today i went back to cedele to collect my paycheck. i felt kind of happy, like i missed the place. which is madness really. but i didn't expect such a warm reception going back, especially from nana (the shift leader sam and i both feared and disliked most when i first started out but later got to know better). when she saw me she called me 'my melissa' which was strangely unexpected yet sweet and then insisted sam and i have iced chocolates. so we sat and talked for awhile and she basically asked us about universities and wished us luck and how's business, who's stayed who's left, things like that. usual jokes about going to the states and meeting brad pitt and things. then she asked if we wanted to have any cakes and we actually refused because we weren't hungry but she told us to pack it home and she kept insisting and finally asked someone to give me two slices of my favourite cake (CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE). i felt so touched in a way, because i kept insisting on one slice only but she kept telling them in malay to cut two slices thinking i wouldn't understand so it went something like this

me: okay, i'll take one slice
n: dyah (another favourite colleague of mine), potong dua chocolate truffle cake take away
me: no, JUST ONE!
n: dyah, DUA yah
me: just one is enough
n: yes, dua is one!

it really made my day.

sometimes i feel awkward because our lives are so different and she seems genuinely happy that we're going to further our studies even though we're more or less the same age and she makes comments about how she didn't study and we college-bound students shouldn't mix with 'stupid people'. and i feel like telling her that she's really made quite an impression on me in her own way. we all have different paths and i'm glad i met the people that i've met.

was also lucky because Manager and Big Boss were BOTH not there today, hah.

and paycheck is MUCH more than expected because i didn't work one whole week before i quit BUT i actually got a raise without me knowing it, so i was working for $5 an hour! and so am very happy i finally collected it. good $$$! also saw Liu Jun, The Love Of My Life Chinese Dishwasher but communicated very badly. he asked about school and things and i said, 'xue hai mei you kai' (translated directly from 'school hasn't yet opened') when it really should have been 'hai mei you kai xue' (this would be 'hasn't yet opened school') as he corrected me. chinese grammar is topsy turvy! today was the most i've talked to him ever and even then it wasn't for long and i still didn't ask about his tattoo. i asked him (or at least i did in my mind, but it came out very simplistically) if he'd learnt any english and malay, and really i meant has he learnt any upon his arrival in singapore but he thought i meant did he learn any in school and he launched into some explanation about his classes which i TOTALLY DID NOT UNDERSTAND. for shame! I HAVE MISSED HIM! with his shiny eyes, neverfailing dimpled smile and short black hair (which has grown out a little).

maybe i should really just become a waitress. the French movie 'Orchestra Seats' (not to mention 'Amelie) has sort of inspired me to pack up and work in a cafe in Paris but firstly i need to learn French and procure a visa. i was thinking, when i go to the U i want to learn japanese, french and chinese. and maybe a little italian/spanish. i've suddenly become fascinated by foreign languages and linguistics. oh geez. i really can't afford to be fickle and distracted and short attention span-ded now.

+ posted by M @ 1:14 AM