YOG Internship @ SPH Day 1
Went to SPH @ Bradell today for training before the real YOG job starts.
Woke up at 0530, studied scriptures, got ready and got out by 0740. Was late to meet Krista (supposed to meet her at Toa Payoh at 0815). So in the end decided to meet together at Bradell instead.
Got to Bradell at 0840 (training was at 0900!). The train was super packed, and very hard to get out (especially with my huge backpack containing my laptop inside. :\).
Met Krista. She was in a green sweater, black 3/4 pants and black chunky pumps. Of course, her makeup was just perfect. XD
Then we walked, and though Krista should've been the one more anxious than me cos' I met her late, turns out I was walking faster than her.
Got out of the underground station and onto the streets. I seem to recognise the neighbourhood cos' I was there for this SPH Media Club camp back in secondary 3 with Leon Tian and Rachel Tay. So it was actually kinda easier to find the way to SPH (we wanted to meet at 0815 cos' we were scared we'll get lost -- allows us time to get unlost)
So we got to the reception of SPH (foolish me, took us one big round cos' I thought visitors were only allowed to go in by the further gate XD). Asked for Ms A, and waited. But there seemed to be some identity mix-up though, cos' there wasn't a Ms A in Picture Desk. :\
So we waited, AND waited. Nobody came. Until somebody (Ms A?) called reception and said would be "picking us up". It was 0930 by the time Ms A came. She was a cute person. (:
Got our visitor's pass for the day, and went up to the ESSU (Editorial Support System Unit).
I tell you, the office was HUUGGGEEEE. It felt kinda dark at first (dark green walls, silver grey pipes running through a huge ceiling), but as I inspected looked at the various desks cubicles amongst the rows and rows of similar cubicles, I observed that they were all decorated differently. Some with photos stuck onto the cubicle wall boards, some with too much documents stacked on the table, and one of them had a cute-looking pillow on the table.
The atmosphere was mostly quiet, but the comfortable kind of quiet. Not the deathly silence where if you sneeze everyone will stare at you. I guess that's what the environment of the newsroom is like: quiet enough for you to focus on writing your news stories.
Can't take photos of the newsroom office though. It's not a tourist attraction. :\
So anyway, went to the main office of ST Picture Desk (above a flight of spiral staircase). The office was just like downstairs, only brighter, smaller and perhaps more cluttered.
So after a briefing by Mr G about what our jobs during the YOG is like and also a quick interview, we were introduced to Rachel, this capable-and-highly-regarded-for-her-skills-and-role-in-ST-Picture-Desk-office lady.
BTW, A and G discussed about Y (withdrew from internship cos' of clashing schedules) in front of us. They were saying that it's difficult to get a media pass at YOG cos' the name has been submitted long ago and that security is tight there. They also said that course director wrote an apology email to SPH. But they made it sound as if it's our fault (as students) for being fickle-minded. But the notification for the internship to start on 06 Aug only came on the previous Thursday!
Oh, and we realised that we would get paid. *starts tapping on the calculator how much to spend and how much to save*
Then there was a 30min break. Krista and I went up to lvl 5 -- rooftop cafeteria!!! :D
So we got there, got some breakfast (Krista's: 2 siew mai + Marigold strawberry yoghurt drink + sandwich. Mine: Char siew pau + Magnolia blueberry yoghurt drink. Krista asked: "What's the difference between these 2 brands of yoghurt drinks?!"). And the uncle at the paying counter was really nice. (:
Went down for training at 1000.
Training was quite manageable for the updating of YOG photos on both sides of the system. Must remember the sequence carefully though...
So afterwards, met Mr N, and he briefed us about our YOG duties, and talked with us a bit about our job and what's the venue like. And he also said that once we get our media pass by today, we would go to the YOG venue itself. At about 2+ or 3+. We'll be working shirfts.
Then, lunch time. Since we might only be going to the venue in the later afternoon, lunch time was very long.
Krista and I were not very hungry. Went up to the cafeteria anyway to hang out. And woah, the fruits sold at the cafeteria were so good! They were so sweet~! And today was sort of like my first time eating yellow-fleshed kiwi. おいしい～！
Then, Krista decided to called Ms E to tell her about our progress. Guess what? She was on her way to SPH. -.-" Both of us were like, erm is she trying to check on us?
So anyway, went down to meet her. And she asked if there was a lot of students training with us. We said, "no." (Read: ironic. Note: she and Ms K told us that we had to come for this training cos' SPH will be training us with the rest of the students selected for this internship. --> turns out, the 'other students' interning have other jobs to do.)
Then here comes the part where I feel the adults do things with a selfish motive.
