I am currently feeling very perplexed with my 60++ work mails, left uncleared cos i didnt go to work today. I am quite amazed tat i actually have the energy to write and comment abt bs last nite -something which i havent done so for so long, cos i have no time and no energy for it.

Anyway, lets put away the work issue and pen down something interesting for me today. I didnt report to work, not becos i took leave, but becos i have to attend my company orientation round 2 program. Its a full day program where all new hires (those hired within last 3-5mths) from various depts would gather for fun + interaction + food + some further info loading sessions. And the day began like this:

1) There were 9 tables of seats available and i chose table 6. And out of so many tables, this Guy A chose to join me at my table. I found him v familiar looking, but later concluded tat he merely looks like my neighbour

2)We did a v brief short self-intro, and didnt talk much later. The facilitator soon took over the session and re-arrange our sittings. We were arrange to diff tables.

3) Lunch time came and we had random sittings. Coincidentally, we happened to sit on the same table again. This time, we chatted more, and we realised both of us stay in bedok and came from the same primary school (but diff batches).

4) Guy A told my colleague tat there s actually a private shuttle svc tat ferries ppl from bedok to our company premise. My colleague was interested in the svc, and planned to get the ferry svc contact number from him after the orientation session.

5) Orientation program ended, and all of us went home on separate ways. My colleague SMSed later in the evening if i remembered Guy A' s name, as she has forgotten to ask him for the contact info. I told her i only remember his name as "Michael", but probably could trace his full name from the mass mail which was sent out for this orientation prog.

6) Unfortunately, I have deleted the mass mail but suddenly remembered tat i have printed a hard copy of it and left it in my bag. I took out the mail, and started searching for the name "Michael" in the recipient lists. As the mailing list was pretty long, I took some time to identify his full name.

7) It took me quite a while before this full name striked my memory bell. ALAS! This guy was a childhood acquaintance of mine. We met each other when our families happened to join the same tour grp to Cameron Highlands.... 20 years ago!!!!! Although we did continue to see each other subqly as we were in the same primary sch, we didnt communicate much. I could remember his name NOT becos it is unique. In fact, its a v common chinese name but when read out together with his extraordinary surname, we made a joke out of it during the tour.

I reflected the incidents that happened today, and wonder how karmic links work for people. If he hasnt joined the same table as me early in the morning, if we havent chatted further during lunch, if he nv mentioned abt the shuttle service, if my colleague wasnt interested in it, if my colleague didnt forget to get his contact number, if i didnt print out the hard copy email, I would have easily bypass and forget this person after today. And I wud nv be able to identify him as a childhood aquaintance since we didnt work in the same company premise.

Frankly speaking, I duno how karmic links work, but i m sure its an interesting encounter for myself. I may consider acknowledging him by dropping him an email on monday.