twilight ala spring awakening

this was the song that i was playing in my head while i was reading the meadow scene of twilight.
FITs to a T? doesnt it?!

Song: The Word of your Body
Play: Spring Awakening
Set: Sung by Melchior and Wendla in a forest clearing (meadow but much). First encounter. ahihihihi.

Make up 101 with Kathy Vu

so, um, i was video chatting with Kathy Vu. and well, she's teaching me how to put make up on my face. I was alone at work. hehe. I seriously don't know how to properly put make up of my face! any Make-up tips are welcome! hehe. thanks!

Music by Katy Perry.

Video Edited on iMovie.

1 week vacation starts

Start:	Nov 28, '08 04:00a
End:	Dec 5, '08

yey! i'll be in the philippines for 1 whole week! can't wait!!!!!!

see ya'll!!!!!!!!

Driver's License Exam

Start:	Nov 9, '08 07:30a
Location:	Jumeirah, Dubai Driving Center

UPDATES -- I EFFING FAILED!
yup. i failed. damn. well, tomorrows another day. I'll try again.
damn. what a great way to ruin a day.

Not that anyone cares, but I’m going to have my driver’s license exam today. When I say today, I mean, of course Nov. 9, 2008. It’s my first attempt at a proper road test exam. Because I remember taking this exam on LTO in northEDSA, my uncle brought my car and I just drove it around the compound, and that’s it! It’s not going to be easy this time though, aside from the dough that I had to shed out for the lessons, I hear that passing the road test is quite difficult! Even if you think you’re a super expert driver, people take this exam several times. What’s worse is that every time you fail, you’ll have to take 7 additional classes before taking the next exam!! Grrr!

So, I know the chances are slim, but I really really want to pass this thing on the first take. I hope I do. Here goes!

My UPCAT story

My UPCAT story’s a very simple one.  It first started when i had a crush on a guy, a guy named James. He was my busmate and he’s a volunteer sacristan in our church. He’s very nice, fair skinned, well tanned. He’s also tall and plays basketball. He lived very near our place and i always notice him, sitting beside the door of the bus. He’s very good at drawing, while wait he’d draw marvel characters and such. Oh and he’s got a very deep voice too.  I was the president of the World of Art Club then, and he was also one of the members.

James has been my crush for a long time. I even wanted to cut my swimming class just so I could watch him perform on a play! Oh gosh! He was older than me by 1 level and then I found out that he passed the UPCAT. I didn’t know UPCAT then, I just knew he passed the UP entrance exam and was going to go study there.

When I entered my senior year, that was my goal, pass the UPCAT. Well, it was my goal on the summer too. But it was intensified when I started studying again. It’s the only buzz people was talking about, “have you filled up your form?” “what’s your first choice?” “what campus are you going to choose?” “don’t put a quota-quota combination.. do a quoata-non-quota mix up just in case you didn’t qualify for your first choice.”

It was the most important thing, at least that was, in my opinion. I remember losing my first cellphone because of it. Gwen and I were busy looking at the UP course list, making comments on what was a quota course, and what other weird courses UP has come up with. I was leaning in on Gwen in the jeepney too engrossed in our conversation that I didn’t even notice that the guy on my right slashed opened my bag and took my cellphone! I lost my cellphone and a decent bag that day.

Our school arranged our papers for us, so we didn’t have to go to Diliman to do everything. All we had to do was pass the requirements to the guidance councillor. After a few days of waiting you’d get your schedule and all the reminders about taking the exam. Bring two pens, eraser. All that shiz. So the day came when i had to take the exam. Was i ready? May be, who knows. I was studying everybit as hard as anyone, im sure. I was going to take the exam in the morning at the Palma Hall, which in my uni years i would eventually call AS. I remember, Gwen even took the exam at the math building, my mom bought KFC for me, for my lunch.

I went down our van and saw the queue of students outside the building. I saw Len Camit and JB waived at them and went behind them. Jb and I weren’t friends back then, mere acquaintances. I remember jb saying, “i really don’t care for this exam, what really matters to me is the ACET.” Jb went on and passed the ACET and studied in ateneo.

Anyway, we entered our designated rooms. They allowed you to eat food during the exams as there were no breaks. So there were tons of food underneath my armchair. I could still recall my seatmate, whose chair  was filled with chips and chocolates. During the line, we were even talking about what kind of food people would bring. “pano kaya kung magdala ka ng bagoong?” Then the proctor came in, now i don’t remember if it was a boy or girl. Really bad memory.

I took the test. I came out not feeling confident at all. Everyone found it easy, but I didn’t. It was deflating and i told my mom not to keep her hopes up.

You take the UPCAT at August, and the results come on only after February. It was a very long wait. But, like anything else, you’ll forget about it. You won’t feel agitated about it anymore. Next bout was the ACET, then the DLSU exam and lastly the UST exam.  So many things will happen. Senior year, we had CAT. I joined the model company to compete with other schools for dumbass rifle drills. We sucked and lost. Haha. I procrastinated during the exam months on my modules, so now I was trying to catch up. It was easy to catch up anyhow, all you have to do is study on the important subjects and copy exams on the lame ones.  We had tons of extracurricular too. First was that song and dance interpretation of a religious original song. We had to practice during and after class hours. It was an inter-class competition. We came in 2nd place! Then we had this Song-lyrics recited. It was a play but the words should be lyrics of songs. Gwen and I wrote it, and I directed the play. We came in 3rd place! Yey! So really no time for studying. We even had to go to school every Saturday for the stupid NSAT review.

Then during December came in the retreat and the bivouac. Retreat, for me was super fun, like afterwards you feel like you can die and you’re surely going to heaven. But it didn’t start out like that of course. Junnis and I were always late when it came to the group activities.

Then there was the bivouac! I miss the Charlie Company and Leslie! In CAT, you always had to have a buddy with you. Unfortunately, Leslie my closest friend in the Charlie Company was NOT my buddy. So what we did, we made a 4-woman buddy system. We dragged along our assigned buddies wherever so that we can still hang out! Hehe. Leslie was super fun to be with when it was time for CAT. She sang the Three blind mice, rock version! And we’re always making fun of our dorky CAT officers behind their backs. Especially those who were taking it waaaay too seriously. We’d always get punished for it though. But annoying them was worth it. I remember the lameass terms they wanted us to adapt. Oh gosh, just remembering makes me want to puke! And here they are:

“Pusang allowance” – how lame! They shout this when they want to curse.

“Pipe down” – term for quiet down, i guess they didn’t invent this one, but it was used sooo much, i just wanted to say, up your ass. Hehe.

“Why laugh?” – removing linking verbs! Ugh! We always got this one.

Hehe. It was so much fun how the officers get annoyed when you didn’t salute them on corridors though! Hehe. But all in all, i super enjoyed the bivouac. Our company commander was super laid back. He didn’t care about all the power trip shiz. And we were all in all the happiest company, for sure. We even won the intercompany competition the following year! That’s only coz we copied each other’s answers during the exam. Since we all studied for the model exam, me and other model members shared everything with everyone. CAT can be so much fun. I learned alot about marching. cramming for exams!


The following year came in. DLSU and ACET came in... i didn’t pass both! Huhu



Just kidding. I passed. Hehe.


But I didn’t hold my breath for them. I was suffocated by the uncertainty of the UPCAT results. Then February came. People immediately went to Diliman, and I learned from my friends, that my name wasn’t on the list.



Just kidding. It was on the list. And I passed! YEY again! Of course, i still had to go there and confirm, even if I already checked it online.

So that’s it, I enrolled in the University of the Philippines, Diliman. BS Computer Science. Batch 2001. Block G26. Then it went back to James. I was excited, maybe I might see him on campus. I wonder what college he was on. Come to think of it, I didn’t even know what he was taking up. So I asked Tina, about it. Then she told me, James was taking up BS Biology. I was thrilled! ... Tina continued, He’s taking up Biology in UP Manila.

Bummer.

