Am back.

Not for good but only temporary because the Chinese Government forbid foreigners from applying work permit/ visa in their country. The process of obtaining the work permit is such a pain. I must first, obtain a permission to work in China from the government and a letter from employer confirming my employment. Thereafter, with the 2 documents GET OUT of China and apply a Z visa in a foreign country. (HKG considered as foreign country, funny!) So your truly, have to postpone her first day of work, get back home to apply a Visa, and a Gucci bag poorer.

Speaking of first day of work, which I actually did turn up for a tender interview requested by Eric, my new boss. By the way, I better clarify now I am a service provider (consultant) unlike my previous position where I was the client. Not that it is the job of my dream but, with little China experience, better grab the offer  when it comes especially if the offer is better than my Singapore pay.

PK (my new co) is very small. The day when I went, there were only 3 persons around in an office of say 1000sq ft? Very small compared to Changi Airport. Dress sense, every one don't really give a hoot about it. My HR manager was wearing bermuda on a working day! How demoralising.

I am meeting the gals later for lunch and gossip! Will update after.

It's granny mother's day celebration. We had a good time at the seafood rest. This is what we ate.

It was reported that the first and only route (western road) to Wenchuan by land was blocked again with falling boulders due to an tremor measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale at 1.30 pm today.  The transport team are now trying their best to clear up the road for more help to march into Wenchuan.

The road into Wenchuan is long and arduous. CCTV news was reporting that the military personnel had to walk 9 long hours before reaching Wenchuan. The walk in was faced with much difficulties as all the roads are now obstructed by either falling rocks or have been covered by landslides. The rescue team have to scale the uneven terrain to move forward. Each of them was reported to have only 1 bowl of porridge per day for food. Yet they still move on, running with their supplies into Wenchuan.  

Even the volunteers scaled the terrain together. Each of them carrying their own rescue kit (big bag) containing medical supplies and food (some weighing 35kg). One interviewee had a bad fall (bruise on his face) but still insist to move on.

Time is running out with 100 over hours gone after the quake. Hope they can pull out more victims soon.

Sichuan was hit with 7.8 quake measured on the richter scale on 12 May 2008, 2plus pm.  Me like the rest of the world whole is monitoring closely the news on the rescue mission. And this is especially close to my heart, because I was staying in Chengdu last year and had travelled or been to the areas affected, like Wen Chuan and Du Jiang Yan.

I have been following closely with the news. For the first time I must applaud the Chinese Government for reacting swiftly on the rescue missions to save the victims. Tim updated me the local news on the rescue missions and we tried calling those frens we knew who are in still in Chengdu. So far, many schools had collapsed, trapping thousands of kids underneath the rumbles. Everyone who is helping and racing against time to rescue whoever they can save out of the rumbles.

Wenchuan (the epicentre of the quake) was reported to be about 80% destroyed. The roads to the Wenchuan were blocked by the falling boulders making it difficult for the rescue team to move into Wen Chuan. Due to the geology, it was difficult for the military soldiers to enter in full scale as the boulders. So far only few of the rescue teams have entered in to Wenchuan. Last night, the military police acheived a breakthrough, and for the first time this afternoon marched full scale into Wenchuan with all big trucks and the big troops. (这是汶川地震以后第一批进入汶川的大车辆和大部队，一百多台车和一千多名武警 )

 

As reported in Sina News, the Chinese government was quoted as saying that the destructions from the Sichuan Earth Quake far exceed the one caused by 1976 Tang San Quake. 

To help the victims, please donate through  http://donate.ifrc.org/.

 

After vacating my house last monday, I was drifting around bunking with either my mil or my mum. In my mil's house, my previous room has been turned into the kids play room. The only room I can sleep in, is my sister in law's master bedroom (en suite), who is now in USA.

 

That should solve my problem isn't it? Sadly no. First, there is no space to unpack into! The wardrobe still have her things and her stuff are all peppered around. Though I was told to just use, but I don't want to intrude into her space. In the end I just unpacked a few of my daily wear and stuff it into her wardrobe temporary.

 

Her bed feels alien to me. The air-con is not cold and there's mosquitoes. I couldn't sleep the whole night on tuesday!  

 

My mum's place. Supposed to be more comfortable since I have been staying there till I got married. But now with a little boy, his toys are strewn all over the 5 room flat. Everything was so clustered and my old room was already occupied by mum and her things. My four door cupboard looks like it will explode anytime soon. How to unpack? The only saving grace was the familarity of my old bed and bed sheet. Reminds me of the good old days when, my room was ONLY my room. Even the dressing table and beside table were full of useless things (donno why my mother is a garang guni). And, NO INTERNET!

 

Good grief! I have to tap people's wireless which fortunately, one mr linksys did not secure his password. So me and brother were faithfully "borrowing' his line. The most inconvenience part is for me to shuffle between mil and mum's place. Mum likes me to stay over since there is not much time left. Mil kept asking me whether I am going back to sleep?  Very torn.

 

I am now looking forward to go Shanghai now. At least I have my own place again.

 

 

 

Finally i decided not to wait for my system (acid reflux) to cure by itself. Went to Tampines polyclinic to visit the doctor again. This time, doc said i am taking too long to recover from the reflux and would refer me to see a specialist. Unfortunately, the earliest appointment I can get is on 20 June 2008, about 2 months away! The kind nurse even helped to ring up almost all the govn hospitals for a earlier date but to no avail. SGH has a waiting of 4 months (August) and NUH 5 months (September). I didn't bother to try TTH as I know the queue is super long. KKH and AH don't have a specialist clinic for gastro.

