I'm starting to learn what people mean by not having enough hours in a day. How does one maintain a balanced life?!
I wake up at 6:15 a.m. While eating breakfast, I'm cooking my lunch to bring to work. While it's cooling, I shower and get ready for work. I leave the house at 7:15 a.m. After surviving the madness called Seattle traffic, I get to work at 8 a.m. and start the grind. After all the e-mails, phone calls, and writings, I start my journey home at about 4 p.m.
I get home at 5 p.m. I sit down and try to relax. At about 5:30, sister-in-law calls and asks if I want to go with her somewhere. Fine. After we eat dinner and shop, it's already 9:30 p.m. I get home at 10 p.m., leaving me with no time to do anything else. If I want my eight hours of sleep, my butt has to be in bed by that time.
So where does exercise fit into this picture? When do I read a book? When can I call a friend? When can I update my website?
Hence, my silence for the past three days. On Monday, we ate out for dinner. On Tuesday, we bought my luggage for my upcoming trips. Yesterday, we shopped and ate out again.
Aren't I allowed to do more than one thing after work? Help meeeeee!
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Friday, April 8, 2005
Knowing is Half The Battle
I was out of the office today, thanks to the Crisis Communication Training I had to go to. I know that I'll have to deal with foreign press as part of my job, but today made me realize how big that responsibility is especially when bad things happen.
So after three weeks (that flew by), this is my "Things to Still Learn" list:
So after three weeks (that flew by), this is my "Things to Still Learn" list:
- seafood industry
- international business/exporting
- government
- intercultural communication
- public relations/media
Wednesday, April 6, 2005
Jetsetting without JET
Didn't I declare some months ago that I would have to decide on other things before I found out about my JET application? I swear, I amaze myself sometimes. =)
Well, after all the drama of finding a new career, after all the dust from the job hunting have settled, I finally got my JET letter today: I passed the interview with flying colors. I meant to blog about the interview way back in February when I went through it, but we were specifically told not to talk to anyone about the details. Well, two months later, I can now exercise my free speech.
It was one of the most horrific interviews I've ever had. At least, that's what I thought at the time. I was almost kicking myself by the time I left the consulate. Why? Because Sean was nice enough to write me these long e-mails about what to expect. Did I listen? Of course not.
He told me that they might ask what I would bring to Japan to show what America is like. Did I prepare for that question? No. He also told me that they might ask me to conduct a lesson right there and then. Did I practice at home for such a thing? No. Hence, I wanted to kick myself into oblivion. I was fine with the regular question-and-answer portion. But then, just when I thought the interview was over, they made me look behind me. And there it was: a whiteboard with some markers.
Now, I've tutored little rugrats before when I was in high school and college. Reading? No problem. Math? No problem. I'm also used to speaking in front of classes, complete with very professional-looking PowerPoint presentations. But actually drawing on a whiteboard while talking?! Never!
But I guess, I didn't do so bad afterall. Am I sad that I won't get to do JET? A little bit, but I can always re-apply in the coming years. I went to the interview for that very purpose: to go through the experience in order to be prepared for whenever I decide to pursue JET again. I hope that whoever takes my spot now will be grateful for the opportunity.
Now, where the heck am I going to get a Japanese boyfriend? ;P
Well, after all the drama of finding a new career, after all the dust from the job hunting have settled, I finally got my JET letter today: I passed the interview with flying colors. I meant to blog about the interview way back in February when I went through it, but we were specifically told not to talk to anyone about the details. Well, two months later, I can now exercise my free speech.
It was one of the most horrific interviews I've ever had. At least, that's what I thought at the time. I was almost kicking myself by the time I left the consulate. Why? Because Sean was nice enough to write me these long e-mails about what to expect. Did I listen? Of course not.
He told me that they might ask what I would bring to Japan to show what America is like. Did I prepare for that question? No. He also told me that they might ask me to conduct a lesson right there and then. Did I practice at home for such a thing? No. Hence, I wanted to kick myself into oblivion. I was fine with the regular question-and-answer portion. But then, just when I thought the interview was over, they made me look behind me. And there it was: a whiteboard with some markers.
Now, I've tutored little rugrats before when I was in high school and college. Reading? No problem. Math? No problem. I'm also used to speaking in front of classes, complete with very professional-looking PowerPoint presentations. But actually drawing on a whiteboard while talking?! Never!
