Stepping Start~
30 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
How should I start? So many things running in my mind now.
After around a month of job search, I have decided to take up a 6 months intern position with… a particular hotel. It is more of a hotel that caters towards business travellers and has branches in Australia and China as well (guessed it yet?). I believe it will be a good start, a stepping stone to foray into the hospitality career.
So why hospitality?
Initially I opened up my options to including journalism print media, real estate, cosmetics and advertising. But then I thought I should pick a field where I will truly enjoy working in, or at least see myself surviving through for the next 3-5 years, plus a sector that taps on the traits that I have (or you might call them ‘your strengths’). Hence I narrowed it down to hospitality management, because firstly, for the umpteen time that I am typing this I love travelling and learning about new places, people and their cultures. It is a sector that could get you positions overseas (rather easily), and more importantly, it is a service sector career. I looked at my previous jobs and most of them are consultancy talk a lot positions, so why not develop a career in this area too? Plus I believe it sure is interesting to learn about the distinct types of hotels and resorts, the management and sustainability, their sources of revenue (which primarily is based on occupancy or banquet sales!). So alas! I am happy with my choice and grateful for the internship opportunity given (which includes 3 other interviews that gave me really good experiences).
Can’t wait to start work next Tuesday =)
I believe the second half of 2010 will be fulfilling for sure 
With all the clubbing, girls-talk, baking classes, post-trip Nepal community service help out, school (3 more months!) and the list goes on…
我的生活过得很充实！
P.S. I know this sounds rather early but I am already thinking of where to travel to after my internship (as a holiday break). Australia!
P.S.S. It really takes a lot of effort and perseverance to get what you want and to be where you want to be at, because competition is so intense you reap what you sow
<edit: I chanced upon this quote while reading an interview of Alain de Botton- one of my favourite authors!>
“So, I think where people tend to end up results from a combination of encouragement, accident, and lucky break, etc. etc. Like many others, my career happened like it did because certain doors opened and certain doors closed. You know, at a certain point I thought it would be great to make film documentaries. Well, in fact, I found that to be incredibly hard and very expensive to do and I didn’t really have the courage to keep battling away at that.
In another age, I might have been an academic in a university, if the university system had been different. So, it’s all about trying to find the best fit between your talents and what the world can offer at that point in time.”>
Sweet~
22 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
Cute Little Black Dress!
Pretty little ‘wired’ dress (reminds me of those corsets that are worn inside full length ballgowns!) Notice the little ribbons on the gloves too?
Valentino’s Feminine Charms for Couture 2010 =)
What’s up?
16 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
Was really busy for the past few days. As least I am a step closer to what I really want to do for a career. Now all it takes is smart choices, persistance and focus 
At least the few days of deep pondering and rejections (by many companies) taught me a lot. And because nobody owes you a living, you earn your own keep – this is a society that gives opportunities based on merits (largely speaking).
Hope Monday’s interview will go well!
P.S. Many times it is the experiences that you gain from past ‘failures’ that will propel you further, to pursue your passions. It is not waking up everyday for a job. It is waking up everyday for a career.
P.S.S. On the lighter note, I love the L’oreal Elseve’s Nutri Gloss shine conditioner for its rejuvenating after shower scent! Haha!
Maybe I should just get the whole range huh?
Just be Yourself~
14 Jul 2010 1 Comment
If you live life with so much expectations set largely by unjustifiable societal standards, then you ain’t living for yourself. You are just living a life to please others.
It is ‘privilege’ to be able to enjoy the finer things in life, but then that does not guarantee happiness everyday. And faking appreciation for them is definitely not being yourself too.
Versace’s Spring Look~
12 Jul 2010 2 Comments
Rather outdated. But I finally got some time to closely look through some of Spring’s 2010′s collection. And I can happily say that looking at Versace’s Ready to Wear collection is worth all my time (and clicking!). I guess this season is all about prints, shine and proportions
My top picks:
Bouquet of Flowers~
12 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
Gardenias and White Roses.
They both make such a beautiful bouquet.
Of purity and simplicity
~~~
11 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
Male friend 1: “If you are so independent, then what can a guy do for you? What’s the need for a guy?”
Male friend 2: “Huh? Take care of your husband? I thought it is your husband taking care of you?”
(Erm… when I said ‘take care’, I meant ‘wifey duties’. Not earning big money and pampering him. No!)
The Interiors~
09 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
in Business`
Maybe I should share a little about my interview today at this particular F&B company. No I am going to reveal what I was asked about during the interview session because that is not the main point. It is more on the afterthoughts of it all.
When I stepped into the little cosy office, the first thing that came into my mind was “Wow! Ok no standard cubicles layout, I feel like I’m in one artsy fartsy designer home.”
Somesort like that (I can’t take a photo of the office), without the dining table and that the colour theme was grey. Yes I love the stairs to the upper floor where real office work is to be done!
The 2nd floor was divided into a few rooms linearly (didn’t enter any of them, I hope to, if they hire me for the next 6 months.. hehe) where it reminded me of ‘bedrooms for an apartment’ (see! another reason why I got the cosy homely feel). I guess interior layout of an office is part of how a company determines it’s individual corporate culture (which reminds me of the Microsoft Shanghai visit where it doesn’t seem China at all because they carry over the US working model and adapted it slightly, or did they?) and the type of working environment that it wants to give to its employees.
