Sup3rnality

Hey, oxen do have horns, okay? Don't give me that look :p

With it being the year of the ox and everything; which, by the way, means that I have completed two cycles of the Chinese lunar years, which makes me 24 this year; I thought I'd have a little ox-themed entry:

For the past month or so, I've been ordering sup ekor (oxtail soup) whenever I find myself in a good ol' Malay restaurant. Sri 9, which is near my place in Seremban, is one particular place where I would order nothing else but. There's no particular reason as to why, but I just love it.

Perhaps there's something about the flavour that I find irresistable. And the tender texture of the meat. And the combination of celery, onions, tomatoes, daun sup etc mixed into the soup; topped with bawang goreng and daun bawang that gives the soup its delicious flavour. Plus, of course, the spices and little things added to that.

One day, after a nice bowlful of hot sup ekor; I said heartily: "God, I love sup ekor". My mom quickly turned to me and told me that I might not wanna say that out loud in public. Upon asking her why, she said that sup ekor is considered (I'm not sure which, but still, associated with something sexual) an aphrodisiac or eaten to up one's prowess or something like that. And supposedly, those who eat it regularly have the intention of adding stamina for their...uhh...bedroom antics.

Well, so far I've not showed any signs of turning into a wanton, randy sex kitten, so I've yet to test that theory.

To me, I can't make a connection as to how or why. Anyone care to enlighten me?

Love, Lin~

It was the second day of training today at work. It's going ok, I guess; it's quite a lot to digest in just a few days and we are doing a lot. Like my trainer, Azlina, said; we'd only remember about 10% of what we learn, because most of it will be absorbed when we are put to the test when we do our work.

So, there's me. An SE. That's what they call us sub-editors. And what do we do? Well, we work closely with the editor of a certain publication and also with the production editor. The editor will pass a certain 'product' (a text) to the production editor who will format it with XML taggings and layouts and all that technical stuff. It will then be passed to the sub-eds or SEs like me, to be checked for grammatical errors, spelling errors etc as well as to check the XML taggings. So, my job requirements will have me sit in front of the PC all day and look at each word and sentence to ensure they all are ready for publishing. It's a long and tedious process; and I haven't even told you what happens next.

Anyhow, this was what we were discussing during training; about what I would face in the future and how I need to have a very keen eye for little details. Even more is the fact that I am working with Australia B, meaning that I will be working with the team that handles publications from Australia. According to someone, working in that team reqiures a certain sense of professionalism, because they handle expensive and important products.

Sheesh, talk about pressure, huh?

We then moved to the topic of hiring sub-editors. I asked Azlina, why was it that sub-editors are so much in demand? I mean, every time I open up Jobstreet.com, there will always be a vacancy to be a sub-editor for WKESP. Apparently, the requirements to be an SE is very demanding, so it's hard to find good candidates. There has been 9 vacancies for SEs since August last year, and out of the 9, ony 1 has been filled: by me.

As it turns out, there have been about 200+ applications to fill the vacancies, and they all fail the test. Editors and journalists and writers have all come in, and yet they couldn't pass. And then there was me, who passed all 3 sections, or 5 sections (including the online tests) of the tests that I had to take.

I was told that I should be flattered. A fresh graduate and I surpass experienced editors and writers? That's a little hard to swallow. Yes, I am flattered, and also a little bit disbelieving. I can't possibly beat those people to the job, can I? It was quite a lot to digest when Azlina told me that. In the many months that they've been looking for SEs, only I fit the bill so far.

That has been food for my thoughts the whole day. It's an honour, really. I know that I am better than the average amongst most of my peers, but never thought I could be that good. This is really a huge flattery. But it's good to know that my capabilities can be put to use somewhere. And in the future, if I choose to leave the company, since the company is known for it's employees with good grammar, so many other companies accept ex-WKESPs easily, so that's a plus.

Anyway, it has left me with a good feeling. And to anyone reading, this is not an angkat bakul sendiri or 'carrying my own basket' story; it's just that it's been the pick-me-up for my entire day and it makes me feel good. Just wanted to put my thoughts into words whilst sharing and not that I intend to be such a show-off.

By the way, in case any of you people are interested in working there, they are accepting resumes right now... Right up til every SE post is taken up. So do let me know if you're interested.

