the bag :(

Unavoidable lost:

• Oyster Travel Card
• Crown Lawn Apartment Keys x 5
• AMEX Card
• Spectacles
• Handbag
• Rain Coat
• Pink water bottle
• Gloves
• Scarf
• Contact lens set
• Cash
  
• Tube Map
• London Travel Map
• Sweets, Notes, Maps

Avoidable lost (not supposed to be carried around):

• Passport
• UK Visa
  
• Employment Pass
• DBS Security Token
• DBRas
• DBS Turnstile
• Thumbdrive x 2
• Singapore Apartment Keys x 3
• Singtel SIM Card
• Office Keys x 2

Lesson learnt... in a very hard way. Hope that other will learn from my experiences as well T_T
ED

The Induction Training – Week 2

So, I lost my bag last weekend.


Can't help to feel blessed with the support from all my friends around me

Inside the bag is all the stuff that I would like to barter to lose my second bag instead. All the secure thingy, keys, ids… were gone. Gosh!

Nothing much this week. I have been doing a lot of rushing here and there and I really don’t want to even remember it all over again. It’s just too tiring. For this week, I was settling my passport, duplicating my keys, purchase a new oyster card, informing my graduate training manager, getting police report from Singapore, filling up insurance form, struggling with lesson, and finally, the exam on Friday.

My sleeping time was usually around 2am – 6am during the week. It was quite a pain for me. On the exam date itself, I slept only at 4.30am because I wasn’t able to finish the revision T_T.. in the end, I make 14 mistakes out from 75… well.. not my best effort, but at least I passed.

I feel like vampire in passing through this week, no spirit and motivation at all. At the end of Friday, eve invited me to join her traveling to Manchester… I would really love to, but my body didn’t seem to allow me doing so. In the end, I decided to spend my weekend staying at home sweet home, resting and writing blog.


My tasty lunch for 75 pence!

So yeah, that’s for my week two. At least, I still manage to enjoy one Phantom of The Opera musical on Tuesday. I like the backdrop a lot, but I don’t really understand the flow =.=’ only after I back and search wikipedia, I understand the whole scenes. Haha.. I love one of the soundtrack: All I ask of you. Quite a touching story after all. Sabrina cried during the musical :p hahaha..

Last night, I has a ride on London Eye as well for 15.60 pounds. Didn’t feel much “wow” feeling – it’s just like looking down from a tall building ^^; but it’s always good to try, right? :p


In London Eye, above the Thames River

Next week will be another tiring week with my UK Visa unsettled. Hopefully, everything will be better by the end of next week. There will be a lot of other hassles to be settled once I’m back to Singapore. I know that there is no use of keep reminding myself of it now. It won’t change anything until next month. So… may this blog serves as the keeper of all my complains, and let me have a more cheerful week ahead please!

This week has been a gloomy week, hasn’t it? Even for all the financial market out there… all the things just happen too fast too soon. Sometimes it’s hard for me to believe if it has been really happening, or just being made up for the purpose of real life example training.


One last look at one of the victims of financial crisis

I wish that I can try to enjoy the training here. My financial lost was roughly calculated around the price of a laptop. The immaterial lost.. is just too much.. with all the people that I bothered and fuss around, I didn’t feel good at all. But still, I am really thankful that I have friends around me here. My biggest thanks to all of you... Thanks as well that I bring a laptop and purchase the internet. I can’t think of the upcoming hassles if only I can’t surf internet at all.

Let’s wish for a better week!
ED

The Induction Training – Week 1

The training started with a full day “briefing” at Hilton Hotel. All of us are gathered in one big room, and it was the first time I saw how many the graduates are, 570ish! I shook hand with so many people, but none of the name remained in my brain at the end of the day T_T


After a not-very-brief briefing

For second and third day, the graduates were spread to different primary school to do community works. Mine is at Gainsborough Primary School.

