UBS Event

145-146 days in Shanghai (22/01/08-23/01/08)

This 2 days I have been involved in the UBS event under the F&B reservation department and what I was supposed to do was just be stationed at China Hall at the Concierge area and stand by if any one wants to make reservation.

So During coffee break, what I need to walk around the foyer and promote the restaurants to the delegates.

So all I did for these 2 days was standing there doing nothing coz everyone at the foyer will be taking to their own business partner and no one is going to give a damn on me.

And most of the times I will go to the UBS lounge to find Joanne as she was stationed there with the same job scope as I have, which means nothing to do as well. =)

This was how these 2 days was spent. And oh, having been eating 烧烤for the past few days and I am getting immune to the spiciness already.

Staff Party and My first sight of snow!!!

136 day in Shanghai (13/01/08)
Everyday seems quite boring ever since I start working in F&B reservation. Work starts at 11.30am and ends at 9.30pm with a 2 hour break in-between.

Not learning anything much from this department coz everyday, what I am doing is just making some reservation for people and greeting guest when they arrive.

So, the hotel had this staff party yearly and this year, it’s today and tomorrow. Mine was today and so, after working for a few hours till 2pm, we went down to change our clothes before going for lunch as we know that we won’t be coming back until 5.30pm when the party starts.

Had this Japanese set lunch then Kim came to find us after she cut her hair at Toni & Guy and she had quite a short hair cut this time.

After lunch it was Joanne’s turn for her hair cut. Wanted her to cut her hair short but in the end, she still got her hair long.

Waited for an hour plus till her hair was done and we tried to get a glance of 罗志祥 when we were walking down back to the hotel as he was here for some autograph session. There were tons of people and I think it was so crazy. He has got so many more fans compared to Jolin蔡依林 who was here yesterday.

Went back for the staff party and the food was super normal.. We weren’t very hungry so we just sat there and watched all the performance. Half way through, Yu Hong called me and tell me that it was snowing outside so all of us rushed out but at that time, there weren’t anymore snow. It was just little snow flakes falling from the sky.

Then it was the lucky draw and I got a RMB600 worth of hair salon voucher. Might be going to have another haircut soon =)

Initial plan for the night was to go out after the dinner so we went to queue for the cab and as we were waiting, I realized that the raindrops shined from the lamp post seems to be very big. Then after a while, I realized that it was snowing.

So Joanne, Angela and I ran out to the pathway and we started to get super excited. This is the first time in my life saw it SNOWING!!!

We started calling Yu Hong, Kim and some other Singaporeans to come out to see the snow. It was so nice and all of us were like crazily screaming and shouting.

All the other locals were just staring at us thinking that we are like some lunatics.

Oh well, I think snowing is really beautiful and I feel really happy when I see those snow. Hahaha HAPPINESS =)

Too bad Mr right wasn’t with me yesterday. Haha

It was so super cold outside that by the time we reached home, we were all super hungry. Went to buy Ma La Tang back home and I guess that is one kind of you got to eat out in the cold coz when we eat it at home, it was way too spicy for both Joanne and I.

Hotel's Staff Outing

108 day in Shanghai (16/12/07)

The initial plan was to sleep for 2 hours before waking up at 5.30am to get ready for the hotel staff outing. But in the end, both Kim and I got up late and we got to rush out of the house.

Walked a few levels down the stairs and I realized that I should bring my employee card so I went back home, got Jie Ying’s house key, went into her house and get my card.

By that time, we thought that we were super later already and started running down the stairs.

The moment we reached the street, it was empty. Not a single car or taxi. The only vehicles we saw were a few buses passing by. Walked out to the main road at a very fast pace and the moment we saw a cab, we ran all the way to catch it.

It was like some morning exercise. Got quite hot when we reached the hotel when it was supposed to be freezing cold.

Got to find the coach we are boarding where they paste a ‘name list’ on the door. Went coach to coach to find our names and we finally found ours; Bus 1

Board the coach and waited for the rest of the staffs to arrive. While waiting for the other staffs to arrive, I realized that the hotel’s welfare is quite good.

