For the next few weeks, we will be featuring a series of Q & A with the people behind D’Jungle People. Here, you’ll find that play is often a big chunk of what we do. Don’t get us wrong, we do take our work seriously but we make sure have lots of fun along the way! The first entry of our series is about our HR Manager, Joy.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself and your role here at D’Jungle People.

My name is Joy. I first came to  know about DJP when I was working in another multinational organisation sometime in 2005.  My life changing experience began in 2006 when I started helping out part-time as Facilitator and there was no turning back then.  I found what I wanted and that was to work with a group of friends to help other people in their career and personal development. In 2007 I took the extra step.  I joined DJP full time and since then, it has been a whirlpool of adventure.  My main role in DJP is Human Resources and Administration for the group of companies.

2. What is on your workplate right now?

As usual, month end is the time to get the $$ prepared to put food on our table.  The last 2 weeks of January 2008 has been hectic and I’ve been doing a lot of background work to support others to ensure the success of each programme.

3. So what do you usually do in your free time?

I do a lot of reading.  I read whenever and wherever (that includes the toilet ;-p)
I cook (and I think I am pretty good at it) and catch up on my house cleaning. If I have more time, my honey and I would go driving “tour d’ Semenanjung” for a leisure holiday or if we want to rough it out a bit, we would go hiking and camping.

Climbing up Gunung Ledang

4. What is the furthest place you’ve been to for training?
Thailand…in the beautiful city of Chiang Mai.

5. What are you reading right now?

Stephen Covey, “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”

6. Share with us one or two of your best memories you’ve had as a DJP facilitator.

I have many memories, but I would like to share the story of “Teh Candu” (Opium Tea! - direct translation).We felt ‘adventurous’ and wanted to taste what this tea is all about.We found the shop, tucked nicely in the corner of Barrack road opposite the post office.  The owner, who claims to be the founder of this tea was there to tell us the history and how it came about.

Yum yum teh candu. Word of caution: drink only if you want to be an insomniac for the night.

To cut the story short, we had 3 variations of it and we actually suffered side-effects.  We were hyper all the way back to KL.  All of us couldn’t sleep well that night (heart palpitations!) …. and we still wonder …. was there really opium in our tea?  We will never know the secret.  But it was one good glass of teh candu.