But I guess, I didn't do so bad afterall. Am I sad that I won't get to do JET? A little bit, but I can always re-apply in the coming years. I went to the interview for that very purpose: to go through the experience in order to be prepared for whenever I decide to pursue JET again. I hope that whoever takes my spot now will be grateful for the opportunity.
Now, where the heck am I going to get a Japanese boyfriend? ;P
Tuesday, April 5, 2005
Sunday, April 3, 2005
Goodbye, Job #2
Today was my last day at Job #2. It's been four years (six, if you count my volunteer days during high school) of working in a hospital, one and half years of working on the weekends, and one year of working seven days a week. It's not like I want to leave, so it's a bit sad that I have to.
In a nutshell, the place was kind to me. Working at a hospital has helped me see my life in a different light through the years. When you meet people on a weekly basis who have dying/ill loved ones, somehow one's flat hair or wide hips doesn't matter anymore. Personal problems? Compared to what these people are facing, they can't be that bad. Yes, as hard as it is for me to admit it, Calculus wasn't really that bad!
I also had great bosses. I have realized just in the last year that having immediate supervisors who are fair, compassionate, and great leaders is really something to be thankful for. These "mothers" have seen me grow up and just like my own mother, I'm having a hard time cutting that umbilical cord! (Ever had a boss who, instead of saying hi to you like normal people, played with your hair to convince you that you should spend half an hour in the morning styling your hair? Or, who would rather have you wear tighter fitting clothes in order to improve your lovelife? Like I said, I don't call them mothers for nothing!)
And yes, it was easy money. Those who have kept me company through AIM on the weekends know that I got paid to chat and surf the internet (except for eBay because it's blocked). I will miss those times when people in Manila stay up late to keep me company. HeHe!
But yes, bittersweet moments are such because they have a bitter side. In Oprah's April issue, she writes, "The ultimate in being healthy is to operate at full throttle-physically, emotionally, spiritually." I've lost interest in the things that I used to like because I had no time for them anymore. When you're tired, it's very easy not to care anymore.
There are also more fulfilling things to do in this world than sit on your butt for eight hours on the weekends waiting for time to pass by. Learning something new would be nice rather than continously doing mundane things. Money has limitations; time is priceless. My spiritual side has been jumpstarted. Hopefully, my physical and emotional side will get better now that I have free weekends (when I'm not flying to other places).
The time has come to erase the terms "Job #1" and "Job #2" from our vocabulary. I'm free! And as a parting gift, my bosses got me a Swiss Army watch to wish me luck in my new career. I told you guys they loved me! =)
In a nutshell, the place was kind to me. Working at a hospital has helped me see my life in a different light through the years. When you meet people on a weekly basis who have dying/ill loved ones, somehow one's flat hair or wide hips doesn't matter anymore. Personal problems? Compared to what these people are facing, they can't be that bad. Yes, as hard as it is for me to admit it, Calculus wasn't really that bad!
I also had great bosses. I have realized just in the last year that having immediate supervisors who are fair, compassionate, and great leaders is really something to be thankful for. These "mothers" have seen me grow up and just like my own mother, I'm having a hard time cutting that umbilical cord! (Ever had a boss who, instead of saying hi to you like normal people, played with your hair to convince you that you should spend half an hour in the morning styling your hair? Or, who would rather have you wear tighter fitting clothes in order to improve your lovelife? Like I said, I don't call them mothers for nothing!)
And yes, it was easy money. Those who have kept me company through AIM on the weekends know that I got paid to chat and surf the internet (except for eBay because it's blocked). I will miss those times when people in Manila stay up late to keep me company. HeHe!
But yes, bittersweet moments are such because they have a bitter side. In Oprah's April issue, she writes, "The ultimate in being healthy is to operate at full throttle-physically, emotionally, spiritually." I've lost interest in the things that I used to like because I had no time for them anymore. When you're tired, it's very easy not to care anymore.
There are also more fulfilling things to do in this world than sit on your butt for eight hours on the weekends waiting for time to pass by. Learning something new would be nice rather than continously doing mundane things. Money has limitations; time is priceless. My spiritual side has been jumpstarted. Hopefully, my physical and emotional side will get better now that I have free weekends (when I'm not flying to other places).
The time has come to erase the terms "Job #1" and "Job #2" from our vocabulary. I'm free! And as a parting gift, my bosses got me a Swiss Army watch to wish me luck in my new career. I told you guys they loved me! =)
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