It’s about 10:30 in the evening now. Everybody is about to hibernate… or should I say retire for the night. The hours passed by so quickly.. I don’t know why but time slips by so unnoticeably specially during non-working days like Friday. As for me, I decided to watch my film of the season – The Proposal.
I don’t know what it was about the film that made me really love it. I was thinking if it was Sandra Bullock and her being an OC, or Andrew, the rooky assistant editor, or just simply the hilarity and absurdity of the situation- being forced to marry somebody you do not exactly plan to and the rest of the story, that made me watch the film over and over again.
There are too many things I want to write about the movie… but I’ll settle to go directly down the bottom line this time.
I wanna go to Sitka, Alaska and meet the Paxtons. :-)
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Amazing Africa
Here in our deliriously hot kitchen, serenaded by the guitar version of my all time favorite Pachelbel’s Canon whilst waiting for the meat of my Batangas version of Caldereta to tenderize a bit… I started pounding on my laptop keyboard… there is nothing more interesting to write about now except my recent trip to… AFRICA.
My trip to Tanzania involved a three-legged flight from Dubai to Addis Ababa- Ethiopia, to Nairobi- Kenya, and finally to Kilimanjaro airport and a 45-minute cab ride to the exact destination in the town of Moshi. At the Dubai International Airport, I was taken aback by a whole community of African people- mostly taller and with much bigger body frames than I, queuing up at the ticket counter. Judging from their baggage packed in cape-cases/sacks (sako) with nylon cords tied at every possible end to form a net all around, some in boxes tightly sealed with cream-colored packing tape or with plastic, I reckoned majority of them are businessmen doing some kind of trading. They must have bought goods from Dubai to sell in shops in their respective home countries. Given the enormity of the baggage they wanted to check-in, most of the passengers had to reopen and repack everything. Anyway, I managed to squeeze my self in and followed the queue before me.
Amidst the rush, chaos and the anxiety of getting checked in earlier than the rest of the crowd, I found comfort at the inquiring look of the Kabayan staff from the next counter. He motioned something to me in the air, as if trying to say something. I didn’t quite catch what his message was, consequently, I just stayed in my queue and had my things checked-in. Just before I left my counter, the Kabayan gently called my attention.
“What will you do in Africa”, he asked.
I smiled wryly and replied, “Meeting friends”.
“Where do you want to sit”, he asked again, half-smiling as if teasing me.
“Just somewhere far from where the men are sitting please”, I replied back.
And there he was, he effortlessly redone my booking. I was upgraded from my seat in the economy to first class cabin. Woohooo… Talk about favor huh!!! Or, simply talk about being Filipinos in a foreign land. I left the ticket counter with the widest grin I could ever make. All my worries about this trip which concerns mainly about me traveling alone and catching malaria, soon faded into oblivion.
I finally arrived in Kilimanjaro International Airport after about 8 hours from embarking the plane in Dubai. I was picked up by Alana Briere and Luke Miller. Thanks to them who patiently waited for me for almost 3 hours at the terminal, otherwise, I wouldn’t have known how to get to the hotel. As we traversed the slopes of the Tanzanian countryside, driving past the corn and sunflower fields, with the sight of the imposing Mt. Kilimanjaro peak seemingly suspended in the clouds before us, here away from the hustle and bustle of the city, I sensed a familiar feeling that carried with it peace into my heart.
The first recollection of my awareness about Africa dates back to the time when news about the famine-stricken areas in Africa (the exact location I couldn’t even recall now) was all over the news. I could still picture in my head the sight of malnourished children in shanty towns, the unforgiving heat of the desert, and the wild animals roaming in the wild, shown on TV. I’ve also read a documentary about Waris, a Somalian woman turned supermodel, her plight as a young girl having to take adult responsibilities and pasturing chores with her family living in the bush. Her story highlighted the issue on female mutilation being done to most young girls in preparation for marriage. It sounded real horrendous I couldn’t even tell if it’s real life scenario or just a fiction.
At any rate, I thought these facts/bits of information broadened my knowledge about a land so far away and so foreign. Never have I, in my wildest dream, thought I could someday set foot on this land known as Africa. More so, be brought into a level of consciousness that I had been shallow in perspective and understanding of what this land is all about all these years.
I was charmed by Africa… its people, culture and the beauty of its nature.
Contrary to the preconceived ideas I had about African people- being aggressive and domineering, especially the men, I found the Tanzanians affable and extra accommodating. In their rustic homes, they wouldn’t entertain guests without sharing a meal or even at least a cup of coffee or tea. They offered the finest utensils, the biggest avocado fruit, probably have even butchered the fattened chickens just to offer decent meals to us.
