Souvenirs from Novus

Last night, I resumed my usual duties at Novus, after a long break. And I remembered why I enjoy working there.

Everybody there teases me about how I am perpetually smiling. They think I'm positive, charming, cute, and very, very disturbingly abnormal because of that. I smile a lot when I'm at Novus, but that's because I enjoy my job.

It makes me feel like a very lucky person, to own a wealthy childhood and a comfortable future. It makes me smile, because the waiters there are always laughing, playing, in spite of everything. It makes me laugh, because everyone there sings, dances and performs in the middle of his work. It makes me feel human, because some of my coworkers take their time to share their life stories, and ask for mine, like I was an interesting person. It makes me feel useful, when customers tell me I have a great smile, or great service, and when dirty glasses and dishes become sparkling again.

Next week will be my last week, and it makes me a little sad to go. It has been two short months, but there are some things that I know I'll miss, the way one misses a short, but lovely holiday. I'll miss Pornsing with his poker face, which never so much as moves a muscle, but reveals all emotion. I'll miss Faz, who serenades everyone, teases relentlessly, teaches patiently, and jokes that in spite of my giant face, he thinks I'm still hot. Aw. I'll miss Rodney and Michael, for their perpetual (false) gentlemanliness, Rodney for his jokes, Michael for his childlike wonder and Stephen Chow hair. And oh, I'll miss very much the 'Novus band' of Faz and Michael, who take the stage from our musicians sometimes to do their renditions of popular songs. I'll miss Serene and Jonas, two great mentors, who really lead by example; Serene for her caring nature, and good humour, who taught me the dynamics of latte making over a beer counter in the middle of the night, Jonas for his patience, jokes, and most importantly, because he owes me a beer :D. I'll miss the part-timers, whom I meet every function, where we'd laugh over the craziness of the affairs, tease, and sigh longingly at the food. Most of all, I think I'll miss Prashana. Quite a bit.