Civilian is king?

When I completed my liability in 2004, I told myself I would never go back to this organisation again. The 'red tape', the experience of near-authoritarian rule by 'banana' (dispite the hoo-ha of the merits of democracy and equality). ...This situation is perhaps a little different, like what 'JQ' used to say :"Civilian is king". So it means i go back there as a king?

Actually I dont really know why on earth did I applied for this job. Out of interest? Probably (the same job scope in an entirely different environment would be a huge plus) Because of the pay? Erm... I dont know whats the starting pay like, but I think its better than the private sector. What else?? (I am very glad the interviewers didnt ask me this question)

I wasnt really in my right sense of mind when I did the cognitive test. (I was having a real bad flu) Nevertheless, I earned (?) myself an interview. The lady who called me was confused by me. (Our interpretation of next wednesday results in 2 different dates, none of which was correct). 'Hamster' warned me that the questions asked during the interview might be rather wierd. (It cant be wierder than those at DBE right) Anyway, if they ask me the same questions, I am sure I know how to answer them well. (Thanx to 'clemmie' who taught (or rather refreshed) me the act of crapping)

The crux of what transpired that day was not so much about the interview itself. Prior to the interview, a gal gave me a basic guideline of the rules & expectations. The thing is, she looked like 'capaccino'. (She is a little taller and plumer, but her smile is nowhere as sweet as 'capaccino') Regarding the rules, I found one of them quite discriminatory & unneccessary, which requires one to declare if he/she is a homosexual or has homosexual tendencies. She explained that this declaration wouldnt be a factor in determining if one gets accepted into the organisation or not. I just feel the stigma towards them continues....

The interview itself was surprisingly carefree, pressure-less and interesting. Unlike 'hamster' experience, there wasnt any wierd questions. There were also quite a bit of laughter in the room and the 3 interviewers helped me out when I struggled to answer the questions or diverted to somewhere else. I have this feeling that they are more concerned with my knowledge of regional affairs & analytical capabilities (assuming I have) than my character.

On the way out, I saw someone who resembles 'bittergould' and she gave me a smile when she caught me looking at her. ( I really thought its her, but according to 'rubbish bin', she had gone to study abroad already) The prospects of 'Capaccino' and 'bittergould' working in the same place? Nah...There's uwasa (rumour) that 'bittergould' doesnt like 'capaccino' ( I have no idea its true or not) Me, capaccino & bittergould working in the same place? Sounds interesting!!!!!...But I guess the chances of that happening is diminishing with every passing second.

**Writer's note: This post was done in a rather casual and optimistic way (it was written like 2 weeks plus ago) The next post will be entirely different as it describes the reality...

technology suaku wants to change hp, but everything's so chim...

I believe after i write down everything, there will be more question marks than answers. A hp main purpose (by right) is to call people & SMS. Thats what I use my N7260 for. The camera function and radio are just "add-on" items (Think of it as value-added-ness), but in today's technological advancement, these are bare essentials. I think i am still living in the medieval age since i absolutely have no idea what many terms mean (bluetooth, WIFI etc) I dont even know how to use infra-red (maybe its because i didnt read the catalogue or instruction booklet)

Actually I didnt want to change hp, but my charger & ear-piece are near-spoilt. So I think its more economic to get a new hp then to get a replacement for those items. So what caught my eye- samsung ultra edition 12.1, 10.9, sony ericsson w660i & w850i, which ironically are of the same price. The main differences are ultra 12.1- camera good, design very nice but no radio, ultra 10.9- camera good, got radio but not 3G. Both the ericsson phones are similar ( I mean the 4 bare essentials), basically got everything but i dont quite like the design.

Me being a suaku, what exactly is 3G? I know it means we can call/ sms home directly from abroad. And then? How about 3.5G? And what does bluetooth and WIFI do to the phone? All phones come with MP3, but where/ how to download songs? (I know from internet, but where exactly?) How to transfer pics from hp to computer? Some phones can surf internet, but how come I dont see a mouse? So many questions, so little answers....

I kinda wanted to get an iPOD in Tokyo, but when I asked 'clemmie' via MSN how to use it, he gave a rather vague response (to me, in technological stuffs, everything's vague unless its step by step) So i didnt bought it, too chim for me. I think 'starfruit' nearly vommited blood when I bugged him on how to use a digital camera & what those mega pixes and optical zoom means (dont blame me okay, 'capuccino' praised you for being a technology expert, so thats why I asked you)

With so many question marks hanging over my head, I am very undecided over which one to choose. I prefer the samsung phones though, but they remind me of a particular football team which.....

