Chocolate, Candies and Sweets for me....

Alright....calm down guys... I'm not MIA, or swallowed and burried with my work. (although it's partly true that I was a little too consumed in my work ;p)

But, I'm here and staying here for good. You just have to be patient for my updates starting now. Yes, it's already a month since I started work. I have also received my first paycheck and it does smell good and feel good. I have also just recently moved to the new office which will be my permanent location. I got my own cubicle set up, a brand new computer all set up as well. All it needs is a little decoration and in time I am sure it will feel just like my own space and home in the office (hahaha..hopefully not litterally camping there for late night stays!)

But I think I am loving my job. Although it may be ardous task for now, but I'm sure once the project takes off, all that hard work will be worth it!! Plus all the bonus that will come in with the effort. Hmm...for the past 2-3 weeks that I have not updated, I have been to a basketball championship in the very own Singapore...4 countries playing at least once again one another. They are national teams consisting of some very recognized NBA players like Ginobili, Pau Gasol, Darko (YES DARKO! AND HE'S DAMN GOOD!) and many more. Well, 4 countries that participated was Spain, Argentina, Serbia&Montenegro and Slovenia. And how ironic is that to find 4 Toronto Raptors players! ahahaha...guess they can't attract any good North American players in their team.

Anyway, about my job. Yes though I may be busy with the project (mind you, this is still in such an infant stage and it is in a critical situation...as my boss like to mention please take care of this baby coz it is in ICU) hahaha...I'm gonna miss her. She may be fierce and strict, but she has her good points and recognize employees for their effort in the work they do.

So, moving to this new place is good in one way. A new environment, quite a couple new faces, and best of all, all new things to look forward to. Production is closer now, and you can literally see it in work later. All that is not confirmed yet is when the production will be moved to my the new plant.

What else eh? I think I have been too busy at my own things that I haven't really pay heed to my friends or look for them. Sorry guys..... I didn't mean to ignore you guys. Hopefully when the baby has been stabilized and pass the critical stage, I'll be able to spend more time with you guys.

I guess it's enough for now lahh.....I'll sign off with a pic or two to follow the trend of pics in their blogs! ;p


Manu Ginobili: Star and idol to Singaporeans there


Uti, Andrew (my bro) and myself with Gasol in the background


Me and my bro after one of the match


Last shot of the game: Note the jersey number and shot clock time (freaky right?)
S&M lost by the way


Darko looking dejected watching S&M thrashed by Spain


A shot by Garbajosa who is a member of the new Toronto Raptors season

The Week of Heaven and Hell: The Motley Crew

So, there I arrive ready to be busy and be piled with tons of work. Apparently, even though I had setup my access to the network and e-mail, I still have a lousy computer which doesn't let me connect to the network and shared drive. Thus, I spent most of the Monday doing it "virtually" as I observed and watched Daphne do the routine for that Monday.

Due to the fact that I have signed confidentiality terms and conditions, I shall not reveal too much about the description of my work and my customers, but I will give enough directions to have you all readers a feel of what I do. The assignment given to me was that I had to send the forecast for items that will be needed to suppliers. This forecast was for demands of items needed to build the system for the period of the coming quarter. I was of course given a list of suppliers' contacts, but it is somewhat not the most recent. So, the list of suppliers I had to send go to as long as 30-40 and even some of them bounced back as they already left their position or on leave. It was not easy. I was not sure if they even got it and read it as I am not supposed to be expecting any replies anyway.

Then the second assignment I got was to pull in (or bring forward scheduled delivery) for items that were needed to produce the system we're building. Okay, I am going to breach a little of my contract agreement here! The thing is that my team will be involved with the new product that we are building for one of the biggest ISS division. Okay, techie will know what ISS means, and I am not going to debrief those who are lost! Anyway, this customer is a household name and you would see it anywhere you see computers or peripheral computer accessories. And if we missed out on this fragment of business, there will never be a second chance at it. The downside is that the pilot launch is very close and that production of the system is to be revamped up and we are so much in short of the parts needed to build them. Thus, the strain and perplex condition that I am facing in trying to gather all those parts in to build the system before the agreed role date for the customer.

