Sunday, September 23, 2007
Flight over Australian Sky
The flight over the Australian sky was one of mixed feeling. It was filled with apprehension, anxiety, loneliness and sadness. That was the day that I left Ivy in Singapore. I felt sad for not being able to be with her. Most important, I felt sad for her not being with me…
I caught Rocky Balboa on the plane. That was the last Rocky film that will be ever made. It depicted Balboa’s life. In the film he said something which resounded like a bell from Nostredame. He said, “Life is not above making that big hit. It’s about taking the big hit and you get up after that to take another big hit and you get up again.” It reminded me of what I used to tell myself, “Success lies in the undying courage to fail”. I need to look at life again with a new vigour. The relentless winds of change had somehow taken away what I believed in, what I had to do and most importantly, where are my roots. I must not forget who I am. This is me and there are certain promises I made for myself that I need to fulfill.
My mind was strangely subtle during the flight. Filled for my longing for Ivy, I opened the wind screen to reveal a scene of brown and pure turquoise. The great land opened up into the embrace of the great ocean. I had the feeling that the land somehow refused to open itself up to the ocean. It wanted to keep a bit of its secrets but the embrace is eminent and needed.
Afar I saw strange pot holes covered with blue water. As the plane past, a larger pothole in the land revealed itself. It should be bigger than a football field. Within I saw colours of deep blue from the centre to light blue to the rim of circles. Such beauty that can only be admired from 3900 feet above the sky. I wondered if they were craters formed by comets hurtled onto Earth million of years ago. Now I found myelf hurtling towards the unknown future. Will I leave a foot print in this brown land when I leave?
The plane started to descend and the contours of the land started to be clearer. Roads, bushes, houses, cars all came into view. This is the place that I will reside for now. And I will make sure that this will be an interesting chapter in the story of my life.
Alright. Time to sleep. Tomorrow will be my birthday. Happy birthday to myself. This will not be a lonely birthday because I have Ivy in my mind…
(Written on 16th March 2007)
I caught Rocky Balboa on the plane. That was the last Rocky film that will be ever made. It depicted Balboa’s life. In the film he said something which resounded like a bell from Nostredame. He said, “Life is not above making that big hit. It’s about taking the big hit and you get up after that to take another big hit and you get up again.” It reminded me of what I used to tell myself, “Success lies in the undying courage to fail”. I need to look at life again with a new vigour. The relentless winds of change had somehow taken away what I believed in, what I had to do and most importantly, where are my roots. I must not forget who I am. This is me and there are certain promises I made for myself that I need to fulfill.
My mind was strangely subtle during the flight. Filled for my longing for Ivy, I opened the wind screen to reveal a scene of brown and pure turquoise. The great land opened up into the embrace of the great ocean. I had the feeling that the land somehow refused to open itself up to the ocean. It wanted to keep a bit of its secrets but the embrace is eminent and needed.
Afar I saw strange pot holes covered with blue water. As the plane past, a larger pothole in the land revealed itself. It should be bigger than a football field. Within I saw colours of deep blue from the centre to light blue to the rim of circles. Such beauty that can only be admired from 3900 feet above the sky. I wondered if they were craters formed by comets hurtled onto Earth million of years ago. Now I found myelf hurtling towards the unknown future. Will I leave a foot print in this brown land when I leave?
The plane started to descend and the contours of the land started to be clearer. Roads, bushes, houses, cars all came into view. This is the place that I will reside for now. And I will make sure that this will be an interesting chapter in the story of my life.
Alright. Time to sleep. Tomorrow will be my birthday. Happy birthday to myself. This will not be a lonely birthday because I have Ivy in my mind…
(Written on 16th March 2007)
Goodbye
I hate goodbyes, along with many other things...
After you had a wonderful night, you said goodbyes to those who were responsible for it. After you broke into a good pair of shoes, you have to bid them goodbye a few months later. After you discovered that the kid who sat beside you in primary school was not just a mucus producing machine but was actually kind of cool, you had to bid him goodbye for secondary school.
Goodbyes before I left for Australia were about knowing who really cared and who really did not give a cahoot about me. I received messages with well wishes from people who I thought were basically scums on the floor. I promoted them to "The Higher Order". There were many already in "The Higher Order" did not even give a wink about me when I requested for their emails through a sms so as to keep in touch wih them during the time in Australia. I was disappointed but I thought at least their friendship was worth a single sms.
