Where is James Chong today?

30/9/2006

2006-10-10T17:35:00.000-07:00

Stayed over in Hong Kong the previous night alone. Uncle and aunt went back to China for holiday. This is the Golden Week for China, the national day. Most businesses except tourism or food will go off this week. It will be the peak of all seasons as every where will be packed with 1 billion people, raring to spend.

Since it’s a Saturday, Hong Kong and Macao isn’t really packed, yet. Did the routine, walk around the city center of Macao to pass time. This time I had again the Portuguese Baked Rice with fish fillet, I only finished half of the set which comprised of main course, hot cream, and milk tea. Maybe the fact that I ate this alone, it didn’t taste as brilliant as the last.

Before that, I visited the Lisbon Casino, I think it is one of the first casinos in Macao. I was bugged by apparently the Guest Relations, politely told him that I would rather look around on my own but he continued on to bug me. Surprisingly, they have only a few variety; the most is blackjack and dice. Anyways, another fella came and bug me. Really got on me, so I just said I want to leave now.

Where was I, yes, the Largo do Senado. The streets for pure shoppers. Everytime I come here, I will surely find something that I want or it’s that cheap that I just couldn’t resist. This time, I couldn’t help myself to a t-shirt. Good thing that I was on a tight budget, since my pay hasn’t been banked in. I will have to struggle till the third or fourth.

There were some build ups to the Mooncake Festival come next weekend. Everywhere you could see lanterns already up, stage with its props up, and even a performance of plates balancing. Also manage to see how they lay the pathway with stones. They really do it by hand, the traditional way, stone by stone. It must be a pain staking effort as the stone is merely 5x5 cm.

Work

First two months of my work, I took 2 weeks worth of leaves already. My current toll? 10 days deficit.

As my work is interrupted by the breaks, still going slow. Apparently, there will be a new project and I will be commissioning it. That is going to be interesting. There isn’t any formal training, as like many SMEs, but I will have to take the initiative on my own. Going into the production line will definitely help as there are always problems arising. From these situations, we learn more about the product.

Very much like in our lives, when we face crisis, we will look at the root of problems. Even though we may not arrive at the root with the first try, we learn how the subject behaves with different situations.

I must emphasize the importance of a good nature superior. I had my time working for a Manager from Hell, and now the one that has easier temper. At least, you don’t feel like quitting with the latter.

As for the future, still abit cloudy on the tenure, but my goals are getting clearer. I know what skills I will have to refresh and sharpen and acquire. This job is truly a Mecharonics. Working with the Laser Scanning Unit of a Laser Printer, we have micro-electronics, SMT, optics, control, mechanical design of housing, production and quality control. Sure there are a lot of opportunities to learn, hopefully this will be invaluable in the future.

Lifestyle

Most of the nights, I will be in my room. Once a week, I will play football and badminton in the evening. The two games that I’m passionate about. Weekends, I will go over to Hong Kong, just to escape the workplace.

There are a lot of things to do in Hong Kong even if you are not a tourist. I would wake up early in the morning (5am) to go for morning walk/jog with my aunt. She is in her sixties. If I decide to read some material, I could go to the library just foot steps away. There is a Church at the back of the quarters, but I haven’t been there even for once. Maybe later, maybe later.

If I feel like going to the beach, there is the Tsin Tsui Wan and Stanley. I’ve already hooked up with some friends to go hiking in the trail along the coastline of Hong Kong.

Sometimes, I could go over to cousin’s place for dinner and football…yes the English premier league.

I’m getting used to traveling alone, really getting comfortable. As I have mentioned before, traveling alone and traveling with companions give different satisfactions. Going alone you can go anywhere as desired, get lost and get cheap thrilled, get to mingle with friendly locals, eat what ever you want. The latter, you get to share the joy and experience with your mates.

My Convocation

2006-09-12T07:44:00.000-07:00

Was back for a week for convocation. Strange, do people take a week off after their 1st month at a new job?

coming home this time strenghthened some weakening bonds. Learn to appreciate family members more, get to catch up with some friends.

my condolence to debs and family for the passing of her grandma to the Lord. Though i've only met her grandma a few times, she gave me an impression of a very hospitable person, enjoys a chat with people of any age over tea, and a faithful follower of Christ. Most of all, a cool grandma of Song Mei's. Somehow, i remember one phrase very clearly from her... "you'll be toughen up,not so naive as you go to China".

That reminds me I should appreciate the elders of my family more. Cos their time on earth is numbered.I fear more and more. But i am confident, soon i can preach the good news in chinese dialects!Wait for me!!God will sustain me and my family during this time....i know he will.

