AFTER successfully fininshed 100 acre rice project, I was busy with other business at the same place and don't see when I can escape from this forest. Getting new friends from nearby villages makes me feel at home and I am no longer boring to work this agricultural related projects. I have to find a suitable market for my farm's products like eggs, vegetable, watermalon, etc. So I could able to close with business people from that region. I learnt a lot from dealing with business people and it makes me mature a bit compare to my age. I was about 22 years old by the time I worked there as a manager. Actually I am much more look like general worker than a manager bcz I have no assistant and need to do everything A to Z by myself. Everyday I would need to wake up early and arrange everything to make sure all the work are in order. Anyway anyhow the time passed by and oneday I got a message from my family to go back college.
My institute despatched a letter of quilification to make further study for my degree course. I was confused by the time I first heard about that news and later I decided to agree with my sister's suggestion. So I replaced my place with my close friend, handover all running works and left the office for my further studies. I was never considered to get back school someday since I graduated my first diploma from institute. As life is unforeseeable, I do rebecome a student at the newly open GTC (Government Technological College) at Kyauk Se'. I don't know if I am interested in studying like before since I have reached deep in working area. But I'll try to do my best to get a good result in my studying and joined my old-institute-mates there.
SEEING BACK MY OLD FRIENDS MAKE ME HAPPY AND EVEN YOUNGER MIND.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Learning never end
AFTER getting necessary man power and machine fleet. We enter to the season for rice plantation. We go through a lot difficulties and solve them out together as a unit. At some points, I'ld learn new lesson and realize about the people more than before. Being a young manager, I am not good enough but hard working. I, in particular case, cannot oversee the incoming unseen things to cover our interest and I knew that one small wrong decision makes a huge loss in term of time and money. It makes me different person and I try to settle and familiar with the current job despite I was trained to become an engineer.
AFTER planting stage, we are much freedom as we don't need to rush anymore like initiative step. What we need to do is make sure water are retaining in the field and give peddy tree required fertilizer periodically. And hire few people to monitor incoming cows and keep them on the bay. Meantime boss suggested me to do another business at the same time. It was to buy baby chicken and guard until it offer eggs. I easily agree with him as I find myself it's boring not to have enough job in the forest. After making decision, I started to go and study nearby village farm and seek for advice. After collecting information, I begin construction for the chicken quarter with battery case. It's another challenge for me as I never built before the bldg for animals. Luckily local carpenter are much familiar with constructing such a kind of bldg and I just tell how I want to build and gave them a draft drawing.
The longer I stay there, the more friends I got around the village. I usually went and visit to their own business and I noticed that their family business are not bad. They don't need to go out for work and they earn a good money from their own business. What they need to do is just take care of their own farm. The whole village ppl are expert in doing flower plants and every house has a garden to support their expense. After learning their business, I decided to do the same business like them. And proposed to boss and he passed it to me. I did a lot different plant that are favaurite in market. Among are watermalon, rose, mushroom, tomato, long and short beam, Onion, Chilli, Gourt, etc. So my office produce a lot vegetable, flowers, mushroom, egg, etc. Everyday ppl come and buy vegetable or other items and my office become crowdy. I also earned small money everyday and can save in some area. I enjoy to eat fresh vegetable and eggs everyday and so do my staffs. Since I do vegetable and flowers business, I needed to hire a lot daily workers and also need to find to pay them. I begin to happy despite it was so tired.
3 month later, the rice field changed to golden colour and we prepared to cut them and collect in the store house. I could produce about 5,000 bucket (tinn) for all sort of rice. We tested some special rice to present to other boss and officials. I was happy to see them successfully cut and collect in the store house. In the last day, I make a party for all workers and rent video to entertain them over night. I gave them dinner, drinks and lucky draws as well and they all are over joy that night. It takes me around 5 months from start to end. The outcome is not bad for an engineer. I do please with my workdone and I'll never forget that tough day in my life. I'ld suspect if I am asked to do the same jobs again now..Anyway I have gained a good experience in life and felt that I have contributed / committed to our peoples by some ways. Because all the rice would be sold out to traders and they'll distribute in the market. Finally I do realise one thing that,
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE TO A WILLING MIND.
AFTER planting stage, we are much freedom as we don't need to rush anymore like initiative step. What we need to do is make sure water are retaining in the field and give peddy tree required fertilizer periodically. And hire few people to monitor incoming cows and keep them on the bay. Meantime boss suggested me to do another business at the same time. It was to buy baby chicken and guard until it offer eggs. I easily agree with him as I find myself it's boring not to have enough job in the forest. After making decision, I started to go and study nearby village farm and seek for advice. After collecting information, I begin construction for the chicken quarter with battery case. It's another challenge for me as I never built before the bldg for animals. Luckily local carpenter are much familiar with constructing such a kind of bldg and I just tell how I want to build and gave them a draft drawing.
The longer I stay there, the more friends I got around the village. I usually went and visit to their own business and I noticed that their family business are not bad. They don't need to go out for work and they earn a good money from their own business. What they need to do is just take care of their own farm. The whole village ppl are expert in doing flower plants and every house has a garden to support their expense. After learning their business, I decided to do the same business like them. And proposed to boss and he passed it to me. I did a lot different plant that are favaurite in market. Among are watermalon, rose, mushroom, tomato, long and short beam, Onion, Chilli, Gourt, etc. So my office produce a lot vegetable, flowers, mushroom, egg, etc. Everyday ppl come and buy vegetable or other items and my office become crowdy. I also earned small money everyday and can save in some area. I enjoy to eat fresh vegetable and eggs everyday and so do my staffs. Since I do vegetable and flowers business, I needed to hire a lot daily workers and also need to find to pay them. I begin to happy despite it was so tired.
3 month later, the rice field changed to golden colour and we prepared to cut them and collect in the store house. I could produce about 5,000 bucket (tinn) for all sort of rice. We tested some special rice to present to other boss and officials. I was happy to see them successfully cut and collect in the store house. In the last day, I make a party for all workers and rent video to entertain them over night. I gave them dinner, drinks and lucky draws as well and they all are over joy that night. It takes me around 5 months from start to end. The outcome is not bad for an engineer. I do please with my workdone and I'll never forget that tough day in my life. I'ld suspect if I am asked to do the same jobs again now..Anyway I have gained a good experience in life and felt that I have contributed / committed to our peoples by some ways. Because all the rice would be sold out to traders and they'll distribute in the market. Finally I do realise one thing that,
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE TO A WILLING MIND.
Initial stage of 100 acres peddy project
NEXT DAY boss and I went to the actual site for review and met three captains who are working at the training school and they all graduated from Pyinmana(Yesin) Agri-University. Since they got information from their minister and they welcome us and assisted in what we needed. We draft the items to do as follow:
1) clearing the suitable place for company office
2) recruiting the workers in both permanent basic and temporary basic
3) deal with local carpenter for office and related structure
4) purchase the required construction material
5) purchase the machines we need in cultivating
6) enquiry the peddy seeds with the help of farmer and captains
For sure, I am only one person who need to do all the list and automatically became manager of this project without doubt. Boss asked me to shift my things to army quarter tomorrow and do all necessary items. He requested captains to give me a room in their bachelar quarter and I was needed to stay with them for a period before my temporary office is finished. There are so many challenges in every items since I have no experience with this kind of business. The assignment I am given is totally alien to me and I have to overcome this.
I need to consider workers (farmer and daily wages) salary and wages and it's not easy to do so. If my offer is low, I can't get a necessary workers and it'll make us difficult in starting project. On the other hand they(villagers) demanded me a better salary than usual as they realise we don't know current market price. This is really challenges to me to decide within a relatively short period. The site is nearby hmaw bi township and there are about 5 villages around my site. I expected the villagers would be honest and simple at first. Later I understand that they are not at all like upper burmese villages. Since they are near to the yangon, they are modernized in most area and they have a lot rooms to be spent with money. So their life-style change accordingly. Anyway I choose two permanent farmers with the recommendation of captain. One is karen ethnic and another is burmese. But I have to hire so many daily wages workers from nearby villages and asked them to supervise them in what they working. I don't know in their nature of work and mostly rely on these two farmers. I can say they, two ppl, became my adviser at early stages.
Beside farmers and workers, I have to employ for machine drivers and office staffs. After building my site 2 story office, I started to bring in tractor drivers from yangon and they brought in together with their wife. So their wife automatically become in staff who cook for our foods and also buy food items in market with daily basic. Since the rain is already arrived, we have no time to waste time and we tried to repair the plot by clearing wild grass, weed, etc and make sure all boarder lines are strong enough to retain water when rain fall down. I am busy with negotiating with the village heads for hiring workers when I started to cultivate.
Amazingly I focus on things and started to settle. I try to read agricultural book at night and some occasion I need to ask captains for their advice. Luckily they help me in what I need and they requested me to hire their students with daily basic. So I could able to return their gratitude by agreeing their request. My office is located admist of big trees (thi ho) and surrounding area is so messy. So we found snakes oftenly and at night we can able to rely on battery light until I could get the electricity. We invested a vast amount of money in the earlier stage and we don't know what are awaiting to spend ahead. Fortunately my boss gave me all necessary money to make this project successful. Actually, the farms are wild and sandy soil and so it'ld be difficult to change it fertile soil within a short time. During army control time, they don't cultivate for all 100 acres farm as they unable to risk with losing investment. So they only plant on the bank of small stream. There is a small stream at the middle of the farms and the farms are not plain enough to plant peddy. It makes us double burden in retaining water. As u know, water is essential in planting rice and we need to change a lot to make sure they are good enough to retain water.
Since I get there, I have no time to take a break and always worry about with the outcome of this project. As I know how much we already invested in this project and I must do my best so that I can give back money to my boss. One lucky is boss always encourage me by saying that "don't worry about money, if we can finish this project successfully, it is fine", so I felt a bit ease and on the other hand I want to retrieve the money we invested in this project. I don't know how much this take me to get end. I might have to study in new chapter and try to forget I was an engineer before. I don't know when can I escape from this and just hope all the best of this project.
IF YOU WERE IN MY SHOE, WILL YOU FOLLOW MY STEP?
1) clearing the suitable place for company office
2) recruiting the workers in both permanent basic and temporary basic
3) deal with local carpenter for office and related structure
4) purchase the required construction material
5) purchase the machines we need in cultivating
6) enquiry the peddy seeds with the help of farmer and captains
For sure, I am only one person who need to do all the list and automatically became manager of this project without doubt. Boss asked me to shift my things to army quarter tomorrow and do all necessary items. He requested captains to give me a room in their bachelar quarter and I was needed to stay with them for a period before my temporary office is finished. There are so many challenges in every items since I have no experience with this kind of business. The assignment I am given is totally alien to me and I have to overcome this.
I need to consider workers (farmer and daily wages) salary and wages and it's not easy to do so. If my offer is low, I can't get a necessary workers and it'll make us difficult in starting project. On the other hand they(villagers) demanded me a better salary than usual as they realise we don't know current market price. This is really challenges to me to decide within a relatively short period. The site is nearby hmaw bi township and there are about 5 villages around my site. I expected the villagers would be honest and simple at first. Later I understand that they are not at all like upper burmese villages. Since they are near to the yangon, they are modernized in most area and they have a lot rooms to be spent with money. So their life-style change accordingly. Anyway I choose two permanent farmers with the recommendation of captain. One is karen ethnic and another is burmese. But I have to hire so many daily wages workers from nearby villages and asked them to supervise them in what they working. I don't know in their nature of work and mostly rely on these two farmers. I can say they, two ppl, became my adviser at early stages.
Beside farmers and workers, I have to employ for machine drivers and office staffs. After building my site 2 story office, I started to bring in tractor drivers from yangon and they brought in together with their wife. So their wife automatically become in staff who cook for our foods and also buy food items in market with daily basic. Since the rain is already arrived, we have no time to waste time and we tried to repair the plot by clearing wild grass, weed, etc and make sure all boarder lines are strong enough to retain water when rain fall down. I am busy with negotiating with the village heads for hiring workers when I started to cultivate.
Amazingly I focus on things and started to settle. I try to read agricultural book at night and some occasion I need to ask captains for their advice. Luckily they help me in what I need and they requested me to hire their students with daily basic. So I could able to return their gratitude by agreeing their request. My office is located admist of big trees (thi ho) and surrounding area is so messy. So we found snakes oftenly and at night we can able to rely on battery light until I could get the electricity. We invested a vast amount of money in the earlier stage and we don't know what are awaiting to spend ahead. Fortunately my boss gave me all necessary money to make this project successful. Actually, the farms are wild and sandy soil and so it'ld be difficult to change it fertile soil within a short time. During army control time, they don't cultivate for all 100 acres farm as they unable to risk with losing investment. So they only plant on the bank of small stream. There is a small stream at the middle of the farms and the farms are not plain enough to plant peddy. It makes us double burden in retaining water. As u know, water is essential in planting rice and we need to change a lot to make sure they are good enough to retain water.
Since I get there, I have no time to take a break and always worry about with the outcome of this project. As I know how much we already invested in this project and I must do my best so that I can give back money to my boss. One lucky is boss always encourage me by saying that "don't worry about money, if we can finish this project successfully, it is fine", so I felt a bit ease and on the other hand I want to retrieve the money we invested in this project. I don't know how much this take me to get end. I might have to study in new chapter and try to forget I was an engineer before. I don't know when can I escape from this and just hope all the best of this project.
IF YOU WERE IN MY SHOE, WILL YOU FOLLOW MY STEP?
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
WHO AM I ?
AFTER successfully finished in meeting for my resignation, I went back to company quarter and pack my things and move out for my previous boss's house. I don't let him know that I already quit the job when I see him at home. His home is not alien to me and so do his family members since I was staying there for a few mth before. So I position my things in the shrine room where I previously stay in. On that evening, we met on the meeting room and he explained about his project and I was surprised.
Boss: R u ok at ur job now?
Me : yes so far ok
Boss: My minister friend and I played golf together last week at City Golf Club.
Me : Soooo
Boss: He brought me somewhere after playing golf.
Me : where is it?
Boss: somewhere nearby hmaw bi township.
Me : then what did you find there?
Boss: It is No.(1) Army Vocational Training School for Agricultural and Poultry under controlled by his supervision.
Me : how does it related with ur new project?
Boss : According to him, the project is always lost at the end of the season after audit every year.
Me : then what is his idea?
Boss : He plan to rent all 100 acre farm field to private sector.
Me : So he wants u to take it that project?
Boss : yes, he purposely brought me there and asked me if I want or not.
Me : then what is your answer to his Q?
Boss : no choice, I have to take it for the sake of long term relationship with him.
Me : But I don't familiar with agricultural sector and pls remember I am civil engineer.
Boss : Don't bother that, I just want you to control my budget and manage labours.
Me : hmmmmm
Boss : He promised me that he'll ordered his technical official to help me all the way in term of technical assistance whenever I need it.
Me : So when will the project start?
Boss : As soon as possible because the rainy season is at the corner now.
Me : hmmm, lets go and visit actual site and decide what we can do in preliminary stage.
Boss : good idea, how about tomorrow? by the way how will you do with your current job?
Me : forget about my job, I am desperate to help you and I already made up my mind.
Boss : Ok, thanks
Finally I realised what kind of project is awaiting me ahead and I even don't know why I become so cheap whenever he, boss, asked me to help. I went to bed by thinking a lot of uncertain tomorrow and that night I hardly sleep overnight with full of worry. I don't know if my family agree or not if I disclose my current situation. Anyway I have to end my plot to the best of my effort.
HELLO TOMORROW, I AM HERE TO COME AND SEE YOU REGARDLESS OF JOBS.
Boss: R u ok at ur job now?
Me : yes so far ok
Boss: My minister friend and I played golf together last week at City Golf Club.
Me : Soooo
Boss: He brought me somewhere after playing golf.
Me : where is it?
Boss: somewhere nearby hmaw bi township.
Me : then what did you find there?
Boss: It is No.(1) Army Vocational Training School for Agricultural and Poultry under controlled by his supervision.
Me : how does it related with ur new project?
Boss : According to him, the project is always lost at the end of the season after audit every year.
Me : then what is his idea?
Boss : He plan to rent all 100 acre farm field to private sector.
Me : So he wants u to take it that project?
Boss : yes, he purposely brought me there and asked me if I want or not.
Me : then what is your answer to his Q?
Boss : no choice, I have to take it for the sake of long term relationship with him.
Me : But I don't familiar with agricultural sector and pls remember I am civil engineer.
Boss : Don't bother that, I just want you to control my budget and manage labours.
Me : hmmmmm
Boss : He promised me that he'll ordered his technical official to help me all the way in term of technical assistance whenever I need it.
Me : So when will the project start?
Boss : As soon as possible because the rainy season is at the corner now.
Me : hmmm, lets go and visit actual site and decide what we can do in preliminary stage.
Boss : good idea, how about tomorrow? by the way how will you do with your current job?
Me : forget about my job, I am desperate to help you and I already made up my mind.
Boss : Ok, thanks
Finally I realised what kind of project is awaiting me ahead and I even don't know why I become so cheap whenever he, boss, asked me to help. I went to bed by thinking a lot of uncertain tomorrow and that night I hardly sleep overnight with full of worry. I don't know if my family agree or not if I disclose my current situation. Anyway I have to end my plot to the best of my effort.
HELLO TOMORROW, I AM HERE TO COME AND SEE YOU REGARDLESS OF JOBS.
Third Resignation In My Life
AFTER SERIES OF CONFLICT among site people and sub-contractors also don't like to work with me, the company directors called meeting and decided to send me back yangon. So I able to return yangon earlier than expected before project finished. I am deployed to a bungalow project that is located at the AD street. I worked for about one month there and my previous boss contacted me to re-join him for his new project. Since I already given him a promise to join him if he grab a project before I joined this current company, I'll have to return to him. I asked him what kind of project is it? He wants me to come home for discussion and I was distraught how to answer his request. I remember that day was eve-day of full moon day of kasone.
