My first week in KL

I hated the idea when my bro suggested to me that I work in KL doing SAP(a field in IT). I loved Penang so much as there was always things to do and being with the people closest to me. There was Ruby, mummy and daddy,my comfortable home, all my precious stuff(PS2,my LG flat screen tv), my pets (dogs and fish), my friends and the list just goes on.

The economy took a turn for the worst and started to slump in September 2008. When I was back in Penang, I did try hard with the help of my dad to get a job in Bayan Lepas, Butterworth or Kulim but there was no luck. I spent 2 months looking. For the fun of it and as it was going no where, I applied in KL with the help of my bro and I got a job in 2 days.

It has been a week working in Infocubed. It is located at Seksyen 20/ 70A Seri Hartamas. Sorry but I am still confused with the name Desa Seri Hartamas and just Seri Hartamas. It is like 9 km away from my uncle's house in Seksyen 22/ 40 Petaling Jaya. The company develops SAP Business Intelligence related software. Basically, it does all the stages of the development. I work with a team of 5 people who like me, still beginning to learn about SAP. My office hours are 9 am to 6 pm and I say that proudly compared to the odd working hours in Dell those days. Haha! The salary is great for starters like me and I am pleased overall. Nonetheless, I still have to put in effort to equip myself with the knowledge of SAP. Wish me luck!

Me on the way to work in my Myvi:

I have settled in well to my uncle's lovely home here. He has a spare room and it was vacant. My couz and her husband live in the other room. We have dinner once a while together or I just go out on my own. I have tried to make my room here as comfy as possible and sufficient with all my basic needs. I do the chores here like it is in my own home as my relatives have been most kind to let me stay with them. I even have a car park!

Below is a photo of my room:

Should my uncle go to his other home in Bangkok or my couz back to UK, I have the house to myself and I shall be the captain during their absence. The house is mostly vacant throughout the year so I will live alone. It's a big house so I pray that God will be with me at all times guarding my safety. I do all my washing of clothes at home and ironing so I save money there. I feel my relatives are happy I am staying with them to 'jaga' the place during their absence so it is a good thing.

Lunch(mix rice) at my working area is reasonable for KL standards costing an average of RM 5 with drink. Dinner mostly I have around Petaling Jaya side at coffee shops and they cost about the same.

I don't plan to venture very far out as KL is a huge place and I am unfamilliar with the roads. For me, the further I drive and getting myself into jams is going to freak me out and dread I moved to KL. So I try to avoid all of this as much as I can. Being here, I still have yet to go to Subang where my bro lives coz it is like 16 km from PJ. Yeah, I may sound thrifty but if you consider the distance, it is far. So I keep my life simple and don't stress myself out. I just travel short distances as of now, getting used to my new surroundings. Basically, PJ has almost everything you need.

Motorist here are more courteous and less crazy compared to Penang and this even includes motorcyclist. So far so good and I try not to be like my 'kiasu' self back in Penang. I am aware of 'mat rempits' and those 'racing-driver wannabes' so I try to avoid such roads that they normally use.

I went once to Tesco, Mutiara Damansara in the middle of the week as I had to get some stuff. It was ok and I didn't bother walking around to the adjacent Ikano or The Curve as it will just waste my time. Maybe when Ruby comes then I will go. Otherwise, there was no reason to go. From Hartamas, that shopping area is the nearest to me.

Planning and time-management here is crucial. There are traffic jams and peak times when shopping complexes get crowded with people. I hate crowded places. It is unlike Penang, where you can get out and drive. Here, you need to consider the time before going. Well, it is hard in a way but I am getting used to it.

I will be back in Penang only for Chinese New Year. I am trying to get myself comfortable here in PJ and learning more about the place. My parents will be coming down next weekend.

Argh... I hope Ruby comes too! Miss her sooo much! Thank God for the free calls,SMS and MMS from Digi that we communicate often. Long distance is ok for now with modern day technology.

Some times in life, one has to make sacrifices that is never easy to accept. I certainly hope my endeavour is for a greater cause that I can share with my loved ones. :)

Happy New Year 2009!

