It was 2005, I'm was alone in my department under a semi-conductor plant.Having to complete a two men job all on my own before lunch time was a challenge.(My senior was on medical Leave) As i need to plan fast my move,doing logistic, moving chemical gas cylinder and charging them up.(My department one day only got two people working)
After completing my task and covered in sweat, i went into the control room to take a break before my lunch. i unexpectedly found a friendly engineer Sitting in the control room taking a break.
He was from Malaysia,he left his rural hometown of more than 100km at the age of 21 to the city of Singapore to find work.
I sat down on the chair and begin to chat with him.I started the topic by asking him on why he never stay in his home town to work instead of travelling so far to work.
He told me that finding job was quite hard for a Chinese there and the expense there was quite high unlike Singapore.
The Malaysian continue the conversation by telling me his story.
After he completed his basic education under a Malay base school(which mean he completely don't know how to read and write Chinese) and he left his rural hometown in johor bahru to KL for further education.
he completed his diploma in electrical engineering and beginning to find a job in Malaysian. However, being a Chinese mean job chances are given to the "first class" citizen first, he didn't give up searching. After landing his first job as an technician in Malaysia, he found that his pay is not enough to catch up with the heavy daily expense no matter how thrifty he tried.(when i went to genting, i spend around 20rm for one meal.i can spend 6 sing dollar in Singapore for one meal eating in orchard)
One day,He heard from his friend who is working in Singapore that the environment and pay is good compare to Malaysia.With nothing to lose, he rode his bike to Singapore to find job.
He worked in popular bookstore for more than a year.During that year, he rented a room in Singapore for 300 dollar a month which is a wise choices.(imagine having to ride a bike for 100km back and forth everyday, this prove that Honda bike is the best)
while working in retail line,he never give up searching for a job as an engineer because of his passion in technical stuff.
After he found a job in a semi-conductor plant as a technician.He never give up learning.Al way asking question and go for upgrading course.Within two years he become an engineer.
I was inspire by his story.before i left for the canteen, he told me that he was going to look for another big company after working another year here.
His life is hard and his boss is demanding, but he never stop smiling. which sometime put me, a person who born in a place full of opportunity, to shame.
It is time for me to walk out of the "strawberries generation"?
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