Week 1 have passed so fast. So far I've been recovering well till I started to do work. I got myself stressed and pressured with the demands. True enough, my stomach started to grumble again. I was hit by a gastric attack on Sunday afternoon and I countered the pain by drowning myself with medications. Now it's week 2 and it's fast approaching to the end. Here are the recollections:
Day 8:
Woke up in the morning after continuous sleep over Sunday, my iPhone was bombarded with missed calls and messages. Trying not to think much about work to prevent another stress and attack. Managed to prepare myself on basic aviation knowledge to prep for the upcoming 2 interviews. Also did some online shopping for ermm... necessities.
Reads:
8 Comics
Watch:
The Storm Warriors
Day 9:
After so long of staying home(besides the occasional visits to Tampines Mall), I went out for breakfast with my parents. It wasn't a stressful one after a long rest at home. I was also deprived of chilli, so I had a double whammy of my regular breakfast of Nasi Padang(rice, lemak cili padi with chicken thigh, sambal hotdog and fishball, and a must, begedil or potato ball). Best, I did not eat my medications to protect my stomach from the forbidden foods. But luckily I survived the day and even went to Starbucks TM to enjoy a customized coffee to counter the forbidden diet, and continue my research for the interview
Watch:
Get Him to the Greek
Day 10:
A very lazy day. Slept thru the morning to around 3pm. Grew restless at home so I tried venturing further with my siblings, SHOPPING at Orchard. It felt great after a long recovery at home. So I'm partially strong enough.
Read:
4 Comics, Started a new book: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Sfaram Foer
Day 11:
Visited store to check out the people. Hari Raya visit by the Gang
Day 12:
First interview: Cadet Pilot. Everything went well except that the interviewers were concerned of my grades. They were concerned whether I'm able to cope and complete the training (They said that even straight A students are pressured by the training). I'm praying for the best. 1 more interview to attend the next day. Also managed to follow-up on SB updates.
Day 13:
Second Interview: Flight Steward. It feels just like trying out for Singapore Idol or America's Next Top Model. First was a group interview of 10(6 girls and 4 guys). I was 1 of 3 who got picked(only guy). Next up is the Grooming Round. Round 2 consist of Team challenge of 4 which my group lost, and individual interview. Out of 8, 4 were picked (2 guys and 2 girls). Onwards to Final round the day after.
Made some friends in the process, Valerie & Marianne(since round 1) and Davin and Liyana(onwards to final round)
Day 14:
OMG! It's coming to an end. It's so fast. But at least week 2 is more productive. I've been going for 2.5 interviews this week.
Today is the cabin crew final interview. It was a panel interview where they ask you to introduce your partner, then discuss on a topic and lastly read a passage. Sadly, I was the only booted out from the group. My heart sank when I got the news. I didn't cry or what so ever. It was a learning point and I won't give up. The group were shock too that it was me and not someone else. I congratulated them and walk away with my head high. I will learn from this experience and try again next month, that's if the cadet pilot do not call me.
And today, my cousin is having her engagement. Going over soon.
Luckily, I'm on leave tomorrow and I'll be having my medical appointment this Tuesday. So I'm officially be back to work on Wednesday.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
14 Days of Hospitalisation Leave: Week 1
It's just the third day of my 14 days hospitalisation leave. It seems awesome and it may seem not. Some say it's too long but some say it'll be good for me to recover. I had both feelings. 14 days!! What the hell am I supposed to do? Some say I could go for a Eurotrip, or swim to Hong Kong and back, or even swim to Indonesia and travel from state to state and swim back, all within 14 days. Travel is an option but I choose not to.
This post is actually out of boredom. I'll be posting things I did over the 14 days so I can see what have I progressed over the days. It may seem redundant, to you but not to me. Well here goes.
Day 1:
Day of hospitalisation. Slept the first half of the day. Visits by relatives and friends.
