Today is my last day on site for Rotation #28 and it's been a so-so hitch. I think that's mainly because my daddy boss (i.e. my social/emotional support) was only here for two out of the four weeks. Also, my last week is always tougher as the usual crew that I'm close to go off-shift, plus I'm always physically and mentally drained towards the end.
I know I emit "leave me the fuck alone" vibes when I'm in this mode and I don't try to hide it at all. For one, I go to the mess for meals 15 minutes earlier than the rest so that I don't see people I don't want to chat with. I also sit alone at the far corner and eat quickly. My heart beats faster when I'm around people as the day progresses until it gets a rest the moment I step into my room after dinner. That's when my brain stops processing and producing this negative energy a.k.a. social anxiety.
I don't usually stay in this psychological state for this long a period (i.e. close to two weeks this hitch), otherwise I wouldn't have lasted so long in PNG. That being said, I shudder at the thought of my site boss retiring and leaving (he gave a rough timing of first quarter next year).
Talking about people leaving the company, a very senior expatriate engineer (aged 69) was let go a few days ago. The way he was informed of that on the last day of his hitch was terrible and that's not the way to treat someone who has worked in PNG for years. He's very well liked by both the team here as well as the surrounding villagers as he does a lot for the communities outside the camp.
If they can terminate a staff employee with a mere "business decision" and leave a zero-year graduate engineer in charge of the highest revenue-making asset in the company, what chance do I have as a termed employee? Granted that senior guy is very expensive and is somone who loathes the corporate game intensely (much worse of an offender than me), I was again reminded that no one is indispensible. This is especially so in a company where the "low cost producer" name is worn like a shiny badge of honour, and when my management line has "it's my way or the high way" always at the tip of the tongue.
Well, no wonder I'm getting depressed. Fortunately, I'm off for break tomorrow. Ision and I are going to try getting away from the house (city) for short country stays because being cooped up at home (post-employment) does him no good. I wonder where we can go that's not boring to him.
In the mean time, here's this month's musical offering. It's my cover of "梅香如故" (the theme song by PRC singers 周深 and 毛不易 of a massively popular TV series "如懿傳" that aired in 2018). In this tale, Ulanara Ruyi rises from a neglected consort to become Emperor Qianlong's step-empress. This 87-episode saga captivated countless fans with its ruthless harem intrigue, much like how "Desperate Housewives" got the attention of gossipy women all around the world over two decades ago.
As for the song, I love the harmony a lot which gets switched around. The original version is here and you'll never guess by just listening that it's two males singing. And of course, I'll be singing both parts, so enjoy... and Happy Australia Day!
