Spider webs and dust

 Spider webs are gathering in this blog page. So is the dust *sneeze* It has been a while since I jot some words in this page.

Work has taken its toll. Travelling back and fro for long hours is not helping at all.

In another month, I will be renewing my contract. Hoping to get a permanent position after one year of working in the non-profit organisation but I doubt so. Hoping to get some pay rise so that I can get a car. No more walking at 5.40am to the train station. No more paying  for expensive taxi fare. No more reaching home at 8 pm or 9 pm. Kinda sick of chasing the trains or buses everyday despite getting myself a monthly pass. Transportation in Malaysia SUCKS big time.

Mum worries about my safety while working in Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. To be honest, I am still amazed that despite going to work very early in the morning and coming home late in the evening, I am still in one piece. Thank God for that. Thank God for the guadian angels He sent from Heaven, looking after me, guiding me.

I am lucky also because despite the fact that I only joined the organisation barely than a year, I was given the chance to travel. It can be tiring because my travels are more to working than holiday. Yet, I learnt a lot.

My first outstation was Fraser Hill in June 2009 to promote Bird Race competition.

For your information, Bird Race competition is not about letting the birds out from the cage and race like we humans do. It is more to spotting & identifying as many birds you can while jungle trekking.

Next, Kuala Selangor (August 2009).....

where I had to attend a one-week course on Environmental interpretive where I learnt to improve my public speaking and create signs that will attract visitors to read.

I was the only chinese in the course. My supervisor wanted me to attend the course so that I can expand my network and be less workaholic *oops*

After that in October, I was invited to tag along to Sabah. I went to Sandakan and also Kota Kinabalu.This trip is more to looking at the Bird Race competition held in Sadakan and also Lok Kawi Wildlife Park (some called the place ' Sabah Zoo') in Kota Kinabalu. This trip helped me to get ideas on the posters and signs available at the Sabah Discovery Centre exhibition hall.

This is me at Sandakan and the Zoo's vet, Dr Felix. He is also a Sarawakian and he nicknamed me 'Nyonya'

 I get to go to Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre for Orangutans and see the probosis monkeys in the wild!!

I met the Pgymy elephants at Lok Kawi Wildlife Park. They are so gorgeous!

November, my supevisor and curator took me on a road trip to Singapore.

This time, our aim is to liase with the Singapore zoo educators. To get their feedbacks on our newly formed Education package. I had the opportunity to observe how the Singapore Zoo's educators conducted their education programme. I have to admit that Singapore Zoo's education programme is well-developed. But hey! Zoo Negara is not bad too, since we just changed the whole structure this year =) Zoo Negara's education programme is different from Singapore Zoo as we conducted it outdoor. Hence, the word 'outdoor classroom'. At least we are not mimicking entirely what Singapore Zoo is doing. I am glad that I was able to applied what I learnt in New Zealand to my work. *psst...the tiger is fake. No animal is harmed in this blog*

I saw the Polar Bear signs. I could not resist myself from kissing one.

'Haha! Shorty!' said the Polar Bear to eD

 I also get to go to the Singapore's Botanical Garden

And...Night Safari...

Jurong Bird Park....where a lorikeet came and sat on my head. Luckily it did not poo on me!

Oh, and also Sentosa Island's Underwater World, and saw the Dugong!

It has been a good year for me. With so much travelling, expectation will be high on me. I can feel the burden weighing on both my shoulders. Hoping to improve the Education programme in future. Heaps of planning to do. At least I am free to create activities which I like ( so far, my supervisor approves most of my proposals ).

I am happy with the tasks I am assigned to. I am loving it ! I love my team too!!

There are times, I am in doubt whether I should renew my contract or not ...i guess, as long as my supervisor trusts me with my work experience and appreciate what I have helped the department to achieve (more achivement in FUTURE), I do mind staying for another year. I shall see my appraisal end of December.

It's all depend on my appraisal . I am nervous. I did not get a good appraisal during my first 3 months working in my department. Hopefully, the result will improve...*puff*

Wish me luck.

God bless

 eD

This is me...thinking out loud

So sorry for unable to update like I used to do. I have been too occupied with work . Mum was right, working in the big city, I will have no social life, just work...work...and work...

At times, I have to work in front of the computer for 7 hours. By the time I reach home, I just want to stay away from the laptop as far as possible. Hence, explains the lack of update

I am still finding it hard to adapt myself to the working situation in my home country. It is so different compared to New Zealand. I tried to bring what I have learnt to my country, yet perhaps my way of thinking is different. Communication wise, I cannot say what I have in mind to the high ranking people. I have to think twice, thrice...or many times before I can give my opinions, my point of view or risk my own career .

Ever since I started working, I find that I can be very sarcastic. My boss finds it funny, as long as I do not use my sarcasm on him  Boyfriend finds my sarcasm, not a laughing matter. There are times I just feel like telling the people (colleagues or customers) off...because I get so frustrated with selfish, narrow-minded and stupid people .

