Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Encounters
I have tons of things to write down here, but don’t know where I shall begin with. Many things had happened since. My convocation on 10th July was a good one. Took many memorable and invaluable photos. I was jumpy whole day and night, in the graduation gown under the hot sun. I guess this would probably be the only chance to jump around crazily in campus. Well the photos will be uploaded soon and I will add the link here some day soon. Haha.After that night, in damn early morning, I was thunder-stricken to learn about things that are happening around me when I was chatting with some friends over msn, and yet I didn’t realize or notice it at all. How insensitive and unobservant I was at times! Well, I felt rather disappointed and disgusted at that instant. My brain was flooded with news, be it good or bad to any parties. Anger rose in me, how I wish things had not happened in that way and maybe it’s better if I’m not let known. My sixth sense had proven to be correct for certain parts. Still, I thought it’s a blessing in disguise for me. At least, I wouldn’t do anything that is unsuitable for some circumstances and I’ve come to look at things from more perspectives.
Waking up in the next morning was a torturous one as I stayed up late the previous night to be fed with updates from friends. I was restless for the rest of the day but my mood had become better. I’ve learnt to let go and take things as the way they are now. These are parts and parcels in life. I believe gaining such experience will make me a stronger and a more happy person. I just keep telling myself never repeat the same mistakes again. Chances are only given to each individual once. If one misses it, that’s it and there’s no turning back. What will be, will be. This quote has remained in my heart ever since. I follow my heart. I couldn’t be bothered already.
Alright, I’m going to jot down of what I’ve encountered yesterday. It’s really a disgrace to Singaporeans and foreign talents. I was totally disgusted and it’s a humiliation to Singapore’s world-class reputation. Okay, this was what happened:
I went to Pan Pacific Hotel for a talk on investment. It was a free talk and it came with a complementary buffet-style dinner. Well, everything seemed attractive and interesting. Of course, the seminar’s topic was my keen interest, the free buffet was a bonus hehe. The seminar was a resourceful one though most of it I couldn’t understand as I’ve never taken any economics-related modules before. I know nuts about them. Already hungry, I went out of the seminar room to have my free dinner. Okay, a long queue, typical. So, I joined the queue to get my food. The queue was moving slow and I don’t know the reason. When I’m moving closer to the buffet spread, 2 guys in theirs 50s barge in front of me. Obviously they were jumping queue and yet they gave me a couldn’t-be-bothered look. What the hell! I was getting frustrated so I told them politely “I think you guys have to queue up right at the back”. The first old man ignored me, maybe he couldn’t understand English at all. But he went to the seminar that was spoken in standard English! Hmm, maybe he came for the food only after all… It doesn’t surprise me. Well, the other old man replied, “You just go first,” Ok, I can’t be bothered already since I’m getting hungry and cold.
What’s more astonishing was while I was queuing, two aunties who are speaking in canto joined the queue behind me. It’s their loud voices that caught my attention. Guess what? Both of them were already holding on to their plates fully piled up with food ( and I mean the piling height was considerable high) and they joined the queue again, hoping to get their second round. This is a new way I’ve never seen before: eating the first round of serving while queuing up for the second round at the same time. Brilliant idea!! I was wordless..
Another instance occurred when I was taking my food at the table. In the midst of doing so, a couple came beside me out of nowhere. The woman said, “Excuse me,” Using some hand gestures, she was sort of signaling me that she wanted to get the food which I was getting then. Oh my, not another! Fury rises within me, but I controlled myself. “Erm, could you take from behind me instead?” *god damn it just don’t cut in front of me, I had enough*. I heard the man beside her saying out loud just audible enough for me to catch, in a prc-speaking-english accent, “So this is Singaporean’s way!” Wth! “So you are form PRC! No doubt.” This is indeed very ironic.
Three encounters disgusted me by a great deal. I had only abit of food and left in a fit of anger. I went across to the opposite eatery and paid to have my food instead. It’s heaven I tell you. Watching from a distance, I could still see the queue on-going and those CMI people, to think a number of them are executives. Never ever judge a book by its cover. Shame on all of them!
This morning, I tried taking bus 147 for the first time to my workplace. I thought it might be faster, but turned out otherwise. Caught in traffic jam on two streets. I was late by ten mins for work. When the bus reaches Boon Keng area, a familiar figure boarded the bus and went up to the upper deck which I was sitting at. What a coincidence, he’s one of the director from my company. I never really have any pleasant experience and good impression of him since I joined the company. He was the one who criticized on my results during my job interview. Oh ya, he is one of the interviewers. He nodded his head and greeted me. I did likewise. He then asked where I lived which I replied as well. Then, he flipped his newspaper and back to his own business. I closed my eyes to rest, and also not wanting to look at him. Upon reaching our destination, he got up suddenly and just walked off down the stairs to the lower deck. He didn’t look into my direction or what. I thought it’s basic courtesy to just gesture a little that it’s time to alight, some sort of it. But he never and the moment he got off from the bus, he walked all the way straight in big strides. *Hmm, so what if you are the ONE of the directors??* To me, he’s just a normal PRC fella. Typical PRC fella. No big deal.
Hee, despite all these, my mood is still good as normal. Such encounters would only let me know people whom I should take more note of only. I should thank him instead for letting me have such chance to get to KNOW him better. Woah, this is a long entry.
wQ|n9y at 1:30 PM
