ALL the random 'nonsense' jobs that I have taken up during my many school holidays have introduced me to many new people and going-ons in life. I really love part-time jobs. I meet people from all walks of life, compared to being surrounded solely by people who are progressing similar stages with me in school and people of the same social standing as I am. I learn not to take granted and being oblivious to everything else.
There is this new part timer colleague whose family operates a market stall. I have never had such an encounter with someone who works in a wet market! I had the chance to learn how the stall operates and the entire process of obtaining goods and setting up shop for the busy morning. The very filial and hardworking daughter she is. I admire her, somehow. I realised how lack of proficiency in a language can be stifling. She who has a 'phobia' of the english language, she does not even attempt to read it cos theres a fear? In comparison, I struggled with Chinese, trying to translate everything about cosmetics (printed on boxes) into Chinese to... chinese shoppers. >.< 싫어.
Theres another part-timer colleague. It was unusual that a male might work at SASA. But he had so much PR skills and self-initiative, I lost my drive for the imaginery 'best part-timer award' that I have always strived for everywhere i worked (HAHA. what???). His attitude was awesome. When people are too nice, I feel sceptical, and suspicious. Yes, I become wary. and I try to keep my distance.
But I wonder why people can be so nice to someone they barely know? Maybe, I am not a nice person after all.
I sliced my hand today with a pen knife. I knew it was dangerous but I still continued to act hero by slicing the cardboard boxes with confidence and strength. But I sliced my own hand. It was a deep cut. I could see the gash and soon enough, blood oozed out. I imagined it was in some K-drama where the male hero gets injured and blood drips onto their loved ones (LOL, ay!?). But no, the blood merely oozed and remained there. It did not hurt at all. But at the instant when I saw the gash and blood, it felt weird. Queasy? Hmm... is this some kinda 'adrenaline' that teenagers who cut their arms attain in a bid to escape from their troubles? Its perplexing. New colleague enquired with great concern if my hand was alright.
Why did a stranger care so much more than I would have done for another? :(
At work, I spoke with the foreigner cashiers and learnt of their background, snippets of their lives back home, living alone in Singapore, how they managed to come to Singapore to work and their opinions about Singapore, and also in comparison to their homes back in their countries. It really broadens my horizons and perspectives in life. The vast social-network that managed to get them all the way from Vietnam and China into Singapore. Its a transnational network.
There was another group of male packers from the warehouse that came to help to pack all the goods into carton boxes and haul them onto carts to be brought back to the warehouse when the event ended. My heart ached for them. Their poor backs and knees. They will suffer when they get on with age. And I thought that maybe they do this warehouse job as a sideline 2nd job (since packing began at 9pm). They could still have a day job and then proceed with this packing job at night. New colleague laughed at my thoughts but bff Seowhwee reassured me that what I thought is very highly possible. Poor Uncles. :( I remember I once heard/seen on TV that a China worker mentioned that all he needed to put in for their job here was their STRENGTH. Yes, strength was needed in this packing job and my heart ached for them, some middle aged, like our own dads. Again, SASA's store manager reminded us (several times) to study hard. If not we'll end up like them. :( :( Its the sad hard truth in society. Without education, you are relegated. But its too late. I have graduated. and new colleague has also completed ITE.
A customer whom I chatted with told me that if I had not shared about my education history, she had thought that I was from a Poly. Just because I am working in this position. these Labels...
I really enjoy meeting new people:) and looking at things around me.
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