Turning back the study clock

I’m a student again!

A 3 year course in Design and Media, majoring Animation (*wonders if I’ve posted it before?)

Yesterday was the orientation day. I woke up before my alarm clock went off with its “….mada mada dane”. I surprised my mum who was ready to go to work.

“You’re up early! Why so early? It’s a miracle!”

这样早起来啊！O_O

…

I’m always up early. I just like to roll around in bed a little longer. Than necessary.

And it half killed me to type the chinese characters in. Send me back to primary school for Chinese lessons?

Needed to reach campus at 9.15am for registration, got stopped by a couple of Sydney tourists about where to go… I really wish they don’t ask me… o_o I’m half a hermit. I mumbled the first thing that came to my mind, “Suntec City?”

What? I promoted my old workplace? Then I backstabbed it, “but the shops are probably not opened , so there’s nothing to see there”

They asked about this 3 tall buildings with the sausage-like thingy on top. Hot dog? Oh, Marina Bay Sands. Luckily my mum dragged me go before, or I won’t even know about this sausage-like thingy on top of 3 buildings. Worth a look?

Probably. If you’re willing to spare some cash to look at most of the Singapore at one go. I told them all the tourist-y attractions are around that area, not the way down to my campus. After we waved our goodbyes, I was thinking that I should have told them to go Bugis Street. Darn.

Picture from Wikipedia

The foyer for registration was crowded with freshmen. I guess NAFA’s specialty don’t lie in spoon-feeding.  But I wished they put the sign “3D design registration” and “Design & Media registration” higher or paste it on the walls behind the booth.

There’s lot of people… putting the sign at chest-level is just going to be hidden among the bodies.

Thank goodness for not blindly joining in the first queue I see. That would be 3D design.

The queuing up process was hot and pretty boring. Which makes it a good excuse to make some small talk with the person in front or behind, and to look for eye-candies.
From there I made a new friend – Mas. A pretty cute girl who is majoring in Animation too~

Come to think of it, I should have poked the guy in front and make some introductions too. But I’m too shy.

Anyways, we went to Campus 3′s theatre for presentation. It was long. Way too long for my stomach. I drank some NEwater (my first time drinking it. I sniffed before drinking) in attempt to drown the complaints from my stomach. I made my second friend. A girl on my right. And throughout, we made small jabs at the presentation, probably annoying the people around and the guy next to me. LOL.

And the orientation dragged on.

It was  more of an orientation to NAFA, rather than to other freshmen. It didn’t involve those cheesy icebreaker games which I dread. Frankly, it was rather a waste of time.

After campus tour and lunch, more presentation. We sat together and Mas asked for my name. Lol. Yes, the first question was “What’s your major?” and not “What’s your name?” for me. So I never got to know the names of the people I had been harassing. XD

Well, kindred souls don’t need such superficial things such as names. They just know each other.

*excuses*

After EVERYTHING, we spent the last 15 minutes doing the most important thing – signing up for electives and modules. And then we will know our classes.

I’m in 1A. Gosh… When I see that, I felt that I’m back in Primary school. Sadly, none of the girls I knew were in my class, I think. Oh wells.

1 and half hours to kill before meeting up with the former Suntec City Management staff for dinner. I went to Illuma to laze and behold who I spied.

Mr Chin! The dinner’s guest of honor. Though it was a short period of less than a year, rarely got the chance to bother him, I didn’t know him well but I felt a little sad that he’s leaving the place he had worked for 15 years +.

Upon reaching Hjh Maimunah Restaurant, I was quite surprised to see the majority was not from Mr Chin’s department but the security. Shucks, didn’t get to see my 老师.

The dinner was unique but quite nice, especially the chilly squid which I didn’t quite like the look of earlier.

Our table (of 6) was too cramped with food! Guys, if you want more food, you should sit with us!

Our table, 5 females and 1 male. Lots of food left here and there. XD

Looking at the crowd that came, there’s a representative from every department except Finance and Carpark. I guessed this is SCM’s clique (maybe include the ex-boss of carpark)? The human resourcers are SCM’s clique! <3

Let’s meet again on December 8! Wear our caps!

Who says OL doesn’t eat?

OL = Office Lady.

dayever = works in office but not a lady, no matter who might argue (oh, I can think of at least one person, maybe he’s just being polite. Hah!).

7.00 : Enjoys a cup of coffee (instant coffee, regrettably).

8.30 (plus minus) : Reach workplace.

9.00 : Have my breakfast – sandwiches, hotdogs, bread, whatever that’s in my bentobox.

