Author: Benjamin Trotter

So we all got up for our exam this morning, and had our breakfast and got on the bus for the ride to the office. Once we got there, our seating had been segregated into two different rooms and we started our exams. Once I got to question 10, I noticed the time was almost 10 o’clock. The professor said distinctly, please be concise with your answers, as 3 hours may seem like a long time, it is. We don’t want to read long answers to these questions, so be direct. So, as the exams that were posted for our reference, I saw that the questions were 1-2 sentences, and the answer was very direct, about 4 answers. So, after I started, I found that even though I felt like I had spaced out the entire week, either just osmosis, or subconscious learning, or experience all together, allowed me to answer all of these questions with not even referencing my notes. (which were provided). After question 10, I noticed that it was almost 10 o’clock, so I thought I had completed in a normal amount of time. So, I finished up, and got the memory stick to turn in my work. I was the first one finished, not surprisingly because most people are really overachievers here, and want to excel and compete. I didn’t think however, that I would be waiting until after 1 o’clock to see them again. Once they arrived at the hotel, I was so stunned that they had all stayed the entire time. “What took you guys so long?” Well, we wrote a lot.. How long was your paper? Oh, about 7 pages. 7 pages?? The professor said CONCISE! Guess people started rambling, so it will be interesting to see the results. Does short and sweet win the race, or does long, drawn out, and too much info impress the profess-or? Stay tuned.

After lunch, we went to the soccer field for our competition. No one expected me to do well (thanks team), because I had never played soccer before, and really wasn’t interested in doing so, but that was just the pump I needed, because I’m quick, and agile, and completely surprised everyone with my ‘beginner’s’ luck at the game. Of course, I did make the mistake of when the ball came at me from the air, I used my hands to block my face-forgot that was illegal. Anyhow, after the game, we went back to the hotel, to get ready for our dinner. We have hardly any free time here. So, we went down to the Northern Indian food dinner, which was quite good. Had some drinks, and took pictures with everyone and all our new cameras. We then got a together and headed to Mohammed Sultan, which is a strip of road, that has a lot of bars and clubs. We ended up at Cheeky Monkey. Once we got in, there was pretty good music playing, so I was excited to finally dance. After about 20 minutes though, the songs started repeating. There were a lot of people there, and there was a small stage with two poles for dancing. It was hilarious to see these Asian girls completely getting ‘jiggy’ with it and shakin’ it like there’s no tomorrow. So, Tom, Rob and I at the end of the night decided to get up on the stage and show the ladies up. It was absolutely hilarious. Everyone was cheering and taking pictures, so it was definitely a fun night. That evening, Rob and I headed off to Taboo to check out that-it was pretty nice, and the music was of course good. We’ll probably head back Once we left, we took a taxi home and arrived around 3am. We decided to go to McD’s because it was the only place open, and we stumbled across the group. We then all went back to the hotel together.

So yesterday, I went around an electronics plaza to look for the IXUS 500 at a good price. Well, I found several shops that were willing to negotiate.. going from S$700 down to S$580. Then I ended up going to another store on an upper level for the potential of getting maybe even a lower cost-my reasoning was simply there are tons of bazaars downstairs, and less people are likely to come upstairs, so maybe they would go even lower to get a sale. Well, I thought I had thought right. I found a store with a very friendly staff, and I told them straight up that I wanted the camera for 575. He agreed but then tried to show me other models. After 30 minutes of negotiating, and going back and forth, I really wanted the canon still, and got my credit card out to pay. Well, since I didn’t buy anything else, he said, oh, well that model I can’t sell you that one because it is with a warranty. That is of course BS because the warranty is in the hands of the owner-whether or not they want to participate on such a program. This was his way of trying to say that I he didn’t want to honor his price because I didn’t get anything else. I couldn’t believe that after all that time, that he withdrew his offer. This is one of the reasons bargaining can be frustrating. I did get sandals for half price (of asking price I suppose).

This morning, the morning of my presentation, Elger and I didn?t receive our wake up call. I naturally woke up at when? Oh, 10 minutes before I was supposed to be on the bus for our ride to the office. Yes, the stress of the presentation, the frazzledness of being awakened and getting ready in 5 minutes, no food, made for quite a horrible start of the day. Luckily, we did make the bus and we were on our way to the office. Our presentation went fairly well, the professor said we did a really good job with presenting our subject matter, which seemed to be quite abstract compared to everyone else?s topic— rate stability in concentration and contestable type markets? Um, yah. Real glamorous.

Today, after our lectures we were taken to the port for a tour by PSA. This has been a really interesting trip this time?my first time to be on business and the scope of the things that I?m seeing is really ?work centric?. When else would I have gone to the International port of Singapore? When would I have gone inside the port to see all the gantry cranes and ships being discharged? It was truly incredible. Especially cool is the fact that this is in an industry in which I?m working, so it meant a lot more to us than t would the normal tourist. After we got back home, Karthik, one of the Asian trainees and I ventured to Little India for dinner and shopping. He took me to a really traditional Indian restaurant and I got Puri! This is doughy type bread in the shape of a bubble that you eat with vegetables. So, here, I hate with my hands and ate an all-vegetarian meal. It was a lot of fun, and really felt like I was in India. After leaving the restaurant, we headed toward a place called Mustafa, which is supposedly the biggest thrift type store, that has good prices on cameras, cell phones, down to socks and shoes. It was a huge Wal-Mart type thrift shop and was quite an experience. It was really interesting just to peruse everything. After that, I went to a traditional saree shop, where I got some great deals on some nice sarees. After returning back from Little India, I rushed back for my group presentation and started my laundry. These days are long and filled!