Goodbyes were sad because I had to leave my home and my family. My family. They are not perfect but they are still my family.
Goodbyes were sad because I could not keep Ivy company after I left. I could not be there physically for her when she's sick or when she's down during this period. I could not share her happiness and go out with her after I left.
Goodbyes were particularly sad on 16th March 2007 when I hugged Ivy and walked into the customs at the airport to catch my plane to Australia. That goodbye brought down my world but enforced the fact that I must not fail and forget my roots.
I hate goodbyes.
23rd Sept 2007
After you had a wonderful night, you said goodbyes to those who were responsible for it. After you broke into a good pair of shoes, you have to bid them goodbye a few months later. After you discovered that the kid who sat beside you in primary school was not just a mucus producing machine but was actually kind of cool, you had to bid him goodbye for secondary school.
Goodbyes before I left for Australia were about knowing who really cared and who really did not give a cahoot about me. I received messages with well wishes from people who I thought were basically scums on the floor. I promoted them to "The Higher Order". There were many already in "The Higher Order" did not even give a wink about me when I requested for their emails through a sms so as to keep in touch wih them during the time in Australia. I was disappointed but I thought at least their friendship was worth a single sms.
Goodbyes were sad because I had to leave my home and my family. My family. They are not perfect but they are still my family.
Goodbyes were sad because I could not keep Ivy company after I left. I could not be there physically for her when she's sick or when she's down during this period. I could not share her happiness and go out with her after I left.
Goodbyes were particularly sad on 16th March 2007 when I hugged Ivy and walked into the customs at the airport to catch my plane to Australia. That goodbye brought down my world but enforced the fact that I must not fail and forget my roots.
I hate goodbyes.
23rd Sept 2007
Preparation
Preparation was scary. The whole operation loomed like the evil Cat in the Hat by Dr. Suess. He's always prancing, smiling, laughing and looking at me in his evil eyes while I fought, kick and struggled to pack the 31 years of my life for Australia against the flow of time.
The entire preparation stage was filled with anxiety and apprehensions. Packing my personal affects wasn't difficult at all. I did that in 2 hours because I did not have much to begin with. It was the very idea that once all the preparation was done, it's time to leave my family and Ivy. The emotional package was the most difficult to pack. However the wheels of motion had started rolling and all I had to do was to grap hold of it while not being trampled by it.
A gamut of thoughts ran through me like a slow acting poison. What holds for me when I went over? What will happen to my way of life (no football and basketball!)? What will happen to Ivy and me? Since I have no experience in the construction site, what happen if I failed? What will I eat since I can't cook?
It's not easy to deal with the unknowns and it would be easier to stay in the comfort zone so as to take those unknowns out of the equation. That would be too easy for me and I would and will never allow that. I guess it is about looking back at all these and remember how I got through it all. I guess I need and want success and doing it in my own way. I just have to put my trust and try my very best to hold on to all those that holds true to me and I must not forget my roots. I continued packing in; physically, metaphysically and emotionally.
23rd Sept 2007
The entire preparation stage was filled with anxiety and apprehensions. Packing my personal affects wasn't difficult at all. I did that in 2 hours because I did not have much to begin with. It was the very idea that once all the preparation was done, it's time to leave my family and Ivy. The emotional package was the most difficult to pack. However the wheels of motion had started rolling and all I had to do was to grap hold of it while not being trampled by it.
A gamut of thoughts ran through me like a slow acting poison. What holds for me when I went over? What will happen to my way of life (no football and basketball!)? What will happen to Ivy and me? Since I have no experience in the construction site, what happen if I failed? What will I eat since I can't cook?
It's not easy to deal with the unknowns and it would be easier to stay in the comfort zone so as to take those unknowns out of the equation. That would be too easy for me and I would and will never allow that. I guess it is about looking back at all these and remember how I got through it all. I guess I need and want success and doing it in my own way. I just have to put my trust and try my very best to hold on to all those that holds true to me and I must not forget my roots. I continued packing in; physically, metaphysically and emotionally.
23rd Sept 2007
Friday, July 13, 2007
In the Beginning
The beginning can be broken down into 3 stages.
1st stage: Birth
I'm fresh out of school like any wide eyed fresh graduate waiting to make a difference in the world and making their own mark... Hmm, I guess I never did want to make a difference in the world but rather a difference in my world. I remembered I wanted money. Lots of money to realise certain dreams that I want to fulfill in my life. I wanted to see the world while I am at it. To experience the life in other countries and live the lives that I am never borned into it.
