I had my last day of work at the NTUC I've been working at for the past two years and frankly I'm still torn about leaving that place. On one hand, income has stopped flowing and I genuinely liked working there (mostly because of the people I've met) but on the other, I'm just really tired of everything in general that I'm kinda relived for the breathing space gained from leaving work.
Still, work has taught me a lot of things. The people I've met and talked to all left me a lasting impression and there was at least one thing I learned from each of them. In my opinion, the values of work can be imparted to you too; just bear with me a little longer.
Maybe I'll talk about my superiors first. I only ever talked with my own supervisor and manager of the department I was in, the BET (Bazaar, Electronic, Textile) department. I'll list them both and what they taught me down first.
My manager Terence. He was the contact I was put in touch with through my aunt and my first point of contact to NTUC. He's pretty laid back and lets us do our own thing as long as he doesn't catch us slacking off. Terence teaches you everything at once for the first time and hopes that you'll remember because he can't be there every time to save our asses. Terence taught me how gentle persuasion can get results.
My supervisor Kenny. Sure, he seemed stern and scary at first but he's generally a good guy. I mean, he makes friends with the foreign workers at the NTUC and communicates in a gruff yet affectionate way. Combine that with his stocky build and hey you kinda get a father figure. He's the most stressed out of everyone in the store because all the shit falls to him to handle. Yet he takes it all because really, without Kenny the entire department would fall apart. What I learned: Don't take no shit from anyone and pick your own battles.
Next up are the rest of my co-workers. It's a mighty long list so I'll try my best to break down the imminent wall of text.
First up is Uncle Albert. I was directed by Terence to go talk to him on my first day so Uncle Albert could show me the ropes. Despite reaching the retirement age, Uncle Albert is easily the best employee in our department; the only thing stopping him from getting promoted is his age and problems with handling computer work. If there's trouble about, Uncle Albert can be approached and he'll hop to it, ready to help out and then telling me where I went wrong and what I could learn from it. Uncle Albert taught me to speak out logically against unfair treatment, because there's no use in needless arguing.
Next is He Long. He's from China and had returned home during my first year of work. A common topic that comes up during work chatter is that He Long wants to quit as soon as the next bonus arrives so that he could go home to help support his family by setting up a shop with his wife waiting back home. Although he could be belligerent at times he knew just as much as Uncle Albert, plus the technology know-how, making him a valuable asset. He taught me that while money can be used in many practical ways, in the end, family comes first.
Zhi Zhong was the other foreign worker from China and he is the closest to my age at 24, next to Hazrul (later) who's 17 this year. He had been deported back to China because he violated Singapore's housing laws with several other of his countrymen. From what I heard from Kenny, Zhi Zhong had been forced into it. Other than that, while he was still around, he was just as good as He Long, albeit the more chatty one. He helped me a little bit with my Chinese too so yeah I learned from Zhi Zhong that a little more general knowledge won't hurt, because he's always reading out articles to us.
Uncle Simon transferred into the department a little late last year. He's slightly younger than Uncle Albert but the difference is Simon is more cheerful and willing to chat (Uncle Albert's all work most of the time). He may ramble a bit at times but Simon picked up the BET's routine quickly and hey, he had his own pearls of wisdom to share during work chat. Lesson: Adaptability is crucial in the work force.
Then there's Siti. She worked in the Textile side of BET and was recently promoted to supervisor (congratulations again :D) Her workload did increase because of the promotion and she is now just as stressed as Kenny. However, that doesn't stop Siti from being the motherly kind who looks out for the younger and older ones despite her own age (CAN'T DIVULGE THIS DUH). Her last words too me yesterday may sound harsh but I'll remember them now: Don't think about others, think about yourself first.
Amil is from Malaysia and is here to earn some bread for his wife and year-old daughter back home. Solid, loyal and hardworking, he has the most eagerness to learn and prove himself in the store. Since he is under Siti, he now provides the muscle for the Textile side, since it has always been hiring female staff. He taught me a little Malay and in exchange I helped him with as much English as I could. While he may be thirty and had only been around for three months or so, I see him as more of a friend than colleague. Lesson: Be someone that can be depended on for not everything, but most of the things because you are not Superman.
Then there is Mohammed. He may be from the grocery department but he is the only one from another department who shook my hand and introduced himself. Just like Amil, Mohammed does not hesitate to slap you on the back just to say hi. Whenever we pass by each other, we nod and ask each other, "How are you, boss?" because Mohammed taught me that you are your own master.
Finally, there's Hazrul. I met him only last month when he came to NTUC to work through an agency. Fresh out of secondary school, he's going to TP after the O Level results were released. With someone so close to my age, we could laugh and chat about things outside of work. Have you seen/played this before et cetera. However, just by talking with Hazrul did I realize, and learned on my own, that I'm being looked at as one of the 'older' people now; it's time I act like one.
Well, it was a fun ride till the end and I hope all of you who are reading this get something out of this. True, I may preach now and forget about everything that happened in NTUC but to be honest, my memories won't be fading any time soon.
And now, I can finally rest.
See you all next time.