"Gardening"

There were around 50 people go to a school, and then, we’re separated into 5 teams. I picked gardening, thinking it would be very fun to plant and see flower all around. Too bad, my imagination was far from the real job. We’re to clean up a garden, digging soil, mowing, trimming, sawing, drilling, all those man-ist work. I built up my muscles in those 2 days. But it was pretty fun, knowing that you’re not working hard alone, and hearing all the complains and jokes from all the other graduates XP


After the hardwork @ the Hackney Wick train station

At the start of fourth day in a class room at Hatton, I can hardly move my hands to write. Luckily, the lesson didn’t require me to. As I heard it is not examinable, I took a good position and act reading-while-sleeping for the rest of the two days. The food provided was lovely, but the coffee was nothing much than a black water. I drank 6 cup of espresso but still fall asleep at class ^^; Maybe I can blame the weather as well, cloudy and windy for the rest of the week. Think this is the common weather in London. It can just rain and stop in the next 3 minutes. My umbrella can’t survive the weather here… it bend the other way round because of the wind. In the end, my rain coat saved me. Haha…


Visiting British Museum with formal business attire ^^;

Saturday was the end of my short relaxing period. After the photo taking early in the morning, we went to Hyde Park and Green Park for some walk, and continue with dinner at KFC. I lost my bag there! I really can’t believe it for the first one hour. I put my bag at chair, I asked my friends help to take care of my belongings, I was back from ordering food, I want to put back my wallet to bag, and bump – I realized that it was gone.


Poor people going to work in early saturday morning


My last pic before I realized that my bag was gone

I can not think clearly of what to do. The worst was that – my passport was in my bag! Together with my work permit, visa, and everything. All in sudden, I realized that I’m identity-less… and regretted why I brought it out… and regretted… and regretted.

All of my friends had been very supportive to my situation. Thanks so much everyone. Even the KFC manager, Mr. Wang, has been very helpful. He allowed me to view CCTV right after I report to him, which is quite a contrast with my experience last time in Singapore. At the end of the day, my friends had helped me to look all around the place, accompanied me to police station, postponed the b’day party plan, and sent me home. My special thanks to my flatmate, who has been accompanying me all the way. I’m really sorry to ruin your b’day celebration. Why on earth I kept losing bag on my friend b’day!? It was exactly the same thing two years ago. When will I learn to be more careful, huh? :( I’m disappointed with myself. I really am...

Sunday was a gloomy day for me. The night before, I called crown lawn, dbs, amex, even singtel to inform about my loss. On Sunday, I did another call marathon to report the lost of my Oyster Travel Card. With my current phone plan, it was soon flatten my credit to 1 pound by the next day.

I went to Canary Wharf to top up my credit, as well as having lunch and bought a book for eve’s birthday. Afterwards, I back to settle some more stuff, before going for dinner with the rest at waterloo. We watched a firework… and suddenly I felt happy that at least my camera is still with me…


@ Giraffe for Eve's b'day celebration

From now on... is the start of the restless nights…
ED

The Induction Training – Week 0

The last week before my training was quite similar to my last week in my internship – having lots of fun during office time and scratching my head back home, with all the things need to be sorted out before the midnight flight at the end of the week.

On Sunday afternoon, I had the entire weekly schedule planned. Weekly GTO lunch on Monday, lunch with citra and moja on Tuesday, movie and health workshop on Wednesday, lunch with helios on Thursday, and flight on Friday. In the end of the week, I have GTO lunch on Monday, lunch with helios on Tuesday, citra and moja lunch and movie on Wednesday, health workshop on Thursday, and fly on Friday.

All look a bit mess out, but I was very glad that all the appointments were fulfilled at the end of the day. I even won lucky draw price during the health workshop by Ironman champion. Hahaha… The price is yet to be received though :p

I managed to exchange money as well before the movie (sorry to Sabrina and Glen that I make u all wait). I exchanged for 700 pounds with rate 2.578 for SGD and 1.4 for USD. The exchange was done in less than 5 minutes as the person was already rushing to close shop. Haha.. Thanks anyway to still serve me as your last customer!

We rushed from Suntec to Cathay for the Wall-E movie. It was awesome! I cried twice although I have tried my best not to (as there were so many colleagues around T_T). Hope that they didn’t realize it though. I don’t know why I was so touch with all Wall-E sacrifice. I think even Pixar and Disney aren’t expecting the audience to cry. Hahaha.. Oh yeas! I specifically love the tone used when Wall-E was charged up – exactly the same tone used when we start Mac. Muahaha…


Wall-E, expected to be coming to your computer screen real soon :p

On Thursday, Kelvin and I bought apple strudel for colleagues at our office. It was our ‘last day’ there. However, we’re definitely over estimated – they only finished 2 boxes out from 4 T_T in the end, Kelvin bought it to ORQ. I don’t know what happened there afterwards. Hahaha.. At night, I washed my cloths and having fun chatting with flatmate. I didn’t do much packing yet as all my cloths were still in hanger. I tried out my company laptop… and totally shocked to know that I can do almost everything with it! All the websites that were blocked internally can be accessed without problem. I can even install skype, although I can’t do anything with msn. With confidence, I packed the laptop as my luggage and went to sleep happily.

