The Mighty Jungle

1) What would be your first reaction when someone says that they've gained weight?

Asma: I would start eating more to equal their weight.

Correct Answer: Someone has cast black magic on the person.

-------------------------------

2) What would be your thoughts if someone you knew ignored you for a whole month, and said that they could not establish contact because their company did not allow them to bring their personal laptops & handphones to their location, that they fell off an offshore platform, broke their leg, then they fell off a helicopter after the platform incident, and worked the next month while still on medical leave?

Asma: I would take the hint that the person has no personal interest in me.

Correct Answer: The person has been witchcrafted by jealous ex-girl friends.

--------------------------------------

Summary:

In both situations, when the correct response of the person had to do with black magic, I am quite certain my facial expression was that of McCaulay Culkin's.

I suppose if I gained weight, my natural reaction would be to hold myself accountable and exercize. This is probably the standard response.

Similarly, if people exhibit strong behavior which includes complete avoidance and bizarre excuses, naturally I would see it as a rejection. Then I would move on.

Perhaps everyone else gets the black magic response a lot, but not me. I believe in accountability, and if we are quick to blame the invisible forces of nature, then we are neglecting the truth. We are ignoring the core issue. Furthermore, it's unjust to blame others for an assumption you cannot prove.

Do you remember the case in Malaysia a few years ago where the football player went MIA on the day of his wedding? His family stated that someone cast black magic on him. The groom was silent. His jilted fiance sued for losses. The next few weeks, he married another girl.

Call me negative, but I think he had cold feet. That's normal. Don't call it black magic. Be a man and own up.

In any case, I do accept the person's opinion because we are all entitled to one. I just don't understand how they arrived to that conclusion.

Just sharing. Have you experienced this?

Social Engineering

In December, my department was a given an intern. His name is Jonathan. John hails from Kuching and is completing his final semester at a local university UiTM Sarawak campus.

Ever since my days in Port Dickson, I have always enjoyed having interns. Something about imparting what you learned at the office, and relating that to what you've learned from textbooks and your lecturers excite me. When I can, I also try to relate it back to Islamic concepts.

With John, the experience is two-fold. I find him enthusiastic, confident, sharp and dedicated. I give him manuals, and he ASKS me questions before I get to ask him. On his 3rd day, I have already given him tasks that I would normally give a graduate. At the end of each day, I love having discussions with him about what he has learned, what his observations are, and going through his tasks.

After he has completed his tasks, he says, ''What's next?''

He's so confident and sharp that I am secretly training him to take over my position. Hahaha.

So he follows me around to the control room. I will be letting him perform our annual stock count with the auditors as well as the tank dipping exercizes. He will get a flavor of pre-turnaround and major project exposure. Though it adds more hours to my work, it doesn't feel that way at all.

Thus far I have never asked my interns to make me coffee or the like. I'm not sure why some Malaysian staff in other companies do that. What a waste of talent.

In any case, I celebrate people and talent like Johnathan. I can only hope that he enjoys his internship as much as I have teaching and coaching him.

PS> My other colleagues and line manager love him too!

I'm thinking of getting him a Christmas present. Any suggestions?

Back to School

I have recently developed a school girl crush on Darren Criss. He's one of the new guest stars of the Musical Comedy Glee.

Of course, on-screen I do get a little uncomfortable when Chris Colfer (Kurt) looks at him longing-ly 'cos his character has a crush on him too. Hahaha

He's in the Harry Potter Musical which I find hilarious. It's on YouTube. Go check it out.

2011 Unveiled

Air Asia regularly announces their new destinations i.e. to South Korea, Paris and now New Zealand. Like any die-hard explorer, these news always sends shock waves through out my body. So I check my calendar for 2011. To my dismay, most of the long public holidays such as Chinese New Year, Hari Gawai (Sarawak only) and Eid'ul Fitr all fall early/end of their respective months.

Managing the small Finance unit focusing especially on hydrocarbon and capital projects means that I have to be around every end and early of the month to ensure the books are closed and reported correctly. In 2011, it means I will not be back in the peninsular for the long holidays.

Furthermore, 2011 will be an exciting year for the company. A brief background, the company I work for refines natural gas (not crude oil) into liquid green products such as naphta, gas oil, light gas oil, etc as well as solid waxes that are used to produce lipstick, plastic wrap, candles, etc. We do not supply our liquid products to Malaysia but mainly to Western countries, but our customers for our solid waxes are from all around the globe. We will be having our biggest plant turnaround where we perform statutory inspection and maintenance without which our operating license will be revoked. Secondly, our new wax plant expansion project will be commissioned a few months prior to the turnaround. The company is embarking on this wax plant project to capture new markets and capitalize on our high-margin products.

The turnaround has recently imposed a No Fly Zone beginning 1st July 2011 until Nov because manpower needs to prepare for this historic event . No Fly Zone literally means No Annual Leave allowed from July until the Turnaround is completed. It also means we have to work 6 days a week beginning July 2011. The turnaround will commence 2 days post Eid'ul Fitr for 56 days.

Having said that, annual leaves have to be planned from Jan-June, and mid-months post year-end statutory audit (Feb-April).

In a nutshell, I have not purchased any flight tickets from Bintulu-KL-Bintulu for 2011. I hope my family & friends understand that I won't be home for the holidays.

For friends who are getting married, I hope you have your reception before July *wink*. If not, please excuse my absence.

My friend suggested that I get my family to fly down to Bintulu for Eid. Knowing my family really well, I told them that would be extremely challenging and highly unlikely. I'll spend all the holidays in Bintulu =)

For the time being, I will have to delay the much awaited holiday plans.

See you later Paris, Seoul, and Christchurch! Wait for me.