2nd Stage: Realisation
Fast forward 5 years since I graduated. I was tired. Both mentally and physically. I realised that the world is vast yet my world was still too small. I was proud of what I had gotten with my steadily growing bank account through plain, stingy money saving measures and the good old HARD WORK. Although I have not made big steps, I was proud that whatever I had gotten to date was through my honest, hard and sometimes diligent work. However I was not getting to my goals soon enough and I have not seen the world yet. I had only began to scratch the surface of the outer wall. I needed to fast track and be at least on par with my peers and get ahead. I need to fulfill my dreams that I set out initially.
3rd Stage: Action
A email came like thunder in mid 2006 from the big boss. It carried a message that the client was looking for Engineers to be posted to Western Australia for a project that I was already working on. I covered my ears and closed my eyes in fear of multiple flashes of lightning and thunder infront of me. Discussions were held with my peers to see who were willing to take up the sacred tasks. I found that no one was keen or dared to take up the challenge or were basically gagged by cynicisms, pessimisms and conspiracy theories that the management would not released their Engineers for this assignment. I realised that this would be something that I had set out to do after I graduated. However circumstances had changed since as I had fell in love with the most beautiful girl in the world, Ivy. I couldn't bare to leave her for Australia even if it's only for a year. However Ivy encouraged me to take up the assignment with many discussions held over the handphone with me in the stair well in the building of my company. We agreed that this would be an opportunity not to be missed and we just have to make do with whatever circumstances might bring. I realised that this would be an opportunity for me to get me faster to the point that I wanted to go. Besides, the sum of money could be good for me and Ivy in the future. With her blessings, I volunteered for the assignment and was accepted in December 2006.
The beginning of an adventure in Oz...
1st stage: Birth
I'm fresh out of school like any wide eyed fresh graduate waiting to make a difference in the world and making their own mark... Hmm, I guess I never did want to make a difference in the world but rather a difference in my world. I remembered I wanted money. Lots of money to realise certain dreams that I want to fulfill in my life. I wanted to see the world while I am at it. To experience the life in other countries and live the lives that I am never borned into it.
2nd Stage: Realisation
Fast forward 5 years since I graduated. I was tired. Both mentally and physically. I realised that the world is vast yet my world was still too small. I was proud of what I had gotten with my steadily growing bank account through plain, stingy money saving measures and the good old HARD WORK. Although I have not made big steps, I was proud that whatever I had gotten to date was through my honest, hard and sometimes diligent work. However I was not getting to my goals soon enough and I have not seen the world yet. I had only began to scratch the surface of the outer wall. I needed to fast track and be at least on par with my peers and get ahead. I need to fulfill my dreams that I set out initially.
3rd Stage: Action
A email came like thunder in mid 2006 from the big boss. It carried a message that the client was looking for Engineers to be posted to Western Australia for a project that I was already working on. I covered my ears and closed my eyes in fear of multiple flashes of lightning and thunder infront of me. Discussions were held with my peers to see who were willing to take up the sacred tasks. I found that no one was keen or dared to take up the challenge or were basically gagged by cynicisms, pessimisms and conspiracy theories that the management would not released their Engineers for this assignment. I realised that this would be something that I had set out to do after I graduated. However circumstances had changed since as I had fell in love with the most beautiful girl in the world, Ivy. I couldn't bare to leave her for Australia even if it's only for a year. However Ivy encouraged me to take up the assignment with many discussions held over the handphone with me in the stair well in the building of my company. We agreed that this would be an opportunity not to be missed and we just have to make do with whatever circumstances might bring. I realised that this would be an opportunity for me to get me faster to the point that I wanted to go. Besides, the sum of money could be good for me and Ivy in the future. With her blessings, I volunteered for the assignment and was accepted in December 2006.
The beginning of an adventure in Oz...
Foreword
A blog is a fling. A fling with vanity. Dirty numbers waiting to be read and be seen. My attempt at blogs however is a matter of doom. Doom attempts and utter laziness to continue a blog that I start up. Suffice to say, this is my second attempt at writing the this blog "aptly" named "The misdemenours of a Singapore Boy in Oz". This will not be my fling with vanity though but a record of my little adventures in Australia. Maybe my intention is to use this to serve my memories 50 years to come if global warming hasn't destroyed the world yet. Perhaps all I ever wanted is to write a little piece of a period of my meandering 31 years of life. Whatever the case, I realised my first attempt is doomed to fail... again. The is meandering mark 2 and I hope my stamina will keep it going.
