Category: Business/Career

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Teaching Responsibility

I’m not a perfect parent – in fact – far from it – but one thing I know for sure – is that teaching your kid to own up and taking responsibility for thing that he or she did – is a very important step to growing up and living an honest life. I find it so sad – when a parent starts pointing fingers at the other kid – when the kid is found stealing from our store or doing something bad. According the the parent – it’s not his kid – but the other kid he is with – and the same goes for the other kid’s parent – when I spoke with them about it. It’s easy to point fingers at the other family – the other kid – but what does it teach your kid?

Yesterday, another parent was in with her kid – wanting to rent a game – but the kid had a $30 late charge from a previous game rental. The mother said – nope she wasn’t paying for it – because it wasn’t her lates *slap forehead* – walked out – but called back and insisted that we shouldn’t have rented the game under her account but her ex-husband’s *slap forehead*. So what does it teach that kid? what would i do?

Firstly, I would pay up the amount – because it’s my kid – but I’m letting my kid go easy – that’s for sure – and I won’t be renting another game for her for a long time – till she works it off – by doing dishes or laundry or something that needs doing around the house or even the store in our case. But to argue with the store owners – to make it the store owner’s fault – now that’s the wrong way to teach your kid. Teaching responsibility should begin right now – not when your kid is 21 or 50 – it begins as soon as your kid is born. Being a responsible parent brings up responsible kids – try to remember that the next time you point fingers at other people’s kid.

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A Tour Of Our Local Hospital

The school brought Chloe for a tour of our local hospital and of course – the kid came back with loads of questions for us. From why there are rack mount in the hospital to all about the lab and what she saw in the lab. And of course the baby rooms where all the babies were kept after the babies were born. So like any parents – we try to explain all the details to her – as far as we know how.

It’s amazing that school are so proactive in showing kids everything around them – from apple farm to museums and the firefighter’s office – I would enjoy it tremendously too if I was a kid all over again. Back home every excursion the school arranges- we had to pay for them – and also we had to bring our own food for lunch and break time. But not here in Canada – everything is paid for by the school and even the school buses arranged are all paid for – so yes! Canadian students are definitely much more lucky, therefore, it would be hard for me to think of bringing Chloe home and having her study in Singapore where the competition is a lot more competitive than around here – it’s pretty relax mode over here in Canada.

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Working In Canada

We were at a local fast food place the other day – and it was an Asian who served us – this person is not young – in fact i believed she had been in Canada for a long time. But as soon as she started to serve us – even I cannot really understand her very well, so I quickly ordered and went on my way. Many people had asked me if it was easy getting work in Canada – and even though like that girl I saw at this fast food place – I can imagine that our accent may be a little bit of a hindrance – just to get a job in any good places. Even though I pride myself as having English as my first language – there are still some people who claimed they cannot understand me at my own store. So when I think about getting a job out of the comfort of the store – when Chloe is older – i too wonder if it would be a hindrance or a setback. Should I start talking like the “ang mohs” Canadians? should I be more Canadianized? But I do like the way i speak – like many people would be stubborn and exclaimed but yes! I think if i want to get a job outside of this comfort zoen – I better start speaking like a Canadian – if not a American eh.

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Going Paperless

You all know we own our own business right? sometimes I wished the spouse would go paperless and get the document management software for the entire store – after all, it is for the good in the long run. Instead of hunting down for files like the old fashioned way – and making sure they are filed properly – by going paperless – every computer repaired for the customer/s is stored safely and can be easily called up when needed.

At the moment, if we needed to look up for an old information on a customer – we still have to look for the paper that was filed – so it can be a little troublesome – especially for me – since I don’t really know where all the documents are filed. So next year, when the store isn’t so busy during the lat winter months – I’m going to get the spouse to look into the software again.

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Christmas Mailing

Christmas is just round the corner and we see lots of companies sending out direct mail printing for their catalogs and brochures not only to our home but the store. And it certainly has made shopping a lot easier for us – because we know exactly what to get and how much we are willing to spend. Chloe is able to circle the things she wants from Santa and it sure made things easier for us too – as we didn’t have to bring her to a crowded store – and make her choose from a few dozens of choices. Maybe, next year – we should do the same for our store too – send out these brochures way before Christmas to customers too – after all, I liked browsing thru’ all the brochures and catalogs that I received – and it sure made shopping easier for me.

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Black Friday Deals

Every year after Thanksgiving in the US – you hear and see people lining up at electronic stores to get the best deals for Christmas presents. I am sure you would do that too – if you knew that the deals are like up to 50% off. This is one day – we can’t resist buying electronic goodies. I have been eying to buy a 24″ LCD monitor for Christmas – now I don’t have to wait because at Cyber Monday I can get it right now with free shipping for $141!!!! sweeeettt!!! can’t believe it right? and a wireless keyboard and mouse for under $20 !!! No line ups – no waiting in the freezing cold wind! win- win situation for us here – plus we only shop when there is a good deal on – and you can’t beat this one here.

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Busy At The Store

While most business in this town is affected by the lack of tourism this year – we have been blessed – we continue to be busy most days at the store. This year, we also see a new trend in our customer/s because of the close down of a movie/game rental place in town – we’ve been busy on that front too. So much so that my exercising had been quite irregular. I don’t like feeling fat – I don’t like feeling tired at all, now if only someone can recommend me some weight loss pills that work for sure – i would go get them. I’m not against exercising – but having to work – cook two meals for the kid – and then having to come home and do tons of housework – bathe her and then do her homework with her – leaves me very little time and strength. Some help is good of course – not like i’m going to over do it – just some help to get me started again – and feeling good about myself. Time to go talk to the pharmacist.

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A Celebration

A customer who turned into a good friend of the family – came in to announce the birth of his newborn son and gave PB some jamaican cigars today. Very nice of him – but since PB doesn’t smoke – we are giving it to his father, see good cigars never goes to waste – there is always someone we know who loves cigars. Which prompts us to buy cigars for Christmas presents for our extended families and friends. While some people like myself don’t like the smell of cigarettes – I really don’t mind the smell of cigars – pretty weird eh? but yes! the smell of cigars remind me of an aroma smell.

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Keeping My Child Safe

Like any parent – I’m a bit paranoid – if I cannot see Chloe – even at the store. She may be at a corner playing by herself when our store is full – and I would panic. Are you this way? I know I am a helicopter mom and also have anxiety problems – but even with security camera at our store – as soon as I don’t see her – I would panic.

While other parents let their child run around the park freely – I keep a very close eyes on Chloe and she cannot go behind trees or the huge garbage bins they have in the park. But like all kids – they like to do their “own” stuff with other kids. So i figured – getting a child locator may be a good investment for me. At least I don’t have to worry when I bring her home to Singapore – as the mall is a lot more crowded than they are here. I can’t hang a security camera on her – but I can certainly put a tiny locator on her dress or jeans all the time right? what do you think? good idea eh? I really think that getting it will give me a peace of mind – and like my oldest friend said – if money can solve a problem – then it’s no longer a problem.

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The Man & His Gadgets

PB decided that he would get an iphone this time since his cellphone’s contract is ending soon. Why he needs an iphone? he said it’s easier when we need to be out of town for a short while – we don’t need to bring our netbook – we can use the iphone to check our emails and go online. Killing two birds with one stone – so he said – plus it didn’t cost him an extra – just another 3 years contract – which he normally does anyways – no lost to him – he said. But with this new iphone – he will be getting an iphone warranty because knowing him – he may just break the glass screen from sitting on it – when he forgets to take it out of his pocket. I’m kinda excited to see the iphone too – after all, it’s a new gadget for me too – hehe!