The company that I went too focuses heavily on creativity and customizing etc (that’s part of the reason why I am keen in working there despite that fact that it isn’t some big MNC- it doesn’t really matter). Hence, the place does not have the conventional, neat and tidy, grid partitioned layout that you will visualize when people mention the word ‘office’. Somewhat different, an open and ‘unrestricted’ concept, that goes in line with their company vision.
So lesson learnt: offices interior designs do not have to be constrained to just confined cubicle layouts.
Say it Wise~
09 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
I don’t know about the rest of you guys, but whenever I’m bogged down with confusions… I tend to speak to a lot of my close and trustable friends… in which most will give me constructive advises. And I am grateful for that Maybe I just cannot keep every troubling issue in heart, I’ll just get 内伤, ‘internal injuries’. Haha. I guess I really belong to the outspoken and outgoing type of person. Very opinionated? And I enjoy conversing with people who genuinely shares their views (whether it is a refutal point or not) because I learn a lot that way, in terms of new perspectives on the topic itself and about that person too
On the contradicting side, I can choose to remain silent on certain occasions. And that does not mean that I have no opinion or is unfamiliar with that topic. This only comes when I feel that I would rather not hurt the other party by challenging his/her point of view and revealing ‘the truth’… because ignorance is a bliss. Letting the other party remain ‘ignorant’ about some issues (and allowing him/her to figure it all him/herself later on) might be a better option then to just be completely upfront. And this saves a lot of trouble from getting unwanted misunderstandings that risk the friendship.
Oh well!
P.S. I am filling up my free days by reading up on marketing design related stuff.
Friends with Lessons~
06 Jul 2010 4 Comments
这个星期坏消息瞒多。。。
但是因为我个性加强开朗，所以我把不好的一切都做为“life lessons”。
和你在一起的这两个月，我学期了很多很多。也许是因为你比我大，交往多，经验也丰富多了。我好比你相反，还在读书，工作经验少，也不什么社交。。所以有时我们也很难沟通。做不了情人，做朋友好了。我们当然也可以是“good friends”。就如你说的 “good friends are hard to come by”，我很珍惜我们的这段友情。。你这几个星期给我的指导和评语，我都会记得。觉得很开心能做你的 “小妹妹”。
也认识了几个好男生。个个都很努力，自主。我很幸运能够在茫茫的人海里认识了你们。很感谢大家的鼓励及帮忙，和真诚的照顾
感谢 SK for your help, Alex for your genuine concern (boyish voice!), Jerome W for your advices (I’d probably need more in future!), Jonathan for always being there whenever I am in my melting sorrows (don’t worry about leaving me behind when you depart for France!) and Kenneth L for “talking cock” with me during this uncertain period.
也没忘了我的好姐妹们！Yilin, Zilin & the 2 Amandas (friends for almost a decade!)… my close Uni-mates Priscilla, Christie and Kamini for hearing me out always =) And Vina for your unselfish concerns
我会再接再厉，勇往直前。好想不走。。但是曾年轻。。为自己的梦想而拼搏！
<edit: Thank you Vivien too! What a random surprise! You are fast!>
~~~
06 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
A whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
~~~
05 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
Stronger than yesterday
And looking forward to end of 2010 and the first half of 2011! (Ohh those plans… hehehe! Shall strive for them to actualize!)
~~
03 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
It’s really up to you on what you wanna do in your life, and how you execute your plans (^-^)
~~~
03 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
Love the lavender-pink eye makeup :)
Scarlett Johansson at this year’s Tony Awards.
ReMemories~
03 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
in Around the World`, Things & Think`
It feels really strange that I am now back from Nepal 2 weeks ago. In these 14 days, it was “back to the norm” for me. School’s going to reopen within a week, and meanwhile I’m trying to find myself a proper job
Everything seems to happen within split seconds. Too fast for me to stop and breath, much less think. If you ask those who travel frequent, they will mostly give you the same opinion “it is very tiring”. Yup it definitely is, especially if you are going to 2 places with more differences than similarities for distinct purposes. Till now I still reminisce my 20 days overseas with the great companions I made along the way
I dearly miss…
Being taken cared of by my 2 sweet roomies when I was sick on the 8th day of the Nepal trip.
Relishing toasted bread with butter and sugar for breakfast during the days at Nagarkot.
Trekking from Dhulikhel to Nagarkot and getting a healthy suntan!
Night chitchat sessions outside the common balcony with those great companions (and getting shouted at by some fussy Causasian tourist from the neighbouring hotel because he complaint that we were too “noisy” and disturbing his rest in the middle of the night).
Singing the “washing your hands” song with the little children.
The daily “life-endangering” to and fro bus ride from resort to school and vice versa. All the bumpy rollar coaster-like rides!
Morning photo-taking sessions with the panoramic Himalayan range as our background.
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Long bus rides from one place to another where we replenished our lack-of-sleep or chitchat about random stuff.
‘Networking session lunches/dinners’ where I think I enjoyed the food rather than networking. Haha!
Us 3 (A&J&Me!) sitting next to one another and taking food for each other.
Watching movies in you 2′s room!
Throwing nuggets at the street outside Holiday Inn Express in Shanghai (What?!)
Clubbing in Shanghai.
Going to The Bund to sightsee, take photos and complain about each others’ lousy photography skills (HAHA!).
Being brought to Nanjing Road in Shanghai after the World Expo visit… Having fried rice and that awful tasting soup at one of the many backstreet stalls… Having 2 slices of mediocre-Chinese-standard cakes…
Drinking that sweet soya bean at Fudan University!
Shanghai
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[Widget for Thoughts]