The children are beautiful. I almost always caught those trusting innocent eyes as I converse or play with the children. They loved being photographed. They like holding our hands and swaying the arms while walking. They exerted effort mumbling English words like “Hello”, “How are you?” They shrieked with joy when being embraced because they feel loved… well that’s what I thought.
There are lots and lots of incredible things, great and small, that I’ve experienced in Tanzania. The highlights would be:
- I learned few phrases in Swahili. Jumbo (welcome)! Asanti Sana (Thank you)! These were two of the first Swahili words I’ve learned while in Tanzania.
- For the first time, I got to see the Milky Way in its clearest view possible. I couldn’t even recall having seen it before.
- I finally knew what the Southern Cross constellation looked like… courtesy of our adopted daddy Robert during our overnight stay at the hotel near Ngoro Ngoro crater.
- I saw thousands of animals including the Big 5 in the wild on a genuine African Safari.
- I was thrilled to have seen a real Baobab tree. Remember the book “The Little Prince”? Baobab trees are the stout-looking trees, usually leafless and with the branches looking like roots turned upside down. Did you get that?
- I had a skirt made for myself by the side walk sewers in the streets of Moshi town. And yes, everything was done in 30 minutes.
- I got to spend time with my friends whom I haven’t met in almost 10 years. Our bonding time made me believe that no matter how far we’ve gone to, no matter how long we haven’t spoken, some things never changed at all. There would always be the signature character each one has, the trivial things we argue about, and… of course, the chikas every night.
- Met amazing group of people, spiritual giants. Africa is a smogashboard of people and culture. Need I say more?
- Open heaven. The experience? Incomparable! I might spoil the testimony so I would rather have it properly written in another article.
- I had an interesting flight back to Dubai.
So, this was the familiar feeling I’ve been having since the day I arrived in Tanzania. I’ve seen pieces of my self in people. Their love for family, the heart to be of help to anyone in need, the fascination for all things unfamiliar, the hunger for more of God in their lives, the appreciation for life and the blessings therein, these and all other things that make our lives worth living. I recognized struggles for equality and recognition. In them, I see the faces of people trying to make ends meet yet living happy lives. In their conversations, I could sense their hopes about every tomorrow coming with a promise that one day, the miracle they’ve been praying for will come to pass somehow. I’ve seen places so similar to my home back in the Philippines. Somehow, all places are in one way or another, the same… only different terrain, different kind of food on the table, different color of the skin, different hairstyle… different native tongue. But deep down, something connects us to everyone. Some things are the same.
Amazing Africa!
Rapt in my thoughts, my brow furrowed in deep contemplation (at least I imagined), I noticed the wafting smell of burned meat in the casserole. Again??? I burned the food for dinner again!! I hope my roommates would be terribly hungry when they come home. I hope I can get away with it this time
----000----
My trip to Tanzania involved a three-legged flight from Dubai to Addis Ababa- Ethiopia, to Nairobi- Kenya, and finally to Kilimanjaro airport and a 45-minute cab ride to the exact destination in the town of Moshi. At the Dubai International Airport, I was taken aback by a whole community of African people- mostly taller and with much bigger body frames than I, queuing up at the ticket counter. Judging from their baggage packed in cape-cases/sacks (sako) with nylon cords tied at every possible end to form a net all around, some in boxes tightly sealed with cream-colored packing tape or with plastic, I reckoned majority of them are businessmen doing some kind of trading. They must have bought goods from Dubai to sell in shops in their respective home countries. Given the enormity of the baggage they wanted to check-in, most of the passengers had to reopen and repack everything. Anyway, I managed to squeeze my self in and followed the queue before me.
Amidst the rush, chaos and the anxiety of getting checked in earlier than the rest of the crowd, I found comfort at the inquiring look of the Kabayan staff from the next counter. He motioned something to me in the air, as if trying to say something. I didn’t quite catch what his message was, consequently, I just stayed in my queue and had my things checked-in. Just before I left my counter, the Kabayan gently called my attention.
“What will you do in Africa”, he asked.
I smiled wryly and replied, “Meeting friends”.
“Where do you want to sit”, he asked again, half-smiling as if teasing me.
“Just somewhere far from where the men are sitting please”, I replied back.
And there he was, he effortlessly redone my booking. I was upgraded from my seat in the economy to first class cabin. Woohooo… Talk about favor huh!!! Or, simply talk about being Filipinos in a foreign land. I left the ticket counter with the widest grin I could ever make. All my worries about this trip which concerns mainly about me traveling alone and catching malaria, soon faded into oblivion.
I finally arrived in Kilimanjaro International Airport after about 8 hours from embarking the plane in Dubai. I was picked up by Alana Briere and Luke Miller. Thanks to them who patiently waited for me for almost 3 hours at the terminal, otherwise, I wouldn’t have known how to get to the hotel. As we traversed the slopes of the Tanzanian countryside, driving past the corn and sunflower fields, with the sight of the imposing Mt. Kilimanjaro peak seemingly suspended in the clouds before us, here away from the hustle and bustle of the city, I sensed a familiar feeling that carried with it peace into my heart.
The first recollection of my awareness about Africa dates back to the time when news about the famine-stricken areas in Africa (the exact location I couldn’t even recall now) was all over the news. I could still picture in my head the sight of malnourished children in shanty towns, the unforgiving heat of the desert, and the wild animals roaming in the wild, shown on TV. I’ve also read a documentary about Waris, a Somalian woman turned supermodel, her plight as a young girl having to take adult responsibilities and pasturing chores with her family living in the bush. Her story highlighted the issue on female mutilation being done to most young girls in preparation for marriage. It sounded real horrendous I couldn’t even tell if it’s real life scenario or just a fiction.
At any rate, I thought these facts/bits of information broadened my knowledge about a land so far away and so foreign. Never have I, in my wildest dream, thought I could someday set foot on this land known as Africa. More so, be brought into a level of consciousness that I had been shallow in perspective and understanding of what this land is all about all these years.
I was charmed by Africa… its people, culture and the beauty of its nature.
Contrary to the preconceived ideas I had about African people- being aggressive and domineering, especially the men, I found the Tanzanians affable and extra accommodating. In their rustic homes, they wouldn’t entertain guests without sharing a meal or even at least a cup of coffee or tea. They offered the finest utensils, the biggest avocado fruit, probably have even butchered the fattened chickens just to offer decent meals to us.
The children are beautiful. I almost always caught those trusting innocent eyes as I converse or play with the children. They loved being photographed. They like holding our hands and swaying the arms while walking. They exerted effort mumbling English words like “Hello”, “How are you?” They shrieked with joy when being embraced because they feel loved… well that’s what I thought.
There are lots and lots of incredible things, great and small, that I’ve experienced in Tanzania. The highlights would be:
- I learned few phrases in Swahili. Jumbo (welcome)! Asanti Sana (Thank you)! These were two of the first Swahili words I’ve learned while in Tanzania.
- For the first time, I got to see the Milky Way in its clearest view possible. I couldn’t even recall having seen it before.
- I finally knew what the Southern Cross constellation looked like… courtesy of our adopted daddy Robert during our overnight stay at the hotel near Ngoro Ngoro crater.
- I saw thousands of animals including the Big 5 in the wild on a genuine African Safari.
- I was thrilled to have seen a real Baobab tree. Remember the book “The Little Prince”? Baobab trees are the stout-looking trees, usually leafless and with the branches looking like roots turned upside down. Did you get that?
- I had a skirt made for myself by the side walk sewers in the streets of Moshi town. And yes, everything was done in 30 minutes.
- I got to spend time with my friends whom I haven’t met in almost 10 years. Our bonding time made me believe that no matter how far we’ve gone to, no matter how long we haven’t spoken, some things never changed at all. There would always be the signature character each one has, the trivial things we argue about, and… of course, the chikas every night.
- Met amazing group of people, spiritual giants. Africa is a smogashboard of people and culture. Need I say more?
- Open heaven. The experience? Incomparable! I might spoil the testimony so I would rather have it properly written in another article.
- I had an interesting flight back to Dubai.
So, this was the familiar feeling I’ve been having since the day I arrived in Tanzania. I’ve seen pieces of my self in people. Their love for family, the heart to be of help to anyone in need, the fascination for all things unfamiliar, the hunger for more of God in their lives, the appreciation for life and the blessings therein, these and all other things that make our lives worth living. I recognized struggles for equality and recognition. In them, I see the faces of people trying to make ends meet yet living happy lives. In their conversations, I could sense their hopes about every tomorrow coming with a promise that one day, the miracle they’ve been praying for will come to pass somehow. I’ve seen places so similar to my home back in the Philippines. Somehow, all places are in one way or another, the same… only different terrain, different kind of food on the table, different color of the skin, different hairstyle… different native tongue. But deep down, something connects us to everyone. Some things are the same.
Amazing Africa!
Rapt in my thoughts, my brow furrowed in deep contemplation (at least I imagined), I noticed the wafting smell of burned meat in the casserole. Again??? I burned the food for dinner again!! I hope my roommates would be terribly hungry when they come home. I hope I can get away with it this time
----000----
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
25 Random Things About Me
After being tagged for quite a number of times, I’ve finally decided to write my own version of 25 Random things about me.
1. I’ve watched the movie Sassy Girl (Korean version) more than 25 times and still cry every time the part where the girl shouts “Miyan he” (I’m sorry) to the boy is played.
2. Listen to the song “Everything” of Micheal Buble more than 150 times as of today since January 24, 2009.
3. Nicknamed “Linnox” by a few close friends. Others call me “Kap” (short for kapatid). My family and relatives call me “Gina”. I remember being called “Digna” by my grandmother when I was still a kid. My colleagues in DTI call me “Jen”. My AFFS friends call me “Jena”. I am generally called “Lyn” by most people I know since college. My full name is Jenalyn.
4. Wears slippers while driving.
5. Wears socks while sleeping.
6. Was a cheerleader in high school… don’t know why.. :-D
7. Was a tambourine dancer in college… I miss the beat. I still wish I could dance again as I used to.
8. I hate rats.. it makes me shiver even with just friends mimicking the sound.
9. I’ve fallen in love with: Shanghai-China, Kimchi, Makki, and puppies.
10. I’ve fallen from a guava tree 1 week before elementary graduation and hit my leg right into a barb wire. Now, I still have the awful scar. But that didn’t stop me from climbing anything possible.
11. I really wanted to be multi-lingual but have only spoken fluent Tagalog and English so far. Has learned conversational phrases in Ilokano, Hanggul (Korean) and very few Arabic.
12. Has passed Dubai driving exam in just 1 take... hallelujah! (for most, average of 3 takes before getting a license).
13. Fancied about being a chef. Has a set of self -concocted recipes tagged as “Lyn’s delight no. 1-7”. My friend used to “repair” the food that I cook to make it more palatable.
14. Has studied Forestry- Environmental Management, yet working in the operations division of a real estate company now.
15. Has a thing with naming stuff: my car (Pablo), my 1 year old poinsettia (Fonzy), rug doll (Pedro), my giant bear (Dabid), the first ever bear I received upon arrival in Dubai (Tim), our dog back in the Philippines (Amos… he already has died) other little things…
16. Is “deaf” when watching anything on video/TV. I have this sentinel-like ability of being able to focus and understand everything happening on the screen no matter how chaotic a place is.
17. Fancies about having the song “Canon” played on my wedding day.
18. Has just watched Slumdog Millionaire – I hope I could go see India someday.
19. Natural highs - Laughing so hard my face hurts, late night drive along Al Wasl Road on Tuesday evenings with nice songs playing over the stereo, a good conversation/chat, coffee time with friends, a special glance, finding a spot on a jammed-pack parking lot, reading a nice article/blog.
20. Could eat tons of food and still not get fat. Where does all the food go to?
21. Collects magazines. Collects pictures of beautiful smiling women. It makes me want to look as pretty and reminds me to smile all the time.
22. I believe in love.
23. I dream of having a house with a hanging bench on the front porch… where I and my hubby, in our old age, could just sit and have our evening conversations. Also, a really nice coffee table where we could enjoy coffee/tea with friends.
24. I was just reminded the other day, I really want to be financially blessed. I want to support church workers like missionaries, pastors, full timers and help capacitate less privileged brethrens.
25. I want to love God more every day.
1. I’ve watched the movie Sassy Girl (Korean version) more than 25 times and still cry every time the part where the girl shouts “Miyan he” (I’m sorry) to the boy is played.
2. Listen to the song “Everything” of Micheal Buble more than 150 times as of today since January 24, 2009.
3. Nicknamed “Linnox” by a few close friends. Others call me “Kap” (short for kapatid). My family and relatives call me “Gina”. I remember being called “Digna” by my grandmother when I was still a kid. My colleagues in DTI call me “Jen”. My AFFS friends call me “Jena”. I am generally called “Lyn” by most people I know since college. My full name is Jenalyn.
4. Wears slippers while driving.
5. Wears socks while sleeping.
6. Was a cheerleader in high school… don’t know why.. :-D
7. Was a tambourine dancer in college… I miss the beat. I still wish I could dance again as I used to.
8. I hate rats.. it makes me shiver even with just friends mimicking the sound.
9. I’ve fallen in love with: Shanghai-China, Kimchi, Makki, and puppies.
10. I’ve fallen from a guava tree 1 week before elementary graduation and hit my leg right into a barb wire. Now, I still have the awful scar. But that didn’t stop me from climbing anything possible.
11. I really wanted to be multi-lingual but have only spoken fluent Tagalog and English so far. Has learned conversational phrases in Ilokano, Hanggul (Korean) and very few Arabic.
12. Has passed Dubai driving exam in just 1 take... hallelujah! (for most, average of 3 takes before getting a license).
13. Fancied about being a chef. Has a set of self -concocted recipes tagged as “Lyn’s delight no. 1-7”. My friend used to “repair” the food that I cook to make it more palatable.