UPAA-UAE General Assembly Oct 17 2008

Attended my first GA with the UPAA here in dubai. Twas held at Metropolitan Hotel lunch time. Food was OK, for 130dirhams. So, it was fun. Lots of people attended. This is my, hmm i don’t know.. nth time to attend a UPAA event.


First was when we held the Job fair here in dubai, we hosted a job fair to help our kababayans who are stuck here without a job. Dubai’s a nasty place for the jobless. it was successful and not so successful at the same time. It was successful because tons of people turned up. And it was not successful because TONS OF PEOPLE TURNED UP! Yup. We didn’t expect that much response from an event publicized by word of mouth and email. The venue was too small and not everyone was let in.


Second event was the, after party we went to this hotel, i forgot the name, in Sheik sayed. Very posh. To commemorate the success of the job fair event.


Third event was the failed Picasso event. We went all the way to abu dhabi for nothing. Well, not nothing, it was worth seeing Abu dhabi and visiting this huge house of one of the members.


Fourth event was when one of the members died. I didn’t know her, but we offered a mass for her in Jebel Ali. It was a very sad day. I almost cried, but i didn’t. Then we ate in a flat on one of the members. It was funny, because her daughters were half Italian and looked very very European. Then suddenly said to me. “akala mo hindi ako marunong magtagalog noh!” hehe. Pinoy na pinoy magtagalog!


So, this is the fifth event! They told me they hold a GA twice a year. One in October and another on February. It was fun. They once again did this super funny skit of the life of Filipinos here in dubai. Its like one of those UP-Rep skits. And much like cursor, problems of the org are the not-so-active members and fund raising! And of course events to be done!


After the long meeting, a few members went to Seattle’s best to discuss what are the next events of the org. Some of it were super outrageous! But i hope it’ll push through..


more or less napag-usapan lang naman what will be in store for our ORG in the days to come..
eto sure na ata:
- Dhow Cruise – a cruise! Along dubai creek
- desert safari – safari with camels, Arabic food and belly dancing Arabic women

eto mga ibang suggestions
- friday exercise - exercise daw tayo, everyfriday together sa safa park! kahit walking lang, mga 6am.
- holloween/costume party this oct 31! - theme? venue? -- to be determined!
- camping every month!
- beach sa abu dhabi!
- beach sa fujairah!
- buddy system -- parang may old-member, new-member partnership parang yung old member yung mag-eengganyo sa new-member to be active
- Celebrity Golf - para ambitious naman daw
- Wine tasting -
- gagawa daw si obet ng DubaiYuki Monologues
- i-hire natin emirates airlines
- mag-hire ng orchestra
- kuha tayo ng flat tapos paupahan natin -- fund raising
- gawa tayo ng musical!
- dalin natin dito yung UPCAT the movie
- film showing for members
- gawa tayo ng musical. -- hehe
- Poetry reading
- volleyball
- badminton
- broccoli night-- lahat ng handa broccoli, tapos lahat tayo nakacostume na broccoli
- cheese tasting
- cigar night
- Caroling! for christmas! - super practice tapos, dapat may blending at iba ibang voices ma-showcase natin!
- caroling - tapos may kasamang artist, kunwari si sharon cuneta kasama natin.


Alin sa tingin nyo suggestion ko??? Hehe. Yun lang.
I particularly like the broccoli night! Hehe.

Upcat The Movie

Trailer. Really interesting! Got this trailer from Deits.

Quotables From UP

"Isang Machine Problem lang ang requirement ko sa class na ito. Wala
nang exam, babagsak lang din naman kayo."
-RB Chua(CS 191 Machine Learning)

"Hindi kayo pinag-aaral sa UP para lang magtrabaho sa call center.Kung
balak n'yong magtrabaho sa call center pag graduate n'yo, ngayon pa
lang magdrop na kayo sa UP."
-Dr VP Magboo

"Ang Pag-aaral sa 'Big Three' maikukumpara sa pag-aaral magswimming:
Sa La Salle, aalalayan ka mula simula hanggang matuto kang lumangoy.
Kahit marunong ka na aalalayan ka pa rin. Sa Ateneo,
aalalayan ka sa simula hanggang matuto kang lumangoy. Kapag marunong
kana, papabayaan ka nang mag-isa. Sa UP, itutulak ka sa tubig,
papabayaan kang malunod hanggang matuto kang lumangoy."
-Roderico de Armas(Math 17)

"The aim of policy making is to invoke action! Because action speaks
louder than words! You do not just say I love you. You say: If you
love me, enter me! "
- Dr. Alfonso Pacquing

"Class, next week na lang ung result sa exam nyo. I am having a hard
time checking it. I will seek first the divine guidance on what to do
about it. Class don't worry about your grade. Let me worry about it."
- Sir de jesus, envi sci 1

(valentines day) "Ano ba yan? Students ba kayo ng UP? Bakit ang bababa
ng scores niyo? Siguro wala kayong date ngayong valentines kaya ganito
kayo. Losers!!! When i was your age i had a date. Hindi ba naapektuhan
ng UP FAIR euphoria ng grades niyo? Parang di kayo masaya..."

(sabay matching tapon ng quizzes sa sahig)
"I won't record this. Go find a date."

(sabay walk out.)
- Sir Doliente, BA

Ma'am: Many people believe that we, psychology graduates can read
minds... (silence) Actually, we can.
Class: Weh.. Sample..
Ma'am: Right now, you think that I'm bluffing

- Ma'am Chei Billedo, Psych

"I don't give surprise long exams. all exams are announced. Halimbawa,
Class, mageexam tayo, NGAYON NA!"
- Ma'am Chei

"The human body is 70% water. Kaya wala kayong kasaysayan lahat. Pag
may kaaway ka, sabihin mo sa kanya, TUBIG KA LANG!!!
- Dr. Recio

"Oo, nagpapaulan ako ng uno... baket? aanhin ko ba nun? di naman ako
yayaman dun."
- Sir Atoy Navarro, histo I

(commenting on a thesis of a senior student) 'Yang thesis mo? ..
Mamamatay ka!! Mamamatay ka!!'
- Dr. llanes, UPM

"Nasa bandang gilid ang fallopian tube. Kaya kung gusto niyong
magka-anak ng asawa niyo, dapat nakatagilid kayo habang gumagawa."
- Ma'am Meggie, Zoo 10

"Last sem was the first time that I gave a grade of 5, and it felt good!!!"
Prof Goldie, Comm II, circa 1998, first day of class

"Atheist ako, pero pag nasa bahay, nagro rosary kami ng Nanay ko, eh
kung magalit sa kin yun.
- Socio 11 Prof

"You do not fall in love; you rise in love. That's how you love rationally."
- Dr. FG david

"Try to die! Try to die!"
- sir billones, on a student who is palpitating while taking the exam.

"Anong molars? You don't say molars because it is an adjective! Do you
say beautifuls?"
- ma'am ilao, to a student who said "n molars"

"Kahit magpakamatay ka pa di mo masasagot yang problem set na yan
dahil pang-157 (phy chem II) yan!"
- ibid

"Do not memorize! Analyze!"
- doc nic, advising us, her students never to memorize reaction mechanisms

"Kaya nga ideal eh, hindi siya nangyayari sa totoong buhay. Pero an
approximation is good enough"
- sir engle, on ideal and real systems

"Don't take the BAR and yourselves too seriously. Baka mabalitaan
nalang namin na nag-o-oral summation kayo sa Luneta. O
lumulutang-lutang sa Pasig River . Enjoy yourselves, relax, and read
at
least 15 hours a day. Nakakabobo ang sobrang tulog. MAg relax ka
habang nagbabasa. Magrelax habang nagmi-memorize. "

"Pag nananaba ka sa oras ng exams, ibig sabihin di ka papasa."

"Oh the BAR isn't scary. It's terrifying. It might even kill you."

Ito naman from our Prof. Ancient: "Mga engineers? Nako. Bihira
pumapasa sa BAR."

"UP ka nag-undergrad? Bright ka ba?"

