Sayonara, (if )...

Yup, the biggest life-altering change has arrived: I have left (if ). A total shocker to almost anyone I know. Even Randolph said he wanted to buy lottery tickets!

It's not really the end of my relationship with (if ); I just resigned my full-time post there, that's all. The bosses are still interested to have me in their future plans and what not, so I still have some part-time stuff with them.

But it's amazing, really. For three plus years, my life basically REVOLVED around (if ). I guess that's exactly why I resigned from (if ), to get my life back on track. I was so committed to (if ) to the point that I hadn't enough commitment for my own well-being.

Oh btw, I just finished one helluva project! What a way to end my job with a bang! Please visit this URL to have a look-see: http://www.discoverychannelasia.com/i_videogame.

Anyway, Sanyen told me that there's gonna be a farewell party, so I'll cover that in my later post. For now, it's a good time to have a little reminiscence about my life in (if ), the life that I'll be missing for months or possibly years to come:



This is Plaza Damas at 8:30 in the morning. When I took this pic, I slept in the office and woke up for some breakfast. Ah, what a life :D



This is the entrance to the office. We had only a very unimpressionable door as an entrance months ago, and now look at this cool see-through thing. A sign that (if ) has grown.



And it even comes with a security keypad! Hope they won't change the combination number when I'm away :(



The (if ) lobby. We had quite a renovation towards the end of last year, so this is really the first time (if ) actually had a proper lobby (if you wanna call it that).

During Christmas, instead of that tall lamp you see above, we had a Christmas tree! We were quite resourceful; we actually used the 2005 Christmas tree for 2006. Haha.

We were designated a colleague to give a present to, and luckily I got Saiful. He loves cars, so I bought some car key chains. ;) Ho ho ho...



Last year, there was an attempted break-in into the office! Luckily for us, one of the locks could not be forced open. So the management decided to build in a security system.

Ah, I just love those moments when you press the "Exit" button, then you have to lock the doors and switch off some lights within 45 seconds before the office explodes (hey, sometimes you gotta assume stuff to make life more interesting!)



We have a punch card system, but I never really used it, much to the management's dismay. Juniors, please don't follow this senior's footstep ok!



And just above the punch card machine are the big awards. Count 'em all! 7 MC2 awards in 2005 and 6 Kancil awards won last year. Ah, good times, good times...



I have to say that I'm the one who uses the water cooler the least amount of times in (if ). Bad for my health, I know... but that long walk to the water cooler... ahhh, lazy...



This is where we store the stock water, besides the toilet! Sometimes (if )ians consume water way quicker than the management could restock. When that happens, it's time to ask the "supermarket delegate" to buy you a drink! "Eh, one Season crysanthemum tea tin yea", "eh... buy one M&Ms peanut...", "Oh oh! Get me Hot Latte, Grande size" (ok no reward for guessing who ordered the Latte...)



The very rude toilet door :D Last time there were (if )ians who never closed the door after they used it, so Birdie took the initiative and printed out this "friendly notice".

As if that wasn't enough, we have more polite instructions below the rude one, in many languages! Now there's no freaking excuse for you to leave that door open! Birdie: "Yea, in your face!".



This is the main office space. I agree that it's a little messy, but don't you think it adds to the "homeliness" of the entire interior design? :P



This is Nyin's monitor, full of cute pink stuff (ok, with one purple stuff and one tiny yellow stuff too).

We keep telling her that the doll on the extreme left is a bear, but she insists that it's a panther (you know, pink panther... get it?). Jason had this knack of turning the panther backwards, then Nyin corrects it, then Jason turns it away again... and the cycle goes on. Just when you thought that the cycle stops as Jason leaves (if ), Saiful continues the tradition! :D

And the dog at the back is amazing... it's entirely made of paper! There was this one project that had Nyin research into 3D paper crafts. The paper craft thingy was cancelled, but that didn't stop Nyin from giving birth (ok that sounded so wrong...) to a paper dog named Scissors!



Nyin's and Tsuqi's teddy bears. With this, you can feel the presence of feminity in (if ). Tsuqi is really into her teddy bear and teddy dog, she even talks to them when they're all alone. 0_0 freeeeaaakkkyyyy...



The poster above Alex's table. He's really a sportman. He's really super fit, and he can do pushups down till a thumb's length from the floor! A certain girl, please take note yea... ehek~



Sanyen's lizard.

*Ow!*

ok ok, Sanyen's bearded dragon!

Breaking a lot of people's expectations, Sanyen's pet has grown bigger and is healthy till this very day. Upon the first few weeks, the pet already had a broken finger, so Sanyen nicknamed him Four-Fingered Freddie. Michelle calls him Iggy, and Sanyen thinks that a magnificient beast does not deserve such a puny little name. What lah.

I like to rub its head once in a while, coz he closes his eyes when I do that. Seems like he enjoys my little rubbing! ^_^ Seems only lah, though, I really don't know what that lizard is thinking.

*Ow!*

Bearded dragon, bearded dragon!



And finally, we have reached my place, full of anime figurines, anime magazines and a few mangas (only three titles though, "Aishiteruze Baby", "Yotsubato" and "Genshiken", all great titles, I assure you!).

You see that speaker over there? That's right, it's playing game and anime music! Man, I'm such a nerd :P Not pictured here (below the table) are the very symbols of working hard in (if ): a pillow and a sleeping bag :D.

Alright, enough of work. Let's chill out...



...in the chill out room! Doesn't it just look so comfy?! Don't be deceived, folks, for the sofas have absorbed many of the (if )ians' salivas! Eh, seriously Sanyen, it's time to wash the sofa leh...



This is also where we have our client meetings and brainstorming sessions. Whatever ideas we come up with will end up on the glass board above. Imagine, this is where (if )'s core creativity gets manifested!



But of course, one must play to stay creative ;)

Games that (if )ians always play in a group (not everyone plays at the same time, of coz): Winning Eleven, Gradius V, Chu chu rocket, Soul Caliber III, Street Fighter III: Third Strike, Bombastic, Puyo Puyo Pop, God of War, Twinkle Star Sprites, Gitaroo Man, Guitar Hero, Drummania and Guitar Freaks...

If you wanna join (if ), it'll be quite a tough interview session. The management will pop in one of these games, and the interviewer will test your skill against his! (ok, kidding, kidding... don't be scared, little one)



Ah who cares about the saliva on the sofa, at least half of them were mine! :P~ Well, it's time to look out the window and bathe in the sunlight... and take a short nap... zzzz...


Man, I'm gonna miss (if )! All the people, the projects, the office, the games, everything! But this is a good opportunity to open up to new possibilities in my life. I think it's about time that I experience new stuff.

So off I go, (if )ians. Even though I'm leaving the full-time post, I'll still be working with guys, so it's not the final farewell. All the best, (if )ians! Always make (if ) great!

And keep the office door opened for me yea, and don't change the keypad combination lock! :D

I might feel like coming back in the future. Who knows... but until then...



Sayonara, (if )...