nOiSiErDiSpUtE

Entries for January, 2007

January 3rd, 2007

greatest christmas gift ever

Ang tagal bago nasundan ang entry na ‘to. Naabutan na ng pasko at bagong taon. Kaya naipon at mahaba na naman ‘to. Sige, gawin na lang nating chronological para mas okay.

The Interview

I woke up early that day excited and a bit nervous. Ang tagal ko sa salamin dahil gusto kong siguraduhin na okay ang hitsura ko. Actually, medyo hindi ko gusto ang suot ko dahil black ‘yung long sleeves polo na sinuot ko, puro pang-party na kasi ‘yung iba. I just wore a sleeveless pulli on top of it. Sabi ko sarili ko, hindi man perfect ‘yung suot ko basta maayos ko namang i-pre-present ang sairili ko, walang problema. At bago ako umalis, I really looked at myself in the mirror and told myself, “You can do it. Go for it!”

I took the 610 bus instead of the 614. The latter has a stop nearer to the building but I opted for the first kasi it would require me to walk a few blocks; I just wanted to relax. On my way there, sobrang excited ako. Maaga pa nga akong dumating eh, kaya nag-stay muna ako ng ilang minuto sa labas ng compound then pumasok na ako at nagpunta sa reception. Nauna pa nga ako sa kausap ko eh, so I have to wait for a while at the lobby.

Tapos, nakapasok na ‘ko. I met Jaz’s friend and she wished me good luck. My would-be-boss and would-be-supervisor aren’t ready yet. They have to print some things pa, fix something etc. kaya naghintay ako ng kaunti. Before that, si Kuya Jun, Pinoy na employee dun, took a peek in the office. When he saw me, he smiled at me, shook my hand and greeted me “Good morning.” Then, ngumiti siya sa boss as if saying na he knows me; parang silent referral. Tapos ‘yun na! Interview na. Smooth naman ang interview at nasagot ko naman sila nang maayos. I was just relaxed although may kaunting kaba. I have presented myself well enough.

After that, I took two exams. The first one is the actual job which is data entry/transfer. Okay naman! Then, secretarial test naman, I just have to use word for it. Kung tutuusin, common sense is also tested here because you have to follow instructions na medyo magpapalito sa’yo. Okay din naman. I was told that they will call me within the week.

After the test, I saw Ate LT and she asked me how it all went. She was happy to see me there. Tapos, I went to see my contact person. While I was taking the second test, Ate Heidi was calling me. So, I went to her office to meet her. She greeted me with a smile and hurriedly closed her office door and offered me a coffee from her Senseo. We talked while I’m drinking my coffee. She told me that my would-be-supervisor and the person who contacted me went to her office to as if report about the interview. I think both of them worked under her kaya nag-report sila, since kaming dalawang in-interview ay recommended niya. She told me that according to the two, positive daw ang dating ng interview ko. Nag-kwentuhan pa kami ng ilang sandali tapos nagpunta kami sa office ni Ate LT. Kung andun nga lahat ng friends namin sa office malamang nag-stay pa ako nang matagal.

The Result

I never heard from them that week. Grabe! Medyo tensed ako kasi positive na pero wala pa ring tawag kaya tinanong ko si Ate Heidi f she heard something. Tapos, nung Monday, tinawagan niya ako telling na nakausap daw niya ‘yung boss ko at sinabing tanggap ako. Binalaan pa raw siya na huwag munang sabihin sa akin. Pero siempre, mapipigil ba niya ‘yun?

Wala pa rin akong official call na nakuha that time. Pero ‘yung Friday that week, tinawagan ako ng isang colleague nila. Sinabi na sa akin kung magkano ang salary ko pero ‘yung details about the contract and ‘yung exact date ng simula ko, medyo hindi pa malinaw. I hope na they sent me an e-mail na or tatawagan nila ako this week kasi next week na ‘yung tentative start date ko.

Well, this is the greatest Christmas gift I have ever received and I am so thankful for that. God is really so generous!

Posted by ays at 06:57 PM | 24 minds blown

January 8th, 2007

Holidays

I’ve been busy the week before Christmas, both in school and church, that’s why I wasn’t able to update my blog. Besides, I also decided to enjoy the holidays. Pahabol ko ‘to. I just want to share it.

As I’ve said, maaga ang Pasko ko dahil sa bagong trabaho this January kaya naman mas masaya ako at mas excited sa Pasko. I still have classes the week before Christmas kaya lagare ako dahil minsan may caroling tapos may Simbang Gabi pa which has been a tradition here since the Filipino church community were established. For more or less a year, Fr. Jun de Ocampo, our chaplain, has been using PowerPoint presentation for his homily, almost every Sunday. The songs were also included, graduating from the low-tech projector. Since the experts, Jang and ate LT, were in Pinas for the holidays and I am the one left, I have to take their places and do the presentations and operate it especially during the homily, dahil meyo malilito ka kapag sermon na dahil may mga adlib na si Fr. Jun kaya minsan hindi mo na alam kung nasaan ka na kahit pa may kodigo ka. Gabi na ako nakakauwi kasi may part time pa ako sa gabi. Whew! Sulit naman kasi hindi lang pang-thank you sa Kanya dahil sa trabaho pero dahil na rin sa maraming nagsabi na okay ang presenatation at effective raw.

Bisperas ng Pasko

Kina Kuya Lando kami nag-celebarate ng Bisperas. Halos lahat ng members ng choir andun at siempre punung-puno ng pagkain at bumaha ng alak. Sa dami ng kakainin, hindi ko na matandaan kung anu-ano ‘yun. Pero ang pinaka-okay sa lahat ay ‘yung pan de sal na gawa ni Kuya Lando. Hindi man espesyal sa Paskong Pinoy pero sa amin sobrang espesyal nun. Actually, kahit anong Pinoy delicacy nagiging espesyal sa kahit anong handaan dahil sa sabik nga kami. Seimpre, hindi nawala ang karaoke. Naglaro rin kami ng charades at ang matatalo ay lalagyan ng lipstick sa mukha kaya naman kulitan at tawanan ang nangyari nang makita ang mga pics. Umabot kami ng madaling araw tapos ako hanggang alas-5 ng umaga gising. Parang wala kaming pakialam kahit pa kami ang kakanta sa misa. Doon na rin ako natulog kahit pa malapit lang ang bahay ko sa kanila.

Pasko

Kahit ilang oras lang ang tulog, bumangon na ako pagkatapos mag-pa-inin ng ilang minuto. Umuwi muna ako saglit para maligo at magbihis tapos tumawag sandali sa bahay. Sa simbahan, ang daming tao. Nag-ayos na ako ng gamit para sa misa, ‘yung beamer, laptop ko, stand, konting ayos at check sa PowerPoint etc. etc. Buti na lang andun si Gunter para mag-operate, kakanta pa kasi ako eh.

Okay naman ang buong misa. Masaya kaming lahat at ang ganda ng atmosphere. Iba ang Pasko rito, tahimik. Kaya naman mas mag-e-enjoy ka kapag kasama ang mga Pinoy dahil mas mararamdaman mo’ng Pasko.

Naki-kain muna kami kina Ritch and Grace bago pumunta kina Gunter and Gina para mag-celebrate ng Pasko. Ang dami ring pagkain kaya bundat na naman kami. Naglaro rin kami rito ng bugatungan, hulaan ng title at lyrics ng mga kanta. Ako ang Game master since nasa laptop ko ang mga tanong. Masaya rin ang game at halatang halos halukayin nila ang utak nila dahil nakalimutan na ang mga bugtong at mga kanta. Pero lahat naman, may nauwing regalo at masayang umuwi dahil sa tawanan at kasiyahan naming.

2. Weihnachtstag

Dito sa Germany, mayroon silang 2. Weihnachtstag o second Christmas, holiday din ‘to. Dalawang bahay ang pinuntahan naming para mga-caroling. Puro tawanan din at kulitan. At siempre, hindi nawala ang kainan. Mawawalan ba ng kainan kapag Pinoy ang nagsama-sama?

27 December

We had a dinner at Ate Anna’s house with Ate Zeny, Fr. Jun and two pinoy seminarians and consul’s family. We also stayed there until almost midnight. Nabundat na naman ako roon kasi ang sarap magluto ni Ate Anna, Kapampangan kasi eh.

