12 years of memories!

I cant remember exactly the date of birth, but around this time, this blog would be turning/ has turned 12 years old already! It is a teenager now! I have seen it change so much over the 12 long years, but how it has changed reflects more on how i have changed. Indeed, so much has changed.
Nothing much more to say now, just to show that as much as i seemed to have totally forgotten or abandoned this blog, i have not. This precious blog will be a treasure trove of memories of days past, a time capsule buried in the world wide web.
So once again. Happy birthday, Blog!

Thus far the Lord has helped me

This has been the longest break from blogging so far, though when I finally decided to look thru all the links of once-frequent bloggers, all of them haven't posted for even longer time!

On the big picture, nothing much has changed for me. But on the small pictures, too many things have been happening to mention. One of the biggest changes of course is the completion of my management trainee program in July and transition into the role of an assistant manager. Only now do I realise how much of a 'honeymoon' my management trainee phase has been.

Staring off with extremely little experience in the Executive Club, I was overwhelmed with things to learn from day one. More than 3 months into 'the real stuff' as an assistant manager, im still feeling like im on a steep learning curve. Expectations of me increase even faster than I can learn to meet them, and additional responsibilities are also being handed over to me piece by piece as my senior prepares to leave by early next year.

Its been tough, stressful, tiring. But spurring me on greatly is the conviction that I am where God wants me to be, and thus He will be with me through whatever happens. Even my placement into the executive club is already a testimony to that. For now I can see, I am here to learn; and much am I learning and seeing myself growing. As has been in many times before; and I am confident that in time to come I will say again: thus far, the Lord has helped me.

"No room!!" - The most unfestive christmas day

When Mary went to Bethlehem on the first Christmas day, the innkeepers had to extend their unwelcome to Mary, saying there's no room for her. This Christmas day, as an innkeeper representative, I had to break the same news to many grumpy guests, who have waited for ages in line just to hear the words, "there's no room available". Staff are stressed, demoralised and tired. Guests are dissatisfied, impatient and frustrated. Everyone is unhappy on this supposed day of celebration, the 'most wonderful time of the year'! How ironic

Anyways, this year's Christmas has to be the most unfestive of all for me - and im sure hoping it will be the worst ever. For the most part, it was ruined by giving me the A shift. Maybe it was planned as such with the thought that I would have a fancy Christmas program in the evening, but it was not to be.

Christmas eve we had a gathering with (2 thirds) the Ho side family, which featured a fancy potluck dinner complete with desserts and a little bit of booze, but because of early work the next day, I wasn't in the mood to stay up late and entertain them longer. Might have also had a Christmas eve night service, which I duly skipped. yes, having work the next day always spoils the mood.

Christmas day at work was when I faced probably the largest and relentless crowd of guests ever seen in all my time in reception. With a mixture of check-ins, check-outs, random requests, and coming back to collect keys, the queue line extended at least 5 persons long along 4 lines, and they just kept coming... even when it was time for me to end work, there was no end in sight to the flow of patrons. When I thought I had cleared off a good chunk of the queue, I look up and immediately get demoralised to see twice the number had joined the line.
To make things worse, housekeeping seemed to be on strike that day... there were constantly ZERO available rooms even after the check-in timing of 2pm. newly cleaned ones without blocks were instantly swiped up, and complaint-warranting decisions had to be made like assigning a twin smoking room to one who booked a NS king bayview. Well, it was the lesser of two evils; the other being asking them to wait another hour or so for their room, and join the queue again. Even an hour was a miraculous timing to achieve, considering that the room queue hit 22 at one point, when each room remained in the queue for about 4 hours before finally being clean.
With every new guest attended to, we feel the dread of facing an impatient angry guest who already waited half an hour in line, and when told that their room is not ready after 2pm, thinks the best solution is to explode and take out all that frustration on the receptionist, before bringing the complaint to the social media platform.
I decided to spare a thought for myself and not try in vain to save the hopeless situation - whether im there or not, they're all gonna drown in the sea of people anyways. I did something I never did before - I just left. Even when there were more waiting behind, with nobody taking over me. simply because there was no one. << bad roster planning. Even so, I finally left the hotel only at 5pm; 2 hours past my time, no claims, no gratitude. I had hoped for some celebration among colleagues... but everyone understandably had no time or mood to celebrate.

