Wednesday, January 25, 2006

More rants...

Forgot to complain about these 2 girls who are also from the B office but on a different assignment. Anyway, these girls are also sharing the room. They come in at about 9 am and right up till they leave at 4:30 pm, they chat non-stop. They’ll be talking and giggling and since I’m right next to them, you can imagine what I’m going through. The girl that I’m next to is very much like the typical bimbo. She seems to be more interested in chatting, making phone calls and texting on her mobile than doing actual work. And she’s pretty rude in the sense that she’ll just plonk her files and papers next to me and take up my space, occasionally knocking into me. The other girl, is like the sidekick. The not so pretty friend who tags along and agrees with everything the friend says. They’re not as bad as the auditors but sometimes, I think they talk about me (not like I give a rat’s ass) coz they’ll yap in Arabic, glance at me, then continue yapping. Not like I’m bothered about what they’re saying. It’s just the constant yapping that I can’t stand.

Anyway, I was talking to Sylvia the other day, and she mentioned that the reason why it’s annoying is because I’m alone and have no one to converse with. Yes, that is so true. I suppose, if I was in their position I would be talking to. Not as loud and I definitely won’t be as messy and rude but yes, I will be talking. But I’m still sticking to my stance that these bunch of people I've met are just plain weird and rude. And annoying as hell.

One more day in this hell hole. Hopefully when I return these people would have vanished.

Monday, January 23, 2006

Annoyed...

Need to vent. Badly.

I’m typing this post on my injured laptop. Why is it injured? Because some idiot cracked the LCD screen and now my screen has got rainbow colours at the side, white stripes across the bottom half of my screen and the whole bottom part where the taskbar is located is completely obscured. Which idiot cracked my screen? I don’t know who, but it’d definitely one of the auditors who are sharing the conference room with me. I’m really really annoyed. Not only are they loud, obnoxious and do not value other people’s personal space, they broke my laptop and didn’t mention a word to me. But then again, I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t even realise that it’s broken. That’s how blur they are. How they can be auditors, I don’t know. The room that we’re in just nice for 6 people. There’s me, 4 of the damn auditors and another 2 girls from another team doing some other work. The damn auditors have taken up practically the whole room leaving only a small space for the rest of us. Their files and papers are everywhere. Not only are they covering the entire surface of the table, but also covering nearly all of the floor as well. So annoying! And they don’t bother clearing their stuff after every working day. They stay at the office until much later so by the time I go home, they will utilise my space as well. That’s fine. But at least have the courtesy to clear up when you finish! The next morning when I come in, my space will have their stuff! Either a laptop or their files or their papers. Annoying shits! And I don’t know why they can’t throw their rubbish away. They’ll just leave empty water bottles, used tissues and half-empty juice boxes on the table. And the rubbish bin is just a few feet away! Is it really so hard to throw your own rubbish? And they talk really loudly among themselves. Which I don’t understand why. It’s not like they’re far away from each other. And they talk non-stop, from the time they come in till I leave the office. The talking I can still take. It’s the bloody mess that I can’t stand. And the fact that they don’t clean up after themselves. And when I shift their stuff in the morning, they give me this look like “Why did I touch their things?” Well, when you encroach on my space, I obviously have to move your stuff to put my things on the table! I should take a photo of the mess when they’re not around. It’s unbelievable. Imagine laptops, loose papers, pens, files, tissue boxes, a phone, empty water bottles, juice boxes, used tissues strewn all over the table. Then, add 3 Indian auditors and 1 Bahraini dude into the picture. Next, turn up the volume to the max to hear them talking. That’s what I have here. Plus, they’re really slow too. Example of one conversation:

A (Bahraini dude): I have a meeting with the head of Liquidity Management at 12 to discuss about the Murabaha investments.
B (Indian guy) : What?
A: (repeats) I have a meeting with the Liquidity Management guy at 12.
B: (pauses for a long while) Who?
A: The head of Liquidity Management. Mr XX.
B: (another long pause) What time?
A: At 12.
B: (another pause) Why are you meeting him?
A: To discuss about the Murabaha investments.
B: (pauses… again!) [Note: at this point, I feel like shouting at B] Who are you meeting again?
A: Mr XX. The head of Liquidity Management.
B: Is he the head?
A: Yes.
B: Are you sure?
A: Yes.
B: What time are you going?
A: At 12.
B: (looks at his laptop, looks up, scratches his head) Why are you meeting him?

