My 2012 :)

Literally and Figuratively, it has been a brand new year for me. 2012 I should say could be a start for something new. I know that I have been living for 4 months in United Arabs Emirates, but up to this moment, I am still learning new things.

The good thing is, my vague perceptions and fears of the unknown are little by little deteriorating. I could still remember how timid I was when I first took step in this place. I could not walk nor talk to people in here with the notions that they might be harmful. Those typical thoughts of me made me realized today that people indeed are skeptic in nature. We do sensationalize things when we ought not to. Like, "Filipinos are entitled to be poor, domestic helpers, kurakot, magnanakaw". How bad is that? When in fact, not all filipinos are. There are so much to be proud of to be Pinoy. Well same is true to them. People all over the world are so scared of their "different" culture. The way they dress and they act. But when you come to understand them, you will realize that they are just like us. Same creatures we are, in varied races. So let's not be racist, that's the bottomline.

Well going back to my new year's day story, I started it fearlessly by riding the fastest roller coaster in the world in Ferrari world.

For the past few years, I was trying to test myself how brave I am in terms of extremes of life. I don't know why, but whenever I have conquered my fears, I feel like it's a sense of fulfillment for me. I feel so brave and proud of myself afterwards. I know that in a way, I could feel the fear before trying such but it feels so great to get over it once I've done it. I know that this is not the most extreme ride I ever had in my life, but I tell you, this is indeed the fastest which took my breath away for 45 seconds. Hamdullah, I am alive!

 Another new thing that I have tried on this day was when we entered in the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Well, it was awesome. Feeling ko ako si Jasmine and Alladin is waiting for me inside. haha We saw the biggest prayer mat in the whole world.

Well, the only catch in this tour is that you will not be allowed to enter the mosque without wearing their traditional dress, the black Abaya. So goodluck to me. It was my first time to wear it and I don't even know how to wear it.

Seriously, there were a lot of blooper shots we had. We just could not help ourselves laughing at each other. I was trying to control myself not to laugh coz people around us might get offended, but I just could not stop. Finally, we just enjoyed the beauty inside that we'd rather take pictures of than ourselves.

Christmas 2011

I thought of writing something I ought to remember someday. yes. So today is my first Christmas away from home. Not actually my first Christmas away from my family but this is something different.

This is my first time to have only pizza for Noche Buena. First time not to talk to my family. My celphone got drained, plus th video call is not so clear. The voice is stuttering. I almost wanna cry. I just felt so sad.

But then again, I don't wanna cling to that doomed feeling so I just have to think of the happy thoughts instead. I saw my dog on skype. OMG! He's so big na! I wonder if he could still remember me. I just miss him so much. My closest friend stayed in our house and celebrated Christmas eve with my family.

So that's just my sister and my friend out there.

Sigh, tonight, I feel like I'm only living in a virtual world. My family, my friends, everyone is so out of reach. I don't know if I ever have to be seeing them for real. =(

 Wooohoo..I just can't help it. I was trying to hide my tears..But maybe, just once, I just wanna say that I miss them so much! Nevertheless, I just wanna thank God for all the blessings. For making it til the end of Simbang Gabi, and for my job, new people I've met, and new place where I am right now.

I am suppose to wait until midnight like I used to do. But, I just realized that maybe today is just another day to be thankful and be blessed. Anyway, Happy Birthday Jesus!

I know this is not much an interesting post. I just want to remember this day. Merry Christmas!!!

A letter to the one God prepared for me

I am wondering at this very minute if you are thinking of me, if like me, you are wondering what is taking us so long to find each other. Many times I thought I finally found you only to be disillusioned by the fact that my wait has not yet ended. I get up each morning hoping, dreaming, longing to meet you.

I am thinking of how we will meet, would it be as romantic as the ones I have seen in movies? Or is it possible that I have known you all my life but we have yet to realize that we are meant for each other? Oh how I wish you were here right now because you are the only one who has the answers to all my questions. Sometimes I ask myself if I have ever really known "love". I do not have the answer to that question either but I believe that, more often than not, we will never really know what love is until we find that right person.... and since I have not found you yet, then maybe I do not really know what love is! You just don't know how often I dream of finally knowing what it feels like to be in your arms. Even at this very moment I am imagining how you will simply sweep me off my feet! Perhaps your smile, or your eyes would draw me to you, or maybe even how you manage to make me laugh by your silly little ways! I don't really know for sure but I am praying that God will help me recognize you when the right time comes. I think of all the pain that I have gone through in the past and of how much I have cried since the day I began my search. I just wanted you to know that I find my strength in clinging onto my vision of the beautiful life ahead of me --- the life I shall spend with you. In my mind and in my heart I know that you are worth all that pain and sacrifice.

