First Day at Work

Wake up at 5:30 Oh Dear. I left late, because my host mother talks, like a lot. She did not realize I was a bit in a hurry. The worst is that the conversation is usually very intesresting because we share opinions on different society's evolution, stuff like that. Fortunately today I only start at 9:00am, so not too tired since I usually wake up that early since I am here. Well, next time I will allow me more than 30 minutes to get ready, because it is not enough. Or I'll have my breakfast at the company, Norlinah told me many have their own caffe... (=cafeteria). I could catch up and board LRT on 6:50am, not too bad, then catch bus. 

Since I little by little get away from the city, from the big apartments and housing areas, I feel free, with wider landscapes wider highways. Furthermore, with the beautiful clear sky and sunrise, and the more or less bearable temperature (; I get the strength to go faster.

MRT was really crowded, Norlinah not exaggerating when saying you may sometimes have to catch the next one. Almost all the entrances are full, no way! I don't give up and go to the very last gate, on which I can board. I passed many people for that, but don't care, it is whether you or me, and since I want it to make so badly, obviously more than you (locals are very slow and never move out of their way, really annoying, I just head people who are soft in their head), well, I got it. Something else is that here, cyclists are using the same pathways than pedestrians. No kidding guys. Have never seen something that dangerous because, if some honk horn to warn you, some just pass you without slowing down, almost running over you! Insane.

Once in the bus, we were stuck in the traffic and I was afraid that despite the fact I was first ahead of time, I could finally end up being late... Very good impression for my first day. But then traffic was fluid. I had to cross jungle to get my street. Whereas the area was supposed to be a car park, it was actually swamps. In an industrial area. Makes so much sense. Anyway I pass the lobby/control desk and meet M.Schwarz. 

Everything is figured out within the next ten minutes: my personal contact details, the staff contact details, my keys and pass card...

I am introduced to all the Bauer Office staff members. I only remember a few now... Well Lisa (HR), Oliver, Karen (Sales Manager), the nice Accountant girl I still do not know the name... Chang, whom I met at lunch time. By the way, M.S told me I was lucky since today was a bit special: They were having buffet and birthday cake because people were leaving 

and three April birthdays 

were celebrated. 

Anonym, Karen, Anonym, Chang

I am all alone on the second floor, only the four of us working for the Ampelia Fine Wine Company: M.S, his wife Jo, Max, soon leaving, and I. 

Very cool atmosphere, warm relationships, my boss is very easygoing. The work I'll have to complete definitely match my competences, except a few things I'll have to figure out about Access table (too bad, I brought some class notes about IT, but not  the ones about it...) or some different way of presenting an Excel table... Here is basically what I'll have to do:

1 - Contact inactive customers, make discounts/let know our new products for active ones, contact new ones and try to "get in" that means to be requested a proposal (obtenir une demande d'appel d'offre) and get orders. 

2 - Refresh Pricelist, organize it, make it look better, with the company graphic lay-out (I will create! I love design stuff), nicer to go through.

3 - Refresh calculator list, make it look better, understandable, look for mistakes and inconsistencies in the table.

4 - Create logo, specific lay-out for the company, maybe do some marketing documents (products leaflets).

I won't have to manage their website and upgrade it or design it or whatever, an IT company is doing it for them. Pfiou, such a relief! Therefore mostly lay-out and refreshing, checking datas, and, hopefully, not too much time spent in front of computer screens…

I went to my boss's house to help him carry wine wooden crates. Nice condo. Nice ride to his place in BMW convertible cabriolet car. Definitely a western rich businessman. We had some coffee at his house, while looking through my prospects list. My boss told me we would meet the customers, and I'll prepare the interview, that's so cool! Moreover, they have among their current customers some of the fanciest restaurants of Marina Bay Sans Hotel (three-towered famous building), Harbor Front or Orchard, famous places where wealthy and chic people go out... And we will visit them as well. How cool. Sounds like we will travel a lot and I'll meet a lot of - interesting - people (: And I am eventually not working on MAC computers, how fantastic!

Next day We went to the cantine, yep, that's the English word ;D 

Many workers from the surrounding area, and different companies eat in that in-air cantine. We only ordered and got back to our lunch room.

Company Lunch Room, with fridge, radio, soap to make dishes, forks, knives, napkins, and so on. You can cook your own meal.

Noodles, Mushrooms, Beef, Unknown yet delicious meat, I guess Chicken, Fish balls, I wanted to test so badly because I see it everywhere, and it just look so funny, so "bulging" you know. The whole meal had a melting texture, very light to digest also.

Daily Schedule : Since 4th Week of Work:

Wake up at 6:00am, do some sport until 6:15, go to shower for 5 minutes and get dressed and get ready, bags, lunch food, banana for breakfast there (I already brought there milk and cereals). Quick pre-breakfast (fruit and coffee, maybe yogurt). Than brush my teeth and leave at 6:40am. Walk to Bukit Gombak station (45minutes walk). get the MRT to Jurong East where the company shuttle takes us to Bauer Building. Very convenient, I am only paying 0.9$SGD per trip since I only travel for two stations. Otherwise, transportation would be almost 2$ per trip... Get to my office, have my breakfast and start working. Have lunch by 12:30pm (yes, French Friends I know, it should be 12:30AM since it is the end of morning, but English language sometimes does not make any sense...). Leave by 6:00pm, reach Bukit Gombak by 6:45pm, get home by 7:30pm.