Me of the Month - Mar 2015

Look! Another month of the year!

One of the significant moments of the month was the marathon event in Sihanouk Ville. I went there with Thyna and Sgnuon, the old companions back to the trip to Siem Reap last year.

I did 3km fun run! Done! It was not tough at allllll! lolzz...

We stayed at Golden Sand on the first night while the second night at OC Boutique Hotel.

With my friendly, sometimes kid-like, GM. Farewell Dan, I am gonna miss you. ^^

Cheers,

Jocelyn

2015.03.27

9:36pm

Lai See

A Lai See from my workplace, the third one I have ever received from the company.

By today, I have worked there for 2 years, 4 months and 12 days. Time flies....

And now sth triggers me to move on... Anyway, will wait and see.

Happy Chinese New Year 2015!

Cheers,
Jocelyn
2015.02.12
19:42pm

P.S just a note. This little tree is belonged to Mala. :D

New Environment At Work from Jan 8, 2015

Until today the two new managers in my department have joined for one week and two days. There are goods and bads, but I still don’t feel any relieved with the pressure of my workload. It seems that the workload on me has been heavier since they came. I don’t feel much physically unaccustomed, but I feel spiritually overwhelmed. 

It turns out that the new AM is not as helpful as my AM; perhaps it was just the first week that she has not got used to the new workplace or it is the way she works. I doubt it, but my first impression toward her in this first week was not satisfactory, and I think my impression is going to be quite right. Anyway, I will see until the end of the month.

The new FM is quite ok. He is friendly and nice to the team. He smiles all the time though he is under pressure from management and is very approachable for everyone. I believe that I will be able to get on well with him.

All in short, I don’t expect much from the changes of the management team. When I see the obvious bias the top management has on each department and sense the pressure imposed on the finance team, I loathe my workplace and simply want to quit. However, I have told myself that all workplaces are similar and try to bear with it until one point in time when all my beloved team members leave and nothing more can be improved, I’ll do too.

Cheers,

Jocelyn

2015.01.17

9:48am

Work Challenge

I thank myself for having thrived through the challenge at work for this two months and one week. This marks a turning point from being in my comfort zone as an assistant accountant to assuming higher responsibility while my supervisor and manager are not around. The situation ends today with the year-end closing of 2014, and it will be changed to an unknown from tomorrow when the new FM and AM join.

No matter the situation will be, I will embrace changes and welcome challenges. After every drop of tear, I will be back on my feet and smile and appreciate every lesson I will learn from every given opportunity. Thanks to my mentor today who has always by my side although she is on maternity leave. Thanks for my accounting team members who have contributed their good parts in the year-end closing. Thanks to my FM who has given me the opportunity to be independent. Thanks for my colleagues who have given me so many harsh challenges.

Finally I must appreciate myself again for being strong and maintaining a happy mood through the process. Life will be dull without tears and challenges.

A better tomorrow is on its way.

Cheers,
Jocelyn
2015.01.07
9:25 pm

Look back at 2012 and New Year Resolutions for 2013

There is one thing I have wanted to do very much on this day (31.12.2012), yet it’s coming to its end soon in another three hours. That’s the only thing I regret that I don’t and cannot do in 2012. Whether or not it’s possible to happen in the future, it’s not up to my decision alone. Truly, let’s fate and destiny decide.

Looking back at this nearly-ended year, there have been considerable changes and almost as many changes as I had in 2011. Resulted from Nov 2011, I had a very happy first quarter of 2012. It was a period of joy, sweetness and success. The second quarter was so-so; third quarter getting worse; and last quarter down in the valley and just starting to climb up again in Dec. If I draw a line graph of how much I liked about each month or how happy I was, my graph should have been like this:

I am glad that I have taken up swimming and inline skating although I am still a beginner. At least I tried sth new this year. Thanks for inspirations.

I went to Kep (Nataya Resort) in Jan; Koh Dach in Mar; Sihanouk Ville in Jul; Bokor Mountain in Aug; Buddha Center in Kandal in Sep; Prasith Mountain in Oct and again in Dec; Oudong Mountain in Dec. I have travelled much more than before, and I love those experiences so much.

I quit the job at the Embassy and now work for a private company with its headquarter based in Hong Kong. I am glad that I am here doing the things I have wished for and learning things I have never learned of. In the nearest future, I am not thinking of moving elsewhere again.

My elder brother is now in France to pursue his master degree. He left in Sep. Dad is now retired, so he is home with Mum. At least Mum still has Dad when the two sons are at overseas and the daughter rarely stays at home. I wish my Mum was easy-going and loved herself more. I wish I were better at cheering her up.