Reads:
Completed remaining 100+ pages of Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol
2 comics
Day 2:
Day of discharge. Slept from noon till evening. Family time
Reads:
6 comics (while waiting to be discharged)
Day 3:
Observation of bowel movements(checking of stool color), trying to regain strength to step out of the house to Tampines Mall but failed, Visit by Din
Reads:
10 comics
Watch:
Superman/Batman: Apocalypse
Day 4:
Testing my strength to go out to Tampines Mall for breakfast. 2 hours outside and I came home drained. Updating of portfolio
Reads:
6 Comics
Watch:
Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D
Day 5:
Photo for portfolio, Disheartening Visual Test
Reads:
6 Comics
Day 6:
Another stay-home day: Sleeping, reading and movies
Reads:
10 Comics
Watch:
Grown Ups
Day 7:
Started to do a bit of work, the pressure and stress of doing it caused my stomach to react again. Gastric attack around late morning. Drown by meds and slept throughout the day
This post is actually out of boredom. I'll be posting things I did over the 14 days so I can see what have I progressed over the days. It may seem redundant, to you but not to me. Well here goes.
Day 1:
Day of hospitalisation. Slept the first half of the day. Visits by relatives and friends.
Reads:
Completed remaining 100+ pages of Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol
2 comics
Day 2:
Day of discharge. Slept from noon till evening. Family time
Reads:
6 comics (while waiting to be discharged)
Day 3:
Observation of bowel movements(checking of stool color), trying to regain strength to step out of the house to Tampines Mall but failed, Visit by Din
Reads:
10 comics
Watch:
Superman/Batman: Apocalypse
Day 4:
Testing my strength to go out to Tampines Mall for breakfast. 2 hours outside and I came home drained. Updating of portfolio
Reads:
6 Comics
Watch:
Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D
Day 5:
Photo for portfolio, Disheartening Visual Test
Reads:
6 Comics
Day 6:
Another stay-home day: Sleeping, reading and movies
Reads:
10 Comics
Watch:
Grown Ups
Day 7:
Started to do a bit of work, the pressure and stress of doing it caused my stomach to react again. Gastric attack around late morning. Drown by meds and slept throughout the day
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Ending the Journey
Nope, I'm not closing this blog. It's a great place for me to pour out anything that I'll have a hard time pouring to people without them waiting while I thoroughly think thru what to say. Though it's an end of a journey I started 10 years back and continued 3 years ago.
Yup it'll be the end of my Starbucks Journey, again. I first joined the company in 2000 as a barista in Parkway and left in 2004 in Terminal 2 as a shift manager for NS. I joined back in 2007 because I did not found any employment for 3 months. So I rejoined Starbucks as Shift Manager and worked my way up to Store Manager within 2 years.
Recently, about 5 months back, my work has been taking a toll on my health since people started to leave beyond my control. The people leaving are like taking MRT and the people coming in are like taking the Monorail. My remaining team and me have been working our asses to make ends meet. We still managed to meet or exceed AOP but the tiredness wore us down.
5 months had passed and I've been thru A&E 4 times, the last got me admitted. I did voiced out my concerns to my District Manager and she helped and supported me in many ways, but somehow it was not able to hold for long. There was a pivotal point where I gave up, due to work and health constrain. I gave up and threaten to leave by end of October. It could have been earlier but I need to find my next employment so I delayed the serving notice.
My DM consulted me to continue and not leave in defeat. But after being hospitalized, I believed she realized that this job has taken a huge toll in my health and finally accepted my resignation.
In this 2 week of leave, I have 2 interview opportunities that I'll venture. I'm praying that either one will take me in because I'll be leaving Starbucks no mattter what by the end of October.
Yup it'll be the end of my Starbucks Journey, again. I first joined the company in 2000 as a barista in Parkway and left in 2004 in Terminal 2 as a shift manager for NS. I joined back in 2007 because I did not found any employment for 3 months. So I rejoined Starbucks as Shift Manager and worked my way up to Store Manager within 2 years.
Recently, about 5 months back, my work has been taking a toll on my health since people started to leave beyond my control. The people leaving are like taking MRT and the people coming in are like taking the Monorail. My remaining team and me have been working our asses to make ends meet. We still managed to meet or exceed AOP but the tiredness wore us down.
5 months had passed and I've been thru A&E 4 times, the last got me admitted. I did voiced out my concerns to my District Manager and she helped and supported me in many ways, but somehow it was not able to hold for long. There was a pivotal point where I gave up, due to work and health constrain. I gave up and threaten to leave by end of October. It could have been earlier but I need to find my next employment so I delayed the serving notice.
My DM consulted me to continue and not leave in defeat. But after being hospitalized, I believed she realized that this job has taken a huge toll in my health and finally accepted my resignation.
In this 2 week of leave, I have 2 interview opportunities that I'll venture. I'm praying that either one will take me in because I'll be leaving Starbucks no mattter what by the end of October.
