YOUNG HEARTS run free.

#FOODFORTHOUGHT: MY STAMPS OF FRIENDSHIP

Since I am back I was trying so hard to adjust and keep my life back together. Juggling with work and portfolio during the submission period till I dont even know whens is day and whens is night.

But until today, then I realise how bad a friend am I. I had been telling them how much I misses them in Phuket, keep on counting down to the days till "Reunion". Reality is, portfolio submission date is almost 1 month back from today but i had never met them since then. I kept on giving myself excuses of they are all on internship and fact is, i didnt even bother trying to organise any meet ups. i dint even try to find out when is their days off, i dont even know where they are working! D:

Sometime I thought to myself that I shouldn't even be back, we were so much more closer when I am in Thailand... &Maybe i had gotten use to only contacting them through the electronic devices over the past 5months but I am such an ass I swear... I can just overlook at this issue that lightly. hais.. its not that I dont know how much bowenkiaxz is part of my life, yet i still dont know how to cherish it. ):

Still remember back then I gave them a friendship vouchers that can make me do anything for them, but each person only gets 1 chance for 1 particular thing. Truth is I dont even remember when was it exactly that I have already given all 7 of them a true friendship vouchers that has no limited no. of usage and no such thing as expiry date.

Just like the lyrics in Payphone; "I know its too late to make it, but is it too late to try?" I hope I am not too late in trying to save this friendship, because bowenkiaxz is my extended family, used to be, now is and will always be. ♥

you know i preferred it this way; please don't ruin it

In the month of August, I am to be trained under the Administrative side of F&B. It was a big change for me as after 4 months in the front line of operation, I was made to sit in the office for 10 hours working from 8 to 6. I am really thankful that I only have to go through this for 2 weeks. But definitely these two weeks is a wow-wild eye opener experience.

I thought that being trained as an assistant outlet manager has already made me view things from a different perspective but these precious two weeks have forced me to see things in a way that I didn’t know existed at all.

In the back of house of F&B, I am learning with the Personal Assistant of the Director of F&B. Every morning that I would need to prepare documents for my Director of F&B for her morning meeting with our General Manager, I would do up a daily report of summary of all the F&B outlets for the day before, with the numbers, statistics, covers, average check and revenue as well.
We would then attend the F&B morning briefing every day, with the rest of the outlet managers and supervisors. My role in these two weeks is known as the F&B Coordinator; the people I work around with are the heads of department, outlet managers and supervisors, events team and all the sous chefs. Because I get emails from around the resort, most of the time I would be the one to update everyone about what is happening, any changes or if any guests need special attention. Of course things like meeting minutes, food tags, menus, and handling the master program for cashiering system is under my job scope as well. Though sometimes I feel unqualified for such an important position in the department, it also served as a motivation to make sure that I do my best and don’t mess things up. And I am actually glad that I took on this role only at the end of my internship since it’s easier to work around with people I already know.

I am surprised by the fact that my point of view changes when I am holding a different position. It can be the exact same situation like supporting another outlet. Thinking back about when I view the situation from a staff point-of-view, when I was being sent to support the banquet team, my thinking would be, “of all people, WHY ME?!” but now when I look at it I am more than willing to send staffs if we have extra manpower to spare and myself even if it means working overtime. And now I think back about all the comments and gossip of higher management including even my own view of the higher management, I could have been utterly wrong and have a whole new perspective now.

These 2 weeks might have been torture for me but I can never express in words how much I have gained, grown and learnt from these two weeks. I am definitely shocked by the fact that there were much more behind the scene work since I have never been introduced to this side of the operation. And I am grateful that Angsana Laguna Phuket has given me this opportunity during my internship, it is truly an eye opener and my first major step into the working world.

#FOODFORTHOUGHT: Quoted from July Ejournal

In the month of July, there were so much changes, decision making and on the spot thinking.

