Phone Interview

I should have left Canada long time ago 'cause what has happened to me in last four years, I don't think has ever happened to anyone else! Today is the forth anniversary of my arrival in Calgary and here's what happened:
A lady from CNH left a message for the second time indicating needs me to give her a call regarding the position (QA Engineer) I applied online. I called her back and she set a phone interview for today at noon with another lady from quality department, presumably. I talked and talked to supervisor and superintendent to get today off but didn't work. I told them that need to renew my car registration and insurance. What he suggested is to leave at 11:30 AM and back for the third shift. So I did and sat in the car waiting for her call while it was snowing!
Besides I spent most of my evening time yesterday to get ready for the interview. I prepared a short history of SAIPA and what I did in paint shop and press shop of the said company and how I applied Deming's points (actually Deming's 14 point is a very interesting quality or manufacturing concept, regardless the fact that I don't understand all the 14! I have to find a good source to study that) and established QMS, developed procedures based on ISO standard and assisted in auditing sub-contractors and suppliers. But the interviewer never did ask technical questions. Not even one! My guess is that would be in the next interview, if there was any. I don't remember what position that lady holds in the company or what her name is but Alison, the lady from HR told me everything and I don't remember!

Anyway not long after 12:00 PM the phone rang and that was her from Saskatoon. She first asked if I have half an hour to answer a few question about the position I almost fit in. And I said: Yes. Sure. But I was hearing her with difficulty and a few times had to ask her to repeat her question. The following are the question she asked and I remember:

1. Tell me a little bit about your work experience and education. (P)
2. How did you find us? (P)
3. Why did you think that you fit in this job? (P)
4. How do you be a good communicator? (P)
5. Are you a good verbal communicator or a writer one? (P)
6. [She asked something like if you are ... or logical and as I didn't hear properly and have asked a few times to repeat her question and didn't do that again, as part of my stupidity(!), I answered logical and she asked why and I answered: I just say logical!] (N)
7. Have you ever leaded a group? (P)
8. Where do you see yourself in 5-6 years? (P)
9. Was there any improvement in the project? (N)
10. How do you get prepared for a project? (P)
11. How much are you asking for as salary? (-)

I guess that was about it. The word (P) denotes a good answer by me which I think satisfied her and (N) is a bad answer. The interview just took about 14 min. and I guess I misses this opportunity like the previous ones! She said I would hear from the in a week or two through mail or phone.

Today's temp. dropped to -14 ºC and was snowing. I drove all the way to the plant as I had to and all the way back and was lucky that nothing happened in highway number 2. The road has been cleared but people mostly were driving slowly and the ones who were faster than me usu. were caught up by me easily!

Aboriginals

There are three groups of aboriginal people in Canada: First Nations, Inuits and Mites. The first group are the people who live all across the country from east to west including Cree people. Inuits are the people who live far up north in Canada and Greenland. Greenland belongs to Denmark and is very close to Canada in north. A few month ago, when I was in Toronto, the two countries had an issue over a very small piece of rock(!) called Hans island. The last categorized aboriginals are Mites. These are people who their ancestors are French fur trades and English traders.
My buddy, Al is a Mete but got a German family name, Schumacher, meaning shoe-maker. He says his real names is something else and he changed it to Al because didn't wanna get shot by Cowboys!
(Photo: I took this photo that shows first nation people, probably chiefs as they dress like that, in Stampede parade in summer of '04 when we went there with dear Mom)

CNH

I applied for a Quality Assurance Engineer position in Saskatoon on Nov.20 and when I was calling Telus to cancel a service of mine noticed that have a voicemail and that was them. They called me on Nov.23 which was two days ago and me, the idiot(!) didn't notice that! Seems CNH is a company in agricultural equipment industry. I'll call them tomorrow and if nobody answers, Mon. will be the time.
I also started playing chess through Yahoo and today when playing with a Latino guy who even was not able to speak English (and I finally beat him) Farbod appeared and we chatted for a few min. He is in San Jose now. He moved there right after he finished his degree in University of Waterloo. I should call him and ask about more detail. It's a good base in case I wanna travel to the States.
Also my aunt called exactly at the same time I was talking to Farbob through the net and playing chess! Last time I was talking to her, was the time he was with his son in Denmark, last summer. She talked to me for about 30 min. giving advices about marriage!