Gastronomical Encounter
My my my... My gastric problem is getting bad to worst. I just visited the A&E on the eve of Hari Raya. Over 4 days, the symptoms doesn't change and the gastric attacks occurs regularly at 2am and will normally last till 5-6pm.
And on the fourth day, I vomited blood. That freaked me out and decided to surrender myself to the hospital, this time to SGH instead of CGH since 3 A&E visit there showed no results and booking of gastro appointment the following month.
I asked my mum for help since my godbro was dead asleep. My parents heard me coming in and out of the room too frequently over several nights so they were prepared to send me to SGH. True enough the triage sent me to observation and X-Ray and soon admitted to a ward and a check at the endoscope centre.
I love going to the hospital to visit but it's a different feeling now. It's truly an experience. The needles! My god, I didn't even look when the nurse placed the catheter on me.
 |
| Hakimbo would have loved to put this on me instead |
And the endoscope check was another experience. Firstly, the spray some gel into my throat and then asked me to swallow it. When swallowed, I could feel the gel burning down the asophagus and widening it. Next, and luckily they put me to sleep. Lastly, they start to probe. I could actually feel the scope going down the throat and even felt it when I gag/vomit while I was unconscious.
So after several hours and rest, the lead doctor informed me my diagnosis. I was diagnosed with a Mallory-Weiss tear and gastroenteritis as a secondary diagnosis. I had 3 tear along my stomach lining caused by excessive and forced vomiting. The doctor continued my "NIL by Mouth" status so that I can recuperate my stomach and some vaccine to reduce the production of gastric acid. I was being observed over the night and was told that I'll be discharged the following day.
I would like to thank all that came to visit me; my siblings, Latiff, my aunt and uncle who were around SGH for check up, the Gang (Hakimbo, Lynn, Bob, Rayyan, Bishri and Mash) and my Operations Manager. I would also like to thank all those that messaged me their well wishes through Facebook and SMS (Sorry if I didn't reply you) and Starbucks for the lovely fruit basket and flowers (Damn I was on NIL by Mouth status). And of course, I would like to thank my parents for accompanying me and dealing with all the administration.
 |
| First half of the Gang due to max 4 visitors entry |
 |
| Second Half of the Gang |
 |
| A surprised when I woke up in the middle of the night |
Ja Matta
Friday, September 10, 2010
Truly a Blessed Hari Raya
Selamat Hari Raya to all.
As the days grew nearer, I did not feel the excitement for Raya as I did not prepare myself much for the celebration. I fell ill on the week of Raya and was also scheduled to work on the eve and on the day itself.
I too gave up on my work and had a talk with my boss. She consulted me not to give up and it was quite supportive(she called in the wee hours of the night right after I sent out the sms). But I still wish to leave and she still supported me with the decision. Her only advice is to leave with my head stood high and not to leave with a sense of defeat. I truly will.
And on the eve of Hari Raya, my gastric problem kicked in again that I had to visit the A&E in the early morning again. I was given another stronger dose of med to rid the pain. I was given 2days MC and managed to switch around my shift coverage, but my poor supervisor will work extra hard and I will come back in the morning of Hari Raya just like the previous year.
But this time, my Boss stood in. She came in the evening to relieve my supervisor and gotten another person to close the store. She also got my supervisor to come in the next morning, just so that I can rest at home on Hari Raya.
It is truly a great Hari Raya, I managed to buka at home on the last day of Ramadhan(even though I'm unable to fast) and also managed to go for my morning Aidilfitri prayers at Sultan Mosque. I am grateful to do it this year since I wasn't able to the previous year.
On top of that, when I got home, I check my inbox and received an email the previous night about an interview for CADET PILOT on 24 Sept. OMG!!! Finally they contacted me. I was soooo happy. And after reading and sharing it with my mum and friends, I received a call from my old friend whom I haven't caught up with for ages. He came over to pass some Hari Raya treats for my family and we managed a quick catch-up.
I'm really grateful how this year Hari Raya turned out. I get to celebrate Aidilfitri at home, caught up with an old friend, and of course the possibility to achieve a dream.
Alhamdullillah.
As the days grew nearer, I did not feel the excitement for Raya as I did not prepare myself much for the celebration. I fell ill on the week of Raya and was also scheduled to work on the eve and on the day itself.