To the "me" a few years later, I hope that you have not forgotten what you have learned in this trip about what I have gone through and is going to go through in Australia. IF you have forgotten (which I know you will), I hope this will bring remind you of what we were and how you have become. For those unfortunate ones that have found this blog, well I hope my boggling around in Australia do interest you enough. If not, I do recommend that you get outside and catch a whiff of fresh air. For the world is never better with the wind blowing through your hair and the blue sky hanging over your head.
Long
13th July 2007
To the "me" a few years later, I hope that you have not forgotten what you have learned in this trip about what I have gone through and is going to go through in Australia. IF you have forgotten (which I know you will), I hope this will bring remind you of what we were and how you have become. For those unfortunate ones that have found this blog, well I hope my boggling around in Australia do interest you enough. If not, I do recommend that you get outside and catch a whiff of fresh air. For the world is never better with the wind blowing through your hair and the blue sky hanging over your head.
Long
13th July 2007
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Settling down - Part 1
Settling down in Australia certainly wasn't easy. First of all, the part of Australia that I am staying in is Western Australia. The biggest state in Australia. A colleague of mine who came from Bosnia told me that he reckoned that driving from my town (Bunbury) to Perth would mean an equivalent of driving through several small countries in Europe. I can't agree with him more knowing where I came from.
Secondly, no matter how conversant and well versed in English, there will definitely be cases of lost in translation.
The first day I arrived I had to meet with my agent here in Australia who assumedly had settled all my accomodations etc looking at all the emails we exchanged previously. The meeting turned out to be a few "pleasant" surprises. First of all, I was given another set of documents for my insurances etc. Secondly, I was told that I will be put up in Collie (a small mining town near my worksite) which I specifically instructed that I did not wished to stay in. Although I was showed pictures of the house in Bunbury by my agent via the email(accomodation of my choice), the agent strongly denied that that house is of non existence. Surprise surprise.
After several failed coaxing attempts by my agent for me to stay in Collie, I told her that I would be looking for an apartment myself in Bunbury. I also found out that I would also have no accomodation for the period for me either staying in Bunbury or Collie. Pleasant surprises. Everything that was understood was overturned. Apparently my understanding of English wasn't that good after all.
Long - 16th March 2007
Secondly, no matter how conversant and well versed in English, there will definitely be cases of lost in translation.
The first day I arrived I had to meet with my agent here in Australia who assumedly had settled all my accomodations etc looking at all the emails we exchanged previously. The meeting turned out to be a few "pleasant" surprises. First of all, I was given another set of documents for my insurances etc. Secondly, I was told that I will be put up in Collie (a small mining town near my worksite) which I specifically instructed that I did not wished to stay in. Although I was showed pictures of the house in Bunbury by my agent via the email(accomodation of my choice), the agent strongly denied that that house is of non existence. Surprise surprise.
After several failed coaxing attempts by my agent for me to stay in Collie, I told her that I would be looking for an apartment myself in Bunbury. I also found out that I would also have no accomodation for the period for me either staying in Bunbury or Collie. Pleasant surprises. Everything that was understood was overturned. Apparently my understanding of English wasn't that good after all.
Long - 16th March 2007
The Big World
Australia is a big country. I read somewhere that it’s bigger than Europe. I learned that Western Australia can fit in 9 Germanys. It’s incredible that people here own land plots of up to 2000 square acres. Huge forests and portion of rivers all belong to individuals. Coming from a single small red dot in the world map, this is something to behold and fathom. To own a land size that in my small country, could make up a few towns. Not withstanding the fact that Singapore could be as multi cultural as Australia (or even more). However no matter where we came from, we always carry with ourselves not only a certain amount of knowledge and experience, but a certain amount of ego along with that. Some egos enveloped the world and threatened to take over the world. Some egos crack with a single touch. Some egos are so fat that they are merely bluffs. If egos have identities and names, they shall be the common names that you and I have.
