Culture Shock

Monday, 17 November 2008 @ 6.28pm

Our personal identity is framed by the community we live in. Part of the way we see ourselves is in relation to other people, as belonging to this or that group. Your personal identity becomes somewhat threatened when your familiar community is replaced by foreign landscapes, people and lifestyles. People respond with varying degrees of anxiety and confusion. This is what is referred to as Culture Shock.

I read that and it hit me. That's my problem. That's why I've been feeling grumpy and depressed! Ok, let's start over. No, I haven't migrated anywhere. I've just changed jobs.

For two years, I worked as an Editor. While there, I also developed a skill in which my bosses entrusted me to play the role of (what I like to call it) "half AE". It's been a blessing in disguise. I've been able to hone my skills dealing with clients. So much so that I now work as an AE. I never prepared myself for the change. I just thought, different location, different people, different job scope. WRONG!

Travel

While I was at Trix, I had to wake up at 6.45am and leave the house before 7.30am so I could beat traffic and get a sweet parking spot. Usually reaching work before 8.30am, that gave me the luxury to relax and sort out breakfast and work for the day before anyone else had even walked into the office. 9am was coffee and chat with Ina. Work, work, work till 1pm for lunch. (I miss A la carte and mamak and pak cik mahal :( boo hoo!) 2pm was back into office and work, work, work till about 7pm.

Now I'm at Mega Ads, I can wake up at 8am and still be at least 15 to 20 minutes early for work. There's no traffic to beat (save for the traffic lights before the junction) and parking is right around the corner after the lights. I now have to risk my life twice a day, EVERY DAY, to cross the road (which I will be blogging about later). I'll spend about ten minutes at the downstairs shop and buy my burger ayam (RM1.80 ;P). By the time I take the lift up, office is still closed. And of course being the eager newbie, the only thing I have is the access card to get in and get out. Another ten minutes waiting for Venny or Sophia to open the door. Breakfast here is whenever I feel like. And it's usually when Nikki or Amira kacau me. Lunch is not at 1pm on the dot. You hear your tummy rumble, go and eat. Even if I leave the office at 7pm, I'll reach home less than ten minutes later!!! Argghhh!!!!!

I now don't bother switching on the radio or even choosing a CD for the ride because there is no ride! I'm trying to wake up as late as possible and leave the house as late as possible but I still manage to arrive extra early.

Office Politics

At Trix, it took a while for people to warm up to me. Especially designers. It was a process of me having to brave going into the studio and menyibuk-ing to start building a relationship with them. At the end of my two years there, I can safely say that although I only count Ina as a real friend, Rachel as someone whom I'll probably meet once in a while and the rest as colleagues. I had a good relationship with them all and found ways of how to work with each and every one of them over time. Not all designers have the same working methods you know.

Here, people are friendlier and there's no real line between boss and staff. We still give that certain amount of respect to our superiors and our bosses, but I can still talk to them about anything. They know I have Eddie. They know he comes to see me for lunch once or twice a week. They know I'm vain and have already sorted my mirror and perfume on my second day here. They know I like Oreos. And they know I take at least half an hour or an hour each day to read Star and Harian Metro. In that order.

Change

When I read that article about culture shock, it hit me. Although I gave my two month notice at Trix, I never really prepared myself for change. I just thought it'd be the same...but different. Know what I mean ;P It's because of this culture shock that I've been bitchy. Even to Eddie. Poor baby.

I've been so used to listening to radio and choosing a CD every evening. No more. I'm so used to working environment and clients there. I'm meeting my first client tomorrow. I'm so used to waking up early. No more. I'm so used to morning traffic, rush hour traffic, Friday evening traffic... No more.

I've been pulled out of my comfort zone and I now have to create a new one. Yesterday I said I don't want to be an AE. But I've decided not to pull out. I'm giving myself two more years. I ain't a quitter. I'm going to work as hard as I did at Trix. But if I happen to get called up for an interview (with jobs that I'll just apply for fun hehehe), then maybe... who knows? ;P