原来 interview 那么伤，比想象中还难。。。

2 weeks ago, I was shortlisted for a pre-interview briefing session at a civil sector organisation "DBE". There were about 14 people (8 girls 4 guys) at the briefing where we were given more details about the organisation & the job scope. The DBE officers there are rather friendly and open (unlike the stern look on mass media). We had a private 15/30 mins or so with an assigned DBE officer who talked to us about his/her experience in DBE & address any queries we had. Then we had to write 2 essays, one was about our knowledge of the organisation & the job scope, the other one was about our expectations & aspirations. Earlier, we were told that only successful candidates would be selected for an interview, but the highest ranking officer in the room recommended that all of us be interview the following week so that they can know more about everyone of us.

My interview was at 2.30, but waited until like 3 plus. (I was the first to be interviewed) At the waiting area, I met 3 others whose appointment is at 3 and 3.30 respeectively. Among them was a fellow econs fresh grad 'Huixian' (She looked a bit like that gal from CSS2 when she smiles) who also faced difficulties finding a job. (Is it a universal problem or just MY problem?) She mentioned that her other econs grad friends are mostly into contract-based jobs (about 6 month term)

There were 6 people chairing the interview, but only the 3 higher -ranking officers spoken. (The manpower head seems familiar, I kept wondering where I saw him before during the interview) The questions were very direct and "in your face", like "your past job applications didnt succeed, dont you think there's something wrong with you?" "You only got a 'good' in conduct during NS, which was not so good a grade, do you think its justifiable?" "Did you ask them why you got such a rating?" I felt that my replies to the last 2 questions are the best among all the other questions, which says a lot about my performance in the interview.

From what 'Huixian' told me, hers isnt much better. She got questions like "Jiafeigou and you have the same qualifications. Who do you think we should pick for this job?" She was also persistently questioned (or rather, suspected) about her suitability & capability for this job (me too!)( The key word is 'persistently')

The co-ordinator (sorry, I dont recognise his rank, but it looks like 2 diamonds) overheard our conversation & told us that its the norm. The interviewers want to know how we would react to such (wierd) questions to better evaluate us. Perhaps to them, this is the best way to reduce assymetric information. I agree. No one can prepare themselves adequately to these type of questions, which would (inevitably) disclose more about our personality and character than those 'normal' questions.

To further reduce assymetric information, two character referees is a must. (I feel this adds to the assymetric information though) "Huixian" got her friends, me too. Really thanx a lot to 'JQ' and 'rubbish bin' for bailing me out. ( I really hope DBE wouldnt call them) I didnt want to ask "上手san" despite the the fact that I took her modules for 2 years consecutively. Why? I used to like her, but after what happened during the last module, I began to have doubts on her teaching methods & her 'carefully-crafted statements'. And I believe both 'JQ' and 'rubbish bin' are able to give a more accurate & reflective description / opinion of me than her. At the very least, I am sure they would not be so honne / tatemae to the extent of saying that I am good in my spoken Japanese (unlike someone)....

My bum is hurting....

It has been like 3 months since I last went down to East Coast Park. Used to cycle when I am there, but this time a strange though entered my head- why not try rollerblading?
I figured I might need at most 15 minutes to familiarise myself with those wheels, based on the fact that I had done it before when I am in secondary school. (on flat ground, not humps or slopes) Sometimes (or rather most of the time), reality is vastly different from past experiences. I struggled and struggled, fell and fell....Not that my 'coach' isnt good (I only remember his 'v shape' and the fact that the steps and movements are 'natural'), not that being a saturday the human traffic flow is more busy (its just more 'obstacles'), the main reason is that whenever I think I am going to fall / will fall, I always fall. It doesnt help that the blades keep moving outwards (my 'coach cant explain why it happened)
This episode reminds me of the time "princess" leant riding a bike. The 'trauma' and 'panicking' are comparable, but she had two (good) coaches. (erm..maybe not...I think I also keep emphasising that its natural too) But at least in the end, she managed to overcome the difficulties with her mental strength and could cycle quite well. Me leh? I saw so many young kids learning to blade but despite falling down many times, they never gave up. (or rather, I didnt witness them giving up) This is where I think I should learn from them....

JLPT 2....Here I come!!....

