Rendez vous

I met with the DC of co. L yesterday. We chatted for a while and got an offer to help the controlling team on a temporary basis while waiting for my IGS/PSW visa. Somehow, N, the DC whom I have spoken to seems nice. He has an extensive working experience in one of the Big 4 and a renowned commercial company. Most strikingly, he sounds very gentle and approachable. Somehow, he gave me a comfortable feeling that I should be able to learn from him and work together with the team. As it might be too early to say, the first impression that he has given me as a boss is nonetheless impressive. However, I would be able to say more once I am integrated into the team and to get really hands-on the business issues and/or projects. At the meantime,I would keep my fingers cross for the smooth sailing of my career and personal plans and aspirations.

Dedicated to "The very structured people"

I want to keep this event on the 18-19th Feb a memory in my blog. So, I've decided to post some pictures in memory of those who have made my perspective wider and have enriched my learning and European experience out of the conventional textbooks.:) To you-"the very structured people" whom I've met in Siegburg, Germany.

The Past Weeks in Malaysia: IGS and Papa Funeral

Today I have finally submitted the IGS application form to the UK Visa Application Centre. It has been 3 weeks since I touched down Malaysia on the 20th Feb 2008. It has been a roller coaster month. Nonetheless, events that happen made me think and I felt that I have grown. Perhaps I would give credit to my 16 months of Europe experience or perhaps I do actually have grown from the events that have just happened. Wrinkles and the exhaustive look when I have just arrived could testify that. Even my friends commented that. Geez, perhaps my Europe trip has taken a great toll out of me. Or perhaps my recent dad’s death has somewhat affected me.

My dad took his last breath when I was at the plane, on my way back from Germany to Malaysia. It was 19th Feb, 11.15 am. I only came to know not even when I touched down at KLIA but rather at KL Sentral when I met YM. My sis, M joined later and told me that she needs to send me straight to Melaka for the funeral arrangement. Sis G, bro A and J were already in Melaka. Bro M was in Australia and he flew back straight to Singapore and picked up my sis-in-law to join us the next day.

I recalled the moment when I was asked by the personnel and friends in Europe what was the first thing that I want to do when I arrive Malaysia, I told them that I want to have a reunion dinner before the ‘Chap Goh Mei’ 2008 (the 15th day of CNY which marks the end of CNY on the 21st Feb 2008). I’ve already missed the reunion dinner on the 6th Feb 2008 and the year before, therefore, I really do intend to have one with my sisters in KL at least and I do plan to visit my siblings in JB and Singapore as well as my parents in Melaka.

Never would I have expected that my arrival would be greeted with the news of my dad’s passing. I was shocked nonetheless. I felt disappointed and sad. Most importantly, I felt really upset because I was the only sibling who did not manage to see my dad’s last face before he passed away. I did not come back since the last 16 months when I left for Europe on the 26th Sept 2006. I felt really regretful that I did not visit my dad often when he was at the home when he was alive and when I were still in Malaysia. Now, I could just hope that he will be well taken care in Heaven. I pray that he will live in peace and free from all the sufferings he had felt. He never had a real home. I hope that now he has found his real home being cared by God. Papa, sorry that I did not manage to meet you but I am thankful that I was scheduled to be back to at least pay the last respect to you before you were cremated. Please take care and bless all of your children here on earth and help us to remember you always. Papa, your gentleness and mildness will always stay and cherished in our hearts. May peace be with you. Love, Amy.

It's nice to be back home...

"When the whole world shuts you down, you still have your family who will support you." I am glad I have one. Let the pictures above speak for themselves...

The journey: Sept 2006-Feb 2008

26 Sept 2006-28 Feb 2007 -Edinburgh, UK
-Dublin
-Trips around Scotland (Lochness, St. Andrews,etc)
December (Christmas trip) -Road trip around UK (Oxford, Cambridge, Bath, London)
-Brussels

1 Mar 2007- 31 July 2007 -Milan, Italy
-Trips to Rome, Florence, Pisa, Cinque Terre, Stresa,
Bergamo,Como, Venice, Napoli, Capri

1 Aug 2007- 14 Aug 2007 Summer trip to Greece: Santorini, Crete, Athens,Delphi,
Kalambaka, Meteora, Thessaloniki

15 Aug 2007-31 Aug 2007 Summer trip continues...Budapest (Hungary),
Split(Croatia), Bled (Slovenia), Ljublana (Slovenia),
Venice (Italy), Treviso (Italy)and Stockholm

1 Sept 2007- 26 Jan 2008 Umea, Sweden
(Christmas trip- Kiruna, Sweden & Roveniemi, Finland

26 Jan- 31 Jan 2008 London,UK

1 Feb -17 Feb 2008 Paris, France

17 Feb -19 Feb 2008 Bonn, Cologne, Frankfurt, Germany

20 Feb 2008 Malaysia

Lessons learnt

Reflecting the last 16 months in Europe, here are some of the significant lessons which I have learnt:

1)I have the opportunity to benchmark my professional and academic skills.
2)Personal development. I learnt more about myself and from my course mates. I’ve learnt that each one of us is unique and each of us has our own strengths and weaknesses that could complement each other.
3)I did my first thesis in Europe. I’ve learnt to see things from a consultant perspective through my thesis partner.
4)I am more open and well-rounded, with an international perspective. I am inspired by the skills-both technical and soft skills, the poise and charm of my lecturers and some classmates.
5)I have learnt to leave luxurious indulgences and the comfort of home-massage and facial, convenience (transport), well paying job for a student life in Europe. I do appreciate the finer things in life.
6)Career and money are not everything. A well balanced life along with friendships, warmth of families and loved ones are something that money can never buy.I value humanity more.
7)I love nature, art and history even more. Traveling to the UNESCO sites (thanks to B) and staying in small cities like Umea and Edinburgh gave me a sense of peace, culture and human empathy.
8)Living in big cities like Milan gave me a good insight of a metropolitan life.
9)I have learnt the differences between business vs academic writing, my English writing skills has improved.
10)A chance to learn Italian and Swedish. I would not take any credit of being able to converse fluently but at least I have learnt to differentiate these languages ;)
11)A chance to get a taste of staying, living and traveling in several sides of Europe: Eastern, Central, Western, Scandinavia and Island (UK).

One thing for sure, I will not trade these 16 months for anything else. It was all worth it. It was like a dream come true. Today, as I reflect, it was as if yesterday that my journey has just begun. How time flies...