Monthly Archives: November 2008
A shot in the snow
On the 23 November, 8 Malaysian ladies had a get-together in Rotterdam. Some of them came all the way from the provinces of Brabant and Limburg, which is the very south of Netherlands.
We went for Dim Sum for lunch at Tai Wu Restaurant. After food, we went to a Chinese shop at the Asian/China town. Then we all walked to a big cafe to have a drink and stayed for hours chit-chatting until it was very dark. Sam had to leave early because of an emergency at home.
Thanks ladies for the great day. 
Malaysian Ladies in Rotterdam
This was not my best shot, but this was the only one I could manage in such a blizzard. In the photo: Melvis, Martina, Masliah, Shannen, Elise and Denise. I was behind the camera. 
Going to Germany
Yes, yes. I always go to Germany for business or for personal purposes. But this time is not because of going to work but to attend a workshop.
My problem is: I’m a bit nervous. In fact I am really nervous. I never like to travel when it is the financial month-end close at work. I took this offer in last May because of the condition, not much travelling. I was tired of travelling for business that this was the best solution that came towards me in comparison to another offer with 70% travel in the job description.
As a new employee, although I have been with the company for half a year now, I have to attend the Introduction Workshop. This year it is held in Germany. I will be attending along with many colleagues from Europe and perhaps also from another region. The fact that nobody will be able to be my backup during my absence caused my Group Manager in U.S. worried. I arranged for everything so that I can work from there during my break or whenever I can escape. But I am not sure if this will work well. 
It will be 3 days intensive training and all the time will be full with activities.
I hope I don’t cause my Finance colleagues in Europe to get stuck because of my tasks are not done on time.
I will not be bringing this notebook as I have to bring my notebook from work. So, I might only be able to update again once I am back.
In the meanwhile, I still have to upload photos here but it might take some more time. 
Snow in Autumn
First Snow in Nov08
It was cold but not as cold as this week. The winter cold has begun although autumn is still lingering around us. The first snow was here as well… right somewhere in November… and in autumn.
Despite the cold, I enjoy myself. Meeting new friends, old friends, new groups and old groups. Having dinner, lunch and party is just a way to entertain ourselves in this depressive situation. I love entering a new season, as it gaves me a new challenge in life. In short, it will be a new year soon, and a new age with a new expectation.
Perhaps a new career, or a new interest, or another crazy plan or another person or just another year to complete another circle of life.
To Do List
Just so I don’t forget, again.
- Clean up the harddrive of the desk computer #1 and donate the machine to the charity.
- Clean up the harddrive of the desk computer #2.
- Re-install Adobe PS CS3, dreamweaver, paint shop pro, ms windows (latest) and front page to NB #1 and NB #2.
- Re-organise all digiphotos from all computers into 1 machine.
- Update calendar 2009. Do the planning.
- Actual Variable and Fixed Costs (List down what we pay blindly every day/month)
- Budget Variable and Fixed Costs (Possibly of recession? Think of low-cost.)
- Reply Alicja’s letter.
- Reply Kathy’s letter.
- Write to long-lost relatives in Hong Kong.
- Write to foster son in Sri Lanka: Kasun.
- Buy gifts for Kasun’s 14th belated birthday.
- Study the paper #1.
- Study the paper #2.
- Order books for paper #3.
- Order books for paper #4.
- Read book #1 bought on Nov 17: 271 pages
- Read book #2 bought on Nov 17: 268 pages
- Read book #3 bought on Nov 17: 279 pages
- Decide (with friends or alone) to go to the Crossing Border Festival in The Hague.
- Get more info on the trip to England in Dec.
- Swift tranfer to MBB.
- Re-organise dh room and get rid of old computers and monitors.
- Find a really poor charity and in need of help.
- Go to the gym
- Get ready for Christmas
- Photos printing
- Call Zadkine for an extended course
- Re-organise all projects, folders and spreadsheets.
- Get a new alarm clock with an annoying sound.
