A great time at home

Salam w.b.t and hi all,

This is one of the entries I should have published weeks ago. This is about how I managed to get a last minute holiday.

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After all the rig days.

Still need to standby at the other rig while waiting for client to officially declare Lost in Hole. Waiting game on for days and yesterday afternoon after having-more-than-enough-sleep, drop an email to my manager.

 "I need time off for couple of days". And basically, the answer is no.

 Ok fine. Nothing to discuss then.

 "Screw everything". Hahaha...

 8 PM, pull myself together to stand my ground as per senior's nagging me, finally call my manager.

 "I need holiday from now for one week - 7days"

 "Where are you going? In Doha or out of Qatar? Why? Urgent?....And list goes on, on, and on.

 Put my answers short and precise as per senior's instruction while he was standing behind me.

 At the other end, sh*t, oh man, bla bla bla.

 Finally, "You have 5 days".

 Ok. That's good enough and told my senior about it.

 He said, don't bother. Make it 7.

I called my mother, 3 AM Malaysian time, telling her about me going home and I had to use her credit card to pay the flight ticket since I left all my cards in Doha. I was still at the rig, remember?

Less than 24 hours later on 13 April, I flew home. The ticket was really expensive, but money means nothing when my heart is nowhere to be found apart from home. On the flight, I felt unbelievable that I am going home.

I miss home, I miss my comfort zone, and the warmth of being with my beloved ones.

I miss being in the place I know, where I know I will be safe.

Qatar is nothing, apart from work. It is time for me to re-energized and go home.

I told none about my homecoming, only my mother and sisters. I just want a personal time. However, I was still working at home. Finishing the control cards, preparation for the school. Regardless, I had a great time by being at home. Nothing can beat that.

My mother cooked most of my favourite foods, buy all the local delicacies, and many things. Foods are one of the things I miss so much. Nasi Lemak, Apam Balik, Cendol, Sambal Sotong, Sambal Cili Api, and many more. You will never get any of these here in Qatar. 

On 19 April, I flew back to Qatar and came back to work on the next day.

The next day, my manager asked me how was my holiday. I said to him, "I should have ask for 2 weeks". He was like, "Bluergh".

Quick Life Update 8

Salam w.b.t and hello folks.

How are you guys doing? I am doing great. I has been an insane week. I just got back from Malaysia last Sunday, and get back straight to work on Monday. I know I can take a day off just to relieve my jet lag, but I did not.

I would say, the week was crazy. I was helping the folks at work and stay back until midnight just to get things done. I do not get paid for overtime, but I will take my time back. Also, it does not feel right to leave your team behind.

Anyway, this is my quick entry, Quick Life Update 8. 8??!!! What! I don’t get a chance to write properly on things. That’s fine. Ok, here is the update.

1.      I have received update on my Technical Training. Yeay! I will try my best to prepare and hopefully will pass with flying colours, InsyaAllah.

2.      I passed my UK driving theory test on Thursday. The next step is to take practical driving test before I can get Full UK Driving License. At the moment, I will use my Malaysian Driving License.

3.      I bought a car yesterday. A second hand car, Kia Picanto. I need to travel to different bases and run errands. My colleague can pick me up in the morning and give me a lift to home, but I think, "That’s it. I don’t want to trouble him anymore". I need to learn to organise myself, although I am a bit nervous to drive here.

My new car. I haven't give it a name yet. Any suggestion? :D

4.      I spent money quite a lot  for the past two days as I just bought a car. I paid for insurance, road tax, council tax bill, gas & electric bill, etc.. Insurance is quite expensive as I am using Malaysian Driving License. I think I will create one special entry on how to get the UK Driving License together with some advices. One thing I regret is, I should have start applying for UK Driving License as soon as I arrived here in Aberdeen. Well, no use of dwelling the past.

5.      Time flies fast. Really fast, I am telling you. Today is the last day of July already. Oohhh…

6.      Hopefully I will get a chance to go offshore soon.

What else…. I think that’s it for now. I will try my best to keep this blog alive, InsyaAllah.


