It's been a while since I left Jakarta, and I don't know why, I feel like going to write somethings. I always felt like "Lonely In The Crowds" and have no idea what I'm suppose to write. But not this night, somethings in my mind (which I don't know what it is) and my finger to start typing. Its not an overnight writings.
It's start when I still working in a small multinational company in Kuningan, Jakarta. Actually the main branch of this company is in Singapore, I think they established a new branch in Jakarta, and the good thing is that the pay is good since they're newcomers, so I just toke it
. At the first time I'm quite relief that Jakarta still have a good multinational company beside my previous company, but after one of my senior colleague explains to me regarding their PM (yes Mr 
). I'm starting become a rebellions. I don't care if I shouting or degrade him anymore. At that time I'm realize that maybe I need a break, not just a break but also a breakthrough. I must make changes, not only changes for that company, also changes in me. In that balcony in front of my room...I keep thinking, how to make myself happy? what should I do next? where I'm heading at right now?
I see some of my colleagues starting to looking a job in Singapore when Mr not checking on us, and I don't know why at that time probably because I already feed up with Mr , suddenly I really serious to look for a job in Singapore, after a few attempt and CV tweaks, also 2 weekend going to Singapore (I mean on the weekend twice), a new beginning starting to rise 
. I got some offer from some multinational company, also the biggest IT company in Singapore....yeahh 
. And *poof* here I am in the City of Lion Singapore since april.
Surely I really appreciate to all my friends in my previous company, you guys always supporting me and helping me, even thou I only less that 6 months there, but I'll never forget your guys, all the best !.
It's start when I still working in a small multinational company in Kuningan, Jakarta. Actually the main branch of this company is in Singapore, I think they established a new branch in Jakarta, and the good thing is that the pay is good since they're newcomers, so I just toke it
. At the first time I'm quite relief that Jakarta still have a good multinational company beside my previous company, but after one of my senior colleague explains to me regarding their PM (yes Mr ). I'm starting become a rebellions. I don't care if I shouting or degrade him anymore. At that time I'm realize that maybe I need a break, not just a break but also a breakthrough. I must make changes, not only changes for that company, also changes in me. In that balcony in front of my room...I keep thinking, how to make myself happy? what should I do next? where I'm heading at right now?I see some of my colleagues starting to looking a job in Singapore when Mr
not checking on us, and I don't know why at that time probably because I already feed up with Mr , suddenly I really serious to look for a job in Singapore, after a few attempt and CV tweaks, also 2 weekend going to Singapore (I mean on the weekend twice), a new beginning starting to rise . I got some offer from some multinational company, also the biggest IT company in Singapore....yeahh . And *poof* here I am in the City of Lion Singapore since april.Surely I really appreciate to all my friends in my previous company, you guys always supporting me and helping me, even thou I only less that 6 months there, but I'll never forget your guys, all the best !.
So...Singapore ! and this is my stories...........
The Place
The first 2 months after I landed in Singapore with one one-way plane ticket. I feel like "Yes...this is my new start, new energy, new excitement, my new me". I stay in a condo, sharing a room with my friend's friend, at first its quite ok, still feel a bit awkward but hey...we're guys so "ChueX iS dA bESt !"
. And also after we move in, we have a housemate a sister and brother. When I see her at the first time, I feel like "Hmm, she's cute...maybe we can hang out together sometimes"...yeah..yeah...I know u people will think that I'm lame using that word, but honest...that's the only thing that comes in mind that times. And the landlord...yes they're nice 
too, I also got another new housemate placing the 3rd room recently, quite nice guys indeed.FYI...the room is nothing more than my bathroom in my room back in Jakarta, and still I need to share it with my roommate. A bit difficult for me since I always have my own private room and bathroom and now I need to share it, a little fractions starting to come out...especially after I got my new lappie and some gadgets. Hmm I realize that maybe I just can't stay like that, I'm not use to share with other people, not that I won't, but I just not used to. Now I already move to another place, just 1 MRT away from that condo. Here I stay in HDB just with the landlord, a small family with a very cute little girl, here I have my own room also I can say my own bathroom even its not attached to my room, but better than the last one. Even thou I need to pay more but I feel more comfortable because I have my own privacy again, I just hope that the landlord also feel the same like me.