First of all, being given too much freedom to choose which outlet or area to go to in July has ended up giving me some headache. I was given the choice of going to Baan Talay, the Thai Restaurant, Xana Beach Club or Loy Krathong Lobby Bar. They even let me cross-train into Baan Talay’s Kitchen (but I was afraid that I might burn down the kitchen with no culinary experience).My original schedule was that I was supposed to be trained in the office, which is the back-of-house admin side, of the F&B department. However, plans do not keep up with changes. I was posted to Baan Talay in the end.

I found that I started to learn nothing new after doing front-line services for 3 months in different outlets, as I got used to the outlet’s service sequence and standard operating procedure in no time. Instead, the bombshell which I had to juggle was that I was given 1 week to familiarize myself with ALL the different roles in the outlet, ranging from hostess, captain, food runner and even cashier. Because after one week, I was supposed to take on the role of Assistant Outlet Manager for the rest of the month. It’s not an easy task for me being in a new outlet when I have not gotten close with the rest of the team. Moreover, in Thailand, they talk a lot about respecting whoever is older than you, so to the rest, I am still young and don’t know anything. Fortunately, they all understand that I am not power-hungry and that I am just here to learn. My outlet manager is very willing to teach me and my colleagues are very supportive.

But I have to admit that out of everything this month, what challenges me the most is handling guest complaints. I have no experience in that but on the hierarchy I am the assistant outlet manager, or theoretically at least. So what I feared the most and of course this phrase is nothing new to any Singaporean, “I want to see your manager.” @_@

--Low season, no guests but doesn’t mean no learning--

#FOODFORTHOUGHT: Quoted from June Ejournal

I guess I just have to accept the fact that all these political issues do exist in the working world and it doesn’t makes a different just because I am in Thailand.

While we are hitting the end of June, we are officially left with less than 2months here. Time really flies, though there are always days when I really misses home and hope that I can just hop on a plane as easy as how I can grab a cab. But the thought of coming down to less than 2months here I know that when the time comes, I wouldn’t want to leave instead. Lucky enough I have understanding colleagues and supportive friends, knuckles white and holding tight I know I can make it through every turn. Just 48 more days left to make the best out of it.

--1 Month, 1 Event, Memories of a life time--

#FOODFORTHOUGHT: Quoted from May Ejournal

This month I was posted to the banquet department, due to the arrival of Amway, a large Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) Company in China. The Amway group organized an incentive trip for 16000 of their Chinese delegates to come to Phuket. Although it was not stated in my internship schedule to be trained in banquet operations, I thought it was quite a good experience since I am being crossed trained in Events and F&B. I am glad that I have taken up the job with an open mind and managed to learn new things.

Angsana motto, “Life is about change”. The meaning behind this motto comes from the Angsana flower, they can bloom at anytime of the year, but the flowers might just be bloom for a day and gone the day after. It is always so unpredictable and ever changing. This motto definitely relates back to being in the events team. Adaptability, flexibility and teamwork values are definitely what I have gained out of the whole event.

We were given two event shirts and even a certificate after the event but nothing compares to the experiences, memories, fun and friends that the event has given to me.

I miss you especially much tonight...

#FOODFORTHOUGHT: Quoted from April Ejournal

"The tsunami alert was definitely the biggest shock of the month, and maybe for the year, or even the coming decade. But it is also like a wakeup call for me, the incident made me think so much and reevaluate life. After all of the chaos and confusion, when the “panic stage” was over, we went back to the resort to help out. Back at Market Place, a complimentary dinner was being served to all the in house guests. Apparently, almost all the Thai staff had rushed back home to ensure that their family was safe, so those who stayed behind was mostly the higher management of the resort. Looking at how the managers rolled up their sleeves and start clearing the plates, I was just glad that I am still alive and I am really pleased that everyone is still had the peace of mind to be able to sit at market place to have a meal. I am now more glad to be able to serve and contribute; service from the heart, with a smile."

"There is this Chinese proverb. It is similar to "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." - The word "Rome" is not in the proverb. Literally, its means something like, “When entering a village, follow their customs.” My first month here was definitely “April-FULL’s”, full of the unexpected, etcetera and other etcetera-ish things, and I look forward to more exciting events happening next month. Learning never stops here, each day I will bring home pocket full of new knowledge and experiences."