Firstly, the hotel made an effort to come out with this outing for her staffs, and then there was a coffee and tea booth at the entrance for the staffs (it was freezing cold so I think by providing hot coffee and tea a a very good ides)

When all the staffs board the coach, breakfast will be distributed. Everyone will get to have a bun, a hard-boiled egg and yogurt in a plastic bag together with a bottle of water.

Journey started off and it takes us about 1½ hour to reach Ting Lin Yuan, some attraction in Suzhou.

Slept all the way, reached there and it was toilet break then team-building activity.

We were all told to gather at the field and put our bags at one corner. Thought that it was totally stupid to be involved in the activity so we decided to just carry our bag and not be involved.

But in the end, in order to get warm, we decided to just join in the activities. At least there is going to be some jumping and moving around.

Every one of us was distributed with scarf. They have got 4 different groups so each group will have a different color; Grey, blue, red and pink. Ours were dark blue.

And although the scarf was just to differentiate the different groups, I think the quality is quite good. (Another welfare from the hotel)

Played a few activities and it seems like we are back in primary school; rabbit dance (shall not explain), passing the hula hook using your head/body and finishing a race by jumping (jumping to the other end and the last person got to ran back, hit the palm of the next first person of the next row and the race continues)

Had some fun there because it has been ages since I last got involved in all this kind of activity: team building. It’s really like back to school days.

And well, at least we weren’t that cold after the activity.

Having some free time after that, we explored the garden, took some photos and started cam whoring.

Find our way back to the coach and the next stop was lunch.

Lunch was at one of the restaurant by Yu Chen Lake. All of us have got our own private room and both Kim and I were to seat with the reservation people (just nice 10 of us)

Cold dish was there already then came the prawns, some seafood with shell, vegetables, fish, egg, noodles, chicken soup and the most important item; hairy crab =)

That was the first time I tried hairy crab and have got no idea how to eat it. Rainbow, one of our colleague started teaching us how to eat the crab; differentiate between the male and female, the difference between them, how to peel the crab open, which part can or cannot eat, etc.

Started eating the crab and vinegar was the sauce to it. I ate the crab the way I eat it at home; peel the meat out, dip in the sauce, etc but the locals here don’t eat them the way I do.

They will dip the whole crab into the vinegar and suck the meat out. I tried doing that but nothing comes out of the shells.

We took a super long time to finish eating it and when we went out to wash our hands, all the other private rooms are not only empty, the dishes are more or less being cleared away already.
Which means all the other staffs have finished eating and went out like long time ago?!?!

After lunch, boarded the coach and we decided to go back out along the street to see what the locals are selling.

Chickens, crabs, eggs and vegetables are sold in almost every store there. We even saw one of the workers skinning off a chicken. Kim took a video down and I think it is totally disgusting.

Headed back to the hotel and it was another 2 hours sleeping time on the coach. Reached back Shanghai and since it was too cold to walk home, we took a cab home from the lobby.

Reached home at about 4.30pm and I started finding food the moment step into the house coz I wasn’t full at all during lunch.

Watched Prison Break until 11pm before heading off to bed.

Pirelli

91th day in Shanghai, Pirelli (29/11/07)

Work started at 10am supporting for the event Pirelli. The event was the launch of the Pirelli calendar 2008 @ China Hall.

Called Yee Hui and he told us to report to Johnny, one of the BQT manger at the backstage of China Hall. By the time we reached there, they were having a row call already.

Saw Goh and he told us to go down to the laundry to change our uniform. And the first thought that came into my mind when I saw the attire was Oriental Hotel; Black Shirt + black pants.

Changed our clothes and reported back to China Hall. So the attire for today was a little different from usual. It was all according to what the organizer wants.

For the girls, we got to have green eye shadows, wear a pink hair Band and 2 pink clips at the side of the sleeves. For the guys, they got to put a green cloth around their waist. Everyone look almost the same.

This was to make our attire look a bit French and retro (The theme was chinese retro I think: Agogo Era)

We refused to wear the hair bands coz I think that it is totally disgusting to wear it. So while trying to wear the hair band in the nicest way, Goh asked us to change back our uniform as he said that there might not be enough accessories (hair bands and clips) for the other waitresses.

Spent 2 hours changing our clothes and went back to China Hall foyer to help out with reception. The whole foyer was places with full of sofa, beds and some treasure chest filled of all the oldies stuffs. The whole theme looks very lively and young with combinations of green, pink, purple and orange.

