God is already there!

Living in the US is not easy. At least, not for me. My husband is also an immigrant like me so both of us are working very hard for the future of our family. Right now, we are both in school. He is studying to become a licensed tax preparer and working on becoming a CPA while I am studying at UCLA to supplement my degree and learn new things and have fun.=)

Good things happen while Alex and I are working on our respective businesses. He topped his tax class and is now advancing to advance tax classes. Tax season is almost here and licensed preparers are in demand. I am proud of him for working so hard to be best in whatever he does. On my end, my class just ended and thankfully I got an A. I also applied for a grant for winter quarter. Hope my application gets approved. If not, I will find a way to enroll again next quarter. It is just freaking expensive to study in this country. So annoying, but something tells me it is worth it.

I am really hoping and praying that I will get into a teaching credential program next year. I have been in the US for 1.5 years now and after all that happened and I went through, it is about time to enroll in a teacher prep program. It takes a year to become credentialed and I want to start as soon as possible. I can no longer waste time.

Thank God for my greencard which helped me get around and plan these things. The day I got my greencard was one of the happiest day in my life. Alex was sooo happy too, after all the money and effort we've spent.Whew. But God is good, He answers prayers. He knows what He is doing.

God has been the author of everything that had happened, is happening, and will happen. No worries, God is already there, wherever we go and whatever we do!

Anniversary special

So two weeks ago, Alex and I went to San Diego and celebrated our anniversary there. Felicia, his cousin, was so nice to accommodate us over the weekend. Overall, it was a very nice experience. I praise God more for blessing Alex and me with a very happy marriage.

So we left in the morning of Saturday, took Amtrak train to San Diego. I thought it would be a 2-hr boring ride but when I started seeing beaches along the way, I got excited. It was my first time to see so beautiful beaches and resorts in California. I have been to San Francisco, I live in LA, but the beaches here and up north have not appealed me. San Diego beaches did!! We arrived at our destination at around lunchtime. After Felicia picked us up at the Amtrak Station, we went for a walk along the harbor in downtown. She showed us San Diego skyline which looks like a toolbox. I was awed by the waters again. The beaches are just soooo beautiful. I cannot stop admiring it. Alex always warned me, "No swimming please," and I would teased him back,"But yes to jumping, right?" The water was just tempting but I did not give in. I did not bring my swim wear. Too bad. We then headed to a school where a football game was going on. Felicia's fiance served as the coach of the team. It was fun seeing middle schoolers playing tough football. I was munching on chips on cheese jalapeno and finishing my orange juice I bought on the train while watching the game. I clapped and cheered, and admired the young cheerleaders. After Felicia's fiance Aaron's team won, they both drove Alex and me to Coronado, an island that is part of San Diego. They showed us Hotel de Coronado and we bought ice cream afterwards. We also drove to Chula Vista, the city just at the border of Mexico and California. There was a huge Mexican flag on the hills indicating that that part we are seeing is already Mexico. I saw Mexico from a distance! It was my first time to see a different country from another country a few meters away from me! We then headed to the couple's place getting ready for dinner which Alex has been longing for months.

At 8pm, wearing my shorts and black shirt with a Philippine peso printed on it, I went with Alex to Old Cafe, where the best Mexican restaurant (according to him) is located. Wearing his 'Mahal Kita' shirt, he was so happy that night to see tortilla-making being shown in public just in front of the restaurant. We had the freshest tortilla for dinner along with our respective meal.

On Sunday, we decided to go on a ferry ride to Coronado. It was just a 30-minute ride on the ocean but I really enjoyed every minute of it. We had breakfast in the island and headed back to San Diego through the ferry again. We then went hiking up in one of the short mountains. I thought it would be a nonsense hike but lo and behold, the exercise was worth it. The sight when we got on top was amazing! Blue waters are all I can see! Big and beautiful waves are a sight to behold! I could sit down there and stare at them for the rest of my life.

We went down the mountain and killed time walking on the seashore. The cold water on my feet was a tingle. The people on the sand were enjoyable to watch. San Diego is beautiful.

We went to catch the train at 4pm. It was a trip to remember. It is always nice to get away from our regular lives in LA. I proposed to Alex we should always try a different place on every anniversary we have. To visit a new state is better. I think that would be fun, especially when you're with someone you really love.

Thank you, Lord. Thank you, San Diego! Thank you, cielito! Happy Anniversary! We made it!

California 101

Well, things have been pretty crazy since the middle of this year. There were drastic changes in my life and the changes are good. For the better, as a matter of fact.

My life revolves around work, house, swimming, library, choir practice, church, and of course my husband.

Even if I already passed the California Subject Exam for Teachers (CSET) and I am already qualified to teach, I did not find a full-time teaching job that is really for me. I was in the waiting list at Oakland Unified School District, I was at the eligibility list at Pasadena Unified. I was accepted as a Substitute Instructional Aide at Burbank Unified, and I was hired by LA Unified as a teacher assistant. But I did not pursue any of them. I think I deserve more and that I might as well go back to school and take courses to help me become more qualified to teach.