Spending Money
I just came back from doing the weekend groceries shopping and proud that I did not overspent as I used to. I have since stopped doing this chores as I like to spend hundreds of Euros for things that Wil and I don’t even need, and ended up expired for a year or so. Nevertheless, I had to do it this weekend as Wil is sickie.
When I was in the shopping “center” (it is a small one near our house without a competitor for every type of product/service except the supermarkets), my mind was disturbed by how we spent our money during our holiday in Malaysia recently or every time we go there. The cost of living in Malaysia has increased dramatically compared to 2 years ago or even last year. A couple of years back, I could fill my belly with a mixed-rice (nasi campur) for RM3.50 and now the cheapest we can get in a foodstall is RM6.50. To people who make Euros, this would still be cheap. Well! I don’t. I do think it IS expensive.
Each time as I landed the country, I would instantly switch my way of thinking, back to Malaysian way and think 1 ringgit is like 1 euro. I am, afterall, still a Bumiputera. That is to say, although we earn Euros, every cent of Ringgit Malaysia is still the sweat of our hard-work. Wil has finally agreed with me as I keep on arguing that ‘it is not cheap in Malaysia’.
In reality: FX currency: EUR1.00 = RM4.60 or 1:4.6
Lets say monthly income of an officer in Malaysia is RM2,000.00, an employee in Netherlands is EUR2,000.00. A bottle of mineral water in Malaysia is RM2.50, in Netherlands in EUR2.50.
Ignoring the market value: if FX currency: EUR1.00 = RM1.00 or 1:1, so far it’s equal.. they are earning the “same” value of salary (except that any income in the Netherlands has to contribute about 34% of the first EUR32K annual income to income tax), same price of water, restaurants and more. However when it comes to other products, such as a notebook: RM2700 in Malaysia, EUR600 in the Netherlands. Not to mention the gasoline, the alcohol, property etc. The “same” value for the 2 groups is now imbalance. The ringgit earner is spending “more” than the euro earner. Forget about the reality 1:4.6, if you were in their shoes, would you still think it is cheap?
Anyway, my forever question: how the heck these people live with an income of RM1,500.00 per month with 3 kids to send to school, a big Proton Wira car, a house in the city, going out almost every night for something yummy, wear beautiful clothes and bling-bling on their arms? I really need to consult with them.
Back to my argument, I thought the way I should, in case we were to leave Netherlands and back to earn a living in Malaysia. My spending there was not that innocent. I spent all our money and took out my savings in Malaysia to pay off some debts (not really, it was a gift really) and came back home ~broke~.
Now back to reality, our friends in America are having an economic crisis. Netherlands is still OK. The government injects funds to help the banks to survive. But being in a partly American company, there were talks about cost-cutting; reorganisation of the company and reduce headcounts, who knows where I would end up in the coming months.
Hence, my spending of EUR 22.00 for this weekend after a lot of consideration of some yummy food and good stuff.
Domino Day
It’s a Domino day today and I’m watching how they broke another world record. I’ll share the photos when they are ready.
Lazy Sunday
The gray weather and calm and quiet Sunday added to my laziness today. As a new approach of my ‘make time’, I started to get up pretty early every day instead of having to rush to get ready for work. This approach is also entitled to the weekends. However, this autumn Sunday caused my weekend-to-do-list pending.
After taking my morning drinks and 2 three-quarter boiled eggs, and at the same time reading some articles, I ended up lying on the couch for another few more hours. Dear hubby was still in bed. This could be worse for my new resolution (No, this is not the 2008 or 2009 new resolution, just the out of the blue resolution LOL). But I can count this as an excuse of the 1-week month-end-close pressure plus the jetlag.
Sabah Fruit
During our visit to Sabah, Malaysia, my aunt Rosalind likes to buy local fruits and food for me to eat. This one is one of the fruits she wanted me to taste. It is the crossing of ‘Nangka’ (jack fruit) and ‘Pulutan’. It is just so lovely. I managed to eat this 2-in-1 fruit apart from other ‘smelly’ Durian (according to DH LOL).
Sabah fruit: the crossing of Nangka-Pulutan
