Tools of my new trade

Was at my mom's place over the weekend and I chanced upon my Sec 4 class photo.

It's been 17 years …… yet I still have extremely vivid and fond memories of the wild, hormonally charged days..

Being in an all boys school, my classmates and I were boisterous (some say girl crazy).

We made all, save one, of our female teachers cry through crude, tasteless pranks and pure rebellion.(Re the one who didn't cry, we heard rumours that she changed her name to John several years later).

As I looked at some of the impressionable faces in the pic, I struggled to remember their full names but could easily rattle off their nicknames.

Each nickname was unique and has absolutely no bearing to the persons they are today (I hope)

Sharing some of them with you in the following format:

Nickname – Why they were given it (Their occupation today)

Lap Cheong – self explanatory (doctor)

Small boy – No, not the opposite of Lap cheong.  He is boyish (doctor)

Salem – Looks like a smoker (Professional smoker?)

Uncle Toh(by) – Puts forth the best arguments with teachers (Judge …. don't pray pray)

Cock – Ask Lap Cheong why  (Doctor)

Monster – Ask the SCGS gals why (IT analyst)

George of the Jungle – He was quite cock (Doctor)

Miss Baygon – Protects himself (or herself now) with can of baygon  (fashion designer).

Ka Chng Face – Ditto (Business Manager)

Murdoch – As mad as the guy in A-team (doctor)

Goldfish – Auditioned for 'Finding Nemo' without a costume and succeeded (business manager)

God's gift to women – Not God's gift to women (Doctor)

Dog – follows CHIJ gals like one (Banker)

This goes to show, the more "cock" your nickname is, the more successful you'd be in your career :-)

We spend a lot of time communicating via emails.

I face unique challenges getting through to my clients / suppliers in countries where English is not their language of choice.

The correspondence below is as good (or bad) as it gets.

Please take time to read through it.

(I spent a lot of time taking out sensitive info and changing names of the parties involved in the email track.  It has been colour coded for your easy reference)

Scenario: I'm trying help my Bangladeshi agent (he works for me indirectly) book 2 hotel rooms in Singapore.

The incident is real.

The people are real.

The exasperation lagi real.

Sometimes my mum and wife ask me what I do at work.

I hate to tell them I have to handle these emails as part of the job.

Maybe I should tell them the truth.

Then they'll know the root cause of my receding and graying hairline, and impending stroke.

===============================================================
From: Bangla

Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 8:34 AM
To: Meepok
Subject: Visit

Dear Mr. Mee Pok,

Please book two single rooms for 3-4 nights from XX May 2005 under the
following persons.
(1). Bangla    (2). BoB. (Brudder of Bangla)

We will be arrive XX May2005 at Singapore Airlines.
Awainting your confirmation.

Thanking you,
Best regards
Bangla

-----Original Message-----
From: Mee Pok
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 9:34 AM
To: Bangla
Subject: RE: Visit

Hi Bangla,

Katty (our admin specialist) can help you book the room in Holiday XXX.
She will confirm the rates.
Is it for 3 or 4 nights ?

Meepok

-----Original Message-----
From: Katty
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2005 2:45 PM
Subject: RE: Visit

Bangla,

Please see accommodation details as follow:
Hotel XXX, Singapore
Check-in:10-May  Check-out:14-May
Room Type: Standard (room only, if breakfast desired, pls. inform front
desk upon checking)  Room rate: S$XXX + 16%

Confirmation
1) Bangla - #1143   2) Bob - #1145

Let me know if you've any questions.

Katty

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your mail. We are confirming you that we have need two single rooms for 3-4 nights from 10th May 2005. We are waiting your further confirmation for the booking of two single rooms for 3-4 nights.

Your kind cooperation will be highly appreciated.

Thanking you,
Best regards
For Bangla International
-------------------------------------------------

At 05:04 PM 4/28/2005 +0800, Meepok wrote:

Dear Bangla,
 
Pls SEE ALL the emails attached.
The answers are ALREADY THERE.
 
You need to answer this question.
Are you staying 3 OR 4 nights?
You CANNOT say 3-4 nights.
 
Meepok

---------------------------------------------

From: Bangla
Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 5:36 PM
To: Mee Pok, Katty
Subject: RE: Visit

Dear Sir,

Thank you very much for your mail. Actually we would like to say 3 or 4 nights are staying at Hotel from 10th May 2005.

Sorry for our misunderstanding.

Thanking you,
Best regards
For Bangla International
---------------------------------------------------------------

At 06:12 PM 4/28/2005 +0800, Meepok  wrote:

Bangla….

 
You have 2 options.
 
(1) Three nights
(2) Four nights.
 
You must confirm either option (1) or (2) now.
 
Meepok

---------------------------------------

From: Bangla

Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 6:49 PM
To: Meepok, Katty

Subject: RE: Visit

Dear Sir,

As per your mail we would like to confirm you for 4 Nights staying in the Hotel from 10th May 2005.  Please do confirm.

Thanking you,
Best regards
For Bangla International

I like to start my week with a "Thought /Actionable Item for the week"

Gives me a chance to evoke a positive change in my life (and others around me) that week.

I'm currently reading "A purpose driven life" by Rick Warren.

Would like to share with you salient points of the chapter on restoring relationships.

1. Always take the initiative

It doesn't matter if you're the "kena hoot (whack)" or the "hoot-er", you should make the first move.  Schedule a face to face meeting as soon as possible (don't bring your parang, pls).  Delay only deepens resentment and makes matters worse.

2. Sympathise with their feelings

Listen before you speak.  As Dr Evil in Austin Powers would say: "Zip, zip…".

Begin with sympathy, not solutions.

3.  Confess your part of conflict

If you are serious about restoring the relationship, you should begin by HUMBLY admitting your mistake.  This defuses the other person's anger.  Don't make excuses or shift the blame (Singaporeans are damn good at doing that). Own up to any part you played in the conflict.

4.  Attack the problem, not the person.

Self explanatory.  But if you're an ah beng, attack the person and not the innocent bystander.  Just kidding.

5.  Cooperate as much as possible

Especially after you kena arrested by the police for gang fight …. I digress (as usual).

6. Emphasise reconciliation, not resolution

It is unrealistic to expect everyone to see eye to eye about everything. Reconciliation focuses on the relationship, while resolution focuses on the problem.

If you believe in God, there is actually a step 0:  Talk to God first before talking to the person.  Ask God for wisdom in handling the matter and that the needs of both conflicting parties are met.

Action plan for the week 

Is there someone whom you'd like to reconcile with?

Pick up the phone and make that call.

Thank you for writing to us. We do appreciate your making the effort.
We receive 70 letters on average each day. Limited space means we can
publish only about a dozen every weekday.
This means having to make often difficult editorial judgments on which letters to publish.

We regret we are unable this time to publish your letter, and hope you will appreciate the constraints on space we face every day.
We hope you will continue taking an interest in the Forum Page.

Yours sincerely
Ms Noor Aiza
for Forum Editor
The Straits Times