Back to convo. My family attended, though sisters and another aunt had to wait outside. One part i like most is when they asked all the graduands to applause our parents. It was one of the most humane thing the university has ever done.

Before i left, i got to see precious ol frens...time flies, friends have become ol friends...

A Test of Determination - Oppression

2006-08-03T20:24:00.000-07:00

Here it goes, my story continues…(sorry for disappearing for a long time)

Well, for the past month or two, I’ve been struggling inside of me, whether to stay or to leave. The money is just too attractive to me. How weak am i? A few thousands, is all that’s needed to bribe my heart.

My job is fairly simple. Apart from handling minor projects, everyday I will have to call and reply emails from the test-houses. These test-houses perform the safety certification of our products. In other words, I’m a translator more than an engineer.

In June, another department has an opening, and the manager of the respective department made an enquiry for my possible move. However, my immediate manager snubbed the move, saying that, “no, I will not let you move”.

Finally, I’ve decided to leave in September, not coming back after my convocation early of the month. However, all I can only do is to plan. The final act, usually, is beyond our control.

On the 2^nd of August, after happily receiving my July’s salary, my manager asked if my current project has been completed. I told him it’s almost done, just the final details. Then that night, I receive a phone call from him, asking me to resign as soon as possible. He added that he had been trying to persuade the Director not to retrench me. So I asked him when he expects me to leave and matters regarding my compensation. The final word, NO compensation, and just to add salt, I have to resign as soon as possible.

That night I went home, thinking of how to device a strategy to pursue what I deserve. I contacted the Consulate General in Hong Kong, since my salary is paid through Hong Kong office. Then I’ve checked the labour law of China and Hong Kong. It states that I am entitled to a month’s pay.

I was very disappointed and pissed off. That morning I went to the office, then asked once more for the exact date I’m suppose to resign, he replied “5^th August”.

5^th August? Not even a week’s notice. That fool probably has violated the labour law as the minimum notice under the most unconvincing circumstances, is 7 days. I told him, I will discuss with the HR’s director. He even had the guts to discourage me saying it will be futile.

I was determined. I went to speak with the man, he clarified some stuff with the manager, then he called me up. In the meeting the two headed snake did not say a single thing. According to the Director, my manager said that I am not suitable for the job. I wanted to rubbish that out, but I know it will be useless. Calm and collected, I said in mandarin, “If you want me to leave in such notice, I am claiming my compensation.”

He probably has done his homework, checking through my work permit, tax payments, and the employment contract. That is the best option, to compensate me. So I set off, I had to go tens of departments to sign my resignation and to clear off all my responsibilities. Imagine, having to run in a level 6 typhoon. I have no choice, I had to get it done the same day.

God’s grace, I got a call for a job confirmation, an hour away from here and I can start as soon as Monday. Somehow, my disappointments and sadness turned into joy. A blessing in disguise. Good, now that the decision has been made for me. I will try it out for a month, and if it is good, I will come back after my September break.

I want to let you all know how evil can certain people be. But rest assured, it is not how the Chinese are in general, it is just some people have a very narrow mind and heart that’s it.

From my sources, my now former manager had already fill the resignation letter for me, without my consent. Of course, I demand a new form as he had already written some bullshit down. Then it came to my knowledge that he forced the assistant to fill “fired” instead of “resign”. How evil can a man be? Thankfully, my department’s director did not agree with that and he changed it to resign. (there wasn’t retrenchment option in the cause of resignation). The HR director told me that it was the choice of the manager in choosing who to be retrenched. Good try, the **** play-acted; tried to protect me.

I did not even want to discuss anything with him. Good thing, I still kept some important details of my work away from him. If I have nothing in hand, I cannot imagine how I will be treated. So it is, either I get my compensation today, or the information goes missing forever. (As a professional, I am not supposed to leak or bring out company information, but the company did not state that I cannot destroy or hide information)

They probably will take a few days or weeks to redo or continue my project from mid point. By then, the company would have lost their purchase order.

This thing, I’ve learnt from Sun Tzu. Though I never really read the book on Art of War, but I remember that in a battle, we must always have the first blood and the upper hand over our enemies. So I made everything a move quicker than him. However, unlike him, I have no evil intentions; I’m on offensive-forced defensive.

He can say that I am not suitable, but why in the first place I am in the department for 6 months? If I have communications problem with locals, how did I get ALL my assignments done? Who contacted the Americans, Canadian, Germans, Australians, Hong Kies and Chinese to discuss about testing procedures? The whole department could not speak English. They all depended on me. For any reasons he can find, there is none that is valid. Only I have the reason to resign.