Contradiction

Two different news in vehicle industry hit me today. The first one says GM will close many facilities in North America which results in 173,000 job cut including its plant in Oshawa. There has been news about huge loss of the three giant vehicle manufacturer of the US, Ford, GM and Chrysler in last few month, partly because of high gasoline price.
Meanwhile Chrysler confirmed a new $768 million investment in its Canadian facilities including Windsor, expanding a paint shop in there.
So what does these two different stories indicate is what I have no clue!

The Tongue

There's a proverb ... well may be it's not a proverb, just a saying ... in Persian which goes: The red tongue makes the green head demolished. That's the best translation I can get! And that's what happens often to me. I can't keep my tongue from saying unpleasant things and automatically ruin everything. I guess that's why I'm in a situation like this at this age! And the problem is once someone is born like that, it's very hard or almost impossible to be changed. Besides that's like an inherent quality in a troublemaker like me who often makes trouble for himself as well through using his very red tongue!
As I'm getting close the 4th anniversary of my immigration, I've decided what to do for rest of my life. First I get rid of this goddamn monthly payment of car and in order to do that I don't pay insurance then I save a few thousands of bucks. If I get a job, I'll be fine. If not I try to go back to school or home, either one.

Jarhead

Jar is a cylindrical vessel with no handle and Jarhead is someone whose head is as empty as a jar, presumably. US Marines are called jarhead and as said in the movie, it's because they are dumb people who don't think and have to just follow the orders. I went to the movie last night with P. M., the genius (!) and that was not what I expected. The movie was a combination of Full Metal Jacket, Platoon, Saving Private Ryan and may be a few more war movies. Doesn't present anything new but a few desert scenes and strong coarse language. The film is not considered a comedy but you can laugh time to time your head off. That's the only good thing about the movie as you don't find it in the previous said ones.

(Photo: Jamie Foxx is seen here through a gas mask while directing the soldiers in a anti-chemical drill)

Metropolitan

We went to Metropolitan for the second consecutive night and what a night! After we had our workout in Talisman and then our dinner at Thai Tai, we went there and there was a line and had to wait for about 40 min.! As we were closing to where the bouncer watches people I heard a fighting and a bottle of bear flew, hit the ground and and was smashed! The big guy claimed up to separate the fighters prob. and went back in a few Sec. while grabbing a Canadian guy in her late 30s. The guy didn't look good and sober. I was a little surprised because the bouncer just escorted him to the main door and left him out! I was expecting more. Then we got in and P. M. went to the stage immediately! I started warming me up with a pint of Kokanee Gold and watching around: There was a Canadian woman who were dancing so sexily and also a cute oriental girl. When I finished my second pint went on the stage and asked P. M. if he drinks anything and he said no! But gave me a $20 bill and I got two more and then returned to the stage and gave one of them to him and started dancing for a few sec. with all girls. He just tasted it and I stole it from him and finished that! That one was my 4th one and I got really drunk. I don't know remember many things about the time we left the bar but I guess that was the time the music ended and the bar was about to be closed.

We went downstairs and I don't remember how I faced a girl who P. M. was trying to have and as she told me later got her e-mail address. I guess she was drunk too. I can't remember everything but recall that she was trying to run away from me and was shouting that she was virgin! I was giving her hugs and kissing her cheeks while she didn't resist much and just ask her friend to help her. She asked for her cellphone to call her dad! I left them for a min. to pee between two stores as P. M. suggested and then got back to them! This time the girl run away and went to a bar called Chameleon! I chased her in there and she asked if I wanted to be involved in a 911 call!! I didn't know what I was doing and then after a few min. of argument and chasing, the father arrived and picked them up! I was so drunk that I was not able to got that out of my head. We hang around for a few more min. and then P. M. suggested to go to his place 'cause he knew I didn't feel good but I thanked and we said goodbye and he left. I, then, drove back home while I was still not sober and God I was lucky that the cops were not around. I guess it was around 03:00 AM when I got home and slept!

Tired of This Stupid!