After all, the tears have become a part of my life and I believe that they are slowly washing away my flaws so that I would become perfect, not perfect in its truest sense, but perfect --- for YOU! I wonder if you've gone through so much pain as well. I wonder if you've been hurt so many times along the journey. But my dearest one, please don't ever give up because I am right here... patiently waiting for you! I assure you that when we finally find each other I would slowly heal those wounds by my love.

At night, I would look out my window and stare at the beautiful sky, hoping that somehow you are also looking up and wondering about me. I utter a silent prayer and send all my cries to the heavens above thinking that in time they would reach you. And when I feel impatient, I just close my eyes and believe that you are on your way and that you are longing to see me as well. It is funny but when I finally fall asleep, it is still you that I think of, for you are always in my dreams. It seems that, for now, that is the only place where I can hold on to you, long enough to tell you how much I love you. In my dreams you would kiss away my fears and wrap me with your arms of love. And this, all the more, makes me want to wake up and face the new day ahead with the hope that soon enough, you will no longer be a dream but a reality and once again I am assured that you are worth the wait. And when that time comes, everything will fall into its place, just as I had imagined, just as I had thought and dreamed, just as I had believed it would be! By then, I would simply look back and smile at all that I have gone through, in spite of the pain and amidst the simple joys of life --- and I would be very thankful because they all led me to you!

In the meantime, take care of yourself for me. Hold on to our dream and don't even think of letting go. Believe in your heart that we will find each other no matter what happens. God has planned the course and it is up to us to follow the directions. Don't worry, don't be afraid about getting lost, God saw to it that all the roads, no matter which one you choose to follow, lead to me.

PS. I once told myself that if time comes that we will meet each other, I'm gonna punch or slap u and rant at you, and tell you, "How dare you make me wait for so long? What took you so long to find me? Then I'll hug you coz finally I found you. So if ever my heart says and love you back, please don't ask why, I don't know neither. Just do love me too. Will you?

JAbel Hafeet, Al Ain

I have always been fascinated with great views and that's why I always wanted to travel. But, my favorite places could be amusement parks, beaches and great architectural buildings and malls. However, sometimes I also wanted to try the mountain climbing experience. I wanted what it feels like to be at the top. As like most of those people who are fond of doing such hobby, I wanted to give it a try. However, I know for myself that I always get tired easily. I always end up saying, "nagpapalpitate nko. pagod nko. pahinga na nmn". Okay, that's my weakness.


But then, I never thought that one day I could really get to the top with no expense and a little effort. This mountain is called, Jabel Hafeet. It is a rock formation-like mountain that I have been last week. My workmate told me that we would be going there one day. And I never thought that it would go beyond my expectation because in the morning, it would just look like a plain and boring mountain with no green at all.

So we did!

This is what the mountains are made of. Rocks na literal. But then, I never thought that it would be so fascinating to go up there. We took a car up to the top. I was really amazed and that I could not help my excitement from raging while we were escalating up there. I could feel the cold breeze and feel na feel ko na nasa tuktok na kami. It was freezing cold!

This is how the road looked like. Everytime I look down, my heart was pounding for excitement. "Ang ganda!" Me and my friends were having fun inside the car, not even feeling that paakyat na kami pala sa bundok.

Finally, we reached the top. It was not actually the most tophill but it was already freezing cold and from there, I could feel that we were already so high. I could see the whole city of Al Ain, UAE. And from there I did not feel like I was in the middle east. "Ang lamig lamig.. brrrrrr"

But... it was heavenly! Beautiful!

