Thursday, October 14, 2010
Library Schlibrary
In the recent years, I noticed an increasing tendency to dish out a piece of my mind during annoying circumstances. When once I would have kept silent for the purpose of keeping peace and harmony, I no longer do. At times, anyway.
This post is triggered by an intensely annoying incident, which had happened for the 3rd or 4th time. Everytime I try to step into the library of what is now my workplace, I would inevitably be stopped with:"Hey! Have you registered?!" I can't remember if I had ever blogged about it before, but the 1st few times it did, I was not yet a staff and so technically had no rights within the compound *cue sarcasm*. I recalled giving this young lady librarian rolling eyes and barely veiled sarcastic responses to her bureaucratic, almost robot-like registration processes. I made up my mind never to step in again, but alas, I was hauled to the workplace and have to walk near it everyday now.
Today, I successfully walked in and found my books on the shelves. Thinking that the library staff finally recognised me now, little did I expect that problem was to happen at the borrowing counter (yes, they still have borrowing counter. Hello, digital age? Hello, automatic check-out machine? Oops. And did I tell you that registration was conducted by hand, still. And probably thrown into the Black Hole of the library.) Even after passing him my valid staff library card, I was asked if I had registered! He even showed me a photocopied student card and asked if it was mine. A few minutes of confusion ensued before he realised I was not who he thought I was. Uncle Librarian got down to trying to stamp my library books.
"Hello?! Have you registered yet???" This plumb auntie asked me. She demanded again, seeing I was struck dumb by her question. Only after being told by Uncle did she realise her mistake. they both thought I was "someone else". I gave her my coldest look and refused to talk, waiting for my books. (Yes this is how long some library could go about processing a borrowing request. from staff. With valid library card.)
As destiny would have it, the "someone else" for whom I was mistaken arrived then. Subjected to the same miserable registration process I once got, she complained why must borrowing from a library be so difficult? "Oh it's the same everywhere. Even in *** it's the same." Replied Plump Auntie.
"Oh yes. It is a pain." I blurted out in disgust and anger. "I am a staff and THEY too put me through this."
"Oh no! No! It was a case of mistaken identity!" Plump Auntie insisted. I rolled my eyes. Still waiting for my books. Uncle had gotten distracted with the girl's request and gone to do other stuff. Man, I could have finished cooking a simple meal for myself by the time he finished processing my borrowing request. Anyhow, I took off, shaking dust off my feet at them in disgust. Pathetic things, trying to justify their pitiful existence.
Now I would really like to buy something to cool off.
This post is triggered by an intensely annoying incident, which had happened for the 3rd or 4th time. Everytime I try to step into the library of what is now my workplace, I would inevitably be stopped with:"Hey! Have you registered?!" I can't remember if I had ever blogged about it before, but the 1st few times it did, I was not yet a staff and so technically had no rights within the compound *cue sarcasm*. I recalled giving this young lady librarian rolling eyes and barely veiled sarcastic responses to her bureaucratic, almost robot-like registration processes. I made up my mind never to step in again, but alas, I was hauled to the workplace and have to walk near it everyday now.
Today, I successfully walked in and found my books on the shelves. Thinking that the library staff finally recognised me now, little did I expect that problem was to happen at the borrowing counter (yes, they still have borrowing counter. Hello, digital age? Hello, automatic check-out machine? Oops. And did I tell you that registration was conducted by hand, still. And probably thrown into the Black Hole of the library.) Even after passing him my valid staff library card, I was asked if I had registered! He even showed me a photocopied student card and asked if it was mine. A few minutes of confusion ensued before he realised I was not who he thought I was. Uncle Librarian got down to trying to stamp my library books.
"Hello?! Have you registered yet???" This plumb auntie asked me. She demanded again, seeing I was struck dumb by her question. Only after being told by Uncle did she realise her mistake. they both thought I was "someone else". I gave her my coldest look and refused to talk, waiting for my books. (Yes this is how long some library could go about processing a borrowing request. from staff. With valid library card.)
As destiny would have it, the "someone else" for whom I was mistaken arrived then. Subjected to the same miserable registration process I once got, she complained why must borrowing from a library be so difficult? "Oh it's the same everywhere. Even in *** it's the same." Replied Plump Auntie.