The day seemed to grow even longer with the lectures and activities of learning about ships, ships, ships, and more ships. Whoever thought that there was so much theory involved in planning, placing, and doing shipping. Well, there are, and I have the feeling we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface for this week. After listening for 9+ hours, we were let go at 6:30 and arrived back at 7. WI did a nice little workout at the complex, and then headed out with a few people to dinner. I had a group meeting for our presentation that evening, so I couldn’t go too far. Once back at the complex for the group project meeting, we worked until about 11:45 to when we called it a night. I went straight to bed as I felt my eyes completely stinging the entire day today.

The first day of CLP (Centralized Learning Programme) was quite intensive, and just a preview of what the next week was going to be like. We already had assignments and presentations that we have to prepare for, and class is held from 8 until at least 6. By the time we get back from the office, it is already 6:30 – 7 and after dinner it’s almost 8. Then with whatever assignments we have to do and such, we’re left with absolutely no time to enjoy ourselves here. This is really making the time go by quickly.

After class, one of our colleagues offered to bring us to a strip of restaurants down at Marina Bay South. It was to be a really nice area and a great view. Once we got off the subway, there were some random Steamboat BBQ people with vans there waiting to offer us all we can eat for S$10 ($5). So, since there was a group of us for about 13 of us, we decided it would be ok (except me, who has been in Asia and knew what we were getting into). Once we got to the ‘steamboat’ which was just a name and nothing near the water or anything inside a boat, there were a bunch of picnic tables, and makeshift grills that you were to cook your live shrimp, and raw meat picked up from a common plate in the main ‘buffet’ area’ to cook yourself. Since it’s the beginning of the trip, I opted not to eat any of the meat, and stuck with the fresh vegetables.

The next morning, Rob from London, and I went out along orchard road for shopping. Those who have been to Singapore will know very well that Orchard Road is a really great place to be. So, we were really hooked up in where our corporate apartments were placed.

After shopping and lunch, we went back to the hotel for our meeting. 29 of us have gather for this conference of training from all around the world. We all did introductions and saw the presentation of what we were to expect for the next 2 and a half weeks. This program is going to be quite intensive.

After the presentation we went to dinner and had a nice evening.

As I got on to the van for my trip to SFO, I started to get really excited about my upcoming trip to Asia. It has now been four years since I left my life back in Japan, and going to Singapore, I made sure that my transfer was through Tokyo. Also, I had some upgrade certificates that I was hoping so much that would come through to ensure that I got to fly business class. As I called a few days prior to get my seat confirmed, they noted that only my flight from Tokyo to Singapore was confirmed in business. I was quite disappointed, thinking, well, the flight from Tokyo to Singapore is really the shorter half of this long journey. So, I hoped for the best even though they said that there were 73/73 seats completely full. Once I arrived at the booking area to check in my luggage, I put on the southern charm I tried my best to sweet talk my way into getting higher on the priority list, but the best she could do was economy plus. Which was better than nothing. So, as I get to the gate, I spoke to the agent in Japanese and told them that I was really hoping to get a business class sea for the upcoming trip, and impressed as she was, I don’t know what happened, but I got miraculously bumped to business class! Once on board, and seeing another colleague back in coach, I realized that really going business class on a flight like this is truly a savior, and I was grateful for the upgrade.

The hag service from SFO – TOK
So, Joi had informed me that there were two crews doing this route-the nice Asia centric, service-providing crew, or the US underpaid hag crew. Well, we got the hag crew, and the rudeness was absolutely hilarious. Not only were they rude, but also they looked like such hags! Tons of makeup, fat, Rosanne bar talking type ladies were what greeted me to my business class seat. Quite interesting. At least I could stretch out while I was being provided with low service!

Nine and half hours later, we arrived in Tokyo. Being in Japan again was completely exciting and I was eager to use my Japanese to get around the airport. I found out that I could use the executive lounge in the terminal for United, as I was a business class passenger. I took my shower, got a snack, and got ready to embark on the last leg of my journey.

Once on board again, I flew up on the second level of the plane. It’s a smaller more spacious area with only about 10 rows of business class. It’s quieter as well since you’re farther removed from the engines. This is the level of the cockpit as well, and during the flight, the door opened for just a second while the pilot went to the restroom. They had two stewards at the door, and you should have seen the eyes moving. They were completely attentive, looked like robots scanning and looking for any type of movement. The door behind that ‘scanner’ was completely blocked and ready for opening and closing by the steward. The protection that was going into this door was quite a scene. I guess it does make you feel a little safer knowing how much attentiveness they’re paying to the security of the plane. Since my body was ready for bed at this point, I got under my blanket and got some music from my ipod to put me to sleep. Seven hours later, we arrived in Singapore, and I actually felt pretty good. Usually after a transpacific flight, especially intra Asia, I would be completely knackered, but I really did feel refreshed. Once through customs and passport control, I made my way out the doors to see someone standing with my name on a placard. We went to his car and I was driven to my housing for my stay in Singapore.

Once I arrived, I saw some of my friends in the lobby, and they e pushed me to go straight to my room to put my bags up and to go out to a bar down the street with all the others. Well, I did, and seeing all the other trainees was so great. Meeting other trainees from all parts of the world and hanging out with them was really a lot of fun. Seeing other trainees that I hadn’t seen in a while was great fun as well. After a couple of hours I retired to my room for a nice sleep.