After we took some pictures from the top, we moved down hill and there I saw green hills all around. Wow, I wondered how those grass grew in the desert? I moved closer and that they called it the "Green Mubazarah"

From there, I learned that they placed built-in water hose under those grass para lang mabuhay sila sa disyerto. Whoa!!!Brilliant Minds! We then experienced what it's like to be lurking around. Then we found a hot spring where in you can soak your feet to have a relaxing feeling.

It was super hot. At first, I thought it could burn our feet. But then I saw people and even small children tolerating the heat. So then we tried it. It was indeed relaxing! "And sarap sa paa." Afterwards, we went up to the hills.

We looked closer to the grass. It was not like an ordinary "bermuda grass". It has a bubble like leaf that's like a cactus that's really good for very hot weather like in the desert. "Ang galing!"

Finally, we went home. It was then I have first been fascinated with how it feels great to be on top of the mountains. It feels like heaven! Then, we came up with one thought....


"It is true that UAE has the best architectural designs in the whole world. However, it not because they produce great architects, but because they have all the money and finances to pay the those with great minds all around the world. And mind you, a lot of those great minds they are paying are Filipinos!"

If only! ;)

From once upon a time to I wish upon a falling Star! ;)

Whenever the day comes that I am off from duty the next day, it feels like my heart is pounding for joy that I wanted to seize the day, freeze the time and make my day off longer than a regular 24 hour would do. I cherish every moment that I could find time to rest, and sleep, eat and yes, tell a story.

Ayun un eh. Sabi ko na meron ata ako talaga akong calling sa pagiging story teller. I just wanna talk and talk kahit na mag isa lang ako, kaya I always find time to write once in a while. Sa totoong buhay man o hindi, talaga lang sigurong madaldal ako or madaming kwento.

Okay, so much about that, I just received an email from our boss that my probationary period is about to end. Which means, I'm almost 3 months already here away from Pinas. But why do I feel like I'm still at the coping up stage? The culture, the weather, the dialect stage, etc. Minsan, gusto ko din ma feel ung "homesickness" nilang tinatawag. Madalas kasi, nababasa ko sa Facebook ng mga friends ko na naunang nag abroad, na miss na miss n nila agad ang Pilipinas, ang balot, jollibee, sinigang, etc.. Well naisip ko, meron nmn din ditong itlog maalat? Fastfoods, pwd nmng magluto ng sinigang? Wala lang, skeptic lang ako kasi minsan, naiisip ko, abnormal ba ako? Bat di ako nahohomesick pa? haha Or baka sanay lang din talaga akong independent ever since? Anyway, d ko nmn mapapagkakaila na I miss my family and friends, but not to the point that I would want to go home na agad, rant about it and all that.

Anyway, darating din ako jan. At baka pagtawanan nyo ako pag ako ay sobrang nahomesick. Now naiimagine ko na how sad it could be. But...this is not about that. My kwento is not about the homesickness, it's about the "once upon a time and wish upon a falling star" ika nga ng title ng blog na to.

Well, para lang may konek, ganito un. Once upon a time, na bigla ko nlng naalala, we live in this matchbox type of dormitory. (with my friend Wendee, a costaff nurse in Pinas).

It was super small room na kung makikita mo nmn, parang pgbaba mo ng kama, dining na agad. 3-4 steps, it's our door out. Super masikip, it was. But then, it was already expensive enough for a salary of the nurse in Pinas.

But anyway, though bahay namin kahit munti, we were having so much fun!

We would invite our other friend, (Let) and do our silly things. Picture to the highest level, and mga kakikayan lang. No dull moments indeed. Then, we started to wish. Sabi namin, "yaan mo Deng, pag yumaman na tayo, hindi na ganito kaliit room natin. Hindi na tayo masisikipan, d na tayo magcocommute, d na tayo maglalakad. (ting!)

Fastforward to 3 years after. Never did we imagine that we would once again bump into each other again in a new chapter of our lives. It was fate. We never did think that our one wish would be granted and truly, at almost exact package as we wished.

Wendee has been working in UAE for more than a year and then we met again. She got married and we planned to rent a flat. It took as a lot of obstacles before we had came up to the one that we would really like.

 And this is what I call, the adjustment period. Ang hirap palang magsimula. We were like starting from scratch and now praying that finally makapag settle down na. Then ta-da!!!

This is our new flat!