Was supposed to have lunch with Kelvin and Yee Hui but couldn’t find them so we settled our lunch at Saizeriya and had a pizza that cost only RMB24 for a Hawaiian pizza, a soup and a salad.

Went back to China Hall and helped them turn over the hall to dinner set-up for the night.
And since this dinner was special enough where the staffs got to wear either hair bands, clips or waist bands, the tables set up were special too.

Pirelli provided us with their own chairs, table clothes, napkins and menus (all in the 4 different colous). And because of the colour combinations, it was quite troublesome during the set up as different colour table clothes got to match with different chair colours.

Throughout the whole set up, it was double-checking all the colours set-up, re arranging the tables coz there were a lot of last minute changes (from 10 seats to 12 seats table)

After the set-up, Yee Hui asked us to change back to the BQT uniform as there weren’t enough staffs to serve the guest and we were supposed to serve the VIP table.

Changed and reported back to China Hall. Look for Tracy to get the green eye shadows and those pink hair band and clips (to match the theme).

Dinner is going to start in 2 hours and all staffs were to report in China Hall. The event organizer, some very famous French organizer asked all the staffs to go up on the stage to check every single one of our attire to make sure that everyone looks neat and tidy.

Perfectionist!!! OVER???

Cocktail reception started at 7pm and there were still some changes inside the hall; the organizer wants all the cutleries to be placed very orderly and some changes in the position of the cutleries.

At 7.45pm, when the door was opened for the guest to enter, the organizer came over and said that the VIP table will need another 3 more people. So we will have to add another table with the same table clothes, chairs, napkins and menu of the same colour theme. Everything got to be done before the VIP guests arrive.

Everything was in a rush but we got everything done on-time. Increased in the number of guests and there will be a change in plan in the people we serve.

Today’s dinner was a 4 course western dinner with appetizer, soup, main course and dessert. So when it was time to serve, we got to go to the kitchen, queue up in a row to take the food and since we were serving the VIP table, we are the first to take the food. One person is to carry 2 plates, serving 2 guests.

I think it was quite a good experience where I get to see how the system goes.
And throughout the dinner, there were a lot of tall, skinny and pretty babes and handsome hunks around. Haha

Saw Sun Zhong Sun’s granddaughter, Nora Sun again and supermodels Gemma Ward, Du Juan and Mo Wandan in the event too.

There were some performance after dinner by some famous dancer and after dinner, it was the party at the foyer. They turned the whole foyer into a mini bar.

Helped out at the bar counter and the whole night was quite happening; the music, the people and the lightings.

Champaign was the main beverage but there were also other drinks like orange juice, vodka, whiskey, wine, etc…

And some of the guest drank a lot and got a bit too high that they started dirty dancing IN FRONT OF US.

There was this French lady that started French kissing with a few guys and she is actually a lesbian and got a girlfriend. She was even making out with this other French guy on one of the beds.

One of the guys got too high that he start dry humping himself and the organizer came over to ask him to leave as he feels that the guest went overboard.

The whole party was quite cool and working in the bar was damn tiring. Everyone is taking the drinks and we got to be fast enough to pour the drinks.

The party was supposed to end at 1am but by 1.30am, there were still a lot of guest around and the music started to change (boring/oldies song).

By 2.15am, the music stops and the lights were turned on. Everyone started packing up and tearing down all their stuffs.

Was too tired to stay behind to help them clear up and left at about 2.30am. Took a cab home, washed my face and went to bed.

Lucky work was at 2pm the next day.

FHC China + my house has been openly robbed!!!

77th day in Shanghai (15/11/07)

My house has been openly robbed!!!

WHY?!?!?!

It all happened in the morning when I was still changing my clothes when the doorbell rang.

Kim went to open the door and saw 2 guys standing outside. The whole conversation is somewhat like this (in Chinese)

‘yes? Who are you guys? I don’t know you’

‘The landlord asked us to come maintain your house water heater and stove’

‘No, he didn’t tell us about this. Come back when he is around’

‘Your landlord is Mr Weng right? You guys are Singaporeans and u stayed in the house beside before right (that time when we stayed in Jie Ying’s and Chang Fangs house). They are also Singaporeans. He told us to come for the maintenance of the water heater and stove.’