As of this term, I have totally completed seven papers of CAT assuming that I pass the one in this coming Jan’s final exam. The grades I received in 2012 were quite satisfying for FA2, MA2 and FFA except for FAB which I just took on last Saturday. It was as bad as expected.

Here comes the New Year Resolutions.

I will be committed to learn swimming better. If possible, I might do some inline skating alone without my brother.

Regarding the new job, I am really committed to it. I will put all my effort in it during working hours. Since I claim that my learning style is to ask and answer questions, I will try to ask as many questions as possible to myself or my immediate supervisor. At my free time, I will read materials relating to constructions, accounting standards, taxation and any news which tell me what’s going on around here. At the same time, since the last two papers of CAT program are the hardest ones which require more reading and analysis, I will also have to spare lots of time to devote to them. It’s really hard and boring to read and read, yet it’s one of the things I really have to do in order to be that someone whom everyone will look up to. Really, it’s not so easy to reach there, but what I can do is to do it and see if I can get there. 

While spending so much time on reading for work and study, I guess I will have less time for my family again. Well, I will at least be with my Mum and Dad half-half day during holidays and weekends. Help do some household chores. Talking about this, my room is quite messy right now. :D

If you ask me where I want to go for travelling in the coming year, I will say that I want to go almost everywhere both in and outside the country. I really love travelling, either adventurous like trekking in the forest or on the mountains or luxurious like staying in boutique hotels and doing shopping overseas. At the time being, I do love travelling that does not cost much but fun, like going somewhere I can simply see the natural views of the mountains, rivers, trees, flowers, and the likes. Most importantly, I wish to find someone who appreciates the same thing and be there and always with me, physically or by soul.

I have spent one hour writing this post. Time is running down to two hours remaining. People are counting down everywhere. Every year I count down at home. Remember last year I was in front of FB and waiting for posting wishes when the clock stroke 0:00am. There is one thing more special than last year. I am counting down not only for the coming of year 2013, but I am counting down to celebrate the birthday of my dearest Mum! I gave her a surprising birthday cake after coming back from work. This is the first time I have celebrated her birthday. There will be more coming up next next year. I love to see her smile, and it is the biggest gift I received in this year end. I wish her good health, joy and happiness.

Dear readers, if you haven’t finished your last year resolutions, put them back on the list and add more. Yet, there are things that action is better than word. Do them now or you will regret next year end. Wish you all the best and happy New Year 2013.

New Job, New Challenges

Third place! It's the third place I have been working at in merely one year and a half. This new job started in October, and I don't expect to leave within the next few years since the environment here is quite acceptable and have great opportunities for my development. I plan to settle here and adhere to my career plan.

I was glad that I got a job soon after I graduated from one of my universities and learned a lot from the first workplace. I liked everyone as well as the work there. However, with the interest to learn about an embassy's accounting, I quit the first job and started my exploration at the second place. It was a great exploration. I have learned a lot from there too. It was a great opportunity of course. After staying there for one year, I am glad that I have come back to the private sector and started to follow my career plan with the new greatly energetic work team here.

I alert myself to work hard at this place and never again search vacancies on websites within the next two years. I am satisfied with the working environment here and wish to develop myself together with the growing of the company.

Wish I am blessed with the best of luck. ^^

What the hell is this workplace?!

I do really want to shout out loud right now, and I do wish that I can change to a new workplace!!!! I am writing this post at my workplace while I am told to draw out a chart of things I have no idea of them at all, or else I am not allowed to go home. I haven't told of them, and I don't have any related files with me. How can I do it?! He is furious and wants everyone does the things he asks, but I can do nothing right now!!! What the hell is this workplace?! I don't like here since the first day I came. I don't like the managers here. I don't like the environment at all! Why did I change my job from the human world to the hell? Sometimes I do wish to go back to my previous workplace. How many times have I wanted to quit this job? How many times have I browsed the recruitement websites such as Bongthom and CamHR? It seems wonderful and appealing to outsiders for being able to work here, but in reality it is not. It has been one hour since he asked me to do the tasks, but now I am still writing this post without knowing what to do. The file is with someone else, and he doesn't pass to me. How can I complete this job?! Gosh, I really want to quit!!! Let me go home! Damn it! It's 6pm right now.....

Family Day with Singapore Embassy

It’s been almost two months we had prepared for the Family Day for the Embassy staff for 2012. Kimrong, Ousphea, and I were chosen to be the organizing committee for the program and were directed by Ms. Catherine. The reason for choosing us was that we are the newcomers to the Embassy in 2011 and that we might have new idea for the yearly celebrated Family Day.


We had discussed over where to go to and what to do for the Family Day. Several ideas came up such as going to Kirirom, Bokor Mountain, Kompot pepper planation, Sokha Hotel in Sihanouk Ville, or just go around Phnom Penh. Finally, Nataya Resort at Kompot was chosen.