Alright folks. That’s me. Take care and see you guys in the next entry.


Salam w.b.t and chow.

P/S - Next week will be 'fantastic'. Pheww..

Quick Life Update 5

Salam w.b.t and hello folks.

 

How are you guys been doing? Alhamdulillah, I am doing fine. It is nearly end of January, and I haven't post anything new since early of this year. Thus, in this entry, I will make it short and sweet.

 

BOSIET, HUET, and other survival thingy

 

I have completed all the survival trainings last week. The course took 5 days, and it was great. I learned a lot of things, basically, like, "How to keep myself in one piece if something happen offshore?".

 

With the completion of the training, I officially can go work offshore, specifically North Sea (Yuhuu). On the last day of training, I had to escape from the helicopter that made water landing. There were several situations (7 or  8 simulations, I forgot), controlled and uncontrolled water ditching. In the uncontrolled water ditching, the helicopter completely capsized and we had to free ourselves (HUET).

For me, it was quite scary experience. I was struggling a bit. When that happened, you have to think and act fast as well as don’t panic. In the simulations, we had one instructor with us in the chopper and two divers standby in the pool.

 

I do ask myself, if in reality, can I manage to escape safely? I hope all will go well.

 

"When do you want to come home?"

 

That is the question I always get from people; colleague, friends, and my mother. Honestly, I don’t know. That’s the question which I don’t really have a definite answer.

 

I haven't got any plan when I want to come back to Malaysia, for holiday of course. For now, money limitation, as well as job. With the current downturn in oil and gas industry, it makes me a little bit nervous to take things for granted, when everybody else is fighting. Yeah, I think I will come back at some point, but not at the nearest time.

 

Miss

 

When you are far from family, you will miss a lot of family moments. I kinda feel left out sometimes, but I think it is normal. It is similar situation when you are studying at boarding school, the difference is this time, the distance is thousands of miles.

 

Worry

 

I do feel worry about the future, particularly Malaysian future. You can see, the leaders are fail to fulfill their responsibilities truthfully. A lot of issues rise here and there, crimes, unemployment level, cost of living getting pricey from day to day, more and more pampered new generations, ignorance people, and many more.

 

When scrolling down the Facebook, various aspects can be seen. We, Malaysian are easily sidetrack by many unimportant issues. Like, Dilwale, Qu Puteh sponsorship, entertainment, and other crappy things. And, we forgot to focus on more paramount things, for example, " what is the future look like for our next generation". I don’t say I am so responsible person, but if you can see, that we are so busy looking at bits and pieces of useless things.

Malaysia, tanah tumpahnya darahku

Even though I am not in Malaysia, I feel sorry and afraid for those who are struggling just to live in Malaysia. One day, I could be one of those who are struggling to live every day and I don’t fancy that idea.

 

I think that’s all for now folks. Take care and Salam w.b.t.

 

 

P/S - "Manusia terlalu perlu berkelompok, Kalau bersendiri serasa mati" ~ Levitasi

2015, In A Nutshell

Salam w.b.t and hi all.

How are you guys been doing? Alhamdulillah, I am doing fine here. As we all know, 2016 is just around the corner. Time flies fast, I mean, really fast.

Time is gold. En route to Aberdeen from Paris

I remember the time I happy, cried, disappointed for various of things. The memories are still fresh, like it just happened yesterday.

A lot of things have happened. A lot of things have changed. Well, we are not living in a static world, are we?

In my head, I have many things to share on this blog but as usual, I don’t know what to start with. Thus, I think I will just share the highlights of events happened in my 2015 calendar.

 

Start working with SLB

It was exhaustive wait. People might know I am working in Aberdeen, but not everyone knows, how? After Australia, they changed my posting to Indonesia. Unfortunately, my work Indonesia visa did not approve as I did not meet the age requirement. I was 23 at the time. Then, the recruiter made drastic changes, he changed my segment and the posting location. I need to go for all the interview processes, all over again. As they can't simply assign me without knowing my capabilities.