30 December

The TROPA choir had a practice at ako ang in charge dahil wala nga si Jang. First time kong hawakang mag-isa ang choir at ako pa ang magkukumpas para sa kanila. Pero dahil holiday, kaunti lang ang mga bata kaya dinaan na lang naming sa dasal. Pero okay naman ang practice, maaga nga kaming natapos eh. Normally, it takes us later in the night.

After that, nakikain ako kina Ritch and Grace with Kuya Lando. Ang darap ng hapunan, Porkchop with mashed potatoes and red cabbage (cooked). Pagkatapos kumain, may red wine kami habang nag-uusap and ang favorite naming Old Amsterdam cheese.

Bago lumalim ang gabi, nagpunta naman kami ni Kuya Lando kina Jessie. Kumain din kami dun tapos uminom ng Mojito made by Kuya Lando. He mixed with white Cuban Rum fresh from his Cuban trip. I loved the Frutti de Mare that Riza has prepared for us. Tapos we also had a shot of black Cuban rum. And the night was ended by some karaoke. Alas-4 na kami umuwi! Ang tapang ko talaga knowing that we will be singing that afternoon.

31 December

Wala pa kaming sampu, kasama ako! Mas marami pa ang nag-practice pero sige lang. Kayang-kaya ‘yan. Nag-set up muna ako ng beamer, stand and laptop ni Fr. Jun habang nag-se-set-up sina Chris and JR ng sound system sa choir loft. Tapos kinabit ko ang laptop ko sa sound system dahil andun ang minus one namin. Wala kasi kaming instrumentalist. Buti na lang maayos ‘yung kantang in-arrange ko, arrangement na umabot ng madaling araw. Haaay, naku!

Maayos naman ang kanta, halos walang mali. At dahil sa dalawang microphone, malakas ang dating nila. Sabi rin sa akin ng marami na maayos naman ang kanta ng mga bata. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag dahil nakaraos kami. I swear, hindi ako nakapag-concentrate sa misa dahil nakatutok ako sa kanta namin. Pero sabi nga ni Ate Vita, okay daw ang kanta namin. Hearing that from her has really felt good. Siya kasi ang nagtuturo sa adult choir naming na member din ako. Niloloko nga niya ako dahil may kapalit na raw siya.

After that, consul’s family treated us to Vapiano, an Italian restaurant. Para kaming chosen ones dahil iilan lang kaming sinama. Kaming halos lahat na natira sa simbahan. The restaurant is really nice. Actually, self-service siya pero high tech at innovative. Pagpasok mo, bibigyan ka ng card na gagamitin mo sa pag-order. They will just swipe the card after you’ve ordered at the counter. Tapos sa harap mo pa, sa counter lulutuin ang pagkain. Tapos, kapag pizza ang order mo, bibigyan ka ng beeper na you can bring along with you within the premises. Mag-be-beep na lang siya kapag okay na ang pizza mo. What I like more about the restaurant is their service, something that lacks in Germany.

Tapos, caroling naman sa bahay ni Tita Nita. May kainan din pero hindi na ako kumain… nang marami kasi busog pa ako from Vapiano. Tapos kainan din kina Ate Lita. Dessert naman ang tinira ko rito. Pero siempre nakakahiya rin kaya kumain ako ng lumpiang sariwa. Hehehe.

Kina Ate Ellen naman kami nag-celebrate ng New Year. Baha rin pagkain at alak! Para kaming bibitayin sa sunud-sunod na kainan. Grabe talaga! Doon naming sinalubong ang Bagong Taon sa Rhine river. Maraming taong nagpunta roon para magpaputok at manood ng nagpapaputok. May dala rin kaming ilang paputok, red wine at champagne. Dito rin naming sinalubong ang 2006. Masaya rin kami kahit pa hindi tulad ng ingay at putukan sa Pinas. Okay na rin, nairaos naman nang maayos at masaya.

Bumalik kami sa bahay nila para kumain, sumayaw, kumanta, uminom at magsaya! Madaling araw na naman kaming natapos. Pero ang saya pa rin namin. Enjoy na naman ang buhay!

1 January

Kami ulit ang kakanta! Buti na lang hindi pa paos ang boses ko. Okay ulit ang kanta although kakaunti ang mga nagsimba. Mga puyat siguro o baka may mga hang over pa!