Registered for the JLPT 2 exam last week. $30, plus a dollar for the application form. I was so blur that I forgot to write my chinese name on both the application form and on the test voucher (at least its consistent). Its inconsequential though, since only my english name will be on the certificate (thats assuming that I pass). "Strawberry" and "instant mee" are quite skeptical of passing the exam, especially since by the time of the exam, we would be have been detached from Japanese classes by a full 7 months. I am quite confident of passing though, and I believe that as long as we revise our jap 5 notes & the white & green books, its pass-able.
There were 2 ladies manning the reception. One was quite friendly and consumer-oriented, the other was..ahem..(just as "Miss Tan" puts it, typical Singaporean customer service)(Note: Its singaporean, not singapore) There's no prep course for JLPT 1 & when I asked her about the advance classes (there are 3 degree of advance courses), she replied with a cold 'all full' I wanted to know in the event I got JLPT 2, which class I should register for next year. She gave a vague & nonchalent reply, which was barely audible. Forget it la, she doesnt seem to have much interest & knowledge in her 'products', which greatly puts me off. She had just turned away a potential customer...

好朋友

Met up with "gambler" for dinner last night. Sometimes, I dont really understand the defition of " good friends" and " friends". Good friends can mean anything from 暧昧to the "we are good friends" in a common rejection statement. To me, good friends are friends whom I am not only close (an ambiguous term) to, but also someone who understands me, and most importantly, we must be comfortable with each other be it talking on the phone or meeting up for a chat or meal.
I remembered very clearly on one occasion which was the saddest day of my life. I had an argument with someone whom really matters a lot to me and I wanted to talk to a close friend who understands "the situation". "Strawberry" was out with her friends and I only managed to talk to her after midnight. She makes me feel a lot better and even though she is tired, she still made sure I am alright before hanging uo. She is a true good friend indeed.
Compare it to this scenario. You saw a "friend". "Hey! Havent seen you for quite some time. How are you?" "Fine. And you?" "I am fine too". Then, there's a bit of awkward silence. "Sorry, I am in a rush, chat with you some other time". You may most probably never meet that "friend" again, and even if you do, the situation repeats itself. Hamster labelled them "Hi bye friends".
Back in my NUS days (it seems like centuries ago), I have great difficulty in finding lunch kakis. Its not just me, social butterfly like "Miss Tan" and "Hamster" are also forced to eat alone at times. Maybe its hard to find a common lunchtime which we are free to meet. I feels it more of a "want to meet" rather than "can meet". Take me & "Hamster" for an example. Even though we are in Arts, our major & timetable & modules are completely different. We have our own share of project meetings, make-up lectures or whatever interruptions that could arise. But (surprisingly) we always manage to meet for a chat & lunch no matter how "busy" we are. Perhaps this is an exception rather than the norm.
To me, being "busy" is a very invalid excuse. Be it handling in assignments late to not being attached, "busy" is an over-used & convenient excuse. It really depends on how one manage their time. Yes, yes, I know some people are busy to the extent of having no time for meals & lack of sleep. But if you were to tell me that you cannot spare even 3 minutes or so replying to me SMS, or during the vacation period you cant even spare at most 3 hours to meet this "friend" of yours for a meal, it really says volume. I really dont want to lose friends due to "busy-ness", especially those whom I really cherish their friendship. "Capuccino" & "instant mee", I am really starting to feel we are drifting apart, apart & apart.....

Steamboat

Organised a steamboat gathering with the people in the Jap 5 Class. Its such a nice feeling to meet up with them and chat with them. The people in the Class can be seen as the ingredients in a steamboat, all of us so different in character and mentality, only to be bonded together by a common theme. (is that a very apt description???) Thats why i feel very happy and glad that we can gel together and they took the effort to come for this outing.kokoro kara kansha shimasu!....especially to "baggy pants" and "capuccino" whose reply makes me feel very appreciated..Some thoughts and words I would like to say to some friends, but i lack the opportunity and conversation-starter to do so..

Bittergould...I was (not am) rather disappointed that you changed your mind about coming. I really feel that with you around, our conversations will be much more interesting and exciting. You told me that you had something on, but according to "rubbish bin" u told him u decided not to come because ' u are not close to the people coming'. The same people who went for a similar one 3 months back, with the exception of "princess"..I really thought u got along quite well with "baggy pants", "rubbish bin" and maybe me..maybe i am wrong.. Perhaps u were (are) upset that we (I) didnt attend the outing that u organised and hence feel discouraged....

"Strawberry"...Thanx a lot for the advice u had given me...especially the one telling me to be more patient in dealing with matters (esp in r/s matters).... Hope you made a right choice in going into teaching... Can I call u 'Mrs Ang' soon...hehe..

"Capuccino"... First and foremost I would like to apologise to u for some wierd and nonsenical sms i sent to u..got misled(a safer word would be 'told') by someone that you have a bf..SORRY!...But I do hope u get a bf soon..so that u can experience the joy and happiness of having someone beloved to love u and care for u...