29-Dec-05 is the 2nd Day of PROPS-C Training

MALAYSIA TRULY ASIA! I can’t believe I’m in Malaysia! I am so happy to be here!

6:00AM
Man, it was a good thing Earle called me up or I would have been late for my day 2 training. I slept again after the hotel’s wake up call, after my bedside clock alarmed, and my phone alarmed. Hehehe! Maybe I was soo tired last night. Hehehe! Anyway, I rushed to eat my breakfast and immediately went back up to my room.

7:00AM
I took a bath and got dressed.

7:45AM
I was so in a hurry I got to the lobby too early. Earle then came just in time for the bus to Ericsson.

8:00AM
We left for Ericsson Cyberjaya.

8:40AM
We arrived at Ericsson quite early. We were the ones who opened the training room. We started getting our things ready and checked our mail.

9:10AM
We started Day 2 of Ericsson’s PROPS-C training. I gave a presentation for our first exercise.

10:40AM
We took our break. More photo ops for the whole class.

11:00AM
We resumed our training. I gave another presentation for our second exercise not to mention I also drew some comic characters for that presentation. Hehehe!

12:35NN
We took our lunch. The cafeteria lady was kind enough to give me something not too spicy… fish, coleslaw, and TOFU!!! What?! Oh no! Sigh! At least it wasn’t too spicy.

1:00PM
We resumed our training. Yes, it’s my third presentation for the day. I don’t mind. It’s giving me experience and more knowledge about my work. Come to think of it, I gave a third AND fourth presentation since I presented 2 separate topics while others only presented one topic. Somehow it showed me that my trainers have faith in me. That’s a good thing, right?

3:30PM
We took another break. More photo ops again. Hehehe!

4:00PM
We resumed our training. Earle and I rushed off from the training after the last topic, our bus might leave us.

5:00PM
Our bus took us back to the hotel. I can’t believe this bus leaves strictly on time.

5:45PM
We arrived at the hotel. Earle took a nap in his room while I took a relaxing newpaper reading in the bathtub.

7:00PM
Earle said he’d continue sleeping so I left for the mall alone to buy a video camera. I was looking for gifts for my family and my girlfriend. I couldn’t find anything unique enough. I got to know some people while I was going around. Hehehe! Wups!

8:30PM
I called Earle up for dinner. We went down to San Jian Chung. I ordered a San Jian Chung Sausage Rice while Earle got noodle soup.

9:30PM
We went to the supermarket again. I bought more chocolates and something else… no details needed. Hehehe!

10:00PM
We went around the mall again and finally settled on a store that was selling me the higher version of the camera I wanted at the price lower than the low version of the camera. ?! What I meant was… I was looking for JVC GR-D273 and it was around 15K ringgit. What I found was a JVC GR-D290 and the store was selling it for 15K ringgit! Hey, why settle for the lower version right? Unfortunately, it was closing time so I simply told them I’d be back since my hotel is connected to the mall.

10:30PM
Earle and I started looking around the hotel again… hehehe!

28-Dec-05 is the 1st Day of PROPS-C Training

5:30AM
I finally woke up when the phone rang and it was my wake up call. I didn’t wake up to my bedside alarm. I also didn’t wake up to my mobile phone alarm. Hehehe! I freshened up for breakfast.

6:00AM
I went down to the Sunway Cafe for buffet breakfast. Earle met up with me there. After a few minutes, we went back to our own rooms to get ready for our shuttle bus pick-up.

8:00AM
The suttle bus to Ericsson Cyberjaya, Malaysia was on time and we left early.

8:45AM
We arrived at Ericsson and we were surprised to see a huge place. We proceeded to the reception area and got our student identification cards. Earle and I finally met our fellow trainees: five from Vietnam and one from Singapore.

9:00AM
We settled down in our training room and checked our mails. It felt like we never left home… work was waiting for us when we checked our mails. Hehehe!

9:10AM
Andy and Viji from Semcon started the PROPS-C training for Project Managers

11:00AM
We took our first break for the day. We went to the Ericsson cafeteria. I dunno if it was just me but I noticed that it’s been a standard for Ericsson to have coffee, cappuccino, chocolate, and ice tea stations in every floor. The cafeteria is big enough to be 2 restaurants. My fellow trainees and I took our break in the balcony. This isn’t your normal training, it’s… indescribable.

11:30AM
We came back for our training.

