I will retract my words. I think I will miss training once it is over. I will miss all the wonderful people I have met there, the friendly trainers and of course, the blissful 9-6 (sometimes 5pm) training hours. Because when training ends, it will be crunchtime.
Meeting clients, hitting targets, trying to be alert when dealing with the complicated documentation. I will really, really have no life then.
I shall enjoy training while it lasts!
And, another CMFAS exam done - Health Insurance. Yay! Last one - M9. I don't even know why I have to take these two exams. I am qualified to sell insurance, but I can't. I can only introduce and see my revenue points slipping away from me! Bah!
Today was great. Training ended at 4.30pm coz FinIQ training had to be postponed due to boot failure of the bank's system. Which means I have more time to study my Health Insurance exam, which according to my colleagues, is quite a killer as well, and... of course, time to blog as well! Boy! I miss the times when I could spend all my time updating nearly everyday with mundane stuff or browsing blogs because I had SO MUCH free time..
Anyway, I found an article that listed all the different phobias from The Straits' Times "Mind Your Body" on Wednesday interesting. And going through the list, I found I had quite a few "phobias" as well.
1. Achluophobia: Fear of darkness.
Yes, I think I do, especially after watching movies like "Shutter" and "The Ring".
2. Agliophobia: Fear of pain.
I don't think I have a extremely high pain threshold. That's why I cringe when the doctor removed wanted to remove my stitches (i.e. he hasn't removed them yet.). But the prickling feel from plucking of eyebrows is still bearable lah ;p There is a price to pay for vanity...
3. Didaskaleinophobia: Fear of going to school.
Wah! I didn't know there are people who fear going to school that much. For 15 years, I have had the same fear. Now, I only have "work-phobia".
4. Enochlophobia: Fear of crowds.
Make that hating crowds. Especially among others, selfish commuters who stubbornly refuse to move aside when others want to board/alight the MRT or bus.
5. Latrophobia: Fear of going to the doctor.
Because it means additional expense, anxiety or fear of knowing I have contracted some illness or require immediate surgery. The latter seems to have become a norm.
6. Ophidiophobia: Fear of snakes.
They are disgusting creatures. Their slimy feel and evil-looking features just turn me off and scares the hell out of me. They should just be eradicated forever. Period.
7. Thantophobia: Fear of death or dying.
It is more like I have the fear of losing people close to me. It is a terrible thought.
N.B. Phobia: A persistent, excessive, unrealistic fear of an object, animal or situation. A type of anxiety disorder that affects people from all walks of life. -- reported by Judith Tan.
I don't think I fit into the definition stated above for any of the phobias I listed. No offence to anyone; this entry is for pure fun and obviously, conjured out of bohliao-ness.
Been a week since my first day at work. I'm so tired. And I haven't even gone to my branch to start the real work, because I am still stuck in training. A horrible six-week training with an assessment at the end of every lesson that requires a minimum passing rate of 80%. To "sweeten the deal", I have to pass the external CMFAS exams as well, with a minimum 70% pass rate. And if I don't fulfil any of the requirements, I would be stuck in Direct Banking (DB) until I clear EVERYTHING!
DB = telesales cum handling enquiries cum receiving complain calls cum round-the-clock working hours = No selling opportunities at branch = no revenue points = NO COMMISSION!
Why is the company so strict? It is not as if I will remember everything for as long as I am in the bank. Anyway, isn't there a very comprehensive database for us to refer to when we are in doubt? In fact, I got all the more confused after all the assessments so far.
Anyway, I am glad everything is on track now. I have passed Module 5 and 1B so far and only HI and Module 9 is left. I was so proud of myself for passing 1B on my first attempt because this module is apparently a tough one, with a 30-40% pass rate. Oh well, better not get too distracted by the "achievement". There are two more to go.
And the assessments? They are killing me. Hardly anyone can finish reading through all the notes in the few minutes we have after the end of each lesson, before the assessment to guarantee an 80% pass rate. Since all of us are in the same predicament, we "cooperate and help each other out". Even the trainers have "closed two eyes" about it.
This is the only way to make sure we do not need to stay in DB. We have no choice. To make matters worse, there are no second chances. We have to pass the assessments in one shot or join the next batch of newbies for training. But please rest assured that such acts will not compromise the competence of the financial consultants and relationship managers. It is merely bending around the rules a little.
My youngest sister is considering whether to choose my alma mater when she completes her PSLE this year.
