Unang Hirit

6:30 a.m. - Woke up
7:35 a.m. - Left the house/rode the jeep
7:45 a.m. - Arrived FX Terminal
8:05 a.m. - Left FX Terminal
9:05 a.m. - Arrived Meralco Ave./Hauled ass to J.Vargas Ave.
9:15 a.m. - Arrived office, sweaty and late

First realization: I'm not in Seattle: I don't have a car to just pull out of the driveway and drive to work in; I can't predict what time I'll get to a given place; Manila's weather ain't for walking (I swear, I can't understand that concept. HaHa!).

9:45 a.m. - I got introduced as a Fil-Am. Ugh! I hate the title. I just want to be known as a regular Filipino. Though, according to the Bureau of Immigration I'm a foreign national slash alien in the Philippines.

While I got introduced as such, my male co-workers (Note to self: the Manila term is "officemates") introduced themselves using their name and civil status as adviced by a female co-worker...and so they did!

Second realization: I think my "pagkasawi" is so strong now that people can detect it a million miles away. HaHa!

10:00 a.m. - Start of orientation, ie. workload begins now.

Third realization: Office workers are spoiled in the States. I can't remember a job wherein I couldn't just go to a cupboard and grab pens, highlighters, paper, paperclips, and everything I needed in order to work productively in an office. At my new office, I was using my own pen and felt demanding when I had to ask for a pad of paper to take notes in. I miss office supply rooms!

Fourth realization: Hello Dilbert Life! I've never had a cubicle ever. Partitions galore, oh my! LoL. Though, at the office, they're blue (my favorite color!) and clean.

12:00 p.m. - Lunch at the seventh floor cafeteria

Fifth realization: I would rather brave the heat and walk to Jollibee any day. HaHa!

1:00 p.m. - E-mail and Lotus Notes are still not set-up yet

Sixth realization: I miss Mike and his murse (man purse) over at the City of T, Lisa!

2:00 p.m. - Roy complains that I'm quiet

Seventh realization: Man, I *am* quiet at work! Do my friends know this?! LoL.

3:00 p.m. - Ramil suggests for me to take a break.

Eight realization: I love the Philippines! I love how co-workers care about eachother...regarding eating. HaHa! No, seriously, this was something I found out and cherished when I interned in the Philippines in 2002.

4:00 p.m. - I called Department of Labor and Employment

Ninth realization: Just when I thought I was over the hurdles, here I go again. I need my certification letter, guys! If the Bureau of Immigration did their thang to make me happy, can I expect you to do the same soon? My sanity is now in your hands.

5:00 p.m. - "Jun, where's the FX terminal to San Mateo?"

Tenth realization: This is where it has been all this time?! I could've saved so many gallons of sweat at the MRT station last year had I known about this! God is good.

6:00 p.m. - Rode FX back to San Mateo

7:00 p.m. - Bought a pizza to bring home to Manang Luz and Manang Tess...they didn't eat a single bite, though. They suggested that I eat the rest for breakfast instead. *Sniff. But I wanted to celebrate!