Introduction to our Korea Trip 2013

Oh Hello there...Finally, a little time for me to blog on my Korea trip...Being a vivid K-pop fan, I always wanted to go back to Korea ( Went there once when I was in 14 or 15 years old ). After getting my first ever bonus, I am more than determine to plan for a holiday to Seoul. And voila! Here comes a Spring trip to Korea. We did not follow any tour, or have any korean friends who can guide us. It is really free and easy with lots of research done. I have been checking their tourism website aka Visit Korea official website from time to time, and their website is really good. You can get all sorts of information you need to travel to Korea, from where to stay, to where to eat, language guide, free e-book etc etc. The link is as below :

http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

Another website that is pretty helpful will be Visit Seoul.net. It is somewhat like the link above, but with more comprehensive guide on travelling around Seoul. In this website, you can find loads of good places to eat. The link is as below :

http://www.visitseoul.net/

So once you have all your research in hand, you are good to go.

We travel from the 18th of April 2013 until 14th of April 2013. If you are ever wondering, is it cold during this period of time? I will say, don't forget to bring your thick jacket. There is a huge temperature gap between day and night. The first morning in Seoul was so cold with chilly wind blowing at us.As the sun rises,  it gets a lot warmer. Worst still if it rains. Oh god! Keep checking the weather forecast from time to time, it is really accurate. 

Travelling around Seoul has been pretty easy and convenient as their public transportation is very well developed and established. We have no problem getting around and it is not very pricey as well. We only took their monorail and trains though, because we couldn't understand what is written on the bus. Most trains can bring you to all the major touristy location around Seoul, hence it is really convenient. All you need, is to get a T-money from the local convenient store, and top up as you need. 

As for accommodation, we chose local guesthouse instead of hotels because it is budget friendly, and you can really experience the local culture. 

 Lee & No Guest house

We stayed at Lee & No Guest house while we are in Seoul. It is located near Hongik University metro line and around ten minutes walking distance from Hongdae. 

They have this little garden within the guesthouse compound.

That would be the living room and a little balcony outside. 

And this is our little double room. It is not huge, but cosy enough for both of us. Just for your little info, most korean house have heated floor to cater for cold weather.The host is pretty friendly as well and allows guest to leave their luggage within the premises if the guest needs to travel to other place for a few days. 

As for our stay in Jeonju, we chose Seonunjae Guest house which is a Hanok house ( Traditional Korean House ).

As you can see from the picture, it is a beautiful house with wooden floor, red clay rooftop and wooden door. 

And this is our room. It looks a little dodgy in the picture, but it is actually quite comfy. Yes, you will be sleeping on mattress in a Korean house with hard pillows. That is part of the experience isn't it? But surprisingly the toilet is pretty modern. haha. Our room comes with a mini fridge as well. The best part of this guesthouse is the friendly host aka ajussi. He explains to us on where to go around the hanok village, even personally bring us to a restaurant where we wanted to try the famous korean table food. So if you ever travel to Jeonju, I would highly recommend you to stay in this guest house. 

So that's all for our Korea Trip introduction. More to come in future posts. =)

Forgiveness

Everyone has their limitation, and today, I overcome one of it. Forgiveness.

I dislike people for pointing their fingers at me when I am not at wrong. For over a year, I have been giving my best in everything I do even when my physical strength has reached its limit, I still push it through. But perhaps because of that, I become very pushy and expects everyone else to be like me. But not everyone is like that isn't it?

I cried through the afternoon. I cried because i felt it is really unfair, and I could not figure out where I have done wrong. I have given my very best, and yet, it is my fault? After the little talk, I realize that no matter what I do, people will still comment, talk. I should know my limitations, and not putting everything on my shoulder. It is not me, who should be in that shoes, so why should I even be stress about it?

I should focus on my responsibilities, and do my very best to prove to the rest that hey, I should be respected too. I should not care too much, and learn how to be forgive others.

It is not easy to not hate someone within an hour, and it is really mental draining. I have to tell myself to change the way I think, and learn how to give others another chance.

