Here's my flat tour!!!! I did it yesterday in the morning before work on the day that I was supposed to fly~~~ Markedly tired-loo...




Here's my flat tour!!!!

I did it yesterday in the morning before work on the day that I was supposed to fly~~~

Markedly tired-looking in the video hahahah. But yes!!! Everyone's been asking me how my living conditions have been and here it is : ) Best to describe through video, in my signature style bahahaha.

Anyway... I have to say....


IT'S SO * GOOD TO BE BACK IN SINGAPORE!!!! I think can tell from the video also hahaha how excited I was. I have 4 days to spend/ 4 precious precious days ahhhh.

And I :') today in my bed when I woke up to all the lovely messages of "Welcome back" and.. you guys dunno how much they mean to me... Regina, Jeremy, Suxin, Huiquan, Taahira, Lilian... everyone who bothered to ask me when my convocation is and dah dah dah.

Also, I received a lovely message from a teacher today. I sent him a Facebook message about my thoughts coz I recently had an epiphany and I just had to share it with him:

Some context beforehand: Mr R. was my General Paper teacher back when I was in TPJC (2009). Interestingly, he and I weren't on best terms as student and teacher. I remember he once scolded me in class and of coz at that age, defiant as I was, thought he was damn unreasonable. But after I left JC, I realised the teachers who had taught me were the best.

So here was my message to him:

Hi Mr R, This is very random but anyway, I just wanna say that I think you had such a tough job as a GP teacher during my time!! (Not too sure what level/school you're teaching now...) Only recently did I realise why you'd constantly reiterate that to write good GP essays, there must be a "certain level of maturity." And I must say that I never really understood what you meant by "maturity" when you talked about it then. But it suddenly hit me recently what you meant by that. Like your voice actually crept into my head when I had a small "epiphany". Topics that we had to write back when I was in JC like "Majority always wins. Discuss." and "No man is an island" are themes that require deeper and higher level thinking. And sad to say, I wasn't quite capable of that kind of thinking then. And I actually only started to think about these things while in Uni. So I can imagine how tough it was for you then as a teacher trying to teach us seventeen/eighteen-year-olds to think hard and deep about these issues that are so ingrained in our society. Which makes your job damn tough but also really important. Sometimes I think about travelling back in time to sit in your class again to listen to what you had to say because I may be able to grasp these topics better now than in the past and also have more constructive debates. I reckon I'm having all these sudden feelings also coz I'm about to graduate soon so it's truly, education no more. Safety net no more. And I salute teachers very much now lah and thankful for the education received. Yall really had a tough one teaching us whatsits. Now I understand. Last time only wish that yall fall sick etc etc so class gets cancelled hahahah. That's the level of maturity then. Very high indeed. I shall stop rambling already. Thanks for being part of my educational journey hahaha. I'm in Myanmar currently and every day I'm thankful for the education I've received. Truly.


And his reply:

Hi Si Hui,
Congrats! Honestly I am just glad that you are just as vivacious as you were in my class many moons back. There has always been that spark in you. I'm glad again that you have found your voice and perhaps even place in this world. That's impt - knowing how you can utilise your strengths in a larger scheme of things. I enjoy reading your fb posts, the latest being your grad trips ard sg. Still full of vivacity. Keep that going - you'll go far smile emoticon
Thank you for writing me a note. It has arrived at a point when I too am reflecting on my practices.
Education is a strange thing, I've come to realise. But with serendipitous moments when some things clicked and made sense, you know you've been educated. I can identify with what you are saying, having been too young when my teachers said certain things and now wishing i had paid more attention. But that is not as impt as the fact that something clicked.
Anyway, I don't want to bore you. If you don't mind, i would want to include your insights in my next reflection piece. May i?
You take care, keep me updated on your exciting life ahead.
My very best wishes,
r.


His reply made me ponder a lot. And I dunno how or why he feels that I have found my voice and my place in this world. It was quite... on-point. But he and I have never talked since I left TPJC. It was quite amazing how a teacher still can read these things? 

I look up to him because I've always admired his way of thinking back in JC. He wasn't really like the other teachers, I could tell. He had his own ways of thinking and if I could just have a cup of coffee with him (or metaphorically since I don't like coffee haha), I'd be glad to hear out his views about the world.

His message and the texts that I received last night and today came at the right time. It is at a point when I was feeling long drawn and angsty back in Myanmar, and often wondering whether I made the right decision heading to Myanmar after University. Am I truly gonna learn and experience things in a lesser developed country? Will I be able to bring back these lessons when I come home? Everything is uncertain. But what is life without uncertainty eh? So these encouragements came in handy. The light in me is fired up once more, and bit by bit, I'll gain my strength again before I head back : )

I think what I'm doing now and the lessons I'm learning, will someday be useful. Probably not in the short term but the experiences I'm gaining will be all worth the while. 

