May be

I'm having a blast this trip back home! Yes, I want to say this over and over again. I realized how much I've missed out last time. When I was in a relationship, she was the center of my universe. I would plan out everything with her in mind.

Now that I'm free to arrange what ever I want, I get to meet so many friends and do so many spontaneous things which I don't have to explain.

It's kinda sad that I have to leave this new found feeling that I like. Since I'm still young, career out weights personal short term gratification.

I love Malaysia for all the F that it's got

Family + Friends + Food = Fun!

I'm really having a great time in Malaysia. Thanks all for the wonderful time!

I'm gonna be a L soon

Since I'm back here, I've arranged to have my meals (lunch, dinner and supper) with my family and friends. Being a Malaysian, having acquaintances during meals is more of a norm as compared to foreigners where meeting up for them is usually over coffee or drinking session.

This time around other than attending the various events that I've mentioned on the post below, I took the chance to savor as much Malaysian food as I can. With lunch, dinner and supper, I've never had the feeling of hungry since I've landed in Malaysia (Ok, once. There was one where someone was late for a gathering).

It was a good chance to tell everyone that I'm due to leave to the States in late 09Q1. Most of the reaction was pleasant with well wishes but surely there are some sour grape as well. When someone says something like "no amount of money can make me leave Malaysia", there are two ways you can interpret it. It's either the circumstances doesn't allow the person to leave Malaysia or they just want to make a statement where opportunity like this is not beneficial to them because they wouldn't want it anyway. I guess it boils down to the person's attitude and the way he said it.

Spending Counter: MYR3-4K ish, die die die.

Home Sweet Home

It feels so nice to be home this time. I guess this will be the longest home coming ever for me since I've joined this company.

Other being in Malaysia for a long time, I'm happy because so happens that there are so many events. Hakka gathering, Winter Solstice (Dong Tzi), Simon's birthday (my buddy from sec school), Christmas, Annual Dinner, ma big day, New Year, etc etc.

When I get home, the usual drill would be going through all the mails that is meant for me. Like I said before, my parents will definitely open all my mails for me. So make sure if you are sending anything personal, do state it clearly :P

Surprisingly, my tier level for Qantas Frequent Flyer has been upgraded to Silver whereas my MAS Enrich is still blue. There's a couple more flights to go.

Next would be letters from banks. Account statement, credit card statement, etc etc. I got a few regret letter for denying credit card service as well. Owh well, I'm still stuck with one card now. I called the agents up and they told me it's due to them not being able to get me on the phone :/

And finally, I'm happy to come back because I can spend like crazy! It's been only 3 days and I've spent at least few thousand. There's no sign of stopping yet. Die, spend bonus money before its in my account.

Bottoms Up

Merry Christmas to bloggies of Abyss of Fatigue

It's been awhile since I scribbled something here. It's either I'm busy at work or too tired from X'mas parties.

We had island party theme

Imagine drinking back to back every night, sometimes even since lunch. Yesterday was X'mas party for NZ office. It started since 1pm till 7pm. 6 hours of unlimited supply of liquor.

Yes Pumkinz, including Heineken

6-7 bottle of beer and 1 whole bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. Like that numbness after all that.

Ariba~~~ Muchos Graciaas!

Nom Nom Nom

As you all know, I've started a swimming regime to get myself in shape. Yes, I know round is also a shape.

It all went well until recently where I've been working late everyday. It pisses me off a lot. So as a revenge to my company, I will have meals with my colleagues here in the pretext of dining with the customer.

High stress + minimal sleep + binge = FAT

Be prepared to welcome this piggy home.

Lonely

It's 12:40am.

I've been working all by myself in the office, the silence is so loud. At the peak of my current project, the previous project in Philippines has asked me to explain something that will require 1 page of M$ Word document to explain. The problem is I've explained to them more them 5 times to separate people in Philippines office.

They insist in asking me separately and not communicate internally. Every time I would explain and put a footnote saying please refer to person A/B/C/D but they just don't care.

I still have other work to be completed by tonight. At times like this, I wish to talk to someone. To beg for pity, to release some stress, to rant, whatever is it, anyone can offer me your ears?

Excitement + Anxiety

Usually these 2 feelings doesn't come together, it's either you are happy or worried. Having handled projects with so many highs and lows, I'm quite numb towards incidents in the office. Even something good happens in the project, it'll just be ticking something off the list.

I remembered last time around when I won the project, I wasn't ecstatic. It was more like finally it's done and lets proceed to another phase. It's only after sometime, I start to savor the achievement. When I got back to Malaysia and the whole office is congratulating me and asking me for a treat.

There's something new on the platter that will change my life. My boss in HQ confirmed the reallocation when I called him at 10:30pm at night, it's 5:30pm for him anyway. He told me to start drafting out the handover plan. Called my boss to draw out some plans and candidates. This job really exposed me to all sorts of processes.

Working professionally aside, I have to take care of my own interest. I've been punching numbers in M$ Excel and it seems like a hard case to push through. After considering the 30% tax, the lack of EPF, my own apartment, standard of living, my current pay, *cough* the humungous bonus that I was expecting *cough*, and etc., the number is quite bloated. I've even considered being hired in HQ and then transferred there which makes it more complicated but the tax would be 20% only. Hopefully, I can sort this out without having too much problem.

It'll be a whole new life. New friends, new colleagues, new clients, new challenges, new apartment, new life (ok, I said that already)...... So many uncertainties makes me on my toes. I like a predictable life with unpredictable incidents. It's ok to go for ski diving or eating crazy food out of a sudden but I know how am I going to live my life.

For those of you who is wondering, most probably I'll be in Plano, Texas which is near to Dallas. We have 9 offices there and TX is our North America regional HQ. Yeap, my life will be pretty much in the air as I can only get to the clients by air. Targetted trasnfer would be 09Q1. Wish me luck in my nego for moolah.

Stress

I'm a funny person, my performance is almost proportionate to my stress level. When there's no stress, I would dilly dally on the task at hand.

Yesterday, a new timeline has been drawn up for my project and it's quite tight. I can feel the stress building up and people around me can feel it too.

Back to the funny part, I actually like this feeling quite a bit. It pushes me to work harder. Diamond only forms under great heat and pressure. This rock has proved its trustworthiness and will be transferred to a new place for many new challenges. It's confirmed, wish me luck.

PS. some mainland colleagues can't pronounce my name properly. They either call be by Day-Min or Diamond. ROFLOL!

Alamak

I'm staying with a Malaysian colleague now. Everything is cool except he's very calculative when it comes to food.

Let's say we plan to cook something for dinner so we went to the supermarket. While we are there, we started buying stuff for dinner. Here comes the problem, he would complain most of the things is expensive. The thing that he kept repeating is eggs. Yes, I know 1 friggin' egg is about 60 cents ringgit.

The thing is by cooking ourselves, the meal is usually less than NZD5 and it's healthier. A typical meal would cost NZD10 regardless what you eat unless you want to go with fastfood which is NZD8 to NZD10.

Don't let me get started with bananas now. Aduh!

I've even cooked a few meals free for him.

Next please.

ps. his basic salary is at least 50% higher than me. To be fair, he spent RM200k dumping his ex.