This is it! OSIP, Phuket, 5MONTHS here i comeeeee~!

Really thankful for my family and friends around me, thanks all for coming, touched and moved! deeply appreciate it!
its just a weird feeling that i had, i don't feel anything at all..
it just feels like we are going for an outing, not overseas and not 5months.

Only upon entering the departure gate, reality hit back, there is no turning back now, We are in for it!

#FOODFORTHOUGHT: RANDOM THINKINGS

13-15March de la salle p4 & p5 leadership camp.
crash the camp, went in as a helper. but even as just a helper, this camp just got me thinking alot..
there is so much things that happen, things just came too sudden.
making me questioning my own abilities, my on the spot decision making and also flexibility. What do i want to achieve in the industry when I do not want to climb up to anywhere.
same goes with service line, these two industries are industry that are tedious and require lots of scarifies.
I totally can predict that, there is going to be a point when I will be questioning myself like, "what the fuck am i doing"
and they say that it all boils down to passion, but can passion really bring me far, can passion really keep me going?

When things came up to you unexpectedly, and heart beats louder than your head. do you just go with feelings? &what should i do when there is a 'but' and 'what if', to what extend can i go, and can i really go without setting a boundary for myself?

Met BK on 13 march before we head to De la salle camp, with a random thoughts of having a bonding cum debrief session with the group, we decided to be the nice guy and go around saying positive points of one another.
this is when we realise how much we has grown as an individual as well as in a whole.
this bonding session not only remind us that thus far we have come, but also get us to see what other view us. good points shall stay, because we are just being ourselves, no dramas no plastic.
Its been 2years since BK started off, out of no where though, till now the group that i will definitely miss when i am off to phuket.
time keep ticking, 2 more weeks till the start of my internship.
excited yet reluctant, the feeling of uncertain, which i just can't explain....

at least i tried, its alright i got it. it time for me to move on.. thanks for the memories

#FOODFORTHOUGHT: TIME IS EMOTIONAL
I learnt this theory when I was 16.. Whether if you have time, depends on your emotions.
Example: You will never have time for someone you dislike - you tweeted to ask ppl out for movie, then the person you don't like reply he/she is free AND all of sudden, you are busy and no time for movie..
Vise versa, you will never reject someone you wanted to go out with all along, suddenly projects and homework can wait but when your mum ask you to tidy your room, you have got tons and tons of projects going on behind the screen~

the person that told me this, tell me that "I have no time" is not a reason.

think about it, you only have time for things you like to do and avoid things you doesn't want to work on.. it does happen to everyone, it is just how you prioritize your time.

I enjoy comforting/sharing this theory with people..
However, every time I uses it, I get myself upset when I recall you telling me you have no time for me, as it does hurt me when I think back about what you put infront of me (YT videos clip, outing with other people, staying at home)
you have time for EVERYTHING, except for me....

I dreamt that I had a yellow vespa ytd! I had my own room with a balcony that has dark wood flooring.. leading right out to a road just in front of the beach!
I once had a clear vision of our future.. but now it all seems so far away.. or literally, in my dreams...

May this day be filled with rainbow &colours, laughter &loves ♥

#FOODFORTHOUGHT: THE REASON WHY I LIKE CAMPS SO MUCH

of course I totally hate the bites from mosquitoes &sandflies, sunburns and losing of voice.. none of it seems fun to me and it happens almost EVERYTIME i go for camp!

BUT what amazed me the most, is how camps can make people bond together..
a total stranger, in short few days we can be closer than a classmate we meet everyday.
with an unfamiliar surrounding, you learn to appreciate the friends around you, depending on each other and learn from one and other.

To me every camp is a learning journey, I take home new learning points in every camp I go.. it doesn't matter, be it I go for camp as a camper or as an instructor, I learn a lot from my colleagues, peers and even my campers..
I give my best in each camp, although it wears me out totally, I am totally shag out when i reach home... but thinking back about the experiences I know its all worthwhile! this is the motivation that keep me going in this industry and the reason why I truly enjoy it! =)