Oh ha, ala "from rugs to riches" ang drama. Although, I believe that we are not yet rich. Madami pa kaming kayod, sermon, sakit at pagod na kelangang harapin sa pagiging nurse. But somehow, nakakatuwang isipin na from the matchbox house, to a wish, now a reality in living in our own flat. Amazing, right? God is so good. He listen to our prayers when he knows you work for it.

Hindi masama ang mangarap. Sana susunod na ang wheels namin na isa pa naming niwish din. haha..Kaya pag nagpray ka dw, be specific! Pray with details and work for it too.

I remember this night when we were walking, we were choosing from the cars that were parked.
Wendee: ayan nalng kaya? ay masyadong maliit. Gusto ko ng madaming kasya.
Me: Okay, pili na!!! hahaha

These are my new housemates. And this story is a living proof that we should never under estimate our dreams. Dream. Believe. and make it come true!

(like it was Saturday when I wished na sana Wednesday na para off ko na. And tomorrow, it is!) haha ;p

Where Can we find Happiness?

It took me time before I could regain the things that I have been missing. The old me. The-not-so-busy-me who always have a time to write her thoughts every now and then. The old me who rants and rants, but still get manage to get a life, be happy, travel, laugh and cry at petty things. That was when everything was so simple. And it feels like yesterday.

I just could not imagine that I would be waking up one day in a world where everything is a fast track. I wake up each morning like a battery automated robot that is tuned to go to work, get home, do my laundry, cook food, sleep, and then repeat. It's been two months! And it feels like, it's been years!!! Seriously, I am wondering what my life could have been when I am not here. Where could I be when I took a U-turn? left turn or right?

But after all, I did not regret every single decision that I had. Everything was planned according to my fate. And this honestly, is more than enough that I could ask for. So instead of raging on my rants and raves, I just came to some thoughts of realizations after 2 months of living in a brand new world.

I then came thinking..."Where could the happiest place be?" When I was a kid, I believed that Disneyland was the happiest place on earth. Never in my dreams that one day I would be stepping on that place, shouting for joy. True enough, I was the happiest when I have been to that place. It was a magical feeling. Then I began to fall inlove into traveling to different places, knowing different cultures. Just when I thought that my personal definition of happiness is "traveling".

Now that I am living in a foreign country, I just came to realize so many things. Now that I am in a world that's full of richness, I thought.... "Could money really buy happiness?" At first, I was overwhelmed with all the material things that I could not buy before. All the signature bags, clothes, stuffs and all those beautiful places I never thought that I could be. I tried them all. To quench my thirst of curiosity, I asked the people in here, "Are you happy with your life? I mean, with all these richness in the world?" The golden spoon, the most updated techies, luxurious cars, that they could almost buy everything, even their wives. Sad to hear, the answer was "NO".

I then came to know that this is a place where you can find so many unhappy souls despite the riches that they have. A place where love does not exist. When I heard different stories of the women in here, I felt sad. They uttered how stiff their life is, with all the restrictions and all that. When they could not express their feelings. Yes, they have everything, but nothing....

I was then thinking that life is not unfair. It is not! Let's try to imagine the Philippines! What if it will be sooo much rich, then all the people will no longer go abroad to work. Then what will happen to this place? What if this place is so poor and no one will work but them? Would they still survive? I have witnessed how well and intelligent Filipinos are in terms of working. Now, what if there will be no patient enough Filipinos to endure working in other places, what a mess the world could be? So that's what we call- balance.

Money is important, yes! It is given to those who are willing and courageous and deserving enough. But, mind you, it is indeed not everything. It is so sad to hear stories from people who could not be as HAPPY as a Filipino folk!

I don't wanna be a racist here, but as I had traveled to some places, I could still say that the Philippines is still beyond compare. =)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREETING

From Coast to coast, I am sending all my wishes and greetings to my one and only sister,  Hazel May! The voice when I stutter, the person who snaps when I sleep, who turns the tv on when all I wanna do is to listen to music, who makes me run when I am just suppose to walk, who scolds me more than my mom, who treats me like her little sister or I must say beyond how an older sister treats her baby sister, and just get lucky because she has me who understands her more anyone could ever do.  Hey soul sister, I don't wanna miss this single day without greeting you a HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (and ps. thank me for the effort) haha..love you! miss u. take care =)