My off day!

I had my second off day after working here for almost a month now! How time flies! When you are working seven days a week with only 2 days off... you literally don't know what to do when you suddenly are given a day off!

While I truly value this one free day in 2 weeks of hard work, I was just suddenly at a lost. What makes this day even more valuable is that it's not a fix day, so I cannot plan for it. My boss arrange the day off and will just tell us a few days in advanced. So all the more, I should value it!

So, what did I do all day? Well, I woke up a little later than normal. Had my bath and went to the supermarket to buy some stuff. I had always wanted to cook at home to save some money but till now, I did not have the opportunity to do it.

In the afternoon, I decided to visit my old friends at Chai Chee Technopark. I took bus no 3 to Pasir Ris followed by a train to Chai Chee. Was I glad to see them again! After 2 years of working together, they are like a family and friends. And the place has not changed much. I felt so at home I almost wanted to walk behind the counter and start working again! Incidentally, this might be the last time I am able to see them here as my ex-boss will be giving up this place by the end of the September.

Interestingly, a few customers came by and recognized me and came to have a chat with me. A few saw my article in the Lianhe Wanbao and one even saw me while he was jogging in Punggol. What a small world! The lady sitting in the picture above is "Yan Jie", my favorite friend, mentor, "mother"... she's everything to me! The man to the right is her husband who comes by to help her at the stall everyday.

I had a wonderful day-off and I really did not want it to end! However, as always, all good things do come to an end. My only regret was that my ex-boss was not around or I would have loved to see him again and tell him how much I appreciate working for him after all the experiences I had with other employers!

In the evening, I went to Bedok to see my ex-landlord and had a light dinner with them before heading back to Punggol. They were good friends too and I recall the good memories I had while staying there. Sure, there were arguments, and other unhappy events... afterall, we had almost ten people crammed into a 2 bedroom unit... but the good times sure outnumbered the bad! Let bygones be bygones!

Enjoy the few photos I took of all my ex-colleagues that day! They were great colleagues, especially the lady on the top left who had been a great friend, mentor and mother to me while I was here all alone. What wonderful people. I am going to miss them all, for sure... and my customers too!

Moving back to the East!

After a week working at Chai Chee Technopark, I kind of got used to it and kind of liked the new environment. However, the travel from Tanjung Pagar to Chai Chee was killing me... an hour and thirty minutes each way. I had to look for a new home... and fast too... otherwise, it was eating into my pocket too quickly.

I asked another Chinese colleague about where I could start looking for a new place and she suggested looking at bus stops. Many Chinese migrants working in Singapore put up notices at bus stops to look for room mates and that will be the cheapest way to go. So one evening, I decided to visit a few bus stops in Chai Chee and Bedok to pick up some numbers to call. In the next couple of days, I managed to find a place in Bedok Central charging SGD210 per month for bed space with 6 to a room... not too bad I thought. I immediately made an appointment to go take a look at it after work.

Well, the place was kind of a disappointment, dirty, cramp but the location was great! It's right next to the Bedok MRT and bus stop, there are two supermarkets nearby and a food center and a library too. I decided that I cannot ask for too much with the small budget I had, so it's either a nice place or a good location. I decided to go for it! Come to think of it, I even had a small TV in my room for all the room mates to watch... a little luxury helps alot!

"In a period of about 7 months, I have already moved 3 locations... "

Next day, I told my landlord from Tanjung Pagar that I was moving out and lugged my luggage to work. Thank goodness, I don't have many belongings or moving would have been a big headache. Sometimes it pays to travel light. So, in a period of about 7 months, I have already moved 3 locations... is there more to come??? Ha ha! After just more than half a year in Singapore, I am ready for anything that comes my way! Nothing is a surprise anymore!

Transfering to Chai Chee.

OK, now that I'm at work in Singapore and after 3 days, things are starting to get back to normal, I can start updating on my previous work experience in Singapore again.

5 months into my job while still at Tanjung Pagar, my boss told me that he needs me to help out in his Chai Chee foodcourt as somebody had just left and he was shorthanded. I was initially taken aback as I had just moved from Joo Chiat to Tanjung Pagar for barely 2 months to save on transport and time and now I have to go the other way.

"I'm almost as good as a nomad, or Gipsy... going where the wind blows!"

But I remembered someone once said to me, "When life throws you a lemon, make lemonade!" and so with this, I answer, "Sure, anything I can do to help, I will!" But at the back of my mind, it's the thought of having to make that long journey back to the East and this will easily cost me an additional $3-$4 per day.

Anyway, I had to go. I guess my boss was just being nice and courteous to ask me if I can help out. He could have just said, "You have to move to Chai Chee!". I appreciate the respect and courtesy anyway.

So the next morning, I started work at Chai Chee, and started learning the process all over again... meeting new colleagues and friends. Interestingly, I kind of liked Chai Chee after the first day. It was not as busy as Tanjung Pagar and somehow, the environment seems better. Hmmm.... I decided I was going to ask my boss if this was permanent so that I can find a place to stay in the East. I'm almost as good as a nomad, or Gipsy... going where the wind blows!

Here is a picture of my workplace in Chai Chee... taken with my handphone, so it's not so clear.