Anyways, looking at the bright side, it backfired and now the company has to pay my one month long holiday. JUST to mention, I’ve found a new job; far better prospects. I should thank him for all that’s good. If he did not fire me, I will not give this job a try. Now I have one month to analyze and consider this job.

More than just that, I have gained more than I ever imagine. Well, losing some along the way too. But just press on, I know Someone is watching over me and he always bring angels to help me. That is one true thing; I love my God, I love my family, I love my darling, I love my friends.

I wrote my last blog...but it was unsaved!

2006-04-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

How frustrating.

Another month has passed, although time flies, it felt like i've been here for two years. Never mind about the working condition and life here...i get to know myself alot better in this stint. My weaknesses that i have tried to hide away from my consciousness are becoming somewhat obvious. I think i am not a nice person after all...in fact... no where near nice/good.

this is what i call, 'cerai susu'...i've finally gotten out of my protective,comfortable zone. The world is really a tough place to live in...but because i can't get it done my way. If i can just sit back, wait just a lil..just a lil longer... things will go back smoothly. Patience...

I must say, my family has been very patient with me. My younger sister said it right, i always think i am right. I can't tolerate if people do not agree with me even though i know it is right. I lose my patience. My, now i realize how much my family took from my nonsense. I'm learning, learning to be patient with tough and difficult people...just let them be...but at the end of the day...i must get them to do the stuff for me.

3rd month soon approaching...i will have to do a self-assessment. No-lie...i need to weigh the odds.

PHOTOs URL

2006-04-07T11:53:00.000-07:00

http://photos.yahoo.com/jilulc

will be blogging soon...stay tuned.=)

Finally to blog

2006-03-22T08:50:00.000-08:00

My apologies for not blogging for ages...i will be back to blogging from now on. No promises but will try to update once a week.

Its almost the end of my second month here. WOW. Though i am not homesick, i miss my family very much. Good thing my uncle and cousin in hongkong treats me as their family. I will be going down more often, to a place call home. So far away from home, i really do not know what is happening back there. Please uphold my family in prayer will you?

Everyday, i am so busy. I really do not mind having alot of work to do. I don't even mind staying at work til nite if...
1) the time spent is productive and not being wasted because of other departments' inefficiency.
2) my manager at least shuts up and not simply judge and accuse me when he didn't even know how much work i have done.
3) my manager just stop showing the 'sour' and long face like the whole department has wronged him.
4) every one do not need to feel stressed when the manager is around.
5) if the manager knows how to assign work properly and speak properly and not mumble and expects everyone to get what on earth he is saying.
...alot more.

Guess i'll have to learn to be patient. Remembered what my dad said, that "how can you work with other people if your temper is so bad". I just shut up and did not even defend my self today. Maybe i was just too angry and just couldn't be bothered. But my dad is right, I still have alot to learn in "tahan-ing".

Another malaysian has landed. Making it 5 now.She is a Christian...a baby according to her. But haha...atleast got a sister in Christ ...can pray pray together. Don't worry, no 'special' motive, she's got a boyf. Atleast now, we have our own malaysian gang. Soon another couple will arrive.

Played late nite football at the basket court. 1 guy and a girl malaysian vs 1girl and 2 guys hongkie. It was money well spent for the football. It's a three-pronged activity. One, i can de-stress...made alot of difference after the game, football no matter wat, is my passion. Two, get back to fitness, been eating alot but no exercise. Three, hangout with friends.

Was in Hongkong. Stayed with frens in a neat motel near the shopping area. Quite reasonable, 250HKD for double room. Pictures in my http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jilulc/my_photos
Hongkong is just packed with people, weekends. You will never imagine the tenacity of the crowd...it was so packed, that the main road was flooded!

The second night, was in with my uncle. He lives with his wife. My cousins are all married and have their own family. My uncle is a worry-er. He just worries about everything about us, the younger ones in the family. That's because he has been through alot of hardship and i feel he puts the blame on himself for not being able to take care of his younger brothers and sisters when they were separated. My uncle came back to work in Hongkong alone. He is quite cheong hei (long-winded), but i really respect him. He is my closest relative now.That's why i will try to go to hongkong frequently.

That's for now. Will be going to HongKong for work this friday. Still havent confirmed if i can stay for the weekend. Because saturday, we work halfday. So should i ask for a leave?I think i should.

BYEBYE.

