Duration: 28th August 2012 – 30th August 2012
This trip has been postponed since November 2011 until now but yet I am unable to escape the destined accountability of visiting the Singapore office in September 2012. Upon my arrival at the Changi Airport at 1.30pm with MH603, I took an express lunch in the airport having the Nyonya Mee Siam and a bottle of tonic drink before heading to the office by a taxi. The first day was spent in the office having some discussions with the Data Manager and Service Sales Director in setting up the agenda for the next 2 days. A stay in the Grand Park City Hall Hotel costing SGD250 per night is rather average where the room was rather small but nonetheless the location is very strategic within a walking distance to the nearby MRT station.
The second day was with a full day discussion on various action plans to improve KES overall processes and data quality in the coming months. Thanks to the hospitality of the service director in bringing myself and some of her team members to a Chinese restaurant serving delectable set of dishes for lunch. Besides the brain cracking process discussion and local practice analysis, I have been spending my days explaining the global requirements and not forgetting the “surprise” in the end of the session whereby I will need to present some master data topics to the sales team on an impromptu basis the next day.
The second evening was happily spent with 2 of my crazy best mates- Ms. LLS and Ms. LMS nearby the Bugis Street having Unagi Bento, yogurt ice-cream as dinner. My favorite supper bought from MOS Burger was sorrowfully prepared for my late night work having to prepare those presentation slides.
The third day started early for me to arrive at the office before 8:00am and ended well in the evening having the presentation, discussions and reviews completed successfully. A lunch with some colleagues at the hawker centre was delightful and relaxing (keeping in mind that I should return their kindness the next round during their visit to Malaysia to enjoy some local and typical Malaysian ice-kacang and cendul).
This visit somehow changes the perception I have all the while towards the Singaporeans due to my previous working experience; whereby I have had a bad and difficult time working with them due to the famous “kiasi” and “kiasu” attitude. However these people I met this round was exceptionally friendly and sociable unlike the typical ones I have met before. Straight after my arrival on Friday night back to KLIA at 7:10pm with MH608, I needed to pack my stuffs and begin another rushing journey early the next morning back to Penang to witness and partake in the joyful moment of my dearest friend- the moment of wedding proposal. ^^
