Changing jobs

Recently, I received an email from an old classmate. In it, she said : "Have been bored > 50% of the time the past 7 years"...so she's quit and going to start a new job soon where she hope the word 'bored' wouldn't be part of her vocab.

2 thoughts came into me mind when I received this...

- Wow! She can quit and just pick up another job at her age? Now I'm not saying she's old (well, she's the same age as me...and I'm NOT OLD). But you read in the newspapers all these stories about 'ex' managers, executives and directors (ok, maybe not directors) who find it hard to get a 'new' job when they hit '40' (which seems to be a magical number...hmm...maybe it is...since the number '4' means die in Chinese). I mean, it's totally, totally demoralising. Doesn't help with all the government hype about 'retraining', reeducation', 're-entering'...and all the 're's you can think. In my university days, a 're' means a resit for an exams...which really isn't too good.

So, of course, most people hang to their job for their dear life. And even if you do get a job offer, you hesitate to take it up because you're not sure if it's worthwhile taking the risk. What if the company shuts down? Or you get retrenched? Or you find out that your new boss is even worse than the previous one? Better to stick with the devil you know right?

Which then leads to another question or problem...however way you look at it.

If the 'oldies' don't move out, then how are the 'newbies' going to move up?

I remember KC complaining to me years ago (when he was about 30) and had just joined a local bank. He reckoned he was never going to be able to move up the ladder becasue they were all occupied by long timers.

Now that he's in the 40's and belong to those old timers...I wonder.... will he moving out? hehe! I must check with him...or if he is reading this...(he did used to, before all the distraction came along)...give me a call and let me know. ^^

- and the 2nd point? She was bored with her previous job.

Now that again...is something quite unusual. Because most people are really probably quite bored with their job. I mean, how many people really want to 七早八早 wake up, compete with about 2 million people on the road, so that you can reach the office in time for endless meetings, answering meaningless questions. Repeat this 5 times a week and even remotely 'ok' jobs become boring. Not many people have really, really 'interesting' jobs anyway. And if they do, they probably don't get paid well...not unless you're Mr Lee Ang or Mr Dennis Foo.

So most of do not quite because a job is boring...Most of us work...so that we can have the means to do interesting stuff.

Even for me, with my flexi hours....I'm frustated at times....

That's why we all dream of winning the lottery big time. (hubby dear, if you're reading this...and I know you do...can you please work a little harder on those winning tickets? Pleazzze?)

Actually, I do want to change job too...well...not so much change job as to expand on what I'm already doing based on my interest.....

I'm seriously exploring the opportunities to do some tie-ups on my kimchiblog or even this blog...so...people....if you people have any ideas or leads...drop me a note hor.

In the meantime, it's back to the reality of selling ad space.....just in case my editor checks out this site and finds me writing when I should be selling.

Arctic Tale

Artic Tales
Directed by: Adam Ravetch, Sarah Robertson
Narrated by: Queen Latifah

How many of you watched 'March of the Penguins' and was overwhelmed by their spectacular journey through blizzard cold...to find a mate and start a family? The image of the penguins, marching in a single file, bracing themsevles against the antartic wind to protect their young, will probably stay forever in our minds.

The story:
Arctic Tale is a movie by the same people (different directors though) about those who inhabit on the opposite side of the pole- The Arctic.

And the centre of the story is the polar bears...to be specific....one particular polar bear, Nanu and Cela, the walrus. In between, you have a few other characters, like the arctic fox and the seals who inhabit the same place as these two and are dependant on each other for survival.

The story starts off with a mother bear, who is just emerging from her 6 months of hibernation after giving birth to 2 little bear cubs (those 2 bear cibs are really cute!). Normally, polar bear cubs stay with their mother for 3 years...where they will be taught all that is necessary to stay alive in the harsh environment. And each of the baby walrus have an extra guardian (besides their mother), in the form of auntie to protect them. And boy, these lady warulses can be really fierce....even full grown polar bears can find their weight and sharp tusks a little intimidating.

For the next 90 minutes or so, we see how each of these animals try to survive, not just their natural enemies, but also the changing environment due to the warming of the climate. For these animals, the melting of the ice world can be disasterous. When any part of nature is unbalance, their basic survival is affected.

Hence we see the walruses swimming far out to sea, away from their home, to another island when the ice melted too early and could not hold them anymore. We see the polar bears, at the risk of facing starvation, following them and hunting far from their natural habitat. And a couple of times, I did have my heart in my mouth, wondering if Nanu is going to survive this exhuasting trip, for polar bears are not meant to swim for long distances.

It is truely a survival of the fittest. Only in this case, even the the fittest may not survive if there's no food.



Thoughts on movie:
As with any National Geographic documentaries, this is an excellent production. There is no doubt about it. Some of the images are simply spectacular and breathtaking. I take my hat off to the people who braved the cold and harsh weather by patiently capturing scenes that are simply worth a thousand words.

The bear cubs were really, really cute (makes me want to get one) and they have even managed to inject some humour into the movie.

Perhaps that is where the one flaw may lie....

The underlying message is a serious one but the movie is just a little too warm and fuzzy to convey that properly. I like watching cute animals and often the sight of these warm, cuddley animals may be effective in giving that tug-in-the-heart feeling. In this case, perhaps they should have been a little more cruel...so that they can be kind. Plus I find the music a little too distracting as well.

Despite the above, it's still worth a watch.

If only to educate the young ones about the seriousness of climate change and that each and everyone of us can make a difference.

The ice kingdom is being threatened...and it is getting increasingly difficult for these animals to stay alive with the climate change. Their ancient ways of living, hunting and mating are being threatened slowly.

One day, one day...these animals may disappear ...like the dinosaurs. No more cute polar bears.

If you really want to bring a direct benefit by watching the movie, the following activities are being planned:

- The ZOO is holding an outdoor fundraising screening on Saturday, 8th September at 7.30pm in favor of Wildlife Conservation Singapore Fund - Go here for more info.

- Nature Society /Acres is also holding a fundraising screening.
Date: 11th September, Tuesday
Time: 7pm
Venue: GV VivoCity, Hall 5
Go here for more infor.

Incidentally, SPH foundation sponsored the Gala Premiere and S$120,000 to the Zoo for the Polar Bear conservation.

For more information about the movie, go to:
Festive Films
Official site

Arctic Tale opens on 13th September with sneak previews this week. Please support hor...