I put on my actor's mask, and tried to be as nice as I could ( even though my eyes were all swollen from all the crying ). And I realize hey, it is not that hard after all. It is easier to be nice, than hateful. I just need to relax and chill. It's okay to not do everything all the time.

As long as there are people who appreciate what I do, I am happy enough.

The moral of the story is, you will meet all kind of people in this world. Haters will always be haters. But thanks to them, you learn how to be strong. Even if it takes one whole afternoon of shedding tears. haha.

Rethink

Sometimes, I wonder myself. Can I do better than what I am doing right now? Can I achieve more than what I can achieve now?

I know I can do better than this. I know I am capable of something more, something greater. But I don't know how and where to go to.

It hits me when someone ask me what I do. Not to say I am ashame of it, but at that moment, I suddenly felt like hey! I could have been better, I should be better. Yeaw Zhi Lin should be able to do more!

But the question is, how?

Gaining experience is important, I know. But it is also very tiring. Perhaps not as tiring as my friend, but physically, mentally, I am tired. It has been a year of split shift, and it is almost like working the whole day every single day, except for off day and holiday of course. It is the life style I dislike, it is the stereotype I dislike.

It is not that I am very proud of myself and think that I am super great super genius, just that, I know myself, I can do better than this.

So i suppose, it is time to rethink what I want and what I want to achieve and how I am going to do it. Back to work for now. I mean paper work, then later, start dinner service, on Saturday. *sigh*

Swaggy

By the way, 

How do you like my new swag for Dinner and Dance?

Thick eye brows, fake eye lashes and red lipstick?hmmmm....

Not too bad huh?

Passion

Passion

So what about passion? How many out there, can proudly admit that they are very passionate about what they are doing right now? And how many actually work for passion and not for money?

Well, for myself, its half and half. If I really want to work for money, I will not be jumping into this industry blindly. There are so many other jobs with lesser working hours and higher pay out there that I can choose from, so its not all about the money.

When I was in college, I used to think that hey, what am I doing all these for? Why am I carving chicken every week, why am I doing flambe every week? Why am I doing this and that? But as I step into working life, especially at where I am now, I realize that hey, what I have learnt in college really helps. Those mental torturing training and research back in the days did trained me up in certain way which helps me to adapt into the working environment quicker than the rest. Yes, most of the skills that we learnt is a bit old school, and may be a dying trend, but hey, like fashion wise, it will come back one day. Fingers crossed.

During my college days, I went through a general training, specialization training, Higher diploma training and last but not least, Management training. Just found back my uniform pictures of all trainings, let's see see shall we?

( Before we continue, just so you know, I was really chubby back then. Thank you very much. )

First restaurant that I worked in. Not bad ya the uniform?

Followed by kitchen training

Then I went to housekeeping.

Second Training was in an individual restaurant, I am sure someone read about it years ago. haha

Hence, the second restaurant that I worked at.

Then comes me in higher diploma training. Okay, I couldn't find a proper picture of me in uniform, hence this picture...haha

Last but not least, its our final training.

As you can see, we are wearing formal in the picture, its management training after all.

So after all these trainings and years of education, where am I and what am I now?

Officially turned into a Mafia. Just kidding...

Alright, this is how I look at work now.

Today, I suddenly had this thought that college has taught me a lot, and I wish I could turn back time and appreciate it more instead of whining about early classes or late classes. I wish I could remember every single thing that my lecturer had taught me and not by doozing off in classes. I sincerely wish that I had all my practical notes with me right now. 

What we could do, is to do what we do best, and make our lecturers proud. Trying my best to be a proud Taylorian and a successful one in the future. At the mean time, some snippets of my college life, just to relive the moment.

Fruit carving class

Flambe practice before diploma finals

Pastry class

Bar management

Steak au poire training

So what is your passion?

