It has been 3 days into my new job. It has been very positive so far. NC is my immediate boss. NC appears to be a warm, intelligent and definitely hard working lady, who had previously worked in a leading national law firm, as well as in a corporate regulator. AH is a younger lawyer, but is sharp, fun and also very hardworking. Both are engaged to be married, AH later this year and NC next year. I bring up the rear and SW is the PA for the department.
The organisation is professionally run, and on the very first day, most administrative matters were already resolved. Whatever was unresolved on the first day was cleared up yesterday (my second day). I have had to be issued access cards for 2 separate buildings, with my office being just one floor below the US Consulate office. Getting in and out of office feels like getting in and out of a fortress. On my second day, I stepped into a lift meant only for the Consulate Office and caused a surprised look on the face of the sentry personnel, when the lift door opened. I obviously did not have a look to make him draw a gun, but that is going to be the last time I use that lift.I was taken around today, to meet with some of the staff from other departments. There were quite a number of Malaysians in the company. The guy I had a short meeting with was an East Malaysian who grew up in
Brunei.To get to work, I take a train to Glen Iris, where I take a tram which stops directly in front of my office building. The train ride takes about 15 mins, and the tram about 25 mins. All in however, it takes about an hour each way, door to door. On days I don’t go to the gym, I get to travel on the train with Theresa. The downside to this new job is of course, I get home only around 7pm, which means cooking dinner is a bit tricky. I have not cooked for the past 2 days, but tonight, I managed to whip up a quick spaghetti marinara. Henry and wife left yesterday afternoon, after spending a week with us. Or rather, after staying in our home for a week. They didn’t exactly spend the week with us, with their busy schedules of visiting sites and people.Kiddo is on school holidays now. Last night, she got pretty upset. The youth group of the church had planned to do some charity work and last Sunday, they planned the timetable and transport arrangement. We were not in church last Sunday however, as Henry had wanted to visit a Methodist church and meet pastors he knew from
Malaysia. So Kiddo was excluded from the transport arrangement and last night, she couldn’t get anyone to take her and she was very sad. I’m really grateful however, as she seems to have that accepting attitude, taking in this minor calamity in stride, after an initial outburst of frustration. Thankfully, this morning, she got someone to take her. School holidays go on till end of next week, with the coming Easter break in between.
Ante 