The Intern Adventure 6: Third Friday

The third week was fun. I am getting more comfortable with my job and I am getting closer to my colleagues (although I am such a quiet girl working so hard in her desk and not talking so much). Even if I do not talk a lot, I still enjoy the firm that I am working with and its employees.

This week, I was assigned to do the bookkeeping for two restaurants, and an energy corporation. I can say that the highlight of my week was the three days that I have spent working on the T2200s (Declaration of Condition of Employment) of 57 employees of the energy corporation that I was working on. After spending almost three hours sorting a lot (when I say "a lot", that was really A LOT), of pay stubs of those 57 employees (who had been seriously paid really good) and spending a whole working day for entering the data from their pay stubs, I finally reached the final stage - the actual completion of T2200s. To be honest, it was not the filling up of forms that was complicated, but the whole process. I have to double-check the figures and the SIN numbers (for three times) of employees for three times for two reasons: first, the amounts that I have to report on the forms and the employees' SIN numbers were sensitive and simply cannot be wrong; second, I was so happy that my senior colleague, Verna, has let me do that task and I just did not want to fail her. And my reward? A tap at the back. When I got that from my senior colleague, it was so priceless, especially when she told me that I did a good job. :)

Oh, and the funniest thing about this week was when I used the typewriter - yes, a typewriter. I just thought it was funny because when Verna asked me if I was sure that I was really okay about using the typewriter and I said "yes", she told me that I was supposed to say "no". LOL. But I actually had fun, I have never seen a typewriter as fancy as that. The keys were like that of a computer and you can actually delete anything that you wanted to delete. I was actually able to take a picture of it and here it is:

See? Quite fancy, right? Or it's just me who hasn't seen one before? Haha.

Earlier I started working on the bookkeeping for a bbq restaurant and I like it. :) I just hope that I can do better things for that restaurant (aside from bookkeeping) and do the more complicated stuff - such as GST filing. 

Accounting is really not for everyone. I cannot imagine some of my friends, even my sister, doing the things that an accountant does for the rest of their lives. I consider myself lucky for being into the accounting major and I am more excited to the more challenging stuff that are waiting for me. :)

The Intern Adventure 5: Second Friday

It has been a very productive and fun week for me. I said that it is a productive week because I had the opportunity to work on my personal development and job-related objectives. I was assigned to do a full year of bookkeeping for a restaurant, doing a bank reconciliation and producing their trial balance. My works were reviewed by our manager who does the corporate tax returns and it was really fulfilling to know that I did them right and it really increased my self-confidence. I am also getting more familiar on what it is like to work for an accounting firm and I am really having fun so far. I haven’t talked to my supervisor yet about my learning objectives but seeing for myself that they really are attainable makes it more fun!

When we met with one of the partners of that firm, Ted, to discuss our roles more, he told that I and Serena did a good job because we were able to balance a bank reconciliation perfectly on our first try. This might be a little thing for others, but the first time that I was able to balance a bank reconciliation, I can’t help but smile and be proud of myself. I considered that as an accomplishment and it inspires me to work harder and contribute more not only to the firm, but to myself as well.

I am also getting more comfortable and more familiar with various accounting software in the office such as QuickBooks and Open Office.  Working on more sets of books taught me a lot about different bookkeeping practices for different businesses within different industries. So far, I have done bookkeeping for two restaurants, a gaming company, and a pet grooming shop.

Working at A1 Accounting is really fun, especially my senior colleagues. Almost all of them have the same age as my parents but they still tease each other and they laugh at one another. J Even if I don’t talk a lot, I just see myself laughing at their jokes and they are also one of the reasons why I really love my job. I approached my supervisor earlier with the original intention of talking about my learning objectives but we just end up talking and laughing about something else with other people in the office until she has to leave! I, Brendan, and Adam agreed to talk to our supervisor on Monday about our learning objectives and I am excited about that. J

The Intern Adventure 4: My First Bank Reconciliation! Hahahaha

Well yeah, as the title goes.. I was just so happy that I finally made a bank reconciliation. It was not a lot but I just couldn't believe that I just made one. Haha. I don't know why I am so happy but I just really am. Haha!

I was feeling happy since this morning. :) The reason? I might probably still remember if I will read this entry again... or maybe not. Maybe not? Haha.

The Intern Adventure 3: First Week

My first four days at work were pretty easy. We just did a lot of data entries and some file sorting. I expected something better, but of course I know that was because we were just starting. To be honest, for the first week, I thought we will be "heavily" trained to do something "complicated" such as bank and book reconciliation or doing different tasks using various accounting and tax software that they have in the office. What we did instead were entering data to the templates and I couldn't remember a single circumstance where I have to critically think over something.

Do you think I'm complaining? Sorry, but no, I find it pretty interesting for the first week! Even if the tasks were not that heavy, I realized that being an accountant is pretty scary. It was taking me forever to enter the data for the December bookkeeping for a particular client because I want to make sure that I won't make a mistake. Numbers are scarier than words; if number 8 should be 9, your financial statements might screw up. I haven't experienced bookkeeping before and I am saying that based on my more than five years of studying accounting.  I am also double checking everything because I am scared that if I entered a wrong data, my boss will be annoyed at me.