Mine, is food. ^^

On happy side

Phewwww...I was sweating myself in the chicken ( Oppsss..I mean Kitchen..I was thinking about chicken so...haha ) and hell my Recette de Poulet Saute Basquaise will be AWESOME! All it needs to do, is to be slow cooked for another 30 mins and voila! Bon Appetite!

I have been wanting to cook this dish for the longest time, somehow I am just craving for chicken in tomato sauce ala French style. So I went to the supermarket to grab all my ingredients and I got greedy! I took everything that is cheap and I ended up with four big bags of vegetables and meat plus one roll of toilet papers. After all the hassles of getting on and off the bus, I realize I missed out on important ingredient, tomato sauce! DAMN! So, i decided to cook the dish anyway without the tomato sauce, substituted it with four big tomatoes. So hope it will be just as good.

Whether I am having staff meal at work, or eating out, somehow, the best food, is still the ones we had at home. Sometimes I may come out with some bizarre dishes that I had in mind, which I always do since I know how to cook, but both of us still enjoy eating it. I hope.....ya darling? haha. You know what you are eating and you know it will be good for your body. So...home cooked food is the best! No matter how tired we are after work, we always try to cook at home. Its like some energy pill of vitamin of the day. So people, you guys should start cooking too! Too much of outside food contains a lot of MSG and its really bad for your body.

Anyways! We are going to KOREA in one month time! I am SO FRIGGING EXCITED! I have been going through so many websites on places to eat and visit for weeks and can't wait for next month! I got my red luggage ready, long sleeves clothes ready, even walking shoes has been bought specifically for this trip. Time to plan for my itinerary, the tiring and yet the most fun part! wohooooo~ I can not wait! Bring it on restaurant week and hello April!

We are having our Dinner and Dance this Sunday, and its my very first DND, hence I have gotten all pumped up for it. Everything from head to toes got to be perfect! Will be taking a hell load of pictures of course, and please anticipate a lot of pictures in future post. Since now I did not post much pictures...Lazy lazy to upload to the laptop..haha.

A little picture of myself in case you forgotten about me. haha..I was trying to look shy in this picture since I am suppose to pose as a princess..haha

Till next time folks!

Down

I..am sick. Dayummmm. So much for cursing myself to get sick after so long, I finally got it and regretted it like hell. No one should ever wish to fall sick. I am down with vomiting and nausea. Started from yesterday during dinner service whereby I am getting some tummy discomfort and feels like puking whenever I went near the stewarding area.

I tried working this morning and it was, terrible. My focus is just not there and my back aches like hell. If my job is sitting in the office and not running around, I would have continued to work, but it seems like I am just forcing it. Now, even sitting in front of the computer I am feeling a bit giddy. I did not have any food intake that manage to stay in my tummy since yesterday.

Suddenly, I feel so helpless. All I do, is to lie on the bed, or browsing through my handphone, even looking at my phone makes me giddy at times.

Please, just get out whatever that is bad in my tummy already. I feel bad whenever someone else need to cover me for work. Sigh. Real sigh. Body please be strong alright? I will love you more when you are back in shape. I will reward you with all sorts of food that you crave for. So please get well alright?

Keep it chill

For this past week, I realize that I can be a real biatch when it comes to work. Ah well, I admit it, I do make mistakes at times, most of the times to be frank. But I will get real pissed when others screw up my station.

I assumed that people with years of experience are fast in picking up the pace. I assumed that they know what should be done. I assumed a lot of things. Because of all these assumptions, I get irritated when it did not turn out to be what I expected it to be.

I was taught by my manager to not trust anyone else but myself, and do not make assumptions. Do not make assumptions that some things are not needed, hence no need to be checked before throwing it into the dumpter. So, yes, do not F up my station, if not don't blame me if I am being rude.

Do not mess with girls who are working in FnB. We get irritated fast when things doesn't go in our way, and yes, we do have mood swing like any other girls, perhaps worst during PMS. So yes, we will try and be understanding, hence, have some patience at the same time. A lot of patience to be frank.

Anyways, I will try to keep my cool because its only one week time. Breathe in and out and hope I will not burst out anytime soon. haha. And oh! Please do not step on my tail! If not, you shall be black listed.

