As the title suggests~ all things great about wfh -

I started working from home about two weeks ago after the company decided to shift at least 75% of staff to be based at home. It's slightly taxing on the remaining 25% of my colleagues, so hopefully we'll get to go back to the office soon once circuit breaker ends on 1 June.

But I must say, I feel like my body is a lot well-rested when I started wfh, and I feel like I can do a lot more interviews since we don't have to commute to our interviewees' offices/homes to conduct them. Normally, the most we can do in one day will be 2 interviews and I'd be exhausted and thoroughly spent. Now, I can easily complete 4 via zoom and write my script right away.

Furthermore, I believe my journalistic skills are getting better and better with this wfh arrangement because to be very very honest, after two years of reporting, I STILL get nervous doing interviews with the cameras and lights on (and I'm not even the one being interviewed!!). Somehow, the entire setting just makes me nervous and I can't fully concentrate on what my interviewees are saying. But with the magic of zoom, I am actively listening and paying more attention to what they're saying, allowing me to ask better follow-up questions. In addition, my interviewees are a lot more at ease without the big ass cameras in their faces cuz they're within the comforts of their homes.

It's also a lot less intimidating posing questions to ministers through zoom. I must admit, it can be pretty scary when I have to do it in person. But after several press conferences online, I think I'm getting the hang of it. I usually give myself a pep talk in the day to psych myself for it. The recent one gave me a headache and neckache by the end of it. I think the adrenaline wore me out cuz once the press conferences end, I've to think really fast and craft my script, then prepare to go live on tv. My parents found it quite amusing just observing how I do it.

It's also great that I get to spend a lot more time at home with my folks. I don't usually have the luxury of time to eat with my parents or even speak to them because I return home past 11pm almost every day, even on days when I work the weekends, and they're fast asleep. Now that they are also wfh, we have two square meals together as a family and we have endless conversations daily. On top of that, I get to have my meals on time!!!! It's amazing. That's probably the only good thing out of this entire coronavirus situation.



Just some of the delicious fooooods - some dabaoed, some are my mom's cooking, and some delivered with love! All of them warm the belly greatly, each with a story to tell.

There's a story behind every dish and my dad loves to tell them. Like how hor fun used to be really really expensive - 70 or 80 cents, compared to the humble meepok that only costs 30 cents - and so it was a real treat for the whole family when parents bought hor fun. When I saw my own parents wolf down those thick slices of kway tiao and gravy, I realised just how much my generation has taken some of these things for granted. And trulyyy, staying at home is just the easiest thing we can do to be socially responsible in this fight against covid. It's a war we can win without the presence of nuclear weapons, guns or violence... so I really don't see why we should complain about staying at home. But I also acknowledge the fact that I have a wonderful family and a nice house to live in - something not everyone has and I'm thankful for these lil blessings.

Fun fact: Punggol nasi lemak was the last dish I had before escaping my mother's womb. And the fact that I got to try it two weeks ago, I feel like I've arrived full circle hahaha.

The last two weeks have been lovely and I think the last two months serve as a blessing in disguise for many. A time of contemplation and reflection as we take a pause in our very very busy everyday lives. Till my next post, I wish alll of you well and may we have a smoooth transition out of this circuit breaker.