OMG!!! And I did not exaggerate the above. That was exactly what happened. I don’t know what happened after that because I just couldn’t stand it anymore and went for a walk to the pantry.

They also laugh at really lame jokes and make really lame jokes as well. Example:

A (Bahraini dude): talking….
B (Indian guy): Hey, your pen is leaking. (The Bahraini dude had a green ink pen clipped to his white shirt)
Your shirt is green… You’re a green man now! Hahahaha… (laughs heartily)

Again, that is exactly what happened.

How to tahan, I tell you! So annoying! Not like I want to listen to what they’re saying but they talk so loud that you can still hear them even after I’ve put on my ear phones and listening to music!

I’m really annoyed about my laptop screen. I won’t be able to get it repaired because next week is the CNY week and we’ve got a whole week off, meaning there’ll be no one to work on my laptop even though I’m back. So now, the only option appears for me to send back my laptop via my boss who’s going back to KL tomorrow and work here without a computed for the next 2 days before my flight back home. This is so they can work on the laptop on Wednesday morning and I can get it back on Friday when I land in KL. 2 whole days here without a laptop. I think I’ll go crazy. Either that or live with the crack for another month.

Good news is, 8th and 9th of Feb is a public holiday for Islamic countries. Meaning I might be able to convince my boss to let me go back later after the CNY break. So then, I will be able to repair my laptop the week after CNY. The problem with that is that I’ll have to change my flight ticket which is back home in Tropicana. I don’t know when is the latest we can change the date of my flight but will have to check and see. Will then formulate my strategies after finding out.

Damn. So troublesome.

And now I’m hungry. My tummy is growling like a rabid dog. Don’t care. Will crunch my cereal bar with them in the room.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Bahrain, oh, Bahrain

Here I am, back in Bahrain. Reached Bahrain on 14/1 and started work the next day. The flight here was tiring. Was sitting next to this kid who’s gotta be about 6 years old but was so fat. His arms were the same size as mine (maybe bigger)! And he had a cold, so he kept sniffing and coughing. Annoying! And halfway through the flight, he fell asleep and half of his body and his head was over on my side! Ish! In-flight food sucked. Caught Oliver Twist on the plane though. The show was alrite. Pretty slow and couldn’t really hear coz there were some people a few seats behind who were talking really loudly! Anyway, by the time I got settled in my apartment, it was already 11 pm (Bahrain time). I’d been travelling for the whole day. The apartment was okay. Except that it was missing a fridge! I was like “huh?” I mean, how can a fridge go missing? Anyway, they’ve put in one for me, so all is good.

Living alone is no fun. It’s only been my 3rd day here, but I’m already feeling the loneliness. Everyday, I go back to an empty apartment with no one to talk to. I just eat my dinner and plonk myself in front of the TV. Thank goodness for cable TV!

Took a taxi from the airport to the apartment. Stupid guy charged me 10BD! That’s equivalent to RM100! And the apartment is not that far. Maybe about the same distance from my office to Tropicana. Damn! Thank goodness there’s a receipt and I claim the amount. The guy had the cheek to ask for tips as well :p I made him carry my luggage into the building, though. Anyway, during the ride, the dude started talking to me. At first, it was just the usual stuff like where I’m from, have I been to Bahrain before, why am I here etc. Then came the weird questions. Shocker number 1. He asked if I was married. So I politely said ‘No’. Shocker number 2. He proceeded to ask if I had a boyfriend. So I said ‘Yes’. Shocker number 3. He asked if I loved him. Shocker number 4. He asked if I will marry him. At that point I was getting really freaked out and just wanted to get out of the car fast. Then he asked if I’ve gone sight-seeing in Bahrain. Immediately, I said ‘Yes!’ He named a few places but I said I’ve seen them all. He might just volunteer himself to bring me round!