To my roommate, thanks for your kindness to accept me, maybe I'm a bit inconsiderate with you last time. I hope you can accept it as I can accept you also. And to my housemate...to bad I don't have enough guts to make friends with you
. I remember first time we're a starting to talking each other (I mean really talk not just to say hi) is when you just got back from your very very long vacation and by the time I decided to move from that place....I think it's almost 5 months, Anyway, thanks for your kindness, I really appreciate it. You inviting me to your BBQ party and meet with your friends, adding ring tones in your IPhone, also I'll never forget your corn soup (damn...its good you know ). To bad you decided to go back to Indonesia for good, I hope we have time to have dinner together again next time (hahaha....dunno whether you're able/willing/want to do it again together 
). Hope you still keeping my lousy notebook cooler, that 's the only token I dare to give it to you . Wish you all the best and hope we still be in touch in the future.The Office
It's so called the biggest IT company in Singapore, owned by the government's telecommunication company in Singapore. I do support for multinational bank, which is one of the biggest banking company in the world and it is the largest bank in the United States by holdings. At first I thought this is a step ahead after my previous company, I'm so excited, yet I still remember some of friends say...Even company like Microsoft, deep inside in their internal also messy. So I just cross my finger for that, what I knew just...I got better salary. For me no matter what I do, I just want to see Mr Yusof bin Ishak smiling .
First day, It's like orientations day, I get a one day tour inside the company, get introduced to my PM (even thou just a temporary PM). My impression at that time is this company is well organized, even I get a small things like pen, paperclip, note book, etc which I never see this kind of courtesy before, and this is the first time I get my own table with a name tag
First 3 months, I do nothing (literally). Yes I just browsing the internal website, seeing how well organized the company, like how they organize the leave, how to make claims, they have an updated list of clinic I can go if I'm sick, even they have a page for our temperature check (ow..they also give us free temperature meter
). Some say first month is the honeymoon, but I got 3 month of honeymoon 
. The next month I just realize that I'm a part of transitions, means I'm going to handle a system that used to managed by other 3rd party, and now will be managed by us, so I do a lot of documentations. Again at first I see the documents templates and it was like "WOW", I never see how well organized the document templates is, it has the field that we should fill in when we go to the incumbent, complete with the description and example if we don't have any idea what field is that. Even before we go to the incumbent, we all get briefed the big plan, the schedules, and the big picture of the transitions what it would be like. FYI total of the documents we need to fill is around 34 excel and 6 documents, each excel contains at least 20 sheets and every sheet is has columns at least 15 columns, and the document it self...only for template is already over than 2 MB. Very impressive indeed...but still, in theory might ok, when it comes to the executions??? I realize and finally understand what my friend told me about reality of working in IT company, and I think it's even worst than what my friend says 
Now the schedules getting tighter, and now I get clearer pictures about work in Singapore (maybe to naive I say like that, but it is the reality). I see how they just trying to save their own ass, I see a boss that always waiting until you do a mistakes, and when you do that he'll start scold you and take advantage for it, I see how the weak getting crushed by the stronger, I see people that don't have any self confidence getting bullied. They always say team work but in the end it's just a cover so they have scape goat, or at least they can go home early and stranded you in their work until over time. This is just some of my experiences, there are others that I heard from colleagues. I need to constantly thinking, is he up to something, is he doing this in a good cause or just setup?. Here I work with multi races, different culture, different background...It's very hard to tell unless you willing to be scape goat
. Pointing finger is a common things here, even lying (in a very cheap way) consider a good way to get rid your problems.
Too bad, now the templates is filled with a lot of junks (useless information) and far from what the documents intended to be, and who's to be blame? yes the bottoms level of the structures will get all the scolds, overtime to remake the docs, and finish it on schedules. No matter how right/good are you, they can kick you out just like piece of junk. Even sometimes you must clean out all the mess that even not created by you
What I miss a lot is when I work in Jakarta? yes the long working hour is still the same, all the things I said above I also felt it in previous company, but back there...still more easier to find friends, at least someone who still want to support us, even only by accompanying you till you finish by doing nothing. I can feel the sincerity, the friendships. But not here...
