My very first pre-opening experience

When AQ asked me whether or not I wanted to take on the pre-opening training for Hong Kong, I have to admit... I was a little apprehensive. Firstly, I've never travelled overseas on my own before. Secondly, they kept stressing the fact that the Hong Kong property is very important to us. We can't afford to screw things up. But at the end of the day, I decided to take the plunge and try it out. After all, MM's opinions don't count and if AQ had no confidence in me, all the more I wanted to prove to her that she shouldn't regret her decision to ask me to take on this challenge in the first place. Besides, training is something I like doing and as I told myself, fear is something I've conquered before (my Stamford Crest and Exec Club experience) so I should try it again. And if I do well here, maybe I'll get to be the 'Pre-Opening trainer of choice' in the future, taking over from Ivy of Manila (R.I.P) and just like Leny seems to be the pre-opening specialist for Housekeeping. This... even though MM says it's only gonna be a one-time thing. Yeah well... MM, your words mean nothing. I've been told that it's NOT the case regardless what the bloody hell you think!

Going there was nerve wrecking. Having to plan a training schedule to teach a one-month training programme into three and a half days. If it were me, I wouldn't be able to make it. Come to think of it, it WAS me.. two years ago. And in that time, even I couldn't learn much. Or, maybe, it was just the way MM taught me. For and OJT trainer, she sucks.

Before going up, AQ did say... "make sure you bring your suits and dress better than you do here cos Hong Kongers are particular about dressing and you're representing Corporate office". I've stopped counting how many times she'd repeated that sentence. Meeting up with SH and JT at HK airport and then getting into the office at Johnston Road, I have to admit... I felt so damn overdressed and ridiculous. Everyone there was in jeans, Fraser shirts and sports shoes. And there I was in a full suit. After all, the building at the time was still under construction and it was dusty all the time.

Anyway, for the next two days, I dressed down a bit, still in my office wear but no jacket. Basically, I ended up dressing up as I usually do here in Singapore. By day three, I was dressed down into my Fraser shirt, jeans and track shoes. More comfortable for training.

More updates later... when I'm less tired. Shown above are pics of my apartment. Not bad for pre-opening standards... had anticipated conditions to be far worse than that.