Last night after working out in Talisman and having a good supper in a 24 hour downtown restaurant (Formerly Husky 24 hour restaurant), me and P. M. went to Metropolitan Bar and Grill as that's his favorite hang out place. There's no admission fee and that's why he likes it. Like every time I go out with this ass, he proves that he's a real jerk and a complete moron!
First he was late about 20 min. Then we went for supper and took her truck (from work) and he was so worried for being caught or having an accident. Then we went to the bar and as soon as we reached the line he said he had to take off his pullover and disappeared for about 10 min.! I was in the line and 2 Canadian guys were behind me. One of them was really big. I mean huge. With a shaved head.
We finally got in and P. M. went on the stage immediately. I stood at the deck and ordered my favorite drink and started watching around. A few girls, once, came close to me and they were kind of watching me and waiting but I didn’t do a thing! The big head-shaved guy whom I mentioned earlier and was faced by me one time in the bar was also around and watching the girls and also me. After they almost left he came to me and said: Those girls came to you and you didn’t say a word! Your confidence is shit man! Or something like that!
I guess he’s right a bar or a club is where people come to find companion but I’m sometimes a real idiot in attracting people and I have to find a way to overcome.
Anyway even when an old woman came close to me to order something and I was going to ask her to help to get P. M. down the stage and she rubbed her face to my cheek I didn’t do anything. Finally I got up the stage grabbed him and forced him to leave the bar!
(Photo: Talisman Centre, one of the best sport complexes in Canada. The photo is taken by P. M.'s using his digital camera)

Operation Flashpoint

Operation Flashpoint is one incredible PC game that can not be compared to any other one and I, myself, although haven't tried many games but are so addicted to and interested in this one. The game is so real that you feel like you're actually fighting. The other good point is most of the time, there's a different game. I mean depends on the situation, you gotta fight in a different situation. I must confess that unfortunately I used to spend too much time on this but not recently. I just give you examples:

Once I was hiding in the bushes from a tank and it was so close to me that I heard the engine although I was not able to see that. I slipped forward to see where it is and saw it's long cannon tube right over my head. I was so scared that I slipped back suddenly and sighed!

Another time I was running and noticed a soldier is coming to me I hit the ground and threw a grenade while hold me rifle ready to shoot him if the grenade didn't work on him. I saw him raising his hand to throw a grenade but at the time the one that has been thrown by me exploded and killed him!

(Photo: Using an M-16, you're fighting against Russian forces in Europe in this single mission of Operation Flashpoint called Ambush)

The Greatest Canadian

Last year, CBC had an announcement indicating that the greatest Canadian is goin' to be selected by people. I followed the nominees and their story but not completely. I, too, forgot to vote as I was willing to. Today I just searched for the result and this is what I found:
 

Top 10 greatest Canadian

1- Tommy Douglas

2- Terry Fox

3- Pierre Elliott Trudeau

4- Sir Frederick Banting

5- David Suzuki

6- Lester B. Pearson

7- Don Cherry

8- Sir John A. MacDonald

9- Alexander Graham Bell

10- Wayne Gretzky

I know all of them except for the 1st and the 4th. But my information is limited. You can read the complete profile of each by clicking on the name but this is what I know:

 

2- Terry Fox was diagnosed cancer and after that he started raising money (by running) for cancer research until the day he died.

 

3- Pierre Trudeau was one of the famous prime minister of Canada and that's all I know! I guess his photo is in one of the bills.

 

5- But David Suzuki's story is interesting. He's the host of a TV show called The nature of things and I remember that I watched part of it time to time when I was in Iran. On that time and until the date I watched a little about him on CBC, I always thought he's a Japanese-American.

 

6- Lester Bowles Pearson's name is on Toronto International airport and that's all I know. He must have been one of the prime ministers!

 

7- Don Cherry is known by everyone here in Canada and the US I guess. He's a hockey coach and the guy in Coach's Corner show of CBC. He's a very tough guy, a macho and I believe he's also very rude but Canadians love him and that's why he's here in the 7th rank. In the said TV show, most of the time he doesn't let the other guy talks and most of the time jumps in. You must be very patient to host a show with Cherry. He has been banned a few times because of the way he talks or what he says. Last year his show Coach's Corner aired a few sec. late after he mentioned something - it's said - insulting about French-Canadian and European players.

8- John A. MacDonald is the first prime minister after confederation. That what I read during my citizenship studies!

 

9- Alexander Graham Bell is known by everyone round the world. I remember we had a lesson about the way he invented telephone in a primary or junior high school course. I always thought he's American like Suzuki!

 

10- And Wayne Gretzky is the Edmonton Oilers player who led them to Stanley Cup and now is Phoenix Coyotes' head coach.