"Sa mga taga-UP lang ako bilib eh. Pagpasok nila sa lawschool, hindi
sila disoriented. Bilib ako sa study habits na meron yang mga batang
yan. Some of them look like they eat kamote thrice a day, pero ang
utak, di ututin!" (ewan ko kung matutuwa ako dito o hindi)

sabi ng aming dean who is 80 yrs old, "class you're laughing now, but
i will predecease you all"

prof: O, meron na bang nakapunta sa inyong XXX
class: (tahimik)
prof: (medyo nadisappoint) Ano?! Puro na lang ba kayo aral? Aral na
lang kayo ng aral, ha? Wala na kayong napupuntahan kakaaral niyo!

same prof: Nakita niyo na ba ang Hoover dam?
class: (tahimik uli)
prof: Hehehehe, ang yabang ko talaga!

Second day of classes
Same Prof: (kinuha ang box ng colored chalks) Ano ba naman ito...
(tapos iniitsa sa lamesa yung mga dark colored chalks)
class: (tahimik na nagmamasid)
Prof: Class, sulatan niyo ang manufacturer ng chalk na ito, at
sabihing tanggalin na ang mga walang kwentang kulay na ito... brown,
green, violet. hindi makikita ito sa board. Convince them
class: (tahimik at gulat)
Prof: and .25 incentive sa final grade niyo!

terror prof after an exam (last day na din ng class..): ok class..
see you next sem!

"The more wisdom you obtain, the more you shut your mouth. This is
because the more that you learn, the more you realize that there are
even more things that you do not know. The true mark of an idiot is a
loudmouth, the true mark of a wise man is humility"
- Paraphrased galing kay PI100.

"IE? Di naman engineering yun e"
-Thesis adviser

Classmate: Ma'am, pwede po bang next week na kami mag report?
Ma'am: Alam mo, God is good. And I am God. So yes, pwede next week.

galing kay sir U eliserio during creative writing class...
"try everything once except incest"

and one day pumasok ng room, galit na galit. hinagis ang bag sa table,
nagwawala sa harap ng room dahil hindi daw nasagot ng previous class
niya ang question niya. kaya dapat daw masagot namin, ang makasagot
may plus points. kapag walang makasagot, lagot kami. ang tanong....
"class, sinong lalaking artista dun sa TV show na wonder years"?

"Mamatay na mangopya..."
saka
"Ang hindi maka-100, bobo!".

"im gay. so gay i could show you my penis because it is but an
accessory to my body"
- jean navera, spcm1

FIRST DAY OF CLASSES: "Kung may boyfriend o girlfriend kayo na hindi
taga-UP, hiwalayan niyo na agad. Walang pupuntahan yan. Hindi kayo
magkaka-intindihan. Tapos yung mga anak niyo, magiging bobo. Gusto
niyo ba yun?"

ANOTHER PROF: "Hoy girls, wag kayong kukuha ng boyfriend dito sa UP.
Pare-parehas tayong mahirap dito. Kumuha kayo ng mayaman. 80% of the
child's intelligence comes from the Mother naman eh. Kayo guys, wag
kayo kukuha ng bobong babae. Kahit matalino kayo, magiging bobo anak
niyo.">

STUDENT: Sir, pwede po magpa-sit in yung friends ko?
PROF: From what school are they?
STUDENT: St. Scho po.
PROF: "Go ahead. So they'll realize what they're missing. St. Scho,
St. Scho... eskwelahan na ba yun sa inyo?!"

sa PHILO: "I THINK THEREFORE I AM FROM UP!"

"Class, kaya mahal ang bayad sa mga professors sa ibang school kasi
ang bobobo ng mga estudyante dun. Dyuskoh, I used to teach there... at
lumuluha talaga ako ng dugo bago maintindihan ng mga students yung
sinasabi ko. Ang mahal nga ng bayad, magkakasakit ka naman sa panga
kakaulit ng lessons! Wag na lang! Dito na ko sa UP, at least
nagkakaintindihan tayo. Diba?"

"We do not accept anyone here in class except for those who are
members of a certain minority group. For example, gays are part of a
minority group, bakla ka ba? If you admit to this class that you are
gay, then I'll admit you"
- Prof "hail to the chair", to a guy student na nagpre-prerog

"kapatid ng sinungaling ang magnanakaw. ergo, gma's marriage to mike
arroyo is null and void ab initio."
consti law class, 1st sem, AY 2005-06

"running for summa ka? mapapagod ka lang."

"Si Miriam, crush ko 'yun dati. Muntikan na maging kami, kaso
nasiraanng ulo, kaya 'yun, iba ang asawa ko."

"Class, gusto ko kayong i-train na mag-English, so when you're here in
class, magsalita kayo ng English! Ako lang ang exempted dahil matanda
na ako at ako ang teacher!"

Ma'am Vitriolo (2nd to the last meeting)
Okay class, next week, we start the lecture proper.

Sabi ng Prof ko dahil may kaklase akong recite ng recite w/o raising
her hand: "I think this is the first time i have a student w/ tourette
in my class..."
Recite parin ng recite yung student
"Wow the ejaculatory comments just don't stop!"

from my socsci1 prof last sem: "Birds of the same feather FLOCK
together...don' t forget the L".

"I'll strangle you, strangle you really hard, smack right in your
jugular (pause ng mga 5 seconds), you do know where your jugular is?"

'bakit parang napakaligaya ng klase niyo? maging sad naman kayo, 5
mins.' - prof ko sa math 100.

"well of course when you sell your soul you have to make an elaborate
justification to make yourself feel good."
-Sir Walden Bello, Socio 127, this sem

"punyetissima! " (sosyal pati mura italian!)

"look at me i'm 433 years old pero ang lakas lakas ko pa. eh kung
walang gulay eh di kakain na lang ako ng damo. kung wala eh di tubig,
kung wala mag-ipon na lang ako ng laway."
-Sir Tiamson, Italian 11, this sem

When you graduate, then you begin to live.
-Dr. Carmen Jimenez, Psych 118

from Prof Soresca in my spanish 1 class
Prof:"Mr. Gatbunton, why are you late?!"
Student:"Sorry Mam, galing pa ako Las Pinas."
Prof: "Ladies, don't marry somebody from Las Pinas because they have
bamboo organs!!"

Marx is more Christian than Christ and Christ is more Marxist than
Marx. - Sir Lanuza.

si sir agapito..habang 2nd exam at malakas ang ulan..
"ang lakas ng ulan, ayos yan at least hindi halata pag umiiyak.."

Class: Sir, sa exams po ba nagbibigay kayo ng partial points?
Prof: Hmm, if I see partial wisdom.

"It's okay to smoke inside my class. As long as you don't breathe it
out." -Dr. Obsioma, Biodiversity

"Oh, this is good. It's poetic because it's perfectly stupid." -
Ricardo de Ungria last week on my classmate's work.

Prof: Did I remind the class last meeting that we're going to have an
exam today?
Class: (dead air)
Prof: Ok, it seems I forgot to remind the class that we're going to
have an exam today. I'm giving you five minutes then to buy a
bluebook. We're going to have an exam today.

sir tiamson (span 11)
"ayan, di ka makasagot. yung bakal sa ngipin mo naapektuhan na yung
pagsasalita mo"

Ramadan Kareem

Ive been brewing about talking about  Ramadan for a long while now but because of the family drama that has been going on here in dubai and i couldn’t sit down and ponder on it. Anyway, now i can. First, my cousin had an accident here. Yup. Real life greys anatomy accident. I even saw him in the emergency room all bloodied and weak.

 Well, now he’s fine and recovering so no worries. That happened on the first day of Ramadan here.

What is Ramadan? For those of you who don’t know, (i didn’t until i came here). Muslims have this Holy Month of Ramadan during sept. Its a Day-fasting ritual where they fast starting 4:30am til 6:00pm. And fasting means no-eating AND no-drinking! For over 12 hours straight! Hard to believe?  Anyway, so, thats how it goes. to respect the said period, restaurants aren’t open until 6:00pm. Some are open but you can only order to-go. Supermarkets are open no worries. Since dubai’s an open city... they wouldnt let all the non-muslim expats starve to death. So we can still buy food and drinks, but we’d have to eat them inside. Behind closed doors if you will.

