After being single for donkey years, I can finally celebrate this commercially-driven special day with my special other half........ in my dreams! Haiz...we're so far away from each other *sob sob*
Anyway we celebrated it the Japanese way --> sending him chocolates. Did you know that in Japan the female will give choco to the guys on V-day? For male colleagues/classmates the gals will buy normal off-the-shelf choco. It's given out of obligation so it's called "Gi-ri choco".
If it's for a special guy, it's home-made choco. Many use it to confess their feelings. The weeks leading up to V-day, departmental stores will sell the utensils/ingredients to make choco & one will see groups of girls shopping for gifts there. So what do the guys do? Eat & grow FAT!! hehehehe
One month later on "White Day" the guy is supposed to give the gal gift 3x the value of what he received from her during V-day. If he doesn't reciprocate her feelings, I'm not sure if he still has to give her anything. And do guys have to give gifts out of obligation too? hmm... not sure too....
Since my dear is a Japanese, it makes more sense to celebrate it the Japanese way, right? (^-^) So I sent him a bar of chocolate. It wasn't normal choco hor!! I spent the whole afternoon in Orchard searching for the perfect one. He doesn't sweet choco. So those with liquor was top on my list but no stock. Next was white choco coz he likes white choco. But most white choco came in boring cheapo packaging. I finally found the perfect one at The Cocoa Tree at Paragon. White choco with coffee (he's a coffee lover) in classy packaging. And it's light too (remember postage to Japan isn't cheap!!). Quite an expensive thin family bar of choco at S$12 but good choco dun come cheap so it's worth it, esp since it's for him (^-^)(^o^) Of course he's happy. He HAS to be 'else I'd blow my top!! That pig apparently finished the whole bar with his parents in a day. HAhaha...
Okay, how did I spend my actual V-day? I wanted to go aerobics. Then a male colleague asked me out for dinner. I was a little taken aback coz I hardly know him. Rejected him initially but later in the evening agreed when he said there were a few others joining. We went for dinner at the 居酒屋 I was talking about in my previous entry. We ate & drank a lot & talked lots of nonsense too. After that we went for some more drinks at a pub. Quite an interesting V-day where I didn't feel lovesick...
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Monthly updates - Work
No updates for exactly a month! Not that I've been busy.... I'm just l-a-z-y....
It's been a short but eventful month. There was a 2-day dept team-building event @Sentosa in early Feb. We played a few games to foster team spirit. Don't remember what we played. Not too memorable. I had an exam the next day, so didn't stay for the 2nd day which I heard was much more boring than Day 1. Phew! I escaped that! hehehehe
Haiz, actually I feel there isn't a need to spend a bomb to engage in such team-building event. Yes, we'll feel more like team & foster better relations but that'll probably last for that few days. Once we're back at work, it'll all be gone. Frustration levels escalate & tempers flare when things go wrong. Who'd care about team spirit at this time?
As of last week, I'm back to my usual boring job after they recruited someone more senior in. Quite sad to hand-over everything else coz during the 2 mths I held this portfolio, I learnt a lot & managed to build a rapport with some of the managers. Anyway, looking on the bright side, I should be glad that I'm paid quite a lot to do dumb stuff. It's no secret that I'm looking out for better opportunities! Unfortunately no luck so far....
Remember I said I had an exam? It's the practicum for my Cert in TEFL course. I had to teach a class of 3 foreign students any topic (as long as it's on English). It'd seem more appropriate to teach grammer / vocab since it's an English class we're talking about, but i chose to teach directions. It's one of the most interesting lessons I had when I was learning Japanese, so I felt it'll be fun for english students too. It's also easy to teach in terms of just explaining "turn left, turn right, go straight". The challenge was in preparing the worksheets & getting the students interested in the map reading game. I was lucky that the students were sporting & participated. Of course I was nervous! Not only were there 3 students, my lecturer was there with the invigilator, 2 observers & my 2 classmates. Imagine having 6 pairs of eyes looking at how u manage a small class of 3! Not sure how I fared for it......still waiting for results...