. At first I thought this is a step ahead after my previous company, I'm so excited, yet I still remember some of friends say...Even company like Microsoft, deep inside in their internal also messy. So I just cross my finger for that, what I knew just...I got better salary. For me no matter what I do, I just want to see Mr Yusof bin Ishak smiling .First day, It's like orientations day, I get a one day tour inside the company, get introduced to my PM (even thou just a temporary PM). My impression at that time is this company is well organized, even I get a small things like pen, paperclip, note book, etc which I never see this kind of courtesy before, and this is the first time I get my own table with a name tag
First 3 months, I do nothing (literally). Yes I just browsing the internal website, seeing how well organized the company, like how they organize the leave, how to make claims, they have an updated list of clinic I can go if I'm sick, even they have a page for our temperature check (ow..they also give us free temperature meter
). Some say first month is the honeymoon, but I got 3 month of honeymoon . The next month I just realize that I'm a part of transitions, means I'm going to handle a system that used to managed by other 3rd party, and now will be managed by us, so I do a lot of documentations. Again at first I see the documents templates and it was like "WOW", I never see how well organized the document templates is, it has the field that we should fill in when we go to the incumbent, complete with the description and example if we don't have any idea what field is that. Even before we go to the incumbent, we all get briefed the big plan, the schedules, and the big picture of the transitions what it would be like. FYI total of the documents we need to fill is around 34 excel and 6 documents, each excel contains at least 20 sheets and every sheet is has columns at least 15 columns, and the document it self...only for template is already over than 2 MB. Very impressive indeed...but still, in theory might ok, when it comes to the executions??? I realize and finally understand what my friend told me about reality of working in IT company, and I think it's even worst than what my friend says Now the schedules getting tighter, and now I get clearer pictures about work in Singapore (maybe to naive I say like that, but it is the reality). I see how they just trying to save their own ass, I see a boss that always waiting until you do a mistakes, and when you do that he'll start scold you and take advantage for it, I see how the weak getting crushed by the stronger, I see people that don't have any self confidence getting bullied. They always say team work but in the end it's just a cover so they have scape goat, or at least they can go home early and stranded you in their work until over time. This is just some of my experiences, there are others that I heard from colleagues. I need to constantly thinking, is he up to something, is he doing this in a good cause or just setup?. Here I work with multi races, different culture, different background...It's very hard to tell unless you willing to be scape goat
. Pointing finger is a common things here, even lying (in a very cheap way) consider a good way to get rid your problems.Too bad, now the templates is filled with a lot of junks (useless information) and far from what the documents intended to be, and who's to be blame? yes the bottoms level of the structures will get all the scolds, overtime to remake the docs, and finish it on schedules. No matter how right/good are you, they can kick you out just like piece of junk. Even sometimes you must clean out all the mess that even not created by you
What I miss a lot is when I work in Jakarta? yes the long working hour is still the same, all the things I said above I also felt it in previous company, but back there...still more easier to find friends, at least someone who still want to support us, even only by accompanying you till you finish by doing nothing. I can feel the sincerity, the friendships. But not here...
The Peoples
I still remember, the 1st time I got lunch together with fellow colleagues from Indonesia that also working there, I feel very awkward...how they talk, how the joke'n around, how they think, how the response each other is very very very different with what I often do in Jakarta. I feel like "can I blend in with them??", I thought either they're to lame for me or actually the problems is in me? do I changed, do I really become that lame so I can't blend in 
After a few times going out with them, I'm starting to catch up with their phase, I'm trying to understand each one of them and looking from theirs point of view. Yes is hard and boring, but I'm willing to do that since I don't have friends here. Actually what they are doing also same with me, they trying to know me, some of them (probably) just give up trying and just take the easy part as ignorant (I mean...just nice to know me), some others still trying, possibly because they also need a friends just like me, but hey...that's how it's work right? the law of supply & demand ?
.
