Officially closed and moved on...

Ah, after a few years, I found this blog again. Its 2020!

I've been doing majority of my blogging on https://justplaynlivelife.blogspot.com... 

A whole page of travel, play and everything else. 😎 

Catch up with me over there my friends~!

Goodbye 2016!

It’s that time of the year again, to recap everything that has happened in the year. 

2016 was my first official year of being in the corporate world – without student benefits and student treatment. Though daunting, it has proven to be a much-needed learning journey.

Fresh out of University, there was a whole world of possibilities and opportunities that I had dream of, till reality hit hard and force you into looking at life realistically.

January – Started my internship with NEBA Financial Solutions

April – Ended internship with NEBA

May – Did my first health check-up with CGH; Jobless for a whole 4 weeks before starting work with FedEx as a Revenue Operations Agent; 

July – Signed up for Ukelele lessons (12 classes from July to Sept)

August – Retrenchment exercise/Shortened Contract from 1-year to 8-months

November – Family Trip to Taiwan

Despite the lack of notable events, there are still some tiny accomplishments along the way that I feel have made 2016 special in its own way – my interactions with people.

For one, I had met three secondary school friends whom I have not met in years (6-7 years to be exact). Me, being me, it was a considerably difficult task. Even now, I am impressed with myself. LOL. 

I have also made new friends at my current workplace who could somewhat be seen as my role models - in work and in life. The happy-go-lucky vibes that they bring to the workplace is truly precious and I am so glad that I was able to meet such amazing people during my time here.

With only 3 weeks left at this workplace, I’m starting to feel a little sad, but Dr. Seuss once said, ‘Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened”. I’m going to try my best to put that into practice because I’ve gained so much from these people and I want to leave with a smile on my face.

With 2017 just round the corner, I anticipate the people I would soon meet and the challenges that I would soon face. I’m sure it’s going to be one that is worth remembering - *well, positivity is important right! Hahaha*

Happy New Year!!! :D:D

Economy in distress?

Graduation = Unemployment?

Having graduated for about a year now (since Dec 2015) and still without a permanent job - while the end of my current employment draws nearer... and nearer. 

Yes, how did my 1-year contract position got shortened to a mere 8 months? - this is where I can only say... when did things ever go as planned. 

Not too long ago, I experienced what is known as the 'chopping board' of the corporate world: retrenchment -insert dramatic music-. While that is probably the last thing you'll ever expect as a newbie, it was a much-needed experience. 

The kind of retrenchment I had in mind was rather drama-like, where you step into office one day without access to the premises and when you eventually get into the compound, you see a box on your table with a notice to pack your things while the security arrives to escort you to the lobby and have a moment of *what-the-*@#$%-just happened*. Well, I mean, for most of us the only retrenchment you see as a student is probably what ever that happened in dramas right? 

Well, thankfully with this company it wasn't as bad as I thought, though it still had the *wth just happened* effect. In short, permanent employees that were affected all have a good 6 months (or slightly more) to source for another job or plan what they want to do with their lives. Contract staff were all chopped, shortening our contracts to early next year giving us slightly less than 5 months to do the same.  

With everyone saying how bad the economy is these days, I wonder... if I would manage to source for something before the end of this. We shall see... :)

Universal Studio Singapore!!!

fun. Fun. FUN!!!

Yesterday was my first off-in-lieu from work~ and what better way to spend a weekday off than to do things that you normally avoid on the weekends (because you know its gonna be crowded af)? 

U.S.S. That's right! -AWESOME FUN-. 

Now I finally understand why people can go there over and over again despite the hefty price tag and expected queues. That being said, no weekends because if its already this crowded on a weekday, I can't imagine a weekend. *spare me*

SO, I started the day at 10 a.m. after a tiny breakfast at Vivo (2 half-boiled eggs @ Toast Box) and took the Sentosa Express (SGD$4)! We got our e-tickets the day before (from: https://www.klook.com/activity/117-universal-studios-singapore/) @ SGD$60 per normal admission which really cut a lot of hassle since we didn't have to do pick-ups.

Queue was long at the entrance, but it wasn't too bad. Got through with only about 10-15 minute wait, and we immediately walked right in to 'Far Far Away' (to escape the crowds). First couple of rides only took 5-15 mins wait which was mind-blowing, the longest wait was probably around 40 min. 

The rides/shows caught:
Enchanted Airways
*Puss in Boots Giant Journey
Treasure Hunters
***Revenge of the Mummy
**Battlestar Galactica (Human track)
**Water World (show)
**Lights, Camera, Action
Madagascar: A Crate Adventure
*Shrek 4-D Adventure
Accelerator 
Donkey Live (show)
*Transformers The Ride

Considering we only had about 8 hours, we accomplished quite a lot in a day!!! My personal favourite has to be 'Revenge of the Mummy'! It's one of the two 'exclamation' rides (the other being the Cylon path of Battlestar Galactica, which I unfortunately did not have the chance to take) and it was one of the most memorable ones I've taken. 