However in this world with population of 5 billion people, where do we place our ego? Singapore is a small place compared to Australia. Australia is a big place but a small one compare to the entire Earth. Earth is a small place compared to the Solar System. The Solar System is but a minute speck of scattered dust in the place of the Universe. A decade is incomparable to a millenium. A millennium is but a scratch upon Eternity. An ego in the sea of billions is not even a speck of dust.
Yet in the span of it all, we carried within ourselves a certain sense of pride and ego. Maybe it’s due to the little achievements that we made. That small step for human and that big step for mankind. We pride ourselves on our races, our tribes, our beliefs and our way of life. Pride made us believe that we are supreme and thereby leading to supremacists ideals. The Ku Klux Klan, the Mongols, Romans, Nazis, Americans have demonstrated where pride has taken and will be taking us.
I realized no matter where we came from, a world class city to a 3rd world country, the place where we came from will always hold a certain longing for us. That place where we played in the rivers, kicked a ball in the mud, bled and cried. Even when we got to Utopia, we will long for the Earth that we came from. I guess we are emotional being. If we do not count the past, how can we know the future?
Long - 15th April 2007
However in this world with population of 5 billion people, where do we place our ego? Singapore is a small place compared to Australia. Australia is a big place but a small one compare to the entire Earth. Earth is a small place compared to the Solar System. The Solar System is but a minute speck of scattered dust in the place of the Universe. A decade is incomparable to a millenium. A millennium is but a scratch upon Eternity. An ego in the sea of billions is not even a speck of dust.
Yet in the span of it all, we carried within ourselves a certain sense of pride and ego. Maybe it’s due to the little achievements that we made. That small step for human and that big step for mankind. We pride ourselves on our races, our tribes, our beliefs and our way of life. Pride made us believe that we are supreme and thereby leading to supremacists ideals. The Ku Klux Klan, the Mongols, Romans, Nazis, Americans have demonstrated where pride has taken and will be taking us.
I realized no matter where we came from, a world class city to a 3rd world country, the place where we came from will always hold a certain longing for us. That place where we played in the rivers, kicked a ball in the mud, bled and cried. Even when we got to Utopia, we will long for the Earth that we came from. I guess we are emotional being. If we do not count the past, how can we know the future?
Long - 15th April 2007
Contract Negotiations
Contract negotiation is an art. The very fundamental of contract negotiation for overseas secondment is that you must realize that the company will give you the bare minimum. If the company is able to give you only sticks and stones, be expected to get that. Of course in all humanitarian reasons, companies will give you what we known today as a “sizable” package for you to survive. Of course, there is a really thin grey line between humanitarian and absolute disregard of welfare. Management has no qualms about purposefully misinterpreting the very meaning of humanitarian. It’s the bottom line after all that’s most important. It’s really to you to justify that you need additional money and so-called “benefits” to survive.
You also need to know absolutely what you want; that is primarily cold hard cash. There’s no shame in asking for more than you require. For all you know, the company is earning enough from you just by deployment you elsewhere. You either be the monkey who works for peanutsor be Bill Gates. I chose the latter obviously… here’s what a basic contract should consist of:
1) How much more are you going to get on top of your current pay? Take consideration of the living standards of the country you are going to.
2) Allowance for extreme weather conditions
3) Taxes. This is one of the most important. Who pays the taxes? How many percent is going to be taxed?
4) Other financial instruments required by regulations. Like Superannuation, CPF etc. Who pays? If it’s reimbursable, is the reimbursed sum taxable?
5) What currency to be paid in? This one cuts both ways depending on currency exchange rates. However if you are going to third world or developing countries, choose the currency more stable if you have a choice.
6) Who pay for the housing, utilities bills, telephone, transport etc?
7) Any allowance given? Is it fair considering the hardship you are about to go through? Remember wherever you are going, you are going to suffer a certain degree of hardship.
8) Any pay adjustments during your tenure?
Basically one also has to realize that there can never be a win-win situation in contract negotiation. There is a certain amount of give and take needed. If most of what you expect (that is something to meet your needs as if you are living at home + allowance) then you are fine. Never accept a contract that you think you will regret. If so, you will suffer during your entire tenure. I had taken one that I hope I will not regret. Guess I will find that out in due time.
Long - 1st March 2007
You also need to know absolutely what you want; that is primarily cold hard cash. There’s no shame in asking for more than you require. For all you know, the company is earning enough from you just by deployment you elsewhere. You either be the monkey who works for peanutsor be Bill Gates. I chose the latter obviously… here’s what a basic contract should consist of:
1) How much more are you going to get on top of your current pay? Take consideration of the living standards of the country you are going to.