On Friday, I was waken up by a call from office, at around 10am. I was super shock to see the time, as I actually have promised them to stand by from 9am instead T_T so sorry.. The urgent call required me to stay infront of computer from 10am until 6pm.. which was quite a mess because I haven’t packed! In the end, I rush showering, packing, ironing, panicking, and doing everything in the last two hours. Sabrina and I took cab to airport at around 8.30. I told her about my story. But her story is even much more surprising. She was still in office until 5, went to farewell party until 7, and packed only for half hour. Wew~

The flight was awesome… I was definitely on the mood of making full use of system there. We can even open word documents, power point, and pictures there. It reminds me of some of my flatmates, who laugh at me when I asked them to put my transportation details inside my thumbdrive “Ha? So clever hor, then what u used to access it? Your nose ar?” =.=’ However, as I was doing extensive testing with the system, the inflight entertainment break down and need to be restarted =.=’


Slideshow at your very own inflight entertainment system! :p

Afterwards, I decided not to play too much with it.. I then watch 2 movies: Sex and the City and Indiana Jones. I wasn’t able to finish the second one though, as I was busy taking pics of the food as well as the A380 XP I managed to break into to the business class section as well.. It is niiceeeee… But we’re hush away before making our way to the suites… Hmm~


The staircase to those high price seats

I hardly felt that it was a 13 hours flight. SIA had definitely do a greet job =] This time, I tried out Singapore Sling, which is quite fruity and refreshing. Anyone can order it as well, it's free of charge :p Thanks to my companion who taught me how to make even fuller use of the flight services :p I’m looking forward for my flight back home later! Muahaha..

As we touched London, we started to look for our accommodation. Eve, Wendy and I took a cab together to our apartment (bye, 48pounds). We were quite surprised that we can check in right away (the other grads need to wait until 3) and was more surprised that eve and I were staying in the same apartment. I though we will be separated! Another surprise came when I saw my apartment – It was so huge! : I have a bed room and a bathroom for myself. It includes a living room with plasma TV and fully furnished kitchen as well. The only thing lacking was the internet. Haha.. In fact, we’re saying that we’re ready to exchange all the exclusiveness with one free wireless internet. Lol. Yeah, the internet is not provided. (bye, another 45 pounds)


My messy bedroom ^^;

After we settled down for a while, we went to ASDA supermarket to buy some necessities. It was only 5 minutes walk from our place and open 24 hours. Very convenient! I had my very first meal there… it was pretty nice.. but, what is fries without chili? T_T suddenly I regretted for not bringing my chili sauce.


My first meal in London, Grilled Chicken for 4.5 pounds. With Chili, it would have been a perfect meal

Done with groceries and lunch, we went to get our local phone card, meet other graduates and I have big mac for dinner. Even the big mac is much more expensive here T_T hahaha…

On the next day, all of us woke up quite early as we’re still adjusting to the time difference. After some cereal as breakfast, we went for some sightseeing – London bridge, tower bridge, St paul cathedral and have foods at random location… Everywhere in London looked so historic, with high ceiling, stone, garden, and everything. Together with the windy weather, it was very relaxing to walk around, but it made my contact lens very dry.


Relaxing sightseeing around London Bridge

We’re totally tired when we’re back at night, and pass out until the next morning… when the training start...

Adjusting to price O.o,
ED

The Induction Training – Prolog

My first post in September! I can’t believe how long I have been hibernating. No wonder that my head feel so heavy – I need to pass out some to my “pensive” (refer Harry Potter if you don’t know what it means :p)

This has been a tough month for me. Quite tough, but I’m glad that I am still surviving. I would really like to note those experiences down to the very details… I did it in my early day of the month.. but alas, I lost my thumbdrive where I keep all those details. Sigh. More to that later =]

So, I’m currently in London, the most expensive town in the world… It hurts so much when I tried to convert the currency to SGD… I preferred to keep the rate of pounds to rupiah concealed. I might ended up be walking to my training center if knowing my transport cost me 2millions rupiah. Haha…



The ultimate Transport for London O.o


Okies, let’s keep this blog alive!
ED