LAST DAY
Sunday, September 10th, 2006Today (11 September, 2006) marks my last day at Ascom Media as a subtitle translator. It’s been a roller-coaster ride for my emotions for the past one month or so.
Surprised? For the uninitated ones, I found a job as an English copywriter-cum-Malay translator at Elken. Yep, the direct selling/multilevel marketing company. Yeah, I’m not into direct selling, that’s for sure. I’m just going there to work,9.30am-6.30pm, Mon-Fri. Put bread on my table & pay my bills. Direct-selling does not appeal to me at all. If it does, I’d have done E.Excel eons ago when my cousin in-law tried to coax me into it.
Okay, why did I leave? Maybe I’m hoping that the grass would be greener on the other side. And they don’t pay me in peanuts. But I’m well-aware of the consequences - it’s a big company and there’s bound to be politics and all the back-stabbing thingie. But, let’s leave my "worries" to another day.
Back to my emotions…
Well, I met some nice people here in Ascom - my colleagues. Hmmm… Somehow, i tend to get along rather well with people who are younger than me. Made some firm friends here. People whom I could trust and who trust me. People who take me as I am - my wackiness, moodiness and straight-forwardness. I don’t need to put on a mask at all. But in the new company, I must be cautious and watch my back (and my tongue).
Seriously, I enjoyed this translation thingie. I loved doing animations like Rockman EXE, Medabots and Medabots Spirit, Shinchan, Hamtaro and some nice Korean and Taiwanese dramas, plus some English and Korean movies. But I really hated those serious and solemn dramas. Can you imagine my eyes welled up with tears while watching Rockman and Medabots? Haha… Sentimental fool!
My interest in this subtitle thingie is still burning brightly. This is the reason I offered to continue doing it as a part-timer, i.e. doing it at home for Ascom. I don’t mind earning extra $$$ so that I could teach less and get less white hair. Kids nowadays are a challenge to teach, you know! And some 3K + 1B parents are a pain in the you-know-where! (3K = kiamsiap, kiasu, kiasi 1B = behsu <cannot lose>). Reduce my pressure and stress level too ( don’t have to worry about their exams).
I leave my current colleagues at Ascom Media with a heavy heart. The friendships that I’ve fostered, the footprints some of them left in my life, the laughter, grouches, etc which we’ve shared… All the memories.
I don’t know what the future will bring, I don’t know if I’ve made the right decision – it was made because of $$$ factor. But for now, I’ll get ready to embrace my new working environment, be more alert and watch my own back, and try to stay as neutral as possible. It’s not easy, I know. I’ve tried so hard in Ascom to stay neutral, but it’s easier said than done. I had to remind myself to be neutral all the time while I was at Ascom. Be down-to-earth and mind my own business. Other people’s gossip is none of my “bl**dy” business, yet I have to stay alert.
P/S – I don’t know what will happen at the end of the day, I don’t know if any tears will be shed between a couple of my close colleagues and I. But I know for sure is that I leave them (and my PC, my chair and my corner) with a heavy heart. But, hey! Let’s look on the bright side! The wonders of the internet – messenger, email & friendster will help us keep abreast with each other’s news. Good luck everyone! Love ya!
So close to him, got his autograph, but was ushered off the stage as quickly as I was allowed up. They didn’t even allow me to shake hands with him nor give him my other posters to autograph. Hmmph!
Very friendly indeed. Always smiling and looking relaxed.
