We're fast approaching the end of the first month of 2008. How time flies. And the types of changes a new year brings is both soul-enriching and soul-sapping. It's a new year. And I now have a new job. It's been a month and a half since I joined and thank goodness, it's been okay. Change is always difficult. Adapting to a new working environment, new working culture, new colleagues, new bosses etc. I wouldn't say that I'm part of the 'family' yet but at least the people here are nice enough to include me in social outings. Of which I must say, I have been rather anti-social and have so far turned down their invitations. Not because I don't want to go out with them but because I'm somehow still making plans with my ex-colleagues who have become fast friends. It's been different coming out from a team where everyone is so close. Which was one of the reasons why I left in the first place as more and more people couldn't differentiate between friend and colleague and there were no more lines left within the workplace. It was getting a bit stifling in the team when your bosses try to be your friend and there's so much drama and flirting going around that every single petty thing annoyed me and I didn't like the person I was becoming. So full of anger and negativity.
Although I'm not exactly starting anew here, (I have 2 ex-colleagues who joined here as well), I already feel as if a heavy burden has been lifted from my shoulders. I feel more alive and fresher and I look forward to the work that will be thrown to me, knowing that I'm able to shine on my own and not constantly in the shadow of anyone else. I'm grateful that I've been given an interesting project which I hope I've done well and that I have had an extremely flexible and understanding superior. So, keeping my fingers crossed that my lucky streak will continue on.
The ex team will be going on a department trip to Bali and surprisingly, I don't feel at all left out. I thought I would. I would have loved going on a holiday with some of them but the drama and tension of which I hate, simply outweighs the feeling of being left out. I don't think I would have been able to put up with any drama / flirting / touching / drunken tension which will most probably happen during the trip. Knowing myself, I would be in such a foul mood and would just be drinking myself to oblivion and to numb myself against all the drama.
I cherish the good times I had there and am grateful for the opportunities that have been thrown to me which has enabled me to learn and develop myself. There's nothing more satisfying than knowing that I completed a major project on my own with minimal / no guidance from my superiors. Unfortunately, most of the times, complete credit doesn't go my way, hence the annoyance and irritation and negativity. Anyway, I've learnt a great deal and cherish the friends which I have gained.
It's been a good 2007 and I'm looking forward to a great 2008.
Went diving recently in Pulau Weh, which is an island off Banda Aceh. Aceh is still in the midst of rebuilding even though it's been 3 years since the tsunami. It's a really small town with not much to see / do. The entire town just seemed dirty and poor. A lot of work still needs to be done. Even the island has only the basic amenities but even the electricity cuts out most of the time. The dive resort has its own generator but it's not powerful enough to keep the fans on. So most nights, we were sleeping without fan. And because it's jungle area, there were insects everywhere!!! Plus the food was really bland. Except for the grilled fish we had everynight for dinner as the fish were freshly caught from the sea. However, the dive sites and the sea more than made up for the lack of luxury and food variety.
Untouched coral reefs, healthy fish and an abundance of sea creatures! Dive heaven! I saw so many eels, after a while, I stopped looking at them! Lion fish, box fish, octopus, cuttlefish, schools of jacks and barracudas, turtles, tuna, eels, etc. I finally saw my first huge napolean wrasse which were about the length of a really tall person! All the fishes were relatively larger than what I've seen before, hence the evidence of healthy corals. Took my advanced licence at the same go since most of the dives there are deep dives.
Aah... diving... I shall try to make at least 3 diving trips per year, if it's possible :)
Keeping my fingers crossed that my next project will be in Hanoi. Ha Long Bay!
