Goodbye ADL!

Christmas cheers and a farewell bid were what I received yesterday at work. It was my second last day with Arthur D. Little, one of the world's oldest management consulting firms. Looking back, I recalled I had only one mission in mind after my graduation and that is to join a management consulting firm. ADL is the first company I worked for right after school...

We had a Christmas cum farewell lunch at Mandarin Oriental's Lai Poh Heen restaurant yesterday. Thanks to Patt's good taste, we were served with yummy-licious chinese food...Being lunch partners for a year, she knew just what to order for my farewell lunch…

What makes ADL memorable for me is the many friendships that I have made here...Each of them has a story to tell and each of them has taught me a thing or two about work and life... They are all gifted and are an extremely intelligent breed of people.

Thank you to all and I will miss all of you...

Some moments captured yesterday…

Ramlah- I will miss her and her laughter

From left: Ramlah, me, Glen, Younglee (standing), Johan, Patt and Shekhar

The wise people of ADL

Seated on my left is Etienne, my 'ang moh' manager who speaks better Mandarin than I do

Eugene: My street-wise manager who helped me to cross busy roads

Younglee: You will not be forgotten

Patt: It has been a pleasure knowing you

Rikkya, my last case leader in ADL

In case you are wondering how Mr. Little looks like...

Going for looks may not be that shallow after all....?

Yeah, you probably have heard / read about it. Being attractive in your outer appearance or physical looks does help you get to somewhere... and you probably have read from somewhere also that good looking people have better job opportunities etc etc

You might have also heard or watched the American Psycho where they mentioned about beautiful women can't be smart because they can easily get people to do things for them and they don't need to use their brains. Hence, overtime become less intelligent. And the not-so-attractive ones have to work hard to get things done on their own, hence more intelligent.

I read an article on BBC today which I thought was interesting. It gives a fresh perspective about looks and success...

A researcher in evolutionary anthropology, Professor Ruth Mace said, "But it suggests that how attractive you find someone is governed partly by how likely you are to be successful."

Haha....


Hmm....thoughts anyone?

Moments

Here are some moments I had before I went to Sarawak, Sarawak, and post-Sarawak which I didn't have the time to put them up. So here they are:

The Korean dancers from one of the biggest churches in Korea performing in our church...

Truly impressed with their musicians...

The crab Kah Hing and Julie caught

Kuching and her river, sunset

Me and the lovely girls at Port Dickson...

Sarah trying one of her daring stunts, going down the slope

Eileen and Caithlyn and Alexis Gurlz' Nite Out

My Conservative View on Marriage

Will I be willing to give up my career and dreams for my husband?
Yes. I believe in submitting to the leader of the home and the man of my life.
Career and my dreams are something valuable to me but I am willing to give both up if need be for some things more valuable and important.

What if you married the wrong guy and your husband is cheating on you, jobless, or plain lazy?
I trust in the Creator God. It may sound naïve (actually, it’s not naïve…it’s just plain and simple), and sometimes sophistication doesn’t help you solve any problem.

I think being a thai-thai may not always be a bed of roses. I also think that marriage is not a legal paper signed and then when things don’t work out, you can just tear the paper. After all, it’s only a piece of paper. Marriage is a covenant. It is a covenant made with God and man - a covenant in which God is present and is the witness and the binder of this covenant. A covenant that transcends all difficulties in life, including being a financially poor thai-thai.

So my idea of a thai-thai isn’t always about having a comfy lifestyle with spa and facial sessions. But if need be for me to wash toilets, clean the waste, or even attend to your sick, paralyzed husband, I will do it. That is what it means by “I take you as my husband, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health…”

Conservative eh?

Yes, old fashioned Janet…

My ambition - A Thai Thai

“I’d like to be a Thai Thai!”, I exclaimed to my aunt’s horror. She replied, “Your mom, myself and also your dead grandmother wouldn’t allow it”.

“You? Thai Thai…? NO way…I don’t think you’ll last longer than a few months”, remarked my uni mate, Gim Han and later I found out Jeff agreed to his comment as well.

