I’ve been transferred from Tampines Plaza (TP) to Millenia Tower (MT) office since Tuesday. Actually all 5 of us. Well I am against it but I have no choice. Haaay, comfort days are gone and I’m really sad about this.
My transfer means longer travel time. For 9 months, my route is just a short 30-min away to the office, including the time I wait for the bus and mrt to arrive. A bus ride to Tanah Merah MRT station, alight after 2 rail stations then it’s a 5 min-walk to TP office. No sweat, easy. Going to MT, is a hell lot of time and energy. MRT is full of regular commuters every weekday morning. Although MRT travel time will only take 30 minutes or less, I am standing all the way down to City Hall. I have a small chance of seating since most of the people are alighting at City Hall station. Also, there are many strivers eyeing and waiting for someone to leave their seat, including men. Yes adamant men, male men! From what I have witnessed and experienced for 4 days commuting to MT, it is very unlikely that a man would give way to women or older people to be seated. There was one time a man promptly went his way to a vacated seat. So he was comfortably seating while in front of him was an old lady standing. San ka pa? This is really a turn off, big-time turn off! I never saw them hesitate. Buo ang loob na makaupo! Grabe talaga! And since I am spending morning rush hour at MRT, part of my diurnal dose are people who are easily get annoyed when you accidentally bumped into them.
After City Hall station, in one of the exits at Raffles Place, there’s a free shuttle bus ride going to MT. Usually there’s a long queue but since couple of buses are servicing, it’s not pretty long to wait. The next rush is at MT lobby. Many people are waiting for elevators and I can’t just walk through stairs because our office is at the 7th floor. When I was in TP, I usually take stairs since our office is at the 2nd floor. Now, reaching my desk on time when I am 3-min away from being late was made impossible.
Most of the time, I beat 9:15am check-in time, beyond this I’ll be late and I should call or text my supervisor to inform him that I will be late, any practical reasons will do. We are required to because when you try to check-in late you’ll be asked if you have supervisor’s approval. All of my lates before have no supervisor’s approval. This is one thing that I can’t compel myself to do, calling or texting my supervisor because I am 1-10 mins late?! Ang oa kasi buti sana kung 1-hr late ako. But I think I will be forced to comply this time because I am in the same building where my bosses are. My first late in MT however has no supervisor’s approval, ayoko pa ring magtext e, next time na lang ulit. Reason, elevator traffic.
I will definitely miss TP. I will no longer enjoy the luxury of not answering the phone when I don’t want to, when someone is calling and it’s lunch time, or when I’m on my way getting ready to go home. I can’t just put the receiver away when I’m irritated with the person on the other line! All these are taken away from me 