Just a few months ago, she had no doubts at all. My alma mater would be the first choice, because she would be with her friends, and more importantly, she could continue pursuing her interest in badminton under the same coach there.
But she is wondering if she needs to rethink her decision now. Helped in part by my incessant grumblings and complaints about the horrible behaviour of the students there now.
Some time back, I was with my cousin at a MacDonald's outlet near my place and I spotted a group of my juniors inside. Since when did the school allow students inside Mac? That was how strict the school was during my time.
Then, another group of students came by and one of the girls (Girl A) inside Mac spotted them and came out to meet Girl B. Instead of the normal act of a simple hi or conversation, Girl A started shouting Hokkien vulgarities and kicking Girl B on the butt.
We couldn't really detect any anger from Girl A; in fact she was smiling while she was performing those acts. It was so obvious that A and B were trying to gain the attraction of everyone around. So childish can! I feel ashamed to let people know I was from the same school, I told my cousin.
What has happened to the school? Everything just seemed to have gone downhill after I left.
The majority of the students I see nowadays have such loose fitting belts with hairbands around their necks instead of on their desired place - the head. Most students do not wear knee high socks now; most of them wear ankle-length socks now, not because the school demanded it, but because it is in vogue now.
And why oh why did the school relax the rules on hair?!! Both the primary and secondary schools have allowed students to keep long hair! Whatever happened to this long-standing tradition?! Although I longed to keep long hair when I was in school, I took pride that we were one of the few schools in Singapore where long tresses were not allowed. Why this now?!?!! At least they keep the distinctive blue pinafore + white belt combo. At least we are still distinguishable from the other girls' schools.
No wonder my sister is pondering over a once obvious and definite decision.
My National Day celebration this year was slightly different.
For the first time in five years, the parade was held at the Padang, which means our yearly ritual of catching the fireworks was disrupted this year. :(
Granny wasn't around to view the parade with us this year. She was part of the 100,000 crowd who viewed the parade at the heartlands. She was at Tampines with my grandaunt.
I am so jealous! The fireworks this year had to be the most spectacular this year because this year was Singapore's 40th. And I had to miss it! Bah!
Our yearly ritual of fireworks viewing during National Day consisted of a quick dash to the corridor on the 10th floor to catch a pathetic few minutes of "a bird's eye view" of the fireworks. And due to our mistimings and impatience, we always left before the whole display. The fireworks need to take a breather too; to save the best for the last, we found out. But if we waited too long, by the time we get back home, we would hear the last strains of "Count on me Singapore" or "One People, One Nation, One Singapore." These songs are still my favourite National Day songs after so many years. True, I do like the recent songs; Kit Chan's "Home" never fails to tug at my heartstrings. But somehow I still find comfort in the older National Day songs, despite the anonymity of the singers. I miss the "MTVs" of these songs!
So, perhaps it was a good thing we couldn't view the fireworks this year, because I was then able to view the reciting of the Pledge, listen to "Mahjula Singapura", "Count on me Singapore", "One People, One Nation, One Singapore" completely.
I just get particularly patrotic come National Day. The sight of everyone (well, nearly everyone) singing of the National Anthem never fails to send a tingling feeling of pride rushing down my spine. I might even be moved to tears if I was at the Parade.
Of course, some things never change during National Day.
Like how Mum would urge us to stand up to sing the Mahjulah Singapura. My sister could no longer bear hearing the same comment year in year out that she quipped, "I have been hearing this since I was in primary school."
Or how Dad would crack silly and lame jokes about how the Prime Minister would be late because he couldn't find his socks or there was a traffic jam, about whether the commander of the parade would suddenly attack the President with his sword (?) while he was getting permission for a marchpast. He even conjures up imaginary (read: predictable) questions that the President might have asked when he stopped to talk to the selected soldiers of the contingents. He has a very vivid imagination.
This year, he had something new. Because the heartlands have their own celebrations this year, he wondered if the ministers and MPs who were "stationed" there had any grouses at having to settle for something smaller and miss out on the actual "big thing".
His remarks have become so predictable that Mum had to remind him gently that he had said the same thing the previous year years.
My dad was right in supporting my sis in bringing the rascal back.
Granny and I were most against bringing a pet an animal to the house after such a long time.
We gave reasons like:
1) My sis only has san fen zhong re du and Granny would end up being the one taking care of the rascal in the end;
2) Waste of time/money/water;
3) My sis would bring the rascal to the room and dirty the whole place etc.
