When life lost its sense of excitement.

*something written 3 years ago...

Almost eight years ago, I finished my studies and graduated into the new world, waiting for me to conquer it. looking back, those eight years have flew by very quickly. No doubt there were times when I was sitting in front of the computer with an empty gaze, but then again in terms of the people I have met and things I have learned.

The culture in Malaysia is very much, you are worked for every single penny (or sen) you are being paid for. There is minimal holidays - some as little as 7 days for the first year at work and most Saturdays you are expected to work. Compare this to the 5 days nine to five job I now hold in London, I think that it is good for personal learning over here as I have absorbed so much more compared to the 6 years working in Malaysia.

But then again, in Malaysia, you are not paid to learn. You learn on the job and bear the brunt when the shit hits the ceiling. And you learn to hide under the table in fear that the swinging fan above you may swipe that same shit back at you. Thus comes the blame culture. Of course it happens here in the UK too, but I suspect when there is actually a proper system developed before hand, (or through hundreds of years) the impact is more minimal, unless you really screw things up.

Which coming back to my initial point, life has become mundane.

Knowing that the chances of you actually cocking up is ultimately in your own hands and unless someone has a bone to pick with you, you will not be fucked. This leads to the workplace being very superficial. On the surface once we meet colleagues around 8.45 am we are all in full smiles asking each other, "How ya?" when you actually don't really mean it. You then to go and complain and moan about certain things the company is going through and some of the national news throughout the day. Almost everyday, there will be the usual chat on the weather preferably over a cup of tea. Come 5 pm, we all rush out of the office and either go home or meet up with our own set of friends. Most of the time we wont know where our colleagues stay and they will be the last people we think of calling should anything happen.

How different is the culture in Malaysia?

Colleagues become our second family, all the good vibes and even the usual bickering amongst 'siblings' and some rivalry within the organisation makes it so much more interesting. At times, one just has to love the way the 'Chinaman' style of operations is handled. There is always the 'evil' one within the office that has a seemingly tight relationship with the bosses and which every staff seems to hate. And the whole point of the organisation seeming to run would be the need for money every month end to feed the bills of housing, cars and phones. Not to mention the occasional night out with the mates and everyday food.

So, how come this seems so enticing compared to the 'leisure' life in the UK?

Eight years ago I was raring to go, albeit not knowing really where to go. To end up in a profession that you didnt study for is one thing. To actually think eight years later if you should have made certain moves a few years back is just sad. We don't live in the past, so whatever happened, happened for a reason.

Whatever I learned will one day be put to practice. So, how did life end up so mundane?

Looking to the future, it looks bleak. Minus another year and it would mean I need to effectively work another 25 years before I can think of retirement. And that is the minimum. Current retirement age in the UK is 60 (or 65).

So just chill out and relax. Life has just begun.