My first work trip

I was excited when my boss told me to book a flight to Penang for a live auction. He said its an opportunity to learn how the live auction works. Indeed, I learnt about cataloging the assets, learnt about how quick-witted you have to be being the auctioneer and the paper documentation. Im impressed by Graham, the GM of KL office. His speech is like bullet!

Oh ya, i also learnt one bad thing. They always like to use 'bloody' in between their statements. For eg, 'I bloody know this buyer is not sincere to buy' or 'Im bloody tired standing there'..etc etc.

Its a good learning exposure for this work trip. As Im almost like running the whole SIN office, its beneficial for me to know everything - online auction, live auction, negotiated auction, etc. However, i must say, i need plenty of lessons on sales tactics. Derrick always says i ought to be flexible at times and have to put ourselves in the customer point of view. Hmm, not that i didnt. Being an admin personnel too, Im also concern how's the commitment to our clients would affect my admin and account flow. Although John is my direct boss, I also have to answer to the FC and accountant in Philippines. Most people says its good to work with caucasians as they allow rooms for flexibility. Well, that's just the surface general statement. There are still rules and procedures to adhere. And i will be questioned for doing things for my convenience which indirectly affect others.

Ok. back to the work trip. The moment i touched down at 5.30pm on the first day, Meiying picked me up from the airport and straight to the Frenz Bar to join John and Graham. Win already lor!! We sat there for 30mins before Matt, the asia's boss came to join us. I had a total of 2 glasses of orange juice and they had a total of 8 jugs of beer for that 2 hours. OMG!

I thought i could have some rest at the hotel. Nope. John told me that the rest of the colleagues were at Soho, another bar beside the hotel. Faint! Being spontaneous, I checked in, placed my bags and left with John to join the rest. By then, i was dead hungry and tired. And we stayed there for another hour. But at least Soho is better than Frenz. Nice songs and atmosphere. It was at 10.30pm i had my tandoori chicken for dinner. The dinner was just outside Soho, street side stall. Delicious. Can you imagine they still want to drink after dinner? OMG! The gals and I rejected them and went back to the hotel. By the time i showered and settled down, its already 1am. dead tired! Being a timid person, the lights were all on! hee Yet, i still din slept well. Half sleeping, half paranoiding. haha!

Day two, the main event. We have to reach the site at 830am. On the way there, i saw the duno what the name of the bridge. Cant remember. Heard them say is the longest in Asia. Anyway, when we reached the site, work began. Sherena, Linda, Angeline and i prepared the registration stuff. Hmm, wouldnt want to elaborate much on the paper documentation here. The weather was so hot and humid. It was really unbearable. At late evening, i was down with migrain and vomit. Its written on my face that my colleague got worried. Even my own brought medi couldnt help. Boring Man. The whole auction ended at 730pm. Next, drink sesh at Frenz again! For the whole day of hard work. I went straight to the toilet to puke. Darn sick. But luckily i got better after puking. And i had orange juice again.

Just like the day before, dinner was at 10pm at a chinese restaurant. Dun even have time for my own to shop or rest. Boring. After dinner, John brought Sherene, Mark and me to the lounge at Easten and Oriental Hotel for Long Island Tea. Its always expensive to drink in SIN. hehe The architect of the hotel look 70% like our Raffles Hotel. Nice! We sat by the beach front and chatted. Really a nice place to chill.

3rd day. Helping out at the site again. Wasnt feeling well - Fever, sorethroat. At about 1115am, i tried to arrange for an earlier flight back. But my man gave me the malaysia airlines timing instead. Was on the verge of tears when i was told that the earlier SQ flight was at 1030am. I really felt so sick and wanted to go home. So, i popped my own medi again and gulped down plenty and plenty of water. Luckily i felt better. I think its the madness rush of work and the hot weather that is making me sick.

Although darn tired and sick, its a fruitful trip. Met all the colleagues in KL offices which would make work communication easier. Working with the caucausian means have to accept their work and drinking culture. haha!

I hope there will be live auction for me to play again. Hopefully next time it would be in Bangkok. hehe.