Maturity gap

Do you agree that girls always mature faster than guys?

Somehow, I always feels that girl's brain work better in primary and secondary school. Not to say I became dumb in University, just that I realize most guys do much better in University compared to high school days. Not trying to be sexist of what, this is just my humble opinion. Seems like brain is developed in a different pace for both sex.

Girls tend to think more maturely compared to guys of their own age. We tend to think a lot deeper and further.

For myself, I always think ahead, like very ahead. When I was in high school, I hid myself in my room, and starting to calculate how much I need to save every year so I could get a house in ten years time. Well, I DID that for real. But of course whatever conclusion I came about at that time, I could not remember any bit of it. That is for me.

Guys tend to Not think so much ahead. For them, well most of the guys that I know, they just will think later. Tomorrow seems to be so far away, so they will think about it later and not now. haha. Just an example. But not all guys are like that of course. There will be a stage whereby girls are thinking about the future and guys are still thinking about what to do later.

Gap.

Because of this gap, guys may think that girls over think about everything. But as you grow up, you will realize that hey, what she said at that time was right. Sometimes, not all the time. Depends on each individual I guess?

I don't know how people thought of me in the past, but I knew I have done my best. I had tried my best to minimize the damage and I had give it all.Well, or so I thought. Everyone thinks differently you see. I don't know how much they had changed, but I certainly hope it is for the best. I hope...

What's the point of writing this post? Well, I guess i just feel like writing it out without any focus point. Some people may get it, and some may not. Practice makes perfect I suppose?

Anyways, have a great week ahead!

I wish for.....

Wishes

Through the years, I have always been a very realistic person when it comes to Birthday Wishes. Also because my birthday always fall after major exams and slightly before the release of exam results, hence my first wish is always getting full Ace in my exams, whether UPSR, PMR, SPM, Diploma finals, Higher Dip finals and finally degree finals. Call me boring, but hey, all my wishes came true no?

Nonetheless, this year I did not wish for me getting ace in exam, like DUHHHHH. I wish for my career path to be smooth and if everything goes well, climb up up and away ~~ Of course, this can not be achieve without a lot of hard work and endurance. So, please be good to me 2013! I would love to have a fuller pocket. ^^

Then, I wish for my Korea trip to be the trip of year other than my previous France trip which was awesome! Well, after all it is my first trip that is fully sponsored by my hard earn bonus last year, therefore it must be AWESOME! Much planning must be done after the CNY holidays. Fighting!

And thirdly, the supposingly mysterious wish shall remain untold. 

Well there you go, wishes for this year. Boring I know, but hey! As long as it is feasible and economical, it is still a good wish alright? haha. Anyways, gotta get back to work now! Break time over.

2013

2013

24

Can you believe it I am already 24 years old this year? I am in another awkward stage whereby I have to knock myself in my head when I am tempted to buy super girly things because it doesn't suits me anymore. I am no longer a teenager with raging hormones, but a young adult with responsibilities.

In this new year, I have to learn that money is not everything. I have to learn how to treat myself better by not being so stingy, or thriftily ( Another word I learn from Miss CKW ). . Travel while I am young ( Or when SGD is strong..haha ) and enjoy good food. What my friend said is true, what other things are more enjoyable than travelling and having great food? Hence korea trip in April and perhaps another one coming up end of this year. AWESOME!

Saving money is essential, but sometimes sharing is caring. Learn how to treat my brothers and parents better and not feel bad for burning a hole in my pocket for them. Sometimes I am so strict with myself when it comes to money that I feel so bad for not reaching my savings target every month. I check my bank account balance as frequent as how many times I check my weight in a day which is bad. I need to loosen up a bit and learn how to balance it up.

I need to find my motivation to study this year. I have a year to prepare for a competition and I have to swallow a hell load of knowledge during this period. I need to smack myself, and beaten myself up so I could be more discipline and have a more structure study module for myself. I can do this! If I want to do this, it has to be the best! GAMBATE!!!!

