Finally, I've completed the assigned project and am no longer working!!!
I, Firdaus, hereby declare that I shall no longer work under Shop N Save (or TBC HR Consulting) ever again. This is provided that I'm tasked to do jobs that I dislike at an underpaid rate. Otherwise, I might just reconsider.
Heheh. Call me a spoilt brat, try being in MY shoes for a month.


Oh, you don't know how much I dreaded going to work each day.

1) Up at 6, every single day is a new adventure... and a new scolding from mom with a new reason for living -.-

2) The journey to and fro kills 30 minutes, I have to push through the crowds that are also making their way to work and avoid the killer winds that could potentially mess up my hair at all times.

3) The moment I arrive at work, the first face that I would usually see is Ciliro's, and that is my supervisor (i want to add something really racist here, but i'm refraining from it lol). Way to drain my energy by 50%. The sight of him really makes my blood boil.

4) Starting off at work, I'd probably have to pack the flames (PAK DER PLAMES) or fuji apples (PUJI AH-PEARLS) because they're always having offers (OPPIRS) for those products. The words in brackets are the supposed pronunciations from my supervisor who is a tad English illiterate. We have a huge communication barrier there.

5) Sometimes, I'd have to clear the stocks behind BY MYSELF thanks to my lazy supervisor who doesn't even help me. What did he do? Just stand at the counter displaying the fruits. Oh and mind you, he did so like the world revolved around him. Probably to buy time for himself hoping that I'd be done with the stocks and having decreased his workload to a minimal.

6) Teet teet teet tit. Manning the vegetable-weighing counter is so much fun! Usually from No. 6 onwards, workload tones down a little so not much strenuous activites there.

7) Help out the aunties.

8) Ignore Ciliro all the way until dismissal or sometimes, until the next day. HAHAHAHAHAHA. Superbly easy job (Y)

9) Sign off, say goodbye to everyone except Ciliro and head back home under the sweltering heat and annoying winds. What I had just realized is that all this while, I had been doing things wrongly. By actuality, I was supposed to tick 'sign out' and go to an appointed Team Leader to ask for a signature of approval. What I did was to sign out and sign it myself!
(hey it's not my fault. they didn't brief me about it properly)


I've always preferred the night shifts because I can see Nenek Soyah (not keropok). She's like, so fun and understands (even shares) my hatred for Ciliro.
We always bitch about him and poke fun at his ridiculous mustache and Phillipino accent because it's so hilarious. Come on, I've had Phillipino friends and even their accents aren't as weird as his.
Yeah, so she's what makes my job so awesome and entertaining. If not for her, I'd be a very miserable employee at work :(
Not to mention, she helps me a lot at work and even briefs me properly about how to do things right (unlike my team leader and supervisor, who apparently have this habit of giving me vague commands expecting me to understand them).
And she's been working for SNS for like, 14 years already. She mentioned Ciliro working for only 1 year and being granted that position so she was like wtf (?) She was also granted that position actually but she rejected it because it meant more work and she was already pretty old. Not to mention, the pay was still the same.
Oh, and I saved the best for last. Night shift means...
NO CILIRO!!! WHOOHOOOOOOO!!!!
(omg i'm so mean i'm like defaming him hahah but who cares, i bet he doesn't even know the law)


Okay so, for my work experiences, on the positive note, I've become much more knowledgeable about fruits and vegetables and I guess that I've made new friends even though they're just old aunties.
Bad thing about it is that the orders that my superiors give me are all so vague. Let me give you an example:

TL: Ah boy ah?
F: Yes?
TL: You go take this one hor (point to box), stack on top that one (points to another box), I want like this (does a weird hand gesture that symbolizes three rows). After that you take that box (points to a different box) and put there (points to a huge space near the object)
F: (stares) There's no space for three rows. And which part of the space should I put that box at?
TL: (facepalm) Aiyah you ah! Don't understand my orders.
F: -.-

After which it always ends up with me doing it wrongly, getting scolded for it and having to do the entire thing all over again. Argh.


But THE most infuriating experience(s) I've had there is with Ciliro.
I can't believe that I called him "Sir" for the first few days as a mark of respect. Thinking back, it was so degrading for me to assert him as my superior, please.
There are two, as far as I can remember.

1) Usually the job of carrying the loads and storing them in the chiller/bringing them to the counter is left to Ciliro. But since I was there, he asked me to instead. So I did.
Throughout the entire time, I did the heavy strenuous work alone. At the back of my head, I was cursing at him. "Where the hell is that ____?" For one, I was a newbie. Obviously I wasn't used to carrying heavy shit like that UNLIKE him.
Secondly, he was supposed to help me. I was not permitted to leave that place until everything was cleared because there were new stocks coming. I had absolutely no time to waste.
I even had to push the Huge Trolley thingo by myself (usually you'll need two people to push that big baby) because no one helped me! I was so pissed on that day.
After I cleared everything, he came. Auntie Rekha leaned over and said something about "stupid lazy man" but I wasn't sure about whether or not she was referring to Ciliro.
I guess that vitriolic comment did somewhat made the rest of my work slightly satisfactory. The thought of someone sharing my hatred for him did make me happy. :D

2) Oranges and Tangerines are two different fruits. Just because they LOOK the same and come from the same family of fruits DOESN'T mean that they're the same.
It's just like you telling me that Green Capsicum = Red Capsicum. Makes no sense right?
So, this dumb person here asked me to go get "Oranges" from the chiller. There were around... three boxes of them? I went through all the trouble of heading to the back, digging through the other items for the oranges and then carrying them one-by-one to my trolley outside.
(and mind you, they weren't very light)
After which, I was openly-humiliated in front of customers and other superiors because I "misunderstood" his order. Oh, I heard it loud and clear alright.
Turned out that he meant the tangerines. Seriously? Oranges and Tangerines are two different things. Tangerines are mostly smaller and have less seeds. Oranges are bigger and tend to have more seeds.
I didn't want to be ridiculed openly without a fight, so I took a packet of tangerines and an orange. Shoved the label saying "Tangerines China" at his face, followed by orange.
SEE THE DIFFERENCE?
Mofo.