Untitled Week-4

2006-03-01T20:50:00.000-08:00

Time flies. My one month here exemplifies the statement. This week is uneventful. Last weekend was for shopaholicsm. Spent alot in two days, and i mean alot. Bought working pants,thermal top,teapot&tea, dvd player, badminton racket, and loads of food. I wanted to watch my phantom of the opera on the dvd player. Unfortunately, i left the disc in my dvd player back home...i only brought the cover.

The weather fluctuates again. Past two days, it dropped to 6-8 degrees. Coldest yet. Bought the long john's for 15rmb.Wore it yesterday when it was at 6. played pool for 3bux an hour!!

Everyday, im learning new words. Still got plenty of room for improvement. But spoken definitely has improved. Really, must be brave to speak...only can improve. Beginning to hate meetings. Try attending meetings for 2-3 hours...3 to four times a week. Not just that i dun understand what they are saying, most of the time the stuff are irrelevant to me. I feel it is a big waste of time.I could use the time to go learn up my mandarin instead of being stuck there.

The company should have banked in my feb's pay. But i heard from my peers the company deducted RMB1,600! There's no reason for deduction of that amount!Lodging all in 800RMB, +/-. Worse still, they dun produce a pay slip. So later they will go check with the accounts. I have not checked mine though, as i will be using my uncle's account in hong kong.In a few days' time, i will know how much i get. Fingers crossed.

This weekend, I'll be going for a one day trip this sunday to some recreation hill.Dunno wat "shan". My colleague will bring us. Dun worry, this is just a mild hike...hehe.No extreme mountains yet. Not fit anyways.

That's all to sum up the week so far. Thank God got quite alot of frens here already...otherwise i will be miserable.

Praying with Tears

2006-02-25T11:24:00.000-08:00

10th.Feb.2006.
It was the day of departure.I was with my mom and dad since I woke up. It was really difficult for me to think of leaving so I tried to hide my feelings by talking to them with more confidence and be excited about it. Every moment I thought of leaving, tear glands react.Then I go away to control them from overflowing. It is easy to miss someone, but it is inexplicably harder to miss so many.

And so I boarded the plane to Macau. Initially, I was alright,probably still running on the mode I previously tuned myself to be ( emotionless ). After an hour on board, suddenly I missed home so much. Tears started rolling. The helpless me only knew one way to handle helplessness...to beg God in prayer.

So I started praying. Not for I,me,or myself, but for those whom I missed. As I prayed for each and everyone that came to my thoughts, tears rolled down.I continued praying. I knew in my heart that I was communicating with God and He is listening. At that time, I was doing one thing, allowing God to take care of them. Immediately after that, the good samaritan next to me started chatting with me. There wasn't a chance for me to be alone after that.

Every one of us have our own way of communicating with God. I used to pray in tears in my earlier days of my walk. It has been a long time since I prayed with tears. Somehow, when tear drops, I felt my real self being exposed to God. This is the time, that I do not hide from Him but be frank with Him. We ought to examine ourselves, and be frank with Him.

credit to the photographer for the photo at http://www.carolynsandstrom.com/tears__one.htm
The picture also reminded me of the song from Ray Boltz's Watch the Lamb..they said"Daddy daddy, what have we seen here?There's so much that we don't understand".

midweek2-Mangifera

2006-02-23T08:46:00.000-08:00

Mangifera, commonly known as mango. I bought these miniature mangoes from the almost 24hours night market. 6RMB for 10.Sweetness is normal, flavor is mediocre, seed is paper thin!The drawback...you need skills of a craftsman to peel 'em. But i still prefer the mangoes my mom buys from the market, twice the size, sweeter and more intense in flavor. Suddenly i miss my mom.

Just had supper as well. Risked diarrhea for street BBQ chicken wings. I think its worth the risk...in a cool weather, the well seasoned wings couldn't have tasted any better!The crispy wings has got six or sevens of the seasoning...topped with honey!(drooling yet?) However they are alil expensive(3RMB /pc). In addition, i also 'tapau' hongkong chee cheong fun.I get to choose the filling!Had my charsiew and porkliver!yumyum. When you are stressed out and you live in a small town,all you can hope for is good food!Hehe.It is quite safe here, went out after 10 and got home by 11pm.

This week has been a busy week. I have to settle my employment stuff. Trying to send in my work permit,my contract, wage and other misc stuff. All in mandarin.Managed to negotiate alot more benefits and it is sucking me in to stay!I get to claim my airticket and they will reimburse in RMB cash...so i may purchse a scooter here. That time, more supper.