‘Er.. hold on, my friend is still changing.’

(At that time, both Kim and I thought that it was quite weird about the whole situation coz why didn’t Mr Weng call us and tell us about it first. Both of us were thinking whether to call Mr Weng first but it’s like they seems to know a lot about us. Our landlord’s name, we are Singaporeans, our neighbors are Singaporeans, etc… and we thought that Mr Weng would have called Joanne or Angela and told them)

‘Okie, you can come in already’

So they took away our water heater and stove and wrote us a receipt with his name. And he even asked us to see if the name on the receipt is the same one as in his IC. So I thought that maybe China got a lot of swindlers that is why they want us to confirm that they are not, something like that…

After removing the heater and stove, they asked us to move the tap to the ‘hot’ side and said that there will not be any water for the time being until they return us the heater in the evening.

After they left, I was like ‘they just remove the heater, why will the water supply stopped?’

But we were already late for work so didn’t bother to think much.

So while going to work, a few things really irritates me.:
-While wearing my boots, I realized that my tights got a hole on it and I got to change out.
-After changing to a new one, I realized that it is a bit too big.
-After wearing my boots, somehow, I feel very uncomfortable. It’s like the boots became smaller

Today is just so not my day!!!

Didn’t think much of what happened and when I came out of the locker room walking toward my office, Mr Weng called me and asked if there was a few people that went over to our house and besides the heater, what did they took.

Told him the whole story and he said that he didn’t know these people and they were all cheaters. And these cheaters contacted his father and not him.

And the weirdest thing was that Mr Weng said that these people who took away the heater and stove went to extort money from him. I mean how much can a heater and stove cost and why the hell did they get those things to extort money. There are more valuable things like television, washing machine, and refrigerator.

Don’t they realize that Mr Weng can just buy a brand new heater and stove for a cheaper price compared to being extort by them. Are they really that stupid or do they think that we are dump.

So after hearing what Mr Weng told us, I just couldn’t believe what happened. It is just so unbelievable. Extort someone using a water heater and a stove???

And Mr Weng was saying that they didn’t want much money but just a few thousand dollars, which is only a few hundred SIN bucks.. Like HELLO!!!! U are risking being caught by the police for that few thousand Yuan?!?!?!

But well, heard from some of my friends that a few thousand Yuan can mean a lot to them esp those village people.

And somehow, I find that the 2 man that came over to our house look quite familiar.. This whole thing is just so fishy.

Anyway, work was quite slack for the way coz we are working half-day =)

Told Nancy that Raymond and Denis, Pudong Shangri-la manager of F&B China asked us to go and explore this event/exhibition, FHC China at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.
This event is introducing more suppliers to the food and hospitality industry in China.

Was supposed to leave at 1230 but she wants us to finish calling one whole list of people who are going to check in the hotel today, asking for guarantee.

Left at 1pm in the end and headed to Zhen Da Guang Chang for Sushi =)

Was hesitating if we should go home and change coz we weren’t quite appropriately dressed for the event. Yu Hong told us that people there were dressed in smart casual.

Cant be bothered in the end and took a cab down. The whole expo is quite big and we got pass the registration area quickly.

Went into the hall and look for Yu Hong and Gabriel at Kelvin Tay’s Wine speech. It was like a private room where they are introducing New Zealand’s wine.

There were a 9 different glasses of wine placed on the table for us to taste.

Saw Denis and some other Singaporeans working in Shangri-la and had some small talks with them.

Denis told us that it wasn’t as grand as what he expected coz a lot of suppliers didn’t dare to invest in China due to the high rate of duplication.

Isn't it cool!! It's all chocolate

All these are just free =)

Walked around the hall and tried different types of ice creams until about 5pm when we met some of the hotel chefs and took the hotel van back together.

Walked home after that and when we reached home, after seeing the empty cupboard without the water heater and a hole at the stove area, we started screaming and laughing about the whole situation. DRAMA!!!

Called the man that came in the morning and told him that he can bring back the heater and stove but he said that he haven maintain finish and got to wait till tomorrow. We then started screaming and shouting at him but failed to get him to bring back the stove.

(they can be so unreasonable at time.. he said something like what if the heater explode. Like WTH!!! After 2 months of using it, you are telling me something like this!!!)