14. Has studied Forestry- Environmental Management, yet working in the operations division of a real estate company now.
15. Has a thing with naming stuff: my car (Pablo), my 1 year old poinsettia (Fonzy), rug doll (Pedro), my giant bear (Dabid), the first ever bear I received upon arrival in Dubai (Tim), our dog back in the Philippines (Amos… he already has died) other little things…
16. Is “deaf” when watching anything on video/TV. I have this sentinel-like ability of being able to focus and understand everything happening on the screen no matter how chaotic a place is.
17. Fancies about having the song “Canon” played on my wedding day.
18. Has just watched Slumdog Millionaire – I hope I could go see India someday.
19. Natural highs - Laughing so hard my face hurts, late night drive along Al Wasl Road on Tuesday evenings with nice songs playing over the stereo, a good conversation/chat, coffee time with friends, a special glance, finding a spot on a jammed-pack parking lot, reading a nice article/blog.
20. Could eat tons of food and still not get fat. Where does all the food go to?
21. Collects magazines. Collects pictures of beautiful smiling women. It makes me want to look as pretty and reminds me to smile all the time.
22. I believe in love.
23. I dream of having a house with a hanging bench on the front porch… where I and my hubby, in our old age, could just sit and have our evening conversations. Also, a really nice coffee table where we could enjoy coffee/tea with friends.
24. I was just reminded the other day, I really want to be financially blessed. I want to support church workers like missionaries, pastors, full timers and help capacitate less privileged brethrens.
25. I want to love God more every day.
Monday, June 15, 2009
I never would have thought...
I never would have thought….
… a day would come when I wouldn’t fit in my favorite black trouser. That I would need to have it repaired for the second time, undo the seams and readjust the waistline. I’ve gained a bit of flesh… and it brings a liberating feeling that after long years of trying to gain weight, I finally did it!!! (no offense to those people trying to do the opposite).
… I would wake one day and that person who was once very familiar and was a part of my being would be a complete stranger… that delving into the past would mean deepening my faith and enlarging my heart for people.
… I could enjoy menial thing as playing farmer in the Farm Town over Facebook.
… I could strike up a repartee with a complete stranger taking the same lift up to the office where I work. Small talk that is… such a big deal in the real estate industry… so much so that one should know the right thing to say while waiting in a queue or sitting in a government office or having meetings with clients who are seemingly knowledgeable about zillion things under the sun. Being one of the privileged Filipina managers in order a culturally-diverse city as Dubai, I always feel the pressure to gain lyrical dexterity so as to carry out decent and sensible small talks otherwise, I would get totally drowned in a sea of white and high-bridge-nosed people babbling nonsense right into my face.. Good thing I stand about 5’7”… something most foreigners think twice about if I’m a Filipina or a half breed. One Pakistani guy even argued he was speaking to a British lady and not a Filipina over the phone (courtesy of the fake British accent I’ve learned from my officemates hahaha). It was I you were speaking with.. How would I be here for the meeting in the first place??? Duh!!!.. Later on he became on of the few good friends I made in the industry.
… carrying bayong and studying trees, forest and all other things related, for 4 plus plus years and topping the board exam (konti lang po), would end up sitting in a real estate company’s office 5 years later.
…. One day I would appreciate these quotations more than ever:
Somewhere between heartaches and waiting is the chance to be found by someone who will make you feel that you are not just an option but a CHOICE…
"Oh, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away." By George Eliot.
… I would be able to learn how to drive, much more have my own “tsikot” (hulugan po J) and despite being a navigationally-challenged driver that I am, go to places whenever I want. I wish my parents could come to Dubai so I could take them to places and brag about how good I can drive now. Hahahaha…
… a farmer’s kid born from the once Rice Granary of Asia could do without rice in her meals. I remember I would always feel hungry no matter how much food I shove down my throat unless there’s rice involve… It must be an Asian thing.. or it must just be ME.
… I could set foot in places like Korea, China, and Africa.. very soon…Europe, hopefully next year… places I fell in love with and am still loving until today.
…. That at 31, I would still be single and enjoying it!!! I got this line from a friend… “that this age is magical..” I don’t believe in magic, but I do believe in miracles…
… My heart would ache again for the nations…
... I could change… for the better.
… a day would come when I wouldn’t fit in my favorite black trouser. That I would need to have it repaired for the second time, undo the seams and readjust the waistline. I’ve gained a bit of flesh… and it brings a liberating feeling that after long years of trying to gain weight, I finally did it!!! (no offense to those people trying to do the opposite).
… I would wake one day and that person who was once very familiar and was a part of my being would be a complete stranger… that delving into the past would mean deepening my faith and enlarging my heart for people.
… I could enjoy menial thing as playing farmer in the Farm Town over Facebook.
