Tuesday, July 19, 2011

OOOOOLA-LA TROPIKA -- The Trio I missed!




Ooh La la.. indah alam tropika...

As I listen to this song and sang along, the memories of my 2 good friends flashed through my mind. Those good old days when we were 3 little girls about Yasmeen's age now (9). Music session was the time we will perform in front of the class and everytime this song came as a favourite among classmates!

Farah Hayati, I remembered her as such a cutie.. she is chubby (just like my Sarah) and when she laugh, she look sweeter than honey! After I left SKCS 1 to Melaka, I only met Farah once, at one of the flats I used to loiter (yes, I lepak till wee hours!) with friends and remembered one of my friend called her 'Samurai Burger' which till today I do not know why.

Malah Devi a/p Manoharan, was a very very close friend. She will come to my house for Hari Raya and I will go to hers on Deepavali. That's how we maintain our good friendship, the understanding and toleration though I remember once Malah shouted on top of her voice to our teacher saying "CHEGU!! Liza Masrina panggil saya orang KOPI!!!" which at that point of time when I was young and silly told her that she is 'kafir' hahaha!!

We separated too when I went to Melaka and I do not know what happen to the trio without me. I met Malah again when I was in secondary school as she was my friend's neighbour.. so we did kept in touch. We bumped into each other when I was working and commuting but I think we lost contact about 3-4 years ago!

I am glad that we met again in Facebook and I really hope to see them and talk to them, hugging them soon! Malah Devi and Farah Hayati... my 2 good friends! May our friendship remains forever!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Its 'See You' not 'Goodbye'

30th June 2011 was my last day of service in Zain & Co. Many times before when the thought of leaving the corporate world came into mind I think that I will feel great about leaving the company and looking forward to spend more time with the girls apart from doing my part time biz.Until the very last moment when I finally realize that its time, I really thought I would never shed a tear... owh.. so so wrong..

I spend the last 4 days as an employee @ Zain & Co, going around the office knocking on almost everyone's door asking for their spontaneous 'yes' (more like forcing them if not harassing them) to take a last picture with me. I was told that never in the history of Zain & Co did any staff request to have their pictures taken especially NOT with the partners. Partners are like CEO's in other companies. People either 'like' them or 'avoid' them for so many reasons. But to me, for this very last time, it would be really nice to approach them and do something really 'crazy'! So I did!

I first came intohe company as a secretary to Ms. Grace Lim Siew Hua who interviewed me and chose me to be her next secretary. A very kind, soft spoken at all times, sweet, caring, understanding.. The very first Good Boss I had. She left the firm to settledown in London with the love of her life! I still remember the 1st thing I say to her when she called me up (I was in Melaka and it was 4th Raya!) to tell me that she has resigned "Who am I gonna work with then?!" hahaha... at that time I was already working for Mr. Rajiv Vijayanathan and Ms. Juhanna Maneesah. Yup! I worked with 3 at 1 time! After Grace left, I worked with Mr. Rajiv Vijayanathan until the day I finally decide to have an early retirement!

Just like in life, I gain much experience, some sweet others I wish I could just erase it off the memory but came to think about it, good or bad, every experience makes a person wiser and it has.

I have learnt so many things in life while in Zain & Co. I learned to apreciate trust, I learn not to betray friendship, I learn to be true, honesty, I learn to forgive and I learn to love the people I know despite many differences. Often perception became a huge wall that separate the employees from the 'bosses'. Try to 'peek' beyond the walls.. you will find that it is not so bad after all!

About 2 months before I tender my resignation, we were given bonuses. It was such a pleasant surprise and all of us was very Happy! I remember telling my bos (something I always make a point to do each time bonus/increament) that I was proud that the bosses kept their promises to the staffs! Sometimes, we might as well think this "while we work to ensure there's food on our table, bosses are working twice as hard to ensure there's food on ALL the staff's home"! and in Zain & Co. the feeling of working as a BIG family is there.. it is... whether you admit it or not it is there and it is something that will last for as long as you live. Proof is out there.. though we are no longer in the Company, we maintain the relationship and we keep in touch. We offer help and we are always there for each other rain or shine, no matter what and its always just a phone call away!

I wish I could feel happy retiring and staying at home. I will soon but for now, the feeling is 'homesick' and sometimes sad. As I am typing line by line, the sweet memory of 'living' in my 'home' for 8 years came into picture.. the laugh, the smile, the tension, the fight (wink** Jasni!!), the tease, the horror (wink ** Jasni again!) hahaha... and many many many more....

Here is the last email I sent out to everyone and the video I created..

As I make my rounds in the office this week to have my pictures taken with all of you, I finally knows and feel that I am indeed leaving this company and how  I would definitely miss the people in Zain & Co. The idea of leaving is something I have been talking about for the last 3 years and that long is fair enough considering the number of years I have been here. 8 years! How time flies!

While the grass is always greener on the other side, I find beauty beyond comparison and how this side of the grass appears greener not only because of the flowers (people) but also because of its roots and origins (Partners and Lawyers). Zain & Co is a place I would want to call ‘home’ and its seriously not easy to choose between the Family I have and this BIG ‘family’ in Zain & Co but I am confident this is what I have to do at this point of time and I do hope you will pray for my greater success!

I am thankful to have such a wonderful, supportive, always encouraging (whilst constantly reminding me not to be a hero) and who were always there for me rain or shine, who I give my highest respect, greatest thank, everlasting  love and gratitude to, Mr. Rajiv Vijayanathan and his family.

My no. 1 supporter in everything I do, always very understanding, kind and loving Ms. Rebecca Jeyanthi Selvaraj to whom I owed so much to. Thank you for always being there for me.

To Mr. Joseph Wilfred Durai – Sir, I pray for your good health.

To Cik Salwah – Thank you so much for all you have done and for your trust and prayers for us!

To En. Dzuhairi – Thank you for all the cooperation and support!

To all the Partners and Lawyers in Zain & Co -  a big Thank You!

To All my friends in Corporate – Lalitha, Kak Ita, Zauyah, Margaret, Laily 

To all staff whom I won’t be able to list down your name here, thank you for always being there for me, thank you for all the support, encouragement, your prayers, your friendship, your trust and most importantly your blessings.

 To All,  I  humbly seek your forgiveness if I have in any way offended you or hurt your feelings or have in anyway taken anything from you. Last but not least, I pray for your greater success in everything that you pursue. Before I pen-off, here’s a compilation of all the pictures taken during my last week in Zain & Co. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.  :)

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.181667428559335.48092.100001482368016#!/video/video.php?v=10150253155532958

read also - http://lizamasrina.blogspot.com/2010/11/its-life-in-zain-co.html