(Photo: Tommy Douglas, the former premier of Saskatchewan is called the most influential Canadian politician who never was a minister)

A Friend Indeed is a Friend in Need

As I close to the fifth year that I've been living in Canada, I more and more notice that a good friend, a good companion could change my life or at least help me a certain ways. A quick look at the people that I hang out with or I used to just shows me that none of them are my type and I only see them because I have to. Sociability is a need and ignoring that will definitely causes problems and obstacle in life, although having a bad one might cause serious damages too! Lets review the people here:
1- P. M.: He's a very nice guy and much younger than me, may be 10 years but he's very slow! He's really slow!
2- Keiv. M. He just moved to Canada and we went out 2 times. God! This guy is a complete ass! Once I went to his place and he said he was fasting. Before we went out and after he broke his fast he prayed and then we went to a bar and drank beer!! Make up your mind you idiot! What the f**k is that you're doin'? He's also very nervous. Doesn't tolerate anything you say!
3- Hojam He's an illiterate guy from a small town in Fars province of Iran and spends most of his time in the bakery he works for (The bakery that Resurrect used to run and then he sold his share and went to B. C. I'll write about him later) and his basement. He doesn't do anything else but hanging out with H. from Bandar-e-Abbas once a week for a food or chat or going to auction to buy f**king garages which has been taught by Resurrect!
4- Keiv. I abandoned (what a verb!) him almost a year ago. A f**king bully and a potbellied. I never hated someone that much before!
5- Ali G. This guy is a complete maniac! I've written about him and would like to write more. He's been living in Canada for more than 13 years. He has finished his high school in B. C. and got a degree from SFU. I was out with him a few times and God! look at what he says:

• We are in a bar and waiting for our order. He looks around and says: I'm gonna have a bar like this one day!
• We were in Banff once and he was looking for some ice cream and we found one but he didn't like it. He said: I'm gonna open an Italian ice cream bar right here!
• We were talking about life and career and that kind of stuff and he said: I don't wanna work. May be just two days a week. I'm gonna have my company and then I just relax!
• He said once that he has told the company guys that he just would be here for 2 years. Then once he said that he would like to buy a house in Calgary! Are you completely out of your mind or what?

I don't know when I will find a sane, normal human being to spend my free time with!

Flashback (4): Tonisia

When I used to be a tenant in D. H.'s house in Calgary's NE, where is a poor neighborhood, I saw too many different crazy people! One of the tenant's of him who used to live there for a short period of time was a young Jamaican girl called Tonisia. According to D. H. she was brought over by Ali and Montel and I think they were going to f**k her like what they did with all Black girls. She was a pretty young girl in her early 20s and had a Black boyfriend (Or as D. H. used to call him, her f**cker!) who was a married guy!
He argued with the guys several times because he was worried about his rent and also was jealous at them and the girl as they almost used to f**k whoever they want and he got nobody! The girl was not home most of the time as far as I remember and used to sleep in her boyfriend's. I just saw him once and talked to her for a few min. at breakfast table. When I asked her what she did, she said she was a hair stylist. But I knew that she just slept around including with the old married guy and he pays for her.
I don't remember what happened exactly 'cause it's the story from almost 3 years ago but there was a time that she never came back. Then D. H. decided to empty her room so he can rent it out again. I helped him to remove a few stuff she got in there and while doing this found her purse. When I opened it I only found a few pennies and an AIDS test result. I don't remember what the result was but obviously she took that to find out if she was infected as a result of sleeping with different men or not!

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

I was studying for my CQE exam. (frankly I'm not doing well!) and reached Maslow's theory. This American psychologist believes that every person has a series of needs in his or her life which have an order of priority. They are:

1. Basic physical needs. For example food, water, sleep and sex.
2. Safety and security. Need to feel secured and free from threats. Economic or job security are examples.
3. Belonging and love. need to be belong, accepted and give and receive love.
4. Esteem. to be regarded with respect and be recognized.
5. Self-actualization. need for personal fulfillment. To fulfill one's potential and the best one can be.

People are mostly deprived of the said vital needs in countries which don't matter here what they are! The important point is a lower-level must be relatively satisfied before a higher level need can emerge and the lower-level always have some influence.
Also when a level is reached sufficiently, it loses its motivating power and next higher-level need emerge while the highest level, self-actualization is considered insatiable. I, myself, still have big problems with level 1, 3, 4 and 5!!
(Photo: Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs)