ays

The entry below was first written in 1 December 2008 on my Multiply blog.

***

I have just finished my contract last week. Yes, I am, for the nth time, jobless again. Okay, it depends on how you look at it. So, I used the above title instead of "Bumming Holidays". Anyways, I won't be really bumming.

***

The last few weeks of my contract was sooo hectic. I go to work at least at 9.00, sometimes at 8.30. (I can't be there earlier! I'm not amorning person.) And I stay at until around 8.30 to 9.00. Whew! Ganun kadaming trabaho. And I know it would be busy at the conference center in Poznan, Poland. How I'd wish I was there. I know it would be so interesting. On the other hand, I guess it's okay kasi sobrang lamig na dun. Dito pa nga lang nilalamig na ako, dun pa kaya.

***

I'm currently listening to JumpStart at RX 93.1 via internet. I haven't tuned in them in awhile since two new colleagues joined me in the room. I have a big room, probably the biggest in the floor, because our team needs around three people to register delegates. I missed RX Monsters' Riot and Chico and Del's Top Ten tuloy. I can listen to it now at home though, now that I have moble internet for my laptop. Weeee!!!

***

About my colleagues, one girl is from Russia and the other guy is Norwegian-German. Okay naman kaya lang hindi satisfying ang trabaho nila.

Yung babae, panay yosi tapos sho-shonga-shonga pa. Babagal-bagal kumilos at ang mga tanong, puro "duh!!!". Tapos kapag nagtatanong ang 'yung isang kasama namin, sasagot siya bago ko pa man masagot ang tanong na para bang alam niyang lahat tapos hindi naman.

'Yung lalaki naman, okay ang trabaho, mabilis at sigurado sa ginagawa. Kaya lang bugnutin dahil minsan nakakainis ang communications na ibinibigay sa amin ng mga participants. Kaya lang masyado niyang pinupulahan ang mga nag-re-register at tinatanong kung ano gagawin nila sa conference. Okay, may mga taong hindi mo nga alam kung ano ang gagawin dun. Pero don't be harsh with the students and the young activist dahil maganda nga na aktibo sila sa usapin laban sa climate change. Natutuwa ako na gumagawa sila ng paraan para matuto at malaman ang mga bagay-bagay ukol dito. Besides, hindi namin trabaho 'yun. Ang dapat naming gawin ay mag-register.

Sana next time, huwag na silang kunin.

***

Speaking of work, I still got some part time kaya may income pa naman ako. Saka someone offered me a new part-time job kaya may extra income ako at may pagkaka-abalahan na. It was offered to me on my last day. Freelance din kaya okay lang at maluwag sa schedule. It's indeed a blessing.

***

In the last two weeks of my cotract, nagkaroon ng weather disturbance dito. Sobrang lamig niya, as in nag-snow na. I must admit, I liked seeing the snow at sobrang nakakatuwang maglakad habang bumabagsak ito. Ayaw ko lang ng lamig.

***

Nagbukas na ang Weihnachtsmarkt o Christmas Market. Malapit na nga ang Pasko. Pero to be honest, hindi ako excited compared last year. Sabagay, umuwi ako last year kaya mas masaya ako. Mas emo siguro ang Pasko ko ngayon. hehehe.

***

Speaking of Christmas, I have bought Christmas balls and Christmas light to decorate my little Christmas tree. Wala lang, I just want my pad to have some holiday look. I think I still have to add some more decos. Hindi pa feel ang Christmas eh. hehehe

***

I read The Christmas Candle by Max Lucado. It is a nice book, a book that makes you feel better and light-hearted after reading. I made it as the "Feature of the Month" in the Community Library. Tapos kelangan nilang mag-deposit ng €3 para siguradong isasauli nila on time. Tapos, kung sakto nilang isasauli, may gift sila from the library.

***

Inspired by "The Chrstmas Candle", I thought of buying candles as gifts this Christmas. I'll be going around the city to buy some and look for some small stuff to decorate it. Now, I'm excited about Christmas.

***

Tapos, dahil may project ako to buy SuperBook and The Flying House DVDs for the kids to borrow in the library. I have told them that I will donate three book from my collection of Paulo Coelho in the library for every €10 that they will donate. Yesterday, They have donated €38.50. So, goodbye Paulo Coelho. Kaunti na lang, wala na akong libro ni Coelho.

***

I'm thinking of buying a new phone as a Christmas gift for myself. I'm not really buying soemthing fancy. I just want a new one to replace my old phone. I just need a phone with a good memory and camera. I'm not a tech geek anyways. I also want to buy a new webcam, malabo kasi ang webcam ko, parang ako minsan.

***

Kung si Santa Claus ang magbibigay ng wish ko, siguro ibibigay niya 'yun sa akin kasi naging mabait naman ako. Pero since, permanent job ang hanap ko, malamang na ang ibigay niyang trabaho at taga-gawa ng laruan kasama ng mga Christmas elves niya. huhuhu

***

I'm praying... and believing it will come true, to have a permanent job the soonest. I want to have one but most of all I need it, not just for myself but for my family as well. Dear God, help me. You know my intentions. Please hear me. This is my Christmas wish...

