Life is too confusing

Here I am, going to do something really drastic again. I'm not sure if anybody would ever understand my decision or even sympthize with it. Some might even hate me or think I'm doing the stupidest thing in my life. I might even agree with them, not just in 10 years time, even now.

But I'm just thinking, I'm not living the life I want to live. I can't just live day by day till I die, enjoying life's little contentment. That's not how it is for me. I want to love, see the world, live differently, learn, get shocked. Of course nothing dangerous, but waiting for the day to die is not how I want to spend the rest of my days.

Gonna take the plunge. Thanks folks for sticking with me. See you later, folks that need time to get used to the idea.

unsettled

Haven't felt good for months. Very unsettled. This must be the longest I've ever taken to settle into a place.

fish

There was once a big enough fish in a pond. Thinking that there are too many big fish around, decided to leave for a smaller pond.
Being new in that small pond, she was cornered by a smaller fish which tried to boss her around and which bully her continuously. Fish starts to lose her confidence wondering if she is indeed a big fish after all.
Then one day, fish found that across a small area of land, there is another pond. Fish decides to make a crazy leap for it. Cos it's that or go mad, or bite the small fish back really hard.

Shanghai memories

Hi Joanna,

I'm writing this foreword after I finish the writeup below and I must say... you've put me through a very emotional journey! Many good memories came back to me whilst writing this. Hmm..

Nanjing Dong Lu in Shanghai (Perpendicular to the Bund)
All roads in Shanghai are named after a place in China, so don't be too surprised to find yourself on Beijing Road for instance. The whole stretch of Nanjing Dong (East) Lu to Nanjing Xi (West) Lu is like Orchard Road, 4X the length. It is not actually advisable to walk from one end to another as you can get pretty sick of walking.
It is a vibrant part of town. You can do some shopping, but I didn't cos I find most of the same stuff in Singapore. The price diff is negligible.
You'll find little tour agencies along the street. Compare a few before committing to any. Definitely bargain. Plan at least 1 day out of Shanghai. 2 might be good. You can be done with Shanghai in 3 days, unless you are on a leisurely tour and happy to hang around 1 cafe for 1/2 a day.

Shopping in Shanghai
Quite pointless as you'll be better off buying imported goods in SG where it's cheaper. The only attraction for most will be to buy fake goods. The fake market moves around all the time so I'm quoting you the address where they are now. However, ask any Lao Wai (whiteys/foreigners) in Shanghai and they'll be able to show you the way.
fake market in PUXI (west of river, where you are staying): YanAn Lu, Nanjing Lu, Taobao Cheng (name may change)
this market will be nearer to you, but smaller. You can do last minute buys if something occurs to you on your last day.

fake market in PUDONG (east of river, where you are staying):
Science Centre train station itself. All underground, but it's huge. You can get clothes, shoes, phone covers, shawls, toys. Worth a visit even if you don't intend to buy.
xizhang Lu, Fang bang Lu, lao xi men, hua niao shi chang 老西门 花鸟市场 (bird and insects market)- very pretty animals on display for sale.
It may not be easy to find. You gain entry through a few small alleys. It's a little bit like Diagon Alley - if you read Harry Potter, you'll know what I mean. Ha
I personally find it to be the most fascinating place in Shanghai. I went back each season and nothing is ever the same.
Ju lu lu (pubbing area) - worth partying here, the Bund is a bit too "stuck up" for my taste and I usually head west for Ju Lu Lu. Go for the ones that are more popular less you run the risk of drinking backyard alcohol that are bad for you. Beer's generally safe to drink.
Xin Tian Di - is another very popular pubbing area. This is a very famous whitey (not sure if you mind this term, but all my caucasian friends in Shanghai call themselves that in good humour) hangout which is a must see. it's very near the bird and insect market (see above) so if you plan your visits to be adjacent, it might save on travelling.
lu jia bang 陆家浜路 fabric market (fake goods, tailor make stuff. they send to your hotel.)
Another favourite of mine is Tian Zi Fang at Tai Kang Lu. It's really quaint. It's a very memorable place for me. Lots of very good memories there. :D
Hangzhou
1 day to Hangzhou is definitely a good idea, once there, you can hire a local tour guide to bring you around. bargain a bit. It's not the ideal way to travel, may be some 50sgd more than if you take a taxi around, but for a non-Chinese, non-Local, you'll still see more by following them than by wasting time trying to get the cabbies to understand where you want to go. typically, the first car you get is the most comfortable, the next few vehicles they pick you up on will deteriorate, but if you expect it at the onset, you won't feel so bad.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangzhou
Train schedule. There are 2 train stations in Shanghai. Go to the one in the South.

