LIZASAURUS SPEAKS

Ramblings of a person who knows nothing

[boogyjoo]

As it turns out...

Grubstreet has switched off it's one-a-day theme and I'm kind of at a loss for words... but let's bring you peeps up to speed. I've moved back to Dhaka, Bangladesh. I work in a communications company. My wages have regressed to what I was earning as an intern, practically. This city is testing my patience on a daily, near-secondly basis. Common sense is not common. It's time I started my own thing But I lack decisiveness and have too many ideas... Help?

[travteller-blog]

Location: Christchurch airport (NZ), 2013.

I was working in the duty free shop. In between selling drinks and smokes to the departing persons, my actual role was to manage the tech area. My shift was 4am-11am and that was the most boring time to be working in an airport! In this frame time, only...

[boogyjoo]

day 52: take a chance

PROMPT: February 21 (1924) African-American poet Langston Hughes gets an advance from his ship’s captain and abandons his job as “messboy” on a freighter ship, disappearing into Holland. He arrives in Paris with seven dollars.

Playing it safe will only get you so far. The greatest rewards often come when attended by the greatest risks, whether geographical, financial, or emotional.

The time has come where I cannot feign either ignorance, inexposure or block out the true face of this ... reality. 

The time has come for me to do as a wise man once said, "cover my a$$ with my head" because even though I like taking risks, I know people are mean, evil and out to hurt each other for the sake of whatever worm is eating their brains... and  don't understand it and I don't want to play with that.

OKTHANKSBYE.

[boogyjoo]

day 51: work with professionals

PROMPT: Throughout the publishing process you will need to let go, in increments, to professionals who can do their best work with your assistance but not your intrusion. It may be hard to let go, but let go.

So I have this *little* problem, nothing major- I don't have access to my HSBC account which is storing some much needed (ref: day 48) funds right now.

After having been passed around, on the phone, to about 5 representatives and 45 minutes of waiting, holding, verifying account information, I was passed onto someone who said that I would have to a. report my card lost and b. go to the nearest HSBC location to pick up a new card. 

That was a funny kind of solution given the fact that I had clearly explained to them MULTIPLE times that I'm not in Kuala Lumpur (which would be the nearest branch location they've been referring to), nor do I plan on returning and I've already blocked the card. 

The call ended with me saying thanks for your help (read:IDIOT!). 

A day later, I called the customer service number for the branch where I opened my account. After multiple attempts at trying to get through to the branch manager, attempts which failed because each representative was too scared to pass the case on to higher management because obviously their incompetent a$$ would be on the line, I hung up after 2 hours of trying to explain to a multitude of incompetent people the situation I'm in and that I need access to my stupid account. One again, a futile call. 

Over the weekend, I spoke to a representative who seemed slightly more efficient (read: spoke and understood English, little little) and was at least able to verify that my card is actually blocked (thanks doofus, I didn't know that!) and that no transactions have been made with it…

The next few days were followed by numerous calls to all sorts of branches in Kuala Lumpur, customer service call centres, HSBC whatever whatever people.

The result = nothing! 

I was asked to POST a letter (what is this???? 1959???) to one of their branches requesting for a new card and security device to be mailed to my current address. Sounds simple enough, except they couldn't even verify the address that I would have to send this letter to so instead we settled with sending a "complaint" through the HSBC website (an "electronic mail complaint" as they called it) Fair enough. 

The complaint form they've put up on their website DOES NOT WORK! After a number (and I mean something close to 50) attempts at filling out a form on the damned HSBC website to send in this damned complaint, ONE went through! HALLELUJAH! … But I never received confirmation which means.. well NOTHING once again. 

So I just used their complaints email address which was a pain to find as well.. and sent them 137 emails (and counting) detailing my situation and what needs to be done. 

I was robbed so I don't have a security device with which I could log into my account online. I cannot get said security device or new card (to use ATMs etc to withdraw cash) unless Im in KL and IM NOT.. I've verified all my account information etc over a million times but they cannot process any requests over the phone because I did not activate telbanking… I cannot activate telbanking unless I have an ATM/debit card in hand… I cannot get debit card in hand bla bla.. you get the problem. 

So here we are today, September 17th- and what's the solution I was given by HSBC Customer service?

A FUCKING AUTOMATED RESPONSE SAYING I HAVE TO GO TO THEIR FUCKING KUALA LUMPUR BRANCH AND GET A NEW CARD SO I CAN ACCESS MY ACCOUNT.

WHAT KIND OF FUKING DIPSHIT SERVICE IS THIS HSBC???

A friend once said, "being deductive means using past knowledge to solve current problems".