See you soon, I'm off to my graduation convocation WOOHOO!! (my parents more excited than I am -.-) But first, tea party at wkwsci, my forever beloved and soon-to-be alma mater.

I dunno why but when I'm overseas, I have mood swings. I feel suppressed/ And in the past week I've had extreme mood swings. I re...


I dunno why but when I'm overseas, I have mood swings. I feel suppressed/

And in the past week I've had extreme mood swings. I really hate it. It's one thing I can't stand about girls. But I really don't know why I have them when I'm overseas. I never ever have mood swings in Singapore. Never. I always feel good about myself, and I'm seldom angry.

But these few days here in Myanmar... I get so angry with people, I don't even know why.

I was telling one of my Burmese friends today that I'm so... angry today and frustrated. I tried to run through my mind what my problem is.

My friend said that it could be... the loneliness. That I'm alone too often and I've too much spare time that I start to go crazy.

That's one. Another thing is, I haven't wrapped my head around this yet, but there are two possibilities:

1) I'm annoyed when I have too frequent interactions with the same bunch of people over and over again till I get sick of em. 

2) I suppress my negative emotions till I get frustrated.


I used to think it could be the former. But I think it's... the latter.

Here, I have no one to express myself to when I'm feeling down and out. I don't have someone to talk to about my problems. I always listen to others' problems here, but I don't have anyone. I am alone. And suppressing all my emotions has made me frustrated and angry. I haven't even understood my feelings properly.

I've been so upset with myself today that... I didn't eat breakfast, lunch and I'm probably not gonna have dinner either. Just a mango and sob myself to death hahaha.

I'm angry with myself for feeling emotional. I haven't been able to control my emotions well this past week and I'm upset!!! I've always been good at it, but today I showed my worst face to my colleagues and I think it's unfair to them lah, coz they didn't do anything wrong.

Sigh. But... I'm coming home tomorrow and I just need a re-charge. I need that social circle again. I want to cry but I can't cry haha. Nothing is coming out. I have been so... suppressed.

Here's a typical lunch meal. I have this at 12pm almost every day hahaha. Rice, soup and a dish. Depending on what you choose to ...



Here's a typical lunch meal.
I have this at 12pm almost every day hahaha.
Rice, soup and a dish. Depending on what you choose to eat, like vegetables or meat and the number of dishes, it can cost between 500 kyat to 1500 kyat. So that's about 60 cents to $1.90. Yeap. The soup included.

I dunno why but if I eat this in SG, I wouldn't be full. But here, one dish, rice and soup is enough to fill me up. And as you can see, the portions aren't big... So I dunno why.

Sianpei requested for a rice post so here it is HAHAHA.

Anyway, I'm coming home to SG real soon on the 28th and yes, I'm looking forward to my return home!!! Excited to see everybody again haha. Also, I realise that... I might have to return to SG AGAIN because of the elections (if it's happening in September). I was told that the Singaporean contingent isn't big enough here to have an overseas electorate here. Dunno if it's good or not but I don't wanna pay to fly back just to vote leh?? But it's seems almost definite that it's gonna be held this coming September. My first time voting geez.

This is random but could I just say that... all the time that I've met Singaporeans here in Myanmar, I've never really felt a sense of familiarity or comfort? I suppose it could be because the social gatherings were very businessy and networky... So it's a bit strange for me lah coz I thought I'd feel super comfortable and kawan with everyone but no leh? Is that the effect of small talk???

I have this post-it on my laptop desktop currently to push me because at the start of this week, I had zero motivation. Absolutely zer...





I have this post-it on my laptop desktop currently to push me because at the start of this week, I had zero motivation. Absolutely zero motivation to do ANYTHING. I was given my video task to do and I was dreading and kind of scared about doing a video all on my own. I will have a colleague with me but I'll have to teach her a little production skills. I even freaked out last night just thinking about doing the video, but I kept looking at this post-it and psychoing myself that I can do it. And yes, whoop everyone's asses hahaha. So somehow I am quite motivated already. I'm gonna rock it.

Btw I got this meaningful quote from a church I went to recently.





There's something about old churches that make me feel... at peace.

This church is situated within the University of Yangon. My Burmese friend asked me to walk around its campus with him on a whim and I said yes without much enthusiasm haha. I expected it to be some normal University ground teeming with students so I never really thought much about it. Besides, I was kinda having a slight headache.