Love, Lin~

My internet access code to the internet at my workstation has just been given to me. What else would I do first but take the time to post a little entry? It is after all the last ten minutes before I go back home for the weekend and I just wanna kill time til I get to Juliana's table and get a move on home. Besides, I do have lots of time on my hands; especially since I am still in training. I've weeks to go before I actually start my real work. Anyway, it's not like I can check my e-mail; cos e-mails are blocked... So this is the most I can do while I am here with not much to do.

Anyway, I'll be home in a another 20 minutes-30 minutes or so... So I'll continue whatever else I have to say for the day when I get back whilst doing my laundry and other chores. Heheh... I have several shirts piling up in the laundry bin :p

So yeah, I'll be back with more stuff to say when I get back! Have a nice weekend all (including my WKESP colleagues).

Love, Lin~

I'm loving my new apartment, my new room. Starting to. At first I had some issues; well, after just moving in and all, I was bound to have some dissatisfactions. But I think I did have a legitimate reason to be a little unhappy. For one, the former owner of the room did not inform me that the tap in the bathroom was not working. If she did, at least my dad could have brought in the tools and repaired it. She also didn't tell me that a weird, loud creaking sound comes from the pipes from withing the walls whenever the neighbours showered. It's so loud that you couldn't hear yourself think. Also, when I asked if the place was an all girls house, she told me it that it is. But then, I find out there's a guy living here... WTF?

I have it all arranged somehow or other. I experimented here and there; pulled the bed to one corner, and the the other; and the put the clothes rack against the wall, then in the corner... In the end I stuck to this layout--for now. Mind you, the room is much bigger than what you see in this pic. This is only one-third of the room. It's the master bedroom, after all. And I have my own bathroom. The other two thirds of the room isn't much. There's just my laptop table, shoes rack, table etc etc... The third in the picture is the homelier spot.

I have my bed which is the most important feature. I have my clothes rack where I hang all my clothes and also a pink box for my underthings. Between my bed and the rack, there's a box full of miscellaneous stuff and clothes that don't need hanging up. On top of the box are my toiletries, lotions, perfumes, tissues, hair stuff, jewellery and whatnot. On the wall is the mirror. On the other corner is my reading spot. I have a nice comfy armchair where I curl up to read books or magazines... On the floor next to the chair, are stacks of magazines, comics and books placed on top of boxes, just at arm's length for me to grab and read. Also, there is a bunch of CDs for when I take my radio with me.

So yeah, I'm living on my own now. It feels good... but I have to admit that I get very lonely. I have yet to meet my housemates, cos they are always in the room. Ayus is closeby, but in a different block. It's kinda scary to walk there come nighttime. But at least I do have Ayus; a familiar face. But still, at the end of a busy day, you just want someone to talk to or come home to, and be comforted. *Sigh* I wish you were here, Sayang. I miss you so much.

Food is also a problem with no car. But that'll be rectified soon when I get mine in the near future. And I miss my family... I miss my mom who was close to tears before they all sent me off.

Anyhow, I think I'll be ok. Once I have the time to spruce up abit and make some adjustments, it'll be even better.

Love, Lin~

Woo-hoo! I've completed my second day on the job.

It's only the second day, but I feel like it's been a week. I guess time moves super-slow when you're sitting around doing nothing in particular. But I've learned from yesterday, and today I went to work armed with books and a notebook to doodle in. So despite the fact that I was still sleepy and was about to doze off several times, and time did seem to move slow; it wasn't all that bad.

Oh, this second day also saw me attempting to take the RapidKL bus to work. So I got up early, had breakfast, got ready and went down to the busstop at about 7.45am. Since I start at 8.30am, I thought I'd give it some time since I wasn't sure of the bus schedule. I waited and waited, but the only bus that passed by was the one going to Lim Kok Wing. In the end I gave up and called Ayus for the cab phone number, called them, and got to work by cab. Argh, waste of money. But perhaps I waited at the wrong busstop for the bus...

