End of First Shift Cycle

I just finished my night shift and this is the end of my first shift cycle at work! :) I'm lucky to have an off-weekend my first round of shift. I need to recharge!

Night shifts didn't turn out to be nightmares after all. One of my favorite time during the shift was around 6 a.m. in the morning where the melody of Singapore's National Anthem will be played (to remind the working class their role as Singaporeans). It reminds me of late night studies with Jon in McD when we heard the National Anthem too. And it gives me a nice feeling of how many Singaporeans I know love and care about their country. It's also feels inspiring and uplifting (they changed it from G to F major in 2001 for that effect, apparently).

My favorite arrangement/rendition of Singapore's national anthem is here around time 0:36 (this clip was part of Singapore's 2011 National Day Celebration). It's not at awesome as say, Les Miserables, but I can feel it's sincerity. Somehow I like the little boy's voice a lot. :) And I must say that Singapore does have a nice national anthem! Pity not everyone knows what it means exactly because it's in Malay.

If We Hold On Together

This is a song I must say is most beautifully written and composed.

I had to embed this video because I couldn't find a better version that can be shared :(. It is originally from The Land Before Time, but I like it sung by Diana Ross more... I can really feel the song when she sings, if you know what I mean. It is so, so, so full of hope! Every sentence, every line brims with warm, beautiful hope. And a very apt song for our RH Orientation every year.

Don't lose your way

With each passing day
You've come so far
Don't throw it away
Live believing
Dreams are for weaving
Wonders are waiting to start
Live your story
Faith, hope & glory
Hold to the truth in your heart

Chorus:

If we hold on together
I know our dreams will never die
Dreams see us through to forever
Where clouds roll by
For you and I

Souls in the wind
Must learn how to bend
Seek out a star
Hold on to the end
Valley, mountain
There is a fountain
Washes our tears all away
Words are swaying
Someone is praying
Please let us come home to stay

*Chorus

Bridge:

When we are out there in the dark
We'll dream about the sun
In the dark we'll feel the light
Warm our hearts, everyone

*Chorus

I didn't really notice this song when I watched Land Before Time. So all my memories with regards to this are connected to RH, and to NUS as a whole. It makes me miss hall now I'm listening to it. The first time when it was played, we saw all our seniors with lighted candles behind us. It made me feel so hopeful with regards to my university life. (Yes, I'm spamming the word 'hope' now.) It reminds me: Don't give up what you're here for. Although every day can be very mundane, although the big picture can become smaller, don't lose your way.

It reminds me, most of all, of all the love, care, and hospitality given to me by my hall seniors, and my Malaysian MSL seniors in helping me settle down. I don't think I've really given back to hall and school this way, but this is something that deep down in my heart, I'll always appreciate and remember. And this has always given me a very good perception towards Singapore: That no matter where you are at, there are people who are there who would help you out, without asking for things in return. I don't say I take them for granted, but I appreciate the help when they are there.

The first week I've arrived, my luggage was carried, my room checked in for me, was taken out and around. Was guided through hall systems, was involved in block suppers, was asked about what I was good at and how I could fit into the hall system. Was shown love and care in so many ways that it is impossible for me to give back the same way.

Somehow this feeling is here all over again at work. I think where I work is awesome in a sense that no matter which lab I work in, be it when I was an intern, or as a new staff like now; there are people who unconditionally help me settle down, put me at ease and assure me they would be around. When I was placed in this new 4-person team, I knew nothing about my colleagues. I seldom communicated with them (except ask where things were put) before I started my shift work. I didn't get the chance to lunch with them due to my training timings. I was apprehensive with regards to working with them, because they were already familiar with each other but not with me.

But thank God they are really awesome people. Frankly speaking I think compared to them I am relatively boring (someone who only surfs the net, reads books and goes window shopping - not even watch movies!! when she's free), and I don't talk a lot about gadgets and recent news and stuff. But they've showed me in loads of ways that they care. Like when I couldn't get through my hand punch. Like checking on me tonnes of times (despite being very busy) how my solution prep was going on without me asking them for help. Telling me about each other. Helping me sort my lunch box out amidst 30 over boxes, and unpacking my utensils for me. Taking me home and insisting that the bus driver send me home first to ensure I'm home safely. Emailing the transport IC for me when the bus driver said his bus was too big to turn in to where I stay. And above all, telling me off when I thank them. :p

It is very humbling to have senior colleagues to do all these small things to me. I seriously don't deserve to work with such nice people. And it frustrates me, sometimes, to burden them and to rely on them so much. But on the other hand, it feels nice warm and fuzzy. They say I am too formal with the thank-you's but I know there are things that I can't thank them enough. Even though it has just been 5 days into shift work. And oh, how can I thank God enough for blessing me with all of them. And how can I love them enough the way He does...

I just pray that this most important lesson I've learned from my lab will stay with me forever. To love, to give unconditionally. Not just because I've been treated thus, but this is what I should always always do. It is not easy for me. But I don't think it's that easy for others too. I've been living in too many small comfort zones that I should move out of and I know I need to. I pray and hope that I will and always will.

Patience

Patience is seriously a virtue in others that I need now.

That's why I feel very thankful when my team lead just says 'never mind', 'try again', 'relax' and 'jiayou' whenever I muff up my training tests. It takes away my stress of getting things done 'right first time' (though I still try very hard to), and by doing and doing again, I actually remember to get things done properly and the sequence at which a test is performed.

I really need to have better kinetical/muscle control. That can measure small volumes, carry large objects, reach heights, weigh fluffy powders and avoid spillages. I take a long time to do stuff, and despite doing so I still make mistakes. My poor team lead had to waste so much time just these two first days of shift checking through my work and answering my questions and waiting for me to finish up things. Thankfully he had the ability to multi-task.

But still I really am liking to go to work although I feel the stress to try and constantly get things done quickly and accurately, to reduce my liability of newness and inexperience in the team, and in the laboratory. It's the people that make or break my work experience, ultimately, and although I haven't formed strong bonds with most of my colleagues, they do try to include me in things. However, I can't keep on thinking and acting like I'm new forever. I still have this mindset and I realize that I have to change that so that I can really be productive.

Cycling at East Coast Park

Went to East Coast Park to cycle on Monday with Jon. It was drizzling slightly although NEA's weather report said it was going to be cloudy only. Still, it was OK because when we started cycling proper the rain almost stopped.

Just realized that cycling is really one of the (few) outdoor activities I like! However I have slight trouble mounting and dismounting from the bike (height issues), and my bottoms get sore rather quickly so I can't ride for very long. But it's nice to sail along the road and just feel like 'getting along' to somewhere leisurely without having to walk! (How lazy I am.)

East coast park is a nice place to cycle in firstly because it's really BIG and you can just go on for kilometers along it, and stop by here and there to watch people fish, skate, bike, camp etc. The road is in very good condition too, unlike in Pulau Ubin where we have to go on rocky stretches and sandy areas sometimes.

I don't really know why I enjoyed the experience. I did not really look around for scenic views around me when I was biking, because I was too busy keeping my eyes along the road. I wasn't too good at steering and there were young kids skating about and crossing the road here and there. Didn't want to crash into them. But it felt nice just 'following' the road mechanically and just riding on and on and on.

Somehow I think that's how I'm like too. Sailing along the road and riding on and on and on in a routine, and just feeling good about it.

But that's not enough - there's more to life than that.