… I could strike up a repartee with a complete stranger taking the same lift up to the office where I work. Small talk that is… such a big deal in the real estate industry… so much so that one should know the right thing to say while waiting in a queue or sitting in a government office or having meetings with clients who are seemingly knowledgeable about zillion things under the sun. Being one of the privileged Filipina managers in order a culturally-diverse city as Dubai, I always feel the pressure to gain lyrical dexterity so as to carry out decent and sensible small talks otherwise, I would get totally drowned in a sea of white and high-bridge-nosed people babbling nonsense right into my face.. Good thing I stand about 5’7”… something most foreigners think twice about if I’m a Filipina or a half breed. One Pakistani guy even argued he was speaking to a British lady and not a Filipina over the phone (courtesy of the fake British accent I’ve learned from my officemates hahaha). It was I you were speaking with.. How would I be here for the meeting in the first place??? Duh!!!.. Later on he became on of the few good friends I made in the industry.
… carrying bayong and studying trees, forest and all other things related, for 4 plus plus years and topping the board exam (konti lang po), would end up sitting in a real estate company’s office 5 years later.
…. One day I would appreciate these quotations more than ever:
Somewhere between heartaches and waiting is the chance to be found by someone who will make you feel that you are not just an option but a CHOICE…
"Oh, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away." By George Eliot.
… I would be able to learn how to drive, much more have my own “tsikot” (hulugan po J) and despite being a navigationally-challenged driver that I am, go to places whenever I want. I wish my parents could come to Dubai so I could take them to places and brag about how good I can drive now. Hahahaha…
… a farmer’s kid born from the once Rice Granary of Asia could do without rice in her meals. I remember I would always feel hungry no matter how much food I shove down my throat unless there’s rice involve… It must be an Asian thing.. or it must just be ME.
… I could set foot in places like Korea, China, and Africa.. very soon…Europe, hopefully next year… places I fell in love with and am still loving until today.
…. That at 31, I would still be single and enjoying it!!! I got this line from a friend… “that this age is magical..” I don’t believe in magic, but I do believe in miracles…
… My heart would ache again for the nations…
... I could change… for the better.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Finishers Wanted
For days now, I’ve been fancying about owning a D80/D90 Nikon camera and eventually piddle around the streets of Dubai with the magic bullet on my hand. I picture it must be so cool!!!
Like a woman speaking gently to a child, I pulled myself over into a corner somewhere in the recesses of my mind. The proverbial pang of guilt seems to move stealthily around. Since when have I been this interested in photography anyway? Well, probably since the day my officemate started coming to the office with his DSLR cam slung over his shoulders. He would normally take pictures of literally everything under the sun including the clutters on my table. With much coercions and constant push from my colleague, I feel like I could just go ahead and grab one for myself.
Here I go again… the starter version of myself... I’m a starter, a spark plug. I’m good at starting things because I’m in love with the idea of doing things… It’s not a bad thing somehow if not for the unfinished businesses I have on my hands which from time to time berate the conscious mind. Just what are the things have I started so far?
- Guitar lesson
- Painting session
- Unfinished blogs saved in my laptop - titles with 1 or 2 liner articles
- Cooking lessons (informal session with Rachel Ray in Youtube.. LOL)
- keyboard lessons
- AutoCAD (I finished the course at least)
- Exercise routines
- Part time job in Networking business
- Piles of books with markers somewhere in between pages
- The long-been-planned backpacking trip to Europe
- Master’s degree in Environmental Science
This morning, I was going gaga over the idea of earning my MBA specializing in Human Resource Management. I’ve done my research online, phoned up a few friends and done the math for the tuition fees. Now I could sense a bit of a cold feet creeping inside once again.
From childhood to being full grown adults, among the familiar chap in the street are phrases like – finish your vegetables, finish your milk, finish your homework before watching TV, finish your report before the end of the day’s business...
What does it take to finish a task?
I was surfing the net over the weekend and I was hilariously entertained with the advert I came across with. It says “FINISHERS WANTED!” Well, I will surely be not fitted for the job. Apparently, it’s an advert of an automotive company looking for skilled workers who can do the finishing touches for repaired vehicles.
In my deepest most profound thoughts, I understand… the glory in running a marathon doesn’t always lie in finishing first… but in finishing the race itself. A project contractor only gets paid in full when the final touch in a project is done. A good story means a good ending and a good ending means a good story. An unfinished masterpiece is not masterpiece at all. The final hour in a student’s life is on that day when the crowd is cheering and the caps are finally tossed into the air.
Isn’t it that the final words that redeemed the world are the words “it is finished!”
Dare I say, one of the happiest and most fulfilled feelings of all in a person’s life is when something is accomplished, when the crescendo is finally attained, when the to do list is all crossed out. It is when one can finally say.. I’ve fought a good fight.. I’ve finished the course… I’ve kept the faith.