But after walking around the campus grounds and talking to my friend...





I felt so sad.

There were no students around. The facilities were unused. And there was a certain sense of... melancholy in the air.

I felt sad not because it was empty but because of what I learnt and found out - The history behind this University.

University of Yangon, or what was known then as Rangoon University, used to be a thriving place where students congregated to think up of plans for their country. And also plans to overthrow the government. Because of political activity and the threat it posed to the military, they shut it down throughout the 1990s and it has been closed ever since.

The right to an education is one of the most fundamental right every citizen of every country deserves. Myanmar's education used to be one of the region's best when the British first granted independence to the country. Now... what is left is a dilapidated campus, and its soul... well, nary a soul. What could've been, was not to be.

I always think of Myanmar as a place that could have been like Singapore. Rich and prosperous IF it had had the right leaders and governance in the 1960s. Well they did actually... Aung San Suu Kyi's father - Aung San was supposed to take over. But the opposition assassinated him. Along with 8 others.

Just think about it in Singapore context to get a better perspective: It's like LKY and people like Goh Keng Swee getting killed upon gaining independence from the Brits. Isn't that sad? Then Singapore might not be what it is today. That's why I always feel like I can understand Myanmar and feel sad for it.

And it so happens that the day Aung San got assassinated was just a few days ago, on the 19th of July.

And I got to witness something very special last Sunday, an occasion that they call Martyr's Day.



Aung San was assassinated at 10:37am. And at exactly 10:37am, everyone in Myanmar honked their cars as a mark of respect for the man and a show of defiance to the incumbent government.

It was quite amazing.

I was invited to follow my Burmese friend to his English class. They started the class off solemnly as students took turns to read biographies of their leaders in class. Everyone was so serious... And not bored at all. In Singapore, we'd all be moaning lor. I would be moaning also lor. Coz it's typically so boring. But here, they take these things seriously. And they're all young people like us.

So for me, what was supposed to be an innocent turn up at an English class turned out to be quite revelatory for me. (and yes I was still having a bit of a headache then haha)

Every single day that I am here, I am just really thankful of everything that I have. A good education, good system..... everything. And I respect Myanmar people a lot. They don't have much in terms of governance and a system but they are aware of many things happening around them.


Then it inevitably reminds me of the young ones of this nation.

I want to tell you guys about my trip to Bago. I would've loved to say I enjoyed that trip very much but guess what, the highlight of my travel there was actually THE TRAIN RIDES (again)

Coz I made friends with these little ones...



They are just the cutestttt girls!!! 
I kept smiling and teasing the one in blue and I actually thought she was a boy at first. But when my friend told me she's actually a girl I replied him, "Wow, I love her even more already."

There's something about little girls that are so endearing to me. Girls are always sweeter than boys!


But anyway, see that boy at the end? It's their older brother. Well I assume he is and he was so shyyyy. But I know I made all of em smile just taking selfies.


So when we got off the train, I requested to have a picture with them!


Awww!!! I smile every time I see this picture coz I really love them so much, they made me so happy.

When we parted, we kept turning around to say bye bye to each other.

And when we were out of the station, I had this sudden feeling of wanting to look for them so I turned and there she was, the girl in blue, looking out for me as well. And I shouted a bye bye and gave a wave. Kids will always have a special place in my heart.


Myanmar is opening up and these young ones need to be prepared for the new world.

Even though their standard of education is low, and although my colleagues' degrees are not equivalent to our standards in Singapore, I have never seen them as less intellectual than me. In fact, it is the reverse. They are so aware of issues and hold many deep opinions about the world. I see this in all of my Burmese colleagues. One of them showed me her tenacity for learning when one day we were supposed to connect my laptop to the printer wirelessly. When we first tried, it couldn't work and I was thinking in my head, ah whatever, I'm just gonna tell me boss that we can't connect it. But no. This woman ah, she was so persistent about it and even called the printer company to find out the problem EVEN THOUGH I told her I know the solution already. She was all out to solve the problem. And there I was feeling languid the moment I couldn't do it at the start. She was the one who pushed me to find out the solution and it was actually easy lol. But I was lazy. She taught me something.

Lemme end this post with this picture that I've already posted on IG. But I like it a lot lah so, here goes:


: )

p/s my boss staring me down liao, gotta get out of the office already, cannot use wifi.
p/p/s I know this is really too much info.. BUT IM SO GLAD I GOT MY PERIOD!!! After 4 freakin months, I swear to god I thought I could no longer have kids. And I was prepared to head to the doctor's the moment I get back to Singapore.
p/p/p/s I'll be meeting go-far peeps for dinner tomorrow hehe! So excited to see fellow Singaporeans again. And what a coincidence that the destination is Myanmar. Just nice when I'm havin internship here ; )

Colleague A says to me: "It's lunch time! Are you going out to eat?" Colleague B: "No she's not!" Colleag...


