Employee Number 14554

finally, the new chapter in my life begins - i am employee number 14554!  the first day was, what i am guessing for a big firm, typical.  i went in at 830 after six months of not getting out of bed before 9 and had orientation at my new place of employment.  i got my laptop, about 800 usernames and passwords, we watched a video and i went up to my work station.

zzzzzzzzzzzzz, but ok, here are some other first day observations:

• the requirement to dress...properly:  not only do i have to put on clothes, they have to be proper clothes (something more than a bra and warm-ups) which is a bit of a bummer.
• everything is hierarchical:  depending on your level, your desk, bathroom and healthcare scheme all become progressively better.  for example, it is coming to the end of the busy season so all the associates are in the office.  they sit in a long row without any partitions and share phones as they dont have their own.  others are given a better work stations from a sectioned off desk, a sectioned off desk around the circumference, to proper office.  even the toilets!  some are marked "executive toilet" - which i have been advised to use anyway to the healthcare which allows managers and above to a full health review (and i am absolutely planning to take advantage of that) at the cost of the firm.
• you cannot pass gas in tight quarters:  after working alone in my own flat, i have been able to do as i please.  if i was hungry, i ate.  i was tired, i napped.  i had gas, i farted.  now, i have people all around me.  ALL around me.  no more farting as i please and napping when tired.  and my downloaded shows and movies?  of course not!  sheesh.
• tight security:   the computers have to be put away and locked up every night and during the day, they are chained to our desks.  the security video we watched during orientation made me so freaking paranoid and to boot, i was told that the IT department will sometimes take your laptop if you leave it unlocked in order to teach you a lesson.  and since i am new and my secretary was out, i did not have a desk lock.  that being said, i did not want to even pee since i had to put my laptop away in a locked desk every time.

so now it is ten past nine and it is time for me to go to bed because i am knackered!!

xo

Trip to Hanoi

it was certainly nice to get out of hong kong for a bit.  although the weather in hanoi wasnt the best, it is just a quick 1 and 1/2 hour flight so why not?  the first night was spent in hanoi and the next two in halong bay and then back to hanoi!

the boat in halong bay was fun but i was seafood'ed out (a total of 7 meals of fish, shrimp, rice, rice and rice...).  i never thought i could get to my limit but i will be happy if i dont see a prawn for a while.  other highlights included kayaking, a "magnificent cave" (as the tour guide kept calling it) and a fabulous meal at the green tangerine back in hanoi for the last night.

hanoi was not my favorite but it was relaxing - exactly what i need before the new J.O.B. starts and i am not able to leave the office before 8 let alone take a holiday.

here are some pics: