Super Licence to race

The man is a huge avid fan of the Formula One race. If he can help it, he will try to catch each and every race which takes place. On TV, that is. Therefore, imagine his enthusiasm when he got wind last year that Singapore would be hosting the first ever F1 night race. He was over the moon!

I could tell his mind gears were turning when he came to me. Hardly able to conceal his excitement, he proposed to schedule our trip back to Singapore in September. In order for him to catch the race. To which I gladly obliged, knowing this is one of his dreams to be there physically and watch the race with the roars of the engines ringing in his ears.

However, as luck would have it, our trip was brought forward to May instead.

Nonetheless, that didn't dampen his excitement about today's race a wee bit. Already on Friday night, he was calling for me (while I was in another room) to watch the training with him, while gushing on about how cool the tracks, the lightings and the tunnel were.

Today, he made me sit down with him and watch the half-hour documentary on Singapore before the start of the race. Right in the midst of my housekeeping! I complied as I didn't want to be labelled as a wet blanket.

Though the documentary was nothing to shout about. It's more like a tourism effort to promote the sights and attractions of Singapore.

After which I promptly got back to my housechores while the man rooted himself in front of the TV screen for the next 4 hours.

I heard him curse when I was doing the ironing. It must have meant that McLaren didn't win the race. He is a faithful fan of the team although they have not won the championship for a long while now.

Despite the hiccups, he enjoyed the race thoroughly. And I am glad for him.

Corporate Culture

I was listening in a conversation between 2 colleagues. It was about some mundane topics. One was in the middle of recounting her experience on something while the other colleague simultaneously raised her voice slightly louder to drown out her colleague so that she could continue narrating her own story.

I frowned.

Though it is absolutely harmless in this instance, I find it extremely rude. Is it so difficult allowing the other person to finish her piece first before continuing with yours? Where are the manners?

What raises my eyebrow is this is not an isolated case in the workplace. It is in fact quite an everyday scenario. Somedays such dialogues go unnoticed while somedays we get to witness shouting matches between headstrong colleagues who won't budge at all. Quite akin to kindergarten children having a spat.

I wondered out aloud to the man and friends if this is the norm in german working culture. Apparently not.

Therefore, does it mean as long as their opinions are being put across and they have the last words, it means a battle won? Whatever happens to discussing work issues calmly and amicable like grown-ups? And be professional at that too?

Even simple work queries are answered in a hostile and sometimes aggressive manner.

Another colleague as old as me in this workplace has had enough and finally called it quits. In short, she was bullied for being slow to catch on.

Something is amiss here. Yet the management does nothing to discourage such behaviour. They simply stand aside and look on while the agressiveness festers like an ugly disease in this workplace.

I am determined not to let this evil disease catch me. If necessary, I will stand my ground and state my views but I refuse to bully and get bullied.

I fell flat

I cannot believe it! I got word that I flunked my geman exam. Only 4 of us made it. I thought I didn't do too well but to actually fail it??!! It came as a shock. Not only to me but to many others as well.

This is regardless that Goethe Institute modified the format of the exam completely and we were the first guinea pigs. No matter that this modified exam was much tougher as compared to the old one. Disregarding that my teacher literally told me before the exam I would make it.

Well, and I saw my teacher at the carpark today. Yet I didn't go up to her and say hi. I had no wish to do small talk and particularly discuss about the disappointing results.

The thought of re-taking it fills me with dread. And that won't happen anytime soon, as a matter of fact. Now that I work, I do not have the luxury of time to attend the course and make another go for it.

The man very sweetly comforted me, since I started work right before the exam, I naturally didn't have adequate time to prepare for it. Unlike my first exam which I took weeks to brace myself for.

Even so.

I am reeling with disappointment. And kicking myself for not taking the old exam last year. Because I thought I wasn't ready for it. Looking back now, I am certain I would be able to clear it without a glitch.

Too late now.