352: Unbalance

It was my first time to do laundry in the new place yesterday and I spent almost the whole afternoon doing a few clothes.  The culprit was the washing machine itself, an ancient piece of machinery that threatened to explode every time I pushed a button.

It took me five minutes to look for the detergent drawer that never existed on the machine.  Three minutes to figure out how to make things work.  And five hours to finish 25 pieces of shirts and undies.

The cycle was set to wash-spin-rinse-spin-rinse-spin-rinse-spin.  But with the "unbalance" feature of the machine, it took forever because the wobbly drum set off the alarm.

Load-push button-wash-spin-stop (unbalance)-spin-stop (unbalance)-spin-rinse-spin-stop (unbalance) and so on.

I finally got the rhythm of the blasted thing and got the last batch done around 8 PM.

I don't know if I should be happy about the "unbalance" feature of that machine.  It's a freaking pilot light that goes on and abruptly stops the machine when the drum is doing a dance.

I can't imagine how my housemates can live like that!  Why would they allow a machine to take over their life?  Someone should install a pilot light on their head.  Perhaps when their minds are unbalanced, they'll know they need a kick in the head.

Quick Question of the day: What's your most frustrating encounter with a household appliance?

Leave your comments to this post or your creative responses to the QQ by clicking on the orange number beside the post title. Click on Like if you enjoyed reading, Share on Facebook if you think it's a good read.

354: The Crescent Resurfaces

I was on the bus reading my horoscope.  It said that I should spend time with friends.  Incidentally I was on my way to meet Van.  It also said to take a gander at the moon and see a waxing crescent with a bright Venus beside it.  I looked out the bus window and sure enough, it was there--the sign of better things to come.

Almost the same scene I saw tonight.

I'm probably a Muslim deep inside because the moon's crescent has always mystified me.  Tonight it sat there on a blue-orange sunset sky.  For a moment I wondered if the Dreamworks boy was fishing for stars.  It was a good night to begin with because a friend called me up and we explored the possibility of a new job.  It got even more special when I saw the beautiful moon.  

I was excited to meet Van in Sham Shui Po to tell him of the most exciting news I have ever received since I moved to the new place.  These recent events have been pushing me to a decision that I didn't want to make until next year.

Van and I discussed our angst as usual.  We reached Mong Kok later in the evening and found a small Japanese restaurant.  No tourists, finally.  We continued our rants, alternating between miso, office talk, tonkatsu (not very Muslim then), dumplings and the mismatched couple seated beside us.  When I arrived home, what greeted me was basically the last straw.

I keep hanging on to hope and good intentions with my present job because my mom helped build the organization.  I even helped in the process when the organization opened the school.  Most of the school policies and materials like student handbook, grading system, etc., were patterned after my alma mater, University of St. La Salle Integrated School.  But lately, with this new management, I feel that I am not being treated fairly.

I hoped that Van and I would each get a room when we were asked to move.  It didn't happen.  Next, I hoped that we'd at least get a decent bunk bed to appease us.  It didn't happen either.  And that's what greeted me when I walked into the flat--a chunk of flimsy metal and two foams just over an inch thick. 

I wanted to send a text message right away to express my disappointment.  But I controlled myself.  I will not give them that privilege of knowing that I'm in a rut.  

I'm going for broke because I have self-worth and I won't allow people to treat me like they own me.  In other words, I'm leaving soon.  The crescent resurfaced to mark the coming change in my life.
  
Quick Question of the day: Does having a comfortable living space count when looking for a job (overseas) or is it a sacrifice one has to make?

Leave your comments to this post or your creative responses to the QQ by clicking on the orange number beside the post title. Click on Like if you enjoyed reading, Share on Facebook if you think it's a good read.

363: No Bull, It's Buses and Trains

"Taurus:  Your emotions are even-keeled today, which helps regulate your energy.  Take some time for R&R.  You've got a new phase of life ahead of you and the next four weeks will be busy!"  Hours after reading my horoscope, a phone call at the office:  "You must leave your flat and transfer to the staff quarters before Monday."

I've never been lucky with accommodations.  The last job I had in Qatar, I had to suffer six months living with the most obnoxious roomies you can imagine.  Eventually, I got the room for myself, which was not exactly a five-star hotel suite.  A room without windows is a closet in my book.  Nevertheless, I have learned to love it, mice infestation and all.

Fast forward to Hong Kong, now.  It's happening again.  No bull, this is real.  I'm moving in three days.  Pack two years' worth of accumulated bachelor junk and move in three days.  Justice is not in this city apparently.  It's not that I haven't seen it coming.  Regardless of the eerily accurate horoscope, I knew I'd have to move within this month.  But, three days?

I suppose I can enumerate the pros of the move:

• A villa flat is more spacious than our minimalist studio-type flat.
• Facilities: Air-conditioning, better cable TV! A fully functioning kitchen, bigger bathroom, spacious living room.
• No more long commutes to school as it is within walking distance.
• The scene: trees, a bicycle path and a porch.

Now let's see if the cons outweigh the pros:

• I don't mind being with my best friend 24/7, but with two other teachers? That's a big one.
• Privacy.  No more walking around in my undies!
• Four people vs one bathroom.  I hate lines.
• I'm sharing a small room!  I was expecting Van and I would each get a room.
• Sharing.  This is going to take a while to master.  From bills to food to chores.
• Faked absences.  With the principal in the same flat, good luck booking dates.
• Vices.  Hide it or leave it out in the open?
• Perfect Vicinity!  No more five minute walk to the mall, park or beach.  
• No more LRT.  With the LRT station right across my building, I can go to any place in Hong Kong effortlessly through connecting trains and buses.  Or buses and trains.  

Cue totally random intermission:

I guess Van was right.  It's a tough deal.  I say, give us each a room and we'll be happy face during our first few months.  And as for the horoscope seers, you've been accurate, you've proven that but please, give me a reading I can actually look forward to.

Quick Question for the day:  What's your worst moving experience?
(Leave your comments or creative responses for the QQ by clicking on the orange number beside the post title.)