I went to Labuan, again. Hehehe…I took it as a vacation.

Sunset view from staff house in Labuan

Making new friends

I make new friends. I work at Sepen, I make new friends there. You know what, during my last day of employment I cried. A colleague said to me, "Chill man, you just work 6 months here. So, chillex". Hahaha…



My last meeting with Sepen folks

Also, I make new friends in Paris. All are SLB new hired, we met in Paris during OFS-1. I never be in one room with so many nationalities, around 20 nationalities from around the world. Only me from Malaysia. I was quite scare at first, like my English is not so fluent. But, things sorted out well.

The largest batch in 2015 for EAF geomarket, they said

I have new friend here, her name is Kanoon. We are based in Aberdeen but stay at different staff house. Despite of different segment, we contact each other as we are still trying to settle down in Aberdeen. Actually, got several other trainees posted to Aberdeen, but I don’t have the pictures with them.

Me and Kanoon, she is from Thailand

I am sure I will meet more people in the future. I need to improve my social skills and also English, seriously. Haish…I am so not good at mingling around with people.

Miss old friends

I miss my friends, all of my friends although I am not being nice to everyone. I did not have a chance to meet up before I depart to the UK. Seriously folks. I miss you guys. All of you. I don’t want to specify the names, because it will be a very, very long list.



Friends

Therefore, I am extremely grateful and over the moon when some old friends randomly PM on Facebook. I really mean it. You know, when you are far from home, and your friends message to say hi, it is a great feeling. The feelings are like, "Owh man, this person still remember me. What a surprise!", "I have someone to talk to. Yuhuu!!".

Hahaha

Well, I know it is from Facebook, but still it is a great thing when the person still has guts to say hi to others.

 

New place, new environment, and being far from home

Home is where the heart is.

I don’t know how to describe this. But my adapting skill are being test to a whole new level. Freezing cold weather, sunlight for less than 5 hours a day, cultures, job, Scottish accent, foods, and many more. It is not easy I am telling you.

Apart from weather, their Scottish accent is quite a challenge for me

I am still adapting and it is challenging.

Despite of all the challenges, I always pray that I will never forget my responsibilities as His servant, my responsibilities as a daughter of my mother, and always stay down to earth. If I am changing, I hope that I am changing in a good way to become a better person.

Feel a "little bit" homesick at the moment

Experienced various of feelings

 

2015 is quite emotional year for me. Hahaha…I experienced various of feelings and emotions throughout the year compared to years before. I learn from the experiences, which kind of helping me to become a mature adult. Wihihihihi

Smile, do and pray for the best

Resolutions

I am learning from the past. I am drafting my 2016 resolutions, in my head. Hahaha….I haven't make my resolutions for the next year. Aiyaa….

But I have a personal diary already. My sister, angah gave it to me as a present. Wahaha…I am sure having a diary is a good start, isn't?

One iron woman, three daughters



I think that’s all I have on my mind at the moment. I hope we all will be successful in everything we do, and achieve success in this world and hereafter, InsyaAllah.

 

So folks, that’s it for now. I will write again in the future. As usual, take a good care of yourself.

 

Salam w.b.t and chow!

 

P/S - Great things are not easy to achieve, need a special formula and most important thing is PATIENCE

 

Epic Twist, Medical Check-Up

Salam w.b.t and Hello everybody.

How is everyone doing? I hope each of you is doing great and healthy, I really mean it. For me, I am not bad. My arms can already move properly and it took nearly two days for the recovery. Actually there is an interesting story behind this and I will tell you about it later, yeah.