2) Allowance for extreme weather conditions
3) Taxes. This is one of the most important. Who pays the taxes? How many percent is going to be taxed?
4) Other financial instruments required by regulations. Like Superannuation, CPF etc. Who pays? If it’s reimbursable, is the reimbursed sum taxable?
5) What currency to be paid in? This one cuts both ways depending on currency exchange rates. However if you are going to third world or developing countries, choose the currency more stable if you have a choice.
6) Who pay for the housing, utilities bills, telephone, transport etc?
7) Any allowance given? Is it fair considering the hardship you are about to go through? Remember wherever you are going, you are going to suffer a certain degree of hardship.
8) Any pay adjustments during your tenure?
Basically one also has to realize that there can never be a win-win situation in contract negotiation. There is a certain amount of give and take needed. If most of what you expect (that is something to meet your needs as if you are living at home + allowance) then you are fine. Never accept a contract that you think you will regret. If so, you will suffer during your entire tenure. I had taken one that I hope I will not regret. Guess I will find that out in due time.
Long - 1st March 2007
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Dissection of WA drivers' behavior
It's been a fortnight after I arrived in Oz. Life in Oz hasn't been so simple. First of all, things happened a little slower than Singapore. Perhaps I'd been a little discriminating to say that or maybe it's because it's particular to WA which I'm situation in.
Well, it took almost a week for my ATM card to arrive at my place and people here just walk a little slower. Of course this is with the exception of WA drivers who seem to be most content with revving their engine to the max and the firing down the alley that only allows 50km/hr...
The car owners here also have a "peculiarity"... Other than firing up their engine, their next hobby seems to be tuning up their osund system in their rides so that they can blast every things off the streets. Or wake up old granny from her deep slumber. Whatever their intent is, it seems to me that this could boil down to 1 simple explanation. Reproduction.
You see the most important mission for a living being is primarily the continuation of their own species. In the animal kingdom (a kingdom that does not preclude the homosapiens), it is normally the male that will develop beautiful feather, extravagant dances or bold display of masculinity just so to attract the female gender for the right to mate. Well, in the advent of the human evolution, human has not forgotten the primary purpose of their life. The need to attract the female gender with masculine displays of strength. In WA, this display had been transform into which male gender is able to rev their engine to the maximum level and who can turn their sound systems (preferably the bass) to the max. This is comparable to the Lions roaring the loudest in the most magnificent of manes in the great savannah. This observations took me many days of observing these interesting subjects in their own habitat.
The age group where my subjects of observations are normally between the 18 to the 30 years old age. There are some that are over their 30s. This is however an isolated group who may not have found their mates or are trying to attract more mates. These subjects are normally found in rides that are not at the top of the range which is most interesting.
I had left all my subjects to their most natural behavior in their own habitat. During which I discovered that some of my subjects are sometimes intoxicated with substances, which nature that I do not know. This had, most interesting, increased the tendencies of these subjects behaving in the way they should.
There are instances that I recorded of subjects who do not have their rides but had resorted to other methods of attraction. The most common method of them all is primitive; yawping (or known otherwise as shouting at the top of their lungs). Languages most often evaded such efforts of yawping which did not seem to be targetted as being uderstood by other parties. The most common phrases used are "YEAH" and "Yo". This group of subjects normally falls under the group that has no rides. However I must admit that a small percentage of subjects who have rides sometimes resort to this behavior as well. Perhaps this group do not have loud sound systems.
Females genders sometimes do resort loud car engines too but never loud sound systems. In my observations, I concluded that it is the engine in their rides that are too worn out that resulted in loud car engines.
I hope that this diseection will bring to all, finally, a clearer understanding of the behavior of WA drivers or maybe bring some relief to those who have to put up with the inconsiderate drivers who like to rev their engines and turn up their sound systems.
Well, it took almost a week for my ATM card to arrive at my place and people here just walk a little slower. Of course this is with the exception of WA drivers who seem to be most content with revving their engine to the max and the firing down the alley that only allows 50km/hr...
The car owners here also have a "peculiarity"... Other than firing up their engine, their next hobby seems to be tuning up their osund system in their rides so that they can blast every things off the streets. Or wake up old granny from her deep slumber. Whatever their intent is, it seems to me that this could boil down to 1 simple explanation. Reproduction.
