Briefing I... from Singapore!
It has been a week since I arrived to Singapore. Hectic days, from one meeting to other, trainings, more boring meetings, a lot of material to read, knowledge transition, etc. All things that normally happen in the first week at a new job and especially when you join a multinational organization like DHL.
My Singaporean experience so far has been amazing. Starting with the reception in the airport. One guy from AIESEC in Singapore was waiting for me with a big AIESEC logo just in front of the passengers exit. It was really nice to find somebody was worried about you after 30 hours crossing the world (literally). He took me to a fancy restaurant inside Changi International Airport (http://www.changi.airport.com.sg) where I tried my first Singaporean meal. Toasted bread with salad, pork and chicken. I immediately felt the spicy flavor that I was expecting… simply awesome. After that a second cultural shock: you don’t see a policeman on the streets! They are always hidden somewhere but you can’t see them. Instead of that, you can find security cameras all around the island. And then, third cultural experience: Singaporean drives their cars and walk in the left side of the streets, just like in Britain. At the beginning it was weird and quite difficult for me that I’m used to drive through the right side but after a while you start learning to watch on the opposite direction before crossing a street. Finally, I arrived to Dhanur’s place where I lived my first 2 days in Singapore before move in to Ozana’s (you will know who is she later)
On Tuesday, I had my first working day. I arrive to this breathtaking building call Parkview Square (http://www.parkviewsquare.com) where are located DHL Asia Pacific regional offices… my office! It is just amazing! I was introduced to the company by Alina (AIESEC coordinator) who showed me the offices, the different floors, meeting rooms, etc. She also introduced me some of the trainees and of course to my boss: a really nice guy from South Africa. Then I knew the group of people who will work with me, I got my laptop, email account, desk, phone extension, etc. And then meetings and more meetings.
On Wednesday, I started looking for a place to live. I already found it but have not move yet. The owner of the apartment is in the process of cleaning, painting, providing the furniture, change beds and mattresses, and arrange everything for us to live in a comfortable way. My next year will be shared with two guys. Robert, another DHL Express-AIESEC intern, from the Netherlands and with Hilton a really funny Brazilian-born but Japanese by race intern who is working with DHL Global Mail (other branch of the Deutsche Post World Net company-DHL’s matrix company). These guys are great. Too much fun between us. Some Spanish words coming and going because Robert lived in Mexico 6 months and Hilton, as most of the Brazilians, understand Spanish speakers quite easy. They are already living in our apartment because they were tired of the place where they were living at first. One was living with a Vietnam guy and the other with an Indian and they were simply bored and tired of them.
But I, in the other hand, don’t have any rush to move in. I’m living with a Romanian girl called Ozana that has been as an angel for me during my first days in Singapore. She is one of those kindly and beautiful women that worry about the newbies and try to make their live easier. I really don’t know what would happen to me if she didn’t appear in my life. She owned me some money to pay my first rent, cooked me breakfast, hang out with me a couple of times... she is just the best thing that have happened to me so far. And also, besides her internal beauty, she is also a really hot blond girl. Some of you must know that after my days in Europe last year I was totally in love about Romanian girls, well know I can confirm my theory that they are one of the most gorgeous girls on earth.
Singapore is a mix of many countries. It is easy for you see Chinese, Indians, Malaysians, Koreans, Japanese, Vietnam, Thailand, among other South Asian countries and also Americans, Canadians, British, Dutch, Mexican people. It is difficult for me recognize who is from where but you can start differencing people after just a few days. So far, Romanians, Indians and Chinese girls are winning the “Ricardo’s Hottest Race” award (Romanians are winning by a long distance from the second place)
Let see what is going to happen in the next weeks. I’m starting my second week at work. I hope to get my work permit to finally open a bank account and buy a mobile phone. By the weekend I sadly will be moving in to my new place, leaving behind the interesting night talks with Ozana and Pulbul (Ozana’s roommate) and opening pass to a new set of jokes and fun with Hilton and Robert. I already have planed a trip to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) by the 19th of September to work on a test data sessions for one of the main projects where I will be involved in the incoming months followed by a free weekend knowing one of the most important cities in the world. Best thing is that DHL will pay my tickets as well as my visa application and my hotel for the first 3 days. I will let you know more about this soon.