But when I leave my desk and walk around the office, I can just see my bosses smiling and helping everyone around them... then I will just laugh at myself because I would realize I was just being a paranoid. I am a person who have a lot of questions but doesn't want to ask for more than two times because she doesn't want to be annoying. I am always hesitating to ask my other colleagues and bosses especially when I see that they are busy on something. I want to change that. I want to be more comfortable seeking for someone's help. I want to believe that it is always okay to ask - and that is one of the things that I want to learn from this whole internship experience.

www.mobypicture.com

I would say that even if all the things that I did for the first four days were not that great, I am still positive and excited for the next weeks and months to come. Data entry is not something that I would like to do forever, but I must admit that was also fun because I can see myself being busy at the office, being terribly busy on something. Being busy is fun for me and I don't know why.

My other boss told me that on Monday, I will continue on dealing with a client's account that I have been working on since Wednesday. I know that wouldn't be a lot of data entry though but let's see what happens. :)

The Intern Adventure 2: First Day

This isn't my first job, but I must say - I had the greatest first day at work ever!! I was feeling scared before and I was not feeling good about myself before I get started but I never expected to have this kind of fun!

For the first couple hours of the day's work, Adam and Darren from Improv (not sure if that's the name where they were from), were invited (that's what I know) to build the confidence and to make us feel better about working at A1 (the name of the company I am currently interning at).  They held a bunch of games and all of them were just sooooooo FUN!! I was laughing the whole time and even if I screwed up with some of the games because I was really shy (yeah), I never felt bad. I just saw myself enjoying that very moment. The games were just held for two hours but it already made me feel welcomed and happy and excited to be working for the next eight months.

The part that I didn't enjoy that much though was when I and my other two fellow interns Adam and Brendan have to clean the storage room. But when I am thinking about it now, it was a good idea that our boss, Jordan, gave that task to us because I get to know Adam and Brendan more. I learned that Adam likes fishing and Brendan really likes to tell stories (and I just wonder if he knows that). Technically, I've known them since we started training for the co-op program back in March 2013 but I just get to know them closely when, well, we cleaned the storage room. I must say that was fun too. :)

My other senior colleagues, Loretta, Anne, Yu and Verna were so welcoming. They were just smiling at us all the time and I have never felt that kind of intimidation and fear that I usually feel when I start working. I can feel their support towards us interns and they look really fun to work with! :)

Jordan and Ted, the two managing partners, were I swear - the coolest employers I have ever met. They're too funny! Ted doesn't smile a lot but his telling to many funny things. Jordan is really funny too. He's really close with his staff (and Ted too!) and I feel like he treats them as family. He just talks too fast and sometimes I can't catch up some of the things that he's saying, but I am more than 100% sure that he'll be so approachable if I ask him about something.

I am also very happy because, as I have mentioned in my previous blog, I am working with my close friend Serena. When we were choosing our desks, I just realized that I should have picked the desk beside her. I got too excited about having my own quarter and forgot about that. But not a problem though, I can just run to her whenever I want. :)

What I am feeling now? A part of me is feeling bad because when Jordan asked me if I can work on Monday nights and present to some group of people, I said no. I really do not wanna work at night but I guess I also immediately felt scared about the thought of presenting to people. I am still not confident about that but I know that I have to learn that and feel good about it.

What am I feeling now again? Actually, to be honest, I still feel scared, but less scared though than last night. I love the people, I love the firm, I just don't wanna screw up and get fired on April. But I am still very positive that sooner or later, I will get used to what I will be doing in the next 8 months and I will do my best to be really good! :)

I know God will never leave me and He will always guide me in every step of the way. :)

Oh, by the way, I got some pictures of me before I go to work earlier (or should I say I just wanna post my "OOTD".) Haha!

The Intern Adventure 1: The Night Before

I am prepared for tomorrow. I have my bag packed with all the things I need. I have my clothes ready as well. I have already set my alarm... oops, actually, not yet. Let me do that first. Okay, now it's all set, with my favourite Korean song as my alarm tone (should I really do that? What if I just end up hating it?). But to be honest, I am quite scared.

Yes, I am quite scared... or nervous? Are those two different?

I am... nervous (okay, let's just use that word) because this will be my very first office job. By that, I mean, this will be the very first time that I will be working in an office setting - in an accounting firm to be exact. I am nervous because I am scared to screw up. I am scared that I will do things that might be unbearable to deal with for my employer, or to my other senior colleagues. But I know though that not everyone in the workplace will be expecting me to be phenomenal on my first few weeks at work. Maybe I am just nervous because I am not that confident about myself.

Oh.. wait. Did I just say I am not confident about myself? Was that the main reason why I am doing this internship? To be confident?

Right. That's right! I want to be more confident about myself that's why I am doing this. Now, with that thought, I am getting excited. I know the sudden change of mood is quite weird but that's what I am feeling right now. I might do well, but I swear I will do my best to be well.