My bf's cousin who runs 2 English language schools in Japan called me recently to discuss a teaching vacancy she had in her school. I was so excited! Finally I have a chance to teach!! Sad to say, seems like my lack of experience working with young children & teaching English dashed the chances.... So now I'm still looking out & applying for part-time teaching jobs in S'pore instead. If not I'll just keep my teaching cert for use when I settle down in Japan (^-^)
It's been a short but eventful month. There was a 2-day dept team-building event @Sentosa in early Feb. We played a few games to foster team spirit. Don't remember what we played. Not too memorable. I had an exam the next day, so didn't stay for the 2nd day which I heard was much more boring than Day 1. Phew! I escaped that! hehehehe
Haiz, actually I feel there isn't a need to spend a bomb to engage in such team-building event. Yes, we'll feel more like team & foster better relations but that'll probably last for that few days. Once we're back at work, it'll all be gone. Frustration levels escalate & tempers flare when things go wrong. Who'd care about team spirit at this time?
As of last week, I'm back to my usual boring job after they recruited someone more senior in. Quite sad to hand-over everything else coz during the 2 mths I held this portfolio, I learnt a lot & managed to build a rapport with some of the managers. Anyway, looking on the bright side, I should be glad that I'm paid quite a lot to do dumb stuff. It's no secret that I'm looking out for better opportunities! Unfortunately no luck so far....
Remember I said I had an exam? It's the practicum for my Cert in TEFL course. I had to teach a class of 3 foreign students any topic (as long as it's on English). It'd seem more appropriate to teach grammer / vocab since it's an English class we're talking about, but i chose to teach directions. It's one of the most interesting lessons I had when I was learning Japanese, so I felt it'll be fun for english students too. It's also easy to teach in terms of just explaining "turn left, turn right, go straight". The challenge was in preparing the worksheets & getting the students interested in the map reading game. I was lucky that the students were sporting & participated. Of course I was nervous! Not only were there 3 students, my lecturer was there with the invigilator, 2 observers & my 2 classmates. Imagine having 6 pairs of eyes looking at how u manage a small class of 3! Not sure how I fared for it......still waiting for results...
My bf's cousin who runs 2 English language schools in Japan called me recently to discuss a teaching vacancy she had in her school. I was so excited! Finally I have a chance to teach!! Sad to say, seems like my lack of experience working with young children & teaching English dashed the chances.... So now I'm still looking out & applying for part-time teaching jobs in S'pore instead. If not I'll just keep my teaching cert for use when I settle down in Japan (^-^)
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Lifeless CNY at work
There is no CNY mood at my workplace at all. Except for some small CNY decor which my colleagues & I hang at our work station, the dept is non-CNY. It just doesn't feel like one is celebrating CNY. On Friday, the eve of eve of CNY, most of us in holiday mood liao. I expected work to slow down in the late afternoon and everyone will be relaxed and discussing about CNY plans. Guess what? Right to the last minute everyone was concentrated at work. I was the only who left at 6pm sharp!! My boss who was on leave came back to clear work till lunchtime. A colleague of mine who was on half-day leave had to entertain calls from office after she left.
It was a bad day for me. I was in a super bad mood because I wasn't feeling well, there were tons of work to do, and people were irritating me with their behavior.
There was this crow who kept bugging me to prepare a letter for her. As if that's not enough, she insisted that I scan a copy of her. I've told her that I need others to help with the scan as my PC isn't linked to it, so that'll take time. I mean, everyone's busy, who has the time to bother with your scan request? So she kept calling & even emailed me a sample letter to follow. When I finally scanned & emailed her, she still called and asked. Bitch, can't you check your email BEFORE calling pp to ask? She's such a pain in the a**. This is not the 1st time she's being such a pest already!!
There was another bitch who got me really mad. She told her boss abt her resignation on Wed, submitted the letter on Thurs, and told me on Friday, 5.15pm!!! Sounds normal? NO!! Her notice period is 1 week, so that makes her last day to be on 1st Feb. I had to process her resignation on this very day & inform payroll so that if anything cocks up, we still have 1st Feb to sort things out. BITCH!! Why did she sit on her stupid resignation letter for the whole thurs & friday, and inform HR just before the end of the day, before the start of a nice long break? She really spolit my day. I see her gong-gong face ah, i think it's better she leaves the company earlier before she causes the company to lose money.
My big boss kept asking me if I'm on leave next week. Sighz....my colleagues are on leave but I've to go to work. There is a pile of work waiting for my attention when I go back next Wed. I feel so blue thinking abt it.
What is Chinese New Year? Isn't it supposed to be a happy event? Why am I here complaining away abt my stupid job on the 1st day of CNY? haiz..
