Yes paddychicken, im ready to climb out of the abyss. In fact ive been ready for some weeks now except fatigue got in the way (it’s a long climb up you know, need perseverance and lotsa rest stops – ok im not making sense, I KNOW)
There’s much that I wanted to share in the past 2-3 mths that I never got down to. Guess as always, its easier to start with where I am now than try to coerce my frail memory into churning out dusty-previously-conjured blog topics (could be dire for this sapped lil’ brain). I’ve recently (is 7 wks recent?) started a new role in a new department and its been challenging and exciting at the same time. I now…
- start work earlier - why I sleep earlier, and so blog lesser
- get to serve my colleagues by taking orders and buying breakfast daily
- work in a largely male dominated environment
- experience intense highs and lows throughout the day – really closetotears, scary, frustrating, happy moments
- deal with all kinds of customers and operations staff - the nasty, nice and neurotic
Its been really funny dealing with customers. There are the grouchy ones, the gan-chiong ones, the calm and nice ones, the stingy ones that bargain till the cows come home and the ones that JUST CANT GET YOUR NAME RIGHT.
PW: Morning C********. This is Pearlyn speaking, how can I help you?
Cust: Hi Helen, good morning!
PW: ??? Er, its Pearlyn
Cust: Yes, hi Helen! This is Ms Cannotgetyourname from ABC Company. I’d like to book a deal with you, etc
PW: Okay great, so let me confirm the deal, ABC Company is going to buy XXX agst YYY, value when, etc.
Cust: That’s right. Sorry what’s your name again?
PW: Its PEARL-LYN
Cust: Okay great Helen, thanks a lot for your help
PW: Thanks so much Ms Cannotgetyourname. Er my name is Pearl- (last ditch attempt to correct her)
Cust: Thanks a lot, bye Helen! –click-
Pretty amazing huh?
Other stuff I’ve learnt:
- There are people out there with names like Lovely and Babe. I don’t know why, maybe they are really that gorgeous.
- Cash-rich men in the mid-thirties and early forties discuss not bags or diamonds but watches, cars, shoes and steps to take to ensure smooth primary school registration for your firstborn (join hokkien clan, volunteer in school 2 years before enrolment, pay lotsa moolah) - Its possible for a straight middle-aged man with wife and kids to own 49 pairs of branded shoes. I repeat, FORTY-NINE. - Everyone, no matter how old or boring they SEEM, have their cute quirks/interests – collecting stamps at 40yrs of age, laughing like a hyena, appreciating dumb corny jokes (yay!), car racing on weekends, using silly sounds-likes to swear aka swearing like a primary school boy (not that I condone swearing lar)
On a serious note, this new posting has forced me face my inner monsters abit more than I’d have liked. As I was sharing with some, its almost like God was sheltering me from the real world the past 3 years and im only being released into the big bad gorilla-filled, crocodile-munching, crow-screeching jungle now. Being placed in a competitive environment and having to prove my worth in a secular sense has been tough. Not long into the job, I was horrified to find myself plotting out of fear/paranoia, the need to survive. Thankfully God brought me to my senses quick and reminded me that He really is my ultimate Boss, who has all things in control and I need to trust Him. The job is also highly intense and stressful which makes it easy for me to lose my cool or be impolite to the people I work with. I hate being a monster to the people around and everyday I fight hard against the instinctive response to wanna scream/pull out their hair, gotta keep reminding myself be kind and giving instead.
After I got over my initial paranoia/insecurity, I came to realize that I have actually much to be thankful for. My colleagues are really very nice and patient with me – ready to help and few of them scream at me when I mess up. They aren’t like typical dealers ie no(t much) swearing, don’t fly off the handle, everyone works hard together and no one’s a diva. I thank God for helping me to learn relatively quickly (though there are days I feel like a utter moron and swear ive got a memory of a goldfish!) and for friends around that stick up for me, that care, give me choc and help me when im down or mess up bad.
God taught and is still teaching me to trust Him completely to provide, sustain me materially. There’s no reason to worry or find ways to justify my existence. Rather I should work hard & focus on pleasing Him at the workplace – to seek to display His likeness in the treatment of others, to look for opportunities and be bold in speaking about Christ. Please pray with me that this desire to be a mission-centred Christian will continue to grow and be my central purpose at the workplace, that I will rely on Christ moment by moment to be a responsible and kind colleague. Only by His grace and to His glory! |
