Just Once

I did my best.. but I guess my best wasn't good enough.... That's my food for a thought this week. I've been through a lot of job interviews, regret letters but still I don't have any job offers. Within this week, I'll be expecting a bad news from the company which I wanted to work for. Negative??? As much as I wanted to think positive, I can't help it. Especially I saw their posted annoucement that they're open house tomorrow for a Teller position. Oh no!!!! I know I did my very best and answered their questions in a professional manner as possible. I don't wanna think anymore that there is someone better than me... hello???? pwede ako naman ung best!!!

The "Coconuter"

I came across this post from Cheche's blog. A Pinoy, who was a very successful man in the United States but chose to settled and lived in the Philippines for good. Imagine, he's a High School Valedictorian, worked in NASA and took a triple degree... that's a real WOW! But sometimes, even if you have all the things in the world, you're still in search for something to fulfill your dreams.... a contentment, satisfaction that money can't buy.

Here's the video and his blog. I told my husband to watch it, he's just said.. "holy shit!"Even him was really shocked with the achievements of this man and suddenly left it for something thats totally incomparable with his lifestyle before. I read the good and bad criticisms about it. But who we are to judge this kind of people if all they want is to be happy.

I guess he's the reincarnated of Dr. Jose Rizal. "Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan, masahol pa sa malansang isda"

Unexpected News

I received a text message around 2 a.m. from my cousin in New Jersey. My tita from pinas died, afternoon, Philippine time. She was diagnosed at first with Myoma. But later on, it was already a cancer in the ovary and colon. She was scheduled for an operation last week, but it was postponed due to her blood pressure. She needs to stabilize it before undergoing any operations. She checked in yesterday in preparation for her operation. Before the operation, she was rushed to the ICU because she's getting weaker. Unfortunately, she didn't make it.

It was so sad knowing the cause of her death was not because of her illness but because of stress, nervous and anxiety. When I heard the news, I contacted everybody controlling my tears. But when I talked to his son, telling me that "Ate, wala na si mama. Sabi ko intayin nya ako kakain lang ako eh." I burst out into tears. I've talked to my mom and told me that they didn't catch her with breath and her whole body was already covered with a white blanket.

I hope the caused of her death will straighten out the conflicts between her siblings and to realize that life is so short that we have to cherish each and every moment with our love ones.

Which is which

I was scheduled for an interview yesterday around 12:30pm with one of the well-known banks here in the United States. When I was about to take a bath to get ready, somebody called me from the another bank where I applied. Asking me if I'm authorize to work here and I said yes. She called again and asking if I'm available today(6.14.07) for an interview around 3:00pm and said yes. Atleast, no waste of time.

With my 1st interview, I was really tense. Bad trip nga e, pinagpapawisan talaga ako. Buti na lang sa may armpit atleast di halata... hahaha. Basta iba feeling ko kahapon, parang gusto kong mag-cr at don ilabas ung nerbyos ko. Sabi ng asawa ko, makukuha ko daw ung job na yun. Kase daw dati di naman daw ako ganon. I guessed because Ive been waiting for this kase naman the time I came here, I already sent my application. Then its only now lang sila nagrespond. So i really don't wanna mess it up. In preparing for this day, I made an interview cheat sheet. I wrote it down all the possible questions during the interview and search for a best answer. I made my homework talaga and super review ever ako. By chance, most of the questions are from my reviewer. Pero ang tagal ha almost 1 1/2 hour din yun. As usual they will review and call me.

With my 2nd interview, its more of casual interview. Unlike the 1st one they have sets of questions but we're just like having a good conversation. Again, they'll give me call by next week.

Both interviews turned out ok. They made me feel comfortable and at ease. In a way, I made them smiled and laughed.

Late afternoon, I got a call from the 1st company and asking for a 2nd interview with another branch manager on Monday. Hay... i hope i'll get this job.

XTRA: I noticed here that, during the interview, the 1st interview was done by the hiring manager either 2 or 3 of them, a group interview to be exact. Eh, I'm not used to it pa naman. They'll explain about the company, the benefits and about the position. After the interview, they'll send you an email, regretting they offered the job to another candidate who is more qualified. Unlike in the Philippines, we have to go for a written exam, an IQ test, an essay etc. After the test, you can go home and wait for their call for an interview, that is if you pass the test or not. First, you will be interview by the HR representative, then the HR head, your direct boss. Again, they will call you if they will hire you. If not, no words from them.

Isa pang extra. Sa wakas nakakita at nakakain na rin ako ng manggang hilaw dito... Sarap!

The place with the word "New"

My husband and I, had our 5 days vacation in New Jersey and New York. We stayed at my aunt's place in Jersey. The vacation was terrible in some ways... ang salarin... si mother nature!!!! Ay naku, from Day 1 to Day 5.