Ms E went up to the main office with us, and looked for Ms A. Then, there they went again saying how apologetic the school was cos' the student withdrew at the last minute, and how Y should have been more considerate cos' the school needs to get the various dates (e.g. when the internship should start, when the media passes would come, and etc) from SPH, and SPH needs to get the dates and administrative approval from the international YOG committee and etc.
So basically, the adults were saying that Y was at fault for not considering the "bigger picture".
But Krista has a point: as advisors for this internship, shouldn't you have at least warned us of all these (earlier date of starting cos' of training required, difficulty in getting approval dates, and etc)? So now you're blaming us for being narrow-minded?!
Hello, we have our own lives to lead! Our daily lives don't just revolve around school. Y has her own reputation and her part-time job to keep!
So yeah. Whatever.
After sending Ms E off (hurr, goodbye!), we went up to the cafeteria to have proper lunch. But I was telling Krista that I felt guilty, cos' my email to Ms K indirectly caused Y to decide to withdraw from this... *sigh*
Again, it was a long long long time to spend before we were gonna head out to the YOG venue.
So basically, we talked crap. I was fascinated with Krista's iPhone and she's fascinated (and partly obsessed) about twitter apps on iPhone. Yup, you get the picture how we spent the long hours.
Then at 3+, went down again, and were introduced to Siti (also wearing green) who was just called to replace in this internship. And there would be another guy from SP who would come for this internship at a later date.
So we headed down to YOG venue.
I'm telling you, MBS is a super ulu (deserted) place though there are people visiting the mall and the huge hotel is just opposite. Can't even walk from the nearest MRT station. -.-"
Anyway, that place is, to summarise, huge and a tourist attraction.
All the stores seen there are branded (Chanel, Gucci, Banana Republic, Coach, and etc) and there's even a huge boxed-up poster from Chanel mounted on one of the mall's walls. Only the basement is filled with eateries that are more affordable.
Went up and up, and came to the first YOG place. Quite empty.
BUT... the media room hall (where the journalists would be gathered to write the news, call, and etc) was HUUGGGEEEE. The moment I went in, I was like "woah!" cos' of the almost endless rows of tables that have cables, plugs and telephones.
Our work station? In a cosy room, with lockers. (:
So basically, after a tour of our workplace and other places connected to it (e.g. the "snack" room where the light snacks are *ahem* cream puffs), we were done. Free to explore and to go home.
The 3 of us got lost (in the mall!). And... found our way out (thanks to the huge Chanel boxed-up poster on wall board that I mentioned just now). :p
Really hoping very hard that the attachment will be ok. >.
Woke up at 0530, studied scriptures, got ready and got out by 0740. Was late to meet Krista (supposed to meet her at Toa Payoh at 0815). So in the end decided to meet together at Bradell instead.
Got to Bradell at 0840 (training was at 0900!). The train was super packed, and very hard to get out (especially with my huge backpack containing my laptop inside. :\).
Met Krista. She was in a green sweater, black 3/4 pants and black chunky pumps. Of course, her makeup was just perfect. XD
Then we walked, and though Krista should've been the one more anxious than me cos' I met her late, turns out I was walking faster than her.
Got out of the underground station and onto the streets. I seem to recognise the neighbourhood cos' I was there for this SPH Media Club camp back in secondary 3 with Leon Tian and Rachel Tay. So it was actually kinda easier to find the way to SPH (we wanted to meet at 0815 cos' we were scared we'll get lost -- allows us time to get unlost)
So we got to the reception of SPH (foolish me, took us one big round cos' I thought visitors were only allowed to go in by the further gate XD). Asked for Ms A, and waited. But there seemed to be some identity mix-up though, cos' there wasn't a Ms A in Picture Desk. :\
So we waited, AND waited. Nobody came. Until somebody (Ms A?) called reception and said would be "picking us up". It was 0930 by the time Ms A came. She was a cute person. (:
Got our visitor's pass for the day, and went up to the ESSU (Editorial Support System Unit).
I tell you, the office was HUUGGGEEEE. It felt kinda dark at first (dark green walls, silver grey pipes running through a huge ceiling), but as I inspected looked at the various desks cubicles amongst the rows and rows of similar cubicles, I observed that they were all decorated differently. Some with photos stuck onto the cubicle wall boards, some with too much documents stacked on the table, and one of them had a cute-looking pillow on the table.
The atmosphere was mostly quiet, but the comfortable kind of quiet. Not the deathly silence where if you sneeze everyone will stare at you. I guess that's what the environment of the newsroom is like: quiet enough for you to focus on writing your news stories.
Can't take photos of the newsroom office though. It's not a tourist attraction. :\
So anyway, went to the main office of ST Picture Desk (above a flight of spiral staircase). The office was just like downstairs, only brighter, smaller and perhaps more cluttered.
