My first day at NTU

One of the great German traditions I enjoyed in Marburg was the "First Day" email. When someone left the group, they always wrote an email describing their first day at the new job. I continued the tradition and here is what I wrote. I'm gonna miss those krauts.

My first day at NTU-Singapore

My first day started out with a meeting to the Office of Human Resources. Here they describe the benefits you are entitled to, how to get you RFID Name card (this opens all the doors, no key involved), and what will generally get you fired (like downloading porn….darn). The benefits are actually quite interesting—they give you a special account with a value of 2300 SGD (Singapore Dollars). This account can be used to reimburse yourself for hospital copayments, dental expenses, and even HOLIDAY EXPENSES. I love that part. Up to 200 SGD of my account can be used to reimburse any travel expenses, since going on vacation is therapeutic. Airline tickets cost just about that much from Singapore to Thailand, so I know where I am going next. I can also use it for acupuncture and other Traditional Chinese Medicines.

After the meeting, I went to get my RFID Name Card. This card acts as my key to all the doors I am allowed to go in. I did some of my own experiments with the new RFID Name card. I put it in my wallet and then put my wallet in my back jeans pocket. I found I could then open doors just by hitting my ass next to the card reader. It makes my ass look magical. The Chinese coworkers were not impressed however, but then again, most of them are too short for their asses to reach. They lack the magical ass needed.

Next was an introduction to my new office cubicle. Compared to Marburg and Minneapolis, I was in heaven. I received a new desk, new cushy chair, Quad Core 2 Intel computer, Laser printer, my own office phone, file cabinet, and a bundle of office supplies. I got so excited over my own office phone I called myself on my cell phone—but found the guy on the cell a jerk so I hung up. It all looked so nice and perfect; I wanted to sleep there, right on the desk. Unfortunately, I have few excuses of why work can’t be done now. Now I want to rent the Office Space DVD and make it complete.

After getting a short nap in at my desk (had to test it out), I had a afternoon coffee break with my boss. He is a pretty laid back Indian who asked how everything was going. He said the only thing I needed to get done the next week was to familiarize myself with the projects (literature search) and try to settle in into my new office. Next week I have three meetings, Monday through Wednesday, to meet the group members that are involved in the three projects I will be working with, which includes drug eluting balloons, drug eluting stents, and ocular implants. I have a lot to read in the next week, with a few proposals to write too.

That was the end of the workday, but not the end of the day’s drama. The bet in Marburg was to see if I could last more than two days without ‘police intervention’. Well I am proud to say that in this land of rules, rules, and more rules, I was able to escape the attention of the police, so far. But unfortunately it hasn’t been going so well with the PRC Chinese roommates. After six days of living with the Chinese family of three, they politely asked me if I wanted to leave early from my contract—like in the next week. I guess I haven’t been so good with the rules at the apartment, or so conformist, as I like to think about it. What finally scared them was some prescription drugs I had to store in the refrigerator—but there were scared they were real ‘street’ drugs. I even got a translator to explain what it really was, but they weren’t satisfied, so I have to look for another apartment now. What a bummer.

Hope all is well with you and feel free to visit in Singapore anytime you want. I’ll show you where you can find the tastiest frog legs.