Wikipedia said the purpose of Ramadan is ---“Fasting is meant to teach the person patience, sacrifice and humility. Ramadan is a time to fast for the sake of God, and to offer more prayer than usual. During Ramadan Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance into the future, ask for help in refraining from everyday evils and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds.”

But when IFTAAR comes(that’s 6:00pm onwards) It’s FOOD galore!! There’s so many food related promos! Dubai suddenly comes alive! All the arabs are suddenly rejuvenated and eat a TAD, no a TON too much! They eat until their bellies are overly bloated! They eat the whole night! if they could even eat the plates, i bet they would! haha! And when daytime comes.. they sleep until the afternoon and wait for IFTAAR again! Now that’s hard to believe! So much for being holy!! That;s what the insanely rich locals do here. Eat so much at night and sleep all day(coz they don’t even need to work)!  They’ve totally created a work-around for the said fasting-period! Its fasting at day and feasting at night!

They have to pray first before eating during iftaar. During Ramadan, there are lots of Ramadan Tents put up everywhere, in the mall on the streets. So that the muslim could pray anywhere anytime. And the government gives out free food for Iftaar.

So how does this affect us? Aside from the closed restaurants? Well, our work hours are shorter. This is respect to the muslims who are working and who are really fasting. We only have to work halfday for the whole month of Ramadan!bwahhahah! that was super fun for me! Hahaha and I;m going to miss that, coz ramadan’s about to end! Imagine that! Halfday for a whole month!! And we don’t even need to fast! Har har har. Next Week, EID is coming up. EID signifies the end of Ramadan! Its a 3 day holiday! Which, totally works for us! Seriously though, try reading up on Kite Runner and A thousand splendid suns. Fantastic books! Definitely in my top 10 fave books of all time. Gives you a sneak peek of the muslim culture. My top book is STILL The Time Traveler’s wife! The top ten is still in works, i haven’t read that many books to create a worthy top ten.

Another good thing is the EID sale! Electronics sale, designer stuff sale.. and the best of all food sale! You can get a kilo of salmon for only 39 dirhams! OMG!! Haha

On the 3 day holiday, we’re planning to go swimming! And go to an island and go crabbing and camp out! Excited but much! Hehe

On to the story, so since Ramadan started, and i had more time on my hands, i decided to take up driving lessons after work. You see, here to get  license, you need to take up driving lessons first, then take the license exam. If you already have a license in the Philippines, you only need to take 20 classes. If you’re a beginner you’d need to take 40 classes! Talk about tedious!

I started, and was super thrilled that it was a kabayan that will mentor me that day! Well i regretted that thought 2 seconds after i rode the car! First off she was a bitch. Okay, im kind of tired of typing. And im sleepy. So thats it. i don’t know if i want to detail the driving lessons incident. It wasn’t a happy event for me. I shoulduv ended this blog with EID.

No work for 3 days! Woohoo! Cheers!

Jologs ba mga taga-UP?

Jologs ba mga taga-UP?

Like No way!! absurd! preposterous! unfathomable!

 

 6

yes yes YoW! Jologs na jologs!

 

 8

You know, jologs is in the eye of the beholder

 

 17

Kebs ko dito! wala kang magawa no?

 

 3

i dont consider myself as taga-UP with all my atenean friends, i'm practically atenista!

 

 1

Napaisip lang ako ulit. lagi kasi naming napag-uusapan ito dati, sa dati kong opisina. talaga bang jologs mga taga-UP?
vote and state your opinion. kahit hindi ka taga-UP, sagot ka rin! hehe. okay lang yun.

TEN CONYOMANDMENTS

TEN CONYOMANDMENT

by Gerry Avelino and Arik Abu

 

1. Thou shall make gamit "make+pandiwa".

ex. "Let's make pasok na to our class!"

"Wait lang! I'm making kain pa!"

"Come on na, we can't make hintay anymore! It's in Andrew pa, you know?"

 

2. Thou shall make kalat "noh", "diba" and "eh" in your pangungusap.

ex. "I don't like to make lakad in the baha nga, no? Eh diba it's like, so eew, diba?"

"What ba: stop nga being maarte noh?"

"Eh as if you want naman also, diba?"

 

3. When making describe a whatever, always say "It's SO pang-uri!"

ex. "It's so malaki, you know, and so mainit!"

"I know right? So sarap nga, eh!"

"You're making me inggit naman.. I'll make bili nga my own burger."

 

4. When you are lalaki, make parang punctuation "dude",

“ENGANAL is so hirap, pare."

"I know, tsong, I got bagsak nga in quiz one, eh"

 

5. Thou shall know you know? I know right!

ex. "My bag is so bigat today, you know"

"I know, right! We have to make dala pa kasi the jumbo Physics book eh!"

 

6. Make gawa the plural of pangngalans like in English or Spanish.

ex. "I have so many tigyawats, oh!"

 

7. Like, when you can make kaya, always use like. Like, I know right?

ex. "Like, it's so init naman!"

"Yah! The aircon, it's, like sira!"

 

8. Make yourself feel so galing by translating the last word of your sentence, you know,

your pangungusap?

ex. "Kakainis naman in the LRT! How plenty tao, you know, people?"

"It's so tight nga there, eh, you know, masikip?"

 

9. Make gamit of plenty abbreviations, you know, ex. "Like, OMG! It's like traffic sa LRT"

"I know right? It's so kaka!"

"Kaka?"

"Kakaasar!"

 

10. Make gamit the pinakamaarte voice and pronunciation you have para full effect!

ex. "I'm, like, making aral at the Arrhneo!"-->Arrhneo!)) Ano ka, SLENG!?))

"Me naman, I'm from Lazzahl!" --Di ka masyado ma Z, diba lang.))

(yey! someone made a list! stole this from my cousin's friend's blog. hehe.)

Thank you for the Greetings

(please sing to the tune of Thank you for the music by abba!!)

Thank you for the greetings..

The friends I’m bringing.

 Thanks to all the food I’m eating…

 Who can live without it?

I ask in all honestyyy.

What would life beee?  

With out my friends and my family?

And I say thank you for the greetings!

For giving it to meeee.

After all my hints and signs and warnings! Thanks to all who greeted me!! Its super heart warming! Bwhahaha! Especially thank you SARS for creating that blogsite http://chesca24bday.blogspot.com/  although........ lots of people were coming up to me, saying that you threatened them to post. Most of them got scared! What exactly did you say to them? Hahaha!! I was at work when I read that, I saw the link in cha’s post. Hehe. But it was 1am.. and I was doing the thank you blog. So when you reminded me to check it out again.. I was at work… and started tearing up. But didn’t show anyone that I was. Hahaha! sobrang sayang basahin!! And it’s PINK! I love it!!!

And mr. vince ku, you’re now the hottest guy in my life’s social network. Really! Everyone’s been asking me. Who’s that Vince? Ches! Is that your boyfriend?? Hey Vince! Please clear our names! Help me out here! Funny post BTW . yours is the most popular post!. You never fail to crack me up! Bwahahaha. Vince is half-indian pala, and my ex-officemate from canon schmanon.

Like chix said, not that you’re asking for it, but this is what happened today. Lets start at yesterday. A friend called me up to greet me happy birthday!! Sabi nya, friend: happy birthday!! Ako: Advanced happy birthday you mean.. friend: its aug10! Ako: urmm, 8pm palang ditto! Hehe. So medyo maling timezone but that friend was the first one who greeted me in Philippine aug10 time. Hehe.

So today, when I woke up, I immediately checked my ym. And thanked people for greeting me. Hehe. What with my YM status saying that its my birthday today. Who wouldn’t right?

I go to work and started snapping up on pics of dubai. My officemates all greeted me, except the office witches. Its super fun! I open my laptop and immediately went online.

Debbie and liz handed me a birthday card each. Its so sweet. Ive never had a birthday card since I don’t know... elementary? They call me Francesca here. Refusing to call me chesca. And it sucks when they shortcut it and call me Fran! Yuck. Fran! Gross… good mood..come back!