You see the most important mission for a living being is primarily the continuation of their own species. In the animal kingdom (a kingdom that does not preclude the homosapiens), it is normally the male that will develop beautiful feather, extravagant dances or bold display of masculinity just so to attract the female gender for the right to mate. Well, in the advent of the human evolution, human has not forgotten the primary purpose of their life. The need to attract the female gender with masculine displays of strength. In WA, this display had been transform into which male gender is able to rev their engine to the maximum level and who can turn their sound systems (preferably the bass) to the max. This is comparable to the Lions roaring the loudest in the most magnificent of manes in the great savannah. This observations took me many days of observing these interesting subjects in their own habitat.
The age group where my subjects of observations are normally between the 18 to the 30 years old age. There are some that are over their 30s. This is however an isolated group who may not have found their mates or are trying to attract more mates. These subjects are normally found in rides that are not at the top of the range which is most interesting.
I had left all my subjects to their most natural behavior in their own habitat. During which I discovered that some of my subjects are sometimes intoxicated with substances, which nature that I do not know. This had, most interesting, increased the tendencies of these subjects behaving in the way they should.
There are instances that I recorded of subjects who do not have their rides but had resorted to other methods of attraction. The most common method of them all is primitive; yawping (or known otherwise as shouting at the top of their lungs). Languages most often evaded such efforts of yawping which did not seem to be targetted as being uderstood by other parties. The most common phrases used are "YEAH" and "Yo". This group of subjects normally falls under the group that has no rides. However I must admit that a small percentage of subjects who have rides sometimes resort to this behavior as well. Perhaps this group do not have loud sound systems.
Females genders sometimes do resort loud car engines too but never loud sound systems. In my observations, I concluded that it is the engine in their rides that are too worn out that resulted in loud car engines.
I hope that this diseection will bring to all, finally, a clearer understanding of the behavior of WA drivers or maybe bring some relief to those who have to put up with the inconsiderate drivers who like to rev their engines and turn up their sound systems.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Apprehension
A long long time ago, the government in my very tiny island home of Singapore sent out invitations to foreign talents around the world to sail across the 7 seas or fly across the friendly skies to this small island to work and hopefully settle down. Suddenly the already existent people from many countries like China, Philipines, Thailand, UK, Australia, US, Africa, India, Indonesia, Middle Earth started to be noticed by curious locals called Singaporeans. They started to take spaces in our MRTs, shopping centres and kopitiams sipping our teh tariks and our kopi O and eating our laksa and pratas. Apprehension filled the air when the consciousness take over. Who are these people? Will they take our jobs? Do they even know that roti John is a dish and not an English man who likes to eat roti (bread)?
A long long time later, apprehension persists. Competition filled the air. The once peaceful locals are suddenly too expensive, too old, too lazy or too incapable to be hired. Hire someone from the certain countries and they could be cheaper and are willing to work 24 hours a day. If you want credibility,
hire someone from some other countries who are more expensive, tend to work lesser and most probably will get all the credit even though their ideas are yours in the first place and they don't really know what in the samhill is happening.
3 months ago, an email floated by my computer in the serenity of my proud and untidy cubicle. A client of ours is looking for 2 Engineers to deploy in Australia (herein referred to as Oz for ease of typing) from my company to support their project. I laughed the deployment off and briefly mentioned it to my CO (refers to someone to celebrate Valentine's day with. Sometimes known as "Commanding One" due to her power to command) . My CO advised me to take up the assignment as this is a good opportunity.
Apprehension.
A long long time later, apprehension persists. Competition filled the air. The once peaceful locals are suddenly too expensive, too old, too lazy or too incapable to be hired. Hire someone from the certain countries and they could be cheaper and are willing to work 24 hours a day. If you want credibility,
hire someone from some other countries who are more expensive, tend to work lesser and most probably will get all the credit even though their ideas are yours in the first place and they don't really know what in the samhill is happening.
3 months ago, an email floated by my computer in the serenity of my proud and untidy cubicle. A client of ours is looking for 2 Engineers to deploy in Australia (herein referred to as Oz for ease of typing) from my company to support their project. I laughed the deployment off and briefly mentioned it to my CO (refers to someone to celebrate Valentine's day with. Sometimes known as "Commanding One" due to her power to command) . My CO advised me to take up the assignment as this is a good opportunity.
Apprehension.