I'm going to miss Auntie Kim Kee, Auntie Nancy, Auntie Ong Ho(e), Auntie Rekha, Nenek Soyah and Ah Zhong very very much. And the rest of the crew whose names I do not know.
I may just miss Ivy, Maggie and Michael.
I'm definitely NOT going to miss Ciliro.


Oh, did I mention that halfway throughout the project, nearing the Chinese New Year period, I got shifted to the orange-selling area?
It's much warmer there because it's near the blazing hot entrance.
So after that, my duties totally got switched. I was no longer stationed at the F&V counter packing the grapes and fuji apples, but promoting oranges.
(a colleague of mine sarcastically suggested that i juggle oranges to promote them and just to try it out, i actually did. epic fail sia)
Attracted a lot of attention there because of my actions. You know lah, when I stand I cannot stand still. Must "shake here lean there", some random guy approached and asked if I was modelling for oranges and I was like HUH -.-


So on-duty there, I met a couple of nice appreciative customers and also customers who give off horrible BFs (bitch-fits).
Promoting oranges is really tough work. I'm so glad I made it through all that.
Some customers could actually see that I was miserable at work. Colleague interaction was pretty much minimal, that's why. On a positive note, Ciliro hadn't bothered me for the week I had been stationed there! Haha.
Throughout the process of selling, I had to lie quite a fair bit just to promote them. Some customers were really nice and sincere. It really took me on a long guilt trip and I hoped that they wouldn't come back with complaints.
And FML, this job doesn't pay commission. Big turnoff there :/


Lukam - These oranges have a smooth texture, are usually the juiciest but have the disadvantage of not lasting very long due to their thin skins. However, they are usually preferred in terms of taste as they are the sweetest and have the least number of seeds. Provided that they are stored under the proper conditions (in the refrigerator) and kept in their packagings, these oranges would be able to last (though not to the extent of Swatow).

Swatow - These oranges are the most unpleasant in appearance, are usually accompanied by black dirt pigments that may resemble fungus and are widely criticized by those who seek oranges for displaying purposes. But due to its rough texture and thick skin, the Swatow is preferred in terms of longevity. In addition to that, they have that natural (sour) orange zest, and are sweet (though not as sweet as the Lukam).

Pakistan - These oranges have shiny, smooth and somewhat thicker skin than the Lukam. They are mostly used for displaying purposes, because in terms of convenience for eating, they contain the most number of seeds, and are usually bittersweet (and, sometimes, sour). Not really much of the preference for traditional Chinese family because it's from Pakistan. Most of them would want their oranges from China.


So after this, I've got an estimated 800 bucks heading my way. A little underpaid there after all the hard work I did but, ah heck. Better than nothing.
I've already pretty much planned out what to do with it. And I must say, it ain't pretty.
In this plan, the word "Savings" is non-existent.
That's all you need to know.

The events that have been happening lately, finally made me realize things and I found my true self.
People may think I have high standards in a dream partner (everyone does, by actuality). The way to do it is just to settle with what is closest to your set "prerequisites", right?
So based on what I want, I've pretty much noted down most of the things.
To not raise controversy, I shall not post up two of the points because SOME people might get all assertive and bombard me with insults. Hahahah critics.


Most importantly, someone who shares common ground at the very least.
I don't want a girlfriend who smokes/drinks/does drugs/tattoos/sex.
Retards/Immature brats/Hypocrites/Critics are a definite no-no.
She must have a decent sense of fashion, and must be fairly meaty and not too skinny.
Intelligence is a plus, mannerisms is a must.
No racism (she doesn't have to be malay), a little craziness is okay.
A good sense of humour with average leadership qualities.
Pacifistic and anti-violence.
Fuck superiority complexes, both partners should be equal.
Proficiency in English preferred. I don't care about other languages HAHAHA.
Not too clingy/cheesy, must be independent on her own even in my absence.
Must not get jealous easily because I gay with other boys and get close to other girls.
Hygiene-wise, of course she's gotta have good personal grooming habits ;)


For the past few days, I had this test-drive relationship.

And I must say, I couldn't stand the pressure. No offence or anything, but just a few hours into the relationship I lost my mood/appetite and, not to mention, the self-diagnosed atrial fibrillation symptoms came back. Reallllly one hell of a crash relationship.
Apparently, what annoyed me the most was that the other party repeatedly attempted reversed psychology on me. Seriously, now that is what makes me so irritated.

So within less than a day (or perhaps exactly) into a relationship, I kinda broke it off. Heehee, you were right to say I didn't love you. Stop saying it like as though we've been together for years. I'm not being arrogant or anything, but even my best friend thinks you're annoying.

Mind you, she rarely is against things like these. In fact, never except this once.

It's not love. It's infatuation. Admit it. And sorry, you're too clingy and boring. I also hate people who jump into a relationship in such a short time period after just knowing each other.

Desperate much?