In addition to the usual work, manager had asked me to be involved in the patent application as well. It is very difficult as it is very technical.But I said i will try my best. I see this as an opportunity to learn the electronics tech. So it will be good to me. My manager has a bad temper and this week the tension in room was so immense , you can almost touch the air. I was observing that when he is not around, we all laugh out loud and joke around. Such a huge contrast!I guess i dun feel as tired although working late with friends and laughter around. It somehow lifts the spirit.I DISLIKE WORKING IN TENSION and FEAR!!!

Time to bathe...tonite last nite to come online as i like. TOmoro fren will be back from guangzhou and laptop shall be returned to its rightful owner.Last words...i realized the importance of discovering e unknown or unseen, it keeps my brain stimulated and keeps me moving. That is why people travel, to see different and sometimes new things.Now, i 'travel' everyday to discover new things!=(

Mapping Out James

2006-02-19T20:50:00.000-08:00

My town, GongHe town, is not even in the map. It should be somewhere there. Its 2.5 hours bus ride from shenzhen. To go Macau ferry ride for just under an hour. Have yet to travel out of town as my travel document only allows me one entry and exit. And this HRD person is really testing my patience in dealing with my employment and settlement. Hopefully my work and living permit will be granted by the end of the month, otherwise i will be an illegal immigrant. I have plans already to go Macau and Hongkong.

Macau is relatively slower paced than the metropolitan hongkong. Although i landed in Macau, i only had a glimpse of the neon lighted streets and casinos. The population of Macau, mainly do not gamble.Their main source of income is through the casinos, where even the graduates work there. But if you do not gamble like me, you will enjoy the well lit city at night.
I took the ferry from the Macau port to Kowloon City. The ride is similar to the Swinging Ship in Sunway Lagoon where i vomitted. Apparently, it was a windy night and the sea was very wavy. It made me paralysed in the ferry.But thank God it only lasted for an hour.

I like hongkong.The FOOoOOOod...gastronomical.Had my bowl of wantan mee near my uncle's place. The wantans were huge!pingpong ball sized with fresh prawns.Succulent!To top it up, the MEE was full of texture...the only place that can produce such good noodles is my HAKKA MEE stall in seremban.It crunches in your mouth!!And this is suppose to be just middle class area!I think if malaysian wantan mee is being sold here, it will close down in one day.=)

Guangdong. Generally, people speak Cantonese here and they call it White Language if loosely translated. ("Bai Hua"). However, alot of the working class also comes from all parts of China...so usually people speak mandarin at work. This part of China has the fastest growth rate. The food here although good and cheap, may shorten your life. So far in the town, I have tried steamboat,normal dishes, claypot rice, dumplings, porridge,cheongfun.Ofcourse, the tit bits too!Food here is VERY VERY OILY and i mean 5 to 10 times the amount of oil we consume. Some of the restaurant also overdo their seasoning...so if no exercise, i think i may not reach 50=)
Working culture here is also bad and requires alot of improvement. People here do not think of ways to do their work more efficiently, they stick to the same old ways. That results in people always working till late at night...people like me. We are expected to come to work after dinner. MY MY. If u haf no work to do...the manager will throw you more. So now i prefer not to sit in the office.Not that i go snake out....but go to the factory to solve some issues.

This week my mate will be away in Guangzhou...so i have her laptop with me!HAHA.no shame. So i will be online more often this week...see you online!

First Week in CHina

2006-02-17T21:50:00.000-08:00

The temperature deviation in the week is 15 degrees celcius. Last thursday, it was about28, saturday dropped to 10C!!!

Work has been mad. Been working through til 11 almost everynite. Now i feel i am underpaid and shall request for hike at the end of 3 months. Food is cheap and good here, the main reason why i need to purchase new pants soon or visit the gym. Just the other day, had a whole 1.5kilo fish and vege at 23RMB...about 10 bucks!muahaha.Got strawberries too...3rmbper kati!!!Was in jiangmen(the nearest city) on thursday and bot this BB Gun for 10RMB!!!!HAHA!!!gonna find ways to seludup it back home.

Saturdays work half day.So weekends are the best. Apparently they provide transport down to hongkong everyweekend. I will make full use of it once my work permit is approved. Their knockdown prices for attires are really knockdown of knocked downs!In KL, they haf 50%....here, it is 50% of the 50% we haf!!!haha.

Computers are costly here.So am using my fren's laptop. Will buy it when i get home in may.UNPAID LEAVE that is. Will be back for 4-5 days during the weekends.

ONE more comment. Do not complain when the haze strikes malaysia.Because in the city, everyday it is hazardous condition!Hate going there...the pollution is astronomical.

That's all for today.