Year of the Rooster!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Chinese New Year 2005 begins on February 8th as new year's eve kicks off this once-a-year festival. The celebration will last for days 'till the Lantern Festival - the 15th day into the holiday. I'll be working double shifts through February 9th and will have some time off from February 10-13.

A secret visitor will arrive in Taipei on the night of February 9th from San Francisco. I have not seen my secret visitor since last May. This trip is long overdue. I'm excited about having four days off to relax and just hang out.

Oh I can't wait to receive all my online purchases from Victoria's Secret, Ann Taylor, Gap and Nordstrom. Chinese New Year is just like Christmas in the west. People receive gifts and buy new things to reward themselves for a hard working year that has just passed. Chinese people wear new clothes and shoes for good luck and prosperity. For this Chinese New Year I splurged over the internet shops. I'll have everything new from inside and out, bras n' panties included! LOL.

In Japanese Kimono!

Self-Indulgence in Luxury Goods - Feels So GOOD!

These days everyday seems to go by faster than usual. My day starts around 10 or 11. I prep and do my research for my next show at home. Then I head to the office, go through endless meetings (three meetings for each product I sell; in one show, I sell 2 to 4 items) and get hair / makeup / wardrobe done at least one hours prior to the show. After that, I meet with my producer and the guests to go thru the rundown and the content. Usually there’s one guest for each product - someone who has an in depth knowledge of the product; however, sometimes no guest is provided and I just go on and do it on my own.)

Once I go into the studio, I’m on live TV for two hours – no bathroom breaks in-between. Time flies when I’m on TV. Despite the stress, I always look for the fun in it. It is truly an interesting experience so far. The management seem to appreciate my work ethic and my on air presence.

So far, my favorite thing to sell is tour packages. It’s so much fun and more relaxed than any other products. I can totally be myself. I sound much more convincing when I’m selling packages to Bali because it is my favorite vacation spot!

Speaking of vacation, I am so homesick. I can’t believe I’m missing out on all the post-holiday shopping! I asked my sister to go shopping for me but she hasn’t quite figured out my style / taste. I used to have such a restrained self-control when it comes to shopping. Ever since I become a TV host for a home shopping network, my appetite for luxury items has grown bigger. For my 31st birthday this past November, I bought myself a $1,000 worth of LV handbag, $800 Bally tote bag, and $300 Escada sunglasses. Crazy, huh?

Just last weekend I bought two pairs of sandals from Salvadore Ferragamo….I guess I’m trying to make it up to myself for not being in the States for the holiday season, not to mention I worked throughout Xmas and New Year! Since I don’t know when I’ll be able to take time off to the States, I just let myself indulge whenever I feel like it! This self-indulgence explains why my savings account has been decreasing but why does it feel so good to have all the luxury goods???

Feeling the Pressure Yet?

Everyday my mom sees me and asks the same thing: Did you do well last night (in your show)? It drives me nuts. If I keep track of my performance from every show, I’m gonna go crazy! I work six shows a week and sell 18 to 20 different products.

Back in college, everyone said that I should become a salesperson for I have a bubbly personality. I didn’t like the idea because I didn’t think I could deal with the pressure, especially when I failed to reach the expected sales.

Now I’m expected to reach a certain quota on a daily basis – depending on the products and the time slots, the estimated sales are varied. As much as I hate to admit it, the pressure is there! Everyone is watching how I’m doing and there is no way I can avoid the pressure. Although it does not show in a way that everyone can see, it’s there. Just ask my massage therapist and she can tell you how tense my body is. That’s my response to all the pressure I’ve been getting. I’ve always been a pressure-resistant person but my stiff and tense body condition reveals the secret.

My way of handling it is not to think about it and not lose sleep afterwards, especially when I miss the estimated sales quota. Some of my colleagues cry like a baby when their sale is slow. For me, I simply shrug off today’s imperfection and look forward to a better tomorrow.

No one ever said this is an easy job. I understand the pressure that comes with the job but I put that aside and just concentrate on making every show as good as it gets. Most importantly I gotta have fun! My motto has always been “Do the best I can” and that’s good enough for me (I can care less about others.)!!!

Very Veronica Lake!

Chinese New Year 2005

It's that time of the year again - Chinese New Year is coming soon. This year the new year's eve falls on Feb.8 and it's going to be the year of the Rooster. Wait a minute...that means my dad is officially 60 this year! When did daddy become a senior citizen?! That's a scary thought! At least he'll be eligible for discounts!

Everything is going well at the home shopping TV network. I work six days a week and go on for two hours each time on live television. I'm slowly getting used to this extremely hectic schedule and actively looking for ways to ease the pressure and workload as I become more and more comfortable being on TV.

My direct bosses - three of them - are all men. A few days ago they invited me to dinner and treated me to a popular hot spring in Taipei. They are not exactly my kind of people but they are really nice to me. So, I can't complain...I must say that I prefer male bosses than female ones. Having a female supervisor will likely create tension at work and lead to possible cat fights.

Yesterday I had my very first day off in weeks and it was a productive day. I was a happy camper!!! Besides running errands, I went shopping for a couple of hours and found the jacket I've been looking for all winter long! In the evening I met up with my friend Nic for drinks at the Shangrila Hotel. A few others joined us and we ended up going to a brand new Japanese restaurant which is owned by a group of young entreprenuers. And I happen to know two of them. Nonetheless, dinner was excellent and the sake we had was so good!

Even though Chinese New Year is still about a month from now, I have a feeling that I'll be scheduled to work during the holiday.

In traditional Chinese wedding gown

It's Always Fun Playing Dressing Up!

In traditional Korean outfit

A bride without her groom!