Today I went to brett's wharf where I had the most expensive lunch and then watched Fun with Dick and Jane at Southbank cinema. I fell asleep for about 20 minutes, which is not usual for me, for some reason I always fall asleep in cinemas, so I missed out on the ending. Oh well.
This year in terms of business, was quite good. I made more much than I expected. More than friends who are working full time even. I think I surprised myself and my mum (Didn't tell my dad, otherwise he would expect some money I am sure). If I had a so called "real job" I will probably easily make much more. And I wouldn't deny that some of them probably even work harder (a heck lot harder) than I. Whoever started this myth that working hard makes you more money should be "dragged out into the street and shot" (quote from Garfield). I've made enough to pay for the down payment of an apartment, all this time while
1. being a full time uni student
2. getting good grades
3. maintaining my sanity
In terms of academic performance, I couldn't ask better. I obtained a perfect GPA this year. It's funny how my primary school teachers used to say I'm an underachiever all the time. At the moment I'm not sure if I'm overachieving, but I can possibly say that I could do better in terms of earning more, and helping more people. I'm no joe millionaire, and I'm not making that much, but I'm sure I'll get there one day. I'm actually reading a book on millionaires at the moment, it's very interesting.
What I probably need to improve on is personal relations. I don't talk to many people, and hate crowds. Talking crap is one thing I'm never good at.
Well, onwards and upwards. Next semester's my last semester as a full time uni student. I'll be tutoring little kids this time round instead of uni students because I absolutely hate marking.
Happy New Year, to everyone who reads this.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Queue cutting girls and ragaholic customers
So I used to think girls were really decent and sweet things (probably because of my mum). Of course this isn't true anymore. I was catching a cab close to midnight last Friday, the queue wasn't too long, but there were zero cabs. There were 2 guys at the head of the queue, and this girl about 17 or 18 just walked straight into the queue and asked them if she was cutting into the queue if she did that, sort of irrelevant question really, not sure what the guys replied but then she said I'm with the both of you and winked at them. Then of course she got into the cab with them when the next cab arrived. Now I'm not sure what propelled her to do that, perhaps male manipulation at work, but it did (Perhaps it was the first sign of a promosing pr0n star career!). Maybe because they were about the same age as her, but I thought that was really pathetic that she couldn't queue up like everyone else.
Saying that, I know there are decent girls out there however I think it's becoming increasing prevalent that girls are equally as bad as guys. No offense to anyone.
Yesterday I dealt with an angry and frustrated I-require-anger-management customer, who for some reason, was blaming everything on my end except himself. What did he do exactly? He ordered the wrong product, did not read ANY instructions that were provided whatsoever, and then subsequently sent me email messages saying he was going to complain to paypal and ebay, that my company was a fraud, that the website was a deception, and that I was conducting theft. Yes all of that he said, even though I was asleep and he was the one who actually made the payment, voluntarily, with no one pointing a gun to his head, nor a knife to his throat. Sheer genius at work. He said he did not recieve the software, but it was already mentioned that orders may take at least 48 hours. He said the website was a deception, when I have no idea how he gathered that, unless he was drunk, or perhaps suffering from extreme paranoia. That I was not a company located in the US (and the point being...??). Oh that my customer service sucked too because I was not giving him an instantaneous reply even though I did reply to all his email messages. I told him it was not my fault that he did not read any of the instructions or details that were provided, and he could only retaliate with the customer is always right (but not always reasonable) and pride cometh before the fall (Indeed, I wonder who was he referring to). And he attempted to use italian, he used the word "ciao" but spelt it incorrectly, so I corrected him.
Really some people.
Other than that it's all good in the customer world. I think I can handle 1 case of "oh your non USA company and products suck really bad" compared to hundreds of others who disapprove that view.
Saying that, I know there are decent girls out there however I think it's becoming increasing prevalent that girls are equally as bad as guys. No offense to anyone.
Yesterday I dealt with an angry and frustrated I-require-anger-management customer, who for some reason, was blaming everything on my end except himself. What did he do exactly? He ordered the wrong product, did not read ANY instructions that were provided whatsoever, and then subsequently sent me email messages saying he was going to complain to paypal and ebay, that my company was a fraud, that the website was a deception, and that I was conducting theft. Yes all of that he said, even though I was asleep and he was the one who actually made the payment, voluntarily, with no one pointing a gun to his head, nor a knife to his throat. Sheer genius at work. He said he did not recieve the software, but it was already mentioned that orders may take at least 48 hours. He said the website was a deception, when I have no idea how he gathered that, unless he was drunk, or perhaps suffering from extreme paranoia. That I was not a company located in the US (and the point being...??). Oh that my customer service sucked too because I was not giving him an instantaneous reply even though I did reply to all his email messages. I told him it was not my fault that he did not read any of the instructions or details that were provided, and he could only retaliate with the customer is always right (but not always reasonable) and pride cometh before the fall (Indeed, I wonder who was he referring to). And he attempted to use italian, he used the word "ciao" but spelt it incorrectly, so I corrected him.
