A secret for all to know, this is the first time I'm travelling overseas. First time on a plane, first time in a different country. Excited? Well, a little. According to my friends, i was buzzing them with a lot of questions which they deemed unnecessary. But hey i didnt want to look like a fool at the airport you know. Anyways in the end, this trip wasnt a nice a first-time-overseas.
On 6th of October, I went to Changi Airport. I saw my friends and guess what, we were all so excited. Really. First time on the plane was ok. Didnt get as much side effects as they say one might get. The place i went to was really cold and everyone knows i'm freaking scared of cold. Upon touch down, i knew i made a big mistake not bringing my own jacket. I guess i'm going to write this entry with the same style as my friend.
Happenings
Well lots of things happened, cause nothing happened. Its true. I wont say much here. Apart from the usual shit work that i do, i'm pretty much quite slack. And guess what i got onto a helicopter and flew some distance. Its pretty cool i must say.
Once we went for a free spending trip at a office canteen. I ate 8 garlic chicken balls there and then. I was punished by the meat balls for abusing my stomach. I swear I didnt touch garlic for a good few more days.
Another happening that i must mention is how cool some people are. You see, jellys are put in the fridge for people to take during meal times. For someone with power much bigger than my colleagues and I, dont you think that one must have mustered a lot of courage to ask US to help them take a jelly or two?
Temperature
Day by day the temperature got lower and lower. The jacket loaned to us by the organisation didnt help at all. I guess it didnt occur to them that wind breakers arent meant for cold weather like 11 degrees. Cant blame them. Even cuddling with my friends didnt help i swear. One night, i was so cold that i was all over Iven, and it still didnt help at all. It sounds so wrong but i was so desperate to get any bit of warmth.
On some nights, i was so cold that i draped myself in layers of shirt and just stoned at one side, watching my friends work. I feel bad but my efficiency just dipped all the way to negative 120% that i couldnt even move at all. Many say a trip to a place with such temperature is an experience. I say that a trip to a place with the organisation providing no suitable equipment is attempted murder. You'll be surprised, they almost succeeded.
People
These are the many people who made an impact in my life during this 23 days of "experience". Few made good, most were bad.
First is Mr Maintainance. I appreciate people who treats other human beings like human beings though they rank much higher. This is the first time someone like that spoke to me like i was his equal. For this i thank him to show me that not everyone of his kind is a jerk. Its a pity that I didnt get a photo with Mr Maintainance, it will be good to remember him by.
Second is Mr Boss. I never really spoke to him on a personal level before. This is the first time that he gave an opinion about the organisation he works for and i am (not) shocked to know that he dont see all the goodness in this great organisation we're all in now. Perhaps he could sense that i was down about the fact that i achieved nothing thus far in the organisation and tried to cheer me up by recommanding me for the Award of Commendation. This i thank him. Though regretfully i say that I do not deserve it. I always tell him that my colleagues work much harder than me (even though for some its because they are forced to). Nonetheless after I was presented the award, he congratuated me and told me to remember what he told me about achieving. Much as i want to remember, blood spilled so long ago cant just be removed. There will still be stains, unfortunately. But i'm still glad that my boss is Mr Boss, cant complain.
Third is Mr Clever. Like my friend mentioned, he does magic. He has an inate ability to get things done just by using his mouth. And its always done using the same way (or rather, people). But i must say he should have sensed rebellious feelings amongst his good ways. I'm glad that wiped his (f)ugly smile off his face. Maybe if he read a few more books like his good ways do, rather than condem reading books, he might actually have a slight chance of living up to his name.
Fourth is Mr Big. Now, he has quite the personality and style. He's big, his attitude is big and his authority is big, that is, he thinks so. I would be very glad if someone so closely related to me have a bit more logic and EQ but life doesnt give you everything. But ya know, he's caring too. I remember a time when i wasnt feeling too ok, moody mayhaps. He showed his concern. He asked once, twice, thrice, 4 times. You've got to admit that it takes one much talent to be so annoying. If only he can assume less, my friends wouldnt be stuck in mud (literally so), i wouldnt have to be annoyed (again) even after i felt better ["you have done well ah, keep it up" grrr. stop ringing that into my ears, its so annoying and dont assume that its related to my problems], and he would be able to accomplish greater things. Good job Mr Big, not that we didnt expect all these. Just a little less assumption would make a lot of difference and your efforts will start paying off, I promised as much myself.
Last but not least is Mr Major. He doesnt know that stealing is wrong, or mayhaps he doesnt know that "taking things that doesnt belong to him" means stealing, or mayhaps both. I think its both. Until now, i wondered why you came to talk to me after i recieved my award. Very intriguing (suspicious). You see, i know my inherent workload is not much, thats why i always try to help as much as possible. So there was this occasion when i was about to approach my colleagues to help them, Mr Major stopped me and told me that i've got to go help them since i am "sooooo slack" (i was like 'yes in case you didnt notice despite being our direct superior for so long, i always try to help'). I am so impressed that just because someone complained to you that the logistics branch is not as hardworked as the rest, you can just come straight to me and shoot it at me when you give me so much work back in Singapore. I was awed at how direct and how all rounded you were. Thus this brings me back to the talk after i got my award. Whatever you said dont tally with the day when you told me i was slack. Seriously, you got it all wrong. As in, the logic part, cause it doesnt make any sense to me, and its upsetting to know that one day i wasnt appreciated and the other day i was appreciated cause i was given an award by the higher ups. You do your job systematically, i give you that. And this is seriously not the first time that you are double sided.
Your soul searching trip was fruitful i much as expect. Mayhaps your name be changed to Mr Thick Skin might as well. You may sound cool saying some calm stuff in times of trouble, but dont turn your back on us once your nose is back in the air. One piece of advice from a lowly being such as me, you arent a major. Simple as that.
Complaints
A mug is but a mug. It is used to drink liquids meant drinkable. Drinks are provided with meals but drinks arent compulsory, so i see no need for my mug to be brought to the meal table when i have no intention of drinking anything. Marvelous i say, to be forced to bring a stupid empty mug to meals.
I'm very afraid of cold. The location doesnt start warming up until 8am. I wear a jacket cause i feel cold. It makes perfert sense that I will take off my jacket when i feel warmer. Do I look stupid or what? It doesnt make any sense to ask me to take off my jacket saying "its hot" just because i'm the only person in jacket. I'll sue for attempted murder i swear.
My organisation at one point, told us that jackets and the likes cannot be worn after 6am. Shocked. I was so shocked that my jaws dropped. 6am in the morning i am still breathing cold mist out of my mouth and they want me to take off my jacket. Its once again attempted murder. I must admit that I failed to obey such a regulation, there's a reason why I'm alive to blog this now.
Once upon a time, the great king all hail was to come and visit us. We were summoned from our meals and feeling the urgency, we abandoned our food. As we wait for the arrvival of His Majesty, one of my superior finds there be enough time for meals to be consumed by all those yet have eaten. My colleagues and I pointed out that we had half a meal, and bluntly we were called "cocks" to have thrown our food away. Amazement this organisation brings.
Achievements
1) did not bathe for 9 days straight.
2) only used 2 sets of clothes for 21 days
3) read a book
4) ate 8x garlic chicken balls at one go
5) survived the cold
This trip brings truly an experience no where else can give, i much agree. But you know. I am so surprised that i didnt die from the cold. The 23 days which felt like months (and the 8 garlic chicken balls), almost killed me too. This one hell of an experience is overated.
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