Ok my beloved readers hope that you had enjoyed the first briefing of my life in Singapore. I still need to take and download some pictures from my camera but as soon as I get them I will upload some for you to see them.
My Singaporean experience so far has been amazing. Starting with the reception in the airport. One guy from AIESEC in Singapore was waiting for me with a big AIESEC logo just in front of the passengers exit. It was really nice to find somebody was worried about you after 30 hours crossing the world (literally). He took me to a fancy restaurant inside Changi International Airport (http://www.changi.airport.com.sg) where I tried my first Singaporean meal. Toasted bread with salad, pork and chicken. I immediately felt the spicy flavor that I was expecting… simply awesome. After that a second cultural shock: you don’t see a policeman on the streets! They are always hidden somewhere but you can’t see them. Instead of that, you can find security cameras all around the island. And then, third cultural experience: Singaporean drives their cars and walk in the left side of the streets, just like in Britain. At the beginning it was weird and quite difficult for me that I’m used to drive through the right side but after a while you start learning to watch on the opposite direction before crossing a street. Finally, I arrived to Dhanur’s place where I lived my first 2 days in Singapore before move in to Ozana’s (you will know who is she later)
On Tuesday, I had my first working day. I arrive to this breathtaking building call Parkview Square (http://www.parkviewsquare.com) where are located DHL Asia Pacific regional offices… my office! It is just amazing! I was introduced to the company by Alina (AIESEC coordinator) who showed me the offices, the different floors, meeting rooms, etc. She also introduced me some of the trainees and of course to my boss: a really nice guy from South Africa. Then I knew the group of people who will work with me, I got my laptop, email account, desk, phone extension, etc. And then meetings and more meetings.
On Wednesday, I started looking for a place to live. I already found it but have not move yet. The owner of the apartment is in the process of cleaning, painting, providing the furniture, change beds and mattresses, and arrange everything for us to live in a comfortable way. My next year will be shared with two guys. Robert, another DHL Express-AIESEC intern, from the Netherlands and with Hilton a really funny Brazilian-born but Japanese by race intern who is working with DHL Global Mail (other branch of the Deutsche Post World Net company-DHL’s matrix company). These guys are great. Too much fun between us. Some Spanish words coming and going because Robert lived in Mexico 6 months and Hilton, as most of the Brazilians, understand Spanish speakers quite easy. They are already living in our apartment because they were tired of the place where they were living at first. One was living with a Vietnam guy and the other with an Indian and they were simply bored and tired of them.
But I, in the other hand, don’t have any rush to move in. I’m living with a Romanian girl called Ozana that has been as an angel for me during my first days in Singapore. She is one of those kindly and beautiful women that worry about the newbies and try to make their live easier. I really don’t know what would happen to me if she didn’t appear in my life. She owned me some money to pay my first rent, cooked me breakfast, hang out with me a couple of times... she is just the best thing that have happened to me so far. And also, besides her internal beauty, she is also a really hot blond girl. Some of you must know that after my days in Europe last year I was totally in love about Romanian girls, well know I can confirm my theory that they are one of the most gorgeous girls on earth.
Singapore is a mix of many countries. It is easy for you see Chinese, Indians, Malaysians, Koreans, Japanese, Vietnam, Thailand, among other South Asian countries and also Americans, Canadians, British, Dutch, Mexican people. It is difficult for me recognize who is from where but you can start differencing people after just a few days. So far, Romanians, Indians and Chinese girls are winning the “Ricardo’s Hottest Race” award (Romanians are winning by a long distance from the second place)
Let see what is going to happen in the next weeks. I’m starting my second week at work. I hope to get my work permit to finally open a bank account and buy a mobile phone. By the weekend I sadly will be moving in to my new place, leaving behind the interesting night talks with Ozana and Pulbul (Ozana’s roommate) and opening pass to a new set of jokes and fun with Hilton and Robert. I already have planed a trip to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) by the 19th of September to work on a test data sessions for one of the main projects where I will be involved in the incoming months followed by a free weekend knowing one of the most important cities in the world. Best thing is that DHL will pay my tickets as well as my visa application and my hotel for the first 3 days. I will let you know more about this soon.
Ok my beloved readers hope that you had enjoyed the first briefing of my life in Singapore. I still need to take and download some pictures from my camera but as soon as I get them I will upload some for you to see them.
posted by RicardoP at
9/10/2007 06:49:00 am
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