An interesting reflection.

*Slow Down Culture*

It's been 18 years since I joined Volvo, a Swedish company.
Working for them has proven to be an interesting experience.
Any project here takes 2 years to be finalized, even if the idea is simple and brilliant.
It's a rule.

Globalize processes have caused in us (all over the world) a general sense of searching for immediate results. Therefore, we have come to possess a need to see immediate results.
This contrasts greatly with the slow movements of the Swedish. They, on the other hand, debate, debate,debate, hold x quantity of meetings and work with a slowdown scheme. At the end, this always yields better results.

Said in another words:
1. Sweden is about the size of San Pablo, a state in Brazil.
2. Sweden has 2 million inhabitants.
3. Stockholm, has 500,000 people.
4. Volvo, Escania, Ericsson, Electrolux, Nokia are some of its renownedcompanies.
Volvo supplies the NASA.

The first time I was in Sweden, one of my colleagues picked me up at the hotel every morning. It was September, bit cold and snowy. We would arrive early at the company and he would park far away from the entrance(2000 employees drive their car to work). The first day, I didn't say anything, either the second or third. One morning I asked, "Do you have a fixed parking space? I've noticed we park far from the entrance even when there are no other cars in the lot." To which he replied, "Since we're here early we'll have time to walk, and whoever gets in late will be late and need a place closer to the door. Don't you think?"
Imagine my face.

Nowadays, there's a movement in Europe name Slow Food. This movement establishes that people should eat and drink slowly, with enough time to taste their food, spend time with the family, friends, without rushing. Slow Food is against its counterpart: the spirit of Fast Food and what it stands for as a lifestyle. Slow Food is the basis for a bigger movement called Slow Europe, as mentioned by Business Week.

Basically, the movement questions the sense of "hurry" and "craziness" generated by globalization, fueled by the desire of "having in quantity" (life status) versus "having with quality", "life quality" or the "quality of being". French people, even though they work 35 hours per week, are more productive than Americans or British. Germans have established 28.8 hour workweeks and have seen their productivity been driven up by 20%.

This slow attitude has brought forth the US's attention, pupils of the fast and the "do it now!". This no-rush attitude doesn't represent doing less or having a lower productivity. It means working and doing things with greater quality, productivity, perfection, with attention to detail and less stress. It means re-establishing family values, friends, free and leisure time. Taking the "now", present and concrete, versus the "global", undefined and anonymous. It means taking humans' essential values, the simplicity of living. It stands for a less coercive work environment, more happy, lighter and more productivity where humans enjoy doing what they know best and how to do.

It's time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious quality with no-rush that will increase productivity and the quality of products and services, without losing the essence of spirit.

In the movie, Scent of a Woman, there's a scene where Al Pacino asks a girl to dance and she replies, "I can't, my boyfriend will be here any minute now". To which Al responds, "A life is lived in an instant". Then they dance to a tango.

Many of us live our lives running behind time, but we only reach it when we die of a heart attack or in a car accident rushing to be on time. Others are so anxious of living the future that they forget to live the present, which is the only time that truly exists. We all have equal time throughout the world. No one has more or less. The difference lies in how each one of us does with our time. We need to live each moment.

As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans".

Congratulations for reading till the end of this message. There are many who will have stopped in the middle so as not to waste time in this globalize world.

.:Jean Lee blogged on 11:49 AM:.
...
Finally i see more sun?

Went for a short Suntan at Sentosa today, also to try the new Sentosa Express.
Feels like taking a LRT though.

But seriously, i deserved a break after 2 nights of torture?

Starting working at SanoBar at onefullerton for fri and sat.
The first day was shit i tell you. The whole management, system, workers are all damn fcuk up.
There were not proper order chits, (we have to write orders on pieces of paper and poststicks and pass to the cashier), the senior staff were 'ordering' me and my friend to work FOR them while they slack away, and talk about MISCOUMMUNICATION. Senior staff consist of 1 Arabian and 1 Filipino (auntie) who, doesn't seem to understand proper english, doesnl;t really SPEAK proper english.. and really, i don't know what's really on their minds.

And the chef has this fcuk badassed ATTITUDE problem, he can't seem to differentiate ENGLISH and ARABIAN, and DEMANDS the runners (i was the runner on my first day) to be there all the time, report straight to kitchen after serving, heck care all customers who's trying to grab the attention of staffs (mainly the Arabian and the filipino) and just wait and bring food out. No questions asked. Even when i repeat the table number he has to SHOUT back and alwayd 'GO, GO! and come back!' He hands dishes in the tray and left some on the table, so i initiated to put the food on the tray only to get back 'What the fcuk are you doing? You don't take any food on the table, only those i put on the tray, now GO!'

Yes, it's 'What the Fuck.'

I was thinking the same. 'What the fuck.'

And he can;t make up his mind whether to bring out all the food or wait for the rest of the food.
I asked 'So can i bring out to which table now?'
"table 20 now go"
and off i go only to..
'Wait wait"
"Take this take this, and 2 bread, wait for bread'
You were the one who ask me to go and now ask me come back take something else.

And when i repeat the number, or to confirm if i can serve,
he would give me this irritated and puzzle look like 'Can't you understand what i said?'

I felt so much to tell him on his face,
"Yes, you MORON. You don't speak clearly, are you even speaking English? and please DECIDE and STOP YELLING at people!'

No smiles, always in a badass mood, and thinks he's the top of the world. That's the Chef at SanoBar, Amine is his name.

Wait for the next episode.

The Bastard-Badass Boss.

.:Jean Lee blogged on 6:21 PM:.
...
it's another overcast, cloudy day.
light rain falls..
cold wind blows..

Weather has been so erractical these days.

Ever since the school term starts, it's been a busy week for me.
Setting rules, managing projects, ccas, preparing lessons..
Equipments.. Meetings, meetings..

Part time work straight after school..

At least it's keeping me (and my mind) busy.
If not. I'll probably be out of my mind. Worrying.. Thinking..
Loneliness is hard to bare.

Not that i'm overworking myself.
My life has been so delicated to work (and part time) that if i stop, i'm gonna be screwed.

Don't worry.. I'll have sufficient rest. =)

'missing you in the rain'

.:Jean Lee blogged on 1:34 PM:.
...