After one week...

(I know I haven't updated my blog for quite a while. That's because I didn't want to turn my blog into an open diary sort of style however I really didn't want to write anything related to politics because that's what I've been dealing with 24/7 already. But still, I gotta say something about my new job. Right?)

Today's one week-versary of my new job.

From being totally lost, stressed, both physically and mentally exhausted and feeling like a dumb jack, I have finally learnt the trick of being a reporter and made friends with adversity. Can't believe I'm already saying this after one short week huh?!

The first three days was like hell and there were times I felt so uptight that I fell sick. All those socializing, name memorizing, news analyzing...just drove me crazy. Having used to the laid back slacking life style I was totally whacked by this sudden change. Not only do I need to be standing/walking/running for the whole afternoon, cannot start the real work (writing articles) while people are already on their way home, and have only one real meal a day (which is breakfast), the working hour just doesn't allow me to have a life. I get up at 10 and spend the following 3 hours on reading newspaper and preparing for my job of the day, then I take off to work, usually, at 1:30pm, and finish work at midnight. And a lot of time after I got home, colleagues would still call and assign me with different tasks. So the sole personal time I have for the whole day is the two hours I spend in front of the computer before I go to sleep.

OK I sounded like I have a lot of complaints. But I don't. I'm just saying that this dream job of mine is a little beyond my expectation. Being a reporter is like 24 hours on call but I'm a person who needs constant parties. On Friday night I wanted to go out and had fun but I couldn't because I was too tired from work. Last night I had to head home early because I needed to work this morning already. So does that mean no more night life for me? The story doesn't just stop here. More personality complex.

I know I have attitude problem and I have the "need" to be mean when I feel like it. But since the very first day I landed this job I have been putting this big sweet smile on my face and pretending to be nice and cheerful and friends with the whole world. That's the only way to integrate into this industry.

However, (here's the twist), as time passed, (which is, again, 7 days) I realized I have gradually adapting to the new environment and I could handle the situation with more ease. Here's the self-manipulating picture I told myself. Since the reporters I met everyday are basically the same bunch of people, because by job nature we are all political reporters and we cover news on the same line, and there are around 30 of them, so I could take it as the days back in college. Once I get close to them, it's gonna be a lot of fun, like seeing friends everyday. Then all I need to do is to chit-chat with them, have some information exchange, question the legislators or political figures together like we did to professors, and then finish the assignments seperately like we used to do! Really, no stress at all, indeed, fun!

And lastly, I'm coming to conquer the stress of meeting tight deadline too. Tonight I was quite happy about my performance. When I finished writing two articles, it was only nine, which means I would have time for two more short stories. And I'm sure (all this self-confidence again) with more practice the writing speed would no longer be a problem for me in the near future. The one thing I need to seriously improve though, and it's actually the most important, is my writing style. Right now, I only have little clue of how to turn a boring piece of political info into a fascinating piece of news story.

"In conclusion", I like my job, despite all my whinings. It's exciting and challenging and I get to talk to those important people. Tomorrow my only task is to attend an EU banquet in which CS Donald Tsang is going to be there and to socialize with all the ambassadors and legislators. Sounds fun.