Learn more, absorb more and always remind myself that its okay that it is tough now as I am still consider new. Don't stray away from my principles and always stay on track. No matter what others think of me, it doesn't matter as long I know what I am doing. Focus, focus and focus.

2013 will be a great year and hell yeah I am going to rock it!!!! BRING IT ON!!!!

p/s  First lesson of the year, do not drink too much of tea with an empty stomach. Especially when you have low blood pressure.

Grateful

Overhauled by two events back to back last week, leads to exhaustion that cannot even be describe by words. But nevertheless, really glad that we managed to pull it off. Did I mentioned before that the wine dinner was my very first? And I was in charged of wines along with my fellow colleague sommelier, which is a great eye opener for me. Truly grateful for the chance given. 

The team before service starts

And us taking a picture with the winemaker himself after the service ended.

Then comes Xmas decor shopping that was been rushed through in two days during our break time. 12 hours or more of working hours can be incredibly draining mentally and physically, plus toothache ain't helping much either.

After all has been done, appraisal has to come knocking on my door on the very wrong time where I am very hungry and sleepy. Well, honestly speaking no matter what it is, I know I have done my best, I did my job and hell, I shall go through with it. Everything was alright for the first five minutes, then everything went wrong from there. Embarrassed to say this, but I started to cry like a Niagara falls. Not weeping cry, but tears just choose to come out on the wrong time.

Why did I cry? I have been doing my job well i hope, and taking up new challenges as I work.I did not cry because I am stressed, I did not cry because my workload is increasing, but perhaps I cried because I just need a breakdown. I just need to, well damn , it has to be during my appraisal. But at the same time, I am ashamed that I did not find the time to pick up on my wine knowledge which I should. 

Everything that the manager said to me ( hope it is not just to comfort me of course, haha ) was way beyond what I expected it to be and I was truly touched, which leads to me crying more. Bloody hell, I should have hold it up. Everything that I do, I work so hard for, is to have someone to appreciate it. Which someone did, and its, truly overwhelming. 

I will, find the time to study more, to learn more and to work harder in the future. Fingers crossed. 

p/s I received my first bonus! Even if its pro rated, I am grateful enough. ^^

Peace

Not everyone in your life matters,
Hence, you don't live to please everyone.

Be with people who are positive
Be with people who can teach you to be a better person
Be with people who can be your role model

You choose how you live your life
Be it positive, be it negative
You choose to be that way

Don't blame it on god, people for what that had happened
Everything happen for a reason

If you choose to ponder in how miserable your life is, then you will never find gleams of hope in life

For every problem, there will be a solution
The question is, how you find that solution.

Self motivation is the hardest thing to do,
and the easiest.
It is all in your mind.

As for myself now, I choose to be happy, positive and live life with no regrets. To those who shows me attitude and spreading negative energy, I don't give a flying F. Just because you you you sabo me, doesn't mean I have to do that same. Simply just because I am not like you all. That's all.

 

So peace!

p/s I think within this one year in SG, I had grown up a little bit more. Thumbs up to myself! 

We are also humans

We are also human

We have emotions, we have temper just like anyone of you

Because of this, I can't even express myself even if I am really happy. Wtf is this. I have to be cautions on the words I use, my body language, my expression, emotions etc etc. Why? Just because we need to avoid people writing in complain.

There are people who are really nice, and these are the kind of people that we should keep and we should treat them better. And there are also those who are picky and vent it on us. So what should you do? To avoid them to write in, we need to smile, suck it all up and polish their shoes. It is freaking unfair right?

Perhaps this is my first ever complain, hopefully the last. Not entirely picking on me, but, I was part of the story. It sucks, because I like my record clean.

Others rant it on us, it is okay for them, because they are the ones who are paying. Then what about us? Huh? Who shall we go to? Is there a union whereby we can voice out our disapproval?  Even if there is, what can they do? There is no right or wrong, because for them, they are ALWAYS right and we are always at fault. All these negativity will also cause staffs to lose their motivation to work, which will also lead to a domino effect, like losing focus on work, having that 'whatever' attitude, in the end, more complains.