Colleague A says to me: "It's lunch time! Are you going out to eat?"
Colleague B: "No she's not!"
Colleague A: "Why?"

COZ SHE COOKED FOR ME!!!! HEHEHEHE





Every day, my colleagues would bring their lunch boxes in the form of tingkats - containers that are stacked vertically. Tingkat is a malay word and we used tingkats back in the day in SG and they still use em here. So cute.

Then they'd congregate to eat at a corner and chit chat during lunch time.

Although they spoke in Burmese throughout, I was contented with the food I had, which was shared with all of my colleagues who urged me to try stuff they brought from home. Actually, they always ask me to try their food but I always reject them coz damn paiseh to eat their food?? Somemore it's not a lot and I don't wanna be a beast/pig and eat.

So when my colleague told me the day before that she was gonna bring food for me the next day I quickly said, nononono. She was like, why??? I said it's ok!! You don't have to!!! I really hate to trouble people?!?! But what a nice gesture it was.

I was damn touched lah because I take it as a sign of WELCOME, YOU ARE ONE OF US NOW Hahahahah. I felt accepted into the Burmese culture and I took it as them welcoming me into their way of life.

While we were eating, one of them said that a previous intern messaged her via facebook to ask how are the current interns like. And she replied to him jokingly: "Better than you!!!!". BAAHHAHA> AWWW!!!! Dunno the degree of truth in it but I believe it!

I think these colleagues aren't my colleagues. They are my friendssss and I really like them. There's absolutely no politics in this office. I thought it was Burmese culture that everyone's like that but my colleague told me no, it just so happens that the ones in the office are so nice and awesome!??!

Not only the fact that they're nice that I'm grateful about... We can talk about so much things. About personal stuff and ideas/ thoughts about the world. They tell me how they feel about their government, I share with them what I do at home and how Singapore is like. We talk about our families, friends.... It's wonderful : ) And it's each one of them that I have that personal bond with.

Just today, I shared a conversation with a colleague about Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (Daw means Ms and U means Mr in Burmese). At one point she said: "I really feel so much for her and her father. They give so much to the country..." I actually thought she was gonna cry, and it made my heart clench a bit.

So it's these conversations that I feel so glad to be able to share with my colleagues here. Language can be a barrier but none too big a barrier...

I seem to always be blessed by wonderful colleagues everywhere that I've worked at. I'm lucky indeed.

A big helluuuu there! It feels like a selfie a day now huh haha gross. Anyway, updates on Yangon exploration Went to Shwedagon...



A big helluuuu there! It feels like a selfie a day now huh haha gross.



Anyway, updates on Yangon exploration

Went to Shwedagon pagoda on Saturday~



Apparently there's a 76-carat diamond encrusted at the tip of this golden thing. Fooyooh!


I didn't want to take a photo but my colleague urged me to. So I had to. Casually pouring water on mini Buddha. Om.


Shwedagon Pagoda is famous in Myanmar and it's a definite must-go when you're in Yangon. It's magnificent!!! Golden everywhere. I tried to blend in with the locals so I don't have to pay $8,000 kyat, which is SGD 10. Sadly, I got caught. Not mingalaba enough. Still too chinky lookin eh hahahahah.

Must wear long skirt also or jeans to cover knees. And there's discrimination coz women can't enter the big golden thing. Unfair. I'd shave my head and dress up like a man just to get in there. Apparently Buddha's tooth is inside.

Left at 7am for this and crashed when I came back at 10am.

Woke up at 2pm and went out again:
Here's one of my favourite places in Yangon -


This market was bustling and so full of life I love it!!! I told Sianpei, if (i mean WHEN) you come to Yangon, I will take you here!!!! Provided I remember how to get here again lol my sense of direction sucks big time.

Lol that woman frowning at me. Hate to take photos sometimes coz I feel so much like a tourist and intruding into their normal everyday life while I make them look like a parade.

Anyway, check out those chickens with their feet in the air. And then look below - live ducks. Haha I wonder if they can smell their fate.



Busy busy Yangon!


That street that I was at was like Little India or something. Along the street was all full of Indian sellers and Indian stuff being sold!

I bought a bag of this:


ALL FOR 50 CENTS!!!!! I can't believe it!!! It's a big bag ok. The lady chopped up two big and long slices of watermelon and put it in this bag. I was so...

HAPPY!!!!!

