Life as a Transcab Operator Part 2
Hey I've got some great news today. I'm actually early for 3 minutes! Come to think of it, I would like to feel that I'm a person who's usually late when I don't get in the way of others. So what does that mean? For example I'm working midnight shift at the moment, and it's only me for the whole night. So in the event I'm late, someone has to stand in for me till I've reached and it wouldn't be nice to delay someone from going home. Goes to show I do have a consicence afterall huh.
People often ask me how's working in Transcab like and the answer I usually I give them is the typical boring answer of "okay lor". Truth is, it is that boring. To put it simply, it's like talking on the phone with people you don't wish to talk to. So much for taking up Diploma in Hospitality & Tourism Management, I never felt the need to go the extra mile (GEMS) while working here.
So here's how an ideal call's like:
Phone rings (I like to test the caller's resolve by picking the call up as late as possible)
Me: Morning/Afternoon/Evening Transcab (politeness depends on my mood)
Caller: I would like to book a taxi now
Me: Sure where is your pickup location?
Caller: Marina Square taxi stand (I love it when people call for a taxi in places with taxi stands, coz drivers will find them easier and there'll be less trouble)
Me: Going to?
Caller: Tampines
Me: Sure please hold the line for the taxi number
And I'll send them through an IVR system in which when a taxi accepts the job, the taxi number will be given to the passenger in a rather freaky recorded voice. And they'll meet, make love and job completed. But life isn't always rosy and nice and most of the time, I'll get crap calls like these.
Me: Morning/Afternoon/Evening Transcab
Crap Caller 1: Yes. (I seriously hate it when they just say yes. Yes what? Yes WHAT?! Aren't you the one who's calling?)
Crap Caller 2: Hello is that transcab? (Yes I just said Morning Transcab you asshole)
Crap Caller 3: Wei? Ni hui jiang hua yu ma? (Not that I don't like to speak Chinese, but English is easier while calling for taxi booking. )
Crap Caller 4: Can I report a lost item/make a complain? (The worst of the lot)
And there are plenty of people that will just hang up the call after I asked them to hold the line in which minutes later, the above cycle repeats.
I think I shall stop today's entry here and hopefully I'll continue tomorrow. Think it'll be a trilogy.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Life as a Transcab Operator
During the estimated 3 year gap in which I did not manage to publish a single post in this blog, I've had quite a few part time jobs in various places. Though none of the experiences stood out particularly in terms of excitement, one did in terms of the amount of time I spent working. And it's none other than being a taxi operator in a rather small-but-getting-bigger taxi company, Transcab.
If I were to tell people that I'm actually the 3rd most senior staff in the entire call centre, I think most people will be pretty surprised. Well, it is true though. I've been here for slightly more than 2 years and I've worked with plenty of people. But none of them lasted as long as me. I'm not praising myself for being committed and loyal to the company though come to think of it, I actually am. Truth is, my manager did not have much luck in hiring the right people + working here sucks = me being 3rd most senior staff at the tender age of 20.
Let's just look at some reasons why they left intentionally/unintentionally:
So why am I still here despite the above colourful reasons why people left? The pay isn't high, it's just $6 per year for weekdays and $7 for weekends. I can't even read newspaper without getting sacked. I can no longer surf the Internet because the management freaking disabled everything. And I have to stare at the computer even if there are no calls!
But people adapt. I may curse and swear when it gets tough, but I do feel that I adapt pretty well to situations, no matter how dire it may seem. One thing that helped is the fact that I'm lazy. So instead of looking for other jobs, I'll just take the shit and get my $6 pay. Also, it helps that my manager is a very nice person and till now she hasn't sacked me despite me being late almost all the time. Seriously, I can't remember the last time I was punctual.
Man, it's quite an uphill struggle to blog sometimes. My stomach is growling, my PSP is whining, my slam dunk is waiting and this entry is actually being done while I'm working. This entry will be continued... soon I hope.
During the estimated 3 year gap in which I did not manage to publish a single post in this blog, I've had quite a few part time jobs in various places. Though none of the experiences stood out particularly in terms of excitement, one did in terms of the amount of time I spent working. And it's none other than being a taxi operator in a rather small-but-getting-bigger taxi company, Transcab.
If I were to tell people that I'm actually the 3rd most senior staff in the entire call centre, I think most people will be pretty surprised. Well, it is true though. I've been here for slightly more than 2 years and I've worked with plenty of people. But none of them lasted as long as me. I'm not praising myself for being committed and loyal to the company though come to think of it, I actually am. Truth is, my manager did not have much luck in hiring the right people + working here sucks = me being 3rd most senior staff at the tender age of 20.
Let's just look at some reasons why they left intentionally/unintentionally:
- One retired citing exhaustion and became a property agent.
- One got sacked because he was reading newspaper (Though the truth has always been because he diao the lady boss when she walked in. Quite poor thing really, this guy didn't know she was the lady boss.)
- One resigned because her lover made a din at the company's entrance. (This woman is actually married with grandkids and possibly older than my dad)
So why am I still here despite the above colourful reasons why people left? The pay isn't high, it's just $6 per year for weekdays and $7 for weekends. I can't even read newspaper without getting sacked. I can no longer surf the Internet because the management freaking disabled everything. And I have to stare at the computer even if there are no calls!
But people adapt. I may curse and swear when it gets tough, but I do feel that I adapt pretty well to situations, no matter how dire it may seem. One thing that helped is the fact that I'm lazy. So instead of looking for other jobs, I'll just take the shit and get my $6 pay. Also, it helps that my manager is a very nice person and till now she hasn't sacked me despite me being late almost all the time. Seriously, I can't remember the last time I was punctual.