Sigh…

I thought everyone would agree that a Thai Thai’s life is a sought-after vocation. I was wrong.

So why can’t I be one?

I enjoy playing golf, and then maybe learn Salsa and then when it’s time, drop my kids at their piano class, violin class, etc etc. Then move on to SHOPPING and then to buy loads of books because I simply have the time to read them. Once awhile, I’ll go visit some friends, catch-up, some jog and swim and then learn how to bake! Sounds great!

Above all, I love children and I want to be with my children as they grow up. More importantly, having been through life myself…I would want to impart in them the love I experience from God and pass on the stories of how loving this God has been to me in my younger years and how He will be to my children and my children’s children if they stick close to Him. Nothing thrills me more than to wait for that time to come when I can do that to my little beings.

OK…but what about your career? Don’t you have dreams? What if you’re earning a lot? You mean your parents funded your education for nothing? What if your husband is abusive, infidel or even plain stupid?

I will answer that in my next post….


* Thai-thai – A Cantonese term for a comfy home-maker. (Is my translation correct?I think it is as far as my broken Cantonese is concern)

Pictures of David & Grace's wedding and a word of thanks

My church member who reads my blog, told me I have a tendency to make promises on my post and not keep them. So here am I attempting to keep the promise I made in the last post about posting photos of David's wedding. Here they are:

Baby Lauren

David's wedding was superb! He sang a lovely song for his wife and took us all by surprise. I must admit he doesn't sound, one bit of him in karaoke...seriously good. Woo Hoo... good job, David!

What I like most about the wedding, is the lighting of candles - a symbolic sign of the union. Very meaningful moment when two mothers (bride and the groom's mothers) held each other's hands as they walked up the stage and then parted to light the candles. That moment was captivating.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank David and Grace for inviting me to sing on their wedding day. I hope the song has blessed you both.

Thanks to Elaine, Evonne and Aunty Carol Siew for helping me with the Mandarin speech. I was too nervous that I lost my lines. I promise to do better the next time by trying to sing more Mandarin songs in Karaoke.

Thanks to Julia, for helping us with the vocals and to Yee Voon for a good duet with me.

More pictures later when I get them from others.

Two hearts, One love

"Love is the melody played by two hearts joined together as one by God"

Those were the words written beautifully on the guest's itenery card of David & Grace's wedding....

I'll like to believe the person who wrote this is a musician!

All musicians understand and treasure the harmonising tune that comes from just 2 seperate instruments or 2 seperate notes or 2 seperate voices such as Soprano and Alto. When played or sing well, they can be so soothing unto the soul. They harmonise so well that the 2 instruments or voices sound like One soothing music.

Two different hearts joined together as one by God... I can't imagine how beautiful that tune can become...because I also believe God is the great musician. He created music and He also created love....

Two hearts, One love....

I love that song One love...

Time to sleep, will blog more about tonight's beautiful wedding with pictures another day...

Good night...

18th September, 2006

It's 11.48pm now...in a few minutes, 18 is over...

So?

So getting more nostalgic...

It's my 1st anniversary in ADL, and also my first year in the working world.

Here are some moments I had in ADL:

I enjoyed the train rides with Alain and Y at the beginning of my early months in ADL (Since I know alain is gonna be reading this...i will add more: He's also a very good friend, one of those funny and smartie ones)

The ADL ladies

With Ramlah

First few moments in ADL:

Mazura introduced the office and all the rules to me, passed me the necessary documents, notebook etc




Y walked in, greeted with his very warm and charming smile....




Alain introduced himself and YY too...







WK introduced himself and asked me a couple of questions...






The last few moments of 18 a year later:




Glen and I laughing over me mixing up my hotel room number... (I couldn't find my room because I forgot my room number)




Met a new colleague with the name of "Casanova"(yes it's Italian but he's french, a good looking french)




Domingo teasing me about my Mandarin...




Etienne speaks better Mandarin than I do, although the locals refuse to listen because he's European




I was laughed at by Etienne when the coffee shop thai thai spoke to me in Mandarin and I looked puzzled. She turned and asked Etienne if I am Chinese... (????!!!)