Anyway, I basically can’t wait to go back home. This is really bad considering it’s only been 3 full days since I’ve been here. Will be going grocery shopping during the weekend to keep me occupied. Will start cooking dinner instead of ordering out everyday. It’s great that the restaurants here all have home delivery service. I go home, order some food, wait for it to come and gobble my food. That’s because by that time, my tummy would be growling massively and scolding me for not feeding it. I don’t eat lunch at the client’s office coz they don’t have a proper lunch hour so I usually just munch on a cereal bar. So I’m basically eating only one proper meal a day. Sounds sad, doesn’t it?

Looking at this secondment on a positive note, I suppose it’s a great experience to have, working in another country with a different mix of people. Being here has taught me quite a bit on the culture of the Middle East and how things don’t go as fast as you would like them to. Their idea of efficiency is not how fast you can finish the work (with quality of course) but the longer you take (ie the longer you stay) the better the quality of the work. Hence the need for me to be here. Honestly, the bulk of the work can be done back in KL. But they need to see someone here since they’re paying for consultants. And since they can afford to pay for us to be here, then that’s what we have to do. Oh well, all for the sake of filling up my CV and gaining international exposure.

Weird encounters in Bahrain:
1 Fridge missing from apartment
2 Freaky taxi driver

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Hahaha...

It's a real laugh when you read our very own national journalists write about something so silly that you can just shake your head and laugh to yourself. When journalists write in a national tabloid equating anime to porn, you can't believe that these people are actually qualified journalists. Furthermore, when it's in the front page, you can't believe that the editor of the paper actually approved it. Where are the brains of these people? Even if you don't know what anime is, it doesn't take very long to do a simple check and read up on it. It's just so fucking unbelievable. I mean, what ever happened to journalistic integrity. Oh wait. That doesn't exist here. Journalists write whatever they want to write and don't bother about checking if the information is correct. This whole issue of that lebanese dude is another laugh. I seriously think the guy is just psychotic. Probably his brain tumour is causing some sort of psychosis. And for our major papers to print the story without verifying whether he really IS a billionaire, is for us to shake our heads and laugh again. Just because a dude says that he is worth so and so, and wants to donate X amount to a charitable organisation, he makes the papers? So, I can say I'm worth X amount and want to pledge Y amount to, say... WAO, I will suddenly be in the papers? C'mon... in today's world of technology, it's highly unbelievable that this dude (who claims he is the 2nd richest guy in the world!) can go undetected. Besides, if he really has controlling shares in companies around the world, that can be easily proven, right? Just give us the names of these companies, let us do a check and voila... no more disputes about your wealth. Or the easier thing would be, just hand over the dang money and everyone would just get off your back. What a laugh. And for the people involved to actually believe such a claim and pledge is even more of a laugh. Either that or it was just a slow news day and they needed something to print badly :)

On a more personal note, the new year crept in silently. For me at least. I will be flying off to Bahrain again this coming Saturday and this time, I will be all alone. Will be staying in a 1-bedroom apartment. Anyone who cares to visit is welcome to use my room. Will sleep on couch for company :) Thankfully, I will be back for CNY for a week then flying back again for the whole month of Feb. Dull, dull, dull. Being alone is no fun.

Went to LunaBar last Friday for our post new year department party. Fun night. Everyone just let their usual guards down and had fun. Some let more than their guards down. Seriously, there are some things you don't say and do with your colleagues and bosses. And talking about quickies, dildos, vibrators and orgasms is definitely in the list. Also, putting ice down your bosses shirts is NOT acceptable!! Jeebers! What in the world was she thinking? Hold on... i guess she wasn't thinking if not she wouldn't have done that in the first place! Anyway, here's a picture of us gals at Luna. More photos to come but not uploaded yet.



Don't we look cheerful and happy?







Anyway, am flying off this saturday, and I am only halfway through packing. Already my bag feels pretty heavy. Just hope it doesn't go overweight!

Anyone with any good entertainment for me to bring over, please contact me! Entertainment badly needed!