After three weeks of living in Singapore, I think I’m starting to adjust to the relentless heat and humidity . . . slowly but surely. Thank goodness the urban planning in Singapore includes vast underground walkways that link major attractions and commercial centers together so you don’t even need to step foot outdoors. I’m so grateful that my dorm and classrooms have air con . . . some don’t.
Speaking of classes, I’ve just wrapped up the first week. Between the two courses I’m taking, they last roughly6 hours per day and have already given me a relentless onslaught of readings and case studies. The weekly networking events with hospitality industry leaders here in Asia also involve a good deal of research and time spent shuttling back and forth between campus and downtown. I admit, I’ve been focusing most of my time on meeting the industry leaders out here. I am trying to find a job, after all (hint hint).
Remember that post I put up about Asia’s top workaholics? I was just thinking about that as I was in the middle of a case study. Well, two winners have emerged from the contest. Sheraton Asia has awarded two women who probably do a bit more than update their Facebook status and blog about Starwood Hotels . . . not that the latter isn’t time consuming or anything. ;-)
So China’s Rachel Zhang Yi and Malaysia’s Tee Yan Ven received the greatest number of votes for their blog entries documenting their daily work demands and the accompanying pressures. Here’s what Ven had to say about her lack of work/life balance . . .
My life is pretty simple; routine in fact. I have 2 jobs, most of us do, some of us even have 3. Besides being a FA (Financial Analyst), I also tutor Language subjects and Math to kids ranging from the age of 5 to 16. I have been tutoring ever since I was in college. Both my jobs take up about 90% of my life. I wake up at about 7am every morning, only to travel 1.5 hours to my office, spend about 9-10 hours there, and then commute 1.5 hours back home later in the evening. When I reach home, my “kid” (the one being tutored) will be there waiting for me. So, I spend the next 1.5 to 2 hours tutoring him/her. By the time it’s done, it would have been about 9pm or 930pm. Then, I have my dinner and start work again (office work). Yes, work never ends. For those who can finish their work at 5 or 6pm everyday, feel thankful.
You can read all the winning posts on the contest website. The large number of entries leads me to wonder if they should have actually been sleeping instead of blogging, but as I’ve found out through my coursework and networking routine Asian can be pretty damn hard core.
Too bad I don’t get a paid vacation to any Sheraton resort in Asia like these two winners get.