My 2nd favourite would have to be 'Lights, Camera, Action'. I wasn't expecting much from this one since its pretty much just standing there, but, wow oh wow. It was a nice & refreshing experience.

'Transformers The Ride' was the last ride we took before we ended the day, a note of caution to people with motion sickness like myself, they mean it when they say "People with Motion Sickness should not ride this". I took off my glasses before I put on the 3-D ones since I kinda knew what was coming, but it still made me feel quite sick after that. Apart from that, I think this ride would be an extremely thrilling and exciting experience for people who don't have the issue with motion sickness.

All in all, thumbs up for USS. I haven't rode roller coasters in 3 years and I'm glad I had the chance to ride to my heart's content. Will I head there again? - its a no-brainer, yes, Yes, YES.

The importance of negotiating your paycheck

If there is one thing new graduates should know, it is the importance of negotiating your paycheck.

In my quest to find my first job, I landed an internship within 2 weeks of arriving back home. I've always knew that intern pay never amounted to much, but I never realised that even as an intern, I could negotiate and get at least a decent intern pay. But I guess its partially due to the fear that I've built up within myself in the months up to graduation, I was almost 100% sure that I wasn't going to provide any value to the firm because I have NO experience in the industry. I had already prepared to fail. 

So the day of the interview came and everything went well, the employer was gonna hire me on the spot. There came the question, "what is your expected pay?". He was nice enough to ask me to name a figure, but instead of stating my stand, I left the final decision to the employer. It was the dumbest thing that anyone could have done.

In that very moment of leaving it open, I had not only lost the right to negotiate, but I had also shown the employer that I was uncertain of my self-worth.

Two months into the job, I found out how underpaid I was. It is an expensive mistake, but thank goodness this is only a internship.

Key takeaways:
Don't be afraid to negotiate a pay that both parties are comfortable with - A job is like a relationship. Don't be afraid to ask for your expected pay, if they are really interested in hiring you, they would negotiate with you.

Believe in yourself and your capabilities - you may not have the necessary experience at the start, but always remember, you will pick up the required skills and knowledge during your probation period, and you WILL BECOME worthy of the position. The interview is one of the best time to talk about your pay check, you don't always get a second chance like this once you've accepted the job.

Bonus takeaway: Never ask your fellow colleagues about their pay check. Even if your job scopes are the same/similar, you may not be getting the same rates as him/her. Be it which spectrum you fall into, it is not gonna do you any good knowing the actual figures - it will either kill your motivation or theirs at work.

Things to do in Japan

Photo Credits to http://japanlover.me/ 

Twenty Fifteen

Year 2015 - My 2nd and final year as a University of Melbourne student.

Twenty Fifteen is a special year in many different ways:

1 - It was my first ever time, living all alone in a single studio room. I remember the many times that I wondered if anyone would know if anything happened to me. With the balcony unlocked (there was no way to lock it), I slept many nights overthinking: 'what if someone climbed up and break in, what will I do?'. The craziness in every thought that made me fall asleep in fear that have now become memories to laugh at. 

But, it was through my stay in cobden (& mx) that I met Cher & Bee. And that became the best thing that happened to me in the year. :') They brought life to my solo-living, the videos we would watch during our dinners together from anime (fairy tail, soma, one-punch man) to cartoons (rick & morty) to etc... ('how its made', modern family, doraemon, dee kosh). Our 'fab' outings to town shopping. Grocery shopping trips. & not to mention, our doto sessions. There's just so many things to be thankful about when I think back, & the biggest would be being friends with you two. :')

2 - It's SG50. Fifty years of Independence with many many events, discounts and offers that I couldn't participate in since I was away in the country down under. It was also the year of the general elections, the 1st GE that I could have participated in but... oh well. 

3 - Graduation! Just 17 days ago, at the Royal Exhibition Building. Its so surreal. The past two semesters were filled with doubt, 'will I be able to graduate on time', 'I'm so going to fail my finance papers'. And there I was, on stage, receiving my certificate of completion of my degree. To be very honest, there was this part of me that wanted to drag out my degree, just so I could stay on for a little longer. I was afraid of leaving the student life and there was just too much uncertainty. 

Even now, I'm still afraid, but I believe, things will work out somehow. So thank you twenty fifteen for a fabulous year, here's to a brand new Twenty Sixteen and I'm sure you'll be a great year with many new beginnings! Cheers!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! :D:D