In the clouds.

Last day of work today at BroadcastAsia2007. Pretty fun all this while there. Colleagues were great and easy to get along with (other than a couple that luckily I don't have to deal with much). Learnt some things about working from them as well, about job-hopping, PR and staying out of the shooting range.

Always liked being at such shows 'cause I get to see all kinds of people from all over, especially the Europeans (in particular the French and Italians ;P). Very friendly people who speak to you on equal standing regardless of the age or background differences. Was working at the organisers' office and had to tend to exhibitors and visitors with queries and requests (of course complaints too). Some were very thankful for the help we provided, while some just took for granted good service was part of what they are entitled to as the customer. All I hoped for was just a smile when we delivered what they asked of us.

Other irritating sights were the inconsiderate temp staff that were present during show days. The privilege was given to them to have access to the pantry, but they exploited it by literally pillaging the stocks in the fridge. They being the temp staff who were stationed just outside the office, for shuttle service and entrance ushers. Coming in at such frequent intervals for breaks and messing up the place. I was particularly irritated 'cause I was the one re-stocking the fridge! So after Day 1, my perm staff colleagues said to leave it empty until after lunchtime. Unfortunately, the stock that was to last 4 days were out in 2.5 days. It's fine for me and another temp in the office who were surviving fine off mineral water from the dispenser, but sad for the perm staff there. Some people just can't exercise self-restraint and consideration for others. Disappointed.

On top of that there was another eye sore to the show days. This is going to sound so evil but I've absolute support from my colleagues in the office on this matter. Of those walking in frequently to "patronise" the pantry was 2 ladies. They weren't exactly of very likeable personalities, a bit stuck up and ah-lian so to speak. They weren't exactly of very attractive figure as well, a bit on the full side to put it gently across. If you are asking if I've a problem with over-sized people, the answer is no. The problem I had was they were perpetually in mini-skirts, that wasn't exactly flattering to their figures. As my male colleague like to put it, "Your leg is so FAT, can you don't wear mini-skirts?" Coupled with the action of imitating the actual circumference of their thighs. Pure evil, I say.

Enough on the unhappy moments since there were much more happy ones to remember. Although BCA wasn't as lively as CMMA, we still had our share of action. Just yesterday drama occurred just at the door of the organisers' office. One of the catering staff while transporting some food, tipped his trolley and a canister of laksa toppled from it and splashed over in front of one of the booths. It would have been lucky if no one was hurt from it, but unluckily there were a bunch of very humiliated exhibitors. In the action of spilling the laksa, it splashed very badly (saying "very" is probably an understatment) onto the booth. Everyone that was sitting inside the booth was hit. I hadn't seen exactly how bad everyone was hit, but it was described to me by my colleague. The lady that came in to notify (I wouldn't say complain, since I felt in her position she was rather calm already) us, smelled like laksa. Her boss was half covered in it too. The damage was so large it hit the fascia board that was at least 2 to 2.5m tall. The manager were quickly activated to pacify the exhibitors and operations quickly acted to it by re-carpetting the stained area and sending them back and placing a security for their booth while they were away. After all that action when I walked past the rest of the day I could still distinctly smell the fishy odour from the booth. Eww...

Apart from the drama, I had my share of eye candy, especially from the Italian pavilion. I'll probably would have more if I could venture over to the French pavilion but that was too far of a detour to take, I wouldn't be able to use travelling from office to the registration area as an excuse. Too bad it's over already, but I'll console myself with the fact that they are probably too old or residing too far from Singapore for me. Was praised too to bring it up another level. Wasn't exactly from my most desired parties but it's still a compliment after all. On my way back to the office from the registration area, I walked past a man, probably African American, who gave me a smile so I reciprocated with one too. He then slowed down and told me, "I've been noticing you the last few days and just wannna tell you, 'You look very pretty'." I was like wow, so with the slight delight on my face, I thanked him for it. Definitely boosted my ego there, especially after the morale blow from seeing my friend modelling at the show while I hid away as an office girl earning peanuts. Then I thought Asians are very stingy with compliments, while Europeans, American and basically the rest of them are more open with it. Smiles and niceties are a plenty with them, which made sense since it makes people happy and it costs absolutely nothing to give. I should learn to practise it more, it'll probably make my working life much easier this way too in future. So now I'm still in the clouds with the compliment (since I don't really get them) and hopefully it'll last me for a while till my pay come and brings up my mood again.