It was a bad day for me. I was in a super bad mood because I wasn't feeling well, there were tons of work to do, and people were irritating me with their behavior.
There was this crow who kept bugging me to prepare a letter for her. As if that's not enough, she insisted that I scan a copy of her. I've told her that I need others to help with the scan as my PC isn't linked to it, so that'll take time. I mean, everyone's busy, who has the time to bother with your scan request? So she kept calling & even emailed me a sample letter to follow. When I finally scanned & emailed her, she still called and asked. Bitch, can't you check your email BEFORE calling pp to ask? She's such a pain in the a**. This is not the 1st time she's being such a pest already!!
There was another bitch who got me really mad. She told her boss abt her resignation on Wed, submitted the letter on Thurs, and told me on Friday, 5.15pm!!! Sounds normal? NO!! Her notice period is 1 week, so that makes her last day to be on 1st Feb. I had to process her resignation on this very day & inform payroll so that if anything cocks up, we still have 1st Feb to sort things out. BITCH!! Why did she sit on her stupid resignation letter for the whole thurs & friday, and inform HR just before the end of the day, before the start of a nice long break? She really spolit my day. I see her gong-gong face ah, i think it's better she leaves the company earlier before she causes the company to lose money.
My big boss kept asking me if I'm on leave next week. Sighz....my colleagues are on leave but I've to go to work. There is a pile of work waiting for my attention when I go back next Wed. I feel so blue thinking abt it.
What is Chinese New Year? Isn't it supposed to be a happy event? Why am I here complaining away abt my stupid job on the 1st day of CNY? haiz..
1st MC of the year
According to fortune tellers, the Year of the Dog is bad for those born in the year of the Goat. Haiz, it seems that even before we step into the year of the Dog, I'm unlucky already.
On monday I was down with fever in the evening, so reported sick on Tuesday. I don't know if it's the medication or work, but I suffered from a headache since returning to work on Wed. Everyday at work, my head felt "heavy" & I had and still have a bad cough.
I was so busy at work. It seems like every time before a long holiday season, there will be many deadlines, many issues to solve. Everyone and everything seemed to irritate me. Miserable (T T). I just think of going home early everyday, think of hugging my AhKe. Only thoughts of my AhKe & boyfriend lifted my spirits.
I don't dread going to work. But once at work I become a walking volcano, ready to erupt any moment. I'll be counting down to lunchtime & going home. I'll often have "resignation fantasies" ~
scenerio 1: Tender my resignation with just 2 weeks' notice with no reason. *sob sob* I have to give 1 month's notice now.
scenerio 2: I'm offered a perm job that pays 20% more.
scenerio 3: I'm offered a job opportunity overseas.
scenerio 4: I'm getting married overseas.
And of course all scenerios will have my boss asking me to stay on, or extend my last day to help them till they find someone. The replacement will come in and resign soon after, and the cycle goes on....then they start to appreciate me..... hehhehe... Dream only lah! of course I'm not that important in the dept. It's easy for them to get another dept "maria".
*cough* haiz.... when will this cough go away??
On monday I was down with fever in the evening, so reported sick on Tuesday. I don't know if it's the medication or work, but I suffered from a headache since returning to work on Wed. Everyday at work, my head felt "heavy" & I had and still have a bad cough.
I was so busy at work. It seems like every time before a long holiday season, there will be many deadlines, many issues to solve. Everyone and everything seemed to irritate me. Miserable (T T). I just think of going home early everyday, think of hugging my AhKe. Only thoughts of my AhKe & boyfriend lifted my spirits.
I don't dread going to work. But once at work I become a walking volcano, ready to erupt any moment. I'll be counting down to lunchtime & going home. I'll often have "resignation fantasies" ~
scenerio 1: Tender my resignation with just 2 weeks' notice with no reason. *sob sob* I have to give 1 month's notice now.
scenerio 2: I'm offered a perm job that pays 20% more.
scenerio 3: I'm offered a job opportunity overseas.
scenerio 4: I'm getting married overseas.
And of course all scenerios will have my boss asking me to stay on, or extend my last day to help them till they find someone. The replacement will come in and resign soon after, and the cycle goes on....then they start to appreciate me..... hehhehe... Dream only lah! of course I'm not that important in the dept. It's easy for them to get another dept "maria".
