My Days in Chye Thiam
Right after my o level, there is a period of 6 months break, i went to work as a aeroplane cleaner. My job was to clean the internal part of the aeroplane. From the toliets to the kitchen, almost every part of the plane.
I will never forget the day i step into the airport which is located at the end east of Singapore, Changi. The day, 14-12-1998, it was the first day of my work. That day i was told to meet my supervisor, Chan. He brought me to the internal part of the airport which others will not allow to enter expect the staffs and workers inside. That time, it was my first time so close with an aeroplane, cos i never sit aeroplane before before that time.Fours days later, i meet another supervisor, she was aunt lily.
As days gone by, i found that i have fall in love with the job. The people there were very friendly and helpful, 30 workers in an aeroplane work like a big family, the joy, the laughter, the sweat that we all had were very warm. Although, it is not an easy job to do, you have to endure hotness in the aeroplane, it is a very tiring job. I will never forget those aunts, like aunt hasina, aunt zaiton, aunt anni, aunt lily, aunt bibi and many more, they were like motherly figures to me. At there, youngsters like me were like their son and daughter.
I got to know what is life after working at Chye Thiam. I have learnt many things about life, especially human relationship. During my times at there, i found i have changed. There were no times for myself, my famly and my friends. About 1 third of my 24 hours were spend there, from 3pm to 11pm. The continues 8 hour developed a love bond, the bond that created harmony between me , workers and staffs in aeroplane.
As times passes by, a lot of people has left Chye Thiam, weisong was the first, he was my first friend in there. Followed by brother tony, i respect him a lot, he work for the sake for his studies for his MBA in US. Uncle Teo, was my lao da, he teaches me a lot life experiences, haha and share a lot of his love stories with us. Weider my good brother studying in SP now, he is a joker. Kalai, the other joker. Chan, my supervisor, he also share a lot of life experience with us. Botak bahrain which was the lover boy of Chye Thiam, a helpful lad which was well love by many aunties there. Ramdan the other botak, like to eat snake a lot, but when come to serious work, we fight together in the plane. Sha boy, one of my best friend in there. Brother Ali, he is 30 something, but a joker that knows hokkien, he is the job lobang king. Uncle seng, Uncle lun the two drivers.Not forgetting my buddy, Alvin Yang, i intro him to this job, haha he suffer with me in the aeroplane.
Time is heartless and cruel to me, it does not spare a medium people to look though, as times goes by memories turns in.
I will never forget the couple, Ishak and Norliah, they are like brother and sister to me.
This page is dedicated to all aunties and uncles, brothers and sisters that i have worked with before in Chye Thiam, especially aunt anni which treat me like a son in Chye Thiam, aunt lily which take bus 53 with mi everyday after work, and tell me a lot old stories. I hope one day, i be able to see any of the uncles or aunties again.
1 years later, i went back to Chye Thiam, that was my poly vocations, everything changes expect for the inspectors there,ah meng, the Myanmar inspector, roland, ramos, jojo, dany all from Philippines, they were also my friends in there . I intro my friends , wei ming, marcus and alvin also join back with me. Sometimes in the aeroplane, i still see memories of my 6 months in Chiam Thiam, the laughter that we have during break times in the aeroplane.
Till now, sometimes, i still think of them. whenever i met an old Chye Thiam staff, memories reach upon our minds, we will chat about it.
If i will to have a dream in my sleep, i will not want a dream with my dream lover, i will want to have a dream of a day working in the aeroplane................................hope the dream continues...............
From left: uncle lun, Ramdan, Ishak, brother Ali, Falungong uncle, me and sha boy.