Really some people.
Other than that it's all good in the customer world. I think I can handle 1 case of "oh your non USA company and products suck really bad" compared to hundreds of others who disapprove that view.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Summer and salaries
I hate summer. Really I do. Walking to school makes me sweat like I've been through a marathon. Wish I could transform myself to a fish and live in a bowl. But then I would need to get someone to feed me. Clean my bowl. How troublesome. Knowing me I might do something crazy too like jump out of the bowl and end up experiencing a near death experience too. Eek.
I was planning on enrolling in a summer project this semester but then the co-ordinator said you couldn't do that if you were a full time honours student, you could only do it if you were a part time honours student. Turns out today my supervisor tells me that you can enrol in one, that's no problem with the school. Then she tells me 4 students have. And I said well obviously they didn't ask the course co-ordinator. Argh. Stupid university ambiguous rules! Hopefully I can still do one, less workload next semester. I realise I'm competing with some really smart arses. There was this one person who had 7 publications upon completion of honours. Not sure if he recieved the university medal or not, but probably yes. I'm sure he will end up being a PhD doing research for the rest or most of his life. Not sure if that's good or bad, but anyhow the best thing is to always compete with yourself. Besides, I'm not doing that bad. It's good to be a generalist, i.e. one that has multiple skills, in today's society rather than a specialist, i.e. one that only has a single specialised skill. Actually I would say it's essential to survive. If the area that you're working in experiences some economic disaster at least you can always branch out into a different area.
The education system in today's society is flawed especially in the way salaries are paid. Why would I say that, well look around you, the brightest people are not necessarily the ones who make the most. My parents used to say work hard so you can get a good job with good pay, and I'm sure everyone's parents have said that to them but it's not true. In fact, a few months back over at UQ where there was a summer research internship thing going on for undergraduates, the PhDs who gave the talk actually said do not do undertake this research program if you want to make money. It was paying about $200 a week, you can probably survive by eating grass off the ovals, okay it's not THAT bad, just really awfully bad. So the students are conditioned to acknowledge that hey, even though I make a slightly pathetic salary, at least I will get something done in my resume. I don't think that's the right thing to do. Heck someone I know who will be doing a PhD soon has said to me she just wants to study and doesn't really care about the money she makes as long as she has her own nice apartment. Do people look upon themselves so lowly (lack of ambition) nowadays??
99% of the honours students who graduate with me will probably be made use of (aka "hired") by someone who wants their skills but not give them the salary they deserve. Then again everyone has their price, so I suppose as long as they are happy, but I know I won't be working under anyone unless we were joint partners.
I was planning on enrolling in a summer project this semester but then the co-ordinator said you couldn't do that if you were a full time honours student, you could only do it if you were a part time honours student. Turns out today my supervisor tells me that you can enrol in one, that's no problem with the school. Then she tells me 4 students have. And I said well obviously they didn't ask the course co-ordinator. Argh. Stupid university ambiguous rules! Hopefully I can still do one, less workload next semester. I realise I'm competing with some really smart arses. There was this one person who had 7 publications upon completion of honours. Not sure if he recieved the university medal or not, but probably yes. I'm sure he will end up being a PhD doing research for the rest or most of his life. Not sure if that's good or bad, but anyhow the best thing is to always compete with yourself. Besides, I'm not doing that bad. It's good to be a generalist, i.e. one that has multiple skills, in today's society rather than a specialist, i.e. one that only has a single specialised skill. Actually I would say it's essential to survive. If the area that you're working in experiences some economic disaster at least you can always branch out into a different area.
The education system in today's society is flawed especially in the way salaries are paid. Why would I say that, well look around you, the brightest people are not necessarily the ones who make the most. My parents used to say work hard so you can get a good job with good pay, and I'm sure everyone's parents have said that to them but it's not true. In fact, a few months back over at UQ where there was a summer research internship thing going on for undergraduates, the PhDs who gave the talk actually said do not do undertake this research program if you want to make money. It was paying about $200 a week, you can probably survive by eating grass off the ovals, okay it's not THAT bad, just really awfully bad. So the students are conditioned to acknowledge that hey, even though I make a slightly pathetic salary, at least I will get something done in my resume. I don't think that's the right thing to do. Heck someone I know who will be doing a PhD soon has said to me she just wants to study and doesn't really care about the money she makes as long as she has her own nice apartment. Do people look upon themselves so lowly (lack of ambition) nowadays??
99% of the honours students who graduate with me will probably be made use of (aka "hired") by someone who wants their skills but not give them the salary they deserve. Then again everyone has their price, so I suppose as long as they are happy, but I know I won't be working under anyone unless we were joint partners.
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