After getting his call, I considered how to say him and loose my focus on job. Meanwhile one of director called me from office and told me to wait him to go somewhere else tomorrow. I replied
Me : I am going to take leave tomorrow (full moon day of kasone)
director: shit,,,,why you want to take leave? R you interesting in working job?
Me : yes I am interesting sir, but tomorrow is buddha day and public holiday (In my mind, I need to go my previous boss's house for discussion)
director: hey I know that,,, I also wanted to take a rest, but keep working, if you are not interested in work anymore, GET OUT OF THE JOB
Me : Alright sir, I'll quit
director : by surprising,,,,hey I meann.........
Me : I hang down phone
A few minute later,
Staff: hi bro, director phone for you..
Me : I go and listen to him
director: zin, can you come to office this evening?
Me : ok, no problem
director: I'll wait for you here
Me : alright sir
That evening, I went to head office to see director and I don't know what will happen to me. When I arrive office, I reported to reception staff and wait for him come out from living room. Few minute later, he called me to come in his room
director : what happened to you, man?
Me : Nothing special, sir
director : what did I say wrong then?
Me : No, sir
director: Then why did you say me to resign?
Me : I don't want to work here anymore
director : why? don't you satisfy being sent back to yangon from Than Taung Project?
Me : No, sir
director : Then anyprob with my company?
Me : Yes, I have
director : what's that? can u let me know?
Me : No, I don't want to tell you, sir, sorry
director : But we respect in what you have contribute to our company and don't want to lose you
Me : Thanks to hear that
director : And we felt that it's not fair to us
Me : why sir, it's my right to do so since we didn't sign any agreement before working here.
director : we gave you salary while we don't have enough job in company
Me : Yes I know that but it's your decision to keep me
director : now so many jobs on the pipeline
Me : Yes, I also wanna continue to work but
director : but what??? tell me if you have any hidden matter
Me : I do happy to work in your company and this is my personal problem with my previous boss
director : what do you mean personal problem?
Me : I promised my previous boss to return him when he get back new project
director : does it mean you betral to us?
Me : I do not intend to do so, sir
director : but it's going directly to that
Me : I owe him a lot
director : why?
Me : He helped me giving hospital bills when my mother was sicked and hospitalized.
director : aww I see, then I don't want to try to stop you resign from our company
Me : Thanks for understanding
director : Wish you all the best in future
Me : Thanks indeed, sir. I'll never forget the days I worked together with you.
director : me too
BY THIS WAY, I became jobless immediately without any plan....I just expect for tomorrow meeting with my previous boss who has only money. He is uneducated man and he totally relied to me for his business. I don't know why I am so cheap when he is concerned to my life. He previously pulled me out of my first ever permanent job and made me jobless for several months until I could join this company. Now he demand me to get back and I again easily decide to resign from a good company. I don't know what I have to do in my next project and also don't know when will it start.
FOR SURE I CAN SAY NOW IS, AGAIN, I AM JOBLESS NOW..........
After getting his call, I considered how to say him and loose my focus on job. Meanwhile one of director called me from office and told me to wait him to go somewhere else tomorrow. I replied
Me : I am going to take leave tomorrow (full moon day of kasone)
director: shit,,,,why you want to take leave? R you interesting in working job?
Me : yes I am interesting sir, but tomorrow is buddha day and public holiday (In my mind, I need to go my previous boss's house for discussion)
director: hey I know that,,, I also wanted to take a rest, but keep working, if you are not interested in work anymore, GET OUT OF THE JOB
Me : Alright sir, I'll quit
director : by surprising,,,,hey I meann.........
Me : I hang down phone
A few minute later,
Staff: hi bro, director phone for you..
Me : I go and listen to him
director: zin, can you come to office this evening?
Me : ok, no problem
director: I'll wait for you here
Me : alright sir
That evening, I went to head office to see director and I don't know what will happen to me. When I arrive office, I reported to reception staff and wait for him come out from living room. Few minute later, he called me to come in his room
director : what happened to you, man?
Me : Nothing special, sir
director : what did I say wrong then?
Me : No, sir
director: Then why did you say me to resign?
Me : I don't want to work here anymore
director : why? don't you satisfy being sent back to yangon from Than Taung Project?
Me : No, sir
director : Then anyprob with my company?
Me : Yes, I have
director : what's that? can u let me know?
Me : No, I don't want to tell you, sir, sorry
director : But we respect in what you have contribute to our company and don't want to lose you
Me : Thanks to hear that
director : And we felt that it's not fair to us
Me : why sir, it's my right to do so since we didn't sign any agreement before working here.
director : we gave you salary while we don't have enough job in company
Me : Yes I know that but it's your decision to keep me
director : now so many jobs on the pipeline
Me : Yes, I also wanna continue to work but
director : but what??? tell me if you have any hidden matter
Me : I do happy to work in your company and this is my personal problem with my previous boss
director : what do you mean personal problem?
Me : I promised my previous boss to return him when he get back new project
director : does it mean you betral to us?
Me : I do not intend to do so, sir
director : but it's going directly to that
Me : I owe him a lot
director : why?
Me : He helped me giving hospital bills when my mother was sicked and hospitalized.
director : aww I see, then I don't want to try to stop you resign from our company
Me : Thanks for understanding
director : Wish you all the best in future
Me : Thanks indeed, sir. I'll never forget the days I worked together with you.
director : me too
BY THIS WAY, I became jobless immediately without any plan....I just expect for tomorrow meeting with my previous boss who has only money. He is uneducated man and he totally relied to me for his business. I don't know why I am so cheap when he is concerned to my life. He previously pulled me out of my first ever permanent job and made me jobless for several months until I could join this company. Now he demand me to get back and I again easily decide to resign from a good company. I don't know what I have to do in my next project and also don't know when will it start.
FOR SURE I CAN SAY NOW IS, AGAIN, I AM JOBLESS NOW..........
Defiant workers and ME
DURING the than taung project,
another problem we face is lacking skilled workers and company brought in semi-skilled workers to site as they are much easier to convince with an good incentive. As a result I am given some of them to conduct my works. Early morning, I have to assign ppl to its suitable area according to their skills. After allocation to all workers, I need to go and down this hill slope distance to ensure everybody is working properly.
ONEDAY I gave instruction to some of semi-skilled masons who are required to work at the lowest level of hillside. I explained how to do the stair by showing the drawing and even make a peg for their easy reference. They say yes and I went up to check other work area that are situated upper levels. Few hours later, I went back to check them if their works are done as per instruction. It's mine who feel disappointed by seeing what they have done upon my instruction. The work is not good enough to accept and I felt irritate. But I control my temper and asked them gentlely,
Me : wow, how come your stair goes wrong?
SW: what did I do wrong?
Me: It's obvious your stair is not right with vertical and horizontal aligned.
SW: I did as you told me.
Me: Ok, anyway I need you to repair it now.
SW: how?
Me: redo it
SW: I can't make it.
Me: why not?
SW: quiet and star me.
Me: you are working under my supervision.
SW: I can't follow your instruction without my boss's consent
Me: But you are supposed to do what I demand since you are working at my sub-con.
SW: But I am paid by my own boss and I can follow him only, don't care anybody else
Me: I'll tell your boss later and you are working here as daily wages worker. So nth effect u.
SW: Sorry I can't do that (by seeing his co-workers around him).
Me: Alright, I'll do it unless you do (At the same time, I kicked the brick stair that is not settled yet and collapsed immediately). I lose my mind and shout at them to stop immediately here.
They: They seems so angry with my behavior and started to counter-attack to me by collecting the hand tools like shovel, broken bricks, etc.
Me: By understanding situation, I stepped backward and they keep chasing me.
They: Strike him,,,,chase and fight him,,,(by shouting and chased at me)
Me: I start to run back by backstroke and nobody stop them to do so.
Meanwhile, the surgent who is guarding at the opposite buildings saw the incident and shout at them, " what are you doing that?"
Me : get back top of hill and seek help at the office where a major is sitting for duty.
By understanding my situation, the major come out of his office and saw the workers who chased me, he shouted and asked them
Major: why are you doing like that?
They : Not really, captain, we just want to ask for unfair things.
Major: who made you unfair?
I step in front of them and told to major
Me: captain, I asked them to repair for wrong doing staircase.
Major: So
Me: They refused to my instruction to follow
Major: understanding briefly and started to question them,,,why you all don't want to follow engineer's instruction?,,,do you know where are you working now? I'll put all of you in the jail for non-discipilline.
They: we don't mean like that, captain
Major: no excuses give me,,,they evidents are enough ready, "surgent, arrest them all and put under the makeshift foot-trap for over night.
Surgent: yes Sir
Major : by turning head to me,,, don't worry engineer, I'll cover you more, do your work properly, inform me if ther is some similiar case in your site,,,OK?
Me : Thanks in deed for your understanding, captain
Major : surgent, how many escort do you give him for security?
Surgent: One escort protect him, sir
Major : give one more from today onward
Surgent: yes sir
Later I got two escort to protect my security especially when I go to work and go back to office. Because travelling distance is quite far and needed to cross the forest on the way to site. When we go to site and return office, we would be checked by security forces for safety. From that day onward, I able to go work with two armed-escort beside me.
HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCE BEING SECURITY BY ARMED-ESCORT?
another problem we face is lacking skilled workers and company brought in semi-skilled workers to site as they are much easier to convince with an good incentive. As a result I am given some of them to conduct my works. Early morning, I have to assign ppl to its suitable area according to their skills. After allocation to all workers, I need to go and down this hill slope distance to ensure everybody is working properly.
ONEDAY I gave instruction to some of semi-skilled masons who are required to work at the lowest level of hillside. I explained how to do the stair by showing the drawing and even make a peg for their easy reference. They say yes and I went up to check other work area that are situated upper levels. Few hours later, I went back to check them if their works are done as per instruction. It's mine who feel disappointed by seeing what they have done upon my instruction. The work is not good enough to accept and I felt irritate. But I control my temper and asked them gentlely,
Me : wow, how come your stair goes wrong?
SW: what did I do wrong?
Me: It's obvious your stair is not right with vertical and horizontal aligned.
SW: I did as you told me.
Me: Ok, anyway I need you to repair it now.
SW: how?
Me: redo it
SW: I can't make it.
Me: why not?
SW: quiet and star me.
Me: you are working under my supervision.
SW: I can't follow your instruction without my boss's consent
Me: But you are supposed to do what I demand since you are working at my sub-con.
SW: But I am paid by my own boss and I can follow him only, don't care anybody else
Me: I'll tell your boss later and you are working here as daily wages worker. So nth effect u.
SW: Sorry I can't do that (by seeing his co-workers around him).
Me: Alright, I'll do it unless you do (At the same time, I kicked the brick stair that is not settled yet and collapsed immediately). I lose my mind and shout at them to stop immediately here.
They: They seems so angry with my behavior and started to counter-attack to me by collecting the hand tools like shovel, broken bricks, etc.
Me: By understanding situation, I stepped backward and they keep chasing me.
They: Strike him,,,,chase and fight him,,,(by shouting and chased at me)
Me: I start to run back by backstroke and nobody stop them to do so.
Meanwhile, the surgent who is guarding at the opposite buildings saw the incident and shout at them, " what are you doing that?"
Me : get back top of hill and seek help at the office where a major is sitting for duty.
By understanding my situation, the major come out of his office and saw the workers who chased me, he shouted and asked them
Major: why are you doing like that?
They : Not really, captain, we just want to ask for unfair things.
Major: who made you unfair?
I step in front of them and told to major
Me: captain, I asked them to repair for wrong doing staircase.
Major: So
Me: They refused to my instruction to follow
Major: understanding briefly and started to question them,,,why you all don't want to follow engineer's instruction?,,,do you know where are you working now? I'll put all of you in the jail for non-discipilline.
They: we don't mean like that, captain
Major: no excuses give me,,,they evidents are enough ready, "surgent, arrest them all and put under the makeshift foot-trap for over night.
Surgent: yes Sir
Major : by turning head to me,,, don't worry engineer, I'll cover you more, do your work properly, inform me if ther is some similiar case in your site,,,OK?
Me : Thanks in deed for your understanding, captain
Major : surgent, how many escort do you give him for security?
Surgent: One escort protect him, sir
Major : give one more from today onward
Surgent: yes sir
Later I got two escort to protect my security especially when I go to work and go back to office. Because travelling distance is quite far and needed to cross the forest on the way to site. When we go to site and return office, we would be checked by security forces for safety. From that day onward, I able to go work with two armed-escort beside me.
HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCE BEING SECURITY BY ARMED-ESCORT?
Monday, October 26, 2009
Ethnic Workers and ME..
THE PROJECT was located on the hills and amidst forest. So we suffer labour shortage and tried to fulfill the void with local residents. The region is called Than Taung (Than Mountain) area and within the territory of Karen State. Being hilly region, the transportation is very difficult and contractors from yangon don't want to go these rural area without significant benefit/profit for them. So company bring some group along with us and as a result we suffer labour shortage. On the other hand, we need to hand over this project before Army Day (March-27). The govt wanted to open this army high-ranking officer training school coincident with Army's most important day. So the authorize person from GE also push private sector like our company. So my duty is to make sure all the workdone are met with their construction schedule. It's not easy to comply some rule when I am given less skill labours and general workers. Working condition around the hill slope made me additional burden and I tried to cope it by doing my best.
LOCAL resident used to come and apply for daily wages job and we usually rely on them as no other choice for us. They are from nearby village and they just wanted to see what we are doing only. They actually don't need money as they have nothing to spend and they earn well from their own tea leave firm. Anyway we thanks them to come and join our work force being daily wages workers. I am given usually around 30 people for my site that include two terrace quarter, each consist about 5 units if I am not mistaken. The hill slope gradient height is about 1000 ft and the construction store and materials are sitting on the top of hill. So I have to make sure the necessary material are getting in time to the skilled worker's working area. Skilled workers mean mason carpenter and rebar bender who are from yangon sub-contractor.
THE WORK IS NOT easy to run smoothly as the material supply is sometime interrupted. I managed local people to stand side by side on the slope of hill and hurdle the material hand to hand. They first few days doing it properly and my work is progress. The local ppl are all Karen ethnic and also they are Christian religious ppl. So every sunday they don't come to work for sunday school/church. They don't care how much we pay for penalty for sunday works. They'll only happily go to church for their religious-related activities. It's out of my control and I realise I have to do work with the few myanmar workers who are from our sub-contractor.
THE problem come few days later as they understand the nature of construction work with mass labours. They are quite honest at first days and I do appreciate that to see an innocent ppl in my works. But it's not long lasting and change dramatically few days later. My mason and carpenter started to complain me for abscenting material supply. So I detect the source and I found the reason is because of them, my ethnic workers who are not intend to work as hard as before. They wanted to take a break / rest time more often them before and material supply breakdown. Because mason can continue work when they supply brick and motar and water. If they stop their carry work and the material are not arrived in time. After I understanding that matter, I started to score them for frequently take a rest without my permission. They would glace/star me if I told them angrily. It's my right to supervise and give instruction during the working time, and I won't hesitate to score anybody if they failed to comply discipiline.
SOME of my friends will come and remind me not to score them if they are not willing to work and suggest me let them rest. I demand for reason and he would say they might be from rebel army as rebal man has no label on head. It is a bit concern to me and I try to pretend not to afraid for that as they are working under my site. One officer from army onday showed me the camp of rebel who are located on the other hill opposite site of our sides. We can see their makeshift camp even with our bare eyes. I was amazed by the time he explained me that they are karen rebel. It's realistic what he said is because I could hear gun-shot sound and bomb exploring sound at night until dawn. I didn't know where does it come from first. Later I realised that I am working at the war zone that are not completely safe. I do understand why ppl don't want to come this project at that point.
I KEEP MY DRIVING force to my ethnic workers whenever I see them lazy. Some days they even bring guitar to site and they will play guitar on lunch break time. It's ok to allow to play at lunch time, the problem is some ppl play guitar on working hours. I hate to hear music at working time and would blame/score if I found them. So among engineers, I became the target man and hate figure to them day by day. I know that and I felt that I am doing it right as I never demand to them more than what it should be. Hoping they'll understand my situation oneday and I continue keeping my standard. So workers don't want to work my side as they realise they cannot be ease if they need to work under my supervision. So early morning they'll complain to labour controller not to send them to my site continuously..What a bitter experience to know that ppl don't want to come and work to my site?
By this way I could reach the final stage of construction and our office staffs started to collect local present, mainly fine tea leaves, for return home. Most of them got present from local workers who are working under their site for free charges and nobody gave to me like that. After understanding the situation, oneday I called a female worker and asked if her house sell tea leave or not. When she say yes, I gave her money and asked her to give me fine one for present. She took my money and following day she bring tea leave for me. At that evening, when I arrive back office with tea leave package, my staffs are saying that "wow, you also finally get tea leave present?" , I smily replied to them, "it's not FOC, I paid for that",,and they smile at me and keep spreading my news around the camp....
I AM SUCH A PEOPLE IN MY YOUNGER DAYS......:D
LOCAL resident used to come and apply for daily wages job and we usually rely on them as no other choice for us. They are from nearby village and they just wanted to see what we are doing only. They actually don't need money as they have nothing to spend and they earn well from their own tea leave firm. Anyway we thanks them to come and join our work force being daily wages workers. I am given usually around 30 people for my site that include two terrace quarter, each consist about 5 units if I am not mistaken. The hill slope gradient height is about 1000 ft and the construction store and materials are sitting on the top of hill. So I have to make sure the necessary material are getting in time to the skilled worker's working area. Skilled workers mean mason carpenter and rebar bender who are from yangon sub-contractor.
THE WORK IS NOT easy to run smoothly as the material supply is sometime interrupted. I managed local people to stand side by side on the slope of hill and hurdle the material hand to hand. They first few days doing it properly and my work is progress. The local ppl are all Karen ethnic and also they are Christian religious ppl. So every sunday they don't come to work for sunday school/church. They don't care how much we pay for penalty for sunday works. They'll only happily go to church for their religious-related activities. It's out of my control and I realise I have to do work with the few myanmar workers who are from our sub-contractor.