June 2 - Our flight from Rochester was around 5:20pm and ready for take-off. But due to severe weather in Minneapolis (connecting flight) and the airport was shut off. We were delayed by an hour. We thought that we don't have any problem since they might be delaying the other flights. We arrived in Minneapolis airport catching our breaths. And hello, ang laki ng airport, and di pa namen alam which gate kame. Finally, nakarating kme sa gate...but to our surprise, our next flight was already left. And worse, that's the last flight for that day. The agent was trying to book us in New York airport, pero wala na rin and sabi ng cousin ko, wag daw don since may terrorist threat that day kaya super duper traffic and tight securities. We had no choice but to book our flight the next day. We got the earliest flight, 7am. So sympre nsa airport kame, pano kme matutulog. Ayaw na gumastos ni Nikky for the hotel. The airlines naman only gave us discounts for the hotel since di naman nila fault yun. At first, we decided to the spend the whole night sa airport, but later on I told Nikky to call the hotel kase di kme makatulog but then again tlgang minamalas kame di naman kme makaconnect sa line. Ang ending, sa airport na talaga. Buti na lang may bukas pang McDonalds kaya kumain muna kame at saka na namen isipin kung ano gagawin. After we ate, nanood muna si Nikky ng NBA sa mga waiting area near the gates. Mukhang kme lang ata pasahero ang minalas ah. So sabi ko kay Nikky puntahan namen ung sinabi ng agent na meron silang "quiet sitting area". Pagdating namen don, aba marami rin pla ang stranded. Ung iba tulog na. Late na rin kase yun mga around 11pm na.

Ayan ako... sobrang pagod ako no! pero di pa rin ako makatulog ng matiwasay.

June 3- We arrived in Jersey around 10:30am, took some rest and headed to New York. I'll be meeting my bro and his wife, andon kase ung barko nila ngayon. Finally, nagmeet na rin sila ni Nikky after 10 years.

Meron din nagbebenta ng tubig sa kalye

Holland Tunnel... connecting New Jersey and New York. Damn shit ang traffic dito at ihing-ihi na ko... gggrrrr!!!! 1 oras na kme dito!!!

with my brother

June 4 - We stayed at home kase naulan. Late afternoon na medyo ok na yung weather, so nagpunta na lang kme sa mall. I bought a Kenneth Cole wallet... masaya na rin ako..ahehehe..

Inside the bus.

June 5 - New York Day!!! We took a train papuntang World Trade Center, pero bago ang lahat sa kamalas-malasan eh, nag call of nature ako... badtrip talaga! Buti na lang e di pa kme nakakasakay, so may I go out ako. $1.50 ang fare sa train and $1.25 naman sa bus. Nung nakaraos na ko.. Go go na ko! 1st stop, World Trade Center

still ground zero, until now di pa rin kase alam kung ano itatayo dito..

magkano kaya mga presyo dito???

ayun si Liberty!!! di na kme pumunta mismo sa statue kase ang haba ng pila at ganito kme sa ferry pag nagkataon..


Umuwi muna kme kase ung pinsan ko ang tagal dumating e naiinip na kme at the same time nakakaantok ung init.. pero nung gabi... eto na...sa Time Square!



We're planning to watch a broadway show ni Lea Salonga ung mama mia (di ako sure), kaya lang sold out na raw ung tickets.

Planet Hollywood

The M&M Store

with the NYPD

This is where the countdown during New Year

Sayang walang Wrestling that time...

Extra: Just yesterday, nalaman namen na nag-show si Criss Angel sa Time Square nung June 4. Grrrr!!!!!

June 6- Atlantic City in New Jersey. Dapat magswiswimming kme kaya lang malamig.. kaya wag na lang. Its a little Vegas.

On our way, na naligaw pa kme..sus!

June 7 - Time to go home before that, bumili muna kme ng mga tinapay like Hopia, Ensaymada, Mamon, pati mga instant noodles like pancit canton.. my favorite! Madami kasing Filipino store and restaurant sa New Jersey. Di na nga namen nadala ung iba kase maliit lang ung box namen. Ay naku, nakakainis nakita ko ung luggage ko, sira ung zipper. Nakita ko na lang nung pag-claim nmen ng baggage. Nakursunadahan na icheck ung luggage ko... bwisit tlaga! Sumakit ung ulo ko nung landing na... sobra ung air pocket. At sobrang malas kase cancelled ung flight namen sa Rochester due to weather ulit sobrang lakas ng hangin. Ibubook daw kme sa next flight, but we dont wanna take a risk at baka macancel ulit so nag-shuttle bus na nga lang kme.. $27 each. No choice na tlga kase gusto na rin namen umuwi.

badtrip na ko nyan, eto naman si Nikky kinuhaan pa ko ng picture.

THE END

X'tra: the rest of the pictures nsa wedding blog ko. I just realized na mas ok pla ung place namen compared to New York and New Jersey. Over-crowded na sila thou di naman mahirap magwork kase madaming options but high cost of living naman. And kaya ayoko rin don kase ang daming "itim" nakakatakot... ahehehe...