The hectic schedule and the lack of drive to write about anything had been the reasons why I couldn't update this blog anymore. But this time, I'm going to raise it from the grave and do my annual thing. That is to present to you the PEOPLE OF MY YEAR 2013! :)
Honestly, 2013 has been not so good to me. I lost few valuable things. I have been scammed, twice. (Damn! I hate that word! Please never ask me about them anymore.) I have gone through certain riffs between me and my family. I have lost confidence. I graduated in college but I felt no satisfaction at all. And most of all, I was hospitalized the second time! And it hurt more because I bore the expenses! Ouch!
Okay. Stop the dramas. Let's go to the brighter side of my year. Well, yes, I graduated. I may not be satisfied but at least I got out of school! Yey!
I had been jobless, you know. I spent one month of sending resumes and cover letters to offices and attending interviews and exams here in GenSan and in Davao and good news! None of them called again! So I figured out another way to earn while I'm at home. I looked for online jobs again. And I got lucky to have 3 jobs at the same time without having to sacrifice my weekends! I'd been an online teacher for both Koreans and Japanese students and a real estate virtual assistant for a New York real estate agent. Sounds so international! Haha! After two months, I finally got a real office job in the LOVELAND!
Alright, I will cut my 2013 adventure so we can proceed to the real subject. Guys and girls, THE PEOPLE OF MY YEAR 2013 are....tentenenen!
* Ate/Teacher Nory Lat
"Gusto kitang tulungan..." - the unforgettable phrase I heard from her after finding out that I don't have enough experience. I was really impressed and touched because even though it was our first time to speak and the fact that her boss could be mad at her for allowing an inexperience person like me to proceed to a demo class, she still took the risk for me. She didn't scare me. She even took the time to give some advice on how to impress Jay (the son of her boss) despite her busy schedule that time.
Not only do I admire Ate Nory for being a good teacher but also for being a strong person for her family. I don't know if I'm allowed to share some of her personal stories but all I know is that she's a loving mom and wife. She's not like other wives out there who just sit back and relax while their husbands are away working their asses off. She looked for ways to help while still having time for her son. And that's something that any person would admire.
Ate Nory has been my guide to the online teaching world. We sometimes exchange thoughts and share our experiences. Funny how our minds connive whenever we complain about our students. haha! THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF MY YEAR ATE NORY!
* KOREAN STUDENTS
Do you know that fulfilling moment when you're students improve their English each day? That feeling when you can smash the barrier of communication between you and them? That feeling when you and your student get along... and the feeling when your student becomes comfortable sharing his/her thoughts without minding his/her difficulty in English?
I always believed that TEACHING IS THE NOBLEST JOB in the world. And it's a challenging role! PATIENCE is a very important ingredient. And I doubted myself for that. I even swore I will never become a teacher! But the world turns to 180 degrees. It was April when I became a teacher. From that experience, I finally realized how good it is to share your knowledge and to help others improve. I didn't have enough experience in teaching. I even get errors myself. But I thank God for giving me such opportunity to meet these people. I learned to love Koreans. I understand why some of them are bored of learning English but I am very honored to become one of the instruments for them to be English proficient individuals.
In just a short span of time, I learned to love them and to relate to them. South Koreans are really nice people. Thank you kids for making my 2013 unforgettable.
* Toru Kusanagi
"Herro! This is To-ru" - his cute line every time he answers my call. Toru told me that he left for USA after getting his retirement pay to learn English. He spent almost P 2Million for a few weeks class.
So if you are looking for a LOYAL, COOPERATIVE AND ENTHUSIASTIC English student, then Toru is the person to call. I get excited and glad whenever I see him on the list of my Japanese students for the night. Even if it's out of the context of the lesson, he always makes sure that he prepares a topic for the free talking. He shares about Japan, he researches about anything that I share about Philippines and share his research in the next class. He's a very happy man. The way he values education even at his age is another thing that I look up to him. It's not only me who shared my knowledge and ideas but I also got the chance to learn from him and his life experiences. His PASSION to learn has driven me to continue my evening class at that school.
And now that I don't teach anymore for 4 months, I realize how I miss talking to him and to my other students.
* Ate Birdie (Sheryl Pedroso)
Still on my list is this crazy, intelligent and carefree woman who I consider my big sister! We only see each other once or twice whenever she comes home from Manila. Buttttt! Even if that's the case, Ate Birdie always sees to it that our communication is present. Thanks to Facebook and sometimes Viber!
Ate Birdie is a bold person. What I mean with BOLD is that, she's not afraid to try anything. She is not afraid to share her experiences. Her stories always make sense to me even if her stories are out of what I can imagine! Haha!
But despite her bold personality, she remains to be an ATE to me. She never encouraged me to do the crazy things she did. She even tells me that she doesn't like to see me doing the things that she did either. Awwww!!! Sooooo sweeet!
Ate Birdie and I love coffee or tea. For the whole duration of our date, she does the 70% talking and I do the "Really?" "Wow!" "Asssss in?!" " Hahahaha!" "Waaaah!" "OhMy!" ... I'm just thankful she still doesn't find me a boring person, does she?
