Part 1 and 1/4: Working Culture (Ms Shortie's perspective)

Well, Mr Fatty had given his view about the working culture here, so now’s my turn.

I’d definitely have to agree with the going home on time, coffee breaks and generous praises. It is really OK to go home at 5pm, 4.45pm or even 4.30pm if you have finished your work and nobody is going to say anything about it. There was once when I had to stay back to make international calls (because of the time difference) and by 5.30pm the office was empty except my senior manager and I. He only realised I was still in office when he was about to leave and told me “You should go home, its Friday. Make arrangements with your manager to make the call at another time so you don’t have to stay back. You shouldn’t be in the office at this hour”. But it’s only 5.30pm!

On coffee breaks, I often see people in the kitchen (they call it the “kitchen” over here; “pantry” is where you store food - one of the numerous difference in NZ) chit chatting, reading the newspapers, having a cuppa. And it’s ok. At first, I didn’t dare to take breaks because I was afraid that people might say “she must be too free, nothing to do…” (typical Singaporean) but nobody says anything here. Sometimes I go to the café across the road and I see my senior manager there having his cuppa as well.

I get really pai seh when my manager says “thank you for your work done this week” or “great job, this work is awesome” or “I’m so sorry I have to trouble you to follow up on this…”. I often don’t know how to react. I mean, it’s my job and I was just doing my work, and it’s not like I worked super hard. But managers are really appreciative here and it makes me want to do more for them.  

On discrimination, I haven’t experienced any in my work place. Count me lucky that there is a fellow Singaporean in my office but I’m the only Asian in my team of 20 pax. I feel that I have been given the same opportunity to perform as the rest. I have also been invited to BBQs, Christmas parties, Beer o’clock on Fridays, etc. I haven’t attended any Beer o’clock sessions as I don’t drink but I still get invited almost every Friday. In fact, being Chinese has given me an advantage because I could communicate with their chinese stakeholders. Many times, my colleagues tell me that they wished they could speak another language other than English. China is NZ's second largest trading partner and us Singaporeans being bilingual helps a lot. Take for example something simple like arranging for a courier from China to NZ, I would have to make the call because the person at the other end do not speak a single word of English. Or if a potential chinese investor sends an email, nobody would be able to read it and they might just lose the opportunity for business. During my younger days in Singapore, I used to winch whenever it's time to attend chinese lesson (听写，默写 and whatever 写) but now I’m glad that I am bilingual, and I give credit to the SG educational system for that. You’d really come to appreciate that knowing two languages gives you an edge above the rest. Oh the irony! My Chinese actually improved while I'm in NZ. 哈哈!

Ms Shortie