It started from every friday night out after work, we just go out dinner and after that playing games in some LAN shop around Somerset, sometimes we just sit beside the road, enjoying bean curd until 4 a.m in the morning just waiting first train to come, talking everything...a bit "crispy" but hey, better to kill the day. Now we have some problems...It seem Singapore is too small and don't have much amusements for us, we often just take dinner and back home after discussing what activities should we take to kill the time, because in the end some people want to do it, some don't and ruins our mood. I try to understand them, because we're all come from different backgrounds(to be truth, I even don't bother to ask them)...so maybe my style is different with them also. Some like nightlife, some just to into playing computer games, some think better go home and sleep 
, some keep trying and keep thinking what activities that can cater all . I found it pretty hard especially when its involving with , yeah its typical problem but I think we all have our ethic code and we can handle it together.
Something that for me is one of the essential part in friendship, is still missing. The ego is very high and afraid/unwilling to do a new thing in friendship, how afraid they're to show/express their own feelings it's like there's no adventurous/renegade/rebellion spirit. But I can understand, I can't push them into my mindset, having them is already a bless in disguise. So I just become as myself and respect their privacies or thought also. Thanks for accepting me as part of the bro's
After a few times going out with them, I'm starting to catch up with their phase, I'm trying to understand each one of them and looking from theirs point of view. Yes is hard and boring, but I'm willing to do that since I don't have friends here. Actually what they are doing also same with me, they trying to know me, some of them (probably) just give up trying and just take the easy part as ignorant (I mean...just nice to know me), some others still trying, possibly because they also need a friends just like me, but hey...that's how it's work right? the law of supply & demand ?
.It started from every friday night out after work, we just go out dinner and after that playing games in some LAN shop around Somerset, sometimes we just sit beside the road, enjoying bean curd until 4 a.m in the morning just waiting first train to come, talking everything...a bit "crispy" but hey, better to kill the day
. Now we have some problems...It seem Singapore is too small and don't have much amusements for us, we often just take dinner and back home after discussing what activities should we take to kill the time, because in the end some people want to do it, some don't and ruins our mood. I try to understand them, because we're all come from different backgrounds(to be truth, I even don't bother to ask them)...so maybe my style is different with them also. Some like nightlife, some just to into playing computer games, some think better go home and sleep , some keep trying and keep thinking what activities that can cater all . I found it pretty hard especially when its involving with , yeah its typical problem but I think we all have our ethic code and we can handle it together.Something that for me is one of the essential part in friendship, is still missing. The ego is very high and afraid/unwilling to do a new thing in friendship, how afraid they're to show/express their own feelings it's like there's no adventurous/renegade/rebellion spirit. But I can understand, I can't push them into my mindset, having them is already a bless in disguise. So I just become as myself and respect their privacies or thought also. Thanks for accepting me as part of the bro's
The Living Cost
After about 6 months here in Singapore, much I can tell that S$1500 is more than enough for single male working class type
. I'll try to break it down- Place to stay [300 - 900, Avg : 600]
This is the biggest monthly expenses that you need to pay when you're working in Singapore and don't have place to crash. The cheapest way to reduce this, is by sharing a room with your friends, you can share the rent with each other but the down side is you also need to share with each other, and lack of privacy. But if you really don't mind...this can save alot. - Eat [300 - 600, Avg : 450]
With S$15 you can eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a decent hawker and I'm sure its enough, mostly per meal is around S$5 already with drinks. If you want to save more, you can bring your own drinks (but be carefull because some place they don't allow you to do that), or order food that comes with soup. For weekend dinner/parties sure you need to pay for more, the cheapest hang out place foods is like around S$12 per meal. - Groceries (150 - 300, Avg : 200)
Chocolate, tidbits, cakes, crackers, can drinks, or your personal needs like soap, shampoo, etc. This is depend on the each peoples, but from my experiences S$200 is like 2 months of supplies
. - Hang out (~300)
This also very subjective, depend on your lifestyles. But if it's only like going out, dinner, play games, pools, bowl, brewing, buy some gadgets, accessories, etc. I think its enough.
So...this is the 1st part of my new start in Singapore. Feel free if you want to ask other things, see you in the 2nd part of me in Singapore
