I found out today that the poverty line in Klang Valley is RM1,500.

WTF???!!! And to think that job postings these days still advertise salaries BELOW RM1,500!!!

ACK!

How to survive when the price of everything is skyrocketing while our salaries remain static????

Someone tell me how?????

Case in point #1: When I was in the States and working at my first job, I was paid about USD2,000 a month, before taxes. A bottle of St. Ives shower gel was about USD3.49. When I came back to M’sia and started working in KL, I was earning about RM2,000 a month (I wasn’t in the taxable range then). The same bottle of St. Ives shower gel was RM15.90. If my maths is correct, the bottle of St. Ives shower gel costs about 350% more in KL as compared to the States. But the salary I earn is a dollar for dollar in RM.

The prices of books sold at our bookstores here are a direct conversion from the foreign currency in which they are imported.

Case in point #2: I bought this book “The Food Revolution: How Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life and Our World” for RM72.19 at Kinokuniya. The list price of this book in the States is USD17.95 (or cheaper at discount stores). Even though my salary now is somewhat significantly higher than what I started out with (i.e. RM2,000), I doubt if I can afford many more books when the prices are converted directly from the foreign country in which they are imported. And we’re supposed to cultivate the reading culture in M’sia rite? Errr, how to get our hands on interesting and thought-stimulating books when we can’t afford them?!

I think sooner or later, I’ll just have to stay at home and amuse myself with the household utensils I have at home coz I dun think I’ll be able to afford to pay for gas to drive out and pay toll, eat out, go to clubs, take my dance lessons… not with the price of everything else increasing like nobody’s business while my salary remains static.

o_O

I felt like I was back in the States, living on my own and doing my grocery shopping. Stopped by BSC on my way home from class today to buy groceries for my dinner and breakfast as the parents are away. It hit me when I was walking aruond Cold Storage, with my shopping basket, that this was so reminiscent of my days in Buffalo, when I used to go grocery shopping alone at Wegman’s and Tops.

*cue to some sappy sentimental tune*

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Wow, I just found out today that it’s damn tiring to talk and do exercises simultaneously! I took part of today’s warm-up during Odissi. Counting the steps was part of the exercise coz it allows the others to follow me in sync while I show the exercise. But maaaaannn! I was out of breath when I was part-way thru the exercise! Phew! It’s damn tiring!!! I’ve gotta start training more, man…. o_O

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While stuck in a traffic jam on Thursday, was listening to mix.fm with Richard, Shaz, and Ika. The question they had that morning was “Is it possible to strike a balance between work and personal life?” So callers called in with their views and all… some said yes, others said no. And throughout my entire drive to work, I was thinking “How the hell are we supposed to strike a balance when our employers milk us for all our worth and their definition of a hardworking employee is someone who stays at work past official work hours to complete his/her insane workload?” One caller hit one of the nails in the head when he remarked that employers in KL don’t care whether or not their employees have personal lives. Which, I happen to believe is true.

Oh shucks, it’s gonna be Monday again… bleh…

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See lar… never learn that last minute things will never work as planned. They’ve got their teams all organized and planned out already but we had to force them to take on more roles than they can handle. And see what rojak came out of it.

Next time, plan it properly, since u all already know that that’s how u wanna run the program.

What should I do… what should I do…

Urgh…

o_O

The Rudeness Survey that was done is quite accurate.

I think Malaysians ARE a rude bunch.

Take simple things like holding open doors and elevators. Since my days in the States, where I’d first encountered strangers who’d actually hold the doors open for me (waaaa!), I’m used to saying “Thank you” and vice versa, when I hold doors open for others, I’d get a smile and a “Thank you”.

But back here in M’sia, HAH! U’re lucky if ppl even acknowledge u when u hold the elevator doors open for them! Most of the time, these ppl act like u dun even exist. Like the elevator doors magically stay open for them while they walk in or out at their sweet time. Like some sort of invisible troll is holding the door open for them.

Geez… would it hurt u so much as to just smile at the person who’s holding the door open for u so that s/he knows that u’ve appreciative of their efforts?? Not that it takes a lot of effort to hold a door open for someone but it does mean that u’re taking the time to think abt the person who’s behind u.

Cannot even say “Thank you” is it??? Got gold in the mouth is it???

Sheesshh… so rude!

… like a mad person these past 3 days…

so so tired… drive from Subang to KL to Cyberjaya back to KL then Subang… o_O

I realized that… I prefer carrying out tasks on my own rather than let someone else do it coz I feel that I’d complete the task faster coz I’ve got total control.