And i just booked the air ticket on 22 May 2008 to Shanghai. How to wait?

" What is GERD?

Your stomach is filled with acid. Its purpose is to help digest the food you eat. Believe it or not, this acid is the same acidity as battery acid. Your stomach is built to handle the acid it produces. However, your esophagus isn’t. So when acid backs up into your esophagus, it can cause the burning sensation known as heartburn.

Almost everyone has occasional heartburn. But if these symptoms occur two or more days a week for at least three months, you may have GERD, or acid reflux disease. Acid reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (the valve separating the esophagus and stomach) does not close properly, allowing acid to back up into the esophagus.

GERD is a chronic condition and may lead to more serious medical conditions, but is treatable. In this section, you’ll learn about the causes and common symptoms of GERD, a disease that is more common than you might think. "

Extracted from www.gerd.com

I am being plagued by this acid reflux for the longest time. It started before the gals trip to Le Bistrot and I have visited the doctor twice. The last being doc asking me to go see a specialist which I decline. Now I am starting to regret my action.

I did alot of homework. Googling for information on acid reflux and trying to be a good gal, abstaining from cofffee. It worked for a while and then suddenly this week, my acid reflux is back! Darn. So today I check again and these are what Gerd.com says

" The following lifestyle changes have been shown to have a positive effect on symptoms associated with GERD in some patients:

• Losing weight
• Quitting smoking
• Wearing loose-fitting clothing
• Eating smaller meals
• Raising the head of the bed when sleeping
• Waiting at least 3 hours before lying down after eating⁴
• Avoiding certain foods and drinks,^4,8 including:
  • Chocolate
  • Peppermint
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Caffeinated beverages
  • Citrus drinks
  • Tomato-based foods
  • High fat and/or fried foods "

Recalling back my diet this week, had tomato spaghetti yesterday for dinner, then loads of fried food in the form of katsu dons, tonkatsu, tea (ang moh tea with milk) and also eating full meals for dinner. Hmm, I thought I am already very conscious on the selection of food?

Sigh. Hope for a speedy recovery soon.

Nowadays I have totally no mood to work in office. Given that I have served my notice, people expect me to slow down. Even if i didn't, they would still have the impression that I did. So what should I do? slow down of course!

F in office has been approaching me to discuss her move to Shenyang China. F is my colleague whose hubby is coincidentally working with T in the same project Chengdu. Past this CNY, T moved to Shanghai and F's hubby to Shenyang. They are not from the same company by the way. They just happened to be on the both side of JV Cos.

F and me have been exchanging notes on the move to China. Discussing things like movers, sharing contacts, what to bring etc. From her contact, I rang up Collins Mover and was told that the mover actually pack for us! We just need to be around to direct the packing! Woahh..... That is good news for the lazy me! Since i am hiring mover, why should I be packing? Might as well make my money work!

Some have been asking what I have bought from Shanghai. Here it goes! (sorry i couldn't find my cheongsam dress for pic)

Finally, it's time to pack up my house for the big shift to Shanghai. It is a nightmare to pack a 3+1 room apartment into boxes all by myself. I didn't know that I have so much things. CDs already 1 box. Piano books 1 box. Not to mention all the important documents, story books, DVDs etc.. etc...

I have told myself to pack one box per day. It never realised. Even on a saturday, i will just procrastinate and read instead of pack.

The most difficult part of packing is making the decision whether to throw or NOT? Often, I am faced with the difficulties of either keeping or throwing. Things either

1) have sentimental value but useless at all
2) Unused stuff but likely to be useless in future
3) Books
4) No use for now but likely for use in future
5) None of the above

How to throw? ? ? ?

Today at least i taped 2 boxes. Threw all the insurance policies and certs into 1 box. Another box for all my photo albums and frames. Still looks as if my house isn't any packed at all? Why????

I am targeting to leave on 19 May 2008. Haven't book air ticket. SQ is so expensive $790 compared to MU of $470. T asked me to take SQ. More comfort, but then it's only 5 hours! Can save money!

Work wise, I have submitted my resignation last monday. Gearing towards winding down mode. Unfortunately, so much things to do which I can't help but still operate as usual. Come think of it, I will start going home on the dot from tomorrow onwards!

Yesterday, my colleague F tendered her resignation. It was a surprise to many of us! First, she is well paid for the job (at least 1k higher than me). Second, her portfolio aren't as big as mine and third, no tell tale signs of her leaving!

F being my supervisor's pet has been sheltered from alot of nonsense. At least, in my opinion (and others as well) she isn't as overload as me! Now my unit is really badly hit. From 3 Managers 2 Technical Officers to 0 Manager, 1 Technical Officer just over a span of 4 months.

Now having beat me to it, I felt very bad because I have planned to leave this mid April. For the sake of my boss, i quickly informed her my news this afternoon. My boss was very encouraging to my least expectation. She advised that the family should be together and not leave the husband alone in China! So dangerous!! 

My DD actually asked if i could stay on for another 2 months, to help the Division out. Hello, when giving PB and giving me another contract, you got think for me or not ? Duh....

I am leaving as planned. Target my last day near Vesak day.