I am so glad it is a new year because it gives me a fresh start or a continuation with optimism in the things I endeavour.

Jumping into SAP is the biggest leap and change in career I have made. Looking for a job in Penang after my training in Kuala Lumpur was difficult as the economy had gone into a slump. Most companies had frozen their recruitment. Thank God for my bro who had fixed me up in his friend's company in Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur. I am thankful that I finally got a job after resigning from Dell, 4 months ago. I am happy with the renumerations and experience that I am about to receive.

However, the 4 months were the best 4 months as I got to chill and lepak. Most importantly in these months, I took to reflect on where I am heading to as an individual and it has helped strengthen me. :D Reading was the best thing I did. Mostly online and there is this one book I have been reading which is Speaking with Confidence by Dale Carnegie. I just love inspirational books because it does deffinitely impact me.

As a partner in a loving relationship, I set forth to deepen my relationship with my partner. Growing with your partner is very important to sustain a lifetime of happiness together. There is never a right or wrong or a manual on how to be right. It is all about learning and experience. Some of my friends may not have had smooth sailing in this field. Sometimes maybe the best one is yet to come. Pray and have faith in God and never give up!

In preparation of getting through this year with regards to the economy, it is best to thread softly. The situation now is bad with recession and people losing their jobs. You can read news all around the world of people being impacted. It is difficult to forecast on how things are going to go for 2009. For those that have heard rumors that it will get worse, be patient and be optimistic. It may be dreadful but it is going to bounce back(hopefully soon). Only time will tell. Be grateful with what you have now. Try to save as much as one can and spend moderately. It is nice to enjoy life every once in a while and it should not stop. Life would be boring otherwise. We need to treat ourselves sometimes to help boost our morale!

As a Christian, I continue growing with God. I hope to learn more from God who speaks to me in so many ways; even from the actions of people around me. Sometimes the lessons are hurtful but it is through this lessons that make us better and wiser. One of my sources of inspiration is from Charismatic that is held in Immaculate Conception Church in Pulau Tikus. I may have to miss the sessions as I will be in KL but I am sure God will be with me and speak to me wherever I am. There is Charismatic in Assumption Petaling Jaya on Friday nights so that is something I can try to attend. That would be the time when I wanna come back Penang for the weekend so I need to juggle this. :D I hope this year, I will be able to inspire and share God's teachings with others. My biggest pleasure in my spiritual life is to introduce a stranger to Christianity! That would be the best thing to happen to me! I look forward. :D

Staying healthy is the typical New Year resolution but this is a must for me. I really want to try to keep fit and healthy. Ruby is my biggest supporter and motivator towards achieving my goal. I can never be like her but be a bit like her is good enough. I really admire her priority for healthy living.

Other than physical health, our mental health needs to be looked into. Our mental determines our actions and what we do physically. One thing I have learnt is try to stay as positive as possible. You may feel crappy at times when things don't go your way but looking positive and optimistic to the future for good things can happen. I believe the ride in life is always bumpy. We just gotta learn how to deal with it and handle it one at a time. One tip is to learn to smile a lot! It makes you feel positive and helps to give you a boost! Try to be happy as much as you can, every moment if possible. Do not set high expectations because you will get hurt.

Friends are very important in my life. I love making friends and I look forward to make more friends in 2009. My friends have been a big support to me in whatever I set out to do. Yes, sometimes I get offended or pissed off by them but they are just being sincere and because they care. Friends -> Happy -> Successful! Unfortunately, I do apologise to some of my friends if I could not have spent more time but the little moments we shared together are the best moments of my life! OMG, am I breaking into song for 2009! Lol!

For people that know me well, one of the physical or material things that I have been yearning for quite sometime is that modern classic Volvo 240. I just got tempted few days ago with an attractive offer. But considering the economy and my new job, I have postponed it indefinitely. Who knows I may celebrate 2010 with it! Rusdi, I bet your going to coax me more into getting it soon regadless of anything! Haha!

Let us all grow together as individuals. Make the best of life. Be happy! Happiness can never be bought. It is the sheer feeling within a person.

I wish all of you a Happy New Year 2009 and may God always watch over you regardless of who you are!