Let's fight against boredom..!

Came across these two graphics in one of my mum's YSL training books... think we can learn a lot from good ole Monsieur St. Laurent, after all he is one of the greatest fashion designers of all time n'est pas?

7 rules to live your life by according to Yves St. Laurent:

1. Change your way of life before changing your clothes...

2. Fashion is a state of mind - not clothes...

3. Dressing is a renewal; a way of life; a start afresh; a fight against boredom...

4. Dare!

5. Smash all the doors - all the barriers!

6. Blow up traditions and conformities!

7. Live the most glamourous life...

He pushed the boundaries of women's fashion and hated following rules (just think of the bold bright and occasionally clashing colours that continually feature within his make-up ranges season after season). Thanks to him, the tuxedo suit for women, as well as ready-to-wear pieces, were introduced and made popular. He knew that to get ahead in life you had to be innovative, determined, true to yourself and courageous which is something that we all can apply within our day to day - especially when looking to get noticed by potential employers!!!

Marie xox

Assessment days...

So you’ve just received an email saying you got through to the next round of a grad scheme! Hurrah! But as you continue to read the black and white squiggles across your screen you notice two words: Assessment. Day. *gulp*  Yep that happened to me over a week ago when I received my invite to Starcom MediaVest’s Assessment Day, and two feelings came across me. One of absolute joy (they actually are interested in me! I’m not just a name and words on an application form yippee!) and the other of anxiousness (actually I guess three if you include the standard girly remark of “omg what am I going to wear?!?!”). Before this week I had never been to an Assessment Day before. I, like so many grads, had heard of the terror stories of “Apprentice style” tasks where for the whole day you are on show to everyone who has come to watch you squirm. But oh how I was wrong.

 Don't worry, during Assessment days you won't have Karen, Nick and Lord Alan Sugar breathing down your necks!

From my experience (yes, I am aware I’ve only had one, but I’m sure they are all like this, well for advertising/media anyway) the agency is very much on show to you, the potential employees, so that means that they are trying to impress you as much as you are trying to impress them. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming at my Assessment Day, with many a nice thing to say to try and calm us wide eyed grads down. It didn’t take much to be fair. The muffins, sandwiches, crisps, copious amounts of coffee, tea and coke (hmm come to think of it there was a lot of caffeine provided which I definitely needed having left the house at 7am…) worked a treat and with an environment that was so relaxed the former nerves soon died down.  After an hour of presentations about the agency, the training programme and our potential roles, the real work began.  We were split into groups and asked to work on a brief for a new mobile phone which we would then present to various members of the agency after lunch.  In addition to that we also had a maths test (lets just say after 7 years since I did GCSE maths my percentage skills were a bit rusty), and a psychometric test which included verbal reasoning, arithmetic and communications skills - *phew* makes me tired just thinking about it all.  The day (particularly the morning) went extremely quick, and unlike a standard interview round, it was really nice to have the time to talk to the other candidates and employees. My one word of advice is to just be yourself and with that you will relax a whole lot more.  As we kept getting told throughout the day, agencies normally have specific types of people in mind to fit specific roles so don’t take it personally if you don’t get through! In the end, I’m sad to say I didn’t get chosen to join their training programme, but that hasn’t discouraged me from the industry altogether (oh no, if that was the case, I would have stopped applying a loooonnnggg time ago last summer!).  I learnt so much, and actually, in hindsight, had a lot of fun and received lots of great advice from people who have all gone through the tedious and stressful job hunt. Yes it is frustrating to start all over again and go back to the process of looking for jobs, but determination is key. In fact, this grad has got another important interview in a few weeks time…. so fingers crossed!

Marie xox

Shanghai, wo xiang ni...

It’s been over a month since my I returned from my very own journey to the East and I’ve definitely started to notice several things:

1.     I miss the daily challenge of trying to be understood.  I know. It really shouldn’t be something that I miss as communication is an important aspect of daily life, but I just can’t help it. The daily game of charades. The need to think outside the box just to ask for some tissues. The awkward laugh and forceful smile when you realise that the person you are trying to communicate in Mandarin to has no idea of what you’re trying to say as you’ve got your tones wrong. I miss all of it. Even the frustration.

2.      I need to keep reminding myself that EVERYONE can understand me now. No muttering to myself whilst waiting for a bus. No talking to my friend about the person next to me on the tube. I can’t get away with it here. Stop it.