Of course, all our reasoning fell on deaf ears and my Dad's reason for bringing the rascal back? It would remove my phobia of animals and I would not cringe in fear and lift my legs up whenever a cat walks under my chair at a coffeeshop. I went "Huh? How would this help?" I just thought this was a totally lame excuse!
And so when the rascal arrived on the 1st of July, I could only mutter a soft "cute" before dashing to my room and closing the door shut until I was assured he was safely in his cage. That is how timid I am when confronted with animals. I nearly cried tears of frustration when he barked non-stop in the dead of the night on his first few nights because of the unfamilar surroundings. What if the neighbours complain? So paiseh! There was minimal zero contact between the rascal and me for the first few days.
Granny took it pretty badly too. Dad only told her about it on the day of the rascal's arrival. She refused to even go near the dog and did not speak to my sis for a few days.
Of course, all that has changed.
My dad was right. I no longer cringe in fear when I see a cat coming near me. My phobia of animals has definitely lessened by a significant degree.
The rascal has become the joy of the family. He is let out of the cage in the morning and allowed to walk around until we bring him back in in the evening. The kitchen becomes his favourite hangout place around dinner time and he goes around sniffing everywhere. His ears perk up and he starts to get all flustered when he hears footsteps and turning of the door knob. He jumps up and runs around in circles when anyone of us comes home. He is stationed outside the door of my room when my sis is not awake yet. He just knows she's there. He cuddles up in his little "bed" and takes his afternoon nap when no one is free to entertain him. He rushes back to his cage when he pees at out-of-bounds areas, because he knows he is going to get it from us.
And Granny? She loves the rascal and shows it obviously through her actions, although she refuses to admit it. Like the time she steamed some pork for the rascal just because he refused to eat his own food. She asked, What if he goes hungry? The pork has no salt; just mix it with some rice, it should be ok. Or the times when she would save up leftover rice to make sure it lasts through the weekend for the rascal's meals because we don't cook on weekends.
I have never mopped that much or used that much Dettol or old newspapers before the rascal came. But I really do not mind. Neither does my family. True, we make the occasional grumbles about yet another puddle of pee or poo, but everything is cleared up in a jiffy.
When a relative commented that the rascal really needed to be sent to a vet because he was constantly itching and his butt was turning reddish due to his constant scratches, I was super worried. Which clinic would be good? Would an injection be painful for him? I hope he responds well to the medicine. Lots of thought ran through my mind.
And so, we brought him to the vet today. And his diagnosis: bacterial infection. He curled up in fear when the vet took his temperature and placed his head on my sis's shoulders the whole time he was there. Thankfully, he gobbled up his pills right to the last morsel like it was some special treat.
Get the rascal to guard our house? Forget it. He is even afraid of cats! We would have to protect him instead. With much pleasure.
No wonder I didn't do as well as I thought I should have for business law. And thank goodness I didn't choose to study law, not that I might have passed their interview anyway.
Because I find out a tad too late, that I suck at understanding legal speak.
My first CMFAS exam - Module 5, is scheduled for the 11th and by now, I have already read the 214-page course book twice through, ever since I got it last Tuesday. Given that I still have the time to blog, watch TV, go out and do a whole lot of other things, with the exam as my last priority, I think this is quite a achievement. I am not trying to boast about my learning capabilities. In fact, I am worried. Because I seriously think I haven't read the book as thoroughly as I should.
But it is not that I don't want to. The first two chapters on the Financial Advisors Act/Regulation/Guidelines were enough to put me to sleep. And their lengthy explanation of the different sections/sub-sections/amendments/and what-nots really dampened my initial enthusiasm.
I understand this. Lawmakers need to make sure that all sections of the Act are adequately and fully explained to avoid any loopholes in case they are exploited by potential offenders. But aren't they a tad too lengthy? A typical sentencephrase is at least 4 lines long and by the time I finish the phrase, I have forgotten what the front part meant.
And in a typical section, there is a main point, a sub point, a sub-sub point, and a sub-sub-sub point. And the explanation within each point is al least another 4 lines long. How to remember everything?
This explains why I finished studying everything so quickly. I ignored all the legal terms and read whatever I felt comfortable with applied what we learnt in General Paper by picking up the key words and main points in each of the paragraphs. Yah right.
I can only say lawmakers are probably terrible at summary writing.
True blue Gemini. Prone to bouts of split personality. Loves shopping, not rich enough to enjoy retail therapy yet. Bank balance is not dwindling at the moment but time has become such a precious commodity that I wish my bank balance could dwindle a wee bit more to satisfy my shopping indulgence! sigh~