Despite loving my work, I asked myself 'Is this job for me?', 'Am I up to this job?' , 'Should I just give up?', ' M I giving enough assitance to my supervisor?' and 'Maybe it is best that I get myself a job in my hometown' because I felt that I am not doing good enough; I felt that I am not giving enough assistance to the keepers and my supervisor.

I know I can be impatient with my colleagues when they put pressure on me. Perhaps some might be back-stabbing  me when I become very bad-tempered. Sometimes, I felt guilty for yelling at them . I just hate it when people make me feel incapable of doing my work or trust me. I find it hard to please everyone since I am neither a genie or a slave.

I miss my work in New Zealand . I love how the children just sit on the grass or floor without worry of getting themselves dirty; I love their hugs and sound of laughter; I love the fact that these children are so care-free and I can be like them too; I love how they dance and sing without feeling shy; I love being happy with them; I love the way how my colleagues and supervisors trust me on the things I do; I love to know that I am being appreciate.

I guess what is holding me back from taking yet another education course is that I fear I am not qualified to do so.

I am in such a comfoart zone now that I know it will be very hard for me if one day I decided to quit my work.

I have a wide jobscope . I do not work in the office all the time. I love going out for roadshows to promote the organization. It can be tiring and challenging but I love the fact that I get to do a variety of things.

I love the fact that I can educate the public about widlife conservation. Having audience, even a small one, I can still tell them about the importance of wildlife conservationn or animal information by relating to their daily life.

I love the fact that I can assist my supervisor to find animal information and put them into poster so that we can exhibit them for the public. I love to see my research on animal information turn out into beautiful posters created by my supervisor . 

I love the close-relationship I have with my practical students . Although I can be very strict to them, I am glad that my students understand that it is for their own good. I find my students very cute when they call me ' Miss eD' or ' Boss kecik' (little boss in Malay) . I love hanging out with them. I appreciate the close bond and friendship.

I enjoy the Education programme that my supervisor and I (together with ideas given by our practical students) created. I love the new Education programme where the students learn through play . I like the fact that I can apply my previous working experience in New Zealand to my current work . I enjoy dancing, singing and telling stories about animals to the students.

Photos above are students from special school. The smile on my face tells it all. I love to know that with patience and showing compassionate to these special children, they can also gain knowledge and enjoy themselves at the zoo.

How on earth can I quit this job when I love it so much? Perhaps under circumstances that might force me to quit.

This is me, thinking out loud. I am alone in the office today *puff* and it is not a nice feeling at all. Too quiet to my liking.

God bless

 eD

It's been a while

It has been quite some time since I last posted something in this page. How are you, my dear readers? Are you still dropping by just to check if I have posted anything here?

 Miss those days where I have all the time to write whatever it is in my mind. With work and the time travel to and fro from work, at then end of the day, I just want to collapse on the bed and sleep . AND...the routine of my working life starts again on the very next day.

It has been over 6 months since I started working at the Zoo. Many challenges and also sweet memories. Oh, and I LOVE all my colleagues and the practical students very much . That, I have to leave another day to write a long post about my working journey

Recently I was given a task to invite people to attend an important event in the Zoo for this month. The people that I need to call includes some Dato and Tan Sri. At first, I was nervous but then I calmed myself down by telling myself that these Dato and Tan Sri are just normal human being. That thought was actually a BAD idea

No one brief me about any protocols or procedures, having that thought that Dato and Tan Sri are normal people, I did what I usually do when I called  people in the office. Perhaps, I was not using my common sense . I was stuck at calling one of the Tan Sri in Malaysia and was practically staring at the calling name list for a minute or two...

Boss: eD, you alright?

eD: I'm very lost now. Help!

Boss: Tell me how can I help you then..

eD: Boss, when it comes to calling Tan Sri...do you say 'Good afternoon, can I speak to Yang Berhormat Tan Sri ABC  FGH  PQR? Do you say the whole title because that is really a long name!!'.

Boss: Oh my! Did anyone brief you on how you make these phone calls?? *FYI, my supervisor used to work in the PR and marketing department. Hence he knows how to put things into good wording when it comes to calling the 'important' people*

eD: No, why? Is there any protocols or procedures that I need to know of? This is just a phone call to confirm their attendance for the event, right?? I mean, these people are just normal human being with a title, right?.... or is it not?? *voice getting softer* 

Boss: .....*a moment of silence. Either my supervisor was trying not to get angry or he was trying not to laugh, I do not know. BUT, that moment of silence is scary* Right...hmm...I know these are normal people but when it comes to calling Datos and Tan Sri, you do not ask for the person straight. You have to say 'Can I speak to the secretary or PA of Dato/Tan Sri? These people are very busy people and usually their secretary or PA are the people you deal with. Understand?

eD: Oh....*suddenly felt VERY stupid in front of my supervisor*

There you go. I told my mum what happened at work and she could not stop laughing at me. eD may made some mistakes and being too naive. Reflecting back, it was funny and I learnt new communication skills at the end of the day.

Good job, eDdie!

Til we meet again for my next blog.

God bless

 eD