While I was at work enduring all that hell, I was missing the Christmas service; the supposed 'greatest party of the year'. along with it, I missed the best chance to give and receive Christmas cards, and the only meal that would have made the day special - the church Christmas lunch. maybe some peeps would have hung out after lunch too...

Finally, I returned home, looking forward to a nice warm homely home-cooked Christmas dinner like those my mom always cooked on previous christmasses that I'm home. But instead, I was fed a meal fully consisting of leftovers from last night's party. Im not hard up for a nice meal, but that was the only remaining hope of making this Christmas seem like Christmas in a good way.
In the end, the day ended just being too ordinary.


Some of the elements which made past christmasses more memorable were totally absent this year: carolling, mission trip, after-service church gathering, Christmas shopping. Ive always noticed that celebrations become lesser for you the older you get. Parties get less extravagant; reducing to just a get together for dinner, presents get smaller in value and significance; sometimes disappearing altogether, games are less played; seeming more and more like a waste of time.

If history was different...

So many questions have been asked and thoughts been thought about the 'what ifs' of history. If _____ didn't happen, how would _____ be like today?

Recently I have taken an interest in the history of World War 2. Not so much about the Japanese in the Asia-pacific region though it’s closer to home, but about the war in Europe. The war in Europe could have easily turned out very differently, and it was mainly due to Hitler’s extreme overconfidence that the axis lost. Not listening to the advice of his generals who obviously knew better, Hitler made many bad mistakes; but in my opinion the single-most biggest mistake was attacking the Soviet Union.

Nazi Germany had a non-aggression treaty with the soviets, so they could have easily avoided a war with them, maybe even cooperating together. The Soviet Union was so much bigger than Germany, had so much more people, resources, and production; Hitler’s decision to attack them was gross overconfidence to the level that I cannot understand. Looking back at the severity of this mistake: more than 80% of the axis’ casualties in Europe were suffered on the eastern front with the soviets. Had these forces been concentrated into the western front instead, the Nazis could have easily taken over and maintained control of the whole of Western Europe and North Africa, including Britain. To understand how powerful the Nazis were: they took over Western Europe and North Africa very easily and quickly, only failing to take Britain because Hitler foolishly diverted the attention to the soviets instead. They also almost captured Moscow, and could have easily done so if not for other costly mistakes like getting caught unprepared for the harsh Russian winter.

Now, had the war in Europe taken that very different turn, not only would the whole of western Europe be German-speaking today, but Singapore would have probably turned out very differently as well. If Britain had fallen to the Nazis, I thought of 2 scenarios of what might have happened to Singapore.

1.       After the Japanese surrender, Singapore would return to the hands of the British, who are now in the hands of the Nazis. Which means, Singapore would become a Nazi colony and we would be speaking German in our offices and displaying reverse swastikas.

2.       Singapore would declare independence immediately after the Japanese surrender. But Singapore was a total wreckage after the Japanese occupation, and it took another 20 years of British support before Singapore recovered from her wounds enough to stand on her own and chase the British out. Even at the time of Singapore’s independence in 1965, her ability to survive on her own was doubted by everyone, including Singaporeans. Fortunately, Lee Kuan Yew and his able team of ministers came in and made a miraculous transformation. Had Singapore become independent right after WW2, we would have almost certainly crumbled into a mess. And the person at the helm would surely not be LKY.

The Employment Testimony

Happy 9th birthday to my blog!
So ive been back for 1.5 months now, after my awesome 6 months doing DTS in perth.
 