THE problem come few days later as they understand the nature of construction work with mass labours. They are quite honest at first days and I do appreciate that to see an innocent ppl in my works. But it's not long lasting and change dramatically few days later. My mason and carpenter started to complain me for abscenting material supply. So I detect the source and I found the reason is because of them, my ethnic workers who are not intend to work as hard as before. They wanted to take a break / rest time more often them before and material supply breakdown. Because mason can continue work when they supply brick and motar and water. If they stop their carry work and the material are not arrived in time. After I understanding that matter, I started to score them for frequently take a rest without my permission. They would glace/star me if I told them angrily. It's my right to supervise and give instruction during the working time, and I won't hesitate to score anybody if they failed to comply discipiline.
SOME of my friends will come and remind me not to score them if they are not willing to work and suggest me let them rest. I demand for reason and he would say they might be from rebel army as rebal man has no label on head. It is a bit concern to me and I try to pretend not to afraid for that as they are working under my site. One officer from army onday showed me the camp of rebel who are located on the other hill opposite site of our sides. We can see their makeshift camp even with our bare eyes. I was amazed by the time he explained me that they are karen rebel. It's realistic what he said is because I could hear gun-shot sound and bomb exploring sound at night until dawn. I didn't know where does it come from first. Later I realised that I am working at the war zone that are not completely safe. I do understand why ppl don't want to come this project at that point.
I KEEP MY DRIVING force to my ethnic workers whenever I see them lazy. Some days they even bring guitar to site and they will play guitar on lunch break time. It's ok to allow to play at lunch time, the problem is some ppl play guitar on working hours. I hate to hear music at working time and would blame/score if I found them. So among engineers, I became the target man and hate figure to them day by day. I know that and I felt that I am doing it right as I never demand to them more than what it should be. Hoping they'll understand my situation oneday and I continue keeping my standard. So workers don't want to work my side as they realise they cannot be ease if they need to work under my supervision. So early morning they'll complain to labour controller not to send them to my site continuously..What a bitter experience to know that ppl don't want to come and work to my site?
By this way I could reach the final stage of construction and our office staffs started to collect local present, mainly fine tea leaves, for return home. Most of them got present from local workers who are working under their site for free charges and nobody gave to me like that. After understanding the situation, oneday I called a female worker and asked if her house sell tea leave or not. When she say yes, I gave her money and asked her to give me fine one for present. She took my money and following day she bring tea leave for me. At that evening, when I arrive back office with tea leave package, my staffs are saying that "wow, you also finally get tea leave present?" , I smily replied to them, "it's not FOC, I paid for that",,and they smile at me and keep spreading my news around the camp....
I AM SUCH A PEOPLE IN MY YOUNGER DAYS......:D
What if my company sold out ?
WHAT IF MY COMPANY SOLD OUT ????
It really happened to me right now and I don't know it is good or not to my near future.
One UK based multinational company bought my current company and they, both sides, already agreed on paper and my new company publicly put the news on it's own media and I read it few days ago. There are a lot of rumours about it among co-workers but all are not more than their imagination. Anyway anyhow, it's true that my company would be sold out end of this month with S$ 62.80 millions to a much bigger company.
As long as I knew the name of my potential new company's website, I quickly went its website and tour around so that I could able to know what are they doing in this business. I learnt that they are ground specialist engineering co. ltd from UK and the head quarter is located on London. There are company's regional offices on more than 30 countries across five continents. It's revenue is pound starling 1.2 billion, I noted. In this amount, it is considered a global company that able to work worldwide. I myself think a lot about my near future and most of them are optimistic approach. Hopefully I won't be terminated with immediate effect by my new employer.
I heard that our current's office's senior management staffs had agreed to continue work in this company for at least three year from the date of purchasing. So I do believe that my superior won't let me go away from his disposal. If I am given the negative effect, I'ld try to happy myself as I want to explore new experience with new company in singapore. In the current situation, I'm quite settle and everything goes right with me as all assigned to me is quite familiar with my quilification. My current company is Resource Piling Pte Ltd and it's also foundation specialist especially in Bored Piling Works.
I already gained a lot foundation experience during my working time in Malaysia. My previous company also foundation specialist and it became the source of who I am today. My new company has its south-east asia regional head office in Singapore and it's located on Boon Lay Lay. So nobody know exactly what will happen after they aquire our company. People say a lot about it during these days and I keep quiet to comment on it except to my wife. I hope I can gain new experience with my new multinational company and see positive to future. I would belonging to my new company from day 1 of November. I noted my new company name as follow:
KELLER
The sound of my new employer's name is strange, isn't it? Nevertheless I'm going to become a multinational company worker and I am proud of that. Probably it would be my additional boasting factor and hopefully it'll help me in grabbing a SPRs in my second attempt. In my mind, I'll not change my mind in hard working regardless of employer and as long as I'm paid regularly. Anybody with the reasonable answer to my title question are welcome to comment upon my feeling....
Thanks indeed, my friend...
Monday, October 19, 2009
Hillside Project
THE site office is located in the villey and surrounded by so many mountains. The view are magnificent and the weather are chilly cold. Beside office there are a lot quarters for our sub-con workers and there are also army offices nearby. The querry crashing machine is one stone throw away and ever running and make noisy and dirty environment. There are a lot of tea plants around the office. Site office is about 12' x 50' with rectangular shape one story makeshift. It's hall type and there is no extra rooms inside. So it is our office, bed room and dinning room as well.
THE FIRST NIGHT I slept on that site office was unsleepable and I suffered from chilly cold weather especially at night time. I don't have enough blanket and it makes me difficult to sleep soundly. I oftenly heard the weapon and machine gun sound at night time. My excitement to start work tomorrow probably make me excitement and added not able to sleep properly. So I wake up early morning and walk out of room and look newly face surrounding. Oh my god,,,,,the trees and tents are covered by snow and it look like pale face patient. Once I try to brush my teeth and wash my face, I wow seeing an ice in the barrel. What a bloody cold weather? The time is late February and the weather is worse than our winter temperature. This is my first barrier to overcome in this project.
Few min later my colleagues woke up and they prepared for breakfast while other ppl switch generator on so that we can do properly. After breakfast, we went to the site that is located on the mountain. The mountain is tall about 1500 ft from our site office place. The path we could climb up is not smooth and it is full of bushes and trees. We even need to cross streams/creeks on the way to site and also we can see a beautiful orchards on the big trees. The birds are tweeterig themselves and we passed by.
EVERYDAY I neeed to climb up/down three times and during the working hours I need to run along the hill side. It wasn't not easy and I tried to focus my mind on the jobs. Usually we go to work around 7:30am and come back office after 12:00pm for lunch break. After lunch at 1:00pm we climb up again to restart work and go down after 5:00pm for dinner and bathing. After dinner we have to go again for OT and usually we could able to return office not earlier than 10:00pm. The project must be finished within a tight schedule and we need to push a lot to make sure progress is matched with construction schedule. There are a lot of difficulties in supervising workers as mostly are non-skilled workers and we are relying on the local people who are not familiar with a construction job. Anyway I have to meet our target on time and I am paid for that. Few days later I felt settled to work in this situation and time passed faster day by day as I always need to rush to finish my bldgs.
THE FIRST NIGHT I slept on that site office was unsleepable and I suffered from chilly cold weather especially at night time. I don't have enough blanket and it makes me difficult to sleep soundly. I oftenly heard the weapon and machine gun sound at night time. My excitement to start work tomorrow probably make me excitement and added not able to sleep properly. So I wake up early morning and walk out of room and look newly face surrounding. Oh my god,,,,,the trees and tents are covered by snow and it look like pale face patient. Once I try to brush my teeth and wash my face, I wow seeing an ice in the barrel. What a bloody cold weather? The time is late February and the weather is worse than our winter temperature. This is my first barrier to overcome in this project.
Few min later my colleagues woke up and they prepared for breakfast while other ppl switch generator on so that we can do properly. After breakfast, we went to the site that is located on the mountain. The mountain is tall about 1500 ft from our site office place. The path we could climb up is not smooth and it is full of bushes and trees. We even need to cross streams/creeks on the way to site and also we can see a beautiful orchards on the big trees. The birds are tweeterig themselves and we passed by.
EVERYDAY I neeed to climb up/down three times and during the working hours I need to run along the hill side. It wasn't not easy and I tried to focus my mind on the jobs. Usually we go to work around 7:30am and come back office after 12:00pm for lunch break. After lunch at 1:00pm we climb up again to restart work and go down after 5:00pm for dinner and bathing. After dinner we have to go again for OT and usually we could able to return office not earlier than 10:00pm. The project must be finished within a tight schedule and we need to push a lot to make sure progress is matched with construction schedule. There are a lot of difficulties in supervising workers as mostly are non-skilled workers and we are relying on the local people who are not familiar with a construction job. Anyway I have to meet our target on time and I am paid for that. Few days later I felt settled to work in this situation and time passed faster day by day as I always need to rush to finish my bldgs.
Istana memory
IT was sunny enough for outdoor lovers and coincidencely public holiday for deepavali.
THE day I spent with my friends at Istana makes me happy and able to boost our solid relationship.
MEANWHILE I did consider why we cannot able to get the same experience in our mother land.
I witnessed some displays that were presented by my govt and I felt delighted to see them among its world-wide counterparts.
I was amazed to see the landscape and smart guards who were motionless for a significant time and just thought if I were them...:D
WE paid 1S$ entry fees being foreigner and didn't mind for that once we were given money worthy back.
WE needed to pay S$ 2 to enter inside the istana and seeing all sort of presents that were presented by a lot of countries all over the world and they seems to be proud to display all these.
IT WOULD probably be my life-time experience as my stay in singapore is uncertain for tomorrow just like other fellow citizens due to construction industry haven't recover yet despite other sectors are well upturned.
I WAS SO TIRED by this tour as it is followed to a trip to a palau ubin and at the end of the day all my pains are disappeared when I see back the memoriable photos and sharing with all my friends.
The project I'll never forget
ONE SUMMER NIGHT, our bus was driving along highway heading to Taunggu Tsp and we arrived on about 3:00am very early morning. Another boss is awaiting from the bus terminal with hilux car and we follow with them to a house where we can take a short sleep. Soon after sleeping, the dawn greet us and I need to wake up and look around so that I can check situation. One boss asked me to wash my face and pack my thing to go site on the same day. So I quickly make everything and get ready and inform him.
THEN we continue a journey with hilus car. I still don't know where we are going to and also I never asked them where we are driving to. We stop at a cafe and took breakfast and continued our journey. Driver is also boss and another boss who is MD as well and I sat infront of car and I could see the view clearly. The car started to climb the mountain and I started to worry and curiousily asked MD :
me : where do we driving to?
MD: work site
me : where is it, boss?
MD: it's located on the hill top.
me : really? how long we need to drive to get there?
MD: about 3 hours, I think.
me : good to see mountain view on the way.
MD: yes, I hope so..
me : then, I keep quiet and just seeing outside view with excitement.
At lunch time, we arrive the worksite that is sitting on the top of highest mountain. And the weather is so cold and I felt unconfortable. But the view is splendid and I have never seen before such a natural beauty of a forest and mountains. We tour onsite and go down to a site-office. Site office is a makeshift bldg and made by bamboo and leaves. Site-office staffs greet us and showed me a place to stay during my working here. So I place my things and see around for survey. There are so many small bldgs around and also have army offices. I could see soldiers everywhere and the place is look like battle field rather than a construction site.
THAT NIGHT, one engineer gave me the drawing that I need to supervise. The bldg is located on the hill slope of the mountain and it's like a terrace and quarter for army officers students. Later I know what is this project from my colleagues and army sergant. This is army's newest officer training school and my company got some bldg for this project as a private company. The rest are being build by GE (army engineering group). Before I go to site, there was no engineer on site and senior young carpenter is taking incharge for the bldg I am supposed to take.
THEN we continue a journey with hilus car. I still don't know where we are going to and also I never asked them where we are driving to. We stop at a cafe and took breakfast and continued our journey. Driver is also boss and another boss who is MD as well and I sat infront of car and I could see the view clearly. The car started to climb the mountain and I started to worry and curiousily asked MD :
me : where do we driving to?
MD: work site
me : where is it, boss?
MD: it's located on the hill top.
me : really? how long we need to drive to get there?
MD: about 3 hours, I think.
me : good to see mountain view on the way.
MD: yes, I hope so..
me : then, I keep quiet and just seeing outside view with excitement.
At lunch time, we arrive the worksite that is sitting on the top of highest mountain. And the weather is so cold and I felt unconfortable. But the view is splendid and I have never seen before such a natural beauty of a forest and mountains. We tour onsite and go down to a site-office. Site office is a makeshift bldg and made by bamboo and leaves. Site-office staffs greet us and showed me a place to stay during my working here. So I place my things and see around for survey. There are so many small bldgs around and also have army offices. I could see soldiers everywhere and the place is look like battle field rather than a construction site.
THAT NIGHT, one engineer gave me the drawing that I need to supervise. The bldg is located on the hill slope of the mountain and it's like a terrace and quarter for army officers students. Later I know what is this project from my colleagues and army sergant. This is army's newest officer training school and my company got some bldg for this project as a private company. The rest are being build by GE (army engineering group). Before I go to site, there was no engineer on site and senior young carpenter is taking incharge for the bldg I am supposed to take.
Escaping from the trap
Few months after I was jobless, I could able to manage to get a job via newspaper job vacancy advertisement. I straight away go to that address for interview and grab the job to press my restart button. I asked my cash-only rich boss to release me for my dream job. He agreed with me with a term of agreement that I will have to return if he got a project. Without considering a single second, I nod my head and say goodbye for my newest job.
ACTUALLY I don't want to work in the project outside Yangon area. But this time I have no chance to choose and I am told my new boss that I need to work in the Taunggu Tsp for a short term period. So I went the office at the designated date with my necessarities to depart. I don't know what kind of project ahead and I am not given clear instruction during interview. In my mind, I wanted to escape from a jobless period and no matter how hard it is to me as long as I can able to work being engineer.
DURING interview, I amazed that they knew me before and they heard about my name as well. Actually I didn't know them, but I follow their talking. According them, they were our neighbouring company when I was working in my first ever project in Dagon Yeik Mon Project. MD told me that his PM know me well and it is the cause of appointing me as their new site engineer. Anyway I could able to get a job and salary is also attractive with 20,000 Ks. They, company will provide accomodation and foods during my time in rural project. According to my CV, I have been a good experience since I graduated from my institute and probably it convince them to employ me. I am young enough and motivative to confront any upcoming challenges in near future. And I felt relax to restart my engineering works with a new company who are specialist in interior decoration. The company name I noted was,,
HDC Engineering Group......HDC means Home and Decoration and again this company is established by three young men who have been working in Singapore. So they all are very active in job and I immediately understood that it can't be as easy as my last job. But I am not a lazy man and I'ld love to work with a hard working boss together onsite. One evening, I went to Taunggu by highway bus accompanised with one of the boss. On the way to site,,,,,I was thinking a lot for near future........
CAN I HAVE A SMOOTH CAREER WITH THIS COMPANY?????
ACTUALLY I don't want to work in the project outside Yangon area. But this time I have no chance to choose and I am told my new boss that I need to work in the Taunggu Tsp for a short term period. So I went the office at the designated date with my necessarities to depart. I don't know what kind of project ahead and I am not given clear instruction during interview. In my mind, I wanted to escape from a jobless period and no matter how hard it is to me as long as I can able to work being engineer.
DURING interview, I amazed that they knew me before and they heard about my name as well. Actually I didn't know them, but I follow their talking. According them, they were our neighbouring company when I was working in my first ever project in Dagon Yeik Mon Project. MD told me that his PM know me well and it is the cause of appointing me as their new site engineer. Anyway I could able to get a job and salary is also attractive with 20,000 Ks. They, company will provide accomodation and foods during my time in rural project. According to my CV, I have been a good experience since I graduated from my institute and probably it convince them to employ me. I am young enough and motivative to confront any upcoming challenges in near future. And I felt relax to restart my engineering works with a new company who are specialist in interior decoration. The company name I noted was,,
HDC Engineering Group......HDC means Home and Decoration and again this company is established by three young men who have been working in Singapore. So they all are very active in job and I immediately understood that it can't be as easy as my last job. But I am not a lazy man and I'ld love to work with a hard working boss together onsite. One evening, I went to Taunggu by highway bus accompanised with one of the boss. On the way to site,,,,,I was thinking a lot for near future........
CAN I HAVE A SMOOTH CAREER WITH THIS COMPANY?????
Thursday, October 15, 2009
I am a victim of clash by two bosses.
AFTER finishing Nga Moe Yeik San Pya Market Project, we moved out to new project that is located in Bayint Naung Junction called Zeyarmon Condominium Housing Project. Since I have gained a lot experience in previous one, I have much confident with my QS job and I'm only one QS in my company and this time my company gave three contractor with lump sum basic for 3 no of buildings. Due to a good location, the apartments and shop houses were sold out before the project is finished. This project was owned by YCDC and we do only YCDC's project as my boss is familiar with mayor of Yangon. So he is given a favour in tending YCDC projects and some occasion we need to decline incoming projects due to shortage of man power and management.
WE have made a good reputation by doing San Pya Market within schedule and other YCDC market project constructors like Insein Market came and study our project duly demanded by YCDC authorities. As a result, we got this new project at the prime area of Bayint Naung Trading Zone. I am quite easy to work as a main con QS and I could able to learn some new skills such as speaking and auto CAD during my time in that project. Unfortunately I didn't know in advance that this project would be my last one for this company with me. In the final stage, I resigned for a better offer and I am supposed to say that I was betrayed to my boss who favoured me a lot during my junior stage. I only left my resignation letter for my quit and didn't see my boss personally as I don't know how to answer if he demand me for reason properly. So I gave my letter to my frd colleagues and left this site office for uncertain post.