The extent is just as huge as the recent news of Microsoft's falling stock prices as the announcement was made regarding the push back date for the new Windows Vista. So, the whole group (not only us buyers), which include the Program Manager, Purchasing Manager, and all relevant corporate members who are involved in this project is being targeted if the project fails. If the project fails, it can cost millions and heads rolling! So, you can understand my pressure of trying to bring all these parts in early!

I filtered the parts from the Oracle system that the company uses and to my amused look, I find a minimum of 500 parts that needs to be pulled in. And about 300 of those needs to be docked in and pass inspection by next week!! Ahhh....sending e-mails became the bread and butter of my work for the next few days. Of course I had to anticipate for reply from customers for good and bad news. Then, came one really bad news. One supplier was supposed to deliver the parts sometime in August and they had to delay it to DECEMBER!! Imagine the shocks to all the people who received that news! I saw my senior project planner screaming and shouting at the supplier at the cause. I was tasked to source the parts to stockist. Meaning like bookies who has access to a network of 3rd party suppliers for these parts. But of course the price will vary and with the strict standard of pricing that the kind my company deal with, it will be hard to find a suitable quote for decent pricing for the similar part! To my luck, I had a part that came in cheaper than the supposed price that we are supposed to buy! And I received some compliments! Haha...now the only thing is I needed to buy it. But it was already Thursday evening when I receive that quote. I had to go for a whole day orientation on Friday and I was panicking about my work throughout the whole orientation.

Yes, orientation was somewhat boring and too long! Although I get to tour the facility and production, my mind was constantly on the work I had to do. All those replies from e-mails and whatever things I had to do! But, looking at the China women do their work somewhat eases my mind a little bit! Hahhaa....alright, not all of them, but I was intrigued having looked at SMT machines which I had only chanced upon on textbooks and all those reading materials. And also, I get to learn about ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) and all the importance to an electronics manufacturing companies especially my company.

So, orientation finished and I had to complete my medical check-up with the resident nurse for the company record. There goes another 30 minutes of my work day. Effectively, that Friday I only worked for 3,5 hours and it was already 7:30 at night. I can't do anything else since I also gave up on those suppliers still being at their desk doing their work on a Friday night!! So, I had no choice but to also leave. I mean, I have this half-day training on Saturday teaching us how to use the Oracle.

I am not going to go into much details about my Saturday training. Just that the location was at my future workplace, and I loved the exterior and interior of the factory. It is much better and I hoped it will lead to a better working condition compared to the one now. The downside is food will be much harder to scour. The day's training really drained my energy, but I had enough strength left in me to go out with one of my old secondary school friend out for a coffee (much needed caffeine) and a good Nasi Padang meal somewhere near Boat Quay/Clarke Quay! OOooooo boy, let me tell you....it's one of the best in Singapore that I have tasted so far!! For those who are keen for a sample, you can ask me out next time. I won't mind treating some ladies if asked nicely! Hahaha...Noe...no treat for you...this one a bit more expensive larhhh...
Hehehe.....good day, but a hellish week! Gosh, now it's already 10 PM Sunday night, and I can't imagine how my inbox will be like for tomorrow!! God Bless I can survive the week ahead! But, you know what? I am loving my job. Even though it's like I am thrown into the hell pit, I got to learn much more at a much faster pace. I know I should expect the fast pace given the nature of the business of my company, but I am sure to benefit if I can make it through this project. I just wish the bonus will commensurate with the effort I put in into this project!! Alright....I am out...peace guys...Hope your weekend had been a blast!!

Adios


The End

Premiere: A Wedding and A Week of Hell and Heaven

Wow...what a week!! Let me tell you...I don't know if I should fill it up all in this one post or to break it down to two posts! Well, if you see a sequel on my latest post, then it will be a sequel. Apparently, Hollywood's been making money out of sequel of Blockbuster caliber movies. :D

Alrighty....First of all, I had a good trip home. Arrived at Soekarno-Hatta about 9:30 in the morning. Cipto was stuck in the traffic and I waited in the MickeyD calling a couple of friends who gave some surprised/shocked tunes. Hahaha....either it's for my surprise presence in Jakarta or the fact that I am only there for 2 days!