I had already eaten half a bag by the time I took this photo and stopped because I was so friggin full of watermelon juice in my tummy haha.


The next day, we went on a 3hr train ride around Yangon~ The one I told you guys that I was dying to go on!





T'was ok looking. And quite comfy even though chairs were hard. Butt might hurt a bit. It was really hot though but at least... I got the wind since I sat at the window seat ; ) 


Wahlau ask my friend to take photo of me, he spam 10,000 and this was one of the extremely casual photos. Looks as if I'm suffering but I'm not. I luvvit!

We first went through the city then went to the more countryside areas~ that's why it's all green outside.



Everyone enjoyed sticking their heads out for a bit of fresh air


Kids playing Hopscotch!
A universal game indeed : )

The ride was nice... I got to see a lot of locals staying in villages and talked to my friend for quite a bit. A great way to get around Yangon. If anyone comes to visit, I'd take you on a ride on the railway train~

After that, it started to get dark and I wasn't tired AND I wanted alone time. Seriously, being with someone constantly is damn sian lol. Have to get away.


Walked to the jetty near my apartment and saw this beauty of a sunset with people playing sepak takraw....


The exposure is too strong but it was soooo beautiful, especially with people playing in the foreground.

People taking boats to go over to the other side.
I was tempted to just get on one but decided against it. I'll go another time with my Burmese friends.


Yeapppp. So more adventures to come!
I searched up a bit about where to travel in Myanmar and I got madddd excited!!!!!! Didn't have time to do it when I was in SG coz I was busy and wasn't very hyped. Now that I'm here in this beautiful land, it gives a sense of perspective. I don't know if I've time to visit everywhere but I aim to. Especially since I don't have enough leave to take -.-

But the Big 4 are a must - Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake. The 4th is of course Yangon, which I already am at.

I can't wait to see beautiful scenery! So much that I've heard about Myanmar : )

And if I can't explore all during my internship period, I'll explore everything after it ends in October. Besides, the best time to travel around Myanmar is October and November when the monsoon season dies down and it starts to get c-c-cold. Brrr.

And yes, with YOU SIANPEIIIII. Can you go learn how to cycle???!!! Saves transport $$$ BAHAHAHA. Can't wait for you to come here friend!!!!


Being away from home, without familiar friends and family can be quite boring sometimes. I realise I've a lottttt of time when I'm ...


Being away from home, without familiar friends and family can be quite boring sometimes. I realise I've a lottttt of time when I'm here in Myanmar. So much so that it has caused me to think: what the hell am i so busy for back in sg? Seriously. I think it's the culture? In Singapore, people are just so busy. And it's not normal to say you're not. And in general people like to play hard to get by saying, oh no, I'm not free on this date to meet you every single time. Over here... everyone's just got so much time on their hands?! Even my boss said, Myanmar only has time and more time. T r u e .

But anyway yeah, sometimes it can get a bit boring when I'm alone in my room and there's nothing else to do. Music on my phone truly is my bestfriend here in Myanmar. I'd blast music in the morning before I go to work and evening after I come back from work. My colleagues have been awesome though, taking me to places around Yangon and spending time with me. They're like my friends.....

Yet I'm in a dilemma. Although I crave for company, sometimes I want to go exploring on my own as well? So even though I'm happy to have my intern friend with me, I really don't wanna hang around with him like 24/7. I really wanna get away and explore on my own. I see him every damn day already and seeing him on the weekends AGAIN is like craayayyayyyy. He'd be sad if he sees this haha. But really, I wanna travel on my own.

Going solo, I have the freedom to do stuff I want. Yet too much time alone can drive one insane from loneliness.

Sigh. Life's deepest questions.

Aside from that, I'd love to share with you pictures of my weekend exploration in posts to come. Boss was away from the office the past few days and everyone was declaring today the last day of freedom hahahahaha.


p/s OH OH OH. Forgot to announce. Filament 2015 tickets are available now! My batch's graduation show. Sign up here: http://www.filament2015.com/tickets/

It's on the 1st of August and I'll be back in SG for it ; ) And bloody hell I woke up from a nightmare about Filament last night siah? I dreamt that my group's film didn't play out properly and people started to walk out of the cinema...... hahahahaha. Once I woke up, I couldn't fall back to sleep coz I thought about how Filament would be etc etc. I'm pretty excited for it yikes!

Mohinga - some say it's Myanmar's national dish. Beehoon with fish paste soup. About 70 or 80 cents. But I wasn't ful...



Mohinga - some say it's Myanmar's national dish.
Beehoon with fish paste soup. About 70 or 80 cents.
But I wasn't full after that and had to eat an apple haha.


