Bus Captain's Grievance - Chinese Lunar New Year & Qing Ming

Reunion Dinner and Lunar New Year

Ever since, started working in this public transport industry; I was so worry that, how on earth, that I am going to manage my first reunion dinner and also the 1^st day of the Chinese Lunar New Year (CNY). 

In Woodlands Regional Interchange (WRI), my work place; there are some 650 BC, and majority of them are Chinese ethnic origin. I cherish and value this time honour Chinese tradition; I “kaisu-ed” and submitted my annual leave months before the actual date for year 2015.

The supervisor reply was, do not submit now, just let me have your work ID and write the dates that, I intend to apply. He will submit my name and it will be balloted, 2 weeks before the 1^st day of CNY. My Parents, close relatives and family are all waiting for the result of the said coming ballot.

I was very fortunate and blessed to get 2 days of annual leave approved for 1^st and 2^nd day of Chinese New Year.

And I quickly called the rostering supervisor to grant me permission to work AM shift on the eve of the CNY so that, right after work, I can go to the market to all the necessary stuff to prepare a steamboat reunion dinner for my clan.

During the evening reunion dinner, I announced to the clan that, please be prepare that, for next year, I may not be that lucky and if that is so, I most probably could not join them for the celebration and in advance (1 year ahead), I apologized to all of them present  that evening.

The company did do something good to compensate for those, whom are officially working throughout the eve and till the 2^nd day of CNY. Beside the double pay rate, for working on the 1^st and 2^nd day of CNY; the company pays each BC another extra 3 days of work into our pay check for this festive period.  Indeed is a big angpow to some FW colleagues. “xie xie gong si and Huat Ah”.

Qing Ming

My parent’s ancestor came from China (Hui Zhou, Guangdong); I am the 4^th generation son in my Huang’s family lineage. 

  Since the ancestor tombs are located in Malaysia; somewhere near Lumut (Pangkor Island), it is a 650km drive to get there from Singapore. It requires a minimum two day trip to go and come back. So I am sadden that, for this year, I could not make it for Qing Ming as I did not intend to subject my family in tenterhook of waiting for my last minute confirmation on annual leave approval again.

Luckily, my elder brother, aged 55, is still fit and capable to drive such a long journey by himself with his car; he told me, not to worry about it; he will do the task to honour the family Chinese tradition of fulfilling our filial piety duty.

If you are aspiring to join this public transport service industry; and if you are a Chinese, (or perhaps other races too), you need to prepare yourself mentally to make some concession, sacrifices and compromises to your traditional believes, customs and practices. Be ready to let it go without resentment in your heart.

As you can see, annual leave application for these 2 major Chinese traditions is not an entitlement per se. 

Only, If you have positive annual leave balance; you can submit your leave application and the preference dates; and a shot in the arm to be balloted. 

and, If you do not have any positive annual leave balance outstanding; I guess, you just have to quietly stand down from this balloting process and be at ease with yourself.