definitely a small world

a couple of months back, we heard about a college student in virginia killing several students and teachers in his school. it had come as a shock not only to the residents of that community but to the whole world. questions had been raised and others had gone unanswered. with that tragedy, comfort where taken and received from friends and families, even from people unknown. the event has touched the lives of many people. never did i know that it would touch mine, however small the connection was.

a friend of mine, who is based in the states now, and i were chatting online when he suddenly got distracted with something. i thought it was just a lag with the connection. when he came back a bit later, he told me that he just saw on tv that the brother of his childhood friend was one of those who were killed. it was really a sad night for the two of us knowing somebody one of us knows died on that tragedy. the body was to be brought to his hometown when everything was finished.

i never knew i could have a connection with that tragedy, but i guess i was wrong. then again, all of us have a connection because we live in the same world. how we treat our fellowmen has an adverse effect on everybody, after all, the world definitely is getting smaller and smaller everyday.

30-seconds of fame

i got to dance onstage at a bar last night! hahaha

unfortunately, i have no proof of that except for the witnesses at the dance floor.

ghost in the picture

i'm afraid that my officemate might be right in thinking that i might have taken a photo of a ghost in our hotel room when we arrived there the other night. i say might because i haven't looked at the picture yet and i guess, i'm scared to look at it and find out that it could be true. what was scary about it, really, is that the hotel was once was a bunk house for the american navy who occupied the base before. the other thing is that there's an acacia tree in front of our hotel room window. spooky!

curls

i just got my hair curled last sunday. i didn't really expect it would such be a big hit at the office. i'm glad the curls actually looked good on me. an offcemate even said that i looked like a brazilian when i sport a wet look. wow! the curls added volume to my previous very fine, long, somewhat wavy hair. i'm thinking of making this my look for the whole year because i really, really love it! the hour spent thinking about it at the parlor and the two and half hours spent enduring the chemicals on my head paid off! i just have to learn how to use the mousse now. if only my crush would see me now! haha just kidding....

i just love my chocolates

i just love chocolates. who doesn't? it might be smoking cigarettes for some, or drinking beer for others but for me, it's chocolates! i tried cutting down my chocolate intake before but just after two weeks, i was craving for more! luckily, i went to australia and was able to buy my favorites! and i've been saving them as much as i can, trying to make it last as long as i could.

just today, my friend brought to the office a the big pack of Hershey's chocolate Kisses. i couldn't help getting one, and then another, and then another! of all the people at the office, i might be the one who has gotten a lot of Kisses. i wasn't counting anywhere. neither were they! they just knew that i am addicted to chocolates.

the only bad effect (bad effect?) of chocolates for me though is that i get sugar rush. my officemates and friends can manifest to that! but what's a small side effect (read: laughing a lot) when you could as many chocolates as you want?! as wolfgang puck says: "live, love and eat!"

discovering new things

L-R: Swan Brewery, overlooking the city from the Botanical Gardens, sunset at the Swan River, at the International Airport


for three days, i experienced a little bit of life Down Under. i haven't really taken note if the water swirls clockwise or counter-clockwise but i had taken note of the way people lived there. and it is so different, compared to what we have here.

people there are more relaxed and have the time to enjoy the simpleness of things.

during the day, the go to work from eight to five. leave the office at five. at times, they go pass by the pub to drink a couple glasses of beer. the pubs are mostly children friendly. once they've gotten their beer quota for the day (which is two glasses for those who are driving), they head home to their families. most family enjoy time together at dinner. the city sleeps early. around 8p, there's no one loitering around.

some people are so relaxed that they could even jog anytime of the day. while i was walking through the park, i see some people enjoy their lunch on the park grounds, overlooking the great view of the city. at work, they work fast and seriously. i haven't noticed any screens open to an internet website; all were focused on work. but at tea time, everybody takes a break, enjoy a cup of coffee and good conversation with officemates.

on weekends, i was told that they spend it off office work (unlike most of us in this country). they spend the weekend with their family: taking their kids on a stroll along the beach, walking their dogs, go on picnics, enjoy sports... things that are relaxing. no internet, no tv, no phones, no distractions.

if only we could take this practice as our own, we may be able to become more effective and productive people. we can become well-rounded and in so doing, be able to contribute more to our community and be able to influence others for the better. if only... but now, for starters, i will start trying to do even just a half of it.

the place itself is so clean and so quiet. crispy air. it is a nice place to raise a family. a funny thing the cab driver said, his brother once mentioned that only those who are near dying that comes to live in that city. never mind, he said. at least we are near heaven (except when you are destined to go to hell!).

i liked the place and wouldn't mind going back there. i know i will enjoy the quiet much.


L-R: Swan Building, typical neighborhood at sunset

overcoming hurdles

last sunday, i was so stressed with work, i haven't finished my report, i was due to leave for fieldwork the next day, haven't finished packing yet, and my room looked like a tornado hit it. i was at my wit's end and it seemed that i couldn't take it anymore. i talked to my parents, broke down and just cried-- hard.

it had been a while since i cried very hard and it just felt so good. it may have not vanished the worry, hurt, stress that i was feeling but it helped ease the pain. if there was one thing i was grateful for that day, it's the presence of my parents and friend who talked me out of this depression. as my friend said, "chill out!" and if i get screamed at (which i think is one of my greatest fear), all i had to do is say "f*** you! mind your own business!" the idea of me saying that is ridiculous that it made me laugh. i thank God that i have special people like them in my life.

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this past week, i had overcome a monumental hurdle in my life. i was scared but some people's encouragement got me pass through it all. thanks to the Lord. and more, i was able to enjoy a little of that experience. i gained, what i hope they would be, new friends and learned a new culture, and that made me glad. the next few steps i will be taking in the next few weeks may present a lot more than what i had experienced last month, but now i know, i can get pass through all this with God and my friends behind me.