Man, it's quite an uphill struggle to blog sometimes. My stomach is growling, my PSP is whining, my slam dunk is waiting and this entry is actually being done while I'm working. This entry will be continued... soon I hope.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
the redemption of althalus
The previous entry reads Friday, September 29, 2006. And the current date reads Thursday, 21 May, 2009
It is with a tinge of regret that I failed to continue blogging. I've always felt that blogging helps me to retain my memories, for I believe that they will disappear through the passage of time. It's amazing how a short little caption on a small little photo can evoke such intense feelings in me. So much so that I've returned to this poor little neglected blog of mine.
Yep, I was looking through some of the photos, some that I could not help but ended up looking through. But photos of her will remain as photos, for now that is.
It has been close to 4 years since my last update. A lot had happened. Good things, bad things, memorable events and many things that i wish I could forget. I shall now go through my memory bank.
Ranked in no particular order:
I'm single, again.
Yup, my almost 3 year relationship with a very special girl whom will always have a place in my heart ended. Though it was considered amicable, it was a very tough episode of my life as well. Thankfully, I had the OGL people for support.
We always made sure that we were never angry at each other before either one of us went to sleep. We called each other every night unless one of us went overseas. We traveled together from a Haro bicycle to a Spark 135 motorcycle. Of course, we had our fair share of petty disagreements and arguments. We were happy together, or so I thought.
I never wanted it to end. I never felt it would end. I always thought she'll be the one I'll bring to Malaysia for my relatives (mother's side) to see. I could even imagine their reaction. "Wah, zhe me mei ah", with their cantonese-accented chinese. I thought she'll be my significant other forever. And I visualized her as my wife perfectly.
But it was not meant to be. We did not live as individuals long enough to fully understand the gravity of the word "commitment". To let a 3 year relationship go wasn't easy. But moving on, we did. And I sincerely hope for her well-being and happiness for the future.
I lost close to $600 on soccer betting.
One of the hugest mistakes ever in my life. Though I'm still pretty much a gambling addict, I made a vow to myself that I will never gamble with money that I do not have.
I actually borrowed money from my aunt, sister, and even my ex-girlfriend to pay my debts. And during this period I had my motorbike instalment to pay as well. I've never felt as broke before and it was truly a low point of my life
I got into trouble with the law.
Thankfully there wasn't any criminal record. I added this in so that I will remember it for life. In fact, I think I probably will consider it as the stupidest thing I have ever done in my life. Okay maybe one of them.
But its true, I would rather have a box with my raincoat in it then getting drenched in the rain. Gentle drops of rain at walking pace can turn into shards of glass at 100km/hr. It's that painful.
I actually begun this entry quite a while ago but never bothered to finish it. Though a lot more things happened, I should just leave it as it is right now.
The previous entry reads Friday, September 29, 2006. And the current date reads Thursday, 21 May, 2009
It is with a tinge of regret that I failed to continue blogging. I've always felt that blogging helps me to retain my memories, for I believe that they will disappear through the passage of time. It's amazing how a short little caption on a small little photo can evoke such intense feelings in me. So much so that I've returned to this poor little neglected blog of mine.
Yep, I was looking through some of the photos, some that I could not help but ended up looking through. But photos of her will remain as photos, for now that is.
It has been close to 4 years since my last update. A lot had happened. Good things, bad things, memorable events and many things that i wish I could forget. I shall now go through my memory bank.
Ranked in no particular order:
I'm single, again.
Yup, my almost 3 year relationship with a very special girl whom will always have a place in my heart ended. Though it was considered amicable, it was a very tough episode of my life as well. Thankfully, I had the OGL people for support.
We always made sure that we were never angry at each other before either one of us went to sleep. We called each other every night unless one of us went overseas. We traveled together from a Haro bicycle to a Spark 135 motorcycle. Of course, we had our fair share of petty disagreements and arguments. We were happy together, or so I thought.
I never wanted it to end. I never felt it would end. I always thought she'll be the one I'll bring to Malaysia for my relatives (mother's side) to see. I could even imagine their reaction. "Wah, zhe me mei ah", with their cantonese-accented chinese. I thought she'll be my significant other forever. And I visualized her as my wife perfectly.
But it was not meant to be. We did not live as individuals long enough to fully understand the gravity of the word "commitment". To let a 3 year relationship go wasn't easy. But moving on, we did. And I sincerely hope for her well-being and happiness for the future.
I lost close to $600 on soccer betting.
One of the hugest mistakes ever in my life. Though I'm still pretty much a gambling addict, I made a vow to myself that I will never gamble with money that I do not have.
I actually borrowed money from my aunt, sister, and even my ex-girlfriend to pay my debts. And during this period I had my motorbike instalment to pay as well. I've never felt as broke before and it was truly a low point of my life
I got into trouble with the law.
Thankfully there wasn't any criminal record. I added this in so that I will remember it for life. In fact, I think I probably will consider it as the stupidest thing I have ever done in my life. Okay maybe one of them.
I got my motorbike.I'm surprised that I haven't took a photo of my bike at all! As much as I would like to not think about it, the truth is I've always felt that my bike didn't look cool, or rather did not make me look cool. Furthermore, I've attached a very unflattering box to it.
But its true, I would rather have a box with my raincoat in it then getting drenched in the rain. Gentle drops of rain at walking pace can turn into shards of glass at 100km/hr. It's that painful.
I actually begun this entry quite a while ago but never bothered to finish it. Though a lot more things happened, I should just leave it as it is right now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)