Firstly, I would like to share an epic twist that I mentioned in the previous entry, Schlumberger, Recruitment Process . For me, it was an epic twist but I am not sure what others think. This is about the recruitment process to join Sclumberger. After I received the call from HR Manager, he said I will get the formal offer letter on Friday. Three days later, which was on Friday, I did not receive anything from Schlumberger. I did not feel good and I felt afraid the history will repeat itself (where the company do not want to issue the letter although I am successful due to stupid excuse, I shared in the previous entry). So, I prayed and waited patiently that nothing bad will happen. I felt the weekend was so long because Monday was a public holiday due to Independence Day. I was planning to email the HR Manager on Tuesday to ask if there is anything happen. On Tuesday, I got his reply. To my surprise, Schlumberger will not give me the offer letter until someone in Queensland speak with me. From his email, a direct manager in Queensland wants to have a chat with me on the next day. I said to myself, "Oh God, the process is not over yet". It was so intimidating and nerve wrecking as I have to prepare for the call which I do not expected. On the next day, I received the call from the direct manager located in Queensland. Basically, it was not a chat but it was an interview like the first interview with the HR Manager. I have to introduce myself, explain stuffs, and others. The call lasted about 14 minutes and that was it. I just pray that everything will go fine and it was so exhausted for me as well as for my mother. You know what, at this stage, anything could happen. On the next day, I received the formal offer letter from SLB. Actually the letter was send to me the night before, around 10 pm. I did not open my email because I do not want to. Alhamdulillah, I am in and hopefully the process will go smoothly as silk.

Everything was stated in the letter and I have to reply it as soon as possible. Then, I need to arrange the pre-employment medical exam and drug test before initiate the visa application process. The appointment was on Monday at 7.45 am in Kuala Lumpur. A day before, I read all health guidelines given by panel doctors in Paris and also Google the experience of people who have gone through this medical check-up. From my quick research, I got the idea the medical exam will be very, very, very detail. Haha, this is make me so uncomfortable.

In the morning of the appointment day, I was the first person from SLB that will undergo med check-up. I also met another SLB employee-to-be, Satya. He will be based in the office, while I will be in the field and our segment are related. He was nice and friendly. Other than that, there are also employees from other companies came to the clinic for various reasons. I saw people from Petronas, ExxonMobil, and others. I did the medical test; vision test, hearing test, blood test, ECG, and urine test. There are other test physical test done by the female doctor. I never did this test before and I feel awful about this. In this test, the doctor will check every parts of your body, from tip of your hair until tip of your toes with clothes-off. Again, from up to bottom, no question!

The medical check-up did not end here, I failed the Spirometry test for numerous times. Firstly, I never know this test ever exist before. Haha, funny! The spirometry test is basically to check your lungs' capacity. The doctors and nurses were so patient. The male doctor said he do not want to fail me because he know I can do it. The female doctor also insisted me to push myself because she know I can do it and there is no problem with my lungs. At some point, I said to them that I don’t think I can make it and the nurses shake their heads violently. They want me to do it and pass the test. They give me some time to break and  relax. I had to go for three sessions just to pass this test. Actually, the test was easy cheesy for some people but not for me as I did not know the right technique to do it. In the third session, there were to doctors and two nurses to assist me and to make sure I pass the test. After about 3 times in the third session, I finally made it. Hahaha...I could see the doctors and the nurses excited and getting ready to collect the data to be compiled in the report. After the test, I thanked each one of them for their patient and supports. 

 This is what I experienced but without the clip on the nose

I also had 6 needles poked into my skin, 1 for blood test (left arm) and the rest was for the vaccines. I received 5 vaccines, 5! There were 2 and 3 injections on left and right arms respectively. It was so painful. The sixth vaccine will be in the next month. Both of my arms were numbed for two days and I can't even lift my hands straight up in the air. The doctor gave me the painkiller but it was useless. Luckily, no side effects and no fever.

Yeah, right.

I guess this is it for this entry. I will update you guys later and take care. Salam w.b.t and bye.

P/S - Does anybody know where to buy a good and reliable power bank for phone other than The Faiz Ibrahim? In his website, the stocks always finish faster than I thought. I would like to buy one.