IN THIS POINT, I need to explain something so that you can understand my resignation with immediately effect. As foreasaid in previous post, this company is owned by several share holders and there are two major share holders who are working onsite as well. One is my boss who take MD and another one is uneducated man who has only money and lack of construction knowledge. Once I taught him how to call construction materials by english and he purposely tried to make us, all engg:, his friends. I am not exceptional and I owe him a lot during my working in this company. He is called us as mini boss bcz he is second largest share holder and we both are closer than any other else. He don't like in company policy and he wanted to establish his own company and he secretely asked me to follow his side. At the same time, he want my current boss to fall in trouble by taking me out of his firm. He know well that I am very useful in this company and I take a lot responsibilities as well. So if he is able to convince me to follow him, at least there would be some void in my place at this company.
SO one day he brought me and revealed his plan to establish his own and he's willing to employ me as a project engineer. He also told me that he already got a project to do in Kachin State for infra-structure by his friend General. He tried to make friend with army officers and this general was his closest. So I do believe in his words and decided to follow him for better opportunities such as salary and other facilities. The day I left my site office to join him, I was tearful in my face on the way to his home on the bus. But I encouraged myself for my decision and I arrived his home. He showed me shrine room and asked me to stay there for temporary.
TIME passed by and I'm still staying in the shrine room without jobs. I do realise gradually that I have become a victim of two powers clash. But regret is so late as usual and I am now jobless. I was so disappointed but to accept. When I asked him about project, he'ld say he cancelled these project as he can't make it profit by doing this. Saying his general promised him to get new better project and just wait for a right time. I don't want to take salary without job and he told me to ask money if I am needed. By this way, I help their home business and last few month continuously. I didn't let my family know this matter and I don't know what to do at that time. I was about 23 years old and I got idea to attend autoCAD class with the aid of his sponsor. I find it easier to spend time at class by wasting at home without any job to do. At the same time I had a few trip to highway like Kyite Htoo Yoo and Thar Ma Nya. But I am not happy to stay there without doing any engineer job. When I told my situation to my friend engineers who are still working in my previous company, they felt pity me for victim.
What a silly days to me? time are so slow to pass and I thought min long like hours and hour long like days and I try to pass everyday difficulty by helping their own business someway. Being engineer, I want to do only engineering job, no matter how much I get for that. But I'm doing non-engineer jobs during my jobless period in his home. If I have some power to know my future, I wanna know
WHEN CAN I ESCAPE FROM THIS TRAP?
WE have made a good reputation by doing San Pya Market within schedule and other YCDC market project constructors like Insein Market came and study our project duly demanded by YCDC authorities. As a result, we got this new project at the prime area of Bayint Naung Trading Zone. I am quite easy to work as a main con QS and I could able to learn some new skills such as speaking and auto CAD during my time in that project. Unfortunately I didn't know in advance that this project would be my last one for this company with me. In the final stage, I resigned for a better offer and I am supposed to say that I was betrayed to my boss who favoured me a lot during my junior stage. I only left my resignation letter for my quit and didn't see my boss personally as I don't know how to answer if he demand me for reason properly. So I gave my letter to my frd colleagues and left this site office for uncertain post.
IN THIS POINT, I need to explain something so that you can understand my resignation with immediately effect. As foreasaid in previous post, this company is owned by several share holders and there are two major share holders who are working onsite as well. One is my boss who take MD and another one is uneducated man who has only money and lack of construction knowledge. Once I taught him how to call construction materials by english and he purposely tried to make us, all engg:, his friends. I am not exceptional and I owe him a lot during my working in this company. He is called us as mini boss bcz he is second largest share holder and we both are closer than any other else. He don't like in company policy and he wanted to establish his own company and he secretely asked me to follow his side. At the same time, he want my current boss to fall in trouble by taking me out of his firm. He know well that I am very useful in this company and I take a lot responsibilities as well. So if he is able to convince me to follow him, at least there would be some void in my place at this company.
SO one day he brought me and revealed his plan to establish his own and he's willing to employ me as a project engineer. He also told me that he already got a project to do in Kachin State for infra-structure by his friend General. He tried to make friend with army officers and this general was his closest. So I do believe in his words and decided to follow him for better opportunities such as salary and other facilities. The day I left my site office to join him, I was tearful in my face on the way to his home on the bus. But I encouraged myself for my decision and I arrived his home. He showed me shrine room and asked me to stay there for temporary.
TIME passed by and I'm still staying in the shrine room without jobs. I do realise gradually that I have become a victim of two powers clash. But regret is so late as usual and I am now jobless. I was so disappointed but to accept. When I asked him about project, he'ld say he cancelled these project as he can't make it profit by doing this. Saying his general promised him to get new better project and just wait for a right time. I don't want to take salary without job and he told me to ask money if I am needed. By this way, I help their home business and last few month continuously. I didn't let my family know this matter and I don't know what to do at that time. I was about 23 years old and I got idea to attend autoCAD class with the aid of his sponsor. I find it easier to spend time at class by wasting at home without any job to do. At the same time I had a few trip to highway like Kyite Htoo Yoo and Thar Ma Nya. But I am not happy to stay there without doing any engineer job. When I told my situation to my friend engineers who are still working in my previous company, they felt pity me for victim.
What a silly days to me? time are so slow to pass and I thought min long like hours and hour long like days and I try to pass everyday difficulty by helping their own business someway. Being engineer, I want to do only engineering job, no matter how much I get for that. But I'm doing non-engineer jobs during my jobless period in his home. If I have some power to know my future, I wanna know
WHEN CAN I ESCAPE FROM THIS TRAP?
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
My first ever design for public
DURING the construction period of Nga Moe Yeik San Pya Market Project, one day I was asked by boss to draw for canteen bldg that is located infront of main 3 storey RC bldg seperately. Also asked me to draft for public car parks around the bldg within its compound. After getting order, I started to survey for actual plot available and draft in my notebook for scale shop drawing. Being a one year experience junior engineer, I really don't know how to start it but I wanted to show my potential to respond boss's faith in me.
I rush collecting architectural and landscape books and learn how others doing similar jobs. They, books, became a teacher of mine quickly and I built my confident by reading them and asking senior engineers who are willing to teach me when I am needed them. I was so lucky to be around such a kind of engineers and boss who believe in me. My boss has another several business in town and he usually sit the downtown office that is located in the central yangon. He is doing famous restaurant attached with night club there and also open sport centre on the 5th floor of Thein Gyi Bazzar Market. He own the whole floor of 5th level if I am not mistaken. So he asked me to come and draw the canteen and carpark at his prime office. Since he is also Architect, he has a drawing room at his office and he gave me the chance to use that room. During my drawing time, he used to advise me when I found some difficulties and asked him for approval. It took me few days to finish it and finally I could draw a permanent drawing for site construction. At that time, we don't use auto CAD widely and we used to draw by hand. It was first time for me to use tracing paper and it's stationery mates.
After getting endorsement by Ygn municipal authorities, we started to construct it on site and boss gave me to supervise that bldg. It's quite simple as it is one story brick nogging bldg that span 20ft x 100ft if I am not wrong. When the actual construction start, the major problem encounter was water supply system for individual shop holders. We chose a suspension system rather than conventional system of concealing pvc pipe under floor. Boss wanted to have something special in that bldg and switched green to make it hanging system that is also used on the permanent building's fish section. The problem is how to calculate water pressure and design pvc water tank properly. I significantly don't have that experience at that time. To be honest, I never seen before such system to be used pvc wedding for water supply. I think very high-end private property use this kind of method in Yangon construction industry. Nevertheless I started to learn how to do it from water supply contractor.
Contractor leader is an engineer and he is also friend of my boss and currently working in water department of construction ministery. Boss gave him water supply contract for permanent bldg's fish market section. It's quite challenge for us because it's testing time for us. This contractor engineer is so kind and also willing to teach me as a junior engineer who always eager to learn. I'm lucky to work together with such an engineer. He made further study at oversea for water supply subject. So he know well about his job and he's very much confident. He is always funny and ever joke to his workers at all time. So ppl are happy when he is on site and work happily.
The system works by using gravity force for water distribution. The major water tank is put on the roof of 3 storey main bldg. So water come down from that height and spread to shops via respective taps. Before water arrive tap, there is a big diameter (4") water storage tank with about 12 inches length. The problem is to close both end by pvc wedding rather than sockets. We need to calculate water pressure and design pcv temporary storage tanks to resist that 3 sty height pressure. Then water go down at the middle of 4" dia tanks to basin via 1/2" pvc pipe. One 4" pvc tanks distribute to 4 outlets and need to cut at all faces for outgoing water. And make sure stick together by using pvc wedding.
The first day we test for water supply, some of these 4" temp water tanks cover are opened by high speed pressure. We close main tap and repaired them and make trial and error work. Finally we could able to hand over to govt authorities. Light fixing wasn't prob as it's follow to conventional method. Boss added in sun-shad louvre to cover shop owners from sun shine. Finally I am pleased to see my first ever design become actual on site and gain a bit confident more.
Next month boss went oversea for business and I got ideas to make another design to make boss wow. It's to design and built for guard post and pedestrain bridge at the main gate. So I made it rush by selecting a good mason and few workers to finish it before boss come back. I draft and command mason how to do that on site. There was no drawing for that as it's quite small project. Luckily accountant didn't refuse to give me budget what I need to do it. They know that I am favoured by boss and they don't stand on my way to do something always. So I took that advantage and create another my signal bldg. The guard house was shape as hexigonal layout with pavillion like roof. The superstructure is semi-circle wall and only half height so that guard cannot hide from incoming ppl. I remember boss saying that don't allow guard sleeping inside guard post by giving them so much cover house. So I build half height wall guard post with attractive roof with attached ceiling. I was happy to see my own design building and at the same time I made a pedestrain bridge that can go directly to canteen.
The bridge was arc-shape floor with arc hand-rail. All were done by RC and brick and luckily the moson is also interested in working new items and has creative skill. So we both could do them well in time and boss was amaze to see my additional projects on site by the time he come back from oversea trip. He keep quiet and never scolded me for spending money without his consent. I was more than happy and felt like I am walking on the moon. No matter how long it had been in past, I am very satisfy and happy when I see these 3 bldg from outside when I travel by. I always see that bldgs if they are still remaining or not whenever I arrive that place. Thanks for all teachers who make me able engineers.
I hope these 3 bldgs, canteen, guard post and pedestrian bridge are still remaining to its full life span and nobody will know who is behind these bldg despite they pass by them. Anyway I am rewarded as long as they are being used by people and they are doing part of their jobs. It's all designer's hope I purely expect and my expectation won't be changed in this world whoever and wherever they are involving. I never get the same chance since then and I'm willing to get such a kind of days in my future sooner or later.
I rush collecting architectural and landscape books and learn how others doing similar jobs. They, books, became a teacher of mine quickly and I built my confident by reading them and asking senior engineers who are willing to teach me when I am needed them. I was so lucky to be around such a kind of engineers and boss who believe in me. My boss has another several business in town and he usually sit the downtown office that is located in the central yangon. He is doing famous restaurant attached with night club there and also open sport centre on the 5th floor of Thein Gyi Bazzar Market. He own the whole floor of 5th level if I am not mistaken. So he asked me to come and draw the canteen and carpark at his prime office. Since he is also Architect, he has a drawing room at his office and he gave me the chance to use that room. During my drawing time, he used to advise me when I found some difficulties and asked him for approval. It took me few days to finish it and finally I could draw a permanent drawing for site construction. At that time, we don't use auto CAD widely and we used to draw by hand. It was first time for me to use tracing paper and it's stationery mates.
After getting endorsement by Ygn municipal authorities, we started to construct it on site and boss gave me to supervise that bldg. It's quite simple as it is one story brick nogging bldg that span 20ft x 100ft if I am not wrong. When the actual construction start, the major problem encounter was water supply system for individual shop holders. We chose a suspension system rather than conventional system of concealing pvc pipe under floor. Boss wanted to have something special in that bldg and switched green to make it hanging system that is also used on the permanent building's fish section. The problem is how to calculate water pressure and design pvc water tank properly. I significantly don't have that experience at that time. To be honest, I never seen before such system to be used pvc wedding for water supply. I think very high-end private property use this kind of method in Yangon construction industry. Nevertheless I started to learn how to do it from water supply contractor.
Contractor leader is an engineer and he is also friend of my boss and currently working in water department of construction ministery. Boss gave him water supply contract for permanent bldg's fish market section. It's quite challenge for us because it's testing time for us. This contractor engineer is so kind and also willing to teach me as a junior engineer who always eager to learn. I'm lucky to work together with such an engineer. He made further study at oversea for water supply subject. So he know well about his job and he's very much confident. He is always funny and ever joke to his workers at all time. So ppl are happy when he is on site and work happily.
The system works by using gravity force for water distribution. The major water tank is put on the roof of 3 storey main bldg. So water come down from that height and spread to shops via respective taps. Before water arrive tap, there is a big diameter (4") water storage tank with about 12 inches length. The problem is to close both end by pvc wedding rather than sockets. We need to calculate water pressure and design pcv temporary storage tanks to resist that 3 sty height pressure. Then water go down at the middle of 4" dia tanks to basin via 1/2" pvc pipe. One 4" pvc tanks distribute to 4 outlets and need to cut at all faces for outgoing water. And make sure stick together by using pvc wedding.
The first day we test for water supply, some of these 4" temp water tanks cover are opened by high speed pressure. We close main tap and repaired them and make trial and error work. Finally we could able to hand over to govt authorities. Light fixing wasn't prob as it's follow to conventional method. Boss added in sun-shad louvre to cover shop owners from sun shine. Finally I am pleased to see my first ever design become actual on site and gain a bit confident more.
Next month boss went oversea for business and I got ideas to make another design to make boss wow. It's to design and built for guard post and pedestrain bridge at the main gate. So I made it rush by selecting a good mason and few workers to finish it before boss come back. I draft and command mason how to do that on site. There was no drawing for that as it's quite small project. Luckily accountant didn't refuse to give me budget what I need to do it. They know that I am favoured by boss and they don't stand on my way to do something always. So I took that advantage and create another my signal bldg. The guard house was shape as hexigonal layout with pavillion like roof. The superstructure is semi-circle wall and only half height so that guard cannot hide from incoming ppl. I remember boss saying that don't allow guard sleeping inside guard post by giving them so much cover house. So I build half height wall guard post with attractive roof with attached ceiling. I was happy to see my own design building and at the same time I made a pedestrain bridge that can go directly to canteen.
The bridge was arc-shape floor with arc hand-rail. All were done by RC and brick and luckily the moson is also interested in working new items and has creative skill. So we both could do them well in time and boss was amaze to see my additional projects on site by the time he come back from oversea trip. He keep quiet and never scolded me for spending money without his consent. I was more than happy and felt like I am walking on the moon. No matter how long it had been in past, I am very satisfy and happy when I see these 3 bldg from outside when I travel by. I always see that bldgs if they are still remaining or not whenever I arrive that place. Thanks for all teachers who make me able engineers.
I hope these 3 bldgs, canteen, guard post and pedestrian bridge are still remaining to its full life span and nobody will know who is behind these bldg despite they pass by them. Anyway I am rewarded as long as they are being used by people and they are doing part of their jobs. It's all designer's hope I purely expect and my expectation won't be changed in this world whoever and wherever they are involving. I never get the same chance since then and I'm willing to get such a kind of days in my future sooner or later.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
part-time contractor
WHEN the project approach to its end, we needed to make a lot things to be finished incl water supply and sanitary works, cleaning works, maintaining works, car parking laying, internal roads, checking finished work and keep them cover, painting shop no, etc.
The clock is ticking and we need to rush with our very own work force. But we cannot avoid usual problems and asked bid for new contractors. Being QS I need to survey the market and invite all potential contractors to my site office. After learning carefully, I have to submit the cheapest contractor's tender to boss to review. Then boss would make personal interview to finalised. We found that some items are not big enough to give contractor and some part of contract works need to provided by main con. So we consider to plug the gap by using daily wages workers. It's not a good idea to ask daily wages worker when we need to rush project. So I suggest boss to give lump sum basic for some items. And I listed all possible part of job to be done.
1) Concrete Road Kerb
2) Writing shop number to all window leaf.
3) Septic Tank
4) Laying down concrete pipe from toilet to septic tank
We asked contractors to bid for the abovementioned jobs with lump sum basic and we learnt that the rate are expensive. It is the source of I'm becoming part-time contractor. My boss asked me if we want to earn extra money by working OT. I say yes and he asked me to do these jobs with my friend engineers. And we make a fair price and agreed to start work at night time. By this way I became a part-time contractor.
My friends and I need to work every night after dinner until 12:00am (mid night). Although we are so tired we are happy to see our workdone and used to count how much we get today. First we do road kerbs and supply to infra-structure work contractor to be installed. After finishing it we started to write down the shop no at the window. Actually we don't know how to paint with a brush. It's a big headache to draw with oil-paint. We never used it before and we consider and found a good idea. We went to shwe gone dine road and made a mould with fibre glass for numbers from 0 to 9, three sets. Then we tested on other piece of woods and we could do successfully. We cut the brush hair as short as possible and hit the template by using a little bit paint. We get 5Ks for one word and we need to draw thousands numbers. Nevertheless we are happy to do OT and we can save more money and send back money at the end of the month.
For septic tank and sewer line laying one, I did it alone by hiring few workers and one mason. Since I have received a design for a septic tank drawing, I just instruct my workers and make sure all are in order. But it's risky for a junior engineer to do it as sewer is an important item for a market. So I go and ask senior engineer who is specialist in sanitary. He always encouraged me to do independently and he lend me a lot books to be read and also share his knowledge in sewer industry. I do follow his instruction and theory exactly and finally I could able to finish for this one and it make me profit for 10,000 Ks. I bought an automatic watch that cost me 9,500 and I would remember for my contractor days when I see my watch. I got new confident by doing this and gain self-esteem in my job. My boss was so pleased to learn we all are able to make it real and he believed in our ability later.
The clock is ticking and we need to rush with our very own work force. But we cannot avoid usual problems and asked bid for new contractors. Being QS I need to survey the market and invite all potential contractors to my site office. After learning carefully, I have to submit the cheapest contractor's tender to boss to review. Then boss would make personal interview to finalised. We found that some items are not big enough to give contractor and some part of contract works need to provided by main con. So we consider to plug the gap by using daily wages workers. It's not a good idea to ask daily wages worker when we need to rush project. So I suggest boss to give lump sum basic for some items. And I listed all possible part of job to be done.
1) Concrete Road Kerb
2) Writing shop number to all window leaf.
3) Septic Tank
4) Laying down concrete pipe from toilet to septic tank
We asked contractors to bid for the abovementioned jobs with lump sum basic and we learnt that the rate are expensive. It is the source of I'm becoming part-time contractor. My boss asked me if we want to earn extra money by working OT. I say yes and he asked me to do these jobs with my friend engineers. And we make a fair price and agreed to start work at night time. By this way I became a part-time contractor.
My friends and I need to work every night after dinner until 12:00am (mid night). Although we are so tired we are happy to see our workdone and used to count how much we get today. First we do road kerbs and supply to infra-structure work contractor to be installed. After finishing it we started to write down the shop no at the window. Actually we don't know how to paint with a brush. It's a big headache to draw with oil-paint. We never used it before and we consider and found a good idea. We went to shwe gone dine road and made a mould with fibre glass for numbers from 0 to 9, three sets. Then we tested on other piece of woods and we could do successfully. We cut the brush hair as short as possible and hit the template by using a little bit paint. We get 5Ks for one word and we need to draw thousands numbers. Nevertheless we are happy to do OT and we can save more money and send back money at the end of the month.
For septic tank and sewer line laying one, I did it alone by hiring few workers and one mason. Since I have received a design for a septic tank drawing, I just instruct my workers and make sure all are in order. But it's risky for a junior engineer to do it as sewer is an important item for a market. So I go and ask senior engineer who is specialist in sanitary. He always encouraged me to do independently and he lend me a lot books to be read and also share his knowledge in sewer industry. I do follow his instruction and theory exactly and finally I could able to finish for this one and it make me profit for 10,000 Ks. I bought an automatic watch that cost me 9,500 and I would remember for my contractor days when I see my watch. I got new confident by doing this and gain self-esteem in my job. My boss was so pleased to learn we all are able to make it real and he believed in our ability later.
QS; the job I love
I officially became QS after my boss recognized my talent on estimating. To be honest, I didn't even know what is the meaning of QS. My boss explained me what does QS mean and how much QS's role are important for a project. My boss worked in S'pore for more than 10 years and he used to say about his oversea experience when things come coincidence onsite. So QS is not exceptional and he say that QS is the second most powerful after boss in S'pore. I realised the meaning of QS and dreamt to become a good QS oneday. I noted that QS mean quantity surveyor and it is one designated post within a company's organization chart. Traditionally myanmar engineers need to estimate as a part of their duties. And we used to call it estimating and it is one subject to be learned during our civil diploma course period.
So I got a new word and noted. Actually I don't know what are included in the QS's duties and responsibilities. In Myanmar, we, QS, used to estimate quantities and order for construction material. In some ocassion, QS needs to prepare for claims or check sub-con claims for certification. I don't think there is some more items to do for QS in myanmar. It may be short of my knowledge and to the best of my knowledge, it's right to say so. I have been a lot of engineer friends and I learnt what they need to do at their jobs. Conventionally only female engineers do QS work bcz it demand so much concentration and sit long hours at the office without moving. So their male-counterpart prefer to work on site being site engineer. Strangely I wanted to become a QS although I am a male engineer.
My boss used to remind me that please take care when you make calculation or payment. My profit is depend on your ball-point pen's tip. He teased me like that oftenly. He sometime explained me more detail that your one mistake can cost me a lot money. Being QS, we need to monitor the stock list and make sure the necessary materials are getting ready on site in time. Meanwhile we need to counter check with the supply and usage so that we can make wastage as less as possible. Sometime site workers used only good materials and they abandon default ones and it is major problem to maintain estimated quantity. So in some ocassion, we find that there have been enough quantity despite the work in progress. At that time, we need to check what had wrong and point out the weak point or mistake done by some ppl.
As boss said ahead, I am involved in every meeting as a key player because all materials list and data are maintained by me alone. So I felt comfort and satisfy being a QS and I slowly study the important things of a QS. At the same time, I love to work as a QS and I hoped to continue as the same post. My desire have been fulfilled by boss and he sometime taught me what I am weak. By this way, I became a quantity surveyor in my life.
So I got a new word and noted. Actually I don't know what are included in the QS's duties and responsibilities. In Myanmar, we, QS, used to estimate quantities and order for construction material. In some ocassion, QS needs to prepare for claims or check sub-con claims for certification. I don't think there is some more items to do for QS in myanmar. It may be short of my knowledge and to the best of my knowledge, it's right to say so. I have been a lot of engineer friends and I learnt what they need to do at their jobs. Conventionally only female engineers do QS work bcz it demand so much concentration and sit long hours at the office without moving. So their male-counterpart prefer to work on site being site engineer. Strangely I wanted to become a QS although I am a male engineer.
My boss used to remind me that please take care when you make calculation or payment. My profit is depend on your ball-point pen's tip. He teased me like that oftenly. He sometime explained me more detail that your one mistake can cost me a lot money. Being QS, we need to monitor the stock list and make sure the necessary materials are getting ready on site in time. Meanwhile we need to counter check with the supply and usage so that we can make wastage as less as possible. Sometime site workers used only good materials and they abandon default ones and it is major problem to maintain estimated quantity. So in some ocassion, we find that there have been enough quantity despite the work in progress. At that time, we need to check what had wrong and point out the weak point or mistake done by some ppl.
As boss said ahead, I am involved in every meeting as a key player because all materials list and data are maintained by me alone. So I felt comfort and satisfy being a QS and I slowly study the important things of a QS. At the same time, I love to work as a QS and I hoped to continue as the same post. My desire have been fulfilled by boss and he sometime taught me what I am weak. By this way, I became a quantity surveyor in my life.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Me and Mini Boss
MY NEW COMPANY is made of several directors who are dhamma friends each other as well. But there is only one director who knows about construction well. He automatically became MD and he is key player among board. So I met a lot directors and noticed that some are business man and some are uneducated man. But there are usually only 3 directors are concerned with us with daily basic incl MD. Another two is one who proposed MD to sack me and he is working as a store manager. The last one is uneducated man and he's just coming to the office see around only. But he is the second largest share holders and contractors used to call him mini boss. I think he is happy to be called as mini boss among site peoples.
I called him brother as he is still a young man, at his mid 30s, by the time I met him. He is uneducated man but he is curious with ppl doing. I am assigned as site quantity surveyor (QS) by MD after he learned that I am strong at estimating. So I could able to work at office at working time. My friends are not allowed to stay at office during working time and so I got the chance to familiar with directors than others. He, mini boss, noticed my manner and he seems like to me for my fighting spirit with contractors. I am the one who used to fight with contractors for their mistakes and doing bad. So they, contractors, are scared to me when I go around the site for inspection. I am asked to make sure quality is maintained by boss and boss gave me full power for that. I could cut their bill if I am not satisfy with their workdone. And I am given a camera to record and also I have a spirit level to check with vertical and horizontal align works. The spirit ruler is made of aluminium and long 4 ft. So it makes me feel a bit safe to protect myself from fighting with workers.
I had several times to confront with site workers with disorder. They never don't like if I ask them to repair with sth they had done wrongly. At that time, we are going to exchange words and thing become worse if they insist not to do my instruction. In fact, I am still young, about 21 years old, and a bit proud to be an engineer I think. Actually I want to see a good workdone and I just ask them to follow theory/ drawing. It's major and common problems in my country's construction business I think. And every junior will experience the same just like me. The difference would be only less and much. So it's very important to meet with a good leader/ engineer at the very junior stage of our engineer career. We are lucky if we see and able to work at good management company. Otherwise our mind would be systematically destroyed. After used to with wrong method, we might think that the wrong is right and we'll never know what is our position.
This young director, mini boss tried to approach me and associate with me. For me, being a friend of him is a good sign because I must have somebody to protect me when another director attack me in term of some knowledge. He used to come site at night time and usually he bring us, only engineers, and enjoy at some restaurant. He did it purposely bcz he want to become friend of us. Later he asked me to teach some engineering words and amazingly he's very serious to learn that. So I teach him at night time and he asked me not to tell others about this. What he wanted to know about construction is very easy for me bcz they all are fundamental. eg.
1) what is the meaning of concrete?
2) what are consist inside concrete?
3) how to call sand, gravel, cement? ( he want to know by english, by saying myr words)
By this way, we both became closer than others. He always bring me wherever he go and later he learnt that we have no proper room at site to live in. So oneday he asked me to live in his spare house that is close to his residential flat. So we happily move out that house and he transport us everyday in going work and return home after working time. Later he'll became my own boss 2 year later I think.
At that time, he is newly weds and he wanted to visit upper burmese. So he asked me to guide in going upp burmese. The time was 1998, April, we got thingyan festival holidays and he choose these days to visit upp burmese. So we went together upp burmese and I could introduce him with my family members. It was the first time we return home since we go down ygn for job. My family is happy to see us coming with private car and he and his wife stay at hotel. Our travel plan included Bagan, Nyaung Oo, and Poppa. So we spent a few days at hotel with the expense of himself and we built our relationship better.
I called him brother as he is still a young man, at his mid 30s, by the time I met him. He is uneducated man but he is curious with ppl doing. I am assigned as site quantity surveyor (QS) by MD after he learned that I am strong at estimating. So I could able to work at office at working time. My friends are not allowed to stay at office during working time and so I got the chance to familiar with directors than others. He, mini boss, noticed my manner and he seems like to me for my fighting spirit with contractors. I am the one who used to fight with contractors for their mistakes and doing bad. So they, contractors, are scared to me when I go around the site for inspection. I am asked to make sure quality is maintained by boss and boss gave me full power for that. I could cut their bill if I am not satisfy with their workdone. And I am given a camera to record and also I have a spirit level to check with vertical and horizontal align works. The spirit ruler is made of aluminium and long 4 ft. So it makes me feel a bit safe to protect myself from fighting with workers.
I had several times to confront with site workers with disorder. They never don't like if I ask them to repair with sth they had done wrongly. At that time, we are going to exchange words and thing become worse if they insist not to do my instruction. In fact, I am still young, about 21 years old, and a bit proud to be an engineer I think. Actually I want to see a good workdone and I just ask them to follow theory/ drawing. It's major and common problems in my country's construction business I think. And every junior will experience the same just like me. The difference would be only less and much. So it's very important to meet with a good leader/ engineer at the very junior stage of our engineer career. We are lucky if we see and able to work at good management company. Otherwise our mind would be systematically destroyed. After used to with wrong method, we might think that the wrong is right and we'll never know what is our position.
This young director, mini boss tried to approach me and associate with me. For me, being a friend of him is a good sign because I must have somebody to protect me when another director attack me in term of some knowledge. He used to come site at night time and usually he bring us, only engineers, and enjoy at some restaurant. He did it purposely bcz he want to become friend of us. Later he asked me to teach some engineering words and amazingly he's very serious to learn that. So I teach him at night time and he asked me not to tell others about this. What he wanted to know about construction is very easy for me bcz they all are fundamental. eg.
1) what is the meaning of concrete?
2) what are consist inside concrete?
3) how to call sand, gravel, cement? ( he want to know by english, by saying myr words)
By this way, we both became closer than others. He always bring me wherever he go and later he learnt that we have no proper room at site to live in. So oneday he asked me to live in his spare house that is close to his residential flat. So we happily move out that house and he transport us everyday in going work and return home after working time. Later he'll became my own boss 2 year later I think.
At that time, he is newly weds and he wanted to visit upper burmese. So he asked me to guide in going upp burmese. The time was 1998, April, we got thingyan festival holidays and he choose these days to visit upp burmese. So we went together upp burmese and I could introduce him with my family members. It was the first time we return home since we go down ygn for job. My family is happy to see us coming with private car and he and his wife stay at hotel. Our travel plan included Bagan, Nyaung Oo, and Poppa. So we spent a few days at hotel with the expense of himself and we built our relationship better.
Site office that I supervised first ever
AFTER temporary nga moe yeik market project, we are preparing for permanent market project. But some shops are not yet moved out or some are still moving their properties. So we can do other site-related activities such as measuring actual plot dimension, sketching the site plan in which show the location of site office, well, worker's shalter, contractor's workshop, etc. We started to dismantle the existing fence and reconstruct the high fence that are painted and mentioned the project and company name. Also need to manage to clear the side-drain to make sure the water are well drain when the rain come. And strengthen them not to collapse when the heavy water drain through.
THE preparation included appointing new employees and redraw new organization. Usually recruitment were made by only Boss who is an Architect and well known contractor as well. Majorly he appointed are his old employees who were working under his former company. Another major task for him is to adjust existing salary format because he paid more than market price in the previous project. He made it purposely because the previous project, temporary market project, was needed to be finished within very short time. So he must attract an engineers and workers by giving a good salary and wages. It's usual for a contractor bcz he can't be successful without a good strategy.
WE also acknowledged the salary adjustment when we were interviewed at first time. So we can't expect a better or ever the same salary despite we have became a permanent staff. One day I heard a strange news that I am going to be fired by company bcz of one director's complain. I can't believe my ear once I hear that. I asked myself "what did I do wrongly?" I can't see/ recall any one that matter to me. But I can think is it must be the group of contractors who didn't like me during previous project time. In fact the director who complain to sack me is working as a store manager in site. He is geologist and according to him, he had some good experience with construction industry after he graduated from university. So he take one position and work on site like MD.
THE source he don't like me is bcz of my open-minded and close to boss ear. I am also taking quantites for site needs and also involved in receiving goods that come in. The problem is he cannot do what he likes when it come to purchase and deal with suppliers. Boss assigned me to calculate construction material quantities and order to cheap supplier. So my job incl to survey the job market. But I noticed that these director wants to make profit for his personal by taking commission. As you know, you have to pay expensive if you want to get commission from suppliers. I pointed out such a case to boss and boss remind him not to repeat. On the other hand, goods supplier used to give worse quality than we paid quality. At that time, I return them if I found the quality are not meeting the tender stage quality. So he, director, don't like me as I am much look like cop rather than an engineer. So he make friend with contractors who don't like me as well. Contractors have no right to kick a permanent staff out but he can. So he collected all my weak-points from these lousy and bad contractors. And when he got enough cases, he started to fight me by submitting to boss. Luckily boss gave me a chance to save my job. It's nothing but to construct site office myself.
ACTUALLY boss likes me so much and he don't want to sack me anymore. But on the other hand he had to take action upon another director's complains. According to complains, I am not good enough to be an engineer bcz I don't know how to manage labours or how to build a bldg. So I shd be fired in favour of company's long term profit. Also they accused me that I am master at pretending infront of boss and no working after boss is away. So boss decided to test me by asking to build site office under my idea. It become my real challenges and I have to take it if I want to save my life. The contractor I have to work together is also one of my dislike ppl. But I tried to do my best so that boss can understand how worthy I am.
Boss outlined me how the site office should include and look-liked. Some are as follow:
1) it must be 2 storey bldg
2) corridor in front
3) one bed room for engineers
4) one rest room for MD
5) one meeting room
6) one dinning room
7) one store room
8) one store-keeper room
After taking outlines, I started to draft and estimated the necessary materials. Then ordered to purchase in time and show the place of piling. I have to finish this within one month. Actually I am not familiar to build such a kind of bldg at that time. But I keep asking question to my friend's sisters who are also engineers and well experience at that time. So I need to go visit their hostel at the evening time to ask whatever I encounter problem. Sometime I need to ask for tomorrow job as I don't know how to check worker's job and how to command them. At that time they would happily explain to me till I understand. I need to read some books that can clear my confusion with supervision. The carpenter would ask me how to do this, what to do next, although they know well. They want to test me all the phase and they'ld be happy if I am lacking to answer their questions. Sometime they would drop something when I am walking under their working place. So I need to take extra care and push them so that it can be finished in time.
BY THE TIME I was building the site office, other engineers incl my frds are doing other easier thing, such as supervising at construction of fence and pegging and dismentaling some places. No matter I find it interesting to work and focus on my job. I did my best and fortunately I could able to finish in time and saved my job. This is my first ever test to save the job. I do please to stay at the site office and have been relied by boss in someway. Few days I finished my site office, Boss started to adjust our existing salary. It' was very exiting day for us. We all are sitting at the same place beside boss's room. When the scretary call one name, one ppl enter and see boss for his new salary. We wanted to know how much our salary would be trimmed. The different would be less or much. I am not the first one to be called. It was one of my friend who enter the boss room to be judged. We asked him when come out of room, he sightly say,,,9,000 Ks, then we are happy to learn that not much less. When my turn come, I go in and boss say I like you more than other, guy. So would you mind if I less a bit? I say no, sir. I give you 500Ks more than what your friends got, OK?. I say ok, sir. Then my salary is trimmed only 500Ks to 9,500Ks that is supposed to say good enough at that time for a less experience engineer.
By getting 500Ks more than other engineers, I'm happy to get rewarded by boss. But I'm still exiting with the foundation work of very big bldg bcz I have no experience with foundation job. In my first ever company, I started work from ground beam and don't know how to work / construct at foundation footing at RC bldg. So we learn dwgs and started to ask my frd's sisters to make clear understanding. By this way, I again overcome the obstacles of my career to step forward...
What a wonderful experience is it ?
THE preparation included appointing new employees and redraw new organization. Usually recruitment were made by only Boss who is an Architect and well known contractor as well. Majorly he appointed are his old employees who were working under his former company. Another major task for him is to adjust existing salary format because he paid more than market price in the previous project. He made it purposely because the previous project, temporary market project, was needed to be finished within very short time. So he must attract an engineers and workers by giving a good salary and wages. It's usual for a contractor bcz he can't be successful without a good strategy.
WE also acknowledged the salary adjustment when we were interviewed at first time. So we can't expect a better or ever the same salary despite we have became a permanent staff. One day I heard a strange news that I am going to be fired by company bcz of one director's complain. I can't believe my ear once I hear that. I asked myself "what did I do wrongly?" I can't see/ recall any one that matter to me. But I can think is it must be the group of contractors who didn't like me during previous project time. In fact the director who complain to sack me is working as a store manager in site. He is geologist and according to him, he had some good experience with construction industry after he graduated from university. So he take one position and work on site like MD.
THE source he don't like me is bcz of my open-minded and close to boss ear. I am also taking quantites for site needs and also involved in receiving goods that come in. The problem is he cannot do what he likes when it come to purchase and deal with suppliers. Boss assigned me to calculate construction material quantities and order to cheap supplier. So my job incl to survey the job market. But I noticed that these director wants to make profit for his personal by taking commission. As you know, you have to pay expensive if you want to get commission from suppliers. I pointed out such a case to boss and boss remind him not to repeat. On the other hand, goods supplier used to give worse quality than we paid quality. At that time, I return them if I found the quality are not meeting the tender stage quality. So he, director, don't like me as I am much look like cop rather than an engineer. So he make friend with contractors who don't like me as well. Contractors have no right to kick a permanent staff out but he can. So he collected all my weak-points from these lousy and bad contractors. And when he got enough cases, he started to fight me by submitting to boss. Luckily boss gave me a chance to save my job. It's nothing but to construct site office myself.
ACTUALLY boss likes me so much and he don't want to sack me anymore. But on the other hand he had to take action upon another director's complains. According to complains, I am not good enough to be an engineer bcz I don't know how to manage labours or how to build a bldg. So I shd be fired in favour of company's long term profit. Also they accused me that I am master at pretending infront of boss and no working after boss is away. So boss decided to test me by asking to build site office under my idea. It become my real challenges and I have to take it if I want to save my life. The contractor I have to work together is also one of my dislike ppl. But I tried to do my best so that boss can understand how worthy I am.
Boss outlined me how the site office should include and look-liked. Some are as follow:
1) it must be 2 storey bldg
2) corridor in front
3) one bed room for engineers
4) one rest room for MD
5) one meeting room
6) one dinning room
7) one store room
8) one store-keeper room
After taking outlines, I started to draft and estimated the necessary materials. Then ordered to purchase in time and show the place of piling. I have to finish this within one month. Actually I am not familiar to build such a kind of bldg at that time. But I keep asking question to my friend's sisters who are also engineers and well experience at that time. So I need to go visit their hostel at the evening time to ask whatever I encounter problem. Sometime I need to ask for tomorrow job as I don't know how to check worker's job and how to command them. At that time they would happily explain to me till I understand. I need to read some books that can clear my confusion with supervision. The carpenter would ask me how to do this, what to do next, although they know well. They want to test me all the phase and they'ld be happy if I am lacking to answer their questions. Sometime they would drop something when I am walking under their working place. So I need to take extra care and push them so that it can be finished in time.
BY THE TIME I was building the site office, other engineers incl my frds are doing other easier thing, such as supervising at construction of fence and pegging and dismentaling some places. No matter I find it interesting to work and focus on my job. I did my best and fortunately I could able to finish in time and saved my job. This is my first ever test to save the job. I do please to stay at the site office and have been relied by boss in someway. Few days I finished my site office, Boss started to adjust our existing salary. It' was very exiting day for us. We all are sitting at the same place beside boss's room. When the scretary call one name, one ppl enter and see boss for his new salary. We wanted to know how much our salary would be trimmed. The different would be less or much. I am not the first one to be called. It was one of my friend who enter the boss room to be judged. We asked him when come out of room, he sightly say,,,9,000 Ks, then we are happy to learn that not much less. When my turn come, I go in and boss say I like you more than other, guy. So would you mind if I less a bit? I say no, sir. I give you 500Ks more than what your friends got, OK?. I say ok, sir. Then my salary is trimmed only 500Ks to 9,500Ks that is supposed to say good enough at that time for a less experience engineer.
By getting 500Ks more than other engineers, I'm happy to get rewarded by boss. But I'm still exiting with the foundation work of very big bldg bcz I have no experience with foundation job. In my first ever company, I started work from ground beam and don't know how to work / construct at foundation footing at RC bldg. So we learn dwgs and started to ask my frd's sisters to make clear understanding. By this way, I again overcome the obstacles of my career to step forward...
What a wonderful experience is it ?
Friday, October 9, 2009
My second project
I joined new company few days after interview. In the early days, my friend and I went to job from previous site office as we haven't resigned yet officially and also didn't let them know that we already grab a new job. But it took us about a week. After we are given our last salary, we declared about our new job and they are happy to know about our situation.
Our new project is far different from previous project. We did R.C Bungalow in the previous site and now we need to build only brick nogging building that are also single storey. Actually this project is for temporary market for the San Pya Market, Thin gun gyun Tsp. So the project is called temporary nga moe yeik san pya market project. So we are far relax to do it compare to our previous RC project that are alien to us. Indeed, we are familiar with only brick nogging buildings and we also able to learn and draw this kind of building. Anyway there are some rooms to be learned and upgrade our deficiency in construction knowledge.
There are about 11 Buildings to be constructed within one month period. So the time is relatively short and we need to rush at all time and even need to work at night time. But we don't mind to work long hour because we are paid for that. We are also given very nice and delicious foods onsite. MD is again well known man in the construction field and he is quite familiar with us although we are pretty junior and inferior to him. For instance, we eat together at lunch and dinner time. Early morning he'ld come and take us some place to enjoy breakfast with him. How much we can expect from a boss? He is more than good enough, right? The better he is, the harder we are. We want to make him relax by doing our job finished in time and handover to authorities.
The major obstacles I found there is relationship with very old and senior contractors who have been working with Boss for so many years. So they know boss well and they know how to give complains and ask money to boss. In front of boss, they'ld say yes only and their faces are sugar-coated face with open mouth without closing. Boss is happy to talk with them and he'll always support what they demand for jobs. No matter how much they claims or ask for advance money. Boss is not an ordinary man and he is an Architect who have been working in Singapore for more than 11 years. So he has a lot experience about construction and u might want to ask me then why he's so good to its contractors.
In fact Boss is not alien to local construction industries. He built very high-end govt projects
such as 8-mile junction hotel, 9-mile golf-course, malitary pavillion, Sule Pagoda terrace shop and Thein Gyi Market, etc. He lost his reputation after Thein Gyi Market Project and he disappear from construction industries after finishing it. So this time is his return to save his reputation in construction industries and fight with different company name. His new company name is "Nagani Construction Group" that is my current employer. No matter company name for me and I'ld be happy as long as I can gain money and experience by time. So he, my boss, is re-gathering his old contractors and he's good at everything they need so that they can follow his project to help him finish in time. The problem usually come with me because I want to be exact at work. Alternatively I want to follow drawing or theory that I studied in my institute. But as u have known, the contractors want to make profit as much as possible and they don't want to make it quality. It is out of their business and they'll simply do it if there is no inspection. I am the one who always want to stay at site and monitoring what they are doing and checking on time. So whatever I found mistake, I hold the job and repair first before it's continue.
So I became the enemy of contractors and they started to critize me and later they organize and go to Boss to complain about me. At that time, I'm quite fresh engineer and I'ld stand on the right side and I'ld never consider that I was doing wrong onsite. So I am not afraid to confront any arguments. They'ld complain to boss by saying as follow:
contractors : we don't want to do anymore at ur site, Sir.
Boss : why? any problems
contractors : yes of course, the young engg: is a main barrier to our progress.
Boss : How?
contractors : he'ld come and point out very small/minor error and asked my workers to repair. It makes us delay in our progress and struggling to catch schedule.
Boss : a bit silent and immmmm, I'll call and ask him later,,,go back work
contractors : contractors return with thumb up
Boss ask somebody to bring me to office.
Boss : Are you ok with working here?
Me : yes I am, sir
Boss : any problem at site?
Me : it's fine, so far so good, but need to add some more man power to catch schedule i think
Boss : I know how good you are and hard you are, but.....
Me : but what sir, wht did i do wrongly?
Boss : nothing wrong, my little engg:, do you know we have very little time to finish this project?
Me : yes I do , sir
Boss : Well, I want you to ignore some mistakes that are not threaten to bldgs.
Me : what do you mean sir? I'm not clear
Boss : I mean do not inspect much frequently when they, contractors, are working
Me : sadly reply,,,alright sir, I'll try to follow your suggestion
Boss : Have you finished your lunch now?
Me : not yet, sir
Boss : lets enjoy together with me...don't go back site, time to have lunch now....
Me : alright sir, thanks
Boss asked me to call my friend and join our lunch table.
Boss : Thanks for hard working, I like you all
We : we also happy to work at your company, sir
Boss : Do you have any friends here?
We : Yes we do, why sir?
Boss: I want to employ some more engineers
We : we can bring in our friends and we guarantee that they are hard working and honest, sir,
Boss : good, take them as soon as possible
We : alright sir, we do our best
Boss : talking other matters and finished our lunch
At the same evening, we happily inform to our friend who is still working in previous company and he is despatched to one industrial park by the sea. He was so happy to learn the news and next day he follow us to site. And we introduce him to boss and boss immediately appoint him and start work at the same day. At that time, there are 3 engineers in site and he is latest collection. So now we 3 frd engineers and another engineer who is still studying at YTU and haven't finished yet his study to graduate. We are given the buildings and need to take care and supervise respective bldgs.
Another one I like to work that company is we get the commission from the gravel supplier. We got 10% from their bills and share all engineers. Boss used to tell them, suppliers, my engineers are using your construction goods and so you are able to sell us. So they deserve to get this 10% amount. The supplier also agree that and seems never mind. We are normally given that commission money at the same day and we got that as an incentive or bonus. Other staffs who are not engineers are not happy to see that bcz they are not included in sharing. In this point, our boss is a bit favour to engineer as he is also engineer I think.
By this way, we are going through day by day and approach to final days. The problem is late schedule and it seems cannot be finished ontime. The major prob is shortage of window chocket carpentary works. The carpenter contractors are making them onsite and they have few workers to do them. When we asked them to increase man power, they'll argue us by saying that we cannot afford to give a lot wages to so many workers. I say if you finish more, you can claim more and doesn't need to worry about that. The matter is you have to make sure work done also increase when you increase man power. But they never follow my suggestion and I inform to boss about the delay.
Boss have no idea but worry to solve the problem. One day evening, I request boss to tell something and he allowed me.
Me : I don't think we can finish the bldg in time.
Boss : I also thinking that, wht do u think of delay
Me : obviously, it's labour deficiency
Boss : they, contractors, are not increasing their work force?
Me : yes, I timely suggest them and they keep the same workforce, I think they have no workers extra to add in.
Boss : hmmmmm, what shd we do then?
Me : I have an idea to make it possible
Boss : what is that? tell me quickly
Me : I have carpenter engineer who do carpentary works by machine
Boss : wow, I'm interesting to see him, can you bring him here?
Me : I'm not sure as we don't meet long time ready now
Boss : any contact no do u have?
Me : No sir, but I once visited his home and still remember where is it
Boss : delightfully, ok, I'll ask somebody to drive you there
Me : good idea, sir, when?
Boss : now is the best time, go ahead
Me : with whom, can i go there?
Boss : Tun Aung Kyaw,, who is stood beside us and as well as mini boss and director
Me : lets go brother
We went to Tar Kay Ta tsp to search my friend's home. Luckily we could manage to find his home and found my frd's brother and tell about our case. He also engineer and leader of their family biz and we are happy to make some agreement and took him to site to see boss.
Boss was happy to see the carpenter contractor we brought in. He wasted no time and show green light to start work as soon as possible. The following day, the contractor came to site with 10 wheels truck with full of machines. We are so delighted to see the truck and man power of new contractor. They arrived in evening time and worked the whole night and carry on. Two days later they all done all required shop-door chockets and handover to store man. Boss was so happy to see them finished ahead of schedule. And he, contractor, gave me 10,000 Ks for pocket money. Actually he gave me for my part in making deal I think. Anyway anyhow I took it and happy to earn more. He then greeted me and left site for his factory-like home. We, luckily finished our project in time luckily and I am so happy to help my boss in someway and I do understand the power of having many friends.
Now, I have been some experience on job and people relationship from this two short term projects. On the other hand, I have been more friends and may be enemies around my community. But we all happy to finish this project successfully and boss is walking on the moon I think....Hopefully I am not fired at the end of project bcz we were appointed for this rushing project......We don't know when we can start next permanent project yet. Wish and pray hard not to change my employer again.........
Our new project is far different from previous project. We did R.C Bungalow in the previous site and now we need to build only brick nogging building that are also single storey. Actually this project is for temporary market for the San Pya Market, Thin gun gyun Tsp. So the project is called temporary nga moe yeik san pya market project. So we are far relax to do it compare to our previous RC project that are alien to us. Indeed, we are familiar with only brick nogging buildings and we also able to learn and draw this kind of building. Anyway there are some rooms to be learned and upgrade our deficiency in construction knowledge.
There are about 11 Buildings to be constructed within one month period. So the time is relatively short and we need to rush at all time and even need to work at night time. But we don't mind to work long hour because we are paid for that. We are also given very nice and delicious foods onsite. MD is again well known man in the construction field and he is quite familiar with us although we are pretty junior and inferior to him. For instance, we eat together at lunch and dinner time. Early morning he'ld come and take us some place to enjoy breakfast with him. How much we can expect from a boss? He is more than good enough, right? The better he is, the harder we are. We want to make him relax by doing our job finished in time and handover to authorities.
The major obstacles I found there is relationship with very old and senior contractors who have been working with Boss for so many years. So they know boss well and they know how to give complains and ask money to boss. In front of boss, they'ld say yes only and their faces are sugar-coated face with open mouth without closing. Boss is happy to talk with them and he'll always support what they demand for jobs. No matter how much they claims or ask for advance money. Boss is not an ordinary man and he is an Architect who have been working in Singapore for more than 11 years. So he has a lot experience about construction and u might want to ask me then why he's so good to its contractors.
In fact Boss is not alien to local construction industries. He built very high-end govt projects
such as 8-mile junction hotel, 9-mile golf-course, malitary pavillion, Sule Pagoda terrace shop and Thein Gyi Market, etc. He lost his reputation after Thein Gyi Market Project and he disappear from construction industries after finishing it. So this time is his return to save his reputation in construction industries and fight with different company name. His new company name is "Nagani Construction Group" that is my current employer. No matter company name for me and I'ld be happy as long as I can gain money and experience by time. So he, my boss, is re-gathering his old contractors and he's good at everything they need so that they can follow his project to help him finish in time. The problem usually come with me because I want to be exact at work. Alternatively I want to follow drawing or theory that I studied in my institute. But as u have known, the contractors want to make profit as much as possible and they don't want to make it quality. It is out of their business and they'll simply do it if there is no inspection. I am the one who always want to stay at site and monitoring what they are doing and checking on time. So whatever I found mistake, I hold the job and repair first before it's continue.
So I became the enemy of contractors and they started to critize me and later they organize and go to Boss to complain about me. At that time, I'm quite fresh engineer and I'ld stand on the right side and I'ld never consider that I was doing wrong onsite. So I am not afraid to confront any arguments. They'ld complain to boss by saying as follow:
contractors : we don't want to do anymore at ur site, Sir.
Boss : why? any problems
contractors : yes of course, the young engg: is a main barrier to our progress.
Boss : How?
contractors : he'ld come and point out very small/minor error and asked my workers to repair. It makes us delay in our progress and struggling to catch schedule.
Boss : a bit silent and immmmm, I'll call and ask him later,,,go back work
contractors : contractors return with thumb up
Boss ask somebody to bring me to office.
Boss : Are you ok with working here?
Me : yes I am, sir
Boss : any problem at site?
Me : it's fine, so far so good, but need to add some more man power to catch schedule i think
Boss : I know how good you are and hard you are, but.....
Me : but what sir, wht did i do wrongly?
Boss : nothing wrong, my little engg:, do you know we have very little time to finish this project?
Me : yes I do , sir
Boss : Well, I want you to ignore some mistakes that are not threaten to bldgs.
Me : what do you mean sir? I'm not clear
Boss : I mean do not inspect much frequently when they, contractors, are working
Me : sadly reply,,,alright sir, I'll try to follow your suggestion
Boss : Have you finished your lunch now?
Me : not yet, sir
Boss : lets enjoy together with me...don't go back site, time to have lunch now....
Me : alright sir, thanks
Boss asked me to call my friend and join our lunch table.
Boss : Thanks for hard working, I like you all
We : we also happy to work at your company, sir
Boss : Do you have any friends here?
We : Yes we do, why sir?
Boss: I want to employ some more engineers
We : we can bring in our friends and we guarantee that they are hard working and honest, sir,
Boss : good, take them as soon as possible
We : alright sir, we do our best
Boss : talking other matters and finished our lunch
At the same evening, we happily inform to our friend who is still working in previous company and he is despatched to one industrial park by the sea. He was so happy to learn the news and next day he follow us to site. And we introduce him to boss and boss immediately appoint him and start work at the same day. At that time, there are 3 engineers in site and he is latest collection. So now we 3 frd engineers and another engineer who is still studying at YTU and haven't finished yet his study to graduate. We are given the buildings and need to take care and supervise respective bldgs.
Another one I like to work that company is we get the commission from the gravel supplier. We got 10% from their bills and share all engineers. Boss used to tell them, suppliers, my engineers are using your construction goods and so you are able to sell us. So they deserve to get this 10% amount. The supplier also agree that and seems never mind. We are normally given that commission money at the same day and we got that as an incentive or bonus. Other staffs who are not engineers are not happy to see that bcz they are not included in sharing. In this point, our boss is a bit favour to engineer as he is also engineer I think.
By this way, we are going through day by day and approach to final days. The problem is late schedule and it seems cannot be finished ontime. The major prob is shortage of window chocket carpentary works. The carpenter contractors are making them onsite and they have few workers to do them. When we asked them to increase man power, they'll argue us by saying that we cannot afford to give a lot wages to so many workers. I say if you finish more, you can claim more and doesn't need to worry about that. The matter is you have to make sure work done also increase when you increase man power. But they never follow my suggestion and I inform to boss about the delay.
Boss have no idea but worry to solve the problem. One day evening, I request boss to tell something and he allowed me.
Me : I don't think we can finish the bldg in time.
Boss : I also thinking that, wht do u think of delay
Me : obviously, it's labour deficiency
Boss : they, contractors, are not increasing their work force?
Me : yes, I timely suggest them and they keep the same workforce, I think they have no workers extra to add in.
Boss : hmmmmm, what shd we do then?
Me : I have an idea to make it possible
Boss : what is that? tell me quickly
Me : I have carpenter engineer who do carpentary works by machine
Boss : wow, I'm interesting to see him, can you bring him here?
Me : I'm not sure as we don't meet long time ready now
Boss : any contact no do u have?
Me : No sir, but I once visited his home and still remember where is it
Boss : delightfully, ok, I'll ask somebody to drive you there
Me : good idea, sir, when?
Boss : now is the best time, go ahead
Me : with whom, can i go there?
Boss : Tun Aung Kyaw,, who is stood beside us and as well as mini boss and director
Me : lets go brother
We went to Tar Kay Ta tsp to search my friend's home. Luckily we could manage to find his home and found my frd's brother and tell about our case. He also engineer and leader of their family biz and we are happy to make some agreement and took him to site to see boss.
Boss was happy to see the carpenter contractor we brought in. He wasted no time and show green light to start work as soon as possible. The following day, the contractor came to site with 10 wheels truck with full of machines. We are so delighted to see the truck and man power of new contractor. They arrived in evening time and worked the whole night and carry on. Two days later they all done all required shop-door chockets and handover to store man. Boss was so happy to see them finished ahead of schedule. And he, contractor, gave me 10,000 Ks for pocket money. Actually he gave me for my part in making deal I think. Anyway anyhow I took it and happy to earn more. He then greeted me and left site for his factory-like home. We, luckily finished our project in time luckily and I am so happy to help my boss in someway and I do understand the power of having many friends.
Now, I have been some experience on job and people relationship from this two short term projects. On the other hand, I have been more friends and may be enemies around my community. But we all happy to finish this project successfully and boss is walking on the moon I think....Hopefully I am not fired at the end of project bcz we were appointed for this rushing project......We don't know when we can start next permanent project yet. Wish and pray hard not to change my employer again.........
Monday, October 5, 2009
My junior engineer days
I am struggling to cope with upcoming challenges by works and skilled workers. The more I know about construction method the more I felt secure and happy in site. The only one thing I can do to learn is hard working and stay on site as much as possible. As a result, I could minimize my blind days to shortest and got a chance to familiar with site workers.
I realized that the more we are close, the more outcome/result get in site. When people become familiar, they won't be angry even they are scolded or unfairly treated. So I try to understand who is the leader in every group. Then my mission is to make them my friends and learn from them by asking in I am not expert. Fortunately we, site engineer, need to check sub-contractors's progress bill and issue payment certs for them. So they can't ignore our part and they also try us to familiar so that their claims go smooth. They, contractors, need to serve some engineer by giving beer, foods and even pocket money. On the day they get money from office, mostly they bring us to beer restaurant and take a rest. If I refuse to follow them bcz I never drink, they'll never accept on my reason and they'ld say that eay the other foods and soft drink.
After I have made sub-contractor my friends and inspector engineer from our main-con, I begin to happy in doing construction job. We are fighting at some point of works and teasing each other at the end of the day. The water is rare and only one well by pump. So we all together take a bath after dirty work at the evening. Few days after, my boss called me and my frd and asked if we have some friends who can do like us. We happily accepted his offer and immediately recommend one of our close friend. So another friend joined us and our group become stronger and happier than before. My new friend was sent to supervise at infra-structure works. Once he came to our company, he also don't have experience and no confident and worry at first days. At that time I am quite confident with jobs and even able to console my new friend in settling job. He also hard working person and so soon after he became a stable man and enjoy like us.
Although my post is site engineer, I need to work other works as well like store-man and adminstration work. We need to go and check worker quarter at night and check for their IC in order to make sure there is no stranger and no crime under our disposal. When construction materials, like brick, cement, gravel and rebar, etc come in we need to receive with care. So sometime we are required to work until mid-night. But we all are happy to do with them as everything is lesson and new for us. Whatever we do, all are good experience and we are happy to do it at all time. Since we are sleeping at the site office, we don't need to worry about late return home and no matter lorry care come in site to deliver construction materials.
You know receiving goods is not as simple as we know before? Some suppliers are not honest and they try to make it profit by cheating us. So some lorry came in at night so that the situation is favour them and they cover dark as well. Being un-experience engineer/young man, we are quite simple and usually fall in their trap at early stage. Gradually we do learn how they do it illegally and unfairly. Some we learn from experience and some case we learn by listening senior engineer.
My company is relatively small but directors are well known engineers in this construction fields. So they know all about detail from A to Z. And sometime they taught us in some mistake and highlight in often cases that used to happen to us. So we are lucky to work under these kind of exp engineer. We have majorly 3 directors who are well established man in their respective job.
1) U Aung Myint (B.Sc (Civil Engg:)) (Mansacusett Institute of Technology), USA
(The adviser @ Dawn (Ah Yone Oo Construction Company Ltd) )
2) U Ba Myint (B.E (Civil))
(The director of MPPE department)
3) U Sein Myint (B.E (Civil))
(The director of No.1 industrial Ministery)
What a funny I am to work under heavy weigh without any job experience? Nevertheless they recongnized our hard working and treat us as their sons. One of the directors, U Ba Myint, used to call my frd, Thar (meaning to son in myanmar) and my frd respond as Pa Pa (meaning to dad in myanmar). So we are beginning to happy our work and our family-like company staffs. Unfortunately one thing happened to us apart after we work for about one month. The problem is not come from my company, it come from foreign develper. The developer wants to halt this project as there is no demand in market and they oversee that it's going to be lose if they continuse. So they immediately ordered their representative (SI International Co. Ltd ) to stop immediately. So all sub-con are invited to attend meeting for final payment discussion. After that our bosses asked us to calculate the jobs to date for claim. At the same time, they gave us warning letter for one month advance. That's mean we need to search new job within one month. During this mth, we need to prepare final claims to submit main contractor. We are so disappointed to learn that experience in the very early of our career.
Luckily, one day, one of our gravel suppliers informed us there is some vacancy at one site for urgent and he is currently supply gravel to that site as well. He came to our site office to enquire his bills is ready or not. We, without wastaging any time, asked him the location and he's willing to send us and took us there by taxi. The site is not so far away from our current site. It's built for temporary market and must complete within a month for more than 10 buildings. All are single story shop that are serie online and built as a brick-nogging.
When we met the MD of that new company, he interviewed us what we are doing right now and what we can do as usual. This time we can easily answer all his question bcz of current project experience. After asking a few questions, he asked as follows:
MD : how much do you want for salary?
We : we want to get 10,000 Ks
MD : emmmm,,,,a bit silent and thinking,,,
We : seeing each other and smiling
MD : I can't give you the salary you want
We : Then how much do you want to offer, Sir?
MD : for probation period, I can give you 9,500 Ks as basic salary
We : alright sir, we agree that and let us know when we can start work?( We are getting 5,000Ks at the current job and so new job earn us double and we are walking on the moon)
MD : as you both see the site, I need you as fast as you can.
We : ok sir, let us handover some paper works to our successor first, it won't take so long
MD : Ok,, see you as soon as possible
We : yes, we hope so
MD : it's lunch time and join us having lunch together.
We : without delay, we sat down and eat very delicious foods
That day evening, we went back our site office and prepare to change jobs. So we quickly calculate the workdone quantity and transfer to director for final checking and his signature.
Next day, we could able to join new company but we didn't let our new company know about that. Because we haven't receive the last month salary and we plan to make it secrete until we get a salary. My friend who is working at the infra-structure site also wanted to join us as there is no certainty at that company. So we consoled him to patient and promised him that we'll bring him to our new job after getting a chance. By this way, our junior days are quite lucky and favour to us despite shaky and cloudy.
I realized that the more we are close, the more outcome/result get in site. When people become familiar, they won't be angry even they are scolded or unfairly treated. So I try to understand who is the leader in every group. Then my mission is to make them my friends and learn from them by asking in I am not expert. Fortunately we, site engineer, need to check sub-contractors's progress bill and issue payment certs for them. So they can't ignore our part and they also try us to familiar so that their claims go smooth. They, contractors, need to serve some engineer by giving beer, foods and even pocket money. On the day they get money from office, mostly they bring us to beer restaurant and take a rest. If I refuse to follow them bcz I never drink, they'll never accept on my reason and they'ld say that eay the other foods and soft drink.
After I have made sub-contractor my friends and inspector engineer from our main-con, I begin to happy in doing construction job. We are fighting at some point of works and teasing each other at the end of the day. The water is rare and only one well by pump. So we all together take a bath after dirty work at the evening. Few days after, my boss called me and my frd and asked if we have some friends who can do like us. We happily accepted his offer and immediately recommend one of our close friend. So another friend joined us and our group become stronger and happier than before. My new friend was sent to supervise at infra-structure works. Once he came to our company, he also don't have experience and no confident and worry at first days. At that time I am quite confident with jobs and even able to console my new friend in settling job. He also hard working person and so soon after he became a stable man and enjoy like us.
Although my post is site engineer, I need to work other works as well like store-man and adminstration work. We need to go and check worker quarter at night and check for their IC in order to make sure there is no stranger and no crime under our disposal. When construction materials, like brick, cement, gravel and rebar, etc come in we need to receive with care. So sometime we are required to work until mid-night. But we all are happy to do with them as everything is lesson and new for us. Whatever we do, all are good experience and we are happy to do it at all time. Since we are sleeping at the site office, we don't need to worry about late return home and no matter lorry care come in site to deliver construction materials.
You know receiving goods is not as simple as we know before? Some suppliers are not honest and they try to make it profit by cheating us. So some lorry came in at night so that the situation is favour them and they cover dark as well. Being un-experience engineer/young man, we are quite simple and usually fall in their trap at early stage. Gradually we do learn how they do it illegally and unfairly. Some we learn from experience and some case we learn by listening senior engineer.
My company is relatively small but directors are well known engineers in this construction fields. So they know all about detail from A to Z. And sometime they taught us in some mistake and highlight in often cases that used to happen to us. So we are lucky to work under these kind of exp engineer. We have majorly 3 directors who are well established man in their respective job.
1) U Aung Myint (B.Sc (Civil Engg:)) (Mansacusett Institute of Technology), USA
(The adviser @ Dawn (Ah Yone Oo Construction Company Ltd) )
2) U Ba Myint (B.E (Civil))
(The director of MPPE department)
3) U Sein Myint (B.E (Civil))
(The director of No.1 industrial Ministery)
What a funny I am to work under heavy weigh without any job experience? Nevertheless they recongnized our hard working and treat us as their sons. One of the directors, U Ba Myint, used to call my frd, Thar (meaning to son in myanmar) and my frd respond as Pa Pa (meaning to dad in myanmar). So we are beginning to happy our work and our family-like company staffs. Unfortunately one thing happened to us apart after we work for about one month. The problem is not come from my company, it come from foreign develper. The developer wants to halt this project as there is no demand in market and they oversee that it's going to be lose if they continuse. So they immediately ordered their representative (SI International Co. Ltd ) to stop immediately. So all sub-con are invited to attend meeting for final payment discussion. After that our bosses asked us to calculate the jobs to date for claim. At the same time, they gave us warning letter for one month advance. That's mean we need to search new job within one month. During this mth, we need to prepare final claims to submit main contractor. We are so disappointed to learn that experience in the very early of our career.
Luckily, one day, one of our gravel suppliers informed us there is some vacancy at one site for urgent and he is currently supply gravel to that site as well. He came to our site office to enquire his bills is ready or not. We, without wastaging any time, asked him the location and he's willing to send us and took us there by taxi. The site is not so far away from our current site. It's built for temporary market and must complete within a month for more than 10 buildings. All are single story shop that are serie online and built as a brick-nogging.
When we met the MD of that new company, he interviewed us what we are doing right now and what we can do as usual. This time we can easily answer all his question bcz of current project experience. After asking a few questions, he asked as follows:
MD : how much do you want for salary?
We : we want to get 10,000 Ks
MD : emmmm,,,,a bit silent and thinking,,,
We : seeing each other and smiling
MD : I can't give you the salary you want
We : Then how much do you want to offer, Sir?
MD : for probation period, I can give you 9,500 Ks as basic salary
We : alright sir, we agree that and let us know when we can start work?( We are getting 5,000Ks at the current job and so new job earn us double and we are walking on the moon)
MD : as you both see the site, I need you as fast as you can.
We : ok sir, let us handover some paper works to our successor first, it won't take so long
MD : Ok,, see you as soon as possible
We : yes, we hope so
MD : it's lunch time and join us having lunch together.
We : without delay, we sat down and eat very delicious foods
That day evening, we went back our site office and prepare to change jobs. So we quickly calculate the workdone quantity and transfer to director for final checking and his signature.
Next day, we could able to join new company but we didn't let our new company know about that. Because we haven't receive the last month salary and we plan to make it secrete until we get a salary. My friend who is working at the infra-structure site also wanted to join us as there is no certainty at that company. So we consoled him to patient and promised him that we'll bring him to our new job after getting a chance. By this way, our junior days are quite lucky and favour to us despite shaky and cloudy.
Friday, October 2, 2009
My first ever day in construction-site
One winter morning and Yangon's Winter Morning is alien to me.
When I wake up early morning, my friend is still sleeping soundly and I quietly open the door to step out of room. The chilly wind rush to me and kissed me hungrily.
I tried to wash my face and amazing Yangon's winter snow falling outside my site office.
Once I open the window to wash my face and brush my teeth, again showy wind strangly come in office and wow me....But it can't stop me doing my secrete plan......
Today is my first day in work and I am exciting to go down real site to command and make eth are in order. I just simply don't know how to start and how to do it.
After I washing my face, I decided to tour the site under heavily snow fall down.
I watch my watch and the time is about 7:00am and I see nobody around the site.
So I enter my neighbour company's site that is next to my designated bungalow.
The snow cover me and it'ld be hard to see clearly within a short distance like 3 feet.
It make me favor and confident in learning what other ppl do in site.
So I entered other site without their consent and see what they have done actually on site.
In fact, I also need to do the same what they have done now and so it is useful for me to study their workdone. I bring a notebook and take a note and sometime even I drafted in how to make formwork properly and how to strut it firmly.
I was afraid to be seen by somebody else because I am invading others territory.
So I rushed it and go other site around the whole project before 8:00am.
When I return my office, my friend is already wake up and he is worry when he don't see me after he wake up.
my frd : where are you going alone?
me : I just touring around the site.
my frd : why do u go so early under chilly winter.
me : I just can't sleep bcz of so cold and that's why I just go out for some exercise.
my frd : I thought you go back hometown without telling me.
me : just smiling and keep quiet (in my mind, I want to go back magway and work in irrigation department)
my frd : wait lets go outside and have a breakfast.
me : OK frd, hurry up pls.
Then we go out to find a cafe and eat breakfast together. During breakfast we discuss about job
me : frd, I don't think I can do it well
my frd: why are you thinking like that? you surely can
me : hmmm,,,,,ok frd, I'll try it
my frd : don't worry,,,if I can do it then why not for you..?
Meanwhile, some engineers come in the same cafe and one staffs from my company also accompanished. He, admin staff, introduce us with the rest of engineers who are from our main contractor firm and they'll perform as an inspector on our jobs. A few minute later they, engineers, comment us that how long will you work in this company? I surprise in his question and what do you mean, brother? I replied with counter-question.
Inspector : Your company has change a lot engg: within a short period.
me : yes, I know
Inspector : It makes us our job harder to settle
me : may be
Inspector : The main important thing is your company is behind schedule.
me : yes I hope so
Inspector : Can you drive your workers to catch a tight schedule?
me : I'll try to, Sir.
Inspector : I hope you can do it. Tell me if you have some problems with job.
me : Thank you
Then my frd and I left them to go back our site office.
my frd : you don't talk so much.
me : immm I try to
my frd : old engg: are not trustable in what they talked
me : ya, but they are our main con inspector
my frd : ya they can point out our weakpoint to our boss.
me : ya it is matter to us.
After getting back office, I take a measuring tape and go down site to counter-check patt tern if it is correct or not as per director's instruction.
I have to make sure it is finished before he come to work today.
So I enter to the site area that is under my authorization.
I see some workers prepare to work and some are still go and come infront of me.
I wait till 8:00pm and studying the situation by seeing around.
The site are still under ground and everywhere is muddy and dirty and difficult to walk.
I wear jungle-boot and approach the working carpenters.
Me : hi, I am new engineer for this site.
workers: starring me and no reply. (but i felt that their eyes are underestimate and they whispered each other abt me, some are laughing at my age,,, by saying lets see how many days this young man can work here)
Me : hey I needs few workers now.
workers : They even don't turn around me and do their work without stopping.
Me : started to angry and felt they they don't respect me for being very junior. I shouted at them,,,,"who is your leader?"
workers : by pointing somebody, they replied
Me : I went these old capenter man and tell him "big bro, I want to check profile line and need your help"
Leader : why you want to check it now? We are not free anymore and no body is extra.
Me : I disappointed in his reply but I keep quiet and tell him politely again,,,but it is a must bcz director asked me to do so.
Leader : alright guy, how many ppl do u need for that?
Me : two enough
Leader : Ok I also follow you, I think he want to guess my abilities.
Me : I am not confident at all and don't know how to commend them and start.
Leader : What should I do first? he purposely asked me with smile.....
Me : I felt a pain inside and choose nearest corner post while giving a measuring tape to his pupil.
Leader : What are you doing with that?
