Volunteer work - 25 Jul 09

About a few weeks ago, I received an email requesting for volunteers to join an event to clean up shoes for the needy.

The job need us to sort, clean, pack and label for about 4,000 shoes collected during June 09.

I have not able to join in their voluntary jobs due to date crashes. Finally a chance to render my service. I ask the kids if they would like to go along. Both agreed.

So on sat morning, we left about 8.30 so to be on time t0 meet at 9.45 at expo mrt station. There will be shuttle to pick us up. After a wait until 10.15 we set off to the Crocs warehouse at Changi districtpark.

On arrival, we saw cartons of old shoes and crocs donated by the public. Then we started to sort, check if vivable for wearing, then pairing up.

Then an station starts the washing and scrubbing. Boxes of the good ones took the queue to be looked new again. 3 of us took the sorting. It was not a simple job. As all sizes, colours of them were all over. Not easy to pair them up.

After about 3 hours of work, we stop for lunch around 1.30pm. We each have a burger and get the drinks from the vendor machine.

Near to an hour of rest, we took over the scrubbing from other volunteers. We were worried if we can finish all the jobs ending 4 pm as mentioned. Many hands help the work and we managed to finish on time.

After a good clean up, task completed, we took a group photo before leaving. It had been tiring. So when the shuttle took us back to Expo mrt, we decide to take a ride to Changi Airport and treat ourselves to Popeyes' chicken.

Though no pay off for the job, but it always good to do something meaningful to help the society and needy.

Hope we can be more involved with such voluntarily jobs in the future.

Geraldine's new born twins

This afternoon received an email from our supervisor that Geraldine, our colleague, had gave birth to a pair of twin boys. The boys had excitedly see the world a day ahead.

Initially, she had arranged to undergo Caserian operation on Sat 11 Jul 09. But maybe the pair prefer 10 Jul and they came earlier.

Months back, when we heard she is carrying twins, we feel very happy for her. This is an addition to the elder handsome boy, Gabriel aged 5.

In her inital stage, her tummy was not obviously. But then her twins grew well in her belly and we can feel her discomfort when moving around.

Now the mummy will be at home with the babies till Nov. Hope she enjoyed her motherhood as it is no joke looking after 2 at one go.

Next on line is our supervisor who will be due on late Oct. This is her 4th one and form a perfect family with 2 girls and soon 2 boys.

Keep it up to the mummies!!!

Job deployment

About few months back, boss together with HR, told us that our job is going to deployed to India.

Well, this is n0t something new as other banks had already been doing so.
Why? Simple - cost savings.

When we heard the news, the 10-person team of us, started to worry.

I can't deny that I may be the one most worried as losing the job is a nightmare to me.

My financial status had not be steady. The fixed expenses are high and not able to bring down to lower level. Generally they are all daily basic expenses - from the kids pocket money, household expenses, market costs etc... as the list goes on.

As days goes by, our mood at work was demoralised. About a month back, boss told me that I need to be in India for 4 weeks to train the staff there as they are taking over our job.

OMG 4 weeks - what will be the kids' reaction when they hear this. Well, they still need to be informed but probably when the date gets nearer.

At the same time, there is an open and confirmed role when our job is migrated.

That is to be a SME (subject matter expert) attached to one of the department overseeing the job. Initially I rejected it but boss felt that I should take on the role.

Reason being I can be of help to the team due to my experience and exposure to the work that I had been doing for the last 5 years.

After giving a thought, I decided to give a try on a very simple basic ground - a permanent job which means my ricebowl is 'protected'.

Now the whole team is busy clearing our work as it will be migrated to India towards end of the year.

Currently, a team of 4 from India had been with us learning the job for the third week. After which in about 4 weeks later, our team from Singapore will be flying there to train more staff at Pune.

Last weekend, after the voluntarily work, we went to Changi airport for tea break cum dinner. Over the meal, I finally told them about my trip to India. Surprisingly, they told the news coolly though they did told me not to go. But there is not much choice left.

Last night I went on facebook. A colleague, currently over there, posted some pictures she took. Noticed that the place is quite underdeveloped including the Mumbai airport.

Well, let's see how things go by and hope I can perform in my future role.

Wish me good luck!