Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Filial Piety

I went to Cathay AMK for movie last Friday, I watched "Escape". Nothing much to comment on the movie just another action movie which is very fascinating, very typical American film. As usual I went down to level 1 to grab my MOS rice burger (if you never tried it you must! It reminds me a lot of my fond time in Japan). As it was early prior to my show I dined-in and did not do the takeaway I used to. While I was happy munching away my big fat chunky fries the table opposite me caught my sight. It was a daughter and her mother. Initially the waiter delivered a large size soft drink over. The old lady (mother) stood up and approached the counter to get an extra cup then came back and shared the drink with her daughter. I was pretty surprise why was the mother who went to take the cup but not the daughter. I tried to direct my ears towards their direction that I thought I would hear a "thank you" from the young lady. Nothing but instead "你不要耍赖,你一定要喝多一点!" The image of a filial daughter bringing her old folk out for a meal on weekend, a role model has shattered instantly at that point. She was rude and actually ordering her mum to finish the drink if she can't. While waiting for the rest of their order to be served, I only see two things that make me feel really sad. The daughter just non-stop swiping her thumb on the screen with an occasional rude verbal throwing in her mum's face followed by a displeased look as if she were a little girl throwing tantrum when her mum did not want to buy her her favorite toys. The meal was served a few minutes later with two MOS signature burgers. I was done with my meal and left. 

It reminds me a lot of my family. She has time to spend with her elderly but does not seem to appreciate it but at least, AT LEAST she still brought her mum out for dinner although being reluctant. I always keep a very close relationship with my mum everyday. We whatsapp, we call and sometimes FaceTime (ever since my mum changed to Samsung we seldom use FaceTime anymore unless she uses my bros or dad iPhone). We have so much time hearing each other's voice that at certain point we were having awkward silence because we did not know what to say anymore. Having said so I am never physically present by her side, or even by my dad's side. Verbally they don't want me to always go back as they thought I would love to stay overseas and find hometown really boring. Indeed I admit I don't really like to go back unless I need to. I think it is just something in our gene that we love to be bound by foreign land. Now if I recall the members of my family almost more than half do not reside in hometown. My dad's sister has been living in the US for more than 40 years, his brother is also currently in Singapore. My cousins? So many are overseas there are some whom I even lost track of. I find that "going-overseas" kind of gene has starting to surface in me. I used to love to go back Kuching but now whenever I have the opportunity to do so I would just hop on the plane elsewhere and travel. Deep down I love my parents and family so much I wish I could have more time spend together. Contradicting huh? In the western culture, the kids have to shift out from the parents when they are in high school or as late as after college. But in our culture usually we don't shift out until we get married some still stay with parents even after married (especially the guy). That explains why the Asians' house usually has more bedrooms than the Westerners do. These days I find myself in a very difficult situation where my family oriented side wanted me to be home to stay with my parents but the other side of me is to go to different parts of the world to see, to feel the culture. None of which is evil nor devilish, just how I follow my instinct every time I come across these two options. This time, the latter wins. I am off again this Saturday.

p/s: He is a German.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

星期五的夜晚

我独自站在长龙的后边
默默地向前移近
买了一张票
走进剧场
演完了这场独角戏

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Untitled

Yesterday we patted on our shoulders toasting our pints high up in the air 
promising on our eternity friendship,
Today I gave you a ring in a blue moon asking for favor,
And then you unreluctantly nodded out of what seems like a forced obligation,
Tomorrow I am meeting a friend from Germany not knowing what to expect,
But from yesterday and today I know at any instance,
Celebrate the joyous moment is better than to reminisce the memory
that would hardly happen again.

I find it so difficult to keep the conversation rolling anymore. The green icon only pops out when favor takes place. Although it seems legit regardless if one is a good friend or just a hi-bye friend but when I tried to roll out a casual ball on the rainy weather, all I got was a delayed reply and slavish "urm...ya" response that resonated the already cold air around me. It happened a few times. At that very moment I was pretty upset and felt sorry for that very smooth flow of conversation that came out from no where which we once had and proud of. Time diluted everything and distance definitely pulled us further. I reckon my change from a materialism to a more spiritual person has somehow made me kind of standout in the crowd and could not blend in as well as I would before. Retail is no longer top on my list but carrying a backpack footing on a foreign land is. Rather surround myself in the lush of mother earth than spending hours on queue just to ride on a 90 seconds world's faster twin roller coaster. The only agenda that remains the same is the foundation of CREAF and the idea of which my belief lies.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

30 Days of September

Ever wondering what was I doing for the entire September? It has been a mixed of everything but in the end something good finally struck me, it's like rojak you have everything inside but it tastes awfully awesome. 


I finally secured a real job at OPEN MIND Technologies Asia Pacific AG! Real job as in I am really starting working as oppose to my previous status despite having an offer but the dorky *** and *** refuse to grant me a valid pass! At first I thought I would begin a 8-5 job living the life like most of the working adults do but wait a minute it's not! First thing first the company practice flexible working time that's mean I can come to work and off work slightly off the schedule as long as I am completing my task. Official reporting time is from 9-6 but you can come later and leave earlier if you have other agenda going on. Second the breakie! The first few days of work I have to get up early around 7 to prepare and get my breakfast served. Few days later having know that we actually have breakfast from 9.30-10.30 every morning I can now sleep half an hour more every morning. =) My MD told me that breakfast is the time when everyone gathers so we can casually bond among ourselves and share our problem if there is any. So technically speaking the time when I really get into work is 10.30, yes freaking 10.30am! Thirdly, Open Mind Asia Pacific just as the name itself says "Asia Pacific" it means we are not just serving Singapore but serving the entire Asia Pacific. Despite the establishment in Singapore for more than 15 years but till date we only have a workforce of 9. A small team consists of 9 essential talents - 1 managing director, 2 admin, 1 marcom (marketing and communication), 1 sales engineer and 4 application engineer (which I fall in one of them). Imagine that 9 people serving 10, 20, 30 and more countries. How is that possible?! Yes we have to fly! Till today (my third week) I have yet to see the office in full force. At anytime at least 2 are traveling to meet clients around Asia or other continent. An outward bound person like me this is definitely a plus plus plus added advantage! I like to travel and what can be better when you get the best of both worlds - travel and work! Next of course the team, the people I work with! Everyone is just amazing at work. From the basic humor notation to the unique skill in the bosom. That is how beautiful works are being done. I have never imagine that I have the opportunity to work with a group of talented CAD/CAM engineers with years of experience and be part of the team. I reckon that is one of the reasons why I am recruited. ;) Last but not least I received email in German! Ja, das ist Deutsche! I get exceptional adrenaline rush when I see german-related stuff - emails in german, german server with domain ending ".de", german names in skype team and german inspired products... It has been an integral of my work and the soul of it. This is what I have been dreaming since two years ago and I did not know God grant my wish so soon. I guess when you endure thru a series of tough downs you get your reward at the breaking dawn. 


p/s: And it pays me well, above average. =)