Friday, December 19, 2008
~ 10:36 PM ~
Yes, last day. All of us have been looking forward and counting down till this day when attachment ends. With the congratulations that friends offer, i believe i aren't counting down on my own. But like all mankind, we tend to forge this sense of attachment only when it's nearing the end and when it's too late. Apart from the mundane job scope that we faced day to day with exception on certain occasions, the whole experience was pretty enjoyable with lunch break to look forward to each day and counting down the quarters till knock off time. Now that doesn't sounds like it comes from someone enjoying the job.
I'm pretty much thankful for those who tried to make us feel like part of them instead of turning a blind eye to us. Especially the fellow runners that we made friends with at the last two days, well apparently slacking birds of the same feathers flock together. Apart from that there's also star the waiter and alex the chef that were exceptionally friendly to us and occasionally random chat with us about non-work related stuff that make work more enjoyable. I guess we understand how they can forget about our existence when they rush around like chickens during peak hours, but sometimes we just don't understand why they wouldn't enlist our help when they slog their ass out in the restaurant while the rest of us stand around in the kitchen being new born furnitures that got in the way.
The job of wiping plates, cutlery and wine glasses became such a routine we resigned ourselves to the mundane work after the second day at work. On the first day, we were hoping life would get more interesting after familiarizing ourselves with the environment on the days that followed. We behaved like good helpers sent from heaven and did all the dirty work that the others escaped from. When we realised we faced the same routine on the second day, we gave up hoping to work outside in the restaurant. But when life looks gloomy, we realised it can't get worst, because we had our first opportunity to venture out there. And i swear that was the one and only. It was a nice change, handling customers, clearing their used dishes and serving them drinks. At least we could see people out there besides plates and forks. All of us were dying to get out of the kitchen during the first few days, but towards the end, the attitude changed to "How about you go out there and let me slack in here with the plates?"
Now that's it. Wipe hard and fast at the cutlery. Trays and trays of them.
Stacks of plates that have been half wiped.
Over the period of two weeks, we learn how the experienced slacked runners wipe their plates and cultery. That isn't a good sign because behind the scenes we witness how horrifyingly dirty the utensils actually can be.
Through this attachment, we realise how important it is to appreciate others when they do something for us. Joel mentioned how he lousy he felt when he handed a milk jug to the guest and din't receive any form of acknowledgement or a simple word of thanks.
Overall, it was a nice experience because of the food i look forward to at lunch.
Occasionally when we're lucky, there would be nice treats like muffins brought down from the leftovers in the restaurant. -.- That sounds pathetic, but i wonder why i don't get nicer food from this attachment as compared to xiangli's experience. All we get is to look at the trolley of good food that rolled by us, meant for the guests. Now i kind of regret not eating more when i paid for the food at Oscar that day.
This is the staff cafe where we have our meals. The spread of food is pretty good, with side dish to main course to dessert and free flow of food and drinks. I guess each day we eat $36 worth of buffet lunch since we don't get paid while part timers get $6 per hour.
The only excitement going around in the hotel this two weeks is the hosting of the taiwanese boy band-fahrenheit. They are treated with much secrecy and privacy to protect them from crazy fans. But those lucky room service girls from tkgs get to send food to them and omg receive TIPS from Wuzun plus exchange a few words. That's ultimate, it makes the whole attachment worthwhile. She should just frame up the note and stop smelling the note. -_-
The best part is making friends.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
~ 10:35 PM ~
I'm glad to say that i've just five more working days. The attachment is taking away my social life, ok not really, but there's a high opportunity cost of wages. Plus the odd working hours makes meeting friends tough, because it includes a long stoning period before dinner time.
I've been eating too much good food for the past few days, and my wallet is protesting. In three consecutive days i've had international buffet at Oscar, Jap food and Fish & Co. Food at Oscar was below my expectation, though the desserts still look very pretty. Maybe it's the thought of having worked in the kitchen for the week, hence tasting the fish reminds me of the kitchen weird odour and there goes the appetite. Maybe it was a bad idea to dine there, despite the vow to use up all the plates and utensils that we could possibly find, because we just din't abide by it.