Khao soi tod (noodle salad, which they toss using their hands)
Khao soi means noodles and this version of it has a bit of curry flavour.


Street food Ket Ji Gait.
To me, it's Myanmar's version of our Char Kway Teow hahaha. Has lup cheong inside leh!!!
When I told my colleague that I ate this, she said "how's your stomach?" hahaha. She says the street vendor who sells this isn't too hygienic yikes :S



Myaoy o mee shay
Pronounced as moy-o-mee-shay.
Bet you're mouthing it now.

Love this!!!
It's quite weird with so much fungi inside but very lovely to my taste buds. Spicy soup with chor bee hoon noodles YUMMMM.

In this picture, you can see a plate of fried rice in the background. That was what my colleague had today.

Even though what I'm showing you right now is just full of noodles, the Burmese are more in love with their rice than noodles.

Rice is like their absolute staple food. I tell you, they can eat a MOUNTAIN of rice. A MOUNTAINNNN.

On Tuesday, we had our company lunch - Indian food. Briyani with chicken/mutton. And the briyani rice was an absolute volcano. Like 2 pax portions.



My stick thin female colleague BOSSED IT MAN. She whooped it down in quick time and even said she could have a second helping. The rest of us were just struggling to get it all into our system. 

They really love their rice. And they hardly order noodles. Always rice.

I understand this though. I absolutely love noodles but there's something about rice that you can't replace anything else with. I once told my mom "I've a passion for noodles but a commitment to rice". Deep eh? Sounds as if my love life is messed up too lol indecisive.

Their rice is really yummy though. The grain is different from ours - long and thin, while ours is kinda fat and short.


Even though I thought I might have to end up starving here, I think I'm gonna be well fed : ) I love Burmese food. Absolutely. For someone who loves spicy food, this is heaven. What's more, I love how they serve everything with piping hot TEA. And it's F-O-C. Shiokkk bo?! The only thing is that, for dishes with their rice, they aren't served hot. It's like our cai fan, or economical rice, where you choose your dishes for your rice. But here it's a little more unhygienic. There's no heating system underneath the metal trays to warm the food up.

So a few days ago, my NZ friend got a bad stomach ache and had to head to the doctor's. And the doctor's diagnosis? "Foreigner illness" hahahahahahahah. It's normal for foreigners to get stomach problems. My boss said previous interns from France, UK and Australia all got it. One after another.

Then another colleague quipped, "But Su hasn't got it!". My first thought was "Oh yeah. I'm ALSO a foreigner." I thought only white people got problems like that. Then I was thinking to myself, "Hell yeah I'm gonna be strong as hell alright. I'm Asian represent yow. I can't fail and be so loserish with this so-called Foreigner Illness".  Hahahaha.

And Thank God I haven't had any stomach problems yet. Yet. And I don't wanna jinx it coz falling sick is the last thing I ever want happening to me here in Yangon ugh.

I really think my stomach is powerful though. HANG ON BUDDY, YOU'RE DOING AWESOME EVEN WITH ALL THIS STREET FOOD AND WHAT NOT. You gonna survive.


---

Anyway here are some updates of the places I've been to.



Inya Lake, where I had my Myaoy o mee shay today.
I love eating beside a water body. There's something really.. liberating about it hahaha.


It is also a place where couples frequent. Couples were peppered everywhere even though it was blazingly hot today. They'd all hide under an umbrella and do all their little notti things.

Oh btw, Myanmar people love their umbrellas. When it rains, the brolly's up. When it's sunny, the brolly's up. Yeap, that's practically all the time. I quote my friend, "I don't like my umbrella. I love my umbrella." I feel the luvvv~~~


Yesterday, I got to take a public transport bus for the first time.


Whatchu lookin at brudder.



Whatchu lookin at again brudder??

Anyway if you notice in the above photo... BACKLESS SEATS.
Not on purpose of course but because Myanmar uses a lot of old Japanese cars. So it's quite cute to see old retro Japanese buses on the streets with really thick tyres. 

Interesting huh?
Maybe Myanmar is also where all of SG's old cars go to when they have passed their COE deadline....


Last week on my first weekend here in Yangon, I explored a little bit of Downtown. Walked for about 5 hours around.

I really wanted to see the Yangon railway station because I love to take trains when I'm in different countries. It makes me feel like a local bahaha.




We saw some tracks initially.





And even saw railway trains chugging by!

As soon as white boy waved to the local passengers, they waved back gaily. I swear. Asians are just in love with Caucasians....


But not before long...

WE FINALLY GOT TO YANGON CENTRAL RAILWAY STATION!!



