CH36: Japan Japan!

I'm quite saddened with what has happened in Japan.
I am happy though that my friends are safe.

I hope that the nuclear scare dies down soon, so relief efforts can be organized for the more important matters - that is - relief and rehabilitation for people affected by the tsunami. So many families without homes, so many people who lost their livelihood, etc etc.

I can't even begin to imagine if such situation happened to the Philippines...

Aside from the concern over Japan, well, I can't allow myself to become spent worrying for and empathizing with the people in Japan. I have my own struggles to deal with ... first and foremost is of course, my mom.

I'm so happy that a couple of my friends were at least able to visit her after her surgery - on my behalf.
Although, haha, as I called my mom last night, she still wasnt able to open the card my friends gave her.

So anyway, life must move on, money needs to be earned. The world continues spinning.


PS: I don't believe in 2012. ,

CH35: Panic

Just a few minutes ago, my sister popped me a message in YM.

She started it off by saying, "Mom got in an accident, she's currently in the ER of St. Lukes," and the font of her message was like usual, bold comic sans i think size 15. So, it was pretty alarming to hear the news...she typed on about things while I called my mom immediately.

Scenes flashed through my mind, and I was imagining so many things - the things that you see on movies and tv. Thank God my mom is safe. Although, the story of it is that, she slipped on wet cement on a sidewalk and fell to her knee. End of the story is that she fractured her knee and may need to go through surgery.

I dont know the full details of what happened yet, so you can say that this is some sort of hot scoop or something. But, well, the panic has come and gone. Now, the lingering feeling is just concern. I wish I could fly back to Manila ASAP and help her out, but I cant. I have my obligations here and, well, it's a job.

I am just now imagining how things would have been if I was in Manila and not in Singapore. My thought of it is that, well, accidents happen. I will pray for my mom's safety and recovery.

[Random] Fast

Time really flies here in Singapore. I never really doubted the relativity of time with respect to the speed of light, but, seriously, 1 month and 1 week would have already gone by in a few hours.

The funny thing is that a lot of things are going on, but I have the sensation when I realize what time or date it is, that like, how did i get here?

Is it because Singapore is a 1st world country? Or because I havent encountered traffic (given that I dont drive here)? Really.

Next thing, I'll have been here for 1 year already.

[Review] Jack's Place

So, while staying late in the office, my friends: Trixie, Benjo and Simoun, decided to eat out. Trixie picked out a place at Century Square Mall. The place is mid-end by Singapore standards the way I see it.

**prices quoted below are before service charge (10%) as well as GST - SG's version of VAT (7%).

The price range is from $16-40(SGD). Steaks are its main offer. Upon the recommendation of the waiter, I tried the Jack's Special Steak 25SGD. Sadly, I forgot to take a picture of before eating it. Hahaha, so sadly enough, below is a picture of what's been half devoured.

[Random] I remember

I just remembered how November of last year, I decided to clean up my wallet and found the ezlink card I bought from my first visit to Singapore...

I threw it away or perhaps even cut it in half, I don't remember...

I find it funny that a month after, I get a job in Singapore, and after a little over a month after that, I find myself living in Singapore...indefinitely.

[Random] Swamped

Well, here I go again, ranting work and life.

Yet again as well, I'm busy for the week. The following tasks are expected to be completed:
1. SMD installation on 1 Java system ... may need Wily for this
2. DSI (solman dev) refresh ... kind of new to me since Java will be refreshed as well. New learnings.
3. Oracle SBP Patching (4/5 SIDs to work on) ... another new encounter

It seems though, to be honest that my stay in TSFI has brought more good than should be expected. The work environment I guess, cultured the 'working-independently' attitude. Before, if these tasks were assigned to me, I would have groaned in frustration as well as fright at the thought of not being able to meet certain expectations - given that, well, I am not aware of how to do the said activities.

But now, I find myself, well, feeling like hmm ... how should I phrase it, happy go lucky I guess, in a way. The activities are there, so, theres nothing else to do but get them over with.

With the matter for number 1, I have to discuss with my boss first that installation may not be completed by Friday given that I have the Refresh to perform, and I may also need to have root access on the system in order to finish the activity...plus there are tons of other configuration items to consider.