1:00PM
We took a late lunch since we had a heavy break at 11:00AM. The food was awesome. We had 3 choices: asian menu, american menu, and european menu. I took the asian menu because I wanted rice. I had several helpings of beef curry, another dish I couldn’t pronounce and mango juice. I almost didn’t finish my meal due to the excessive spice but eventually I did.

2:00PM
We resumed our training. It was gruelling.

3:30PM
We took another break and spent some time for photo ops. We slowly got to know each other. Honestly, I’m still struggling to understand my fellow trainees’ diction and tone.

4:00PM
We went back to our training.

5:00PM
Day 1 of the training ended and the shuttle was again prompt. We left immediately for Sunway Lagoon Hotel.

5:40PM
We arrived at the hotel. We freshened up and met at the lobby.

7:00PM
We went to Sunway Pyramid Mall just beside our hotel. I wanted to buy my own video camera. But I can’t seem to find the one I want.

7:45PM
We went to the supermarket for some food and snacks to take back to our rooms. I got several M&M’s, Quaker Oats Granola Bars, and a limited edition Dark Chocolate KitKat. After the grocery, we went back to malling. We got into Esprit. I found a unique shirt that I liked and bought it.

8:30PM
We took our dinner at The Chicken Rice Shop. The price was reasonable and the taste was uniquely delicious.

9:15PM
We went malling again. Earle looked for his bluetooth headset.

10:30PM
We were ready to go back to our rooms since we were tired from the training and going around the mall. Then we thought… hey our hotel is surrounded by bars and clubs why not drop in… so…

It’s morning and yeah, I’m still awake. Maybe I’m just excited for being on a business trip. I called my family and told them I’ll be sleeping in a few minutes. Yawn! I gotta go sleep in a while.

But here’s what happened yesterday…

27-Dec-2005

12:00NN
I arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

1:30PM
I checked-in at Malaysian Airlines.

2:00PM
Earle and I spent some time at the airport lounge.

3:00PM
We went in to the airline lounge.

3:45PM
We finally got into the airplane. I sat in the window side while Earle took the aisle side.

4:05PM
We took off for Malaysia ahead of the scheduled 4:10PM flight. It was kinda tiring so I took a nap.

7:45PM
We safely arrived at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ahead of the scheduled 7:55PM arrival. We didn’t have trouble getting our luggage and exchanging some foreign currency. After that, we went to get an airport taxi going to Sunway Lagoon Hotel. The trip costs 59RM.

8:30PM
We got into Sunway Lagoon Hotel. Man, this place is huge… it’s connected to the Sunway Theme Park, Sunway Pyramid Hotel, etc. And since Ericsson is a big client of Sunway Lagoon Hotel, we got in with a discount and special benefits like transport to and from the Ericsson Office. Oh did I mention this place is huge? Not only that but my room is huge! Hehehe! I can’t believe I’m on a business trip!

9:30PM
We looked for some nourishment. But because it was quite late, we had to settle for… KFC! We travelled all the way to Malaysia and we had to eat at KFC. Hehehe! I really didn’t mind because I was so hungry I could eat anywhere.

10:30PM
We went around taking photos. This place is full of photo ops.

11:30PM
We went back to our rooms. It was quite late and we wanted to rest and be ready for our first day of training.

I’m been so busy with my new workplace… going to meetings all day. Handling simultaneous projects… whew! TGIF! So then I started my media player… I just felt like singing! hehehe!

If I could, then I would
I’ll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low, I’ll go wherever you will go

Wherever You Will Go by The Calling

So lately, been wondering
Who will be there to take my place
When I’m gone you’ll need love to light the shadows on your face
If a greater wave shall fall and fall upon us all
Then between the sand and stone could you make it on your own.

CHORUS:
If I could, then I would
I’ll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low, I’ll go wherever you will go

And maybe, I’ll find out
A way to make it back someday
To watch you, to guide you, through the darkest of your days
If a greater wave shall fall and fall upon us all
Well then I hope there’s someone out there
who can bring me back to you

CHORUS
If I could, then I would
I’ll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low, I’ll go wherever you will go

Runaway with my heart
Runaway with my hope
Runaway with my love

I know now, just quite how
My life and love might still go on
In your heart, in your mind I’ll stay with you for all of time

CHORUS
If I could, then I would
I’ll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low, I’ll go wherever you will go

If I could turn back time
I’ll go wherever you will go
If I could make you mine
I’ll go wherever you will go
I’ll go wherever you will go

I left Sun Cellular last December 07, 2005.
It was a difficult decision that I had to make. I left friends and colleagues that I’ve grown used to.

Click MORE for the letter of farewell that I sent to my colleagues.
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