Called Mr Weng and continue quarrelling as he said something like we need to pay part of the cost for the new heater and stove coz we are the one that open the door for that STRANGERS!!!

But the thing is how the hell will the STRANGERS know that we are Singaporeans, our neighbors are Singaporeans, our landlord’s full name and everything. Everything became so suspicious!!!

CHEENAS ARE SERIOUSLY NOT TO BE TRUSTED!!!

Some how Angela told her manager about it and her manager called our landlord and somehow, the thing is like half settled?? Like we don’t have to pay a single cent???

Oh, and apparently when Kim tried to use the tap in the toilet again, it works and we tried the other taps, there wasn’t any running water.

I think it is so super weird that while running the water, I started turning the tap from the ‘hot’ water the ‘cold’ water. And when the handle is turned towards the hotter side, the water stop running.

So conclusion is that since there is no heater, obviously there will not be any water running out of the tap when the handle is turn to the hotter side.

No wonder they asked us to turn the handle towards the hotter side in the morning.

OMG LAH!!! Do they really think that we are dump or what!! Something seriously fishy is going on…

This whole story is to be continue…
*seriously got no idea what will dad and mum say when they know abt this…

IBLAC

59th day in Shanghai (28/10/07)

Today was another long day of work supporting BQT for the event IBLAC (International Business Leaders’Advisory Council) for the Mayor of Shanghai

Work start at 7am, the earliest time ever since attachment started. Reported to Yee Hui and he asked us to look for one of the manager, Johnny at China Hall.

Saw Johnny and since he got nothing for us to do and we haven had our breakfast, he let us go for our breakfast break =)

Went back to China Hall to see the setup of the hall. The whole place look damn nice with classroom settings at the 2 ends of the hall and a circle set up in the center.

This event is very important as it involves all the big investors that contribute revenues to Shanghai. Most of the participants are either CEOs of big company or Chinese Governments.

And I think the coolest thing was that I saw Sun Zhong Shan’s granddaughter, Nora Sun. Wanted to take a photo with her but I think it’s quite weird and skipped that thought. In the end, I just said ‘Hi’ to her.

So the what we did for the morning was waiting for their coffee break time and lunch time and we will refresh the meeting hall by throwing away their used Evian bottles and replacing it with new ones.

It was then lunch time and Goh asked us if we want to have lunch together at Burger King in 正大广场.

So we went down to BQT office to wait for him and while waiting for him, we taught Tracy some Hokkien sentences (Almost all is vulgar one) and she taught us Shanghaiese (I leaned another language to sold people =)).

After quite some time, feeling freaking hungry already, we decided to walk around level 3 to see if he will be at the Ballrooms. But still, we didn’t see him.

Went back down to the office and gave him a call. He said that he is at Burger King already and asked us what meals we wanted. So since he asked that question, we assumed that he is going to buy back for us (Yu Hong asked Goh if he is going to buy back for us but I think he didn’t reply or whatever)

So we went to the back of the BQT office and help Niki and Dora to do up the menu for tonight’s dinner while waiting for our lunch.

After about 15 mins, Goh called Yu Hong and asked where we are. We were like ‘I though you are going to buy back for us?’

And apparently there was some miscommunication. Goh asked us what we wanted cox he was at the queue already and he bought our food first so that by the time we reached there, we don’t have to waste our time queuing up.

By the time we reached Burger King, our fries were cold and soft already =( and they have already finished theirs. Anyway, they waited for us to finish up and went back tgt.

Went back to BQT office coz Yu Hong bought egg tarts for some of them and we started slacking in there again.

Went back up to China Hall to see if they need any help there after walking awhile, we got tired and went back to BQT office. Nothing much to do there, we went to the back and started slping for at least 20mins.

Realized that BQT office was very quiet, went out to take a look and saw Cherry, Niki, Dora and Yu Hong changing the menu coz some of the words were keyed in wrongly.

Went up to Grand ballroom and they were having roll call; no one inform us about the roll call which means that we were not assign to anything to do =)

Helped Cherry to put the menus on the tables and arrange the chairs neatly, etc…

Reception starts shortly and we just walked around to see if they need help anywhere.

