The Conceit of Oil and Gas Workers

Over the years, the words "Oil and Gas" earned it's reputation as the Holy Grail of industries. If you have one foot in it, you are most probably marked for owning a thick wallet. Having "O&G" in the blurb of your businesses tantamount to an insignia on the shoulder and the prestige that comes with the industry gives an elevated impression during social mingling.

People who can call themselves coming from the oil and gas industry have been paid well for decades. The problem is, they think this privilege is going to last forever. The technological know-how of those who have gone to the rig have made them a demand, cultivating a sense of entitlement across all of them in the industry. "Pay up if you want me," has become their mentality.

Coming from the oil and gas industry myself, I cannot deny that one cannot turn into an expert overnight. Although it is understood that anybody from any industry would be wobbly at the top if there they did not pay their dues at the bottom, field experience is especially looked up upon in the oil and gas industry. Even if they had worn hardhats, boots and overalls, it is not impressive if it was a brief dabble. Which is why most of the experts in this industry are expected to have years of rig experience under their belt. Tacitly known as years sacrificed away from family, from civilization, from parties and celebrations. The forlorn moments of leaving on the boat or chopper to rigs in the middle of the ocean is generally believed to be too outlandish for societal beings.

However, missing out on so-called life is not uncompensated. Our oil and gas friends are on a pay scale that is head and shoulders above other industries'. So much so, that sometimes their compensation becomes pampering. After so long, pampering evolve into entitlement. For the uninitiated, they live in a bubble of contentment that they have found their endless source of cashflow. They are experts in their field but only in their field. They counted their chickens too early.

In 2015, I had the opportunity to witness how a dip in crude oil price collapsed many businesses and paralyzed individuals' financial stability that they have enjoyed for so long. Those who were spendthrift were caught in the muck of debts, finding themselves having to sell assets. Because of the niche nature of oil and gas jobs, many find themselves not being able to fit their expertise in other jobs. As learning new skill sets and acquiring new knowledge is not a challenge for people who can figure out how to extract oil from underneath the sea, there is one other thing that prevents them from surviving a recession.

It is called pride. The conceit that has been brewing under those rare rig knowledge and hefty paychecks disarms the most brilliant minds and survival skills. Reeking of arrogance, some who lost their jobs during the oil slump approached job applications by filling in the remuneration section with a price that is that is three times higher. Not only they have unrealistic salary demands, their knowledge outside the oil and gas field is as relevant as a junior's. Not understanding this situation or rather, not accepting this reality is a double edged sword. It can either force them to venture into entrepreneurship or like some of my friends, stay unemployed indefinitely until an employer matches their demand or wait until the industry recovers because taking a pay cut and a downgrade in lifestyle is apparently too much to bear.

While I understand that it hurts when you have to settle for a Casio rather than a Rolex that you never had to think twice to buy before, it is really time to come back down to earth when necessary. Your child doesn't need a BMW to go to school. It doesn't take a pandemic to teach us that nothing is guaranteed. The only constant is change. There is a Chinese saying that literally translates to "Get down on the ground and walk when the horse dies". There will be times when an industry thrives and sets. Materials come and go. The only thing that stays is resilience. No one said that grit needs 'face'. There's nothing wrong for a rig manager being a delivery boy. The more humble you are when you are in the clouds, the easier you will grasp resilience when you fall.

In the Time of Covid-19- The Invisible Enemy

I thought I lived an ordinary life until I witnessed the whole world swallowed by a ruthless virus. It knows no geological boundary, no social ranking, no race. I saw one country after another going on lockdowns, sacrificing economy and freedom because of this virus. For once, I felt that we were battling the same thing not as a gender, a race or a nation but as humans all together. If I survive, I lived through a battle with a magnitude bigger than that of the world wars. If that is ordinary, then I don't know what is. 

For almost three months, the word C-O-R-O-N-A has been perching on my ears everyday if not everytime I am connected to the media. From just reading the news about the virus coming from people eating bats in Wuhan, to hearing it hit Malaysian shores, to knowing that I can be the next victim, I observe the change of sentiments in me.

