Simple Pleasures

In 3 days, I will be officially an OFW. 

Due to my uber speedy processing of my work permit/employment pass in Singapore, I was compelled to pay and rebook my ticket back to Manila from Sunday Midnight to Wednesday midnight. 

Even my friends here were suprised to know that the in-principle approval letter and medical exam appointment was processed 3 days after my company passed it to Ministry of Manpower (MOM).  Now I have to wait for the results on Monday and go to MOM to file for my Employment Pass card.  Once I get it, I still have to go to the Philippine Embassy to process my medicard and Overseas Exit Certificate. 

I haven't told my boss yet about my pending absence this Monday.  In case some of you chanced upon being asked about my whereabouts, tell him I was out sick.  Hehehehe!

Celebrated by monicai at 1:18 PM ~

In 3 days, I will be officially an OFW. 

Due to my uber speedy processing of my work permit/employment pass in Singapore, I was compelled to pay and rebook my ticket back to Manila from Sunday Midnight to Wednesday midnight. 

Even my friends here were suprised to know that the in-principle approval letter and medical exam appointment was processed 3 days after my company passed it to Ministry of Manpower (MOM).  Now I have to wait for the results on Monday and go to MOM to file for my Employment Pass card.  Once I get it, I still have to go to the Philippine Embassy to process my medicard and Overseas Exit Certificate. 

I haven't told my boss yet about my pending absence this Monday.  In case some of you chanced upon being asked about my whereabouts, tell him I was out sick.  Hehehehe!

Celebrated by monicai at 1:18 PM ~

Got tagged by Krysty, so here goes...

Each player of this game starts off by making a weblog post, listing ten(10) weird things/habits or little known facts about himself/herself, then tagging six (6) other bloggers to do the same. No tagbacks.

1. I have an attention span of a 5 year old.  Ask my closest friends. 

2. I'm obsessed with making lists.  I make list and attach them in my planners and almost everywhere because I want to constantly remind myself of things that I'm supposed to do.

3. I easily forget stuff.  Talk to me about something and ask my again later after 30 minutes.  Probably because of my short attention span that I never really paid to much attention.

4. I crack my fingers when I'm immersed into something.  *crack crack*

5. I intentionally act stupid or naive most of the time but you have no idea what's going on in my head.

6. I like twisting my back with the chair.  Feels good everytime I do that.

7. Chocolates and coffee makes me hyperactive and trust me, you don't want to see me when I'm hyperactive.

8. I exaggerate a lot.

9. I'm obsessed seeing how many hits I have in my blog and friendster by checking the visitor counter/"who viewed me" count everyday.  Multiply's visitor counter sucks though.

10. I read 3-5 books at the same time.  When I get bored with one book, I open another then shift back and forth.  Good thing I get to finish some of them though.

Celebrated by monicai at 6:02 PM ~

I have finally accepted the offer with a company here in Singapore.  I'll be starting on April 2 as an IT Consultant.  I'm now waiting for my employment pass before I can officially start to work here.

I'm so excited to start with my new life here in Singapore.  My friend and I are talking about plans of moving in together in a two bedroom apartment.  I am starting to think about my daily route, the people I'm going to meet, the work that I'm going to do and the lifestyle I'm going to live.  Speaking of lifestyle, I've seen the biggest National Library near Bugis Street and I couldn't believe my eyes how much books they have in all 8 floors that I fell in love with the place.  I see myself stuck in there on weekends immersing myself with their wide collection of sci-fi/fantasy fiction and technical books.

The feeling of leaving my team, my friends, my family behind hasn't sinked in yet.  Perhaps when I go back in Manila next week, I might cry a bucket full of tears.  But like I said, there is no such thing as goodbyes. 

Celebrated by monicai at 9:51 AM ~

I was hanging out with my long time friend Ros in her apartment in Bedok yesterday.  While we were watching Wedding Crashers in her laptop machine, sipping white merlot and talking about the old times, I realized that I have tried almost everything and anything in my past 28 years of my life.  Once, I've been cheerleader when I was first year high school.  I tried playing basketball twice in high school intra-murals.  I've tried cutting flag ceremonies under the glaring sun by staying in the library during my senior year.  I've done almost every sport but only lasted for a few sessions.

I wasn't hooked with anything.  I will try doing one thing then lose my interest then move on.  I don't have a consistent habit that will last me until my hair has gone gray and teeth already fallen out.  Heck!  I may not be even blogging by then.  An ex-boyfriend once said that he believes that everything he does is a phase.  He once went into gym, tennis, martial arts.  He said he would just be stuck in the habit then grow out of it, like it was just a phase for him.

What I don't understand is that there is no permanency in everything we do.  I feel that in all the things we do is just temporary.  Another friend of mine told me once when she was explaining why its fun to move out and find new flatmates in Singapore.  She said that after certain number of years, there is a certain point of saturation when people grow tired of the things they used to do.  We tend to look for something new that will excite us, like moving your stuff to a new room or rearranging them all over again. 

It's complicated to fathom how people change their minds about everything.  Maybe that's why we tend to make our lives more hard yet colorful. 

