It’s 5 am on Monday, 10 October 2022, and I’m up because a thunderstorm has descended and there’s little hope of more sleep. It’s far enough to be a slightly dramatic background effect, so I’m here typing an update…
I’ve had an amazing crazy month.
I’ve joined the real estate industry as an agent — the official term in Singapore is real estate salesperson — and I’ve been spending almost every day either running around with the team or running around because of the career.
Sometimes both.
I’ve been training, door knocking, telemarketing. On the rare days I’m “free”, I’ve had to run to the shops with my mom, panic-purchasing an entire wardrobe. I’ve lost about 10 kg, and everything needs replacing because nothing fits. Undies, T-shirts, jeans and pants (mostly menswear because my legs are too long and my shoulders too wide for womenswear), bags and shoes to go door knocking with, and even a new tablet that I’m typing on right now.
One Monday I had to go to the studio to take a photo and then ran off to join the team for an evening of door knocking. Mom and I thought we’d have a day together, and I ended up leaving her in town.
The days have been so busy I barely have time to even update my paper journal. Receipts are piling up on my table. I haven’t even completed my name change. The important documents are done — passport, IC, driving license — but none of the services.
And just in case it sounds like I’m complaining, I’m not.
I’m absolutely loving it.
I wake up excited. I’m getting up in the mornings again. (Well, today’s 5 am not exactly counted, but look at what I’m doing: I’m typing about my real estate journey instead of going back to sleep! The storm’s subsiding and I’m choosing to be here.)
I’m looking forward to meeting the people I’ve been hanging out with almost every day.
They’ve been wonderful. Kind and accepting and open and so willing to teach and listen and help and… even be there as a friend. My manager looks out for me and the guys (because most of the team are guys) have been absolute gentlemen. Honestly..
I’ve been treated so well.
And I’ve been learning so much.
Not just about real estate — which is already a lot. I thought the classes and exams were hard, but one evening the guys decided to “throw spanners” and ask a whole bunch of trick/on-the-ground questions, and I was so lost because my fundamentals are half-missing. (One of my exams was more than two years ago and the details need updating.) — but I’m also learning about people and life.
I’m learning something from everyone I meet. From the way they hold themselves, their behaviour, their point of view in life. From their life experiences, because we’re sharing stories about our past. And even learning silly things like going to eat mala for the first time.
Right now I amuse and exasperate the guys, because I’m way too… they use a Chinese term which perfectly encapsulates the idea in a word, because when they describe me to others it’s a quick understanding, but in English… protected / innocent / naive / unexposed / simple…
I’ve been like a princess living in a castle, looking out at people living real lives from my window high above. I’ve learned to be easy-going and trusting because I’ve been surrounded by good people. It worked for me then, and the guys have been kind enough, different people on different occasions, to try to teach me that I’ll need to learn to protect myself, and quickly.
And it’s not just coming from guys who are older than I am — most of the advice has come from guys who are my age or officially younger (that’s where the exasperation comes in).
They’re amazed by how little I’ve seen of the world. And I’m going in with my eyes wide open, I think, for the first time.
I’ve already learned a lot, and I’ve got so much more to learn.
❤️🌧️
Image of a castle in the morning light by Jonathan Sautter from Pixabay.