Anyway, WTFupdate.

[Random] $_$

I've been in Singapore a little over (by a few hours) a month.

And the salary just came in last night - prorated though.

The first thing I did with my salary was top up my transportation card with money. 50sgd should last me 3-weeks to a month I think, more if I use taxis more often.

I don't really plan to buy much of anything just to celebrate.
There's nothing around really that I want ... or it's they're still too expensive more my salary range.

So anyway, I was planning at least to go to the city center (Ngee Ann City Mall) to check out a belt from Kenneth Cole, but as it happens, an issue came up so I had to set up my laptop to troubleshoot the issue, and then it started raining. Too bad.

So after finishing the issue a few minutes ago, I decided to go stroll around the malls here in the tampines area, and I was happy to find a Swatch outlet. With this in stock:

So, now while working again on an issue (im on call as well for the weekend), i'm contemplating on whether i should get the watch or not.

And on the side I guess, buy more long sleeve polos so I have more options to clothe myself with an of course, reduce the hassle of having to do regular laundry so I will actually have something to wear.

CH34: Downpour

The photo above was taken while I was in a taxi on my way to work.

March 3, 2011 - was the day I woke up, well, late. It was already 1:50 PM when I woke up. And I had work at 2.
There really was no problem setting up my laptop at home, connecting, and proceeding to work on anything that may need immediate attention. Thankful there wasnt any serious matters at first, just a few transport, so I was able to get into the shower and get ready for work.

At about 2:30 pm, I was ready to leave for the office. But then I got a call from the DCOPS team regarding a certain customer's problem with Control-M job. Argh. Jaffar is his name and he's quite the customer.

Anyway, I was able to leave the house by around 3pm and left thinking that hopefully this time, I won't have as much trouble getting a taxi. Oh boy, was I wrong.

It was about 10 minutes of desperate standing and calling for taxis, I don't know, I'm starting to think our place is not an ideal hub to wait for taxis. Then suddenly, there was a downpour! After about 20-30 minutes, I still wasnt able to get a taxi. I tried calling twice for a taxi pickup, but I think there was a mix up on my address or perhaps the fact that there was extremely low visibility that I was not able to get a taxi.

Sometime after about 40 minutes of waiting, I was deciding to get back to the house to check on some issues that came in during my wait. Lo and behold, there was a taxi waiting near the lobby of the house, it was just dropping off some Napis. I rushed and ran and got soaking wet! But when I got to the taxi, the driver tells me that his shift is over so I can't ride along.

In frustration, I went back home. Undressed, and worked for a bit. After about 10-15 minutes, I realized that I havent eaten anything for the day and I will need to get out of the house and preferrably work in the office. So I did, I got dressed again, new polo, new pants... what a waste of laundry. This time I called for the third taxi.

While dressing up, I got a call that the taxi has arrived. I rushed and got another call from the driver himself. How embarassing, I was about to be reprimanded that it shouldnt be the case of a driver following up with a customer, but I explained my situation jokingly, and he understood thankfully enough.

I gave him a tip once I got to the office. Life.

CH33: Can't Fight This Feeling

...
And I'm getting close than I ever thought I might

And I can't fight this feeling anymore
I've forgotten what I started fighting for
It's time to bring this ship into the shore
And throw away the oars
Baby, I can't fight this feeling anymore

-----
 Excerpts from the song "Can't Fight This Feeling."

I find myself drawn to it (the song) every time I start up Ipod on my Iphone.
I can't really explain why.
I figure it might be because I'm turning 25 in about a month's time. Quarter life crisis?

Like I said in my previous entry, I only dreamed of making it in Singapore after 5 years of work experience.
But, as luck may have it, the dream has turned to reality, after only about 2.5 years of experience.

I don't kinow ... I'm really thankful and grateful for making it here. Salary-wise, there's so much to be thankful for. From my computation, I'm quite amazed how my career salary-wise has grown leaps and bounds.
From my salary in HP, after nearly 2 years of experience, I joined TSFI and experienced a salary-growth/increase of almost 100%. And now, here in SG, as I am about to gain 3 years of experience (more or less), I find that my salary has increased by almost 700% from HP.