"Oh yes. It is a pain." I blurted out in disgust and anger. "I am a staff and THEY too put me through this."
"Oh no! No! It was a case of mistaken identity!" Plump Auntie insisted. I rolled my eyes. Still waiting for my books. Uncle had gotten distracted with the girl's request and gone to do other stuff. Man, I could have finished cooking a simple meal for myself by the time he finished processing my borrowing request. Anyhow, I took off, shaking dust off my feet at them in disgust. Pathetic things, trying to justify their pitiful existence.
Now I would really like to buy something to cool off.
Labels: Rambles
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Been Thinking...
I've been thinking recently about the increasing difficulty in what we Christians love to call "living a Christian lifestyle." What exactly does this term means? Many non-Christians tend to conjure up images of their friends rising up early to go to church on Sundays, participating in ministries or Bible study sessions on other days, going out to the street to perform that task of evangelising. Yes, I do mean all of that, but there is more to it as well.
Many events in the time leading to my recent marriage and post-marriage adjustments led me to thinking. Yes, the church is an are where we are to find fellowship with other Christians, replenish spirtual knowledge etc. Then there is also the task we are, for the lack of a better word, "destined" to do outside of the church. I'm not a super Christian and in the period following graduation and into working life, find it even more difficult to be one. And, difficult as it is for me to say this, or even explain this fully to even believing friends sometimes, I know for certain that the bulk of what God is asking of me is not to be inside the church. For your info, I am not trying to say that I am henceforth excused from attending church and participating in its activities! What I am trying to put across is that sometimes, if we as Christians hope to make a difference in the world, then it is not within a walled compound or even among people of the same beliefs that we ought to stay. At least, that seems to be my calling. But that is also as far as the revelation goes.
I may not be terribly forthcoming about my views sometimes, but this does not mean that I hurt none when people I care about blast the reality of God in front of me. Admittedly, some of the criticisms aimed at self-professed Christians does ring some truth, but still, it is saddening for me. It's like someone decided to spit at your Dad's face and you wish you could reason with him/ her why she was wrong to do so somehow without ramming your entire head at his/her stomach. I wish I have the academic means of persuasion to reason out my faith. For one thing, why does it seem like it is so wrong to vilify Muslims these days, but it is still cool to jeer at Christians?
Theological thoughts aside, I learnt something from a blog that I ought to put more into practice. To lean on faith rather than attempt to reason it all out.
PS: Sorry, but another thought: "Rich Christian" is an oxymoron? Sigh....
Many events in the time leading to my recent marriage and post-marriage adjustments led me to thinking. Yes, the church is an are where we are to find fellowship with other Christians, replenish spirtual knowledge etc. Then there is also the task we are, for the lack of a better word, "destined" to do outside of the church. I'm not a super Christian and in the period following graduation and into working life, find it even more difficult to be one. And, difficult as it is for me to say this, or even explain this fully to even believing friends sometimes, I know for certain that the bulk of what God is asking of me is not to be inside the church. For your info, I am not trying to say that I am henceforth excused from attending church and participating in its activities! What I am trying to put across is that sometimes, if we as Christians hope to make a difference in the world, then it is not within a walled compound or even among people of the same beliefs that we ought to stay. At least, that seems to be my calling. But that is also as far as the revelation goes.
I may not be terribly forthcoming about my views sometimes, but this does not mean that I hurt none when people I care about blast the reality of God in front of me. Admittedly, some of the criticisms aimed at self-professed Christians does ring some truth, but still, it is saddening for me. It's like someone decided to spit at your Dad's face and you wish you could reason with him/ her why she was wrong to do so somehow without ramming your entire head at his/her stomach. I wish I have the academic means of persuasion to reason out my faith. For one thing, why does it seem like it is so wrong to vilify Muslims these days, but it is still cool to jeer at Christians?
Theological thoughts aside, I learnt something from a blog that I ought to put more into practice. To lean on faith rather than attempt to reason it all out.
PS: Sorry, but another thought: "Rich Christian" is an oxymoron? Sigh....
Labels: Rambles
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