Yahoooo.
Looks quite cool eh with the Burmese traditional architecture.
I like it. Xcept for the gloomy clouds yuck.

Soooo... apparently with 1USD, you can take a 3 hour ride around Yangon. And we're planning to do that this weekend. Yippeeeeee. I think it's gonna be fun seeing a bit of Yangon through the railway train. I really really wanna take it. I'm excited.

Also I'm gonna see the famous Shwedagone pagoda : )


As for work, it has been alright so far. Manageable. I've been meeting principals of International Schools because I'm leading the project. I must say it's a little intimidating meeting these men? Asking them questions about their thoughts on the International School Regulation Law that is coming up. The last one that I just saw today kept shooting questions back to test me and it can be quite daunting. Nevertheless, I hope I'm on the right track though. My boss is back in Singapore currently so the office belongs to usssss now haha. And yeah, he seems ok so far about the updates on the project. Cross ma fingers. Cross ma heart. Hahah what am I even sayin??


Sibeh chio hor. Freakinnn good hair day this was. Also, please don't mind this selfie thing I don't usually do it at all. B...



Sibeh chio hor. Freakinnn good hair day this was.
Also, please don't mind this selfie thing I don't usually do it at all. But ya know... over here... I'VE NO MIRROR AT ALL. So I constantly have to use the front camera of my phone as a mirror goodness....

Also... I am told that,

I look Burmese.

Coz ya know why? There are seriously a lot of Chinese here. I mean they're not from China. But they're just like us Singaporeans whose ancestors have roots in China. So some of them can actually speak a lil bit of Mandarin. What I find fascinating is that... they've naturalised completely as a Burmese. I feel like they all have such a strong unifying thread of national identity. Similar to Singapore - they have Indians, Chinese, and other indigenous races like Shan, Karen, etc. But all of them register as BURMESE FIRST. Above all others. I wish Singapore was like that? That we don't look at our CMIO segregation. And that we identify as Singaporean first and foremost.

I see this in Myanmar and it's beautiful~~~~ people of all races coexisting without all that propagandic stuff you see on our TV hahaha stuffing in your face every Channel 5 TV drama the 4 major races. Oh wait, Eurasians are always forgotten.

One thing I learnt about from my Burmese colleague is that over here, they have to give up their seats to monks when they board the bus. Monks are the equivalent to pregnant ladies and old people in Singapore haha. They're God. Specifically monks. Male. Because another thing I learnt that intrigued me was the fact that nuns aren't treated with the same reverence. If monks came begging, you must give. But if nuns came begging, you can ignore. This screams: deeeess-cream-ination.

But one thing lovely is the inverse discrimination when it comes to women in Burmese households. Local women are treasured in Myanmar. You know in Chinese culture how females are supposed to leave the house once they get married? Over here, IT'S THE MEN WHO GET KICKED OUT WAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. That should be the way eh? Coz apparently, the women are the ones who provide for the household so they get to care for the parents and stay.

That was what my friend cum colleague told me. The one who treated me to dinner. I asked her if her family follows this tradition too. She shook her head and said, "Because I'm Chinese, I don't get to stay". Then she added, "But I like the Myanmar tradition that girls should stay because girls...."






“比较关心父母亲”
- care for their parents better [than boys]

When she said that, I was caught off-guard because she said it so smoothly. I exclaimed, "you know Chinese!!!!" and she just smiled shyly. 

I had another encounter with another lady, which I described in one of my Instagram photos.

It's so amazing how there are so many Burmese of ethnic Chinese background. I truly can blend in as a Burmese over here. I just needa get a longyi (traditional Burmese skirt) and I tell ya, I'd be one of them.

Hey y'allll; So I've started work and I'm telling ya... it's quite a different world here.  1) Workplace environm...


Hey y'allll;

So I've started work and I'm telling ya... it's quite a different world here. 

1) Workplace environment

Firstly, yes, the workplace environment is different of course. Wifi is fast FORTUNATELY, because my boss installed fiber optics, so I'm actually sitting on the staircase outside my workplace to tap on the wifi. Today's a weekend lol. I went to a fast food place that had wifi earlier in the morning and it was SLOW AS HELL. So I'm squatting it out right now. 

Here's how my office looks - we gotta walk barefooted around while we're in it:


Yeah it's pretty legit haha. The New Zealander intern and I were talking about how we came here not knowing what to expect coz it's Myanmar. Him and I are the only interns around and I'm super glad to have him because I have someone to talk to in the office easily. He's fun too so I reckon we'll be hanging around a lot. Esp weekends like today.

Another reason why I'm so glad to have him is because....

I'M NO BIZ OR FINANCE STUDENT. 