11.00 : Munches on biscuit.

12.30 : Lunchtime. Where-ever and whatever that satisfy our cravings and hunger. And time management.

Pasta and Orange juice from DOME… when there’s no time.
And no Korean instant noodle left…

15.00 : Tidbits.

17.00 : Tidbits.

19.00 : Biscuits.

21.00 : Dinner

23.30 : Sleep

I think I’m gaining weight. O_o

My snacks that I’m bringing to work! Probably last for 2 weeks.

Idiot’s Guide to Civil Service English

Since everyone’s looking / has a job now, let me share this useful information with you.

I swear it’s telling the truth… for my level at least, especially for “please advise, FYI, for your approval, hope this is helpful, please do not hesitate to contact me, thank you for bringing this to my attention, immediate and WE SPOKE.” HAHAHA.

I think the ‘brief, review and policy consultation’ are true too.

x x x x x

Please advise.
I don’t have a clue what to do with this.

Please draft.
Draft for hours producing a coherent and impressive letter so that I can fulfil my teacher-fantasy by needlessly amending it.

Please deal.
Do all the work on this yourself.

For your information, please.
Don’t even think of commenting on this but if anything goes wrong I’ll remind everyone you knew what was going on.

For your concurrence, please.
Preparation is at an advanced stage, or it’s already happening. If you have any concerns, no-one wants to hear them.

For your approval, please.
Always a great way to pass the buck.

Concerned (as in “I was concerned to hear…”)
A senior official is about to explode.

Surprised (as in “I was surprised to learn of…”)
Another classic senior official understatement. Signifies utter horror, disgust and fury.

Up To Speed (as in “Are you up to speed?)
Have you got a brain?

I have reservations…
“If you do this then you’re an even bigger fool than I thought.”

As appropriate (as in “please deal with this as you consider appropriate”)
You may bin this, but don’t blame me if you are found out.

Happy To Discuss
There’s a whole lot more here than meets the eye and that I haven’t told you. Should ring alarm bells.

Hope this is helpful
I’m well aware that it is not helpful at all. Please don’t contact me again.

Please do not hesitate to contact me
Please do not ever contact me ever again. If you really insist, try in two weeks time when I am on leave.

Thank you for bringing this to my attention
“Damn, I hoped nobody was going to mention that/find out about that.”

I would welcome your views on this
Does anyone have any ideas – cos I don’t – although I want to appear very consultative.

We Spoke.
Lets other people know that we have spoken and have a plan, but not what that plan is. Always followed by a full stop.

You may recall
You will if you’re any good.

You may wish to note that…
No you won’t, it’s bad news I’m afraid.

You should be aware that
Even worse news – not my fault, honest.

You may wish to consider doing this…
Do this or else!

In due course
In a very long time …… if I remember.

On The Back Burner
Let’s just shelve it and pretend we will attend to it later.

Immediate
Desperately overdue and should have been answered a week ago.

Policy Consultation
The authorities have already decided what it’s going to do. The document will contain one policy dressed up to look like several options, to give the impression that the authorities are open to suggestions. It will also have a few ridiculous ideas, so officials can claim to be “thinking outside the box”.

Interim Report
A short document explaining why the full report will be late, how complex the issues are and how hard you are working on it. With luck, people will forget about the whole thing until you’ve moved to another post.

Resource Implications
This will cost money/need some manpower. So either the department won’t do it or it will be done badly using existing resources.

Initiative
A totally impractical and over-expensive idea that skirts around a problem but makes it look as though we are doing something about it.

Toolkit
A mystical set of solutions that will somehow launch us towards public sector nirvana.

Brief
A very misleading word as briefs are anything but.

Media Handling Strategy
How on earth can we bury this?

Review
This policy is going wrong but we cannot admit it. Instead, in order to defuse the controversy, we will get someone who knows nothing about the issues to examine them for 3 months, following which they will provide a helpful synopsis of everything we already knew.

Workgroup
5 or more people sitting in a room failing to achieve anything.

Strategic Coordination Unit
There’re too many coordination units. Nobody knows what the hell is going on or who is supposed to be doing what. A new unit to co-ordinate the coordinators is therefore required.

Change Management
Finding ever new ways of saying “Like it or lump it”.

Empowerment
I’m not delegating this boring task to you because I can’t be bothered to do it. I am empowering you.

Information Management
Posh term for “filing”.

Milestones
A form of signage still used in the civil service although they ceased to be fashionable on highways about 150 years ago. Sometimes imply strenuous exertions as in “deliver milestones”.

