the chinese culture

so i talked to 3 different HRs and got 3 very different comments.

Should I try to change the chinese culture in the company?

One said that they can't be changed because it is the chinese culture, one said I should bring some fresh ideas into the company, one said I should adapt to their culture because they have their own ways.

I mean there's no right or wrong answer, but sometimes i just wanna do things my way. Or maybe I'm too used the the systematic ways of Singapore.

However, all 3 had the same conclusion. Since I am overseas, I should just enjoy the present and not think too much.

True that.

Company's investment

To my colleagues, I'm the Singapore graduate with the fresh ideas, dare to defy Chinese working culture, handles both languages easily and I can get away with things very easily because I am a Lao Wai. Heh.

To the HR and managers, I'm an expensive investment which they hope to send back to South Asia to expand the business after a 2 year exposure program here.

To my manager, I'm Singaporean who is good at everything and produces good quality work.

I should consider myself very fortunate to have been sent here because I am the first student under the graduate program sent to AP headquarters in Shanghai. The company has never done it before and they don't send people overseas for work assignment easily, especially so for an inexperienced graduate.

So the President called me into his office and I have no idea if they wanted to send me back ( because I was too expensive) or tell me I have to take a pay-cut or whatsoever. I thought he didn't know of my existence until the US President came down and he introduced me and my colleague to him (and said I was expensive, HA).

Instead he is having me directly involved in a project headed by him, and I have to work and communicate directly with many senior level managers, same or one level under him.

I do feel honoured to be picked, or maybe he just needed somebody who is fluent in English, but every time i enters his office I put so much pressure on myself to make sure I do a perfect job. I guess the company wants to maximizes their investment. My daily work is already at a higher level than other graduates, be it in China or other regions, managers have to report to our team and we report to a senior committee that includes him. I just realised the scale of the projects I'm handling, they really affect the entire company's directions in the next few years. Any decision we make can change the company entirely. This level of job... is highly stressful for a graduate.

My stress level is extremely high these few days although I don't show it in office.
I hope my hair are still intact after 2 years.

Because of waist line

So I spent another bomb after work today, but for a good cause.

3300RMB for 2 years, or 1650 per year or 330sgd per year for gym membership.

Well I have never had a gym membership before officially, I've had weights at home, I swim at home-team and I run downstairs. Because the air quality and roads are so bad here, I guess I have no choice.

$28 per month for a gym membership is not bad right? $1 a day?

I have no idea if I'm gonna really insist on gym, so I'm setting my goals today to keep me motivated for the rest of the days. haha

Gym Goals
1. Gym at least 3 times a week
2. Lose that belly
3. Improve flexibility through yoga classes

touchy accidentally

My manager wanted me to teach me how to scan a document and send to my laptop and she was standing in front of the photocopying machine, the operating buttons right in front of her.

I was standing by the side of the machine, a right angle from her. and she said "try!"

Without thinking I reached my index finger out to press the button.

I missed. 

And poked her boob. 

At the nipple area. 

And HARD.

Quickly and calmly, I pretended nothing happened and asked where it was sent to, but my heart was pounding very quickly and I was screaming in my mind. 

I wanted to die on the spot.

EMBARRASSED OUT OF MY BRAINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After that, I wanted to take some printed materials on her table, but I grabbed her hand instead.

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

I thought the weekend was gonna be boring

what a surprising weekend!

I was randomly walking down on the street after some crab noodles and found a restaurant that many Singaporean students are working at and got some news on some people in town. Shanghai is slowly becoming little Singapore.

KTV after that was quite amazing! I haven't sang for a long time and still can hit some high notes. Heh. A relaxing activity that must be replicated many times.

Sunday another lunch with some Singaporeans again at the same place, hang out for a while before heading to BLOC for restaurant week! Pales in comparison with Jean Georges, but it was worth the price for such a filling meal. I got a free Honey Infused Vodka shot because they got my dessert order wrong. haha

Anyway I didn't expect my weekend to be so fulfilling. and my stomach too.
The other day xiao yang bought us cake which looked so average but once I took a bite I was so shocked by how fresh butter taste fills your mouth with scent of fresh milk and little bits of (i think was) Nata De Coco. So damn gooooood. Apparently it was a very famous old bakery in Shanghai and they are famous for this cake. The bakery is called Red Ruby.

My pants are really really tight now. It only means one thing.
I need to work out real soon or else....

Because summer is ending

The first hint of Autumn came when I stepped out of the door and no longer feel warm air.

The weather is getting cooler as summer is ending towards September and i am looking forward to the changes in climate! Hee hee.

I just came back from a really good weekend at Hangzhou. It was my company outing and we stayed at a 4 star hotel, which was really shiok and ate a lot of good hangzhou delicacies.

We had a relaxing boat ride at the west lake and visited the most famous temple around the area. 

I came back with a huge bulge in front of me and my pants became tighter. Sucks. I really need to watch my diet.