3.     I must stop pushing. Even on the crowded tube. Trust me. For two months I got used to the rough and tumble of the Shanghai metro where it was a free for all and if you didn’t fight to get on it was your loss. Those old ladies might look fragile and innocent, oh yes, but trust me it’s just a front.  From my experience they can be the worst. Here, when the tube is full, it’s full. It’s not like Shanghai where everyone’s favourite game is “how many people can we fill in a tiny space?” (yes even in lifts). I can’t do that here. No. Londoners don’t shove like that.  It’s subtler here.

4.     I miss people taking pictures of me with their children. Not in a sort of arrogant way, and definitely not in THAT way. It’s just back in China, we seemed to be the attraction. It was fun and made us feel special. They wanted us to hold their babies as if we had some sort of special powers that could be transmitted to their little ones. Here if I even look at a child I’m frowned upon.

5.     I’m sad to say it but Chinese food here will never be the same now. Don’t get me wrong; it used to be my favourite! Sweet and sour chicken balls? Chow mien? Please!  I miss the 30p fried jiaozi dumplings and the xjiaolongbao soup dumplings a stone’s throw away from our flat, the delicious sticky and oh-so-not-good-for-you sweets next to my office, the weird yet wonderful street food… oh I could go on… hmmmm hen hao chi!

It’s weird. Maybe it’s because for the past week I’ve been staring at my laptop from morning ‘til night frantically applying for any jobs that might be of interest for me. Maybe it’s because I’ve got itchy feet and am dreaming of my next adventure. Or maybe, just maybe it’s because Shanghai, in fact China in general has wiggled it’s way in and has stolen a piece of my heart… 

Marie xox

Reality check...

Wow, I’ve definitely landed into 2012 with a bump…  (and I’m not only talking about my skiing ability over New Years, although only skiing for 2 days due to heavy snowfall definitely reduced my risk of making a massive fool of myself - just look at all the snow we had!!!)

CVs? Cover letters? Job applications? If I were a colour what would I be? Do I like dogs? Who would I invite to dinner? Yes, my job hunt has officially started, and all I can say is… HELP! But as everyone has told me, I just need to be patient and persistent…so, DO.I.GET.A.JOB.DO.I.GET.A.JOB.? Like the thousands upon thousands of other graduates, I just have to keep a look out and apply like crazy - wish me luck!

Marie xox

This is the life...

Just before coming back to cold and rainy UK, since I was already in Asia I decided a trip to visit my family in the Philippines couldn’t be avoided! For 2 weeks I travelled to a mix of places, from the province of Pampanga where my lola (grandma) grew up, and where most of her family still live, to the scenic Tagaytay, not forgetting the beautiful island of Borocay and the bustling heart of the country known as Manila. Being over 15 years since I last visited with my family (shameful I know!), I was so excited to explore the places that my lola and mum were surrounded by and grew up with. It was truly amazing and such a contrast to my intense and cosmopolitan 2 month routine in Shanghai.

Tricycle riding

Local shop

Some of my auntie & uncle's livestock

Despite not being accompanied by my parents or my lola, all my relatives were so welcoming to Matt and me, and my Tagalog (main language of the Philippines) skills definitely improved drastically with me having to act as translator for some of my older relatives and Matt!!! 

Mt Taal volcano, Tagaytay

My new obsession...fresh buko!

Boracay, being one of the best beaches in the world, was definitely worth checking out, and it was so weird sunbathing and being surrounded by Christmas decorations (but being a self-confessed sun worshiper, it’s something I could definitely get used to!!!). With the longest and cleanest stretch of white sand I have ever seen and clear blue water, it is easy to see why it has won so many awards.

If you are thinking of going, definitely try out the island hopping tour which you can do privately or in a larger group. We went with a local vendor which worked out a lot cheaper and meant that we could do exactly what we wanted – including snorkelling! As it was Matt’s birthday we also decided to buy some seafood and have it cooked for us – I have never seen prawns that big!!! At night the beaches transform into open-air restaurants and bars with live music and other entertainment everywhere!

As the Filipinos say, "ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan, hindi makakarating sa paroroonan" - a person who doesn’t remember where he came from will never reach his destination; and I agree, it’s so important to never forget your roots, no matter how far across the world they are. I’m so glad I finally made the effort to go back and visit and establish new connections with members of my family that I had only heard about and never met. I definitely want to make another trip back out there soon and take my lola back to the place where she was born and grew up… 2013 can’t happen fast enough – I already miss it. <3 

Marie xox