One of the reasons I did DTS was to buy me some time to think about my career and delay my entrance into the working life. I had long dreaded the job hunting process (and subsequent work life) which I would have to embark on upon returning to Singapore… a dread which grew stronger as DTS came to an end. I foresaw the job seeking process as long and grueling, faced with many rejections. My brother took 4 months to get his job, and I optimistically estimated mine at 2-3 months.

However, within less than a month of sending out job applications, I have miraculously landed a job in a nice hotel as a management trainee – my first choice position! I could clearly see that the Lord had been preparing the way for me throughout, and bestowing me with extraordinary favour.

I had never been confident about getting a management trainee position. Throughout my life, I had lacked leadership qualities and had hardly any experience in leadership positions; whether in school, school clubs, church, and elsewhere. This would put me at a great disadvantage against my many well-experienced peers. I foresaw that if I was asked about my leadership experience during an interview, there goes my chances! Being outspoken is also not one of my qualities, but one which I felt was sought by employers for this position.

A management trainee (MT) is the most prestigious and sought-after entry-level position in the hotel industry, which offers a fast path into managerial positions. I saw it as a position reserved for the cream of the crop, with stiff competition. I thought I would just give it a try anyway, cause there’s no harm trying, but in my heart I prepared to fail. So in my initial applications, I applied for management trainee / front office agent. It’s as if I expected to fail the first option and therefore gave the alternative straight away!

Within a few days of applying, this hotel called me up for interview – for front office agent position. I did not want to take up a front office agent position until my possibilities of MT are exhausted, but I went for this interview anyway to take it as a practice.

Just trying my luck, I asked the HR staff if there were MT positions available. She said yes! So I told her I want to apply for it at the same time. And then I went for interview with the front office manager to interview for front office agent. I told him too that I am interested to apply for MT. Providentially, he was also one of the in-charges of the MT program! So he gave in to my request and interviewed me for MT at the same time.

The interview went SO well. I was shocked. Everything in my resume was perceived in a good light by the interviewer. For example, my time working as a lowly housekeeper impressed him, as he said, “that hotel was very lucky to have someone like you, a young, educated Singaporean willing to get your hands dirty and do this tough job that Singaporeans normally don’t want to do.” My involvement in DTS outreach also made a good impression on him! The things in my resume could have been perceived very differently by different people, but with God’s hand upon the interview, he saw only the good in everything. I hit off really well and made good connection with that interviewer, who I would be working closely with in the future. His ending statement to me was, “if the position is available, if everything else goes well, I would welcome you on board!”

I couldn’t help but marvel at the ease of the interview that day, realizing that it could only have been by God’s hand. My confidence shot up after that day, because I realized I do have things to offer that employers look for. From that day, I only applied for MT positions, and rejected all interviews for front office agent.

Still another two interviews had to be cleared in the subsequent weeks, first with the HR manager, and then with the GM. But those interviews too went on very smoothly. Throughout all 3 interviews, there had been no tough questions asked, no opposition, and I didn’t have to butter them at all. Shortly after the interview with GM, I was offered the job. It was just so easy! I got my most desired job, with nothing more I could ask for. I couldn’t help but marvel at the ease of which the interviews went, realizing that it could only have been by God’s hand.

 God has honoured me with great favour and granted me this position that I previously thought was an unachievable dream. Its only right that I use it to honour Him too, and stay faithful to the calling that I received from Him during DTS – to be a light in the workplace!

The last 4 months

So much has happened since the last update. Ironically, part of the reason why I haven’t been updating is because theres so much to update. But I realize that the longer I don’t update, ill have more and more stuff to update, until it becomes a massive buildup of stuff (like now), which ill have to summarise so as to avoid creating a too long to read post and spending hours on it.

