Out of office
15 February, 2008
By Nicole Ch'ng
Hello! I am on my Chinese New Year holiday this week but just for you, and only you, I will take the day off my holiday and work 
Cotton candy, anyone?
My past four months in Telenor has been what I call, a visit in an amusement park. Some rides were fun, some were frightening, and often some we had to queue for a long time before we get our turn. The fun ones are obviously the new things I learn about everyday – work, culture, people relations. The frightening ones are challenging me to step out of my comfort zone. And often, I wait and wonder where will this take me? The queue is long, but when my turn comes to ride that roller coaster, I know it’s going to be exhilarating.
Mobile Broadband in Norway
I am working with Mobile Broadband in Norway for my first six months. At the moment I am working on the business case and also at customer feedback. The most challenging part of my work is trying to understand the Norwegian language. Working in a MNC, I expected most materials at work to be in English. It was not the case.
Learned to work around the cultural and language challenges
Coming from Malaysia and faced with cultural differences, I learn to work around these cultural and language challenges. At the beginning this was frustrating. It took too much time and effort trying to blend in. My spirits were low. Now I have learned to focus my energy on being positive. The best time of the weekday is when I sit on the bus on my way home from work, I tell myself ‘what a great day!’. And when it wasn’t, I still tell myself it was a good day and kept good thoughts in my head (which is why food is always on my mind!).
Or perhaps, some durians?
I haven’t stopped thanking my lucky stars for having the opportunity to travel back to Kuala Lumpur for our trainee gathering. The trip coincided with the Chinese New Year celebrations. The trainees and I spent the first four days exploring about ourselves. Then I spent the weekend exploring the Malaysian jungles with Istvan and Ole Johan. First it was mentally exhausting, then it was physically exhausting. Not from the hiking and boat trip, but more from the constant eating 
Right now I am enjoying my vacation with my family and friends. There is nothing like home – but as I speak of Norway with them, I have also called Norway my home without realizing it. It seems that I have the best of both worlds
I will be busy working on our trainee project now in addition to my daily work. I hope this doesn’t mean less time for me to go gallivanting around Oslo Until then, let me leave you with one of my favourite quote :
I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours.
– Jerome K Jerome (Three Men in a Boat, 1889)
This entry was posted on Friday, 15 February, 2008 at 2:48 pm and is filed under Norway, The Nordic-region. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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February 20th, 2008 at 5:25 am
I visit Telenor website today to get some information then notice on Telenor trainee blog. Something catch me excited to see asian face on the blog which i think it is my first time to see. I have read through article and feel good to hear about your good training experiences and how you make up your mind to have a good day. Oslo, the city always on grey rainy day when you are not sure whether the sun will up before it goes down… however wish you get through it by durian and good food.
Xin Nian Quai Le Gong Xi Fa Cai
February 22nd, 2008 at 11:43 am
Hi Atip!
I hope you found the information you were looking for on our website. Here in Fornebu, there is a diverse workforce, and I’m glad to say that I’m not the only Malaysian working in the Telenor office in Fornebu 
I’m happy you like what I wrote. There is more than just grey rainy days in Oslo 
Always try to find the silver lining behind the clouds 
Perhaps next time I will share with you some photos of how fun Oslo can be 
Have a nice weekend!
Thanks for your Chinese New Year greetings
Cheers, Nicole
February 22nd, 2008 at 1:48 pm
I know that Oslo can seem a little unfriendly and distant to newcomers but it is good to see you are holding an optimistic paradigm. Spend a little more time here and you will see that it has its charming side too.
This is one of my favourite, hope it inspires you.
You work is to discover your work, and then with all your heart give yourself to it.
-buddha-
February 29th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
hi,Nicole ,i m very jealous u working such a wonderful company,and that’s my dream work places,i m quite thirsty to know ur real life there,and i m a chinese girl,and i m zoey,let’s be friends.my MSN is zoey.sun@hotmail.com,looking forward ur message……
March 7th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Hi again Yuin,
Thanks again for the inspiring quote! You are right, the city does have its charming side. Oslo can be cold, but only literally and not metaphorically
Enjoy your weekend!
Cheers, Nicole
March 7th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Hi Zoey!
I would be more than happy to share some of my work experiences with you. Let me drop you an email, I would like to get to know you better too 
I love your name! I must admit that I am flattered with your comment
Have a nice weekend!
Cheers, Nicole
March 28th, 2008 at 3:49 am
Hi Nicole,
This is David from Malaysia.
It’s reli cool having the opportunity to participate in one of the best graduate programs.
I’m interested in joining tis program too and i reli wish to learn more about this program.
I would reli appreciate it if u could share wif me some of ur experiences while working in Telenor.
Pls email me at dyjwmu1@yahoo.com. Looking forward to hearing from u soon!
Thx a million!