***

Call this coinsidence! After I click the "Save & Publish" button on the Compose Blog Entry page, I was disconnected from the internet. While restarting connection, I went to the toilette and found a missed call from my supervisor as I sat in front of my laptop. I called her and and received a text message from her asking for my P11 form (CV from in the organization). When she answered the phone, she told me that, in her own words, "Ibebenta kita!". Apparently, a colleague has told her of a vacancy, I supposed or there would be one.

I shed some tears. I know there are no guarantees and this doesn't speak of a job. Just a chance. I'm also not expecting anything.

I cried because, I know and I believe, that even if God is not giving me the job I've been wishing for, He has given me hoped by receiving this information. This is, as in The Alchemist said, an omen.

***

Thank you, God, for always being there. And most especially for giving me hope at the time I'm losing it. I know you have palnned something for me. Please give me the patience, for I know it won't come on my time but in Yours.

***

Indeed, I was correct for replacing the title from "Bumming Holidays" to "Jo/blessed Holidays!"

ays

Okay, ginaya ko 'to kay Abbey! Thanks. hehehe. Hindi ko pa kasi nasisimulan ang Year-End Entry ko eh. Magawa ko kaya? Hahaha...

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
- went back home, travelled locally and spent some days on an island and a night at a five star hotel using my hard earned income

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
- I never make new year's resolution.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
- A friend; the baby will be my god child in March.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
- wala yata,

5. What countries did you visit?
- I went home and returned back here. Does it count? (I'm not sure if I went to Holland. I thik that was in 2007. Hmm...)

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
- save up some money, have a permanent job and have a (love)life!

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
- I think there is no single date. I had a number of events in the past year that really made a mark.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
- I had more tasks at work and in the Filipino community which can be considered a forward step, if not two-steps forward. Added these tasks in my credentials on my CV.

9. What was your biggest failure?
- I think I should have pushed further and told what I really felt for someone.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
- Thank God, I never had any. My dad had a bypass surgery though, which made me really worried and depressed.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
- a new laptop

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
- my friends and my famiy who has been around everytime I needed them.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
- 'yung nakaaway ko sa pila at sa McDo. And recently, this Latino. Hahaha.

14. Where did most of your money go?
- house rental, phone bill (landline and cellphone), insurances, package and allowance for family in the Philippines, paying for my dad's operation

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
- when I received the HSDPA dongle. Me Internet connection na ko sa bahay kasi. Weeeee...

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
- Won't go home without you, American Boy, Love lock down, marami eh!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a. happier or sadder? Sadder. This year was a bit tougher and rougher.
b. richer or poorer? Poorer. I'm able to get through it though. But I really think I had more last year.
c. thinner or fatter? Both. I'm thinner after getting back from the Philippines. Then, I got fat as soon as I came back to work. At the last quarter, I lose some wait and able to maintain up to now. Weeee!

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
- Save money and work harder. I could have searched for a second job to earn more.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
- Worrying too much.

20. How did you spend the holidays?
- I was so busy with some pre and post Christmas events. I think I have to be more relaxed next time.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
- I did in the first month and the rest of the first quarter was full of disappointment. Aua!

22. How many one-night stands?
- Hahahaha.. Secret! Hahahaha.

23. What were your favorite TV programs?
- None. Don't spend much time on TV.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
- This Latino. Kwento ko next time. Hahaha.

25. What were the best books you've read?
- Love in the time of Cholera, Veronika decides to die and Eleven Minutes

26. What was your favorite film of this year?
- Australia

27. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
- a bit more trendy

28 Whom did you miss?
- My family.

29. Who was the best new person you met?
- Wala yata.

30. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
- LIfe is full of bumps and turns. It's not always an easy road.

31. What was your greatest musical discovery?
- wala.

32. What did you want and get?
- a laptop

33. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
- I'm 28 and my friends gave me a surprise. Just a simple dinner with them after work.

34. What one thing would have made your year immeasureably more satisfying?
- controlling emotions

35. What kept you sane?
- solitude

36. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
- wala yata eh.

37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
- Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. (Abbey pareho tayo! Hindi ko 'yan kinopya. hahahah)

ays

I wrote a year-end entry. It took me some hours to sum up what happened to me in 2008. I even checked my previous posts here in Multiply and in Tabulas to make sure I won't miss a thing. It was a travel back in time reminiscing those moments that had happened. I have wirtten some emotions that were never exposed before so I can get rid of the excess baggage as I welcome the new year. It's really long and perhaps becuase I have spent quite a long time composing it, something went wrong witht the browser or with Multiply itself. As I click the Save & Publish button, it disappeared and were never published. Gone in cyberspase!

Clicked the back button but it never showed what I've typed. I should have copied it or better yet typed it in MSWord. Damn! It was quite long to do it again. Nakakatamad na! I guess, some emotions and thoughts that I have there are not meant to be shared. Perhaps. Dunno.

Darn. What a waste. Well, I think it still have let it out and was able to get rid of the baggage.

Well, to sum up 2008... It has been a bumpy ride with all the twist and turns. As I said, Life is never an easy ride. But I hope it made me smarter and stronger and be able to use what I have learned for the next year.

I'm just waiting to be surprised on what's in store next year!

A blessed New Year to all of you!