I made some more friends today. Good to know that the people here are very jovial and friendly. It's a relief cos knowing that the nature of the job is rather dry and dull, there will be those that will brighten up the place with some laughs. Went for lunch with the same lunch buddies plus one, Mathan (again, I hope I got that right). Met some new recruits and made friends with Juliana, who just joined yesterday like me. I am now gonna be car-pooling with her to and from work...so I no longer have to take the bus! Yeay! That is, unless she has extra work to do and cannot go back with me or vice versa. Anyways, I am thankful that she offered to carpool, cos it's such a big help for me since I don't have a car yet. Thanks Juliana! When I get a car, we can probably take turns driving or something :)

Did a few more stuff like touring the office, checked out the security system and emergency exits, saw how some things work within the office system, had my computer set up for me to use. We also looked at the pantry and the miscellaneous foodstuff (the ones that are still good and some gone bad) kept in the fridge. I read some reading materials on grammar and 'house style' etc etc...

So today, although I didn't have much to do and felt extremely sleepy at times, it was more fun cos I have something to read, had people to talk to and did some things about the office. I feel a bit more productive now :) And also better adjusted.

Oh, I just remembered, at one point in the morning, I was so sleepy but couldn't possibly sleep right there in the middle of the office of about 120 people, and especially since one of the big bosses from Australia was in; so I went to the washroom (which is very clean, by the way), put down the toilet seat cover, sat there and snoozed abit. I know it's not the most kosher place to snooze, but I desperately needed some shuteye. I think I was out for about 20 minutes or so. When I got back out, I was refreshed. Heheh..silly me.

Anyhow, I'm bushed, and I want to catch a light snooze for a bit. So, bye! Will update you another time.

Love, Lin~

I'm exhausted. Drained. Tired. I cannot even begin to explain how much I would just love to lay my head upon the pillow and sleep the night away and not think about anything else...

• I moved into Cyberia yesterday, but after transporting every single thing I can stuff into the back of my father's Innova, I realized that I forgot all my pillows.


• Since my uncle and aunt were there to help, too; they suggested I followed them home and get some pillows and they'd send me to work today. So that's what I did.


• I got to work at about 8.45am, after dropping off some stuff at my apartment and having breakfast with my uncle and aunt.


• I had some briefings throughout the day, although, the briefings were pretty, errr...brief. They only took minutes, so for the most part, I spent my day at work just staring out the window or reading whatever I could find on the desk. Most of the reading materials were manuals, notes and training modules. Yes, I read all those over and over. They couldn't give me work cos I haven't been trained; and that only starts on the 5th, and will go on for 2 weeks and a half. So I just literally sat there. Fell asleep many times. Almost missed one briefing, as well.... You get even more bored when you do nothing. I would have been so thankful if I had to work straightaway.


• Made some friends--they were all friendly, by the way--and had lunch with Yoges (hopefully I got the spelling right) and Ernest at a place called Indian Kitchen at the Street Mall.


• By the way, I have a nice little workstation on my own; pretty neat.


• I finished at 5.30pm and Fairuz & Fairuz picked me up and we went to Alamanda to shop and to Souq for dinner.


• Now I'm back at my place, haven't met my housemates since they're all in their rooms. Found out that there's a frickin' huge Persian cat living in the house. And I am waaaaay too tired to rearrange stuff in my room cos I really want to sleep. But then I need to iron my clothes for tomorrow....

Anyway, that was all that happened. I seriously cannot go deep into it right now cos I am so exhausted. But I will (hopefully) when I feel more relaxed. And I better remember to bring something to read tomorrow while I sit around, rather than stare into space.

So yeah, another time then. Nite!

Love, Lin~

I think the last minute drama last night has been settled. *I think*

Not a minute ago, I got a text message from the now former tenant of the room I want, that she's moving out. She's moving out today and can have the room at 6pm, and I can stay there right away...

Coolness!

So, now I feel much lighter, now that this burden has been lifted. Just that I don't wanna be jinxing it too much by over-celebrating. But really, I feel much relieved. At least I know I can stay, and I have a place to sleep and that I can get to work tomorrow comfortably.

We'll be pushing off around 3pm maybe. My uncle will be meeting us there. And as much as I want you to be there, Sayang, to help and whatnot; I think it's ok for now. My dad, my uncle and my brother can do the heavy lifting and it's not like there is that many things. And furthermore, it's quite a far travel from Gombak, and I didn't wanna cause unnecessary inconvenience for you. And I am sorry I didn't inform you earlier about the moving and all; my mind just have been so out of it lately.. Sowwy.

Anyhow, it's moving day today. Really, moving. And the gravity of that implication is suddenly weighing heavy on me...

Love, Lin~