Emirates Interview

Okay, since everyone has been asking, I thought that I'd just announce it all in the one go.

So the news is that I DIDN'T get through to the Final Round, but what DID happen is that I got into Round 2 where we saw the numbers diminish from around 120 applicants down to 40 applicants. So even to be part of that group of 40, I was quite happy :)

What also happened is that I met some really amazing larger than life characters all with a passion for flying, customer service and exploring the world. In Round 2, never have I been in the same room with so many well-groomed yet courteous girls in my life before. It was great to see everyone giving support to everyone else. In Round 2 was also where I met two really great girls Elissa and Lily along with Anna (from Poland) and another girl who currently works as ground staff for QANTAS who's name I didn't get to catch amidst the hustle and bustle of things. For the latter two girls, although we didn't get the chance to exchange contact details, I wish you all the best! As for Elissa and Lily, great effort yesterday! Also to Melanie who I hadn't seen since the Oaktree days, we can do it, we shall all see each other again in half a year!

Thanks also to Clem for sending out supportive texts along the way; as well as to Alana with her sophistication for helping me to put together a flight attendant-worthy outfit.

Although I didn't get through to the final round this time, I am truly grateful for the experience as I got a glimpse of what another completely different world can offer and the opportunity to meet some truly wonderful people as well as get grilled with tough questions that have no criteria whilst ensuring that my make-up and outfit stayed crisp in between all the moving around! If you are after some character building, other than going through an Architecture degree, also consider going to a flight attendant interview. It's been like no interview I'd ever been to; just always remember: Smile. Poise. Resilience.

Autism Volunteering

Thinking about the Autism spectrum as a type of "culture" or at least a subject where a knowledge gap needs to be filled in between why people treat others in certain ways and how that has a negative ripple effect on the rest of society.

I have been working with an Autisitc little girl since the start of the year. I took on this volunteering stint because I had personally experienced what it's like to live with someone who is on the spectrum. As I mentioned in an earlier post, my parents came from a farming background, social and mental problems are not seen as an issue over getting food on the table. As a result, the condition was never addressed and I didn't realise that I didn't have to be treated in a certain way until I had a sudden realisation that the particular person might have Autism or Aspergers - which explains a lot of their behaviour. They don't hate you as such, but they just have a lower tolerance of social situations so they come across as aloof speak curtly as a few examples or how they may be. I apologise at this point that I am very vague about the particular person but since it is not officially diagnosed and also for the person's privacy, I do not want to disclose any details yet. Not sure how to explain this feeling but just perhaps one day things will be easier to talk about.

Negative Ripple Effects - Childhood
I used to come across as quite shy. Ironically, I always loved meeting new people. Now that I think of it, I was never a shy person. But everytime I approached a potential friend, the person would glare at me and tell me not to interact with the person citing that they are "dangerous", don't talk to strangers, etc. As a child, I knew no better so I didn't talk to those people when the person was around; so there were many opportunities for socialisation that I didn't get to have. It's sad to say but I cherished all the moments when that person was not around - I could talk to anyone who I wanted to talk to! But when they came back, I had to pretend I wasn't talking with them and I couldn't be too friendly with their friends either. This was very unhealthy. I'm glad I have "run away" for now. I feel like I can really be myself. This is a temporary solution however, to at least get my sanity and mental well-being in check. I will still need to make amends somehow so volunteering with the little girl might give me some insight into how to solve this life mystery of mine.

Why I think this person has Aspergers/Autism:

• Controlling nature, looses temper very easily.
• Will physically attack back if people accidentally brush up against them (sensitive to textures).
• Droopy eyelid, alert but seemingly tunnel-visioned.
• Always wanted things their way.
• Argumentative nature, will argue to their death, even when they realise they are wrong. 
• Curt in manner.
• Has low tolerance for hypocracy or misaligned statement/actions - but will also be hypocrital themselves on occasion.
• Name calling, perhaps to boost their own self confidence.
• Territorial, collects things, has very particular interests, will not share them with other people.

 What made it worse:
Now that I thnk of it, this person was bullied in primary school, so resorted to burrying themselves in books. They were very smart, very very very book smart. They were very interesting to listen to but if you tried to talk with them about "their" knowledge, I would just get told to shut up or get called names like "stupid idoit" or "imbecile".

( I don't know how to continue on with this post for now - 7th Novemeber, 12:34pm).

9th International Winter University [IWU], Kassel, 2014 II

Coming soon.

9th International Winter University [IWU], Kassel, 2014

Oh my goodness!
I've been to Germany once and I loved it. Now I will be going again!

I have just been accepted into their 2014 Winter Program under a scholarship from the State Government of Hesse, Germany. I will be completing a module on Environmental Engineering:

I'm really looking forward to meeting new people on this program! I'm also really looking forward to learning more about sustainable technologies, especially in Germany! Apparently they have more solar farms than Australia. Come on Australia!!

Oh yea haha, and just to continue on from the post about Parents and Tough Love,  sure enough when I sent them a Line message, it shows that they had seen the message but they have not responded at all. Oh well, internal happiness :) Of which I will share an image from Facebook page, "Word Porn":

Parents and Tough Love

If people don't applaud you for every single thing you do, it doesn't mean you've done a bad job. It simply means that they have high expectations of you, they think you are capable. Words are just words, but the feeling inside us knowing that we're onto a good thing, that's what makes my gut peaceful and puts a smile on my face :)

Thing is, we all like affirmation. When I was little, I always wanted affirmation from my parents, but they never gave it to me that easily.

• I remember topping the class in primary school only to be told: "That's expected of you."
• I remember topping my Mandarin studies two years in a row in the final years of our studies only to be told: "This is your cultural duty."
• I remember getting first place at an art competition in high school only to be told: "Was there no one else who entered this competition?"
• I remember getting the "Australian Defence Force Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award" in grade 12 at the graduation ceremony only to have my dad say: "Maybe it's because I donated quite a bit towards the building fund." (Dad, these two things are administered by two complete separate departments! And also, no offence, but your donations have got nothing on what the other rich kid families are giving. I can dish out tough love back to them too.)
• I remember being promoted from one of my first part-time jobs within 4 months as an 18 year old only for them to say: "Oh okay."
• I remember getting a Faculty Award in second year for Architecture, they said: "Wow, what a pretty piece of paper." 

I could ramble on and list so many other things but there is no point. My parents wanted me to learn how to be content with myself rather than deriving happiness from other people. It really sucked as a kid but I'm really thankful for that. Because I feel it now, even though no one has praised me or patted me on the back for the things I've done, I'm still very happy. This week, I've managed to score quite a few interviews and opportunities. Two within architecture (omg! In this economic climate, you'd be laughing if they'd even RESPOND with a rejection letter!), one of which is a prominant three-surnamed firm. I've also scored an internship with a small start-up company called ANTV doing work within production as a show host/MC as well as assisting them with events organisation. I've also been screened and invited along to a recruitment day to be a flight attendent (company name purposely omitted). None of these I have told my parents yet (admittedly, I also haven't had the time to call them during this time of the semester), but I can probably guess that they will simply respond by saying: "Have you eaten yet?"