The experience....

I am back after surviving 11 grueling days in the flooded areas in Segamat. I guess, I must say that this joy of being at home will last another day or two before I hit the streets of the flooded areas again. Seriously, I just won't know where I will be this time around. Hopefully, it would be Melaka or even somewhere nearby. I have really learnt a lot during my days in Segamat. Minusing off the daily night meetings - long and arduous, at times, I learned that there is a lot of twist and turns to events surrounding our social strata standing. It is about connection - what cabling and where the cabling is, actually. The stronger the cable, the faster the complaints and the faster the handling. This is really totally absurd and barbaric in a way. The rich will always get their way by twisting some arm or two or fluttering some big shot name here and there or even using the influential and what not to get their ways. They aren't easy to deal with plus they are the ones that usually will flash a smile with you but hold a dagger to your back or throat. The average and the poor have to struggle a lot during these times , get agitated easily and they spew a range of flowery languages in the bright early morning of the day during one of my rounds. I guess, I can accept the work that I have to do but to receive stick, flowery language and harsh words each and every morning can be quite taxing to our frail sanity. Eleven days in such harsh environment will soften or probably butterised even the toughest nut in the industry while it will certainly crushed the soft spoken or even the less mentally strong colleague. I guess, I am lucky to say that I have a greater "bodyguard" (GOD) in my life! I give glory to God that in every case that I was assigned to, I had managed to do the best I could and without fear. I do know however that people will just lie straight to your face when it comes to money and compensation. They would not batter an eyelid to cheat , lie and say things to garner in more money for compensation. Yes,I do come across such people and I just ask God to deal with them as He has been gracious in my life.

It is really shocking what people will do for money and materials in this world. It is sad too when you see colleagues slogging it out under the sweltering sun from place to place but what is more shocking is the demanding level of superiors. I guess, the trend in our job industry today is this: the higher you are in the hierarchy of goons, the less sympathetic you are towards your staff. Take care of your own pompous ass and position. That's our superiors' stand. So, they work their workers to the brink of mental and physical exhaustion and claim the results of it. This is a real sore point at times. I am at that bottom of the food chain and often called the "Indonesian worker" level. Anyway, I must say that with good colleagues [ Melaka, KL and Ipoh ], we helped ease each other burdens by working well together, spending time for dinner and having drinks together. Yeah, the bunch of "Indonesian workers" on the field! Really glad to have such friends at work or else, we would all lose our minds after spending 11 days "jail" in Segamat.

Baring all obstacles, we managed to get our work done. It was really a team effort that made it happen. It isn't necessary to be pretty and nice but suffice to say that we have done our very best. Everyone took an effort to ensure that we work our butts off to finish the cases. Thank God, we made it. We managed and it was a satisfying feeling but deep at the back of our minds, we know that they are still many out there that still await our arrival. But just for today, we savored the feeling that we have completed one portion of our work and celebrate with a good night sleep to our names. It was a wonderful feeling. Let tomorrow work out its' battle; for today, we sleep!~ Thank you to all friends and family who have taken time to pray for my safety and well-being while I am at work. I really appreciate those calls and sms of encouragement especially Vive,Dinesh and Abby. I appreciate your concerns and your steadfast care. Thank you very much.

I don't know whether I'll be able to walk on the street of Segamat again without having anyone spit or speak harshly to my face but I believe that's reality of life. Take it and move on, right? After all, we will win some and we will definitely lose some battles, right?~ Just glad to have some rest - the simplest pleasure of life.

CNY-Checked & Absent!

Today, 8.30pm on 6February,2011 is the only day I could have a sitdown dinner of homecook meal with my family members to celebrate Chinese New Year. Yeah, they have had one earlier but mom & sister was gracious enough to cook something for me as I missed the Chinese New Year Eve family dinner and another dinner on the 2nd day of CNY lately. So, they really made sure that I would be available for this dinner. It is simply just awesome. The food spread was modest and I like it that way - pig stomach soup with fishballs, Guiness cooked black pork, chicken fingers, prawn sambal and some vegetables. I was just so happy to be able to have dinner with family and sit down to chat with mom and the family members. To me, this is indeed already a great privilege given the paramount of works that awaits my colleagues and I as we continue to brave the "battlefield" in Melaka, Muar, Labis, Chaah, Gemas and Segamat. Yup, all of us had been deployed to carry out our works at these flooded areas and it is really hard work. We had to brave teh tarik murky, muddy and foul stench water including unknown flooding and floating materials. You would be really surprised to see what you can see after a flood disaster! My colleagues ( brave souls!! ) and I had been on the field since 31/1/2011. I felt really disappointed and angry at first from missing out on those dinner and get togethers on CNY celebrations. Then there is this deprivation of decent sleep and it was mentally taxing and physically exhausting for me , personally. However, as time and days go by, I am resigned to the fact that it is part of my job and I have to do it. I am often reminded by my good friend,Vive that everyone of us has work to do and for us to be a shinning beacon for Him, we would have to be our best in the work we do. So, holding on to those dear words, I gritted my teeth and worked on. I have to admit that I lost my temper a couple of times but mostly it was in check. I guess, it is much harder said than done at times.

One thing that puzzles me a lot is really the people in crisis and in adversity. Boy! All religious backgrounds, piousness and religious stands are flushed down the toilet when it comes to money and crisis management. This is especially true as I moved around the house to carry out my work. It is "me, myself and I" concept that are perpetually boosted to the fore. "Sickening" is not the word I would use as it is child's play word to describe these people's character. Mom used to tell me that the ugly truth of a person can be seen very clearly during adversity is really accurate and precise. I have met many who are just plain greedy, selfish and purely rude. They would lie, cheat and even do anything to get what they want. I really wish I could actually sock a punch or two to these people but like I said, a beacon for Him, a beacon for Him that caused me to stand down. If only I could tape some of the filth that comes out from the very mouth of the people who used it to praise God, it would make you backslide even further. It is understandable ( but not acceptable) for worldly people but when Christians act like hooligans and as carnal as their worldly brother, there is a cause for concern. I was very sad when I met people like this and honestly, I would have given them some of days' spit and even that would be an insult to my intelligence. So, I saved my saliva for something more worthwhile. I say this with the greatest transparent way as I can. It wasn't easy for me as I,too, struggled when I am put in such a position. However, I thank God that He has made me overcome this behavioral pattern. Without of a doubt, I too have met many sympathetic and good -hearted people despite facing a disaster themselves. I admire such people who picked up the pieces of their lives and start all over again. They give me hope in this frail humanity living of ours. I know, I can't get to meet everyone of them but at least, God had made me meet some really nice people. I am thankful for that.

Someone asked me, "So, where would you be this week?" I answered, " Sunbathing with my sun tanned lotioned body on a long beach bench at Acapulco beach in Brazil!" You can't blame me for being imaginative, right? Afterall, I am supposed to be positive and make the best out of my situation,right? Honestly, I am just really tired and I pray for God's greater grace upon my life as I face the week of unknown. Hopefully, sunnier days are ahead! BTW, "Gong Xi Fa Cai", everyone! Do spend time with your families and make the best out of every day. Cheers!~