Las Vegas

First of course, is the 5 weeks I spent in las vegas. I have mixed feelings about it… enjoyed some, disliked some. Wanted to stay longer, yet wanted to return home. But overall, it was a good learning experience, and it sure did live up to what I said it would be before I went for it – a journey of faith. I’ve learned many valuable lessons along the way within just a short 5 weeks. Going on it with a blank sheet sure is scary with all the uncertainty, and could well leave you disappointed like it did for me at times, but it also opens the way for things you could never imagine. And when these things happen, it’s such an excitement, an adventure, and well worth it. One of the highlights is befriending a really nice couple at the Seattle airport after being stranded together due to a flight reschedule – a great blessing in disguise! As it turns out, they provided me with the opportunities (with their transport) to go to the kind of places I am most interested to go – to the natural getaways; hiking up the mountain, setting foot on the desert wilderness, speed boating in a lake, and also having a slice of local las vegan life in the suburbs. To me, it totally beats all the travelling to San Francisco, Grand Canyon, San Diego etc, which most of my peers spent their weekends on. The ‘word’ I received about the Vegas trip beforehand came true – there would be lonely times, and also times of great fellowship. And thank be to God, I would say there were more good times than the bad. Yet still, in the most miserable of times, I gained from it as well. It seems any experience, pleasant or unpleasant, can be a good learning experience. Anyways, I prefer life back home than life in Vegas. Vegas is only good to experience for a short time, after which it starts to get boring. It’s good to be back home!

The final semester – the brutality of my school schedule is such that there is no break at all, even before or after the las vegas trip. Before las vegas, we had to settle loads of application and visa work and packing while also studying for our exams and doing projects. After las vegas, just freshly off the plane, still suffering jet lag and trying to assimilate back into the local environment, yet we have to make our way to school to do our last short semester. Fortunately though, despite having 2 full modules to do within 5 weeks, the workload for both modules were surprisingly little, coming from 2 professors known for making students’ life difficult, and it also being our final, senior year modules. The workload pretty much subsided more than a week before the end, so that it was a gradual easing into a graduation/farewell mood. The last week was spent savoring the last few moments together as fellow students, knowing that after everyone parts ways, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to spend time together the same way again.

Graduation

August 15 was the last day of my university life (and also my student life, until further plans). It was quite an emotional last day, no lessons or anything, just a time for everyone to gather, mark attendance, say last words, take photos together, and then part ways. But somehow after schooling life ended, things just felt so normal, like it wasn’t much of a change at all. Much more time I had of course, and I just enjoyed the luxury of time to do things I had wanted to do but always gave the excuse of no time because of school.  (But due to a lack of discipline, still much time went wasted onto unnecessary and relatively fruitless things like facebook.)

Lasik

Right after my graduation, I proceeded to undergo Lasik surgery, which I had wanted to do since months ago but heeded the advice of my parents to wait until graduation in case of complications. My glasses were falling apart, contact lens supply depleted. The longer I delay, the more I have to spend on glasses or contacts. It was time I put an end to my dependency on glasses and contact lens once and for all.

Immediately after the procedure, which lasted only a few minutes with some slight discomfort, my eyes were super sensitive to light and felt painful. But I rested immediately, and the next day the pain was gone and light sensitivity had gone down significantly. By 3 days time, I could walk out into the sun without dreading the light, and hardly needed eye drops for dry eyes anymore. No problems with night vision, unlike what some others have experienced. A rather speedy recovery I was blessed to have, and experienced no complications whatsoever thereon. However vision is still not perfect – only to recover over the next few months, hopefully. Definitely not regretting getting Lasik done, and enjoying the great convenience it brings. My 3 pairs of glasses and remaining pair of contact lens are now tucked into a drawer as mementos of my short-sighted past.

Part time work

Late aug to late sep was punctuated with shifts at Fairmont, Conrad, and a few other hotels via an agency. However, I made full use of the flexibility that I can enjoy as a part timer, only choosing to when I have nothing else to do. This I will miss once I start going full time and face the rigid yet irregular working hours this industry demands. I also worked all 3 days of the F1 race, serving rich spectators in the sky suites. Within the 3 days, I clocked a total of 47 hours; leaving me severely sleep deprived and aching all over, but all worth it for the experience and the significant earnings made – which surpasses the amount earned from all the other shifts combined.

