On Motels

Anyone who has been religiously reading my blog may have known about the painstaking process that I and my soon-to-be-colleague are going through in ironing out our working stint outside the country.

Part of the long-agreed arrangements is our shouldering of the rent expense during our stay in Seoul, though of course the choice of the house will initially be on our employer, since they know the place more than we’ll ever do.

Ella says:
Hello Mr. Kim, are you busy?
Ji Hyun says:
A bit but it's ok
Ji Hyun says:
Go ahead
Ella says:
I think Anj will be logging on in a while, and I just thought we could all talk in here about the arrangements.
Ella says:
We got your email by the way
Ella says:
Re: the email, we are perfectly fine with the proposed setup. I just would like to confirm though if HR would be able to secure the place as soon as we arrive there? That's what's just important to us.
Ella says:
I'm surprised that there are renting schemes there that can do away with downpayments.
Ji Hyun says:
They found a place but it's a bit far from our office
Ji Hyun says:
So we plan to find a place for you near office
Ji Hyun says:
What do you think?
Ji Hyun says:
Do you wanna stick with the one HR found?
Ella says:
Re: the place that they initially found, is it not at least near a subway that we could easily have access to? it's ok that the place is far in distance for as long as the subway could take us straight to the office from that place...

***Anj has been added to the conversation***

Ji Hyun says:
It does
Ji Hyun says:
There is subway station around there
Ji Hyun says:
If you want, you can stay there a couple week and then find the one while staying there
Ji Hyun says:
It's more like motel. so, you can leave there whenever you want
Ella says:
I see. Btw, I think Anj is online now.
Ella says:
May we ask where the exact address of the motel is? In what district maybe?
Ji Hyun says:
Dong Dae moon station

In a separate IM window, I got a seemingly alarmed question.

Anj says: A motel?
Ella says: wahahahaha, sssshhh
Ella says: ano ka ba, sa pinas lang panget ang notion ng motel
Ella says: wahahahahaha, futch anj, motel! Yihaa!

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The Smiley Drunkard

I will try to write it closest to how it was said. The words in bold are the loveliest to the ears.

“I can see that you smile a lot, and that you have the personality… you appear to me as someone whom I know I can always drag to some drinking spree, but will always know her boundaries." (Mr. Mokong in an interview with Ms.Are-You-Sure-You-Wanna-Get-Me?)

In short, no one can ever put a drunkard like me to bed! Bwahahaha!

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Charlie Bit Me, And It Hurt!

With nothing much to do and to expect in my life still (hohum), I stumbled upon this very,very, as in very funny video. I LOVE KIDS, I swear! They’re the most adorable living creature on earth and I could just be so happy with the thought that I am actually capable of bringing forth one! Hahaha. Lesson: It’s never really been good to put a finger on one’s brother. Even the accent won’t help. And yes, it hurts when somebody bites your finger. (Click on the title above.)

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On Elevators

An elevator was already full, so it prompted me and a companion to the same boxed pulley just next to it. Yet empty. I stepped inside with ease. Then onto my companion’s right foot stepping next. The elevator shook a little. My companion fully went inside anyway, and quickly, the door closed and descended rapidly as if some cables cut loose or something. My companion and I were able to do nothing but slap our hands against the closed door and let our fear of the rush going down to we-don't-know-where and until-when, to just hopefully end.

I then woke up. Crazy. It was like, the dream wouldn't stop until I actually wake myself up gasping for air. That was how my dream the other day went.

I need to call on Joseph, the Dreamer. Hehe.

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Putting a Clean Slate Online

I don’t really think it’s healthy to have too many accounts online. Sure, you can have two e-mail addresses to separate your professional and personal stuff, but when you’ve consumed all the popular names in the free-email services industry, it’s either you are in some really serious online business, or you’re already doing some poser jobs! Haha.

Ok, ok. I guess for as long as you’ve been taught some basic ‘accounts and time management’ rules, then having Yahoo! G-Mail, and Hotmail accounts all at the same time may seem fine. You may have all the internet time in the world to check and regularly clean them, lucky you.

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On Government Calls

Attempting a call to a Philippine government office can be the most stressful call that you’d ever have to do in your entire life. Oh yes.

You call a trunk line so you’d be sent to the right desk in the sure cluster of cubicles that exist in that office, and at times, they would forward you to the wrong table.