Went out to the cocktail garden to feel how cold the weather is already and the wind was so super strong that it blew down a glass of water. And with a very loud clash, the normal reaction for us was ‘OMG!!’ but to them, it seems to be very normal that a glass broke so loudly.

Dinner started and we started pouring red wine for the guest and at some point, helping the food server clear away dirty plates.

Time always past very quickly during serving time. After the whole dinner, we steal some food to eat; fruits, coffee cheesecake, etc.. (there is this secret place where the staffs will secretly eat the food) and there was this final roll call before everyone starts to clear away everything; the cutleries, table clothes and chair covers, etc…

By the time we end, it was near 9pm already… 14 hours of work!!! And some of the BQT staffs got to work more then that. Some of them ended work at 3.30am the previous day and started work at 9am today till they remove all the settings. And some of them didn’t even have their lunch and dinner. Poor thing!!

So super tired already, we still walked back home. Wanted to watch a DVD but was so tired that after watching 10 mins, I went off to lala land.

Until now, I have already got 2 days off from RSVN =) which means that I just got to support for another 2 more time and I can get 4 days off to accompany my parents when they are here this Dec =)

Singapore Evening

57th day in Shanghai (26/10/07)Today was a very long day. Worked from 9am till 11pm, the longest day I had ever since attachment started

Reported to work at 9am in reservation and started calling for arrival time. Wanted to tell our RSVN manager that we got to support BQT for the event Singapore Evening at 12pm but she said that she need to give us training first and we can only support at about 3-4pm.

But well, I think she is quite nice as she told us that every extra hour that we work, be it in BQT or in RSVN, we can claim back the day-off. So I plan to work a few more extra days so that when my parents come, I can take off and accompany them=)

So during lunch, we went to find Yee Hui and told him that we can only report at 4pm but he said that row call is at 2pm and asked June, one of the AM to call up to Nancy.

But in the end, we still can’t go down at 2pm coz Nancy said that if she can’t give us training today, she will have to wait for another week before she got the time for us.

So training today was all about the Global Distribution System (GDS) booking. And to handle all those booking, we got to apply what we learn in school into practical; using the OPERA system.
One of the leaders, Lily gave us the training and we recapped how to use the system (it was barely a few months since we learned it and we forgot some of the steps already)

So from Monday onwards, we will have extra jobs to do; make new reservation, edit changes and make cancellations.

After the training, it was near 5pm already and we got to report to Yee Hui straight to ask him for our roles for Singapore Evening. And at that time, both Kim and I were super hungry already but we can’t go for dinner cox dinner was starting soon.

Singapore Evening was an event to introduce Singapore into China. It shows Singapore’s culture, cuisine, etc during this whole event. The whole set up at the reception was super Singapore. Clean and green with a few lions around.

Before the event starts, I became a mini tour guide for Angela and Joanne. After touring Angela around, she needs to go back to work and Joanne came up to find me. So I toured her around too.

Then we saw Tay Pinghui and wanted to take photo with him but all of us don’t really dare to ask him coz he was rehearsing his MC speech with Dong Suhua.

Not long later, SM Goh came and he was surrounded with tons of reporters and security. Then I realized that it was a super VIP event where there were quite a number of ministers and big shot (rich ppl) that went to this event. The managers were making sure that nothing goes wrong during this whole event.

So Kim, Yu Hong and I were supposed to be in charge of the drinks for 3 different sections and I was in charge of the whole area where SM Goh was seating. Then I managed to talk to Mrs Goh as Cherry wanted me to ask her if she eats beef if not, she can have a choice of chicken or fish.

It was a super busy night and I think that my whole section lack of drink server. So for the whole night, time past very fast coz I was pouring drinks non-stop and helping the food server clearing the plates.

But well, I still manage to watch the performance; they got fashion shows, Malay dance and Sun Ho was here to sing some songs =)

After the whole event, we started taking photos with a lot of Singaporeans and make new friends around. We didn’t feel very comfortable taking photos at first cox we were working and if we take photos in front of the staffs, it feels really weird. But in the end, we can’t be bothered and took photos with a lot of people. . And most importantly, took some name cards from impt ppl =)

Photos are still with Yu Hong =(

And almost everyone said that the service in this hotel is so much better then the one in Beijing. Everyone was so glad to hear that.