You have a choice, to treat these complains like a 'god', or to motivate your staffs to work better in the future. When I was studying, 'Motivation' is one of the topic that has been repeated so many times through my degree. And indeed, it is very important. Like myself now, I started work full of passion, full of fire on  my work. Now, because of this petty things here and there, I have to admit, I am starting to dislike this field. Motivation, can someone just point it out?

But this is not how it should be isn't it? On personal note, I should never give up until the very end and always try my best. Think of what I did wrong and how I should improve myself, and do better in the future. Even if I have to fake a smile and treat them like god, I still have to make it through right? Yes. I can do it, because I am Yeaw Zhi Lin.

But hopefully in one or two years, and I am out! I told b, I want to live in a country whereby I can experience four seasons at least for a year. I want to see the world! I want to see the world god damn it! haha. Just hope this little dream of mine will because true. Only for a year, not a life time. ( But a life time also not bad eh..^^) Ahhhh...talking nonsense once again. Well, I can't rant it anywhere else. Hence, my trustworthy blog, you are my rant reliever. Thank you!

I wonder

Fair or not? Definitely not fair.

To be angry or not? It is something to be mad about?

Even for a tiny weeny human's emotion, it has to be put under the microscope. What can I say?

Be a smiley robot, and just obey to whichever shit that has been poured?

I suppose that is the only way.

Now I know why FnB Personnel's passion has been put off.

The question is, how to not put off mine?

Think positive, admit my mistakes, and move on.

How long can it last? I wonder

I say you say

My colleague said this one day,

'Money is the easiest thing to find, but the right person is the hardest.'

True that. So many people had been telling me they are lonely and they have't found anyone etc etc. Being a noobie in consulting people, I will always say, the right one will come one day, you just have to wait for it. I don't know how to tell them in a beautiful way that will not hurt their feelings and at the same time they will feel better. So tell me, what will you say if you are in this kind of situation?

I myself, is not really experienced in this thing call 'relationship'. I am grateful that I met him, who is pretty much everything that I am looking for and who has the same view and pace as I am. I am truly thankful for that. I am a lucky girl I must say.

Finding that person who makes your heart flutters, is all about timing, and chemistry, the rest, is fate. And oh, not forgetting one simple rule, grab it before it is gone. You might grab some rotten eggs along the road, but who knows one lucky day you might find an golden egg. Right?

I always believe in one thing, that everything happens for a reason. And all these little reasons will lead to a better cause. But how you choose to accept it and learnt from it, is what that decides your future. Yin and Yang? Cause and Effect? Whichever terms that you want to call it.

I am never a religious person, nor a person who reads a lot of motivational books. I just do what I think is right and how I want to paint my own picture. Stubborn you may call me, but this is how I work. So far, everything is fine no? haha. Well, not exactly a picture perfect portrait, there might be some stains here and there, but that's life isn't it?

Just be positive and keep on going.

I came to Singapore with $300 dollars to survive for a month before my first pay ( which is only half a month's pay to survive for another month ), stayed in a box (literally) with no windows and only yellow lights for 6 months, and hey! I am still surviving and it has been almost a year. Now, the room we are staying is even bigger than my own room in Seremban ( not cheap of course, but definitely worth it considering shelter is a basic necessity in life ) and even manage to save up some money monthly. Not bad isn't it?

So yeap, just some random thoughts before I start rocking the kitchen. Have a great weekend ahead peeps!

My little thoughts

I still remember during my first training in my diploma days, I had my first hands on training in the hospitality industry. What I remembered the most, is that i had this split personality dilemma, whereby I have to be cheery and smiley in front of the customer and when I turn my back, I am back to my normal state of emotions whether it is sad or happy. Then during my second training, it was worst because it was when I was in the window of breaking up. I broke down in the restaurant, I was stressed by the manager ( which is good for my career growth ) and when its time for the restaurant to open, I have to be smiley.