Hardly had the chance to speak to Patt, but feels good to have a girl colleague around...

My random thoughts....

Random thoughts....

hmmm....

A friend just dropped me at the lrt station.....I love lrt rides....that's the place I always have my random thoughts, inspiration and solemn reflection of the day and life in general...I am definitely missing this in Sarawak...

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Just had dinner with my colleagues - YL, Felicity, Rikkya and Glen...
As usual, all kinds of topics ran across the table and all kinds of laughters too...
I like relaxing ADL dinners like this...
And Felicity's reminder that we should keep Dubai as our best memory in ADL...
Yes, I will not forget the wonderful moments I had in Dubai with my 3 female colleagues, Vivian, Felicity and Patt...
Ramlah's cheerfulness and encouragement....humility is something I learned from her...

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As I was riding with my friend after dinner, we talked about a relationship between my childhood friend and his high school friend....
we talked about the faith of my best friend and who is also his best friend....
We talked about his church, his CG....
We talked about a song Patrick Leong wrote...

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Around this time last year, I was riding in the same car to purchase my brand new bible...different conversations, different feeling

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How long can one hold on to bitterness and live life with it?
Should we choose to envelope ourselves in self pity for the rest of our lives?
Should we be constantly reminded about the bitter moments when we have happier moments to recall?
Should we long to just want to be with one person when we already have so many loving friends who are already here with you?
Why should we hurt our closest friends over something we choose to be bitter about?
Is everything you see is the truth or there is more than meets the eye?
Why do I still keep that Christmas present in my room in Penang?
Do I really think I know better than God?
Can a friend be extra nice and suddenly not?
Why do I place higher expectation on one more than the other?

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Flying off to Kuching again, early tomorrow morning...
What will tomorrow be like?
I heard some changes are going to take place...
I will miss KL and the hikes in Taman Tun with Tse Jian....
The dinners with Elaine, Lee Sin, Wilfred, WeeLee, Jeff and WeeLiem...
I already miss my CG...
CDPC, Pastor Wong, Aunty Constance, Sam......and dearest Sarah...
The little girls - Lily, Sue Ann and Charissa, their infectious laughter, their hugs, their little gifts of love and their naive questions...
The golf game with Terry, Mei Hsien, Aaron...
Wonder whether Terry Jr is out? Who does he look like?

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Farewell, farewell, farewell

This past one month I have said goodbyes to 3 people and the past one year I have said a dozen others...

Farewell isn't really an easy thing to say, especially to a friend of whom you cherished, and spent a significant amount of time together... a bond that seems too hard for distance to seperate...simply because it was spanned from heart to heart

Here are the people I said farewell to lately:

Pei Hsien

I knew Pei Hsien from my high school years...she was a prefect and a senior who was holding a couple of leadership positions and at the same time doing academically well. One of those I admire from far...

In the university, she was elected as the President for one of the largest societies in the university -the Engineering Society. She had demonstrated what I called the 'Georgian' (derived from my high school name) leadership qualities - strong-willed and steadfast. Our friendship began to blossom when we became neighbours during our university years...What bonded us was our faith. She has been such a source of encouragement and of sage advice. I wouldn't forget our nasi lemak days. All the best in UK, girl. Your will to suceed has carried you very far... Georgians rock!!

Chris:

Left: Chris, Patt, Nitin and John

My first case leader and the first Singaporean I ever worked with. An intelligent colleague who has taught me many things. He has made my first case a very memorable learning experience.


Sarah:


A year of friendship with her has been so fulfilling...through the past one year...we knew so much of each other as though we have been friends for years...She has taught me of what it means to be a Christian, to love selflessly and to give my best to God. She was certainly placed in my life when I needed someone like her most...she brought me back me to God.

I will miss her....but i wish her well and I know she will continue to touch many lives wherever she goes...and I know for sure God is with her...



Please don't forget that you promised to sing on my wedding day "When God made you". So, do come home... (I shall take over your place as Sam's big bully. The when you return, he gets double portion of that? hahahah...)