I really wasn’t planning on working today. Just loiter in YM and thank people for greeting me. Hehe. So sars goes online! Yey! I’m always excited when she’s online! she’s the first person who reads all of these blogs. Well no, its just I tell her the story first. Then when I feel like it,then, I post a blog about it. anyhoo. So she tells me about that blogpost thing. And I look at it! keep quiet and read it for sometime... inhaling all the greetings.. laughing most of the time!. Then suddenly, my boss emails me that something like .. “food glorious food” because debbie's started to talk about food. And I WAS laughing on my email! Debbie asked.. “what are you laughing at?” I pressed ALT+TAB at the speed of sound and switched to the blogspot window. I said, look! My friend did this website and let all my other friends greet me from the Philippines.. liz and chris (boss), huddled up and said.. awww that’s so sweet! That’s very nice! But immediately lost interest when they spotted a few tagalog greetings.. hehe. They said, can you tell your friend to make me one? (as a joke)

So, I continued my reading/chatting with people. By lunch time, they called me up to the meeting room again! And there on the table is my homemade birthday cake! Baked by Liz! It’s delicious! Sweet and spodgy (a term they used.)

My cake

Blowing the candles

Chris is my boss, lanky with a broken wrist

Chef Liz, tall blonde in black.

My mom cooked spaghetti and bought cake at home. They’re all celebrating my birthday without me. After eating they called me up!! Hehe. I talked to everyone. And they keep on asking me about marble slab and how fat ive become.

I ordered krispy kreme yesterday, and it arrived at the office at half past 2. This is my birthday treat for everyone. I gave everyone donuts! Even the witches! Hehe. Oh boy! Those brits love it! chris was so sick from eating too much. Chris: “im so full, why am I doing this to myself?”

Then junnis went online to greet me. seriously, im not surprised if you forgot! grr. Saying she sent something. Um, as long as its nothing kinky. And its not PORK. Hopefully it’ll turn up fine. But im guessing it’s a book! Is it the “the intimate adventures of a London call girl”?? that’s it! isn’t it? Or is it natsuo kirino’s latest novel? 

Mau also went online, I told her to video japan and treat herself. Care of me. Then send me the video! I miss japan!

I went home bringing the rest of the boxes filled with krispy kreme. When I get home, I see a gift on my bed! It’s from my roomie! Its sooo sweet! It’s a terry pratchett book with chace Crawford’s pic on it.. awww. We’re not close, and we hardly talk, yet she got me something!! Yey! I laid the krispy kreme boxes and fed them all donuts! Hehe.(see sars, ive told  this story to you.)

Then lalaine called!! She called!! From California!! Its soooo fun to hear from her!! She met up with ponchi in cali!! i cant believe how much i miss this  person!  paos pa  boses! haha

At the end of the day. I went out with my aunt and uncle and treated them for the 2^nd time to noodle bowl. Another Chinese restaurant. I was super full and satisfied! And that ends my 24^th birthday celebration!! Back to reality tomorrow, no wait,  chris hasnt got me a gift yet. and debbie will treat me to lunch tomorrow.

I still gotta finish eclipse soon.

Cheers!

Thanksgiving at 24

Yey! The day finally came! I’m finally 24! And it feels the same. I planned to write a blog with nothing planned. Then, it just occurred to me, that all ive been blogging about previously are whines and gripes about my life and living here in dubai! All I did was be racist and say bad stuff about things and people! Its time to count blessings and be thankfull for everything! I’m now 24 trying to be mature about life and stuff.

Thank you mama! For always encouraging me! I’m whining to you the most! And when I whine or get irritated, I don’t hold back. I’m sorry about that. But in the end, im thankful for you being there at  click of a button. Talking with you every week is totally worth  it.

Thank you mikee! For being healthy! And studying hard! Hehe.

Thank you Nicole! For also chatting with me and making work time more fun! I miss chatting with you recently though!

Thank you Tita Mina and Tito Chito! I always feel your presence through mama!

Thanks to my friends! Who are chatting with me everyday!  Its always fun to talk to you guys!  Believe it or not, although I sometimes sound weird or stupid or crazy, you guys keep me sane! I’ll say this.. I LOVE YOU ALL.

Thank you friends on multiply! For commenting on my posts. For leaving your most precious thoughts for me to ponder on. Or just reading what ive trashed about yet again.

Thanks to Tita loi and tito cael who took me in, for constantly feeding me and helping me with surviving abroad!

Thank you experience! I’ve only been here in dubai for 5 months and I’ve learned a whole lot about living! I’ve learned  how to cook, do the laundry and budgeting expenses. I’ve learned that not all of your kababayans are nice! I’ve learned that people are struggling hard to earn money. I’ve learned that the color of your skin matters. I’ve learned that despite everything I’m still lucky with how everything turned out. I’ve learned that’s it’s quite hard to be separated from your family.

Thank you to my current company. My boss is nice. Some of my co-workers are nice. And I don’t have anyproblems with commuting , and I’m not stressed with work at all.

Thank you to the beach! You’re nice.

Thank you to my cousins here in dubai!

Thank you God! For helping me cope up! For all the things! for all the trials!! For the strength!

That’s how my Oscar speech would be like, 2 years from now! =) hehe.

Oh and I love you all! LOVE!!

my early treat aug 08

its only august 8, but my aunt said that i should just treat them today for my birthday. so i willingly complied. it's so weird, i feel really weird . happy birthday don’t mean a thing. I don’t feel happy. I wonder why. Usually i feel elated when i treat my relatives. Now, it’s just like we ate out. And i treated them. Thats that. Its sooo weird. Or may be its because its still not my birthday and they’re not all gushing about it. No, even if they greeted me. I don’t know. Or may be because i just celebrated my first birthday without my family. My mum and my annoying mortal enemy (my brother). And our extended family, my aunt and uncle with whom i stayed at for 6 months while i was learning how to drive and my cousin, whose super duper arte! Hehe.

Well, okay, what do i feel. Homesickness. Is this it? Am i allowing myself to think about it? No. I refuse. It’s a super sucky feeling. And i hate it that i’m just realizing the crappy consequences of living abroad. Crap. Stop.

Okay here goes, we watched mummy 3 yesterday. And IT IS CRAP. It doesn’t even deserve to be reviewed! Crap crap crap, waste of time and money. The only thing good about watching that movie is eating the biggest crepe i’ve had in my life! Its a Humongous crepe! With chocolate bananas and strawberries! I ate it all in the movie house! Hehe

Wow, did i just change my mood by talking about food? Well. Thats it. August 10... here i come. Wonder what it’ll feel like to be 24. Just the same. For sure.

Advanced Birthday Celebration

First time that I’ll have to celebrate me birthday away from home. I’m trying to recall my birthday last year. I think I did another super overtime. I didn’t go home early. We had to do something urgent, among all the other urgent things we did back then. Ah.. the funtimes at canon. I really do miss that company. I learned a lot and enjoyed my friends there. Just didn’t enjoy the latter part. Hehe.

Back to this year, well my birthday’s still on Sunday, but my seat mate, Debbie decided to treat me today.  Since I haven’t seen mamma mia (which is was dying to see), we saw that. Super fun. But how did that happen?

It’s all because of my accidental fishing powers. I use a small mug at the office, a small brown mug that I use for drinking water or sometimes tea. But while I was walking down the super market, I saw this huge mug with a LEO (zodiac sign) print on it. It’s not the best mug in the world, but it was the last LEO mug! So I bought it and brought it home. I used it for a while. It came with a glass spoon and a glass cover. Within seconds, I accidentally broke the spoon. Next day, I brought it to work, poured water on it and started drinking. Then Debbie, because she sits next to me saw my awfully huge mug and the print on it. “oh a leo, when’s your birthday?” me:”this Sunday august 10” Debbie: “very well then, ill give treat you on Tuesday!” since Tuesday was mamma mia day. We were going to watch mamma mia with Liz (Elizabeth Turner from pirates of the Caribbean)

Its Tuesday today and for lunch Debbie ordered sushi for lunch, because she knows I love it. I;m in dubai, and still eating sushi. Liz loves it too. Debbie couldn’t bear eating raw fish. “why would you put yourself through that?”

