The job (Part 1)

At the end of last year, I made a decision to move out of where I was.  My reason was simple, I want to learn. Despite discouraging speeches from my previous boss and managers, I stayed true to myself and jumped ship.  It was not an easy feat.  

My directions are now different from where I was in the consultancy firm. I no longer do things that fits the budget of the clients and end up with some useless scope or doing things that I felt was "for the sake of it". With the new owned power and freedom, I was able to find true meaning to my work. In people's eyes, I have one of the cool jobs where I exposed people's dirty secrets and bring them to justice. As cool as it may sound, I am required to fly very often on very short notice. It may sounds like a real deal but in actual fact it is truly destructive. However, that's a story for another day.

Awhile ago, we had a global conferences in Cork, Ireland where members of the team from all over the world sits in for some training. In my opinion, it's more of a get-together. We flew in on Singapore Airline Business Class and stayed in famous chain hotels. Everyone was dressed to impress, except me. Apparently, I got a different memo from the rest.  My memo wrote, "semi-formal attire". In my own defence, I weren't dressed too shabbily either but I looked like I was such a slop in a room of people who are just trying to dazzle each other with their fashion sense. FYI, I am not in the fashion industry.

For the 2 weeks, I felt like I am the worse human being with the worse fashion sense ever and yes,  I didn't even bring my heels. Why didn't I bring anything nice? We had plans to travel around Europe after the conference and heels or some fancy dresses are just not something that I will need in my road trips. On a side note, it was freaking WINTER. 

I was in a tank top and a pencil skirt with my ever-not-so-neat hair

The Caucasian girls with good hair even when we drank till 4 am the night before

The Caucasian guys were in their suits

Back to the topic of the global conference, the competition was obvious and everyone was asking questions, even questions that made me roll my eyes so hard. I may not be the smartest pants sitting in that room, but I could tell they were trying real hard to stuff their names into people's head. Literally. 

Truth to be told, I was never put in a spot where I have to impress a group of people or was I ever required to do any networking event in consultancy firm. I was a fish out of the water. I did what I usually do, make comments and speak my mind, not the smartest thing to do. 

There was this night when we had this welcome drink with all everyone. Most of them changed into even more impressive dresses, except me. Seriously, is our company paying that well that we can buy so many nice dresses? The Director, in his 50's came over to me for a chat. I was with another European manager chatting since I was the "NEW KID ON THE BLOCK". (Wrong move, always go introduce yourself) I had my third stout and the conversation was actually engaging. 

Lo and behold, I did something that my friends will not be surprised. I looked up, he was at least 2 metre tall, and exclaimed, " How old are you? You have baby-face."

The world turned silent. I could hear the European Manager's heart beat.

The director finally opened his mouth and graciously replied, "That's the best thing I heard today. Thank you, you have no idea how happy I am now."

His eyes did not show any sign of happiness. I could imagine my career shattered there and then. 

There there, story of my new life at my new workplace. 

J