On a serious note, this woman is someone that I admire for her intelligence. I love that she cares for me and for the other writers of the VOICE PUBLICATION. I love her principles. I love that she's outspoken. I love it when she grins at everyone. I love her for being an Ate to me. :')
This year ulit Ate! :)
* Charles (CHUCK) Stanfield
Chuck is the best and true friend that I got from the other side of the world! :)When I was in college, I went to Odesk.com to post my profile and resume there for the employers to see. It was around the 4th week of January 2012 when a guy named Charles Stanfield sent me an invitation for an interview. He introduced me to the job and even gave me $3 milestone payment right before I could start my first article to assure me that I will be paid.
That time, I don't have unlimited access to the internet. I have to register to a one-day unli internet subscription so I can continue work online. When I told him that, he immediately gave $10 on top of the $3 rate per 300-word article. HE was very considerate about my schedule as a college student and had shown appreciation on my works. When our contract ended, he'd given me $180 in total! 70 bucks of that was a bonus that I never asked for! I was so happy back then. I didn't expect it! I am mentioning all these figures not because I am boasting but because I want the world to know how generous this man is.
When our business was over, Chuck suddenly disappeared. I emailed him both on odesk and gmail but no response. I messaged him on Skype and still got no response. In my desperation to find him, I googled his name and even looked at the obituary sections online! Haha! Sorry Chuck. And then one day, I saw a post of his friend on his facebook stating that they miss him. That's the time when I stopped looking for him and concluded that he's dead.
20 months after our last conversation, I saw Chuck's post on FB. And I got really excited to contact him! So just this November, we were able to keep in touch. We had been good friends since then.
I include Chuck on the list because for the 2 months of talking to him, I've learned a lot about life. He is not there to be my boss anymore but to be a true friend who loves me from the other side of the world. He's loving, genuine and honest.
He's coming on July! I hope that will still push through so I can introduce him to my friends and to the Philippines. Thank you for everything Chuck! :)
* MEOWRKS
It's been 10 months since we graduated. I, Dana, Vergie and Jane are already experiencing the tiresome reality of being career women. While Kaye and Gladz are also on a struggle facing debits and credits. Though we now have our separate lives outside the university, I thank God because He had given me such girls with different characters from each other. Girls that provide me comfort in their own unique ways. Girls that make me smile. Girls that share with me every moment of happiness when we're together. Girls that are still crazy even if others say we should act like professionals. Girls that lead me to the GRAY world. Gray because I believe they're not the cleanest and most righteous people and neither the dirtiest and meanest ones. They're neither white nor black. They're in between. That's why I love to be around them.
I've only been with them for 2 years now but the friendship they offer is as warm as they give since this group started. I thank... (according to age)
JANE, for being so cruel. Haha! Just kidding! For being there even if sometimes it's not so obvious that she cares.
KAYE, for being present at times that we get together. I know she's busy with a lot of stuff, and with SOMEONE... but still, she comes around.
VERGIE, for sharing her thoughts... For being straightforward and for the efforts even if her work demands 150% of her time. haha!
DANA, for remaining to be sweet even if she's hundred miles away... For not forgetting her loyal friends here in GenSan even if she's back in the arms of her old friends in Samar.
GLADZ, for being a listener and a companion... for being the best friend and OLDER SISTER that I was always longing for... For being strong despite the tests she's going through.
* MY BOYFRIENDS / BEST BOY TRUE FRIENDS
The last but not the least on the list are my boyfriends! Some say, when you go to college, there's a high chance of losing that closeness with your high school friends. But I guess that cliche just deosn't apply to us.
KARLO - He's been my best boy friend since 3rd grade. We go to canteen together. We go home together. We laugh at our teachers together. We are both clever and naughty kids back then. Actually until now. He's a talker and I am a listener (as always). When he found out that someone has been mean to me back in college, he befriended her on facebook and suddenly just hit the REPORT button! His simple yet funny ways of comforting me are simply the best. The last time we spoke face-to-face was six months ago. I wish I had been not so snobbish when he came home. I WILL SEE YOU SOON GOLIATH!
VERWIN - My boyfriend since 2nd grade. Haha! Well, if you happen to read my previous years' post, I stated there that he was a fat kid. Anyhow, he's been one of the people that I trust. He's one of those who will give time to visit you at the hospital. He's one of those who'll try his best to wake up 6am for a jog even though the original plan is 4am. Haha! Between Karlo and Verwin, the latter has the least info about what happened to me during my college years. I wanna share him such things but every time I attempt to, I end up thinking that he might not be interested or he could not relate to it. But I know that if ever I had shared those things before, he will understand.
REGI - My boyfriend since we were freshmen - highschool years. I remember those times when I get so irritated of him for being arrogant and mean to some of our classmates! It was only during our Junior years that he became the funniest yet a smart guy in the class. When he cracks jokes, everyone laughs. His face alone makes us laugh until now. Haha! I only get to realize how close we've been when I tell my teachers to put his name under the group that I would lead. His versatility and sweetness became the way for us to connect as good friends. Regardless of his not-so-serious personality, he has this side of being a good listener and a confidante. He was one of those true friends who comforted and had given me the right advice that I need. Even if he doesn't know the situation completely, I felt the support from him as a friend. Oh EM! I'm overly dramatic! But really, REGI is a good guy. His girlfriend is blessed to have him. And I am happy that finally, someone is making his heart happy as well. See you on your graduation Poopie! :)
So finally, I'm almost done with my speech! 2013 has not been so good to me but everything has been worth while because of these people who shared the year with me. GOD always has a purpose. He has given some trials but has drawn me closer to these beautiful individuals. I am looking forward for more years with these people! Until next next next years guys! I LOVE YOU! ^_^
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