Like many, in late February, I was merely an acknowledger of the virus and only dabbled in some gossips. The virus seemed far away and there were many other important things than sanitizing the hands. And then, statistics reared its head and I was beginning to hear about cases sprouting closer to my home and my work place. I stopped going to the gym all together no matter how much I craved for a sauna. But still, the mask was not a part of my attire. 

The media was very quick. In early March, my phone space was quickly filled with videos and images about the 'prickly ball'. The Corona topic emerge frequently in my Whatsapp groups. Information was ubiquitous about what it is, how it spreads, how to prevent it and how much damage it has done. Suddenly, it is imposibble not to disinfect my hands. Hand sanitizers are as common as trashcans in every corner of facilities. Hand sanitizer companies are pumped in production and not to mention share price. Meanwhile, surgical face mask becomes a priced commodity and a statement that things are not getting any better. Touching my face is no longer a sign of self love but a threat to my ownself. That is how our new enemy gains access to the respiratory system.

Mid March, I heard news that the government was getting advice from experts calling for a lockdown. Many of us had no clue what a lockdown is but before I knew it, there were photos of empty shelves and long queues at the supermarket. On 16th March 2020, the Prime Minister announced a Movement Control Order. It felt like the government was forced to trade off the already feeble economy. But it had to be done before more lives are taken. None of us were familiar with that order and I suspect even the government themselves were still figuring out the details. There was a foray at supermarkets like there was no tomorrow, literally.



The partial lockdown meant that people have to stay home unless they are part of the essential services workforce or they have to buy groceries. Panic buying developed among the public. People have been told that panic buying will only cause the disease to be rampant but it was like telling them to forgo a 90% sale. When I heard that grocery shopping is still allowed, I told my family that we will eat what is left on the shelf.

Two weeks have passed since the implementation of MCO. The enemy cannot be seen but definitely made its presence felt with 39,566 deaths worldwide. Nothing else matters in the news other than the battle against COVID-19. Everywhere we turn, we hear about the enemy that made us look like we were wearing shields and gears against ghosts. From work to entertainment to food, every aspect of people's lives have changed drastically. We have to adapt to the new normal. Only the invisible enemy could do it so perfectly and quickly. I barely hear the sound of a car passing by my house anymore, only delivery bikes. There is no need to fuss about matching shoes to work or being left out in gatherings. If it was not easy for some eateries to survive before this, it won't be too difficult to guess how they will withstand the effects of the pandemic this time. Every business is finding a way to reach out to their customers online. The online virus is the only virus we are glad to get now.

We begin to notice that being locked at home is not the worst. Daily wage workers begin to lose their source of income. As if it is not bad enough living from hand to mouth, they have to rely on savings they never had to survive the mere 2 weeks. Not only dine-ins are closed, hairdressers, tailors, boutiques have to shut doors. New businesses just had to receive the bombshell with the little notice they recieved. Nothing is in the order we are used to anymore. We see how dependent or independent people are on things we never could imagine. Having said that, opportunity in times of adversity do happen. Tiktok, Netflix, Gardenia bread and any brands that bring products usable indoors see a spurt of growth.

While some are quick to obey the order, some are not shy to flout. The authorities cannot afford to have the ignorant and foolish to be vectors of the disease as if the virus continues to manifest, the country might as well be prepared to pile up dead bodies. The MCO is strengthened and extended for another 2 weeks. Roadblocks are rigourous. Summonses and jail sentences await those who travel more than 10 km of their houses and caught wandering without a substantial reason. We saw that the police showed no signs of relentlessness in operations. So much so that some are infected themselves.

The crisis brought out the best and the worst of humanity. While staying at home, peering at the world through the media, we hear that doctors and healthcare workers are overworked and falling sick. There is no doubt that the frontliners are putting their lives out there to keep people alive. There are also heartwarming stories of people preparing food for people whose lives are grazed by predicament. My own friend stepped out of her comfort zone to volunteer as a lab assistant. Upon being chosen, she messaged us and from her words, we could imagine she was leaping for joy to be able to contribute in the battle against the deadly virus. Local designers also emerged to volunteer to sew scrub suits for the additional volunteers.