Must.learn.to.let.others.do.things.

tired tired tired tired tired…

oh, and had to pay 20 bucks for my stupidity and carelessness… dumb dumb DUMB!! Aiyeeerrrr! Stupid-nye!!! *smacking self in head*

His extended family is so cool!! All so jolly and fun and NICE to each other!! Wow!

It was two of his cousins’ graduation dinner and I got invited… hehe

Before the food arrived, the 2 graduates were made to give a speech each. Then the dads. Then one of the cousins’ friend was dragged up. Hehe, free entertainment while waiting for the food. Then suddenly, I kena pulak! They wanted a salsa demo at first but then I said I couldn’t dance without HIM. Then he got dragged up (hehe!) and then we went “Oh, but got no music” So then they said “Tell us something abt urself and something abt HIM that we dunno”… and I went “Erm, wat abt him dun u know?” Anyway, I got as far as my name when the food arrived. Yay! Saved by the food! Hehe…

I’d drunk more wine that night than I’ve ever drank at any other dinner function. And I didn’t even get high! Weeee!! Well, mainly coz I was cold (the a/c at these restaurants are always at subzero temperatures, or so it seems to me *rolling eyes*) and alcohol makes me warm. But I forgot that it makes me warm only at my FACE! Duh!

Anyway, we ended the nite at their Grandma’s place… and it’s so nice to see everyone so happy and cheery and caring towards each other.

Aahhh… good ol’ family ties…

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Dear God, please please please help me ensure that my event this coming week will run without any major hiccups. Please dun let me forget anything that I need to get done. Please let all the equipment and ppl work well. Thank you.
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Dang, am *hic* hiccupping now. How to *hic* go sleep like that????????? o_O

Oh gawd… I feel so incredibly stupid… and truthful.

I really honestly seriously cannot bullshit my way out of ANYTHING!

I will tell the truth before I can stop for a moment and think of the implications.

One would think being honest is a good trait to have… but this is not the case in all circumstances.

Are there any courses on bullshitting that anyone can recommend me to?

blurgh *smacking self in head*

o_O

When I was younger, I’d dreamt of having a high-flying career that would enable me to fly all over the world to conduct business, have my entourage of assistants at my disposal, make critical decisions to close a deal. Heck, when a local TV station came to my school to interview selected students on what they would like to be in the future (can’t remember what was the occasion… could be for Merdeka Day), I’d even said “I aim to be a CEO of an established multinational firm”… I’m laughing to myself, now that I’m thinking back to that moment.

Now that I’m older and a bit wiser, my dreams of being a high-powered executive has flown out the door completely. Why? My priorities have changed. Now, even though we’re just some fresh entry-level grad or senior executive (not even managerial level yet), we’re worked to the bone, a lot of times way past official working hours and even on off days. A lot of us dun have much of a personal life, let alone a social life. And from all the features written about female CEOs or those in similar positions, how many are either single or divorced?? From my observation, the workplace is brutal, especially if you’re female and the higher up on the corporate ladder.

Now, I am content with a desk job that allows me a reasonable amount of challenges but one which also allows me have some time outside of work to call my own. Time which I can spend with my family and friends. Time to carry out activities that I enjoy. Time to run errands which I can’t afford to spend the time to do during the weekdays.

I dun mind facing the PC the entire day. Really. I dun care about not being able to travel for work. I dun care about having tons of assistants at my disposal. I dun care about bringing home a high salary (something reasonable that allows me to enjoy a few creature comforts is sufficient).

But I do care about having sufficient rest everyday. I do care about having the time to spend with the people I care about. I do care about having the time to be able to do things that I enjoy doing.

I’ve said in a previous post. Life is short. Do the things that you really desire as soon as you can… before you regret it later and think about the “If only I had…”. Work is not everything (except for those who choose to make their work their life).

Life is short. Live it.

Shites… it’s 3.36am and I can’t sleep coz there’re so many things running thru my mind abt the event next week.

Most of all, the horrifying thought that everything’s gonna be screwed up coz I missed out something.

Urgh… so much for not giving a damn…

(

My dream is to run my own animal sanctuary, where I can provide temporary (or permanent, if need be) shelter to homeless animals. There will be adoption drives and education sessions to teach children the beauty of animals and the simplicity of their lives, and why we need to respect them as fellow creatures who share this planet with us.

A big feat? Uh huh… but am still working on doing something animal-related on a small scale first, then building into a larger scale project.

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Everytime I see or use this piece of equipment, it reminds me of the stress that comes along with it.

Wish I could just throw it far far away… into the lake at the golf course outside our balcony.

But I got no $$$ to compensate for it.

Duh…