Tuned in, tuned out

Tuned in, tuned out. That exactly describes what I am at work ever since I discovered radio broadcast on the Internet. How wonderful that is!

One of my HK colleagues came over to Singapore for an event and she popped by our office. Her only comment in was “Wow, your office is very quiet, not like us in HK, we are a bunch of crazy people (“dhin yan” in Cantonese).” I was smirking to myself after she made the remark as it’s so true; the whole office is so quiet and serious that you can hear a pin drop or your colleague talking on the phone. Anyway, I don’t mind the peace and quiet now if that admin manager does not talk loudly or try to get attention. In whichever cases, I have my beloved radio to accompany me, my quintessential email and my messenger so I can concentrate on my work or myself or my own stuff and ignore everyone and everything else.

I think I have somewhat became integrated into this weird unfeeling cold company culture where everyone just does their work solemnly and quietly. Well, I am a person who keeps to myself too but I do open up to people once I know them reasonably well and once I feel the worth to open up to. Sorry, but I am that anal. Being bubbly is never my character though I am a warm loyal friend. (My friends, please vouch for me, I am sure you will!)

Anyway, I do feel slightly horrified that I seemed to have followed this company’s culture where people just do their own work and leave at the end of business close. I am now like them! Keeping to me, myself and meself. I don’t mind the quietness or that no one talks to me. I think I may have lost my social skills there such that I don’t even know how to talk to colleagues in the lift except about work. I think I have become like them.

It really really scares me. I don’t want to be unfeeling but yet becoming like them is the only way I can protect myself. Don’t ask me to try to change the culture, it’s too revolutionary and I seriously cannot be bothered!