Two days to Christmas!!!! Yah! It will be a break for me from work, and I am looking forward to it. I think during this long weekend I want to catch a few movies - 3D Avatar, Chipmunks 2 and Sherlock Homes. I am not sure whether am I able to catch all 3 movies, but I hope to catch one of it. These few days work is kind of slow because it is a festive season, and it is the year end period. Therefore, I am able to go home early which also means that less overtime. However, I need to prepare myself for the next year because I guess that will be the time when things start picking up. This means that I may need to work overtime, but I really hope that I can end work on time everyday. I also hope that the company will pay me better or even pay me overtime as I feel that I am being taken advantage. I feel that I am working for free every time when I need to work overtime. I also feel that I am terribly underpaid because I am holding a Degree, and with a peanut salary I have such a heavy work load. I feel that they should employ someone with a Diploma instead as the other 2 persons who are in the same position as me are Diploma holders. I'm not asking for much, but at least be fair to me by giving me a comparable salary to my Degree. ><

Through my observation of this company, I find that the turnover of my position is the highest because the 3 of us are all hired this year. Furthermore, the work load is quite heavy. I am not surprise of the high turnover rate because the position that I am in does not have good benefits. There is no pay or off in lieu for overtime, and the expectations are high. Seems like not many have worked pass 2 years in this position. One of the biggest reason is lots of personal time is sacrifice - meaning no time for family, friends and self. This kind of work life does not seems healthy to me in a way. I think something should be done, but I have no power because I am just a small 'prawn' in this company.

4 more days to Christmas! Wondering why am I looking forward to this day? The answer is because it is a public holiday, and I do not need to go to work. Yah! Entering the work force once again has made me missed the days in school. The carefree life is what I missed the most as no one will stick their nose into the things I do. I will describe a work life as a serving a sentence in jail, but it is a paid jail term because people are monitoring the things you do. In addition, one can't do what they want or leave at the time they desire. Everything that you do needs to go through the hierarchical sequencing before it is approved. And this includes applying for a day's leave. Since I'm at this topic, it strikes me that from the day we are born we are being controlled. When we were younger, parents or elders are there to tell us what we can or can't do. Then as we grow up, school's rules and class's rules are the ones that control our actions. It seems like no matter at what age we are in, our actions are always been watched by others. Seems like a sad thing to you? To me, it is kind of sad because there is no real freedom.

Doubts exist in everyone of us. The job that I'm in has made me question myself numerous times - "Am I suitable for this job?" "Is this what I really want?" "What is the thing I really want in life?" " What kind of job do I really want?" Till now, I have not found the answer to all my questions. However, I do firmly know that this is not the kind of job I wanted. I want something where my time is flexible, enabling me to write & take beautiful photos of the things I experience and allowing me to travel to different places to share with people the cultures of the countries. I am the type of person who wants to experience cultures, places and food with my senses. Will I ever get this kind of job? I am not sure about it, but I believe that what I want I will achieve it in the end. :)

Third week of work, and I have fallen sick. I can't imagine this is happening. Have I been working too hard or have I been taking too many 'heaty' stuff? I do not have the answer to this either. I started by having sore throat on Tuesday followed by flu and cough the next day. I have not seen a doctor yet because I want to complete the three days of general orientation which started on Wednesday. I think if I am not well on Monday I will be taking medical leave. However, it is very unfortunate that the company will take it as an unpaid leave because I am not a confirmed staff. Since I am on this topic of work, this whole week I have been working overtime. The only day I am home early is today as I ended work at 7pm plus. Even though I am sick, I have been working overtime as well because I need to help clear some work. The best part for this is I am not paid for doing overtime. To think of it now, I am kind of being taken advantage, and am doing free labour after my office hour. Haiz..... Just three weeks of work, and I have seen the ugliest side of this department I am working in. I really can't imagine how long am I able to stay in this job. Even though many are envious that I have gotten into this hotel, but it is not as good as it seems. Being in this hotel can be associated with a SIA stewardess who is seen by many as glamorous, but it is not that true after at all.