It has been almost 5 years since I jump into this industry and my my, I still felt like I am just a beginner taking baby steps. Other occupations deal with numbers, sick people, sales, we deal with food, people, complaints, sales, skills, wines, relationships etc etc. We work from morning till night, with just a three hours of break in between ( if we are lucky of course ). Screw that 8 working hours window, our working hours is when the restaurant door opens, till it closes at night. Not forgetting, we are standing through the service ( means from the time we are open for lunch/dinner until lunch of dinner ended ). Are we tired? Hell yeah we are.

But not everyone understands that of course and  sometimes they had forgotten that we are humans too. Not sometimes, most of the time. Damn. From their perspectives, they pay for that price and they expect value for money and of course squeeze the most out of it, then only worth it mah ~~~ Very simple example:

You make reservation for 8 person, we arrange the table nicely for you. Then you call again, saying that down to 6 person. We remove one table for you and open up that table for another customer. Later when you reach the restaurant, you said that ohhh, my children wants to tag along as well, so now its back to 8 person. So tell me, where to get another table for you? Then 2 person wants room temperature water, 4 person ice water, then 2 person sparkling water. @@

Similar situation happens on a daily basis and all that we can do, is to endure it and think of a quick solution. So tell me, how to release the mental stress at work? Puffs and alcohol, what else. ( Not me of course. ) With all this mental and physical stress at work, is our pay high? No. Its one of the lowest paid occupation. So tell me, who would want to work in this industry? Its very straight forward. That is also one of the very same reason I choose to work in SG and not in my hometown. Because at least when I convert back, I will still have some savings.

From what I heard from my experienced colleague, this industry used to be really fun and enjoyable. But now, it is much of difficult to endure. Why? Because of the customers. With all the exposures of food  in the media, celebrity chefs rising everywhere, people are learning more about food which is very positive of course. The down side is when your knowledge of it, is just brushing on the surface but you assume that you know plenty. For us, who are working and learning about what we serve on daily basis, we know what we are selling and it is very annoying that people start questioning us on our understanding of our product. And it is very frustrating when people started to demand on extravaganza things and they think that we MUST compliance with that because they are paying the bill. Quote what my colleague said, 'Pay for peanuts ask for gold'.

Sometimes you come to work motivated and happy, but once service started, everything just starting to go downhill because of these problems and people. When this happens, you have to keep motivating yourself, keep cheering yourself up, ignore it and continue back to work. Sometimes when I work, my colleagues ask me, why you look so happy? I always said, of course you must be happy, if not how to work?

If only people can be more understanding.
If only people can learn how to respect us.
If only people can acknowledge that we are also professionals.
If only the F&B scene in Asia can change.

If.......

In a nutshell, somehow I just wish that someone could have educate everyone about this industry so that we can be treated fairly as well. We should be an educator, a messenger to deliver what is the food that they are  having and the know-hows on how to eat them. A person who can make your meal an enjoyable one. Well, this is just my personal thoughts. Not everyone thinks that way of course. So cheers!

Just some thoughts

Hello people...it has been awhile since I updated, blame the little lazy worms in my tummy. Well, nothing much has changed since my last update. It is still work work work and more work. Less conflicts, thank god for that. But, more irritating guests. Jeeeezzzzz..I will compile all my thoughts on that and write another post on it another day, hopefully during my off day. =)

Now I am conflicting between chopping off my hair or leaving it long long long. I kind of missing this =>

Or this...

But I never did have a really nice and wavy long hair before...I always choose to chop it off before I achieve waist length. I guess I don't have that patience to wait for that don't I? My goal now is to grow my hair until my waist length and have big curls. Can it be achieved? My hands are really itchy now and I am missing my short hair. DAMN. Be patient Lin, just let it grow and grow. haha.

People always say enjoy while you are young. You have to work for the rest of your life!!! The thing is, even though monetary is a really abstract thing and people keep saying money cannot buy you happiness, reality is, money is very important. Tell me, what can you do without money?

