Huwag Maging Dayuhan Sa Sariling Bansa

My Lakbayan grade is C!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

I have a few "issues" with this test, but the biggest one of them all is that I got a C on it (Blasphemy! I've never gotten a C on a test in my whole entire life! HaHa!)...and if I got a C on it, then what's the average score for most Filipinos who live in the Philippines?! My cousins always looked at me funny whenever I told them my Wow Philippines adventures in the last two years because they had no clue where those places are on a map.

Since I have reached the northernmost part of mainland Luzon and the southernmost part of mainland Mindanao already, I only have a few places left that I want to go to someday: Palawan, Batanes, Sagada/Batad, and Legaspi. Oh travel buddies, I'll need you all then.

The Agony of Defeat

It used to be so easy: you grab an application, fill it out, turn it in, and get hired on the spot. No heartbreaks, only instant gratification.

These days, you go through "phases" all drawn out to select the "best" candidate. You turn in a resume with a cover letter, go to numerous interviews, take an aptitude test, and maybe, just maybe, they will pick you because you did your best and you want the job bad, really bad.

I didn't get the job. The job that I had been salivating over since the end of May. The job that made me study Excel for two days just to make sure I remember how to do everything on a spreadsheet (I still don't get Pivot Tables). The job that would've allowed me to get a graphic design certificate for pennies. *SIGH.

Well, one of the things I learned how to do in the last two years is to live by the motto, "If it's not meant to be, it's not meant to be." The hiring manager also told me that it was a hard decision and it was so close that you could just flip a coin. I knew I did well on every single aspect and there were no regrets on my part. I take comfort in all of those, but it just stings a little since I had my heart set on this job.

Chin up, dear self, and move on. Go, fight, win on the next one.

(Is it just me or my career life is suddenly mirroring my love life? This is soooo not good. HaHa!)

Preying

Do you know what I would do if I were a single, tall, good-looking, funny, heterosexual, Asian male who can write well? Well, I'll tell you: I would put up a blog.

Seriously. I could just imagine how many hits (and stalkers) his website would get. Imagine if he watched Korean dramas, too! Imagine that. Oh wait, nay on the last part because he might be g@y if he was really into those. HaHa!

This useless post is brought to you by my dire need of a real-life crush. Hmm, if I looked like KimRaeWon, LeeDongWook, and LeeJiHoon, where would I hang out in Seattle? Think, Mina, think!

Clutter Buster

I have so much crap.

I've never been the typical girl who had lots of shoes, clothes, and bags, so I've had this mentality that I'm "simple," but reality hit me when I unpacked all my stuff from Manila and I couldn't shove them in my closet/drawers because there was no room for them. How the heck did I get so many bags?! How the heck did I get so many mugs...oh wait, I bought those. HaHa!

So yesterday, I told myself that I'm not buying any more new stuff until the end of the year. No new bags (except for a black one that I need so I can wear my black suit again to interviews), clothes, or shoes. Oh, and absolutely no more books. I will kick anyone who decides to give me a book on my birthday...unless you get me a bookcase first. ;P

I kind of wish there's a way for me to send all of my stuff to the Philippines for free. I know my cousins would die to have all the novels that I have that are all collecting dust as I speak; the WV kids could use the Beanie Babies that I want to get rid of; and well, I don't know who would want my *NSYNC stuff. HaHa!

Wish me luck that I can get my room in order before I land a job; otherwise, these dust bunnies are going to procreate like there's no tomorrow. ;P

Money-Making in Manila

Well, this is going to be harder than I thought: parting ways with my "officemates" in Manila.

I spent some 3 hours today chatting with them over Skype. As soon as I signed on, dinumog na ako. It's nice to have fans, I tell you. ;P It's even nicer to know that they all miss me. But then again, how can you not miss the loudest girl in the office? HaHa! John from India was also online, too, so my Asia team was complete over Skype.

I'm actually worried about going back to working in the U.S. again, knowing that I won't have a family atmosphere at the workplace anymore. I don't even remember what it's like to eat lunch alone anymore. But as Ate Jen reminded me, "Your American instincts will resurface again. Don't worry." HaHa!

I miss the morning daily devotions. I miss everyone's personal problems (good stuff! haha!). I miss the turons for merienda. I miss fastfood lunches with Lilian and Super Bowl dinners when we're stressed. I miss the Starbucks City Mug pasalubongs from faraway places (Lebanon, ooooh!). But like I told Bestfriend B, I don't miss my "poor life" in Manila. HaHa!

The next time I work in Manila, it's going to be on expat salary, dammit. ;P