It was definitely one hell of a roller coaster ride these 24 weeks with my emotions flying around everywhere. It is not exaggerating to say I've had to experience strangeness, unfamiliarity, discouragements, negativity, happiness, appreciation, love, encouragements, so many different emotions at one place in 24 weeks.
I can still remember so clearly how nervous yet excited I was on 8th September when I stepped into the company to report on my first day. Supposedly to start work at 10am, being a typical kiasu student in Singapore, I reached about 10 minutes earlier and to my surprise, another intern was already there. Not as kiasu as I thought?
We sat down waiting for our supervisor to come brief and orientate us. It was really taxing having to get to know everyone there, remembering names and to familiarise ourselves with their roles and duties so we can start work on a proper note. It was also taxing because I knew no one there and even the intern who was with me was someone I never spoke a word to before. But thinking back on it, I amazingly pulled through everything.
On the first day, we were assigned buddies (who were the previous interns) who taught us on the various systems we would be using for the next 24 weeks and you know what? I felt a hard smack right on my face because there were so many things I have to learn and remember. Now I know why the first thing my supervisor gave me was a notebook. I wrote down tons and tons of notes to save my own ass for the next few days.
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| Notes v. 1 |
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| I even wrote down all these... #hardworkingintern |
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| Notes v. 2 |
So throughout the first day, I sat in front of a computer familiarising myself with the ABACUS system and by the end of the day, my head was throbbing so badly I just wanted to go home and hibernate. If you cannot imagine, here's a picture to show you why my head was throbbing.
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| ABACUS System |
If you are unfamiliar, this is actually a system for us to check flight availability etc. And there were so many codes I have to remember in order to use the system efficiently. Now that I look at this picture, I don't feel a thing because this is what I've been staring at for the past 24 weeks. But you get me. The colors against the black background really made my eyes die. For the first week I wore glasses because at the end of every single day I look like I just fought a war. Okay not that exaggerating but you get it.
However, I have got to praise the amazing human body for getting on track so quickly and getting used to all the once-so-unfamiliar-and-tiring systems. Before I knew it, my eyes and head and body totally adapted to the things that once made me so uncomfortable. However, more and more responsibilities and challenges were being thrown at me.
I sure have had my shit days, unhappy days, stressed days, but I do have my happy days, satisfying days, appreciated days too. I have a lot of thanks to give to my fellow colleagues and superiors because all of them were so nice ever since day 1. They are probably the most patient and forgiving bunch of people I will ever meet in the working society because they are always helping when we make mistakes and always encouraging us to do better each time we go through a stressful situation (e.g. customer conflicts). Special mention to my manager J who offered me so much help throughout before he left (I was quite upset).
Step by step along the way I got more and more accustomed to the system and procedures I could serve guests and pick up calls without needing the help of my colleagues anymore. And for that I'd also have to praise myself for being so positive throughout the days when I had to deal with shit that really made me feel so inferior and useless. As I have always believed that if you cannot change the situation, accept it and make the best out of it. I am glad I did.
On the last day though, was a half working day due to CNY. As I started to clear the things off my desk I suddenly felt it - the feeling that I was really ending this journey and never coming back. Despite all the complaints I have had throughout the 24 weeks I want to say I am really thankful I got an opportunity to intern here, to see for myself what it is like to work outside. I think I have equipped myself with a lot of people skills I may never get to learn elsewhere. It was also the best place to start off my working foundation because people were ever so nice and encouraging. Sometimes people say the wrong decisions bring you to the right place, I guess this is true to a certain extent. For if I were given an entirely new chance again, I'd still end up here.
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| Thanks to my cute buddy who accompanied me throughout, would never have made it through without you! |
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| Goodbye Giamso and goodbye my table! |