My past knowledge about HSBC began and culminated when I was in Bangladesh and tried to CLOSE my account- they wouldn't let me do it for over 45 minutes, after which I had to call in the manager and yell and scream and tell them repeatedly I DO NOT WANT THIS ACCOUNT and NO I WILL NOT PAY $50 A YEAR TO KEEP IT OPEN!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately, most offices I've worked with prefer to open corporate accounts through HSBC which has always linked my tax payments and refunds to this disgusting disgrace of a bank.

Given my past experience with the bank, I figured it would make the most sense to get the manager to act on this and make something happen. 

BUT NO! 

HSBC IS A GLOBAL ASSWIPE OF A BANK WHOSE SOLE PURPOSE IS TO LAUNDER MONEY TO AFRICAN WARLORDS' SONS AND TO BUY THEIR ISLANDS IN DUBAI FOR THEM. 

Good day, HSBC "professionals".

I'll be speaking with you shortly.

[travteller-blog]

Magic potion or piss money spending? Well I was walking down to the shop for a good beer as usual. It was around 10pm, the weather was humid, making me sweat and every step was a real effort toward my “end of the day” prize. I walked through the sliding doors of the 7eleven straight to the fridge! Looked for the cheap beer when my eyes crossed this amazing drink. I grabbed it and looking at this unbelievable packaging saying “man some”! Within a fraction of second my mind was blown and I ask myself: what does that mean? What will happen to me If I drink some of this potion? will I be something uncontrollable? A non sense thinking beast of charm/genius/sex appeal/superman/ BEAST? After I could feel smoke coming out of my ears, I decided it was time to put this bottle back where it was and leave a part of my Brain with it! On my way back I couldn’t stop asking me what was the story with this drink and I couldn’t figure it out. But I can tell you for sure and I’m speaking for girls, that if drinks will not make a boy “man some” it will definitely bring you some man! Take it easy!

[boogyjoo]

High-larry-us!

[boogyjoo]

day 50: name it

PROMPT: February 19 (1963) Publication of Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique. Friedan coined the term feminine mystique to describe “the problem that has no name”—the widespread unhappiness of women, where the housewife lost her identity and sense of self.

Not everything has a name…yet. But as we evolve new ways of thinking, we can apply the words we have in new ways. Give us something new.

Me: "Hang on, listen - I don't live in KL anymore. Need access to accounts.. SO HOW CAN?" Telephone dork: "Oh well in that case, you will need to post a letter to the branch that opened your account and request a new security device.. to activate telephone banking.. to activate internet banking. Once that is clear, you can request a new ATM/debit card from your nearest branch in KL" Me: "And how long might this take? and why is KL my only option?"  Telephone dork: "I'm not sure but you will need to send the letter by post first" Me: "So I'm assuming 1-2 months?" Telephone dork: "Perhaps. It depends on the volume of letters the customer service manager is dealing with currently"

Me: "So I have no access to any of my funds because HSBC, a well-reputed, international bank chooses to operate as if this were 1959?" Telephone dork: (silence)  Telephone dork: "Is there anything else I can help you with?" Me: (silence) This is shit. 

This is HSBC - the world's localest bank.   

[boogyjoo]

day 49: squirm

PROMPT: February 18 (1885)Publication of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain.

“No matter what your critique of Twain’s most popular novel is…watching Huck’s wrestling with the threat of a literal hell as a way of keeping him from making a humanitarian choice is one of the most powerful examples of truth in literature.” – Rev. Ed Bacon

In truth, finding a balance between what is right and what is necessary & needs to be done has been a task. One that no one's ever warned me of.  In truth, I'm a sucker for having things go my way and as you might imagine, when they don't, it's a tearful event. 

In truth, Cambodia is a village. 

[boogyjoo]

day 48: persevere

PROMPT: Knowing when something is done can be elusive. Let’s just say if you don’t know it’s done, it probably isn’t. Even if you really want it to be…

  So now I'm Phnom Penh, with no money of my own, looking for work that will make me want to jump up in the morning or at least let me buy a cup of coffee if all else fails.. or maybe until my visa expires and I have to move again.  Life is amazing and it's rolling full speed So how are you?

[boogyjoo]

day47: persevere

February 16 (1923) King Tut’s tomb is opened, revealing an immense gilded canopy, each chamber filled with splendid treasures.

For each day since I left my last day, I've been thankful for taking my life seriously enough not to waste it on something meaningless and not worth the time (seriously, who works on trying to sell shampoo till 3am? Not me, clearly). 

As soon as I moved away from what was a superficial and incredibly boring job to doing what I'd rather be doing with my time, I was suddenly bombarded with projects of all kinds which are all sorts of interesting but only fill up my experience and interest accounts. Bank remains empty (especially since the Malaysian government has taken everything from me under the guise of income tax). 