So after a briefing by Mr G about what our jobs during the YOG is like and also a quick interview, we were introduced to Rachel, this capable-and-highly-regarded-for-her-skills-and-role-in-ST-Picture-Desk-office lady.
BTW, A and G discussed about Y (withdrew from internship cos' of clashing schedules) in front of us. They were saying that it's difficult to get a media pass at YOG cos' the name has been submitted long ago and that security is tight there. They also said that course director wrote an apology email to SPH. But they made it sound as if it's our fault (as students) for being fickle-minded. But the notification for the internship to start on 06 Aug only came on the previous Thursday!
Oh, and we realised that we would get paid. *starts tapping on the calculator how much to spend and how much to save*
Then there was a 30min break. Krista and I went up to lvl 5 -- rooftop cafeteria!!! :D
So we got there, got some breakfast (Krista's: 2 siew mai + Marigold strawberry yoghurt drink + sandwich. Mine: Char siew pau + Magnolia blueberry yoghurt drink. Krista asked: "What's the difference between these 2 brands of yoghurt drinks?!"). And the uncle at the paying counter was really nice. (:
Went down for training at 1000.
Training was quite manageable for the updating of YOG photos on both sides of the system. Must remember the sequence carefully though...
So afterwards, met Mr N, and he briefed us about our YOG duties, and talked with us a bit about our job and what's the venue like. And he also said that once we get our media pass by today, we would go to the YOG venue itself. At about 2+ or 3+. We'll be working shirfts.
Then, lunch time. Since we might only be going to the venue in the later afternoon, lunch time was very long.
Krista and I were not very hungry. Went up to the cafeteria anyway to hang out. And woah, the fruits sold at the cafeteria were so good! They were so sweet~! And today was sort of like my first time eating yellow-fleshed kiwi. おいしい～！
Then, Krista decided to called Ms E to tell her about our progress. Guess what? She was on her way to SPH. -.-" Both of us were like, erm is she trying to check on us?
So anyway, went down to meet her. And she asked if there was a lot of students training with us. We said, "no." (Read: ironic. Note: she and Ms K told us that we had to come for this training cos' SPH will be training us with the rest of the students selected for this internship. --> turns out, the 'other students' interning have other jobs to do.)
Then here comes the part where I feel the adults do things with a selfish motive.
Ms E went up to the main office with us, and looked for Ms A. Then, there they went again saying how apologetic the school was cos' the student withdrew at the last minute, and how Y should have been more considerate cos' the school needs to get the various dates (e.g. when the internship should start, when the media passes would come, and etc) from SPH, and SPH needs to get the dates and administrative approval from the international YOG committee and etc.
So basically, the adults were saying that Y was at fault for not considering the "bigger picture".
But Krista has a point: as advisors for this internship, shouldn't you have at least warned us of all these (earlier date of starting cos' of training required, difficulty in getting approval dates, and etc)? So now you're blaming us for being narrow-minded?!
Hello, we have our own lives to lead! Our daily lives don't just revolve around school. Y has her own reputation and her part-time job to keep!
So yeah. Whatever.
After sending Ms E off (hurr, goodbye!), we went up to the cafeteria to have proper lunch. But I was telling Krista that I felt guilty, cos' my email to Ms K indirectly caused Y to decide to withdraw from this... *sigh*
Again, it was a long long long time to spend before we were gonna head out to the YOG venue.
So basically, we talked crap. I was fascinated with Krista's iPhone and she's fascinated (and partly obsessed) about twitter apps on iPhone. Yup, you get the picture how we spent the long hours.
Then at 3+, went down again, and were introduced to Siti (also wearing green) who was just called to replace in this internship. And there would be another guy from SP who would come for this internship at a later date.
So we headed down to YOG venue.
I'm telling you, MBS is a super ulu (deserted) place though there are people visiting the mall and the huge hotel is just opposite. Can't even walk from the nearest MRT station. -.-"
Anyway, that place is, to summarise, huge and a tourist attraction.
All the stores seen there are branded (Chanel, Gucci, Banana Republic, Coach, and etc) and there's even a huge boxed-up poster from Chanel mounted on one of the mall's walls. Only the basement is filled with eateries that are more affordable.
Went up and up, and came to the first YOG place. Quite empty.
BUT... the media room hall (where the journalists would be gathered to write the news, call, and etc) was HUUGGGEEEE. The moment I went in, I was like "woah!" cos' of the almost endless rows of tables that have cables, plugs and telephones.
Our work station? In a cosy room, with lockers. (:
So basically, after a tour of our workplace and other places connected to it (e.g. the "snack" room where the light snacks are *ahem* cream puffs), we were done. Free to explore and to go home.
The 3 of us got lost (in the mall!). And... found our way out (thanks to the huge Chanel boxed-up poster on wall board that I mentioned just now). :p
Really hoping very hard that the attachment will be ok. >.