Then there are the government offices that would provide a particular number to call for information. You go ahead and inquire, and they would tell you to check on their website instead! But hell no, you’ve been smart enough to check on it beforehand but did not find the information that you need (hence, the reason for calling), and you explain them that. But on to their work-averse tongue and they’d say, “I’m sorry Ma’am, but the information that you're asking for is posted on the wall at the second floor of the building. I am at the lobby.” Potek.

But hey, this is my government. I have to abide by their “being the government”.

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The Quarter Life Crisis

Everybody around me seems to be in some kind of active transition in their lives. Well at least for people within my eye’s reach. And I mean friends and colleagues of my age. All for the sincerest desire of securing a better future and feeling the best out of themselves.

The Quarter Life Crisis then comes to mind and I realize that the transition may actually be a response to this stress of living the so-called life.

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House Talk on Cold Cravings

One thing sure at this stage in my life: I am oh-so dying to meet up with old friends, catch up on a myriad of things, and re-assure those friendship rings! Yada!

Despite the rainy weather today, my college friend and I craved for ice cold stuff over at Icebergs Restaurant. She had her halo-halo while I had my banana split. That’s a sure colorful eating table that we had while doing our usual, girly chat. You could just imagine.

One thing with this rather coy lady that I have as a friend is how she never fails to ask for a glass of hot water as extra service-- in fastfoods, restaurants, or even those small carinderia’s along Dapitan, Manila back in college. She even asks for two glasses at times. Then I’d see her dip her spoon and fork in one glass, and drink the other after eating. Talk about living a healthy and clean life. Haha.

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Short Hair and Friends

My new short hair sure perked itself up with accolades from people who thought it fits my face well.

“Bago ang buhok natin ah”- Boy “Onga! Bagay, bagay.”- Girl
From a cute couple whom I met the first time at an island trip, and whom I surprisingly shared the public taxi (aka, the mighty FX) with. Turned out, the guy lives in the same town as I do. Small world. Yet, we didn’t even have the slightest interest in knowing that in our first encounter.

“Uy nagpagupit ka! Bagay sa’yo.”
From my notes-freak college friend whom I had dinner with.

Teehee… thanks.

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The Short, Impersonal Interview

Said the marketing director of a local real estate developer to me, "It takes a certain level of maturity to be able to sustain work and life abroad. We have engineers and architects who get opportunities in Dubai, Riyadh, and Singapore, but you see, I personally am to help my own country so I choose to work here."

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After The Long Wait

I have just been to the Korean Embassy. And finally, here it is! Now I don't know what to expect next. I feel like rejoicing, perking myself up with travel preparations, and saying goodbyes to close friends--- but at the end of all the thinking, I calm myself and wait. There will still be more serious negotiations. Most important of which are the living arrangements for our two-year tenure. I'll update as soon as it comes final. The Immigration of Korea has granted us the E-7 Special Activities Visa.

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The Extra Vigilant

This could be the biggest sign of how I so much doubt what life brings to me, skeptic!

----------Still receiving job interviews after having my working visa approved----------

But like what I always say, I am just into taking extra vigilant actions— always on the lookout for any possible danger out of this surprisingly good slap of luck on me. Anything can still twist and happen. It’s good that I can still have something to fall back on.

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Food on Thought

There's a certain level of reflection that goes with being unemployed, especially if it's really not something that you would've wanted. Other people call it depression, but I call it food craving.

I recall the vacation that we had in the province, and this morning, fresh from bed and straight to the internet without breakfast, I remember this:

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When God Finally Gives

GOD really has a time for everything. You pray fervently for something you yearn, and He gives it to you when He thinks you deserve it the most. The time has come for you to deserve something when: * You have learned to wait. And grow the faith in Him more. * You have learned to be humble. And realize that the joy you get from what you desire is better thrown as loud thanksgiving to nobody else but Him. * You have learned to prioritize and sacrifice. And tell yourself that you can't have everything at once. * You have learned to make value of people. And stick to those you are willing to offer that yearning for. I'm now back from the province and have read my copy of the e-mail that made my soon-to-be colleague scream the O-M-G letters via text a few days ago. It is true then. I would like to think I will soon deserve what I have been praying, and head on with life forever showing Him that He was right all along. He's still keeping His pace, just enough for more strength that I can put onto my yearning's worth. I'll shout my praises when He has fully bestowed it.

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