See pics below. My pinay friends are jem and marj.

 

During the day Debbie was super excited about eating and watching the movie, though she’d seen it a couply o’days ago. And it annoyed my boss. My boss Chris, sits on my right side. He can’t concentrate when Debbie blabs about Mamma mia and Marble Slab and whatnot. He hates musicals and thinks marble slab is crap.  He’s a pastey ol bloke, tall, lanky and he’s got a broken wrist. But a nice guy in general, I ride with him home whenever I can, coz he lives on the same street as me. So, we chatter away until 430pm. And off we go to the mall of the emirates. (no one wanted to watch mamma mia with me, so i ended up going with them blondies.)

Chatter while driving, we can’t stop talking about office gossip. Lots of office politics going on.  So we first check out the cinema, we get the 1900 showing of mamma mia. Then head straight to starbucks. check out the fat  chicks below. hehe. FAT. Liz got me a cup. Really, im not paying for anything! We sat and gossiped some more. Liz about her jerky male acquaintance. And more about office crap. See here, the accounts, 4 witches, and all Filipinas are complete and utter bitches. They’ve been bullying me ever since I stepped in the office. I just ignore them and avoid them.What I didn’t know is that they’re also undermining Debbie’s authority. They hardly talk to these british girls. So we continue describing how bitchy and vicious they are.

Just also found out that Liz is 21 and a college student in Italy. She’s just working part time in our company, taking up English Literature! Since we were in a starbucks inside bookshop, its books galore, recommendations. Ive gotten a few, and now, I can finish the twilight saga without having to go back to reading shopaholic anymore! Yey!

Then more culture sharing.. oh in the UK, oh in the Philippines..  forgot every nonsense we talked about.

Half past 6, we go out of starbucks. And head to Marble slab!! The most fantastic ice cream parlor ever. http://www.marbleslab.com Well not really. But its cool, you get to choose any ice cream and anytoppings as much as you want! I got strawberry with dark chocolate, and my toppings were chocolate chips, marshmallows, blue berries, nuts, m&ms and cookie dough.(but there are loads more toppings like raspberry, butterfingers, nuts, candy floss, gummy bears) Yum! Debbie’s treat!

Then we got a huge plate o nachos with tons of salsa, cheese and jalapenos!  I tuck my bottled water and enter the movie house.

Loved the movie. And we really enjoyed ourselves. They’re planning on another girl’s night out. May be a trip to abu dhabi. Or tea in the afternoon (they say its very british).  One of their goals is to get me a hangover. Because ive never had one and they said I gotta get that on my bucket list.  Chris didn’t want me to go with them. I told him, “chris, what if I turn out to be like one of them” chris:”ill fire you!” that’s a joke. Chris:”are you really going with them? Don’t go, just tell them you need to cut your nails or something. Marble Slab is CRAP”  True enough, that night chris texted me “marble slab! Cheers!” me: “super fun! And super fat! Beware, we’ll be singin tomorrow. cheers” chris: “I think I feel ill already.”

Debbie brought me home. We talked about musicals, theatres, movies, ballets, all that stuff. Hopefully there’ll be another girl’s night out.. I really enjoyed it. The gossip and movies! I miss my friends from the Philippines! I reckon I’ll have loads more fun. It’s sometimes hard to keep up, my ears are bleeding from all the English.. But I’m getting used to it.  I ate way too many marble slabs. I’m sleepy but don’t want to sleep, I’m still too fool,  I mean full. Cheers.

Operation Picasso

Picasso’s paintings can be found in the emirates palace in abu dhabi. So the UPAA-UAE decided to go on the trip there. So I tagged along. There were 7 cars on convoy and we travelled for over 2 hours. We ate in one of the member’s house .. humungous house !    

Our gay friends was like “ano ito? Mosque?” hehe

Anyway, we ate, and shared about dubai experiences. Turns out i’ve had it easy. And one of the told us his story about rethinking about life. One day, he got tired of dubai and decided to go to the Philippines, he got all of his money and bought a ticket Thailand (0nly flight out). He didn’t kknow what to do anymore. Goodthing his sister was in Malaysia and talked him out of his stupor. He went back to the dubai and moved on as usual. Only about 10000 dirhams poorer because of his impulsive trip. I think its because he had a fight with his boyfriend. 

So after all the sharing, we went to the emirates palace. But holy mackerels! It was close! Because the sheik was there and there was some delegation going on. What a waste of trip! We ended up hanging out in the nearest mall.

What a waste of blog. Hehe.

Well, abu dhabi was nice. I think nicer than dubai. And it’s not as congested. So in the end we weren’t able to see Picasso. I hope they plan another trip. I would’ve wanted to see it. Not really. Hehe.

Operation – failed.

Mamma Mia!!

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Romantic Comedy

Why in the world did I not watch this movie sooner?? What the hell was I thinking???! I LOVED IT! I was smiling the whole time. I even cried a little bit..  meryll streep was the best! She really brought all these emotions in me! She made me want to jump out of my seat and start dancing in the middle of Greece!! I really really wanted to get up and dance! But that didn’t keep me from singing…!! Hehehe.. I was singing! Really! While watching the movie!! In the cinema!! Loved the whole Greece setting, the beach the sun!! and the fake tan!!! Julie walters was hilarious! Everyone was hilarious!! I was laughing at every bit of it! Over the top laughing!! Hahahahaha. And after the movie, my face hurt from smiling and laughing!! Oh I’ve never felt all perky and energetic!

I love musicals, when they’ll sing all over, like the whole world knows the song.. then after the number, they just carry on like nothing happened. Hahaha! Its brilliant!

You can dance! You can jive! Having the time of your life! ooooooh See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the dancing queen!!



Bwahahah! Definitely a movie worth watching again! Heck I’d watch it at home, then sing and dance all over!! Hahaha!

events after kick-out notice

I really loathe to tell this tale. It’s actually easier to write about your rage or strong emotions of happiness than immortalizing a story of stupidity. But it must be told. Here goes…… In my previous oh-so-hateful blog.. when we got this eviction notice...blah blah blah http://chesnutsy.multiply.com/journal/item/15/Living_in_Dubai_is_effing_hard.

So what happened to me after that, I started scouting for possible flats (stop if you already know the end of this story, its so boring I don’t even want to tell it!).  How do you scout for possible houses here in dubai? They are usually posted on supermarket billboards. There are tons of supermarkets here run buy Panas. So I stand, looking up on the paper infested corkboard and bring out my cellphone. It’s usually written like this: 1 BIG ROOM FOR FILIPINOS CALL: 050209234 or something like bedspace for Filipina call: 0509849273. They’re all written, printed on a piece of bond paper and stuck on a cork board, usually near the entrance of supermarkets. You’d see a lot of people.. their cellphones in hand, crowding on it. Im one of them. Amongst all the commotion of desperately trying to find a place to stay, I’m there scouting the board for a the keywords that gives “hits”. Like, FLAT, BEDSPACE or INTERNET. If I see any one of these words on an ad. I immediately call the number on it.

The first place I visited was a villa, the villa’s just near the supermarket. What does a villa mean? It looks something like this:

 

Here in Dubai, they’re all demolishing the old villas. So if I ever move to a place like that, it still wouldn’t last long. And the place was nasty. It wasn’t clean and it’s super worse than where im living now.  It’s also super far from everything. Well, when I found out that it was a villa, I immediately set my mind not to take it. When I saw it! Villas off the table!