After that, balik kami kina Ate Ellen para, ano pa nga ba? Kumain, uminom, tumawa, sumayaw, kumanta, magsaya etc.

Grabe! Para kaming mauubusan. Sige-sige lang! pero enjoy talaga kaming lahat. Medyo maaga na kami umuwi noon kasi may mga pasok pa ang karamihan tapos medyo pagod at puyat na rin. Ako nga, napipikit na eh.

We had a great time! Ang saya! I am very thankful dahil may mga kaibigan akong tulad nila na nakakasama ko lagi.

Bagong taon na! Bagong buhay para sa atin!

Kung interesado kayong makita ang mga pics ko last holidays, click n'yo lang 'to.

 

Posted by ays at 06:29 PM | 4 minds blown

January 13th, 2007

2007 Forecast for Pisces

Just got curious! I feel that 2007 is a good year and really hope it does. Well, I'll be starting a new job on Monday. It may just be for two months but what the heck! I really wanted to work there and now it came true. Hopefully that would be the start of my career. Besides, I won't be paying taxes! Hahaha

Pisces 2007 - Astrology Forecast

2007 is a very important year regarding your career, recognition and social status. You worked hard in 2006, and you will continue with this custom throughout 2007. The difference is that now you obtain recognition and you will constantly be in the limelight. People will appreciate your efforts, you will expand your authority and power and you will be permanently surrounded by chance and success, eventually prosperous business.

One area you should worry about this year is money. Expensive trips, redundancies, useless items, all these contribute to your losses. If you can’t manage all these, you will end up calculating your balance and realising that your expenses are higher than your income. However, a promotion is highly probable at your job, as one of your bosses appreciates all your hard work and encourages you to keep working as efficiently but from a higher-up position.

Pisces 2007 Love horoscope & friendship forecast

This year you crave for freedom and independence which some Pisces will obtain one way or another. Some act willingly to achieve this desirable freedom, while others apparently generate involuntary crisis moments that lead to separations (even painful ones) which result in gaining the unconstraint they ache for. They could start a part of it on their own.

Many Pisceans overreact, many take risks, as they feel the need for change. And if this change isn’t generated, you can brutally interfere outward. It’s wise, as possible, to avoid risks, redundancies and situations that might imply violence, especially during periods affected by the Jupiter-Uranus quarter (January-May inclusively and the first half of October). Your forces must be coddled and health attentively watched, especially in 2007, but foremost until September.

This came from this website.

Posted by ays at 01:49 PM | 32 minds blown

January 29th, 2007

A different world

It has been three weeks since I started with my new job and I still can't believe it. It's so surreal!!!

Most of the youth leaders that I'm working with work here and many in the Filipino community think that I'm their colleague and I always said to myself, "Mag-dilang anghel sana kayo."

It has took me around four applications before they could even notice my CV. Then, here I am. The first job is only for two months. But I know this is my stepping stone that's why I would want to give a good impression of me. Sana mag-tuluy-tuloy na.

On my first day, I first noticed my name beside our office door. I'm sharing the room with a colleague. Wow! Then, my e-mail (with @organization_name) is also ready. Fr. Jun was so amazed as he saw it through the e-mail exchanges of the TROPA.

During my first two weeks, I have been having lunch with friends. As in at home na ako hindi lang dahil sa kanila pero dahil na rin sa maraming mga Pinoy dito. Sabi nila, expanding daw ang population namin. Some even jokingly say that there is a Filipino Mafia there.

Last Friday, they gave me my phone. Buti naman. Hirap kasi dahil through e-mail at chat lang nila ako ma-re-reach.

Okay naman ang trabaho. Minsan, nakaka-antok kasi iyun at iyon lang naman ang trabaho pero okay na rin. Simula pa lang naman eh.

Hanggang ngayon, parang ang hirap pa ring paniwalaan na nangyayari na 'to. At sobrang saya ko hindi lang dahil nandito ako pero dahil lahat ng maka-alam na nag-tra-trabaho na ako rito ay masaya para sa akin. Ang sarap ng ganoong feeling. Lahat, masaya para sa'yo. At lahat sila hinahangad ang tagumpay mo.

I'm thanking God for all of these. He's blessing me with wonderful things. Kaya I would like to give it back to Him. Praise Him.

Posted by ays at 01:59 PM | 19 minds blown

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