Bought home some goodie bags (they gave real good stuff) and they gave us a lot of free Yeo’s water chestnut drinks. Singapore production=)

I think we are quite lucky to be involved in this event as we get to see a lot of Singaporeans working, having their internship or exchange programs here. And besides, we saw a lot of Singapore’s big shots (real rich people).

I can really see how much Singapore wants to be recognized in China.

Opera Night

51st day in Shanghai (20/10/07)

Work start at 2pm in the afternoon and when we reach the locker room at about 1.45pm, we saw a lot of BQT staff helping one another putting on makeup (apparently some of them don’t know how to put on make up)

When we went up to the BQT office, Tracy asked us to go down to Grand Ballroom (GB) for roll call. When we reach GB, we saw a lot of staff there and the directors were checking on their grooming. Even the team leaders and managers are polishing their shoes.

Today was the first time I saw so many staff in a ballroom. I think there are more then 60 staffs including all the supports from other outlet. The most impressive thing was that the whole HR dept went to help out as support too.

I was quite shock when they told me that the HR staffs will be serving the guest as well. I knew that they will be helping out but didn’t know that they will be helping out as service staff. Even some of the managers have to be server. I just feel totally weird to see the HR managers doing waiter/waitress stuffs.

(I feel that if the hotel know that they dun have enough staffs, then don’t run 2 major events concurrently. And since Opera Night is an internal event, can’t they just change the date to some other days??? It’s so weird to ask people not from the F&B dept to come and help out. And worst still, asking managers and asst managers to be waiter and waitress. Maybe it’s the profit that they are looking at. )

All the staffs were deployed to different groups (5 staff per group) and they were suppose to have a rehearsal on how they are going to serve food to the guest

(it’s western style so each server will hold on to 2 plates and serve the guest individually. One group will serve 3 tables and there is a total of 50 tables plus another 70 tables from China Hall ballroom. So imagine the number of staff they need)

So after deploying all the staffs to food server, they still need staffs for drink server. So in the end, Kim, Yu Hong, I and some other BQT staff and HR staff became drink server.

Before dinner, everyone one was supposed to change to the BQT uniform and the whole laundry area was packed with most of the HR staff as they were all wearing their blue suit uniform.

Kim, Yu Hong and I got to change out uniform too. Somehow, it feels like being demoted coz from wearing a suit, we got to change and wear the BQT uniform. But when I realized that even the HR managers are wearing the BQT uniform, I know that I shouldn’t think that way. Everyone working in the hotel is a team trying to provide the best to its customer regardless of what uniform you are wearing.

The whole event runs quite smoothly and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I was supposed to be drink server for 4 tables but in the end, there seems to be a lot of additional drink server and I didn’t serve a lot.

After the dinner, it was performance and since we got nothing to do already, we started listening to the performance. People spend thousand over RMB to listen to the opera and we listened for free (for exchange with our hard-work).

After the Opera was a chocolate buffet at the cocktail garden. At first, Kim, Yu Hong and I were attached to 3 other girls and they were supposed to walk around asking people if they want to drink cognacs. So the 3 of us were supposed to tell the guest what cognac it is when they ask.

In the end, we realized that no one asked and Kelvin told both Kim and I to go outside the cocktail garden and serve wine at the bar (which was suppose to be a display bar only)

When we went out, we realized that there weren’t any glasses for the wine and I went to find Kelvin. So one of the team leader, Ven together with Kelvin and I rush into the ballroom to look for clean glasses on the tables.

Brought those glasses out and started serving the wine at the bar. It was so freezing cold. The white wine bottles were placed between tons of ice and it was icing cold.

But it was quite fun cox we started crapping with the staffs there and some of the guest were quite fun to talk to as well.

At about 10.30pm, the event ended and when we went into the ballroom where all the other staffs were, forgetting that we were wearing our BQT uniform, I sat on the chair at the table where Yee Hui and some other managers were seating. OPPS!!

Went down to BQT office to help Kelvin and Yee Hui put some staff and went back to the ballroom. Reached there and all the other staff have went off already.

Yee Hui asked if we were going to walk home and I asked if he can to send us home since he is going to take a cab anyway. Cherry offered to send us home as well since she is driving =)

So after all the guest went off, we started eating those chocolate from the buffet and I think it was too sweet.