Celebrated by monicai at 9:32 AM ~

I was walking home half past 3 in the morning after an impulsive window shopping spree in Mustafa at Farrer Park when an middle-aged Indian guy, inside a moving vehicle, slowly drove on the other side of the street and asking me to come with him.

At first, I ignored him. Maybe he was too drunk to notice I'm no prostitute.

Then he drove past, made a U-turn, went back and stopped beside me. 

Indian guy in the car:  "Come come."

Me:  "No thank you"

Indian guy in the car: "Can I give you lift?"

Me: "No thanks.  I live nearby."

Indian guy in the car: "Can we go some place else and have coffee?"

Me:  "No thank you.  Someone is expecting me home"  *flashed my ring to show I'm married kuno*  "I'm married"

At times like these, it is convenient to wear a ring that looks like a wedding band.

Celebrated by monicai at 1:23 PM ~

If there is one thing I learned in Singapore, it is that alcohol is bloody expensive.

I was in Barfly last night with my cousin and a good friend when I decided to treat them out for drinks.  When I saw the menu, I couldn't believe my eyes.

For a Carlsberg Draft, you get SGD8.50.  In Philippine peso, that would be 250++ pesos, which is enough to buy you a case of San Miguel Pale Pilsen back home.  The math itself keeps the buzz away. 

And the beer sucks here.  Carlsberg Draft is like a watered down version of the Czech beer I had in Tavern.  It's like I drank soda in a Sprite bottle.  Well, I have yet to try the Guinness before I get back to Manila.

So, if you are on a tight budget and you intend to go barhopping in Clark Quay, I wouldn't advice you doing mental mathematical calculations for converting forex rates from SGD to PHP.  It removes the fun especially when you intend to go crazy in Singapore.

Celebrated by monicai at 12:07 PM ~

Ang hirap sumulat ng resignation letter.  Nanlalamig kamay ko habang nagty-type ako sa PC ng barkada ko dito sa Singapore.  Naiisip ko na kung ano irereact ng bossing ko pagnalaman niya at alam kong hahagilapin niya ako kahit kasalukuyang naka-leave ako.

Naiisip ko din ang mga taong iiwan ko.  Mga maliligayang sandali sa opisina.  Mga parties at mga inuman sessions na pinagtipunan.  Mga drama sessions.  Bull sessions.  Mga kulitang walang humpay at pagkakaibigan na tunay.

Nag-aalala din ako sa trabahong iiwan ko.  Though its not much, alam ko namang kayang kaya nila eh.  Wala na nga akong ginagawa sa opisina kundi mangulit, mangharass, mambola at maglaro ng sudoku at DotA.

I know I am sacrificing a comfortable life here but my career growth is at stake.  My work is done.  It is time to move.

Celebrated by monicai at 9:09 AM ~

Ang hirap sumulat ng resignation letter.  Nanlalamig kamay ko habang nagty-type ako sa PC ng barkada ko dito sa Singapore.  Naiisip ko na kung ano irereact ng bossing ko pagnalaman niya at alam kong hahagilapin niya ako kahit kasalukuyang naka-leave ako.

Naiisip ko din ang mga taong iiwan ko.  Mga maliligayang sandali sa opisina.  Mga parties at mga inuman sessions na pinagtipunan.  Mga drama sessions.  Bull sessions.  Mga kulitang walang humpay at pagkakaibigan na tunay.

Nag-aalala din ako sa trabahong iiwan ko.  Though its not much, alam ko namang kayang kaya nila eh.  Wala na nga akong ginagawa sa opisina kundi mangulit, mangharass, mambola at maglaro ng sudoku at DotA.

I know I am sacrificing a comfortable life here but my career growth is at stake.  My work is done.  It is time to move.

Celebrated by monicai at 9:09 AM ~

I am torn between two ideals.  One provides a vision so great that I want to be part of it.  The other one offers the dream that I have been longing to taste it. 

With the other one, I know I will learn a lot especially from people who promotes learning and develop Pinoy talent.  Its partners are great people you can look up to.  I forgot the names but man, partners doing code reviews is something.  I am willing to take the pay-cut as long as I grow into a better IT practitioner.  And with the kind of culture that I see, it is something that I will be very comfortable with: pure flow of ideas, open-mindedness and insatiable hunger for higher learning.  I see this as a good career move if I intent to stay in Manila.  Plus, Migs is there.  I been wanting to learn from him and pick this guy's brains.

On the other hand, I'm attracted to the idea of living in a different country and embrace the culture that is different from my own.  I want to work in a place that is entirely different from my work life in Manila and see how far I can go to test my limits.  I was told that living and dealing business in Singapore is very different.  And with that, I am curious.  And with the money I will make, it is enough to support my family and hopefully save up for my Dad's treatment when the need arises.

Both choices offers the life that I want to live.  And despite of weighing its cons, I am still having a hard time choosing.  I wish the answer becomes clear this Friday and I'm praying that God won't make it hard for me to decide.

Celebrated by monicai at 8:02 PM ~