Sep 27, 2004

BLACKOUT!

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I am now back here in KL, after one week in Manila. This time around, I am staying here for 3 weeks. The last week, I attended various conferences and meetings, and this week is more on getting accustomed to my new job as the market analyst of the company. Next week I will be back with our special project (the one that requires me to go here in KL every other week!) which will probably be finalized by the end of this year.

I had fun last week: meeting people that I met some 2 years back when I attended the first conference of the company; serious but at the same time entertaining activities; good food (Imagine seafood fest for me on the first night! Lobsters, crabs, prawns... get the picture?); and a trip to the KL Tower and Chinatown, to name a few highlights.

But the one thing that I will never forget, and probably is an experience of a lifetime, is the blackout that happened on my first night here last week!

I know some people have different phobias, but mine is a special one...

I was fast asleep already, when suddenly there was a blackout. I immediately sensed this and woke up confused and scared. The room was very dark, I was alone in my hotel room, there was no Filipino colleague, and I was in a foreign land. This was my phobia coming to life! It took me so many years to get used to sleeping alone in my room, then this happened!

I couldn't move at all, I was sweating, and tears were beginning to form in the corners of my eyes. My heart was pounding so loud and I had difficulty breathing, I really thought that was the end of me. I gathered all my strength to call the operator and asked what happened. She said that there was an electrical problem within the hotel, and she wasn't sure when it will be resolved. I was soooo mad.

I immediately tried to call my Enrique, and the connection just kept getting cut. Finally he got to call, and I told him what happened. I begged him to keep me company and talk to me until the power failure gets resolved. And he did. When he finished up all his phone cards, I called him. When my phone alerted that my battery was low, there was still no electricity, I just called him using the hotel phone.

Finally there were lights again, and I was so relieved. We still talked for about an hour after that, but since I already had a sense of security, I felt sleepy and eventually bid each other goodbye.

That was one big experience for me, and I truly thank my lovable Teletubby (I call him that, though he doesn't really have a teletubby figure!) for staying with me even if he was so tired and sleepy. Well, that’s probably what love is all about!

Sep 9, 2004

Full Speed Ahead!

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After only a week's stay in the Philippines, I am back here again in Kuala Lumpur for a whole-week meeting with our company president regarding our management system project - specifically the Corporate Manual section. I joke around that maybe Crown Princess Hotel should a have a dedicated room for me since I go here almost every other week since July/August.

But anyway, I have done so much progress so far with regard to the corporate manual, and I have just finished drafting some new policies that will take into effect as soon as the whole integrated system is worked out - a must by end-2004.

While having lunch with the Prez the other day, he asked me a question that surely excited me, yet at the same time made me nervous: "Can you present what we have done so far to the Board of Directors?" He assured me that he will be there to help me out. Time slowed down for me. To present to Mr. Wilhelmsen himself, to the CEO, and to the Senior Management Team? Why me?!? But then again, I composed myself and said, "Yes I can." And added... "But I may feel nervous." So that's a done deal, and I will be back here by the first week of October, a week after the Marketing and Manning Conference a little over a week from now, of which I might attend... See? I'm here every other week!

I couldn't stop thinking about what he said, and I thought that he half-meant it, until the Office Manager told me that I will attend the Annual Dinner that same day.

Of course, I feel good that our company's President has confidence in me and in my capabilities, and up until now I am still speechless with regard to that matter. I haven't told this tidbit to anyone else save for my Enrique, and he's so proud of me. I hope this will lead to good things for me here in this company.