So Cipto came and we chatted for the whole drive to my home. It feels good meeting an old friend again. It's been...4 months!! hahaha....But well, it was good to catch up with what each of us had been doing since the last time we met. Then in the afternoon, it was a date with my good ol' budy from my secondary school days. We met up for lunch and spend the time after that in TIMEZONE!! Yeah...it was fun alright. Arcade gaming has certainly evolved a lot!! I played a couple of shooting games and it was exciting. Excited to the point that I bruised my finger and even scraped off a part of my skin. HA! A memento of modern arcade gaming! Then, spent the rest of the evening shopping at Carefour for whatever I needed to bring back to Singapore.

Then evening comes. The big day is here. I was supposed to be picked up by one of my uni days buddy who lives rather near my place. So, I already took my shower, sprayed some cologne and perfume. Put on my neatly pressed shirt and my blazer! Ahh...I look like a million bucks!! Ready to rock and roll...and hopefully rock some girl's heart along the way. You know a.k.a wedding crasher!! Hahaha....

Over at the event....Hotel Mulia....it was quite the wedding. Although it was still sparse, I met with so many of my ol' friends from uni that I haven't met in years!! Great atmosphere....exquisite decorations and of course good gourmet around. Too bad I didn't eat that much in the wedding due to the long queues. Nonetheless, my time there was spent mostly chatting away with a lot of old friends and finding out how they've been doing these past years! The bride and the groom look stunning as they shook hands with guests. Usually, he was the kind of guy that look so menacing with his different looks. Once, he had a bald do with mean beard and moustache that made him look like one of those mean chinese cooks ready to butcher people! And at times, his thick curly hair and also his beard and moustache can make kids cry from far away!! Hahaha...so imagine him being in one of those normal and calm looking demeanor. Can't take the lightning away from him on his big day!!

To think that this was the longest I have stayed for a wedding. We were practically the last ones to leave other than the bride and groom and maybe family members who overstayed their presence. I mean, the newly weds surely wants some lovey-dovey first night right?? HAhahaha...we joked so much about it that we almost made the casually talked joke of opening a room with call-girls with the groom into almost happening. Nonetheless, we ended up the day satisfied, full of memories, and most of all, dead exhausted. Good thing it falls on a Saturday and people can catch up with the rest on the Sunday.


Alright good looking gents and ladies...


A picture with the bride and groom along with all the ISU current and alumnus

So, the Sunday I had planned to meet up with one of my very close friend. The problem is the handset that I brought home gives some problems. Not only the battery is losing its juice, the reception is rather bad. It ended up to be a short meeting as he had to go for work! Yes...work on Sunday which I find hard to believe!! Anyway, I overstayed and I had to make another trip to Mega Mall to run some errand. The thing is that my flight is at 3:20 in the afternoon and I still have to make a trip to my old home (which now belongs to my mom's brother) to pray for the death anniversary of my grandfather. Yes...some coincidence eh? To think that it's been more than a decade and it's like my second or third time paying respect to my late grandfather. My uncles and aunt who saw me was rather surprised. Again...I can't make out whether it's because of my presence or the fact that I was only staying in Jakarta for 2 days and even worse, leaving in a few hours! hahaha....But it was always good to be able to sample some of good traditional and good Bagan food!! hahaha...can't let it go to waste. Then, it was time to say goodbyes. I had packed all my stuff in the morning, and I was ready to go. My bag only contain my suit that I wore the day before and just a pair of shorts and stinky socks and undies.

Anyway, I left Jakarta and came back to Singapore. The weird thing is that now I feel more "home" back to Singapore than back to home in Jakarta! I am so bad. It's not I am defecting or betraying the sense of patriotism, but it's just that having spent most of my life in Singapore, I can relate better to the environment here than in Indonesia. It also helps that Singapore is a much better country than Indonesia!! ;p

Ahh....and back to work. I am expecting a somewhat hectic Monday. I had to pick up my S pass in the morning in the Tanjong Pagar Complex and all it took was a mere 5 minutes wait. I guess no one is really kiasu enough to come right when it opens at 8 AM. But, I start work at 8 and I felt bad to leave for my work when it matters most on Monday mornings!! So, I got to office at 8:45 AM and luckily or unfortunately work was still there waiting and the other two in my team was still somewhat clueless as what to do with all that work!!

CLIFFHANGER!!

I can't express a more suspenseful emotion, but here is where it is supposed to end with...

to be continued...