What are you most afraid of?

I am most afraid of aging. Though I must admit that as a woman, it is partially due to aesthetic reasons, but I do believe in aging gracefully. Hence, it does not really bother me from that aspect. I am more concerned about what to expect of our health due to aging. Uncertainties about our health as we age make me feel vulnerable. I fear falling sick, I fear losing loved ones due to aging. But I am not suffering from Gerascophobia! This fear has prompted me that it is important to “Live Life With No Regrets”. 

Pet Peeve
One of my biggest pet peeves is hearing statements such as “You are so stupid!”, “Which part of my sentence is it that you do not understand?” and others along the line of implying that one is stupid. They annoy me even if not directed at me. Besides being derogatory and a display of elitist behaviour, it can have more serious consequences. During my childhood, I had witnessed a friend developed inferiority complex and depression after often being called “stupid”.

What would I do if I strike a lottery? 

Although I do not normally bet. If I have a 1-2 million dollars windfall, it would seem like a life-changing amount of money at first thought and that I could just quit my job. Doing the sum will tell us that that’s not realistic. Moreover, at the end of the day, I do love my job and there are obviously reasons why many millionaires and billionaires are still working.  Nevertheless, this money will be very useful in helping me attain a debt-free status. I could use half of the winning to pay off my mortgage loan. Since this is a bonanza, I would like to give it back to society. Being a firm believer in education, contributing to the Rural Schools Program in Cambodia would be on the top of my list.
 

Describe your best work-related trip
To me, the best work-related trip should be one that is both professionally and personally fulfilling. When I moved into the role of Credit Underwriter with a direct insurer, I was very grateful that the company invested the time and money to put me through a very specialised month-long training in Paris. Afterall, Credit Underwriting is usually not taught in school hence making the training a rare opportunity. Having it in one of the most romantic cities in the world was truly icing on the cake. The structured program gave me a crash course on key concepts and set the foundation for my career in this industry. The program was attended by new joiners from different countries. After the classes and on weekends, we would either explore the city on our own or with some local colleagues. During that trip, I developed deep friendships with some colleagues, learnt the culture of the organisation, and had the opportunity to immerse in local life.