Me : I have to check if measurment are correct with drawings.
Leader : OK,,,,go ahead
Me : find it hard to walk around and other workers glance me and laugh at me....at this point my problem started.
Leader : R you ok with taking a note?
Me : ya ok, carry on while I am reading the tape and write sth in my notebook. To be honest, I don't know how to read MKS system that is measured by meter and centimeter.
After two corners,, I asked them to stop it.
Leader : why?
Me : good enough, I don't need to check anymore.
Leader : OK, tell me if you have sth to check next time.
Me : Thanks
I went back site office disappointedly. My friend is working in his site and I don't know what he's doing right now. For sure is I don't happy to work here anymore. I wanted to go back upp/myanmar today. I feel ashamed and I have no strength to face them, skill labours. They are quite experienced people and I am not good enough to lead them. I felt like that and I wanted to go back. Then I went to my frd site and ask him to go somewhere to talk. He follow me and we go to a deep trench that is deeper than a man's height.
my frd : what happened to you now?
me : frd, I don't want to work in Yangon anymore.
my frd : why?
me : I don't think I can
my frd : you have been wrong, my dear, tell me what
me ; by explaining this morning incident
my frd : laugh at me, and tell me that don't you confident that you are better than a worker?
me : yes I do, but I don't know the way to supervise
my frd : ok this evening, lets go to my daughter's hostel and ask our problems
me : I even don't know how to ask and what are my problems ahead.
my frd : sure they'll know what we need to know in site since they have been exp for few years
me : a bit silent and agreed with my frd.......
My friend went back to his site and I sightttttttted
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
What should I do next???????
When I wake up early morning, my friend is still sleeping soundly and I quietly open the door to step out of room. The chilly wind rush to me and kissed me hungrily.
I tried to wash my face and amazing Yangon's winter snow falling outside my site office.
Once I open the window to wash my face and brush my teeth, again showy wind strangly come in office and wow me....But it can't stop me doing my secrete plan......
Today is my first day in work and I am exciting to go down real site to command and make eth are in order. I just simply don't know how to start and how to do it.
After I washing my face, I decided to tour the site under heavily snow fall down.
I watch my watch and the time is about 7:00am and I see nobody around the site.
So I enter my neighbour company's site that is next to my designated bungalow.
The snow cover me and it'ld be hard to see clearly within a short distance like 3 feet.
It make me favor and confident in learning what other ppl do in site.
So I entered other site without their consent and see what they have done actually on site.
In fact, I also need to do the same what they have done now and so it is useful for me to study their workdone. I bring a notebook and take a note and sometime even I drafted in how to make formwork properly and how to strut it firmly.
I was afraid to be seen by somebody else because I am invading others territory.
So I rushed it and go other site around the whole project before 8:00am.
When I return my office, my friend is already wake up and he is worry when he don't see me after he wake up.
my frd : where are you going alone?
me : I just touring around the site.
my frd : why do u go so early under chilly winter.
me : I just can't sleep bcz of so cold and that's why I just go out for some exercise.
my frd : I thought you go back hometown without telling me.
me : just smiling and keep quiet (in my mind, I want to go back magway and work in irrigation department)
my frd : wait lets go outside and have a breakfast.
me : OK frd, hurry up pls.
Then we go out to find a cafe and eat breakfast together. During breakfast we discuss about job
me : frd, I don't think I can do it well
my frd: why are you thinking like that? you surely can
me : hmmm,,,,,ok frd, I'll try it
my frd : don't worry,,,if I can do it then why not for you..?
Meanwhile, some engineers come in the same cafe and one staffs from my company also accompanished. He, admin staff, introduce us with the rest of engineers who are from our main contractor firm and they'll perform as an inspector on our jobs. A few minute later they, engineers, comment us that how long will you work in this company? I surprise in his question and what do you mean, brother? I replied with counter-question.
Inspector : Your company has change a lot engg: within a short period.
me : yes, I know
Inspector : It makes us our job harder to settle
me : may be
Inspector : The main important thing is your company is behind schedule.
me : yes I hope so
Inspector : Can you drive your workers to catch a tight schedule?
me : I'll try to, Sir.
Inspector : I hope you can do it. Tell me if you have some problems with job.
me : Thank you
Then my frd and I left them to go back our site office.
my frd : you don't talk so much.
me : immm I try to
my frd : old engg: are not trustable in what they talked
me : ya, but they are our main con inspector
my frd : ya they can point out our weakpoint to our boss.
me : ya it is matter to us.
After getting back office, I take a measuring tape and go down site to counter-check patt tern if it is correct or not as per director's instruction.
I have to make sure it is finished before he come to work today.
So I enter to the site area that is under my authorization.
I see some workers prepare to work and some are still go and come infront of me.
I wait till 8:00pm and studying the situation by seeing around.
The site are still under ground and everywhere is muddy and dirty and difficult to walk.
I wear jungle-boot and approach the working carpenters.
Me : hi, I am new engineer for this site.
workers: starring me and no reply. (but i felt that their eyes are underestimate and they whispered each other abt me, some are laughing at my age,,, by saying lets see how many days this young man can work here)
Me : hey I needs few workers now.
workers : They even don't turn around me and do their work without stopping.
Me : started to angry and felt they they don't respect me for being very junior. I shouted at them,,,,"who is your leader?"
workers : by pointing somebody, they replied
Me : I went these old capenter man and tell him "big bro, I want to check profile line and need your help"
Leader : why you want to check it now? We are not free anymore and no body is extra.
Me : I disappointed in his reply but I keep quiet and tell him politely again,,,but it is a must bcz director asked me to do so.
Leader : alright guy, how many ppl do u need for that?
Me : two enough
Leader : Ok I also follow you, I think he want to guess my abilities.
Me : I am not confident at all and don't know how to commend them and start.
Leader : What should I do first? he purposely asked me with smile.....
Me : I felt a pain inside and choose nearest corner post while giving a measuring tape to his pupil.
Leader : What are you doing with that?
Me : I have to check if measurment are correct with drawings.
Leader : OK,,,,go ahead
Me : find it hard to walk around and other workers glance me and laugh at me....at this point my problem started.
Leader : R you ok with taking a note?
Me : ya ok, carry on while I am reading the tape and write sth in my notebook. To be honest, I don't know how to read MKS system that is measured by meter and centimeter.
After two corners,, I asked them to stop it.
Leader : why?
Me : good enough, I don't need to check anymore.
Leader : OK, tell me if you have sth to check next time.
Me : Thanks
I went back site office disappointedly. My friend is working in his site and I don't know what he's doing right now. For sure is I don't happy to work here anymore. I wanted to go back upp/myanmar today. I feel ashamed and I have no strength to face them, skill labours. They are quite experienced people and I am not good enough to lead them. I felt like that and I wanted to go back. Then I went to my frd site and ask him to go somewhere to talk. He follow me and we go to a deep trench that is deeper than a man's height.
my frd : what happened to you now?
me : frd, I don't want to work in Yangon anymore.
my frd : why?
me : I don't think I can
my frd : you have been wrong, my dear, tell me what
me ; by explaining this morning incident
my frd : laugh at me, and tell me that don't you confident that you are better than a worker?
me : yes I do, but I don't know the way to supervise
my frd : ok this evening, lets go to my daughter's hostel and ask our problems
me : I even don't know how to ask and what are my problems ahead.
my frd : sure they'll know what we need to know in site since they have been exp for few years
me : a bit silent and agreed with my frd.......
My friend went back to his site and I sightttttttted
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
What should I do next???????
Thursday, October 1, 2009
My domestic working experience
After I finished my civil engineering diploma course, I get back home and take a rest for a few days. At that time, I am staying at the quarter of No.3, Irrigation Department, Magway and I came back home with the authorized letter of field to work under-training at this department. When I informed to office, they said they haven't received yet for our official letter from govt. So they suggested me that I should wait till they receive official letter and I never disappointed for that because working govt proj is not my dream. Since I am staying in this quarter and my sisters are working at account department, I am familiar with some AE from there. So one of AE told me to go site and she'll make me sure comfort and earn a big pocket money. Because site AE is her friend and she can give me recommendation letter when I go to site. On the other hand, my elder two sisters want me to do at Irrigation Department Projects as they know how SAE are earning well and powerful around them. But I didn't sway my ambition for working at the Yangon anyway.
Luckily I received a call from my friend who is looking for a job for me at Yangon and he found a job for me in time and asked me to join him as soon as possible. Without delaying any time, I packaged my things and started to travel to Yangon to fulfill my dream. My daughters are not blocking my way despite they do disappointed me upon my action.
I arrived yanong on around February, 1998 and joined my friend who also managed to hire a room near Thamine Junction for our temporary stay. On the same morning I arrive on Yangon, Company car arrived our room and picked up me and my friend to the site that we are supposed to work. The site is located on the junction of North and South Dagon, called Dagon Yeik Mon Housing Project developed by Malaysia developer. I think this project is one of pioneer project in housing development by international investment. On the way to site, I saw a lot work-in-progress sites beside the road and I started to worry if I could able to do this kind of construction. To be honest, I don't have any construction related experience to date and my worry stay in my head for big. My friend is a big familiar with construction project as he did work in one construction company after he passed 10th standard. And he has two civil engineer sisters and they are staying together at Yangon. So he is confident in doing our duties and responsible. According to him, we were offered to work as site engineer with salary 5000Ks and foods provided by company as well. So the package is so good to a fresh graduate with no experience. At that time 5000 Ks is quite good and only experienced engineer can get that amount salary. Our friends who were finishing the course at the same institute are working in the different company for free except they get 50Ks a day for transportation charges. They need to bring their own foods or buy themselves. Compare to them, we are quite lucky to secure this job.
Actually I have to thanks to my friend who is clever enough at interview. He knows exactly how to explain interviewer all questions although he is not master at that. He simply just asked his experienced daughters and could answer well. As a result we got this well paid job and now we are going to start our construction experience. I considered a lot on the way to site and sometime I even think that this driver are bringing us to a wrong place because we need to ride so long and so far. Being villager, I never think how big Yangon City are. From Thamine Junction to N/S Dagon Junction is so far because the time is peak hours when we travel. Anyway we arrive to site office and met with GM and introduced each other.
The site office is pretty small and there is one small room that is supposed to sleep inside for us. GM who is also one of bosses, talked a few and asked us to learn drawings first and start work tomorrow. We say rest and place our things in the room. There are few staffs at the company, 3 directors, 1 scretary, 2 drivers, 3 engineers including both of us and 1 store keeper. I noted company name "Standard Engineering Co. Ltd". The living/working room is also small and it is used as a dinning room as well. There are a lot of other companies site office on the same road. All the offices are facing main construction site. All are bungalows and we got a few semi-detached bungalow to do in this project. I am given 2 bungalow to supervise and my friend also got 2 bunglow as well. I see the ongoing project buildings and think a lot if I can do it or not and suddenly my worry bigger.
Since I am type of worry man, I can't stop to think about thinking that and I even told my frd about that. My friend is always confident and very supportive to me. Whatever he encourage me, I can't believe in myself. And I am not good at interpersonal skill like him. He can solve out problems by his good talking skill I do believe in him. But now we are seperate to different bunglow and we have to manage to progress our respective site. Our neighbouring companies are doing well and they are quite far ahead from us. So I enquire to one senior staff about being late. He explained me that there have been a lot change of engineers within a short period in this company. So they can't settle in doing it rightly. The management staff can't make it properly and they are busy with finding permanent engineer to do the job and finally we are here to to their big burden. Unfortunately we are not good enough to make it all right because we are lacking experience. But we are willing to learn in anything we are not master here. The problem for us is it's impossible for us to learn bez we take a salary and my frd insist that we have been exp and we can work it independently. That's why they gave us site engineer post and different site head to conduct. We can't make it step-backward now and we have to go ahead anyway.
The lucky thing is we have an experienced daughters who know all about construction jobs and we can go and ask whenever we encounter problems. There is another engineer who is very much experienced and he always wanted to compete with us. Because he got a lower cert from THS and he always tell us that you both are GTI engineer and should know better than him. Actually he know that we are fresh graduate and in trouble in managing with site. So he always stay away from us and he is not a good senior for us. On the evening of first day on site office, one of director told me to check profile line first when I start the job tomorrow. And he go back home, my friend and I need to spend tonight at the office room. I say yes to director but I don't know what he asked me exactly because I don't know what does it mean "Patt Tern" (profile line). Site ppl used to call profile line Patt Tern in myanmar words. The problems is I never heard before and I don't know that. Actually if he even say profile line, then I won't be understand. Being fresh graduate, how much you can expect from us? Not much, right? We are not exceptional and we struggle it. My friend seems ease although he also don't know what is patt tern. Everytime we don't know , he'ld say don't worry, lets ask my daughter next days. The problems I need to check it tomorrow and no time to go n ask his daughter. I can't eat and sleep well that night with a lot of worry. We are busy with studying drawing the whole night till we sleep and the exp engg is drinking alcohol at the office and seems estimating ours. We are learning dwgs at the bed room and he don't know all what we are doing inside. I wanted to ask to him what is patt tern but my friend reject my proposal. By this way, our first ever day in real world is finished and looking forward better tomorrow.
Luckily I received a call from my friend who is looking for a job for me at Yangon and he found a job for me in time and asked me to join him as soon as possible. Without delaying any time, I packaged my things and started to travel to Yangon to fulfill my dream. My daughters are not blocking my way despite they do disappointed me upon my action.
I arrived yanong on around February, 1998 and joined my friend who also managed to hire a room near Thamine Junction for our temporary stay. On the same morning I arrive on Yangon, Company car arrived our room and picked up me and my friend to the site that we are supposed to work. The site is located on the junction of North and South Dagon, called Dagon Yeik Mon Housing Project developed by Malaysia developer. I think this project is one of pioneer project in housing development by international investment. On the way to site, I saw a lot work-in-progress sites beside the road and I started to worry if I could able to do this kind of construction. To be honest, I don't have any construction related experience to date and my worry stay in my head for big. My friend is a big familiar with construction project as he did work in one construction company after he passed 10th standard. And he has two civil engineer sisters and they are staying together at Yangon. So he is confident in doing our duties and responsible. According to him, we were offered to work as site engineer with salary 5000Ks and foods provided by company as well. So the package is so good to a fresh graduate with no experience. At that time 5000 Ks is quite good and only experienced engineer can get that amount salary. Our friends who were finishing the course at the same institute are working in the different company for free except they get 50Ks a day for transportation charges. They need to bring their own foods or buy themselves. Compare to them, we are quite lucky to secure this job.
Actually I have to thanks to my friend who is clever enough at interview. He knows exactly how to explain interviewer all questions although he is not master at that. He simply just asked his experienced daughters and could answer well. As a result we got this well paid job and now we are going to start our construction experience. I considered a lot on the way to site and sometime I even think that this driver are bringing us to a wrong place because we need to ride so long and so far. Being villager, I never think how big Yangon City are. From Thamine Junction to N/S Dagon Junction is so far because the time is peak hours when we travel. Anyway we arrive to site office and met with GM and introduced each other.
The site office is pretty small and there is one small room that is supposed to sleep inside for us. GM who is also one of bosses, talked a few and asked us to learn drawings first and start work tomorrow. We say rest and place our things in the room. There are few staffs at the company, 3 directors, 1 scretary, 2 drivers, 3 engineers including both of us and 1 store keeper. I noted company name "Standard Engineering Co. Ltd". The living/working room is also small and it is used as a dinning room as well. There are a lot of other companies site office on the same road. All the offices are facing main construction site. All are bungalows and we got a few semi-detached bungalow to do in this project. I am given 2 bungalow to supervise and my friend also got 2 bunglow as well. I see the ongoing project buildings and think a lot if I can do it or not and suddenly my worry bigger.
Since I am type of worry man, I can't stop to think about thinking that and I even told my frd about that. My friend is always confident and very supportive to me. Whatever he encourage me, I can't believe in myself. And I am not good at interpersonal skill like him. He can solve out problems by his good talking skill I do believe in him. But now we are seperate to different bunglow and we have to manage to progress our respective site. Our neighbouring companies are doing well and they are quite far ahead from us. So I enquire to one senior staff about being late. He explained me that there have been a lot change of engineers within a short period in this company. So they can't settle in doing it rightly. The management staff can't make it properly and they are busy with finding permanent engineer to do the job and finally we are here to to their big burden. Unfortunately we are not good enough to make it all right because we are lacking experience. But we are willing to learn in anything we are not master here. The problem for us is it's impossible for us to learn bez we take a salary and my frd insist that we have been exp and we can work it independently. That's why they gave us site engineer post and different site head to conduct. We can't make it step-backward now and we have to go ahead anyway.
The lucky thing is we have an experienced daughters who know all about construction jobs and we can go and ask whenever we encounter problems. There is another engineer who is very much experienced and he always wanted to compete with us. Because he got a lower cert from THS and he always tell us that you both are GTI engineer and should know better than him. Actually he know that we are fresh graduate and in trouble in managing with site. So he always stay away from us and he is not a good senior for us. On the evening of first day on site office, one of director told me to check profile line first when I start the job tomorrow. And he go back home, my friend and I need to spend tonight at the office room. I say yes to director but I don't know what he asked me exactly because I don't know what does it mean "Patt Tern" (profile line). Site ppl used to call profile line Patt Tern in myanmar words. The problems is I never heard before and I don't know that. Actually if he even say profile line, then I won't be understand. Being fresh graduate, how much you can expect from us? Not much, right? We are not exceptional and we struggle it. My friend seems ease although he also don't know what is patt tern. Everytime we don't know , he'ld say don't worry, lets ask my daughter next days. The problems I need to check it tomorrow and no time to go n ask his daughter. I can't eat and sleep well that night with a lot of worry. We are busy with studying drawing the whole night till we sleep and the exp engg is drinking alcohol at the office and seems estimating ours. We are learning dwgs at the bed room and he don't know all what we are doing inside. I wanted to ask to him what is patt tern but my friend reject my proposal. By this way, our first ever day in real world is finished and looking forward better tomorrow.
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