First Week Of Work

Ok, let me get this post out before it becomes outdated.

So, 1st week of work, how was it? Generally, it went very well. Colleagues were nice, friendly and helpful. Most of them were around my age, so there was no problem in interacting with them. The environment was also pretty nice.

The only issue was that quite a lot of adjusting and adapting were needed as the working style and system here were quite different from that in Basel. Still trying to achieve some understanding with the boss and to get used to his working style. However these are just teething problems and it will pass after a while.

I can say I am off to a good start. Tomorrow will be the start of a brand new week and there will be more adjusting and adapting that needs to be done, but I am sure it can only get better.

There Is A Meaning. Part 2

Ok, here is my take about the song. But first, here is one of the two music video of the original version:

U2 - One


It's very interesting... that two people with great differences (in term of character, thinking, life philosophy, etc) can be attracted to each other exactly because of these differences. Then some of them got together. Among those who got together, some are fortunate enough to continue to appreciate each other's differences and get closer. While for the rest, after sometime things just falls apart due to the exact same differences that brings them together in the first place; the relationship sours, the couple becomes unhappy with each other and all-out war ensues as the endless shouting, crying, blaming and argument begins.

In short, opposites attract, then attack. Then they will keep on hurting each other until it is too painful to carry on. It is this point of a broken relationship that the song is singing about. Imagine this scenario: there was a big fight, all the rage and dissatisfaction was let out with shouting tears and all. Then a moment of silence before the music begins and then in a tired and helpless tone the question was asked "is it getting better? ..." follows by some other questions and comments which underlines the hopelessness the relationship is going through, and maybe the inevitable break-up. So if anyone one of you is thinking of playing this song on your wedding day, it is not that type of song.

The song might end here but the story doesn't. Even after the opposites repelled each other away, one or both of them will still continue to attack the other, perhaps due to unquenched anger, lack of final closure, lost of innocence and/or time, or a series of other unknown reasons. But doing so just won't bring any peace. This is the point I will say:

事情都已经过了，人都已经走了；
已经摆脱了，自由了。
还耿耿于怀，怀恨在心不快乐，何苦？

There Is A Meaning. Part 1

Today is my 2nd day at work, so I should be writing something about it or about yesterday. However at the moment I am too lazy to write a long and original post. So what I will do instead is something that I had been putting on hold for quite a long time: a very blog thing of posting a music video (yes, again) and, for the 1st time, the lyrics. I picked this song because of its' meaning (or at least what I think it is), so pay attention to the lyrics.

U2 & Mary J. Blige - One

Is it getting better
Or do you feel the same
Will it make it easier on you now
You got someone to blame
You say...

One love
One life
When it's one need
In the night
One love
We get to share it
Leaves you baby if you
Don't care for it

Did I disappoint you
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without
Well it's...

Too late
Tonight
To drag the past out into the light
We're one, but we're not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other
One...
Have you come here for forgiveness
Have you come to raise the dead
Have you come here to play Jesus
To the lepers in your head

Did I ask too much
More than a lot
You gave me nothing
Now it's all I got
We're one
But we're not the same
Well we
Hurt each other
Then we do it again
You say
Love is a temple
Love a higher law
Love is a temple
Love the higher law
You ask me to enter
But then you make me crawl
And I can't be holding on
To what you got
When all you got is hurt
One love
One blood
One life
You got to do what you should
One life
With each other
Sisters
Brothers
One life
But we're not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other

One...life

One

Do you get it? Do you understand?

Month In Review - July (Seaon Finale)

Actually, since we are already a week into August, I was having half the mind of just not writing this entry since it's rather backdated. However, finally I decided to write it since my Basel adventure had come to an end and I'll like to bring everything into a nice conclusion by writing this final review.

Yes, I am back in Singapore (for good); and yes, my Basel adventure is being shortened by 2 months in case any of you are wondering. It had been shortened because I was being hired (by the same company that I am training under in Basel) and needed to come back earlier to start work.

So quite a few things happened in July: there's the final couple of week at work (still doing 1 additional reaction on the second last day), the farewell dinner, then my one week of traveling (documented in my previous two posts), followed by the final week of packing and clearing out of the apt (Lesson learned: give more thoughts and pay more attention to details to avoid mess and chaos) and the day of the flight back home. Although they happened one after another in a matter of a month, they were so different that they seemed like a lifetime apart from each other. Even on the day of the flight itself, the rush in the morning to get to Zürich Airport from Basel and the 12 hour flight (that don't really felt like that long) that followed seems like lightyears apart.

The first day back in Singapore was spent with family. Not many frens knew that I am coming back, so the following day was to let out the news, which was met with some surprises (as expected, the way I like it...). Met up with a few of them along the week and there are still some that I have yet to meet. But there is no rush; afterall, I am back for good. (The same goes to all the food I wanted to eat and the loads of other stuff I wanna do....)

So, after 10 months, my Basel adventure had finally ended. Looking back, I learned a lot and gained a lot. Not just in knowledge and experience in work, but also in life. Rather confident that I am a better person now. Of everything I been through for the past 10 months, the good I will remember, the bad I will forget and the ugly - I wish they cease to exist and shall never be mentioned. So it's goodbye and the end to all things Basel.

Maybe next time I will write some reflection about the past ten months, but for now, it's the start of a whole new season, a whole new story. Finally back in the familiar setting with all the original cast (and some new additions), I can't wait for the series to begin. I think it's gonna be good. Stay tuned.