While the good surfaced, the worst also followed. Scammers pounced at the opportunity in the midst of donation drives while robbers lure civilians with the precious 3 ply face masks. Complaining is the other virus that has been attacking people and I doubt there is a cure for that too. The rich hoard food at the grocery stores just for the pleasure of their eyes leaving empty racks for the rest. They make envious posts on social media while the poor eats rice with sugar. With the war going on, we realize that what keep us safe surviving is the roof above our head and food on the table. 

It doesn't take a genius to know that we humans are the most formidable creatures on earth. The abuse we brought to nature eventually made her spew back in retaliation. Could this be the biggest  correction Earth made to heal herself?It's not surprising that humans are the very culprit of it all. When we hear news of the Himalayan mountains in sight from Jalandhar the first time in nearly 30 years and the canals become clearer in Venice, there is not much defence the humans can use. As tourists, do we really care about how harassed the turtle is just to make a good pic for the Gram? Do we care where the facemasks end up in? This pandemic whips us with lessons and punishments that no court is powerful enough to sentence. So many lives taken. What else can make us stay out of the streets, out of the skies and waters so quickly and effectively.

If we still don't learn from it, then there isn't much hope left for us, is there?

The Result of Hoarding at Times of Covid-19

My heart aches as I look at the photo that was taken by a very discerning eye. Two perfectly unopened loaves of bread just thrown away! This is what happens when you literally bite off more than you can chew.

Hoarding is a truely selfish act. It means you rather have those extra food to satisfy your eyes than to let others eat!

If even corona virus cannot teach them kindness, tell me what can. I cannot help feeling at times that humans bring all these upon ourselves.

2 unopened loaves of bread spotted in the dustbin
Photo from https://www.worldofbuzz.com/dont-hoard-food-two-unopened-loaves-of-gardenia-bread-were-found-thrown-into-rubbish-bin/?fbclid=IwAR3SQMPt51ee_qeiR_kEPduuC1j0tAC0l6GRBHguW-XZJPNdCZsoPKekPpE

View original article in https://www.worldofbuzz.com/dont-hoard-food-two-unopened-loaves-of-gardenia-bread-were-found-thrown-into-rubbish-bin/?fbclid=IwAR3SQMPt51ee_qeiR_kEPduuC1j0tAC0l6GRBHguW-XZJPNdCZsoPKekPpE

The Lady Who Shouted Idiot at The Cops at Times of Covid-19

This morning, I woke up to this surprising news. There are people who still don't know the magnitude of the situation? We hear news about staying home daily and countless explainations on how the virus spreads for 2 months now. And yet, there are people from the supposedly educated area driving from Kota Damansara to Taman Megah. What's worse, she actually has zero respect for frontliners calling them idiots! The police have been tirelessly honoring their role to main order and putting themselves out of shelter to help the nation battle against the invisible enemy. The thought of complaining about roadblocks is uncalled for. Let alone shout foul words at them.

Picture from The Star

This ungrateful human obviously does not have a grain of concern for anyone else other than herself. I can only imagine how absurd her frustration is at times like this! Not to mention, the amount of shame she brought her family with such manners. If my daughter was like this, I'd smack the conscience out of her thick skull.

What saddens me even more is that there are a group of people defending this lady in The Star Instagram comments saying that it was merely shouting and the police have taken it too far by arresting her. Unbelievably, there is not only one of her in existance. Some of them could possibly be parents. If so, my heart goes out to their children for having such parents as examples. Some of the comments audaciously stated that the police should have expected such response and tolerated it. I cannot help feeling sorry for Malaysia for having people with such mentality. These are the people who set fire to the stack of hay gathered by others.

Click on the link below to read more:
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/04/01/motorist-who-shouted-at--cops-during-roadblock-held
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#covid19 #begrateful #dudukrumah #dudukdirumah #respect #ewensopinion #stayhome #stayathome #playourpart #dontbefoolishandrude