Zi Bin:

Zi Bin is an exceptional individual with a zeal to always improve himself even though he's already doing excellently. His numerous achivements speak for themselves. Charming, sweet at times but also a person who will not hesitate to point my mistakes. One who dares to slap me back to reality, keep my feet grounded. He supported me to the fullest when I embarked on new territories and his advice I often take heed. His intelligence is something I admire and his friendship is something close to heart. Hmm...we have come a long way eh? Thanks for putting up with me during my off-days. The fights, the arguments, the cold wars...I think you have dealt with them very patiently. I am going to miss you a lot.

A year on....a tribute to Group 4

Ravin, the G4 supermodel

Us at Ravin and Paik Lyn's convo

Benny, the MMU Jay Chow

Left: GimHan and Jeff

Esther and I

Zi Bin and I , a year ago...








Jeff and I




Left: Wai Choong, Wee Liem, Sheng Chao, Gim Han and Jeff




The 36-ers



Some of the G4-ians

Left: Ravin and Shaun


It has been a year since I officially graduated. MMU 8th Convocation happened last 2 weekends. It reminded me so much about my own convocation a year ago. More so it reminded me of the friends I have found in my early years of university. The things they have taught me and the love they have shown me. Particularly, I will not forget the G4-ians (that's what we called ourselves). We met each other on a humble May, 2001 morning, in a classroom, while waiting for our first class to begin. It was an English class.

Oh I still remember those days vividly and the thoughts that went through my mind then!

My first impressions:

Seated right at the back of the class were a stretch of guys who lived in the hostels. They looked completely exclusive and pathetically arrogant (because they were the selected few who are elite, outstanding and qualified enough to live in that run-down hostel rooms).

And then, there was this hot chic with long hair and a sweet smile sitting in front of them...and a moment later...another confident lady walked in...and the two girls quickly became close friends. I later learned that the hot chic is called Esther and the confident lady is Michelle.

One particular personality too difficult for me to forget - a tall, thin, 'China Pek' dude, who walked in with an annoying attitude. JAMES!!! The guy whom I labelled as ADSC (Attention Deficit Syndrome Child) during the orientation programme.

Haha! Little did I know that James would be our group leader and subsequently our best friend. Little did I know that one of those arrogant-looking hostels guys would be a friend to whom I will grow to admire and respect so much and little did I know that the hot chic will be the best girl friend I will have in my entire pre-university year and little did I know that many more who sat in that classroom that day will be friends who have changed the way I looked at myself and certainly friends whom I have come to cherish so much.

Here is the list of the G4 people who have impacted my life and left a lasting impression. A big thanks to each one of them:

James - A leader I have come to respect, a dear friend, a mature person (although he doesn't behave like one) and one who holds his principles strongly. Yo, I miss ya break-dancin' and your rap!

Wai Choong - I often admire your ability to keep calm and your very soothing 'devlish smile' during exam period. I am still impressed how you managed to pull through with all the As when you sleep most of the day and play computer games throughout the entire exam week!

Have you tasted durian already?

Chee Yong - The super big guy with big brains. Thanks for tutoring us and helping me with my Physics, Calculus and other problems. I enjoy travelling with you because you were always helpful in lugging my bags =P

Zheng Jie - You have certainly grown and changed. I am glad our paths crossed. Thanks for being my Zhor Tai Tee master....

Shaun - The cute, cute Shaun. A disciplined guy with an exceptional talent in playing drums. Very systematic yet charming. I will not forget your new Samsung blue-eyd phone which was soaked when the boys threw you into the sea

Tneh - The guy who drew on my CPU his trademark of a cockroach. Definitely intelligent but extremely humble

Gim Han - The bicycle guy who tried so hard to be a pervert (quite honestly, I believe you're truly a decent and nice guy inside). You too have matured and I appreciate our friendship throughout the years

Wee Liem - All the sharing, all the rides in your car, all the food I had in your house - thank you. I am glad we can still share and pray for one another, even though we are working already. I really enjoy seeing you playing on stage. You're definitely a guy with many talents and good looks and a fabulous personality. Keep up the good work in music for God

Jeff - A pleasant guy whom I have the pleasure of knowing much later in my uni life. You're now my closest ally, geographically (hehehe) and of course the very good friend I have since I came to PJ

Calvin - I don't remember you getting angry at all. You're always smiling, laughing and always ready to help. Really good to still have you with us.

