Sleeping Patterns

I was supposed to wake my sister up at 7:20pm so she can take her meds but I fell asleep, too! My greedy tummy was growling at me and woke me up at 2:20am. 

Darkness, all alone in the moonligggght. 

I felt like a burglar rummaging for food and all I got (that can easily be wolfed down) were grape-flavored gelatine and 1.5 L of Coke. 

Still don't know if Eme was able to take her meds. She's still sleeping. 

I'm the bestest big sister in the world!

What I Took For Granted

I chanced upon Burma's International Travel Information today. So online access is very expensive and limited there.

Computers, Internet, and Email: The military regime carefully controls and monitors all Internet use in Burma and restricts Internet access through software-based censorship that limits the materials individuals can access online. The government has allowed cyber cafes to open, but access to the Internet is very expensive, and access to most “free” international e-mail services such as Hotmail and Yahoo is prohibited. Currently, Gmail (Google mail) accounts can be accessed in Burma, and many locals and resident expatriates use it. It is illegal to own an unregistered modem in Burma. You may bring one laptop computer into Burma but must declare it upon arrival. Limited email service is available at some large hotels. All emails are subject to monitoring by Burmese security services. It is very expensive to send photographs via email. One foreign visitor was presented a bill for $2,000 after transmitting one photograph via a major hotel's e-mail system. During September and October 2007, the military government disconnected all internet access across the country for extended periods of time. 

The good thing about it is if I am going to visit the country, I won't be tempted to check my email and will be purely taking in the country's sights, sounds and culture. I hope I'll be allowed to take pictures though so I can share my experiences back home.

Then I dream of the day when the entire world is a free wifi zone.

First Day Off

So before I went to sleep last night, I turned my weekday alarm off because even though the next day is Friday, I no longer have to wake up at 4:00am. Well, I do wake up at that time but promptly go back to sleep for a half an hour more before getting ready for work. =) 

I have to remind myself that I have resigned/retired from my job!

And yesterday was awesome! As what I blogged about yesterday, I sent my out-of-office message as my farewell. And received a lot of "good lucks" and "thank yous." And even if I had already turned over my functions, I just could not resist handling a disputes case and following up on last month's complaints. Then when I was about to hand over my team's documents to my manager, Kristy invited me to join their team huddle. So I went with them and found that the rest of the department was there. They started clapping and singing the Happy Birthday song. Haha. And there was food! Chocolate cake that says, "Break a leg Erlyn!" 
Took pictures of my team. A few of them made speeches. Everyone was smiling. Someone started teasing Ryan and I knew he's starting to get offended. So I stood up and made my impromptu speech. I cried. I wish I had time to prepare.


So I woke up at 8:20am today. And my dreams were about Gucci, who was one of my Quality Officers. I guess, subconsciously, I'm still worrying about my team.

Checked my sister if her fever has gone down/returned, did my morning toilet ritual, then went downstairs for breakfast. 

Let's see how my day goes.

Out Of Office Message

Today, I left the one place I spent most of the last five years (not counting my home): my work.

And like a good little team manager, I made sure I have turned over all of my functions before leaving and sent an Out Of Office Plan. 

Hi Everyone,

Today is my last reporting day at Citi.


After more than five years of Citi life, the thought of leaving is indeed a sin - I may be perfect (I am Quality, after all) but I am also human.
Coming back though is a temptation. Again, I am human. Let's see how long I can resist. =)
After all, one must leave before one can come back. And I hope that when if that happens, it will feel like I never left.

Thank you very much for the opportunity of having worked with a great team, and for the knowledge I have acquired from all of you.
Please extend the same cooperation and support to the people who are temporarily taking over my functions, and to the person who will permanently replace me as the Quality Team Leader.

In closing, I say what I (and my closest friends) have always said (out of my CEO's earshot, of course):


Citi stole my youth.


And gave me wisdom. And friends. And helped me pay the bills. Not necessarily in that order.
Not a bad bargain, I'd say. Not bad at all.

I'm sad. And scared. But touched. A little lost. And excited.