I had signed up for saving plans which tied me up to ten years, and now still planning on what to do with the rest of my savings. How to set my priorities straight and get it done beautifully. Even though people find me silly, but my nearest goal is to get married. hahaha. Come on, I am already 23++ and one and a half more years to be in my mid twenties. It is not too far right? After that, get a house and start saving for kids education, retirement bla bla bla. Damn! Everything needs money! So tell me, enjoy life or to save up for the future?

So my temporary solution for this is to work my ass off, get promoted and get a raise. Then, if we are fortunate enough to have a good bonus, then use that bonus for a nice good holiday. Sounds like a good plan? 

Okay, complicated issues aside. I miss college life. Damn. 

I miss wearing Formal...

 

I miss all the fun in the kitchen

And I miss all my crazy friends...

Halloween is coming soon...Any plans to dress up everyone?

2009

2010

How much do I miss those days....It was real fun!! So people, if you don't have plans on Halloween, go get a few buddies, dress up and walk around...

Anyways, enough of nonsense...Till another time! 

Rant and rant

Now, I am really tired, fatigue, and exhausted. Any other words to describe how tired I am? This week is hell for us and it is just the beginning, weekend is not even here yet. People who are rude, doesn't understand the importance of punctuality, people who have mood swings and lashes out on staffs, people who are cheapo etc etc. And the worst of all, we have to endure all of this, and return back to work with a smile on the face, even if it is not sincere. Reviews online are good if it is a positive one, but it only takes one negative comment to kill it all. No matter how unfair it is and how freaking you are feeling on the inside, you cannot lash it out on them. Because, they will be the one pointing out every single flaws, whether it is big or small and post it online.

Heck, it is not fair but this is the sad truth of this industry. Customers can have emotions, stress, anger any other negative emotions, but for us, no matter what shit lands on us, once we return back into the service, we have to smile. We are working from morning as early as 10.30 until 10 pm or maybe midnight if we are doing closing shift, 6 days a week. So that is almost 10 hours a day minus our break time in the afternoon. And customers still don't freaking understand that we need to rest in the afternoon before dinner service commence and take their own sweet time chatting with their friends or eating so slow that everything on the plate turns cold and soggy. Sometimes we have so many things to do, paperworks to clear that we don't even have a break in between. So that makes it 12 hours of work everyday!!!

We have to be fast at work, accurate at our work, keep putting on the smiley faces, PR with the guests, carry heavy stuffs, wipe everything from glasses, cutlery etc etc.For someone who is clumsy in nature, me, it is not easy at all. I have to focus and focus more at work and hell, it is very tiring.

No matter how much extra effort I had to put into my work, how much of time and energy I had spent,  can other people see it? Will they appreciate it?

I also want to dress up nicely and go to work. Work in an working environment whereby others respect you for what you do and appreciate all the efforts that had been pour into the work. Don't have to carry heavy things all the time, or sweat like a pig at the end of the day with hair flying everywhere. How I wish others could understand our job, and respect us like how they respect other professionals like doctor or lawyer. By the way, our pay is not even that high, in fact it is very low.

*Sigh*

How I wish I have the influence to change people's perception towards people who works in this industry. One day, one fine day.......

Fool

This will be a purely ranting post. Thank you.

Experienced, but stubborn.

Do nothing but talk a lot.

Want respect, then go earn that respect.

Don't find flaws out of no where and make it a huge scene.

Girls are not that easy to be bullied nowadays, remember that.

I am here to learn something and to achieve something.

Not to be part of some never ending childish act.

You want to play back stab fine, let's see what happens when the lies break apart.

I hardworking or not, busy or not is none of your concern.

I do what I need to do and the only person who needs to know that, is my manager.

Never want to know more, because I don't give a damn.

Your life is in your own hands to paint it black or with colors.

As for mine, I know what I want and I will do anything to achieve my goals.

This, will not stop me no matter how hard it is.

Ignorance is a bliss, and I shall put on the ignorant mask if you step on my tail again.

C'est tout. End of the story.