But somehow, well, now that I've made it here in Singapore, there's something amiss.
I'm thinking that it must be because dreams were realized far too early and fast.
I find that I don't really know where to go next. What dream to dream of now ...

I know for fact, that as a stepping stone, Singapore now may quite possibly be Europe or perhaps Australia or New Zealand in 2 years time (5th year of work experience). There's a lot of possibility and choices as long as I play my cards right.

And, there it is, another conundrum as I like to consider it. Too many choices. I like having choices to choose from, but I don't like having too many choices to make. Take for example when shopping, I limit my choices to certain stores so as not to complicate a simple matter as buying clothes or shoes. Simple.

But life, as they say, is generally complicated. I'm starting to go blah blah right now, so getting back to the song. I don't really know what I'm feeling. I don't think I'm feeling homesick ... unless what I am feeling is a precursor to one. I've never really longed for the Philippines since working here. There are somethings I miss from home and from the regularity of things I have been used to the Philippines, but not really to the point of brooding or crying or whining about missing home. I'm happy here, with that uncertain feeling I am feeling.

I can't see for myself nor even imagine what I want to do or where I want to be 5 more years from now (10 years of work experience). I usually tell my friends that perhaps I will try applying for PR in Australia where most of my friends have risked it, or perhaps New Zealand where my brother has already migrated.

But, then, I realize, PR, permanent residency, sounds something like settling down. Living there for good. But, I haven't explored that dream yet as I have no intention of settling down yet. There's so much more to explore and places to travel to.

I guess, I should conclude this by just satisfying myself by saying that perhaps I should just take life one day at a time. Which doesn't quite cut it for me, but given the limited choices I have right now - seeing that I don't have any idea where to take my life next - I'll just bide my time.

CH32.5: I'm back and it's a start.

[Cross posted from my Livejournal with a few minor edits]

Finally, after what, almost 2-3 years, I'm back to blogging.

So many things have happened in my life over the past years.
From working with HP and becoming exposed to SAP - and becoming a SAP Basis Consultant...
To leaving HP due to personal reasons like conflict with a manager and the looming fear of stagnation...
To becoming a bum for about 3 months thinking things through, evaluating whether to change career paths to something very much ECE...
To thinking that if I did shift careers, then that will mean lower pay, and effectively derailing other plans in my life...
Like a target salary for one, or the fact that eventually, my family will migrate elsewhere....
I still dont even know if the eventuality of things is in the US where my sister is staying ... or perhaps New Zealand where my brother is.


But, I don't want to spat out religious stuff, but I believe God has led me the way and I was able to land a job with The Software Factory, Inc...
Where, a lot was learned, and I was back on track to a career, that I didnt really initially choose for myself ... but HP presented.
And well, I was supposed to have typed next that zooming forward to the future...but then I realized that there are things I wish to mention first with regards to TSFI...

It's a great company, under my boss Leo's leadership, there really is a lot to learn and gain from the company if you are pursuing an SAP Basis Career...
Sadly, not everything is perfect, and I think the HR and management could learn to model the operations such that employees benefit in the long term...think of it as loyalty and tenure and stuff like that....
I wouldnt have left TSFI if the current opportunity and project i have did not come along...
TSFI, in my ~10 months of stay there has nurtured my knowledge on the produc that I am supporting, as obvious as it is, SAP.

But, now zooming forward and cutting the blah blahs short, December of last year (2010), an opportunity presented itself when one of my colleagues in HP, now in IBM SG, told me there was an opening in IBM.

Not many people know of this, but in all honesty, I have plotted it in my career that on my 5th year of working (back then it was like: on my 5th year of working whichever career, I want to work in Singapore or anywhere abroad, but when I landed in an IT work - SAP Basis Engineer/Consultant, I've plotted to work with IBM SG).

Dreams are just that, dreams. Mostly a cynic, I did not really expect to land the job and now work for IBM SG.
But I did. And so here I am, back to blogging.

But I feel awful not having updated my livejournal blog for so long, so I've decided to move a new blog.
Cliche, a new beginning.

http://tipzstamatic.blogspot.com/