learning patience

i had my old employment pass cancelled last week as it expired already. my residence status then changed to social visit pass valid until 12th of january only. that got me a daily doze of anxiety as that's next week already! what had possibly gone wrong with my application? i submitted my papers to my boss by end of november. why hasn't it been approved? did i get rejected? what if i won't ever be approved? does that mean i have to go back to PI, then? that can't be. not now! not at these crucial times! ... okay, that's a bit exaggerating!.. but still. :(

i was surprised to learn last wednesday that my company just submitted my application on the 20th. that's like three weeks after i gave them my papers. no wonder the approval's taking so long. but i just didn't get mad or throw tantrums of some sort. i have to keep my cool over the whole thing since there are other more important stuffs to worry about. besides, my energy got drained on my almost hourly check online for my EP status. as if that's not enough, i even have to call MOM's hotline and double check. just imagine the frustration was building up everytime i read the word 'PENDING' online or hear the operator say 'your application is still under review'. GRRR.

so thursday came, exactly two weeks since my application was submitted. the first thing i did when 8:00 am striked was check the status online. still PENDING. sigh. i had to say to myself repeatedly, "Patience is virtue. Patience is virtue. Patience - is virtue."

i had to make myself busy at work so that i won't be as tormented as yesterday over this EP thing and maybe i'll have some actual progress at work.

10:00 AM.

it's 2 hrs since i last check, probably the status got updated.... and Voila! A-P-P-R-O-V-E-D!! i was so happy that i wanted to tell anyone i meet at work that i finally got my EP approved. :) i just so love the word 'APPROVED'. hehe. i wanted to rush to MOM and get that little green card! talking about overly excited about the whole thing :p

of course, i didn't rush. i wouldn't want to make them feel how eager i was.

2:00 PM

i walked into my boss's office, and asked if i could get an authorization to get my EP's approval letter myself. did i say i won't rush? but, the four hour wait was almost unbearable. really. boss consented, but he didn't give me an easy time. we talked, and talked like we have the whole afternoon. did he do that on purpose? was EAGERNESS written all over my face?.. it was difficult enough to feign interest when my mind was already on its way to Havelock Rd.

3:00 PM

the moment boss handed me the authorization letter, i literally rushed to MOM. i took the taxi and kissed my 10 dollars goodbye. i queued patiently at the customer service counter. in a few minutes, i'll finally get hold of my EP. Yey!

3:10 PM

at last, my turn! that wasn't such a long wait. i handed my authorization letter to the customer service officer.

she got my letter, and checked at her computer. seconds ticking.

customer service officer: Ma'am, You're EP just got approved today, you have to wait for at least seven days for the approval letter. if it doesn't reach you within seven working days, then come back with this authorization to get the approval letter personally.

@#$%@#! oo na, patience is virtue.