WHEN ANIS GOES TO VIETNAM

It was Nov 1st, 4.30pm. I was running like a headless chicken in the office when I saw Kak Lina came back from her meeting with the client. She looked like...how do I express this in writing...erm...oh! She looked like someone just told her that Chuck Norris was gay.

She put down her laptop, looked at me (still the same look), and asked, "How's your schedule in the next 3 days?"

"I'll be busy with FAs. Sorry, no. Let me rephrase myself. I'll be busy with A LOT of FAs. Why?" I asked back and wondering whether Chuck Norris was really gay.

"You have to go to Vietnam tomorrow."

"WHAT?! I have to go to Vietnam?!"

"Yes," she answered, still maintaining the same look and expression. Wow she's good at this!

"Vietnam the country, Vietnam?" I said. Well it doesn't hurt to double confirm, right?

"Yes, Hanis."

"Tomorrow? What time?"

"Your flight will be at 6am."

"WHAT?!!!!"

So yeah, a bomb dropped on my head that day. It was so last minute that I didn't have the time to exchange money, or prepare a proper handover to my bosses.

But despite the rush, I was excited.
This was my first time going to Vietnam and I was actually looking forward to it.

When we arrived in Vietnam, the first place we went was client's new office in Hanoi, which will be launched by the Minister of Tourism in a few days. It was a nice, clean, and cozy office. After our erm.. briefing session i.e. a reminder session that we were there to work, not makan angin, we had lunch and headed to our hotel.

We were staying at this nice hotel which name I can't remember. But what I remember is that the room was super cute, cozy and the bed...let's say you'll be struggling with yourself to get out of it. I was sharing the room with my boss, Puilin.

I was admiring the bed when I heard Puilin called me, "Hanis. Look."

I turned around and saw her pointing at the bathroom. It was all glass wall. I mean you can see the shower from your bed, man! Ni honeymoon room ke apa nih?! I thought to myself. Isk... macamana aku nak bermandi-manda nih? Takkan tak mandi kot?!

"It's ok.. they have blinds!" Puilin said while pulling down the blinds. Oh thank God! However, it didn't cover the whole glass wall. Still boleh nampak di celah-celah blinds tu. Erkk.

I looked at Puilin again, "Puilin, I'm not rich. I don't have money..."

Puilin looked confused. And a little concerned, actually.

Then I continued, "... there's no use if you record a video or snap a picture of me showering and threaten me to give you money otherwise you'll upload it on YouTube or something."

She looked at me and said, "Don't worry, Hanis. Whatever you have, I have too."

After confirming that she wouldn't do anything, aku pun mandi dengan penuh berhati-hati. Then both of us bersiap and headed back to client's office to work.

Our working station was in this nice meeting room. It has two doors, separated by a wide glass wall, nicely decorated with Tourism Malaysia posters and images.

Kerja punya kerja punya kerja, Nina (bukan nama sebenar) our client who came along with us from Malaysia, Puilin and I felt hungry. Before we went out, we asked the director, En. Akbal (bukan nama sebenar) and a few of his officers whether they wanted to join. Unfortunately they were too busy to even eat, so Nina, Puilin and I proceeded without them. (Mentioning clients' name here although bukan nama sebenar automatically puts me in a formal writing mode. Proceeded?)

So anyway, lepas makan, kami kembali ke office nak siapkan kerja for the day.
I was walking towards to the meeting room when I saw En. Akbal from his room, having a discussion with someone. I looked at him, smiled and just when I thought I had reached the door, I turned and..

BANGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!

For a minute there I thought I saw stars everywhere. And when I could see clearly again, I saw Nina and Puilin laughing their asses off. I could see tears coming down on their cheeks.

OH MY GOD DID I JUST RUN INTO THE GLASS WALL?! IN CLIENT'S NEW OFFICE?!! IN FRONT OF EVERYONE??!!! OMG THIS IS BEYOND HORRIFYING! HOW DO I FACE THE CLIENTS AFTER THIS???!! HOW DO I FACE MYSELF?!??!!

But then, I said to myself "This may be the beginning of the ultimate humiliation of my life, but it's not the end of the world. Nasik dah jadi buboq Anis oi... face it je la..."

While rubbing my forehead, I walked to my seat. Nyut-nyut-nyut rasa aih.
As I sat down, I looked at Nina and Puilin, and said, "That's ME launching this office."

See the mark in that circle? Yeah that was me. I hope the mark isn't there anymore!