*cough* haiz.... when will this cough go away??
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Residence U reunion
I had a little reunion with my 2 neighbours from Residence U recently. That's the apartment I stayed at during my studies in Japan.
We went to a Japanese "居酒屋" (pronounced as "i-za-ka-ya"). It is at this building near Cuppage Centre. It feels as if I'm back in Japan because the ambience in the restaurant is so Japanese!! The menu is in Japanese, no translations. And there were many Japanese diners. The best is the food!
The 3 of us ordered the following:
- grilled bacon with asparagus stick
- grilled pork belly stick
- grilled cuttlefish with butter
- fried tofu with butter
- yakisoba (Japanese fried noobles)
- salad
- salmon sashimi
- fried chicken pieces
- 3 beers (Asahi)
Every dish was おいしい!! Total bill was about $90 (incl. beer which cost $7.50/pax). It's a little pricey, but worth it! o(^-^)o I've been thinking of the bacon with asparagus since that meal. *drool* I'll probably try cooking it one of these days. And I'll definately go back to that restaurant. It's been a long time since i've had authentic Japanese cuisine at a affordable price.
We were there from 8 - 10.30pm, after which we walked down to Cineleisure for supper. We had ice-cream in mind, but ended up with chocolate fondue at this "M Bistro". PIGS!!! The fondue was a disappointment. Too thick and sticky. The fruits to dip in were canned fruits (pear, peach, pineapple). As the fruits were soaked in syrup, it was difficult for any bit of chocolate to stay on it. My friend ended up using a teaspoon to pour chocolate over the fruits & eat it fast before the chocolate "slipped off" the fruit. The strawberry served was sour. The only delicious items were the mashmallow & banana. At $25 for 3 pax portion, not worth it. Anyway it started a chocolate fondue craze for me.
The next day I went shopping with my sis and bought 1 kg of chocolate buttons (meant for fondues). We did our own "home-made" fondue. We used those tripod stands meant for steaming things, put a tea-light below and put a metal bowl on the stand. Yummy!! Doesn't look very "classy" but it still tastes good!
I love pigging out with my jie-meis! I can diet for a whole week just for that one evening of pigging out ;p We're planning our next Res U reunion after Chinese New Year. Coz we need time to save $$ & lose weight first! hehehehe
We went to a Japanese "居酒屋" (pronounced as "i-za-ka-ya"). It is at this building near Cuppage Centre. It feels as if I'm back in Japan because the ambience in the restaurant is so Japanese!! The menu is in Japanese, no translations. And there were many Japanese diners. The best is the food!
The 3 of us ordered the following:
- grilled bacon with asparagus stick
- grilled pork belly stick
- grilled cuttlefish with butter
- fried tofu with butter
- yakisoba (Japanese fried noobles)
- salad
- salmon sashimi
- fried chicken pieces
- 3 beers (Asahi)
Every dish was おいしい!! Total bill was about $90 (incl. beer which cost $7.50/pax). It's a little pricey, but worth it! o(^-^)o I've been thinking of the bacon with asparagus since that meal. *drool* I'll probably try cooking it one of these days. And I'll definately go back to that restaurant. It's been a long time since i've had authentic Japanese cuisine at a affordable price.
We were there from 8 - 10.30pm, after which we walked down to Cineleisure for supper. We had ice-cream in mind, but ended up with chocolate fondue at this "M Bistro". PIGS!!! The fondue was a disappointment. Too thick and sticky. The fruits to dip in were canned fruits (pear, peach, pineapple). As the fruits were soaked in syrup, it was difficult for any bit of chocolate to stay on it. My friend ended up using a teaspoon to pour chocolate over the fruits & eat it fast before the chocolate "slipped off" the fruit. The strawberry served was sour. The only delicious items were the mashmallow & banana. At $25 for 3 pax portion, not worth it. Anyway it started a chocolate fondue craze for me.
The next day I went shopping with my sis and bought 1 kg of chocolate buttons (meant for fondues). We did our own "home-made" fondue. We used those tripod stands meant for steaming things, put a tea-light below and put a metal bowl on the stand. Yummy!! Doesn't look very "classy" but it still tastes good!
I love pigging out with my jie-meis! I can diet for a whole week just for that one evening of pigging out ;p We're planning our next Res U reunion after Chinese New Year. Coz we need time to save $$ & lose weight first! hehehehe
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