I am also excited because I will be working with one of my closest friend in Edwards. Knowing that I will be working with her makes me feel more excited and relieved. :)

Good night. I will just watch one episode of my favourite Korean drama and then I'm gonna have a good night sleep. :)

Fighting, Hazel. Kaya mo yan!! :)

P.S. The weather is quite scary. It's way too cold and I have to walk for about 10 minutes. Good thing I have a nice cozy jacket and a headset to keep me entertained while walking. Hehe. :)

Reasons

"If there is a reason for us to meet, then, don't you think we will? If I leave without meeting her, then, it will be because there was no reason too."
-My Love From th Star

...it will be because there was no reason to. No reason to.

Shouldn't Be Here

Why do they have to keep me wait all the time? Why do they have to leave me hanging?
Why can't they just let me be..
Why can't they just let me go?
It would have been so much lighter if they will just let me.

Warmth

Beautiful Man. Episode 14, last scene:

Dokgo Ma Te to Kim Bo Tong:

"From now on... I'll come to you."

This scene is so warm, it just feels so good. :)

"The smile on my face... is that love?"

You can just say, yes, it is. :)

(c) www.jangkeunsukforever.com

Beautiful

I am currently listening to Passenger's song, Let Her Go. I really like this song because it tells me a lot of things about life - things that I have just ignored, things that I regret losing because I never realized their worth while they're all with me, things that I have left unnoticed because I was too busy with other things, with other people.

I have been too busy being a critic of my own self - I always thought that I can't be any better. I feel like I am too fat and too ugly to be noticed. For almost a decade, that's what I was thinking. I was always busy comparing myself to other girls who are a lot skinnier and a lot prettier than me. I always hope that someday, I can be like them too. I hate it when my friends and siblings will tag me to pictures where my double chin's showing up, when my tummy wants to get a place on the picture too - really hate at and it's too tiring. It's too tiring to be embarrassed all the time and to think about what other people would think about me. When it  really gets too tiring to compare myself to other girls, I just want to shut myself up from the world and deactivate all of my social media accounts that tie me to those insecurities that consume me. It's too tiring to hear that I am not beautiful, that I am fat, that I am just hopeless. At least hearing them from people closest to my heart hurts me because I know their jokes contain the truth.

I love many people, I love my friends, I love my family, but I just realized that I have never learned to love myself, not until now.

My younger sister always tells me that I am beautiful and she is always proud to tell everyone that her Ate (older sister) is really pretty. She tells me all the time that I am sexy and whenever she feels like I feel bad about myself, she will always try to lift my spirits up and do my hair and make-up. I realized that I shouldn't feel bad about myself because I am not physically attractive - but I should feel bad for making my sister feel bad because I feel bad about myself. Not only my sister, but my mom too. When my Mama was still alive, she will always tell me that her daughter is a jewel and she is really pretty. I like it when she tells me that she didn't want me to get skinny because I will be less "huggable." Lol. I feel bad. But whenever I think about my mother and my sister who always believe on the beauty that I have in my heart, it makes me feel more beautiful.

My sister (left) and I (right). :)

This New Year 2014, one of the resolutions that I am slowly trying to achieve is to accept myself for who and what I really am. It's not that easy because this is the first time in my life that I am learning to accept myself and my imperfections. It's not that easy though to admit all of my insecurities but I feel that I should let them out through this blog so that one day, if I will feel bad about myself again, I will read this to myself and be reminded of how beautiful I really am... that I am more than what I think I am. :))

No one's really ugly, it's just a thought people have within themselves. Learning to accept yourself will make you happier... and eventually, be more beautiful like flowers. :) Negative thoughts... let me go. :)

Well you only need the light when it's burning low 
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow 
Only know you love her when you let her go 

 Only know you've been high when you're feeling low 
Only hate the road when you’re missin' home 
Only know you love her when you let her go 
And you let her go

Happy Mori Cases! :)

For a little more than a year, I have been wanting to have a Happy Mori case . Happy Mori is a South Korean company specializing in super cute cellphone cases. Their designs are too awesome that make me want all of them! Haha. I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 and cell shops here in my city do not sell a lot of cute cases. They all have the cute ones for IPhones so I always look online for cute S4 cases. But I got a problem here - I can't decide on which one's the best for my phone, or should I say, they're too many awesome options and I can't pick one? Haha. Well, I guess that's the case! Here are some of the cases that I am having trouble deciding which one to pick - oh, and they're all from eBay:

 (1) The "Eiffel Tower" Case 

 (2) Village Pattern

(3) Memories

(4) Nordic Pattern - Flower (This one is for Iphone 5 but they got one with the same design for S4)

(5) Bird Diary

They're all cute, aren't they?? Or at least that's what I thought. Haha. Which one should I get?? If I could only have all of them, but they cost a lot! Each costs around $30-$40 so I can only get one. Lol. Help me decide!

Why I like them? They look cute and happy. I feel like using them will always want me to look at my phone and feel better all the time. Hahaha. Yeah, I tend to be childish most of the time. Haha.