Next stop a flat in Bur Dubai. Bur Dubai is a town near Satwa(is where I live). I didn’t want to leave satwa, because we’re walking distance from the beach! And I always go to the beach almost everyday after work! But I had to check it out, coz the woman I talked to,  said that the flat was new, there was internet and it’s not all too far from satwa. So I checked it out. For the first time here in Dubai, I rode the bus alone. Good thing the guys are separated from the girls! Or else! Anyway, I rode the bus, and went down in front of the hotel where we’re supposed to meet. It was a bitchin walk to the flat, under the frying sun, but I got there, thankfully!! It was on the seventh floor. The place was decent enough. It’s clean, and it’s got internet and it  had an automatic washing machine. Problem is, it’s NOT in Satwa. So I had to decline, yet again.

(gosh, writing this is getting tedious.) hehe. So, one afternoon after work again, I tried my luck once again on the majestic corkboard. And voila! I found all key words on a single ad! Internet-check! In Satwa-check! Flat-check! So I called up the guy. He guided me via cellphone on how to get to the place. I rang the doorbell and the people where nice enough to give me a tour of the place. It’s waay smaller than the place I;m living now. And the flat’s old. But it’s cheaper. I’m paying 750dirhams in my eviction-flat, that flat’s just  asking for 600dirhams monthly! Problem is, the washing machine’s not automatic! But I thought, as long as I ‘m in satwa, I can live with spending a few hours washing my clothes. Still im hesistant! I won’t be able to reserve this place unless I give the owner, 1200dirhams. That’s one month advance payment and one month deposit. I pondered on it, on my own. And I suddenly decided  to take it, coz the lady told me that it’s a very good find and that most people would want that slot. I went home, got my money and went back. I paid the owner. Yes, folks without thinking I paid the owner 1200dirhams. I paid her to feel secure, that even if we were gonna be kicked out of the flat, I would not be left homeless. Oh yeah, here’s the other thing about that, I’m super panicking because my aunt and uncle also got the same notice in their flat. But it wouldn‎’t be too hard on them because they have a car. They could live anywhere! Anyway, after giving out my money, on my way home, walking… I felt.. weird, hmm scared, uncertain! I felt uncertain! What if we won’t be evicted? What then? What will happen to my money? What if we do get evicted? Do I really want to live there? The place was very small and old. It’s abysmal. So, it’s too late… I went back home, changed my clothes and as usual, hung out at my aunt’s place. (I needed to go to my aunt’s place because my cousin was going back to the Philippines and I bought my mom a cellphone and, I was also going to send a box of chocolates for my brother). I was still uneasy about my decision. I don’t know what to do. It was driving me insane! How could I have given my money when it’s not 100% sure that we really were getting evicted? I tried to calm myself down by going online and distracting myself from thinking. I chatted with my friend, and we tried to rationalize and sort out the mess (thanks friend! I was seriously going ballistic!) while chatting however, my aunt asked me about the new flat. She said, did you get a receipt? I’m like.. no.. and she got livid! She said there are lots of pinoys here who are swindling other kababayans. And I’m so stupid in just giving out 1200dirhams. I panicked again, and immediately went back to the other flat. (its quite near.)

I got there with my cousin. I asked for the receipt from the owner, and while waiting… I realized, holy horrors. My roommates where slobs. They’re all finished eating and all the food were scattered on a table near the beds. There room smelled of food. There were three kids playing. There was absolutely no space in the ref for food. There was no space in the kitchen for cooking. The place was stinking all over. My cousin was like, whatever were you thinking getting this place? I have NO idea! It just hit me how stoooopid I was. The owner went out and gave me a paper ripped from a cheap notebook with a scribble that says I paid them that day. I am an utter twat.

That’s it, there’s nothing I can do about it. I just have to sleep on the bad call I’ve made. Bad bad call. My aunt was still mad because I didn’t listen to her and didn’t even ask for her advice. The next day, I distracted myself  by working. I was already picturing myself living in that small flat, I blocked it out by understanding the validation system of CSLA. When I got home, good news welcomed me. Our landlady was able to bribe the super, and we were still allowed to stay in the flat. Immediately, my mind raced back to my 1200 dirhams. (14235.00 pesos) Shoots! Am I going to get it back?? Without changing my clothes. I ran to the dingy flat. I told them I was going to back out! Goodthing the wife was at home. She called her husband up, and the guy talked to me. He said, he can only give 600dirhams back. He’ll only give the other half if I find a  replacement within the week! If not, the 600 will be forfeited! I completely and blindly agreed with him. I started posting ad papers for the flat. I went home a little dismayed and relieved at getting the 600 dirhams back. I did my laundry, then I went o my aunt’s place again. I told her about the 600 dirhams problem.. and she said.. “that’s insane! He can’t have  your 600dirhams!” “ano ba yan, pinoy pamandin!” She and my uncle said, lets go get your 600dirhams! That same night they accompanied me back to that dingy flat. I just rang the doorbell, and I don’t know what came over the couple, but they immediately handed me the 600dirhams, no questions, no requests. Apparently, they really were not supposed to take that money from me. So, that’s it. I got my money back, and I’m still living in the same nice, new and clean flat.

What did I learn? Really, I don’t wanna hear it.

Wow, this is my longest blog to date. It sucks here that your own kababayans will try to cheat on you. But in the end, I’m still thankful for not having to move and getting my money back, that was super close call. I’m quoting my mom on this, she said, “answered prayer nanaman.” I’ve never really had anything happen to me like this before, and I really suck at it. I really don’t know if I’ll be better at this next time.. that’s life.

Did I change my opinion about dubai? NO! it’s still effing hard!

Finally! It was such a chore to write this all down.  thanks to all of you who encouraged me to  "kaya mo yan!" you have NO idea how it feels like to read those three simple words!

Work from Home Job - Experienced Linux Administrator

Anyone interested to work from home?


This is from my boss. See details below...

(reply to this, or message me if you're interested. Or if you know anyone who's interested.. thanks!  )

madali lang daw work, tapos, tax free pa yan. hehe. sabi nya, dont take my word for it though.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello po. I need a hard working individual with the following skills:

Experienced Linux Administrator (Debian/CentOS/RHEL)
WHM/cPanel Experience
Web hosting serevice experience
Good technical solving ability
Good etiquette, polite and provides excellent customer support
Optional: XEM Virtual Machine Experience

Will be working from home, on a part time basis initially. Will be paid in US Dollars and internet line will be provided.

Thanks
Chris Morley

Playbill News: Wicked Film and 'Jesus Christ Superstar' Remake on Platt's Plate

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/119486.html
Goodnews!! No one mourns the Wicked! Goodnews!
Wicked Film in the works! Can't wait!
Go hollywood! bring all the great musicals to the big screen! for all of us broadway fans who can only dream of landing on the big apple, the center of the universe!
Still wish i could go there though.. hehe!
Ride a cab, walk on central park, eat a hotdog, drink on TGIF, watch a musical, ride the subway, go to the statue of liberty.. hehe.
i wonder who'll play elphie? -- natalie portman? hehe (can she sing?)
How about Glinda? -- Amy Adams?!

Steve Carell in SNL Musical

bwahhahahah!! ITs soooo funny! hahahhahaha!

The Office - Japanese Version

Super Funny!! Steve Carell and the SNL gang made a japanese spoof version of the office!! I'm still laughing!! Super dooper funny!

japOffice.wmv

Living in Dubai is effing hard.

I just have to blog my rage! Dammit! Remember when I just moved to a new place? Now i have to effing move again! Our place just got an eviction notice, apparently, its illegal to be sharing accommodations with strangers here, and someone found out, i don’t know. Now we have to move! Everyone in the flat must go! It’s so hard to find a good place here, because the dubai government’s demolishing all the low cost villas! The low cost villas are eye sores compared to the effing sky scrapers nobody can afford!! Damn! And its so  damn  hot here! Its a boiling 46 degrees and the humidity in the air is 80%! So stepping out means sweating like a faucet! Damn! I have to damn move again! Its so hard to move! To pack all your stuff, your clothes, your food!  To look at the people and smile and apologize and arrange your schedule! And cook and clean after everything! Later ill have to look at other bedspaces. Shit. This sucks. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it.
On another not so loathing note, still angsty though. I am going to try to apply for a driver’s license here... and i don’t freaking know where the Philippine consulate is! Apparently its located in some, remote labor camp. Damn. So much for your tax money. I tried to get their number, but all i effing get is a stupid idiot tone! Shiteous! I need to go there because i need to get my Philippine driver’s license authenticated. If its attested there, ill only need to take 20 driving classes here, as oppose to taking 40 lessons before taking exams. Yup it’s required to take lessons here before taking the exam. How am i gonna go there then! I cant even contact them. I’ll apply this Thursday, for the driving classes.
Tonight, house hunting again.  Soon dubai’s gonna be a wondrous juxtaposition of unfathomable architecture, but what about the cost of living? How are the people gonna live if everything cheap are paved away!... args! Living here is HARD and EXPENSIVE!
STILL ILL SAY...”Forget regret, or life is yours to miss”
I hope i pass the driving exam on the first take. Please please.
I also hope, that i can find a place near my aunts...and... internet!
XOXO

Maske Electric String Trio

Ever seen a dancing violin performance? I never have.