Nanjing
If by now, you still have some energy left, go to Nanjing. This time, go to the North railway station. it takes about 1 hour and 30 mins to reach nanjing. Don't bother with the WW2 museums and all that if you are not particularly interested in blood and gore and greviances. I took a look at the city walls for the history, and headed straight for the hotspring resorts, it was heavenly. You can dip all you want at 150RMB.
I've asked my ex-co whom i went with to send me the address. Will forward it on when it arrives.

Article on Introduction

Wrote the following, thought I'd share:

How to properly introduce someone, especially a new joiner
Make it about the person. Frequently, when we do our rounds with our new joiners, we fall into the habit of chatting with our colleagues on topics that we are interested in but the new joiner has absolutely no clue about, like the Christmas party last year and how the reports are coming along etc. This reflects badly on the introducer and the company. The new joiner will be dis-oriented and feel unwelcomed.
When introducing someone, maintain professionalism and relevance, avoid giggling about something that any one party is out on the joke. Steer the conversation such that your colleagues don't lead you into a private chat.

A) Address the more senior person first.
If you are introducing the new joiner (Harry) to someone more senior (Albus) in the company, this is how the introduction should go:
Albus, this is our new joiner, Harry. Harry, this is Albus of XX department. Albus, Harry joins us from XX co./university. He will be performing the role of ABC in our team.
If you are introducing the new joiner to someone junior (Gin),
Harry, this is Gin, she performs the role of XX in team YY. Gin, this is Harry, a VP in our team and he will be taking charge of ABC going forth.
Always introduce the background of the new joiner, especially if he is an experienced new hire and not fresh out of school. Do not simply say, "This is Harry, a new joiner to our team". A proper introduction will assist your colleagues to determine how to welcome the new comer appropriately.
B) Help the 2 persons get acquainted and thus allow the new comer to be welcomed into the bank by the individual
Mention common grounds, or possible areas where the 2 may interact. E.g. Albus is in charge of project A which you will be a part of, OR, Like yourself, Albus is Canadian.
Avoid topics that will spark so much interest that the 2 may engage in more than a 2 mins conversation or may end up leaving you out of the conversation. If you feel that the conversation is getting carried away, end it by expressing how glad you are that they have found a common topic and suggest they go out for lunch sometime, and move on.
C) Manage the situation
Be sensitive to the conversation. If you sense a subtle power struggle ie, one putting another down etc, gently end the introduction and move the new comer away. Reflect if you have caused the hostility by mis-managing the introduction and take care not to repeat the mistake.
D) Remember that the introduction is about the newcomer, and not about you. You should do your networking separately
E) Only introduce key stakeholders on the first day
One can only remember 5 to 10 people at 1 go, some even less. Make sure you prioritize. Introduce in sequence of importance. If you are entering an area where a team is required to be introduced, introduce the team name, and your new comer. Promise the team that you will come back another time to acquaint them one by one with the newcomer.
F) Introduction does not stop after day 1
If you have been in the firm for a long time, it is easy to forget how a newcomer may not even know who to contact in the IT /HR department. Help them build the relationship as an ongoing process. You will find that your attentiveness and considerate actions will build you strong relationships not just with the new comer, but with your colleagues who are impressed by your professionalism.

Christmas party at Bank

Lycra

Into sewing these days. Started with a piece of black lycra and had great success, then moved on to sew a skirt and a dress from the fabric left over from sewing the dining chair cushion covers. Again, success.

So went to China town and bought even more fabric. Created a pretty tube dress with silvery flowers and was happy...

Then it all went downhill. Nothing I sewn turned out right. The machine coughs and get stuck every now and then. Cutting 1 size too small. Using remainder cloth to sew together with good piece, think that i must have cut it wrongly, cut it up even further, and then found the correct half behind the sofa.

Getting quite depressed, really.

On the other hand, made 2 pairs of earrings that I'm quite happy with. I think the trick is to switch between the projects to avoid boredom / pick myself out of frustration.