Benny- The guy in white singlet, who drove us to all corners of Malacca to try new food. I still remember all the Jay Chow chinese songs you sang in the car. They still ring in my head some times. You're certainly more mature now. I enjoy talking to you and our first group 4 wedding will be yours eh?

Jeremy - You are certainly a guy with many good qualities. I will cherish the times and things we have shared during my time in Malacca

Sheng Chao - The hunk

Chern Liang - The quiet but talented Chern Liang. Hope things are well with you now.

Colin - Oh the best room mate any guy would want. Right, Zibin?

Chien Thang - A helpful friend with a very, very warm personality. It's just so easy for people to draw close to you

Ravin - You changed me. You're still my best fashion / beauty consultant. I admire your organizing skills and certainly your modelling skills too. Above all, I thank you for encouraging me and giving me the confidence when I needed it

Michelle - The confident and stylish lady with many talents. She is gifted in creating beauty out of things and people. Thank you for your friendship and love.

Esther - The singing bird, the hot chic, and a loving friend who cares beyond the limits of time, space and distance. I am blessed by your friendship. I can't help thinking that God has placed you there in my life at that particular point of time. I pray we will still be close even when we are frail and old. Hopefully, then, we can still sing a duet. Two old ladies, with their 'tongkats' singing "We could be in love?" Haha.. Remember that essay about love and infatuation we wrote for our English assignment?

Zi Bin - One of MMU's most popular guys. Very unexpectedly, a guy of that stature would have such a friendship with an ordinary girl, unnoticed and boring. Very unusual.

These are the G4-ians who used to spend most of their days in pre-U together. They have left a huge impact in my life and I am glad we are still meeting up and keeping in touch. I thank God for each of them

Feeling 18 all over again!!

I rushed from work to home, showered, dressed up... all excited for the dinner. It's our Group 4 class 2001 gathering dinner. Group 4 is one of the engineering groups for the Pre-University Engineering study in MMU. I am proud to say I was part of that group.

It has been a year since our last convocation and we have been friends for 6 years now. Many things have changed. Some have gone abroad, some are working with high-sounding companies, and all of us have certainly grown and matured. Yet when we came together...a friend of mine noted, "Oh we're 18 again!" Haha indeed!

We were 18 when we met each other, one fine morning at our very first English class.

We were 18 when we acted in that humourous english literature drama.

We were 18 when we went for Char Siew Fan at 3am.

We were 18 when we celebrated James' birthday at Peringgit with Rojak Sauce, eggs kept for months and cow's liver with cooking oil and other ingredients.

We were 18 when we watched Esther sang the Michelle Branch's song.

We were 18 when we travelled to Penang together and ordered all the cakes Secret Receipe had in their display freezer.

We were 18 when we took our Malaysian University English Test.

We were 18 when we ransacked Wee Liem's kitchen for food during exam period.

We were 18 when we went to the beach to have fun 2 days before our final exam.

We were 18 when we took an hour to gather everyone for lunch, an hour to decide where to eat, and an hour to get to the place and an hour to finally eat!

Haha....now my best friends in uni have grown to be beautiful young ladies and handsome young men. There was so much to catch up with one another yesterday and so much to laugh about and so much to recall for the 18-year-0ld grown-ups.

Sadly, some couldn't make it due to work demands and travel arrangements. Nevertheless, it was a huge group. I was certainly happy to meet everyone again.

From back: Pevin, myself, Wee Liem and Esther

Left: Esther, myself and Mich

The 2 good looking dudes: Wee Liem and Zi Bin

Trying to be 18 again: Mich, James and Esther

Left: Chern Liang, Ravin and the 'smartie' WaiChoong

Wee Liem: The guy who drove me to a pharmacy in Malacca in his stylish green proton

Left: Zheng Jie, Suang, myself and Jeff

Meet the Group 4-ians and those adopted into it!

Zi Bin: the unexpected friend