2) Projects & Assignments

I've been assigned a project to research about the International School scene here and wow... I realise how I'm not equipped at all with Business skills. My boss asked me to project - by drawing graphs and tables - the increase in International Schools here in Myanmar and omfg, without Jonathan.. I wouldn't have been able to calculate the percentage increases and draw graphs on excel. Wahlau eh. So he calculate, I write haha. 

Felt a bit handicapped and made me wish I remembered all my econs stuff I studied back in JC. I scored an A leh but I don't remember nothing man. Which sucks, so I really am thrown into the deep end and I've to learn all things business. My boss even said, "eh media school never teach you anything ah!" Waaaaahniaooo eh. Demoralising leh. But aiya I think I'll learn on the go - I'm sure my comm skills won't be put to waste in other areas. 

But what's interesting about the job is I'm researching about the Myanmar scene and I'm given this project on International Schools. It made me think a lot about how Singapore progressed to where it is now and I FEEL SO BLOODY THANKFUL FOR MY EDUCATION. SERIOUSLY. I attribute it to good governance and leadership. You know, Myanmar doesn't have proper LAWS you know? They're being drafted right at this moment so there are plenty and plenty of grey areas. Take the education system for instance. The quality is so bad that a university degree amounts to probably an O levels cert of sorts. And there's now a crazy influx of international schools coming to Myanmar and demand for them is high because they offer curriculums from overseas. However, the question is: How legit are these schools? To add on to that, there hasn't been ANY regulation at all. The regulation law is being drafted right at this moment and was supposed to be released by end of June. Look at where we are at now? July. Their Government is completely lax and inefficient. 

As for Singapore? The British handed down their system very well and our leaders built on that legacy. Many SEA countries wanted to get rid of the colonial legacy and therefore don't have good education infrastructure. Our leaders on the other hand, built on that legacy despite being called dogs of colonial masters. Good decisions made on our part.

So yeah, even though the technicalities of the job is hard, I'm learning quite a lot. Interesting stuff. Super stressed about performing up to expectations though haha since I've no business background and I'm someone who wants to perform well at work. Give me some time and I believe I can do it! 


3) Burmese colleagues

My colleagues are slowly opening up and I really like them!!! Super friendly. I'm closer to two of my Burmese colleagues - Shine and Yee Mon. They're so nice :') Shine brought me around our area on my second day and Yee Mon TREATED me to dinner two nights ago. AHHHH!!!! So nice. I kept insisting on paying but she didn't accept. We spoke in really simple English but understood one another so that was nice : ) Both parties cannot give up and must be patient. Sometimes need to repeat a few times. Still, we could laugh, smile and nod during conversations.

What I learnt about Burmese culture is that you really must be emotionally equipped with reading in-between-the-lines. She actually asked me what I'm going to have for dinner and I replied ah, I'm gonna just walk around and see if there's anything. But I knew she was going to have dinner because she told me earlier on. So I had to read that as an invitation if I would like to join her for dinner and so I said, "Want to go for dinner together?" and she said yes! So... I think it takes a bit of reading here and there haha.


4) Singapore Association of Myanmar

I attended a SAM dinner last night because my boss being Singaporean, asked me to join in. I mingled with my fellow Singaporeans (who are damn upz lah? Ambassador was there as well) and had sumptuous Singaporean food at the Shangi-La hotel. I knowww.. Shangri-La siah.. it's really damn posh and awesome. Myanmar is seriously booming. 

This was the view from a lounge at the top of the hotel: 


Can you see the Shwedagon Pagoda?? (shwe means gold. Myanmar loves all things shwe) That's the most famous landmark in Yangon, which I absolutely must visit during my stay here.

Anyway, this was taken during an interview by Thai media when my boss was asked to speak about the fast-food industry in Myanmar.




Yeah the picture's dark coz of the exposure but if you can see the journalist and camera person working.... THIS WAS WHEN I FELT MOST COMFORTABLE???

I was so media-sound that I could tell my boss beforehand whether there was enough room for the tv crew (I even crafted a list of qns for him to answer ok). It was so obvious to me that there'd be backlighting. And I could talk to the journalist because I told her I worked at CNA before. So I was totally in my zone during this interview. 

Guess my comms background came in handy eh? ; )

This Thai media interview happened on Thursday and the SAM dinner was last night. So... yeah... I unexpectedly have a lot of things going on in my first week and it's been exciting!!!! But challenging of course with my lack of Business skills. 

I'm sure there are more things to come -  I still have so much to blog about. Maybe I'll schedule some of my posts : ) Internet's a bitch but I'll do my best.