office gossip = crab mentality August 26, 2009
Posted by leicia in graveyard shifts, stream of thoughts.Tags: thoughts
4 comments
I’m trying to wrap my head around being the subject of office gossip. It boggles my mind, really. The ridiculous thing is, I don’t even go to this office now, and was never employed there in the first place. It’s not even in the same city, or country for that matter, as where I am now!
Around two and a half years ago, doing what probably everyone else was also doing, I submitted my CV to this big architectural firm in the UAE, after being alerted that they need “female, junior architects”. A day or so after, somebody called me up for an interview of sorts. He was a Filipino, probably a head architect or CAD manager there. I cannot recall exactly our conversation now, but I’m sure I would’ve asked about the basic important issues like housing, transportation, compensation and such. The following days, they sent me acceptance/confirmation email along with the employment contract for my signature. I didn’t reply and send it back as I found the whole package to be not quite what I had in mind.
No follow-up mails or calls came and I thought that was that. So I went on with other life plans and ended up to where I am right now.
But, just early this evening, a friend buzzed me on YM and told me there’s a “chika” regarding that company. I had to jog my memory until I remembered it. Apparently, a friend of hers who worked there came to know about that application of mine. He heard that some people there were “discussing” that my salary expectation before was too high when I was “teacher lang daw”. HAHAHA! I had to laugh at that one. Really! I may not have been the best of teachers before, but that is just soooo WRONG calling teachers that way.
First of all, how unprofessional was this company that candidate information is divulged to non-HR staff and second, how unethical was that manager/architect who I talked with to ridicule our conversation? I mean, that time, what do I know of living and working abroad, especially in the Middle East? Lastly, just to be on the flip side, what’s the point of even considering on going abroad for work, if not to look for higher pay?
My mistake was probably being too naive to ask questions that I felt needed to be asked. Now, I am just glad I didn’t make the mistake of choosing that office 2 years ago. The company itself might be establisehd and successful but I still might have made the right decision, knowing now how the staff there were acting up before. And the sad part, but come to think of it not so surprising really, is that they may be mostly Filipinos…
Pedicure Spa + Hot Stone Massage! August 13, 2009
Posted by leicia in kewlness, oman!.Tags: Essence Spa, hot stone massage, muscat, spa, VLCC
2 comments
Without ever really intending for it, the past 2 weeks or so saw me paying homage to body pampering and relaxation.
An Indian guy from Granton was going around offices here selling promotions for VLCC, a slimming, skin and hair clinic/spa at Shatti Al Qurum. I didn’t think much about it until I remembered I was invited to Michelle’s (my former flatmate) mom’s wedding reception the following week…
So I bought the set coupons with its freebies for 20 rials and made appointments for the wedding day. I reserved for the pedicure spa (I think) with a complimentary manicure and a face pack. I actually thought these were all free from how the sales guy explained it, until it was clarified by the receptionist that the spa was just on a discount, but the face pack was free. I had to pay the discounted (30%) price of 10 rials for the pedicure, and this was after I got the coupons. Miscommunication (or was it misinformation) rears its confusing head here…
Anyhow, I headed to the clinic on 29th July and was met by a local and an Indian lady asking if I understood the promo. Apparently a lot of clients got angry, thinking that everything was included on the 20 rial promotion as well. Granton should really be more straightforward on this matter…
A Filipina met me and she started the treatment. The pedicure spa includes a paraffin wax for the feet and pedicure with the complimentary manicure. Let me just say that this is the first time I got myself a wax anywhere. She explained that the wax good for the veins and circulation of blood in the feet. But that paraffin sure was hot and made my bony feet feel like candles being made!
Good that the lady was efficient and she kept the coffee and drinks coming. She also helped me choose a very nice polish which I wore even days after. It was luminous pearlescent kinda color, a departure from my usual dark plums & coppery bronzes…
I was already happy chalking up another new experience in body pampering until my best friend, Farah, surprised me with another body-melting extravaganza!
To mark 2 years of great friendship here in Muscat, we went for an “Essence Aroma Stone Massage”. Sigh* Just saying that is enough to bring me back to the massage table. Almost…
On a balmy Monday afternoon, we encountered cool, lush hush inside Essence Spa at Madinat Al Ilam. Eschewing hot tea for welcome, they gave us this chilled hibiscus drinks instead…
The massage room was calm, oriental minimalist but plush enough, each having its own shower & changing area. My masseuse, I think a Thai, was good. Pressure was medium and just right. Stones were hot, hot, hot! They were placed at points on the back. Afterwards, they were used to sweep all over the body, massaging away kinks, tense muscles and maybe even some dead skin cells! With the smooth stones oiled and gliding down hotly, I literally felt I was being flat-ironed! And for the finale, they have this intimate area where they serve dates and the hot tea after sessions. Both of which tasted surprisingly good, especially the dates, as I never took a particular liking to them here before.
I was impressed with the whole experience and all I can add now is that hot stone massage is the way to go! Until, I guess, we go back and try the “Essence Moroccan Red Clay Body Wrap” anyway… =)