Resolution's Crap. sorry, my cellphone's not that good.

After doing what people do in a mall, you go home.., as we were about to go home. We stumbled upon this performance in the middle of the mall. Super fun!! Normally, we really don’t bother stopping for these European schmuks. But this seemed interesting,  like that Irish dancing jig we saw last week. Haha.

Anyway, they were playing the violin while dancing around. It’s fun and great to watch! And apparently they’re Australians not british. Seriously, I can’t distinguish between these people..

So after their tiring performance, I had to strike a pose with them! Haha. It’s super fun. Free entertainment at the mall!

hhmm, I think I look good with them! May be next time we can be a violin Quartet! hahaha

Moved out

Still no internet at my new place. You heard me! I moved out of my aunt and uncle’s place just yesterday. For the very first time in my life, I bought all the essentials i needed to survive. I’m talking about soap, shampoo, garlic, onions etc. I’ve obviously been pushing my freeloading cards on my relatives. hehe. Anyway, another good thing is that our company van drops us at a nearer spot than before! Before, I had to walk 7000 freakin kilometers. Just kidding. Just that in this heat, you’d think it was a million. Now, because the office witches (my officemates who are pinays and panas) didn’t want to ride with us newbies, they requested that we should ride in a different service. The driver’s nicer here. And I won’t have to walk that far anymore!

Back to moving out, so I moved out into a flat just above the flat of my aunt and uncle. So we’re still living in the same building! Hurray me! Since, i wash my own clothes and cook my own food. There’s really little to adjust to. Let me give you an idea on my current living expenses. I’ve decided to just rent a “bedspace”, meaning the only thing I rented or paid for is my bed! Haha.

Expenses breakdown:

                750.00 dirhams bedspace + water + electricity (roughly 9066.96 pesos)

                50.00 dirhams for internet (roughly 604.46 pesos)

                10.00 dirhams for water and gas (roughly  120.89 pesos )

With a grand total of 810 dirhams!! – about  9792.32 pesos!

All I have to spend on now is food, because office transpo everyday is free.

Then it suddenly came to me..

How do you document real life,

when real life's getting more like a fiction each day?

Headlines, bread-lines blow my mind

And now this deadline, eviction or pay! RENT!

Now I’m sharing the room with 7 other strangers! Yup, there’s 8 of us living in one room. 8 of us sharing 1 bathroom, sharing a kitchen, sharing a ref! Hehe. And I don’t even know these people. We’re all girls, fyi. And all pinays. There are 4 double deck beds in the room, and I sleep/live on the top bunk of the first double deck by the door. The person living beside my bunk is a graphic artist, she’s using this really neat macbook. Anyhoo, the ugly part, (if the things i said above weren’t) is that since there’s 8 of us trying to go to work the each morning, and only 1 bathroom... i’d have to take a bath at 4:30am!! While our company van picks me up at 7:40am! Waaaa. I only tried it once yesterday, now i can barely focus on work, much less keep my eyes open. I drank 2 cups of tea today, my head’s hurting, but I don’t feel sleepy anymore.  I think i may be over exaggerating, but i feel like i didn’t sleep a wink last night.

Tonight, i’ll drop by my aunt’s hopefully to catch a free dinner. Then sleep early!

Ciao!

PS: Thanks to Loki and April who helped me find this place!! its nice and clean! and my roomies seem nice.. hehe.
Loks, im chatting with April during work hours pagmayfree time. hehe.

My Fried Life

So I started working. Working means fast paced life. Is what I thunk. 

I still live with my aunt and uncle, don’t know for how long though. But as long as they don’t mind. I wont  mind. Besides I’ll be paying them for their trouble.

So this is what my normal weekday is like. The day before work, I prepare all the stuff I need for work, like my packed lunch, which I cook the night before and my clothes the next day.

I go to bed, say my prayers, then suddenly the alarm goes off! It’s like I haven’t slept! Hehe. So I wake up at 6pm. Cook my breakfast. Fried food again, as that’s the only thing I can cook. I eat fried food for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Isn’t that swell?  I take a bath. Eat my breakfast, then wait for a while for my uncle. I hitch with him until the point where the office shuttle will pick me up. It’s a very long walk, even if I have to wait 30 minutes for the shuttle, I do so, just so that I wouldn’t walk. While waiting, I read a book (currently, shopalic abroad.) once the shuttle comes in. I ride on.

We go down, go to the 12^th floor, timecheck:9am.  We say good morning to everyone, it’s a courtesy. In the office, everyone’s polite and courteous. Then I put my packed lunch on the fridge.

I work until 12nn, take lunch break until 1pm.

Then I work again, until 4:30pm. By 4:30pm we shutdown our pcs then head down to the office shuttle.

They drop me off again, and I walk or ride a bus to get home. Before going home, I stop by the supermarket to buy food I’ll cook for dinner and lunch the next day. When I get home, I cook my food, then eat it. I also prepare my packed lunch. After resting for a while, I go out for a little exercise. I come home at about 9pm. I prepare the stuff I need to wear for the next day then open my pc for 1 hour. I surf for about an hour then sleep at 10pm.

seriously, everyday! No time to breath. Except now perhaps. Hehe. Ciao!

#update: I'll be moving out at the end of the month. wish me luck. i want to find a place where there's internet, convenient and it should have an automatic washing machine... hehe.

Across the Universe

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Romance

I've got a few reasons why i'm so addicted to this movie right now …

a. It’s a musical
b. Beetles music is amazing
c. Jim Sturgess is hot hot hot
d. He can sing anything!!
e. I’m listening to the soundtrack over and over.
f. It’s a love story
g. I don’t hate the girl

And I just noticed.. multiply does not have a musical category in their movie genres! Hmpf!

Watch it! Its love! It’s a psychedelic love story! Hahaha

Check out the clip of "Something" below.

Karachi Darbar

Karachi Darbar. Yesterday we ate at a popular Indian restaurant. Authentic Indian restaurant. It’s called Karachi Darbar. The food’s really cheap and delicious! Now, I’m a fan of Indian food! Really!

 

There’ll be no Indian dining without nan. Tandoori Roti is the exact order. It only costs us 1 dirham each! (its pronounced like “dirums”) the roti’s huge! And at 1 dirham each! Hehe.

 

We ordered Chicken biryani. It’s spicy and kindi-curry-like but not quite. The serving’s really huge too! For 8 dirhams!

 

Now I’m a convert. Hehe. I really enjoyed eating here! But, thank goodness this restaurant is so far from home, I wouldn’t want to eat here all the time, else, I’d end up smelling like Indians. Hehe.

 

 

Another shocking incident, we initially ordered 2 Naans, but the waiter just served one. So we called him back..

Me:“My Friend, we ordered 2 rotis”

Him:“Another one?”

Me:”YES”

Him:”wait a moment”

Then he came back (in just a few seconds) with our 2^nd roti. He took it, with his bare hands and placed in on our plates. Bwahhaha. The look on my aunt’s face was priceless! She even said, “ayy”, outloud.

They’ll also give you individual plates, but they don’t give spoon and forks. You’d have to ask for it. When we looked at the people eating beside us, everyone’s using their hands.