Tuesday 15 June 2010

Monkeys

Sometimes you will tend to 'talk monkey' when you want work done urgently.

At my current rotation, even if there's an earthquake, no one would probably realize it. Yup, even when life is at stake! Everything needs approval in the shortest deadline possible. Everyone breathes down everyone else's neck. So one day, this was what happened. It still doesn't fail to amuse me everytime I remeber this one little incident.

From where I sit, my boss is 2 cubicles away, whilst the products boss sits just opposite me. So much so that sometimes I get confused as to whom do I report to as I do work for both. Well anyway, just the other day, this conversation went on...

"I told them to wait till 12! They've approved already liao! and it's not even 11.30! sdfgh (some hokkien I did not understand)"
"Ok ok, calm down. I will call XX to clarify"
Ring Ring!!!!

"Hello"
"Eh hello. How are you? I just learn that you guys approved it when we said...."
"...12 o clock!!"
"Ya lar. Ask you guys, one person say this, the other person say that. So I approve la, since you guys yourself don't even know what you're talking about. Jumping around like monkeys!"
"OI!! Who you calling monkeys ah? Monkey monkey, if I monkey also, I monkey AFTER 12 LA! Now is 11.30"

........

I was laughing my head off already by then!! She actually agreed to that person calling her Monkey after the deadline. HAHAHAHA! That's how intense it is at work

Sunday 13 June 2010

Willingness to change is a strength, even if it means plunging part of the company into total confusion for a while

9 months have come and gone, and in super-fast-fly-by 16 days, I will be serving my core. I don't know what to expect and I don't fancy the uncertainty. Not that I'm not used to it the past 9 months, but another 3 months of it will definitely drain me to the brims. 

I've been through 3, and I can safely say that I've learnt so much. Overdose perhaps of the corporate world knowledge. All 3 are different on its own and these days nothing comes easy. Lucky for me, I'm a big believer of "No problem is a life's biggest problem".  It definitely helps.

At work, there's just so many scenarios that sometimes come at the time when you least expect it! When you would think that maybe I'm not contributing enough. Have I done it right or have I instead created more issues on that project? No doubt, nothing's too big a problem so far, and given my grade, I have the least influence in how the company is doing. So, I've learnt that these are all part and parcels of life as I go along and learn :)

One crucial thing I definitely love, is the interaction and communication with different types of people. The tips and advise, the experience they share and the way they look at things, in their perspective and view. Indeed it's something so valuable that will take me a long way. I've got my hands on this book on 'Of People and Principles' that lays down the Commerce Asset Story (history of how we made it up to become CIMB through many mergers and acquisition that was targeted due to objective specific) and I became more aware of why things are like this and why we are trained this way too. It's an excellent read!

It makes me realize on the works of everything in the company today and I become more than willing to give back to the company. We are what we are today, definitely because of what they worked their ass off for before. The least we could do is maintain it. Sustainability. Whatever it is, I'm just happy to be going to work everyday! I'm so in love with work :) 

I probably like their approach (not saying in every way and every one's teaching method). "Willingness to change is a strength, even if it means plunging part of the company into total confusion for a while"

90 days

Is all that I need to proof my worth and God willing, successfully end my one year mark and get that name card changed. Amin :)


Sunday 6 June 2010

Heartbreakers

My nieces have been back for a good close-to-two months now. Previously, they stayed in the UK, Ireland to be exact. SO wahla! They cannot speak bahasa and their Irish accent is just forehead-smackingly thick. Spend much too much time with them and you will soon start talking like them too.

Hoi-se = House
Sit doin ( like doink ) = Sit down
Aya = Alia


Hahaha, last one has nothing to do with the Irish accent.



So far it has been nothing but joy and happiness and it's true when they say Kids say the darnest thing! Once, Sofea asked "Why is the number 3 an E backwards?" Having passed my PTS IQ examination in primary 3, even I couldn't find an answer to that! They're seriously so intelligent!

Often I will see them weekends, unless of course they miss me and come over, or I miss them and go over. I just love kids!! But hey, when all 4 nieces and little nephew come over, that's when some extra hands could do. They're such heart melters, they can simply do anything and you'll give in. Definitely a good 'skill' if you want to get away with something. I mean come on, once, little niece 3 came to ask me for something, and then little niece 1 came running from behind, pushed little niece 3 aside, held my hand and said "Aunty Aya's mine! Not yours" Now, won't your hearts melt already?