Organising a trip is not easy. Kimrong and I were busy contacting people at various resorts, renting the bus, booking breakfast, thinking of games to play over there, buying the T-shirts and items for the goodie bags and other items. That put us into serious headache.

The Family Day was divided into two parts—first part was the Recycling and Recreating Competition and second the trip to Nataya and the team competition. Regarding to the Recycling Competition, all Embassy staff, including both HBS and LRS, were invited to take part by making something out of used items. Three rankings would be chosen for prizes. The announcement started somewhere in early December 2011 and people started thinking and making their things with their creativity. I also started to make mine. With an idea from a Korean TV show, my mother suggested that I fold paper birds and make a Cambodia map. I accepted the idea and started to produce my masterpiece. It required hard work and patience; it was finally born though. I also put my snail artwork into election. The selection day of the winner of this program was on Friday 13^th January 2012 in the Embassy. The judges were those who didn’t participate in the competition, and there were also some votes from HCC and MPA staff. The votes were not counted until Sunday when we were on the bus to Nataya.


On January 15, the day finally came. I was the first one to arrive at the Embassy. There were some problems, but we managed to solve it. We were finally on the bus, and everything was just smooth enough. I felt annoyed by the travel company which provided the bus to us because they changed too often and the driver did not know how to get to the destination! That part was bad!


On the bus, Ousphea was in charge of making the group alive by giving quizzes. Around 15 quizzes were asked and prizes were also given out. After that, the result of the Recycling Competition was announced. Within my expectation, my Cambodia map got the first prize and the snail artwork got the second prize. Ms. Janet got the third prize for her memo and photo calendar stand. I was so excited that I got two prizes, the prizes that I wished to receive. I got the cooler bag for the first prize and the badminton set for the second prize.

At 11am, we finally arrived at Nataya Resort. We were welcomed by Naro, the beverage manager of the resort who gave us welcome drinks. We then started the sand carving competition. B. Yuthnea had prepared in advance the ears, tail, eyes, and whiskers of a rabbit. In three, we had carved a shape of a rabbit in a garden. That’s cool! Our other group members also made marvelous images. Ms. Catherine and B. Chanthy carved a gecko, and again we carved a gold fish. The Blue team had a castle, a turtle, and a crocodile. Naro, the manager, was the judge for the most outstanding one. The rabbit was chosen for the first prize! Cheers to the Green team! My team won for the first game. Next, we played the game—picking the peanuts. The Blue team won it. After these two games, we had lunch at 12:30pm. The buffet cost $20 per person and half price for children between 5 and 12 years old. Cost at Nataya covered a substantial part of the budget. After lunch, we continued our games such as blowing the ping pong ball, picking the rice, and don’t blow the king away. Between that, Kimrong and I went to the Nataya bridge and took pictures. The final result of the team competitions were finally announced, and the winner was the Green team (My team!). Prizes were then distributed. All in all, I received four prizes—two from Recycling competition, one from team competition, and the other one from lucky dip.

We kicked off at 3:30pm and arrived at the Embassy at 7:30pm, two hours later than what we had planned. It was the first time I could go back home with my own motorbike after getting off the bus instead of calling someone to pick me up. I arrived home at 7:40pm.

This trip is the first trip I have been in 2012. The special thing in this trip was that I was one of the organisers and that I experienced the stress in dealing with the budget and the actual expenditures. It was part of my job and I learned things from it. Although I could not free myself during the trip, I did enjoy much and was excited when I could receive so many good prizes. Also, thanks to B. Phalla who gave me a ticket to Phnom Penh Sport Club. I would have a good time there again with Kimrong.


It is a good start for the year! I will go to other provinces for the remaining 11 months. Hopefully, I will be able to go to Siem Reap, Mondulkiri, or Ratanakiri. Cheers!

More pictures are here:

Two things at the same time

Internship at Sathapana has started on 1st of April, and today is the third day. What should I say about the internship as well as the simultaneous work from HR Inc? Everything is quite new for me, and I may not be easily able to adapt myself to these changes. Sathapana's environment is quite healthy, but it's not quite comfortable for internee, i may say. The supervisors are not very supportive for us either. The employees are busy most of the time, so we don't have time to question and get information. Despite this, we have worked hard to get as much information as possible for our report.

I have a small responsibility of contacting office moving companies to get quotations for HR Inc's office removal. I haven't done much in this job. I did contact several companies, but I have no idea which equipment will be moved when the agent asked me about it. However, many people are there to support me. Although I'm not happy about my performance, I feel better when I tell myself that at least I have learnt to contact them on first hand.

Tomorrow will be better!