well yea i have disappeared for quite a number of days now... ok weeks... erm maybe a month? i dont know but here is a little post... =D
ok life update....
came to vietnam on the 10th of aug, flew back on the 17th
worked at AIPA (Asean Inter Parliamentary Assembly) from the 18th till the 24th
so what has happened to me between the 24th till now, let me tell you...
i was incharge of the delegates from vietnam... high end officials, just a few directors, vice presidents of foreign affairs committee, chairwomen of social affairs and vice president of national assembly... yea really high end delegates... very nice people... so you see at 0003hrs on the 24th of aug, mom called...
she asked, "hey when are you coming over to vietnam? dad has a long weekend off?"
my reply, "erm dont know maybe on the 27th or something..."
bla bla bla, phone was put down....
0005hrs 24th aug...
i called back... "hey mom i think ill fly today at 7.30pm"
yea she thought i was mad which in real fact everyone that met me for that day thought so too... my delegates yea they thought i was mad too... but i guess it is the spontenity that makes life fun... so yea i am now in HCMC....
so if you can be bothered read about what AIPA was all about well read below... bon apetit...
the leaders
the delegation
my leader
the ladies
Arriving at work in suit and tie, going for meetings, attending dinners, entertaining guests and your own Mercedes Compressor with driver at your disposal, young executives for a week we were. Well at least that was the illusion that we had during the many hours we had sitting around waiting for our delegate’s meetings to end.
We did go through all the above however, life wasn’t a bed of roses all the time. Day to day, one would have mistaken us training for a marathon through the corridors than just merely trying to organize a meeting or plan a last minute request. At times a lack of planning on the side of the organizer also led to a catalytic reaction of “unforeseen” events. Then of course there were the many times that we wondered what the point of having us around was.
I guess the purpose of having us around was not to be useful to the delegates all the time, but rather to be there when they needed us. Our job scope was simple, act as a medium between the delegates and the organizers. Play host to the delegates and make them feel welcomed. Solve all unique problems no matter how bizarre they may be. When things went wrong in the planning of the event, make sure that it went seamlessly well from the view point of the delegates. This was our job scope, we were Liaison Officers. We were each attached to a country, as for me I was attached to Vietnam.
There were many things that I learnt from this event; the many subtle undercurrents and gestures that require a critical eye to detect. I learnt that it is alright for a lady dignitary to leave the procession before the Guest of Honor does. When my delegates from Vietnam stood up to dance with the new host of AIPA 2009, Thailand, it signified acceptance on the Thai’s side of Vietnam becoming the host of AIPA 2010. These and many more gestures formed the base of being diplomatic and politically safe.
Throughout the seven days that I was attached to my delegation, it seemed as if I had been immersed into a new culture. Hierarchy and respect for superiors was something that was evidently present in every move that was made. The wrong seating position in the car could bring an insult to the superior. Though however stringent and serious it may sound, it wasn’t really that bad. Most of the times, the delegates were quite forgiving if minor mistakes were made.
The time that I really started to enjoy myself was probably on the night of the closing day. That night, a dinner had been arranged for all delegations in Sentosa. Though there were a few hiccups in the planning process, the events really interested me. Each delegation was required to move up on stage and perform for everyone else. Though the vocals and choreography were far from perfect, we were able to sample what another country’s culture was like, and that brought a smile to my face.
The delegates soon started to let their hair down a bit as the atmosphere was now no longer centered on work but rather, where is the best place to shop. I then decided to bring them out on a shopping spree that Saturday. We shopped and talked like as if we had been friends for the past four years. Topics such as marriage, culture, ethics and my little eyes surfaced.
The AIPA meetings had ended too fast, at the point when relationships were starting to develop, it came to its end and before you know it they were on the plane home. Well, a quick exchange of emails and photos are just about all that remains of my delegates from AIPA 2008. Aside from that here are some comments that they made, that I will keep with me for a long time.
“One thing that Vietnam must learn from this is the organization of the event. It was well planned and the staff are very hospitable…” Mr Ngo Duc Manh, Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Vietnam.
friends always care
23:32
friends always care
18:35
well right now i have officially been off work for about 2 weeks already... i am really glad that i was able to gain experience within rasa sentosa.... i have met many people in the course of my work some nice, some not so nice... however, they have all helped to facilitate my learning within rasa sentosa... i have been asked to return as casual during my 3mnth long holiday however my reply is always, i dont know.. truth be told, i most likely may not return... there is so much to do, so much to see, so much to learn... when it is time to move on, i think i should...
well i have been to the front desk, concierge and guest relations during my stint... which one do i prefer, i would be lying if i said i liked them all as much... i really loved guest relations... my colleagues there are such fun to be with... on my last day, when i went back to do my clearing, i made an appointment to meet up with my GM to bid farewell... when i met him, the only thing i could say was that i really learnt alot and was really glad to be given the opportunity... because there was really so much that i couldnt pin point one lesson that had a great impact on me...
i spent many nights thinking what is the one lesson that i learnt the most throughout my internship... if asked now, i can say that that would be, humility and sincerity... without these two factors you are no body...
well yea so here are some pictures during my crazy times in rasa sentosa...
DEPT BBQ
TAKE A BREAK
GM's COCKTAIL
BYE BYE
friends always care
11:11