And it all starts deep within, when one finally found the resources to change, the will to persevere and the right reason for what you are doing.
Hats off to the finishers!
So, should I or should I not get a Nikon DSLR for myself?
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Happy Words
It became a regular habit for me to scout for catchy phrases, unfamiliar words and idiomatic expressions from whatever I could lay my eyes on... magazines, newspapers, articles.. anything. I don’t really know if it’s just me or there’s also somebody out there who has the same weirdness as I do… but this routine gives me a sense of delight and pride all in one.
Now, I have a collection of what I call happy words… happy words because of the contrast and the harmony of the lexis put together in one expression. I have listed below 6 of my top favorites:
Gentle giant – the phrase is so interesting it’s been used to name an artist, an organization doing rescue and adoption of puppies, and a variety of companies doing zillion kinds of businesses. How can a giant so mighty and powerful be gentle anyway?
Stubborn love – a love that never lets go in spite, despite.. practically whatever!
Crazy busy – you’re so busy you look really a lot like crazy J
Saving grace - I was told once “grace” also means something you don’t deserve but is given to you nevertheless.. To me, this phrase is that “something” which snatches me away from disaster, brought me to a soft landing and finally orchestrates everything into its proper places.
Godaddy- This is actually a name of our server host in the UK. There is just something very personal and intimate about the name I wonder how in the world the brainchild of the website came up with such a name.
Thinking aloud – this is the cousin of crazy busy… coz if you think aloud with no one around, you tend to speak to yourself… most of the time, the act makes you look a lot like crazy as well.. har har har…
Bizarre, is it?
But these words to me are like feel good music… ever listened to I’m Yours of Jason Mraz, the reggae version of Stuck on You by Ekolu and the ever favorite Power of Two? If you have, now you got an idea of what I mean…
Enough of my early morning craziness... Over and out!
Now, I have a collection of what I call happy words… happy words because of the contrast and the harmony of the lexis put together in one expression. I have listed below 6 of my top favorites:
Gentle giant – the phrase is so interesting it’s been used to name an artist, an organization doing rescue and adoption of puppies, and a variety of companies doing zillion kinds of businesses. How can a giant so mighty and powerful be gentle anyway?
Stubborn love – a love that never lets go in spite, despite.. practically whatever!
Crazy busy – you’re so busy you look really a lot like crazy J
Saving grace - I was told once “grace” also means something you don’t deserve but is given to you nevertheless.. To me, this phrase is that “something” which snatches me away from disaster, brought me to a soft landing and finally orchestrates everything into its proper places.
Godaddy- This is actually a name of our server host in the UK. There is just something very personal and intimate about the name I wonder how in the world the brainchild of the website came up with such a name.
Thinking aloud – this is the cousin of crazy busy… coz if you think aloud with no one around, you tend to speak to yourself… most of the time, the act makes you look a lot like crazy as well.. har har har…
Bizarre, is it?
But these words to me are like feel good music… ever listened to I’m Yours of Jason Mraz, the reggae version of Stuck on You by Ekolu and the ever favorite Power of Two? If you have, now you got an idea of what I mean…
Enough of my early morning craziness... Over and out!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Mr. Maxwell
It’s been about a week now since I planned to hang out in a coffee shop and once again have a tête-à-tête with my laptop. However, so many things… beautiful ones… kept me from doing so. I felt I already missed the sentiment of the events - the surprise party, the concert at the park, the coffee night out, the gifts and to top it all.. the flowers.
In a sense, having the moments slip by without being able to capture the exact thoughts and emotions while fresh made me realize one thing… that it’s easy for me to be glib about how beautiful life is without really knowing what others have to go through just to get through another ordinary day. The past weekend has been a string of pleasant surprises for my birthday. I’ve got everything that I’ve wished for that day but I plainly forgot not everything is about me all the time.
After the hype of the birthday celebration was over, I felt a nagging feeling within me that I just couldn’t ignore. I became aware of the laborer who toils under the scorching heat of the sun for a really meager pay, the kabayans whose visa are about to expire, the roommate whose father has been in a hospital bed for days now, the friend who has been diagnosed with cancer, the neighbor who has no place to stay, housemates and friends who have just been unemployed and who are leaving soon… so many other people around whose plight are much more difficult than what I currently am going through. How narrow I was to have asked why people can’t sometimes appreciate life as I do. How shallow my ideas are of how they go about their day at these trying times.
Coming from a totally different angle now, I am suddenly consumed with burdens that have been keeping me restless for days now. John Maxwell, in his book “21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader’s day” said that the essence of a burden is the desire to do something beneficial for others… and that a burden leads to a vision. He even had a checklist of particular emotions when people have a burden. I scored 7 out of 8... I am burdened indeed!