Preparation for DTS

Time also was spent on application and preparation processes for DTS in Perth. It was much more troublesome than I expected! I got delayed 3 weeks on reference requests due to technical email faults. Could have been solved faster, but I forgot or was caught up with other stuff. When I finally got accepted and proceeded to visa applications, I was hit with yet another troublesome (and expensive) requirement for medical screening.

When I finally did my medical screening, it was only 4 days away from my flight. But to my horror, I was told it would take 3-5 working days to process the test results, which meant a high chance that my visa would not be granted on time, thus forcing me to reschedule my flight, waste the entire air ticket, and arrive later than planned. In desperation I pleaded with them to give me priority and hoped that they would act on it. I prayed hard for a miracle. Even called them the next day to bug them again. Later that day I received an email bringing news of great delight – my visa had been granted! What was supposed to take 3-5 days was done within 2 days; the miracle I prayed for happened! The great relief set my mood right for the days after.

Grandfather

On the evening of 24 sep, my parents received a call bringing extremely sudden news that my grandfather had passed away. There was no warning, no signs at all that he was about to go. He just departed suddenly after choking on his food and did not make it to the hospital. We were all caught off guard. His passing, however, which would have to take place sooner or later, happened to happen at a time when I had not planned any work for the days ahead, and had to make minimal changes to my plans. It is also after my graduation (so studies not affected) and right before I leave for DTS, saving me a potential disruption to my course and an extra flight back and forth. I am thankful for the ‘good timing’, also that he had a peaceful passing without suffering or struggle, and of course that he is in heaven with Jesus now and will suffer no more.

Off to DTS!

As I write, it is the last day in Singapore before I leave to Perth for my DTS. I just cant grasp it… the whole idea that I would be leaving behind this place and all the people for the next 6 months, and tomorrow I will be in a whole new environment, starting a whole different phase of life. Everything still feels too normal now, and I guess ill only feel it when I make the transition over, with no turning back. Bags all packed, I’m ready to go! Uncertain about many things, but excitedly awaiting to see what comes ahead. I’m sure it will be a great experience.

Viva Las Vegas

In a few hours time, ill be flying off to las vegas for the next 5 weeks. bags mostly packed, leaving after a finale-seeming cell. so ill be going with a blank sheet on my itinerary - just school and nothing else. no ppl who agree to go with me, everyone else has their own plans and company. I’m the only one who is all alone. My roommates probably not going. Maybe ill get a new one or be with myself. The other 2 in the same dorm I may connect with, but other than that, I’m all by myself.

So I heard it said and I wish to believe that there will good times and lonely times. I pray that the good times will be much more than the lonely ones. Have I had not enough loneliness?

The only thing in plan is church with fellow Christians. So I don’t know what would or could happen there, the opportunities are a mystery until I go there and find out myself. This is a test of faith which I will embark on, trusting in the Lord to be my guide and provider. And also, to not live according to what other ppl in the society may expect or set standards for. While it is not good for man to be alone, I don’t have to go out of my way just to be accepted, to finding company, to fit in with a bunch of ppl that I don’t really connect well with. Anyways, it is not a great downfall to be alone.

I’ve tried my best. I have not rejected any opportunities - I just didn’t find them. so it just turns out I have no friends to go around with at the moment, and I have to get over the stigma of being a loner, unaccepted, having no friends. Maybe ill get new friends, or maybe I will be satisfied without. I do hope it’s the former, but God's ways I may not comprehend. So Lord, have it your way.

Many of them have already gone ahead to other places for a short getaway before las vegas – LA, Korea, beaches, whatever. Going in a big group, having fun together, hanging out at each others house, having a horde of family and friends to see them off at the airport, taking group pictures together. the pictures are blasted repeatedly over facebook and instagram.

And here I am, spending the 2 last days alone at home. Clearly I am deprived socially. I don’t know, is it me, or just the circumstances. Is this all part of the Lord’s plan for the greater good? Could there be good coming out of this deprivation?