After that, we went to change our clothes and Yu Hong told us that Joanne was at the BATS, one of the bars in the hotel for Alan’s farewell party.

So in the end, Cherry didn’t send us home cox we went to the BATS but by the time we reached there, Alan went off already.

Stayed there for a while and try looking for Alan cox both Kim and I wanted to take a photo with him. But we can’t find him =(

We decided to walk home since the weather was quite cooling. It has been a long time since the 4 of us went home together.

And I think that we are quite lucky to be involved in this event ‘Opera Night’ cox it is considered a very big internal event to the hotel where it portray the image of the hotel to it’s guest. I really get to see the whole hotel coming together organizing and running the event. Even the GM and all the directors are involved.

Great experience from there and I can’t wait to be involved in other major events!!!

Lu Jia Bang & outdoor catering along huangpu river

45th day in Shanghai (14/10/07)

The day passed quite fast today.

Reached the hotel, looked for Yee Hui and we did the daily routine again; walking around the function rooms to check that everything is going on well (routine check is 3 times a day)

Today wasn't a busy day and there wasn’t anything much to do as well. So Yee Hui decided to go and take his tailor made suit from Lu Jia Bang and asked if we want to go with him.

So after lunch, we went to look for him and headed to that place. It look like a tourist attraction cox there were alot of angmors. The whole place looks like some warehouse where i think there is place for bargaining. haha.

He took he suit, got his shirts and next time, I know where to make mine =) There were alot of tailor shops there and next time, i can try out the different shops to see which one is the best.

And apparently the quality of the clothes are quite good and they and do up the clothes in less then 2 days if you request.

SIS: bring more magazines here when u comes and we can go tailor make it. cheap and same

Today there was this site inspection. It's about some important potential client that comes to the hotel and look at what are the type of functions the hotel is able to provide them.

So one of the function room was prepared for this site inspection and they actually had this station in front of the main door that show case beautiful 'mouth bite' chocolates.

The whole thing look quite grand where it looks more like a jewelry show case than a chocolate show case. Too bad I forgot to take a photo of it..

Tracy told us that after the site inspection, we can try out the different chocolates. So, both Kim and I waited for the site inspection to end (it ends at 6pm when we ends work at 5pm so we waited for one hour for the Chocolates).

While waiting for them, we went to look for Joanne and she show us this very cute mix-blood baby. He is 5 months old but his features are a lot more matured.

When Yee Hui, Cherry came out of the room, we wanted to go in and eat but Yee Hui asked us to go to an outdoor catering to have a look.. BOO!!! which means we cant get to eat the chocolates (well, we only get to eat one passion fruit favor and it was NICE)

But well, Kim said that she heard Tracy asking one of the manager to put the chocolates into a container and put it in the freight. So we went to the outdoor catering which was just a 5 mins walk away from the hotel located at the bund.

The client actually booked one part of the pathway along the bund for the dinner for 200pax. (It's some Shanghai Stock Exchange event=Rich People) and Ms kim asked this question

'is it very expensive to book this place???'

Everyone was like

'DER!! This is like the main part of Shanghai and they are occupying this whole area (no one was allowed to walk pass it and the only was to cross over is to make a big turn from the back)!!!'

How cute can she be right? haha The whole set-up look grand with a big stage, lightings, cocktail area and buffet spread. Imagine the huge amt of space they are using!!

So the weather at 6pm was dark and cold already and those waiter and waitress got to standby their tables to serve the customers.. They were just wearing their simple BQT uniform.. I feel so COLD for them!!!

After a while, both Kim and I cant take it anymore and went back to the hotel. We went to find our chocolates but there wasn't anymore left. So both of us just sadly changed our clothes and went out.

For the first time in this 1 1/2 month in Shanghai, we went to the Pearl Tower cox heard from Jie Ying that they sell subway there. So we went over to look for it and YEA!!! we saw it.

Had subway and went back to the outdoor catering as we wanted to watch the performance until 8.30pm so that we can take the shuttle bus home.

But well, with 2 girls wearing their own casual clothes in that area (everyone else were in uniform or at least formal clothing), we left totally left out. So after watching one performance, we decided to leave the place and walk home.

Bought a few more DVDs =)