I started pulling out notes, rummage around old text messages and Bible verses in search for words and thoughts I think could be of use to encourage that which I am burdened about. I prayed, assessed the situation, encouraged, motivate, and conveyed what I thought God told me…yet end up striking the wrong note, pulling out the wrong strand, … almost totally messing up every turn…a state of ambivalence it was… I know I am not being a lid lifter at all. It seems like I’ve practically done almost everything possible… but one… to be still.
A realization from a realization! Be still…
When all else fails, when you can’t find the right words to say, when there is no love language to express, when assurance of friendship and love is needed, when amidst a process called growing, when daunted with uncertainties, when trouble is lurking around, when nobody understands, when you feel like hiding, when things are just to overwhelming to absorb, when grappling with the realities of life, when simply trying to get through an ordinary day… be still… and know that he is God.
Yes, there are a lot more people I am and I could be burdened about. There are lots of burdens and issues of life I could carry in my heart... all for the cause of a vision coming from above. At the end of the day, it is not about me, nor is it about the things that I cannot and can do to put people out of trouble or make them happy. It’s not about my happiness or my loneliness. It’s all about recognizing the fact that it is still He who is in control. It is about the lives being touched and transformed to glorify God.
I may have failed recognizing the square for a square instead tried hard fitting it on a circle… I may have truly failed the people who at some point supposed I could be the wind beneath the wings.. I may have faulty thoughts about how people should appreciate life in its entirety… It’s a frenetic journey. It’s a fluff I’ll try to slough off.
I still have the burden. Devoid of my own idiosyncrasies, I’ll go back to step 1. Hopefully, I still have time.
If I could meet Mr. Maxwell in the future, I would ask a question… what made you realize life is not about one self after all?
In a sense, having the moments slip by without being able to capture the exact thoughts and emotions while fresh made me realize one thing… that it’s easy for me to be glib about how beautiful life is without really knowing what others have to go through just to get through another ordinary day. The past weekend has been a string of pleasant surprises for my birthday. I’ve got everything that I’ve wished for that day but I plainly forgot not everything is about me all the time.
After the hype of the birthday celebration was over, I felt a nagging feeling within me that I just couldn’t ignore. I became aware of the laborer who toils under the scorching heat of the sun for a really meager pay, the kabayans whose visa are about to expire, the roommate whose father has been in a hospital bed for days now, the friend who has been diagnosed with cancer, the neighbor who has no place to stay, housemates and friends who have just been unemployed and who are leaving soon… so many other people around whose plight are much more difficult than what I currently am going through. How narrow I was to have asked why people can’t sometimes appreciate life as I do. How shallow my ideas are of how they go about their day at these trying times.
Coming from a totally different angle now, I am suddenly consumed with burdens that have been keeping me restless for days now. John Maxwell, in his book “21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader’s day” said that the essence of a burden is the desire to do something beneficial for others… and that a burden leads to a vision. He even had a checklist of particular emotions when people have a burden. I scored 7 out of 8... I am burdened indeed!
I started pulling out notes, rummage around old text messages and Bible verses in search for words and thoughts I think could be of use to encourage that which I am burdened about. I prayed, assessed the situation, encouraged, motivate, and conveyed what I thought God told me…yet end up striking the wrong note, pulling out the wrong strand, … almost totally messing up every turn…a state of ambivalence it was… I know I am not being a lid lifter at all. It seems like I’ve practically done almost everything possible… but one… to be still.
A realization from a realization! Be still…
When all else fails, when you can’t find the right words to say, when there is no love language to express, when assurance of friendship and love is needed, when amidst a process called growing, when daunted with uncertainties, when trouble is lurking around, when nobody understands, when you feel like hiding, when things are just to overwhelming to absorb, when grappling with the realities of life, when simply trying to get through an ordinary day… be still… and know that he is God.
Yes, there are a lot more people I am and I could be burdened about. There are lots of burdens and issues of life I could carry in my heart... all for the cause of a vision coming from above. At the end of the day, it is not about me, nor is it about the things that I cannot and can do to put people out of trouble or make them happy. It’s not about my happiness or my loneliness. It’s all about recognizing the fact that it is still He who is in control. It is about the lives being touched and transformed to glorify God.
I may have failed recognizing the square for a square instead tried hard fitting it on a circle… I may have truly failed the people who at some point supposed I could be the wind beneath the wings.. I may have faulty thoughts about how people should appreciate life in its entirety… It’s a frenetic journey. It’s a fluff I’ll try to slough off.
I still have the burden. Devoid of my own idiosyncrasies, I’ll go back to step 1. Hopefully, I still have time.
If I could meet Mr. Maxwell in the future, I would ask a question… what made you realize life is not about one self after all?
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