I too gave up on my work and had a talk with my boss. She consulted me not to give up and it was quite supportive(she called in the wee hours of the night right after I sent out the sms). But I still wish to leave and she still supported me with the decision. Her only advice is to leave with my head stood high and not to leave with a sense of defeat. I truly will.
And on the eve of Hari Raya, my gastric problem kicked in again that I had to visit the A&E in the early morning again. I was given another stronger dose of med to rid the pain. I was given 2days MC and managed to switch around my shift coverage, but my poor supervisor will work extra hard and I will come back in the morning of Hari Raya just like the previous year.
But this time, my Boss stood in. She came in the evening to relieve my supervisor and gotten another person to close the store. She also got my supervisor to come in the next morning, just so that I can rest at home on Hari Raya.
It is truly a great Hari Raya, I managed to buka at home on the last day of Ramadhan(even though I'm unable to fast) and also managed to go for my morning Aidilfitri prayers at Sultan Mosque. I am grateful to do it this year since I wasn't able to the previous year.
On top of that, when I got home, I check my inbox and received an email the previous night about an interview for CADET PILOT on 24 Sept. OMG!!! Finally they contacted me. I was soooo happy. And after reading and sharing it with my mum and friends, I received a call from my old friend whom I haven't caught up with for ages. He came over to pass some Hari Raya treats for my family and we managed a quick catch-up.
I'm really grateful how this year Hari Raya turned out. I get to celebrate Aidilfitri at home, caught up with an old friend, and of course the possibility to achieve a dream.
Alhamdullillah.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Car Rental
My mum wanted me to rent a car for a day to deliver her Hari Raya orders. Apparently, the orders were not fully completed during the planned delivery date, which I had to work. So she got me to rent a car for a second delivery.
My sister recommended renting from Avis Car Rental since she'll be renting it for the coming Hari Raya. It seems steep for the quotation of $137 for a category C car. It was a last minute rental, 2 hours before the pick up from any counters within the 3 terminals at Changi Airport.
The website http://www.avis.com.sg/ provides a lot of information and promotions for rental. But the promotion only applied for reservations. They also include other services such as GPS terminal, car entertainment and others for an additional cost.
Also, a recommendation from my sister is to take up the Collision Damage Waiver insurance where I'll pay only $100, rather than up to $1k for any collision damages for only $33. Sounds great.
Processing of rental wasn't much of a hassle. The condition of the car, Chevrolet Aveo wasn't that bad after all. The petrol was full but only the tires were near flat when I received it. A quick pump did the job. The rental last for 24hours so you need to return the same time as you rent it.
Overall, I was amazed that renting a car wasn't much of a hassle. It's just the price of renting which is a drag. I've paid $137 for the rental plus taxes, $33 for the CDW insurance and a fuel top-up of $25(a full tank is needed upon returning) and $5 for cashcard usage. In total I've spent $200. Seems steep unless anyone can recommend me a better and better car rental services with great insurance coverage will be great.
Ja Matta
My sister recommended renting from Avis Car Rental since she'll be renting it for the coming Hari Raya. It seems steep for the quotation of $137 for a category C car. It was a last minute rental, 2 hours before the pick up from any counters within the 3 terminals at Changi Airport.
The website http://www.avis.com.sg/ provides a lot of information and promotions for rental. But the promotion only applied for reservations. They also include other services such as GPS terminal, car entertainment and others for an additional cost.
Also, a recommendation from my sister is to take up the Collision Damage Waiver insurance where I'll pay only $100, rather than up to $1k for any collision damages for only $33. Sounds great.
Processing of rental wasn't much of a hassle. The condition of the car, Chevrolet Aveo wasn't that bad after all. The petrol was full but only the tires were near flat when I received it. A quick pump did the job. The rental last for 24hours so you need to return the same time as you rent it.
Overall, I was amazed that renting a car wasn't much of a hassle. It's just the price of renting which is a drag. I've paid $137 for the rental plus taxes, $33 for the CDW insurance and a fuel top-up of $25(a full tank is needed upon returning) and $5 for cashcard usage. In total I've spent $200. Seems steep unless anyone can recommend me a better and better car rental services with great insurance coverage will be great.
Ja Matta
Friday, September 3, 2010
Present for Daddy
2nd Sept is daddy's birthday. Thought I wasn't able to join for dinner but I managed to end work early. Too bad I didn't had time to get him a present, so I asked him out to select. I knew he wants a shoe so I ask him to select. And this is what he got.
Hope you love your present.
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