Anyway, Aryanna. She just came into this world on May 12th, and has been nothing but a jewel to Amal and Fiena. Gorgeous and pretty, i think she'll be another heart breaker in the making. I used to remember one day last year when Fiena and Amal were 'trying', and now, a princess is born! How time flies. 
 

Of course, I hardly realize it considering how work has taken over my life and how I myself am in love with work at the moment :) So much so that everyday has become a routine. A minute-to-minute routine.

Sleep - Wake up - Go to work - work,work,work - Get home after the sun has gone down - Have dinner - sleep...and repeat step 2 onwards and also multiply that by 8 months! Come weekends ( given that I am not called to work ), little nieces will visit and give me the biggest hug and tsunami - sloppiest kiss, the tiredness are all forgotten! Magic I tell you. They are amazing creations :)

Damn it. I so miss Haris now :(

Saturday 5 June 2010

Approved

...was the most frequent word that kept flooding my email past one week!

Earlier in May, I submitted my appeal to defer my Masters till I am ready to leave work and definitely have fully completed serving my bond (InsyaAllah) in my current work place, hence pushing it to the next intake. This is my 2nd time deferring.

Last week, I got a "Congratulations Ms Alia Ishak, applicant number: XXXX. Your deferment has successfully been approved by Kings College London and your unconditional offer will be posted to you....", I didn't even finish reading and I could feel myself smiling so widely from one ear to another. The words "Congratulations" + "Unconditional" were more than what I could ask for. Alhamdulillah.

Work has been quite crazy past few weeks, but nonetheless, I'm loving every minute of it! :) To which has led me to apply for leave this month. BLOCK LEAVE. Which means it's 5 days in a row! Even before it was approved, I decided to take a big risk of booking my ticket to Australia to visit lil miss best friend after she graduates. I needed a break too, that's for shizzle!

So there I was, in front of the laptop, filling all details into my booking form, from my inital name, passport number....till finally I submitted that credit card digits. PAYMENT CONFIRMED. CHARGED.

"so ok, what if I cannot get leave?"
"oh well...Higher risk comes with higher returns right?" so I thought, at the same time making myself feel better.

I went on to apply for my Visa and in 2 hours, APPROVED.
Whoa! I didn't know they approved visa THIS fast. the last time I went to visit Shura (and had the best time of my life! Ok la, one of the many I've had), I only got my visa approved 5 freaking-hours before my flight! So much for being a risk lover. I din't tell mum and dad of course, until after I've flown to Aussie, had fun, came home safely and settled back down. Then I told them. Of course la shocked. Knowing the very-super-duper organized parents of mine, they probably would've scolded me if they knew before. *Pats myself* Ok la, nothing to be proud off.

So this time, TICKET CONFIRMED - VISA APPROVED - leave PENDING. *sweats*
That's a lot of money I tell you that I'm risking! As it is, good thing I haven't changed my money. According to Mr FX strategist, AUD is gonna fall further short term. So if you're investing in the DCI (given MYR is the invested currency), then fret not, you'll earn them bucks if you focus on the interest play. it's not a directional play no more!.... Ok, I'm off tangent, but that's good product hint! *grins*

Then, my officemail popped in, and I was crossing my fingers...Leave APPROVED! *jumps up and down* Alhamdulillah! I'm starting to get used to this word APPROVED

Then I decided to tell Shura otherwise. I know she's been stressed up with her final paper on Monday, so I stole some of her time to tell her that my leave was not approved, and crapped up a really sad story, and at the same time attached my flight itinerary into the same email. SEND

5 minutes later, my bbm lighted non stop with "OMG! ALIA! ARE YOU FREAKKKINGGG SERIOUS?!"...... BANG! Yup, shura got a wee bit too excited when she opened the attachment on her blackberry, she walked into a a lamp post.

You're most welcome. I knew she was gonna thank me. true enough, she called me from Asutralia the next minute just to tell me she walked into a tiang! I'm sorry I killed some of your neurons love, but I lapchu :)

To Shura shukor,
I'll be seeing you in 3 Mondays to come, and I hope that my attachments were great good luck charms and motivation on its own. Like the email title stated, pictures worth a thousand words. I didn't mean to make you walk into the tiang. I just love you too much. Good luck for finals! Am rooting for you :)

And so the countdown begins