Singaporeans love to complain?

When did this “culture” first came about? What was that happened or what was the catalyst that caused this? This was what I was thinking for a while over the weekend.

I was out with 3 other Singaporean friends when we decided to stop by a pastry shop specializing in cheese products. They sell cakes too and had a little backyard which we could eat our cakes right on the spot.
There were 4 of us but we decided to only get 2 cakes because the size was pretty huge.
We were given 2 paper cups on the tray for the free coffee the shop is giving out as a service.

Them (will be referred to T henceforth to represent all 3 or anyone of them)
Me (will be referred to M)

Scene 1:

T: How come there are only 2 cups on the tray?
M: That’s because we only order 2 cakes. Free coffee comes only with the purchase of the cakes.
T:?? ask for more le!
M: (tried to ask again but was politely rejected because the coffee is for people who purchased the cakes) Eh I tried le.. cannot
T: So Stingy!
M: (in a small voice) But it is free coffee in the first place...

Scene 2:
T: How come we got paper cups and not the nice porcelain ones ( points to the table beside)
M: Oh that’s because the shop didn’t have enough cups.
T:uh?? How come? So unfair....
M: Oh well… at least they are not charging the coffee, it is free service you see…

Scene 3:
T1: How should we share the coffee among 3? (Since Karen doesn’t drink coffee it is minus 1)
T2: Let’s just go get refill after this.
M: You can’t get refill, one person is entitled only to one cup.
T: What? Only 1 miserable cup?
M: It’s a service! It provided free!

Scene 4:
T: The coffee is almost tasteless… what you call long-kang coffee ( drain water coffee). Tastes cheap.
M: Well, it’s free and it is a service! With all the complaining they had to get, I think it might just be better to stop this service altogether cause all they get is bashing!

Last Scene
T: Hey you ( points to me), go and distract the shop-keeper and ask her lotsa qns while we hurry go get the refill for the coffee
M: =_=;; ( thinks to myself: Er do we have to stoop to that for the long-kang coffee that comes in a paper cup?)

Actually, it is just funny when I put this down in words… No hard feelings.. Just really amuse by how Singaporeans can complain and complain and then still continue their kiasuness…

The most expensive dinner

At the insistent of a friend who is visiting, I actually took a bullet train of 1hr out of Tokyo after work yesterday to Tochigi prefecture for dinner.
It wasn't even really a dinner you call dinner... The main attraction was a Izakaya which has monkeys as its waitors.
Expect novelty but don't expect quality service. The wet towel was literally thrown into my hands.
and I came home with moneky scratches here and there on my arm.

But still it was fun to travel out of Tokyo with a good company! ( especially when the trip is all paid-for. hee)

Guilty...

I have been feeling rather guilty these few days....

Yesterday I was having meeting with my boss and he expressed his pleasure over the passing of my recent exams. So now he hopes that I will take a internationally-recognised training course and exam for Helpdesk team-leaders. This course and exam will cost up to about 170,000yen person.

I can take it of course. but....if my boss knows I am going to leave end of year.. I wonder what he will say.
And.... I am really thinking if I should take.

Btw... today I was chosen as the "employee" of the month. Reasons was contribution to the team and also for having the 上進心 to take the exams. ( btw the exams also contributes to the overall level of the team and company)
But..... of course nobody really knows that wasn't my first intention...

So anyway, I tossed about in bed again last night thinking through these issues. I guess I can only make up to them by trying to finish a major project and not leaving behind the mess in my limted time here.

Gabarou!

1/4 down!

I went one of my exams last weekend and I passed! This must be the toughest I had so far.
Usually I finish my exams pretty fast and with much confidence but this is one, I really had to check and think through my choice of the answer a couple of times, not forgetting praying many times along the way too!
So thank God, I managed to scrap past somehow. Results doesn't matter as long as it is a pass and which means more cash is coming my way! Yeah... I feel half sad that I am so driven only by monetary rewards.
But throwing my pride aside, the money is indeed a great help when I am expecting many guests this month.

Another why I am so fervent in taking the exam is also because as linked in a post earlier, it helps me to feel a sense of achievement and that I am actually moving forward.

Talking about having a sense of achievement, something just dawned upon me when I watched the Olympics. Somehow I begin to really respect not those who got a gold but those who ended up with no medals after years and years of hardwork. The medalists are rewarded with a medal, recognition of their achievements, fame, material goods... but how about those who ended up with nothing? They bear the possible shame, insult or jeer. But is it true these people didn't put in enough hardwork? They also put in many years of toil just in exchange for the few moments in Olympics...
Yet these people still continue to work hard and to move forward even when their efforts were not paid off immediately.

Ganbarou myself!