It has been a fruitful weekend, and it's back to work tomorrow. Dreads.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
~ 8:51 PM ~
I think i'm seriously shagged, both physically and mentally. What i feel now is just life sucks, i want to sleep. Period. First half of the day was wasted doing brainless menial work, wipe dishes, dry cutlery, shine wineglasses, fill sugar mugs, carry plates, you name it we do it. I feel like a blangadesh worker and i really used to pity them, because they are cheap labour. Now, good heavens i'm being exploited, call me runner to sound nice, or call me free labour. It must be karma, i wonder why.
What's funny was when Joel exclaimed into his phone to his friend on the other end :" I'm busy sorting napkins la!" It sounds like a totally dumb thing to be doing, like sorting napkins for his kid. -.- And it's tough job, standing whole day in a kitchen with a weird stench and counting down to break and dismissal. We all vow to use up thousands of plates and utensils after our attachment, looks like i ain't the only one with that thought. Now my poor feet miss those days when they can slack around at home.
I think i really need to rant. Tomorrow is the third day of attachment, and there's only two possibilities that i will evolve into. I will either complain about the job scope to the department or concede to wiping more plates and playing the very important role of ensuring the proper functioning of the kitchen cum customer relationship- refilling plates. I have a very strong feeling it's going to be the latter.
And the evening was no better, because i was mentally drained trying to tutor a kid. He's so inquisitive it scares me. Where do the red blood cells come from? *stun* What happens if there's too many red blood cells? *stun* Good gracious how am i suppose to have a brain capacity to remember all that? Primary school education was such eons ago, even my primary school has been revamped. And he's no normal kid, with short attention span and fidgety. Life's hard when you earn a living. I'm on the first lesson and i feel like quitting already. God bless me.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
~ 9:39 PM ~
Now i understand why people in the working world tells the kids complaining when they study that studying is more fun, don't look forward to work. I understand why they say that, but no i still rather work.
Today's the first day of attachment. I'll talk about it when it's over. Now i need all the energy that i can conserve.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
~ 11:42 AM ~
I'm so sorry to my jiemeis for the sudden missing in action for the past few days before prom. The trip to KL-Genting was serious hardcore shopping. A full 3 day trail through all the malls was exerting on those legs that haven been through much exercise for a long time, followed by a last day of thriller rides at Genting highlands. I have a crazy cousin that find no thrills in all the rides much to my horror, for those who know me well should know of my phobia of those winding paths that roller coasters follow. And because we were the only kids on the trip that had a heart strong enough for those thrills, i was inevitably peer-pressured into checking out those rides with her.
This trip was particularly different because it was a self-initiated, free and easy trip. We were led by my uncle who drove into the foreign land which was pretty cool because it was a different experience that allowed us to do what the locals do. We took the monorail for short distances and their kind of MRT for longer distances when we went to the mega mall at mid valley.
The railway station looks pretty much the same as ours, but their system of transport wasn't as efficient.
For every trip we made we had to buy tickets of fixed prices from station to station..
And for crowded places the queue could get as long as hello kitty..
It was a nice experience overall because all i had to worry about was eat, shop and sleep, besides the ambivalent feeling of having to get onto roller coasters. My uncle's family frequent KL pretty often, hence all i had to do was tag along and feast on the good food that was introduced to us.
The last day was spent at Genting highlands. Because we drove up instead of taking the cable car, the ride up was winding and steep which was just as much thrill as a roller coaster (at least to me) LOL. It was a 45 mins ride to genting from KL, which was short compared to the route home from genting which came up to 7 hours when we finally passed through the custom.
Time spent at genting was limited and we had only 3 hours plus for the rides after taking into account the time needed to drive home.
So this is me and my daredevil cousin that is afraid of moving bugs but not roller coaster.
First attempt at go-carting. My cousin thinks i drive like a pro. hahaha. unlike the fat lady or someone behind who can't brake in time and ramp into me. -_-
My sadistic cousin loves to spin super fast on the teacup and laugh at her friends who can't walk straight after that.. And she loves talking to me on the roller coaster telling me to look at the people, the trees, whatever and make me answer her, while i try to make her shut up so that i can focus on shutting my eyes. -_-
nice view from the hotel lobby
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