I think the point of all of this is to figure out what makes the most sense - would I rather be getting paid a million and a half to be doing what a monkey on a typewriter could easily do? or would I rather get a barely enough stipend to make it through each day? Perhaps the key lies in finding a balance between the two - between finding the space where I wont feel like an idiot working with stupid people and stupid things and getting enough in return to buy my non-stupid colleagues and friends a piece of cake after work because we all deserve some sweetness. 

[boogyjoo]

day46: perform your work

PROMPT:  Find someone to read your work to today. You will be able to feel what works in a whole new way: where you stumble, where you sing. 

So here we go... or rather here's the link, you can choose to go read the column.. or not. If you do, please come back and tell me how it made you regurgitate your brunch/brinnner.

http://www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/the-more-you-like-the-happier-you-are/

With much love, 

Me

[boogyjoo]

day45: you get what you give

PROMPT: February 14 (1994) May Sarton gets 23 Valentine’s Day Cards at the age of 82.

Bringing the reader into your work, helping them identify with your narrator or characters, is the mark of a generous spirit. You will be rewarded by their full attention. 

(in more relatable terms - I was trying to maximise on my gains by learning to care about something I couldn't care less about. I tried. No dice!) 

I've tried being painfully involved, letting what I love kill me. But that too, was a mediocre sort of death by arsenic- nothing spectacular like I imagine death will be. It was slow, painful and worth only half the time and effort I put into it. But if I were given the opportunity to do it again, I probably would. (relate this - I was working for everything I believed in, over-zealous, taking on everything that was and wasn't my job only to be smacked by those above me because to them it seemed like I couldn't concentrate. Untrue because the more I do, the better I focus) 

Then I switched it up a little and gave minimum thought or care just to get by - that too, was an idiotic kind of death because I didn't care enough to do anything about what I love and it just *poof!* disappeared before I knew it and now I'm left trying to figure out what I can do to replace it. So how? 

Some people would say I feel too much. I say, “Too much? What is that?”  No, but seriously. I am that person. The one who lets every living, breathing thing inside and lets it live until it desperately tries to claw its way out. It’s like trying to push an emotional boulder up the mountain every single day, only to have it roll down on you. It’s being the person who could hold a Feelings Summit, who could hand out feelings on the street like a flier for discounted sandwiches and still have some emotions left to share at the end of the day.

Is it great to feel things? Yes. I love things feeling. Oddly though, sometimes I do wish I could walk past a cool looking bar without being weirdly moved from the depths of my core.

I think our insistence on Not Giving Fucks as a society tends to shortchange us, implying that a universal norm of emotions is best. We’re all so... kinda busy caring about not caring — but isn't that caring in our own little way (like in a two negatives making a positive, or two drunks making a sober kinda way)?

But here I am, about to go MarryFrikkinPoppins on everyone by saying people should have feelings, in whatever way they choose to feel or express them, even if that’s not at all.

I don’t know when becoming a thoughtless sociopath became the “in” thing, but I dont think it’s a standard people should hold themselves to.  

Everyone feels, just not all of us let others see that and some of us don’t feel as often or as intensely. And that’s okay. You don’t have to be the same as everyone else (who knew, right?)

I guess what I'm trying to say is life's generally great. It's more or less just about finding balance between push and pull, up and down, your highs and lows — in order to find peace or happiness or whatever it is that rocks your socks. The Buddhists say that happiness isn’t a destination. It's the journey, the path, the downloading time...and more importantly, it’s about finding that perfect center in the middle of the storm of emotion which we tend to find in each other.   

[boogyjoo]

The pace of life: American vs Asian (Taken with GifBoom)

[boogyjoo]

day44: authorized graffiti

PROMPT: Any guest at my friend Connie’s house could write on the walls of her bathroom with the pilot silver marker she kept on the vanity counter, the kind that often pool and drip and even give you a little buzz if you sniff the tip long enough. Right there, above and below the empty towel bar across from the toilet—full rein to record thoughts and feelings and doodles.   How would you “dress-up” your own bathroom wall? What would be your Krylon?

[boogyjoo]

day43: share your inspiration

PROMPT:  We could all use to be a little inspired. Inspiration comes, it goes, and we’re looking for our next fix. If you have a person, a place, or a thing that inspires you — tell us about it

this, my friends has been inspiring me recently.  of course most of it doesn't string together in one cohesive design.. but the bigger picture will show you how it's all about people - big, small, ugly, kind, unkind, simple and complicated...

[redflag-jewellery-blog]

Gold Ellips ring in Damernas värld

[boogyjoo]

WHAT A BEAUTY!!!! 

[chibird]

[hifas]

[boogyjoo]

Nam June Paik TV Cello, 1971