If Harry Potter were written in Civil Service English it would go something like this:
Harry, along with other key stakeholders such as English Partnerships, the RDAs and Gandalf, and in the light of a wide-ranging consultation exercise, thought that, subject to appropriate consideration of the options, he would head, in an integrated and holistic way, respecting the four key principles of public service reform, for the cottage built on greenfield land situated close to major transport infrastructure interchanges by the end of April 2004.

(day: I have no idea what the above story is about. I think my eyes just skipped over that whole chunk of useless words. hah.)

Here’s my 4 cents (based on current experience):

You seemed puzzled.
Were you listening to what I have been telling you for the last 10 minutes?
Or what’s so difficult to understand, just follow my instructions, throw out your common sense.
(day: Damn you, it’s my usual facial expression – i.e. without expression)

Let me get back to you.
I have no idea what you are talking about. Lemme google the answer. And hopefully if you’re smart enough, you would google it too, so we don’t need to call each other again.
(day: my favourite. Or else, please call my colleague at xxxx)

Please enlighten me.
Talk all you want, but let me tell you this, “I’m as stubborn as a mule”.
(day: I swear, the higher you climb, the… mule-r you become)

What is your work load like for the week?
I need your help in dealing with my workload.

Disappearing Day. Rant rant rant

Firstly, I’m a selfish, impatient, irresponsible, snobbish, impolite and easily-pissed-off person.

Since, I’m impolite, selfish and irresponsible, I’m not going to apologise for going MIA (missing-in-action).

Hah.

There were so many so many blog ideas, but every time I reach home, I was too tired to type up even a short entry, to tired to communicate to anyone – even my family. I swear I’m a worse hermit than you Troy.

Oh I did type up a reply, 2 days after I received your email, it’s still sitting pretty in my draft box, half way through.

So latest news of me – working office hours – 8.30 am to 6pm, usually staying back overtime for an hour or 2. In fact, I’m out of the house at 7.30 am back home at 9 pm. If you know me well, my energy level is usually low, easily depleted, by the time I reached home, it’s negative.

 

- – - Rant ahead - – -
You did read my disclaimer right.

I hate weekends. Because that’s when I would feel the slightest twinge of guilt for disconnecting with everybody.
But, usually, I spent my time doing work I brought back from workplace. Or sleeping. Or hiding in my room to avoid my family.

I am seriously seriously seriously grouchy and impatient with anyone who is not with my pace or wave of thoughts during these two stupid days of the week. Especially eldery and kids. I’m expecting to be stuck by lighting anytime now.

It’s not that I don’t love my work. I do. But I’m more of a lone wolf, rather than being dependent of others for information. I wonder how many times I wished that there is some sort of a E-library where I could get past years information of my company, so I don’t need to trouble others for it (i.e., wait for them to dig out some free time to entertain my questions). And I wish I have the time to finish my own part of work too.

I hate Saturday and Sunday. Especially Sunday.

I’m not a fucking dictionary.
And I fucking hate tell tale-rs.
Why I stay up late is my own bloody business, I like having eye bags, is that your problem?
I’m not a people-person.
And I hate people raising their voices at me.
Too bad if your voice is naturally loud, because it just meant you put me on permanent irritable state.
I’m unreasonable.

I know my silent state pisses the hell out of you.
That’s because I’m already in my irritable state.
Don’t say I’m soft.
I’m not. It’s just that I know my place.
I have a lousy temper, it’s just that it could be verbally or kept in that silent state.
I won’t give you a black face, I will just ignore you while childishly blogging it here.

And don’t start the crap of accusing me with the ‘always’ shit.

Don’t ever ever ever come and shit with me with the “You studied Business, so you should know this.”
So what happened to all your basic English?
Don’t come to me next time, I’m not your English teacher, and I’m not a dictionary either.

I’m childish because you make me that way.
I’m a bitch because you irritate the hell out of me.

bastard

Humans and your needs, wants, and the superficiality.

As technologies advance, I think the world is getting worse. Sometimes, all this ‘advancement’ is to hide what ever problems we have created, or the creation of more problems.

Getting more retarded.

I wish Doomsday is here already.

I think I need a punching bag.

nuuuuu

My second last day.

Mixed feelings!

It gets me depressed to see people I have gotten to know more leaving one by one.

And it makes me depressed to see me leaving the people I got to know more about.

I think this is the one of the most enjoyable and valuable working experience that I have had so far, and believe that it will still remain thus so.

I’ll miss you guys! <3