So my work right now is at a company based in downtown LA. I work as an office assistant handling research and orders from Amazon.com and Overstock.com. Honestly, I enjoy what I do. The job is super busy that I cannot even notice the time passing by. The next thing I knew, it's already 5pm. I enjoy working with Paolo and Heidi, the other office personnel. There's challenge in the job. I am ok with what I am doing as long as I have something on the side. I easily get bored after work and my mind yearns to analyze and digest new things. Well, there is an instant answer to that. UCLA accepted me last week for its Certificate in Childhood Education program under its Extended Education Dept. What an opportunity to be able to study in the most prestigious university in California!I am so excited!This week, I will be able to enroll hopefully. I decided to take one course for now. I cannot afford to take more than that.

Well, as for our place, our poolhouse is still a mess. I mean, everything is in its right place but I just think Alex and I need a bigger place so we can be more organized. One very good thing about this place though is that we have a pool, just literally 5 steps from our doorstep. Since its summer, I always enjoy swimming there to have my own share of exercise. I love swimming very much that I even bought a Speedo goggles to keep my head safe from hitting the side of the pool which always happened when I close my eyes while swimming. Now with the goggles, I can freely swim around the pool without hurting myself.

Of course, I cannot forget Burbank Library where I frequent on Saturdays. Burbank residents are entitled to borrow 25 books and given 3 weeks before returning them. Libraries are always good to go to. There are always good books to read and new things to know. I am more interested in biographies of known and popular people. Ask me why. Because I am chismosa. Hahahaha.

My choir, Sole Voce of LA, has taken my time too. We have practices every Saturday and Sunday, 3-hr practices on each day. We are all Filipinos from different churches and we go to different churches to sing for the Lord and use our talents. My choirmates are really good singers. There are 20+ of them. Some of them are professional singers. We are eyeing on singing in Georgia next year. This December, we will go to San Francisco to, of course, sing. Sole Voce has become my social circle.

As for my church, I found a family at Burbank SDA Church. We are a small church and everybody feels at home. There is always love in the air and nobody is judged so Alex and I like going there. We are also active in the praise team which has practices every Thursday. We both feel very welcomed and loved under Pastor Jan's sheepfold. Thank you, Jesus.

Alex and I will be celebrating our 1st year anniversary on Sept12! Time flies really fast. Personally, I want to go to San Diego for a weekend getaway but Alex seems like to have some other plans for us. We had a long discussion over this but I think I will just trust him in this. He knows what he's doing. He has a new job now. He is already in the medical field with a team of doctors hiring him. I am so happy for him because he is happy with his job, he is not as stressed as he was in his previous job, thus we can spend more time together. He is also very well-trusted by his employers which is really cool. Plus, there is a very big room for growth.

Many, especially my parents, have been asking me if I am already pregnant. The answer is a big NO. Alex and I do not want to have children yet. We want both of us to be more prepared. We still want to enjoy each other's company. We still want to establish our career. We are young anyway. No reason to rush to have children. In time, we will have Kai and Cinzia.=)


Alex and I during our church's centennial anniversary 2 weeks ago

I miss dreaming

I have always been a dreamer. I always dream of things I want to achieve in my lifetime but lately, I have not done a lot of dreaming. And I miss it.

It always starts with looking at pictures or hearing stories about this and that. Listening to myself helps too. What do I want to do? How do I myself with years from now?

I have always wanted to travel and here I am, thousands of miles away from my home country. I still want to visit Hawaii, China, Japan, Europe, Canada, Panama, and many more!

I have always liked studying and I wanted to go to the premiere university of the Philippines after high school. Gotcha, I graduated in 2005! Now that I am in California, I want to take further studies in UCLA or CSU or CSULA. I want continuous world-class education!

I have always wanted to marry a nice, decent, conservative, tall, and handsome guy, and I have him now. Alex is one Godsend. Even if he grew up here in the US, he is more conservative than me. He is a strong foundation of our family. We're a great team.=) And everyday, we try our best to make our relationship stronger. I cannot ask for more.

I have always wanted to have a nice house and simple car. Nothing fancy. I am a simple woman. Those are still work in progress.

I want to have a baby for Alex. I cannot imagine myself yet carrying one or breastfeeding him/her. I am not even sure if I will be a good mom. Alex will be a good dad, for sure. Because of the love that we share, I think it's not a bad idea to have a 'souvenir' of the strong bond that we share. As a matter of fact, I am excited to see how our future children would look like. Tall with black hair? Short with black hair? Hairless? Brown skin? dark brown skin? Curly or straight hair? We plan on having two - Kai and Cinzia. While I am concerned on how our children would look like, Alex is more concerned on how are they going to behave. Sigh* So serious..

Let me continue.. I dream of working at a tall and classy corporate building wearing corporate attire with pumps, light makeup, and my laptop. That is the perfect picture for my dream career. I will be well-educated (with a PhD wishfully) with a stable job at a stable and prestigious company.

Dreaming...It feels soo good. It's nice to dream because it makes you focus on what you want to achieve in your life. Dreams all start in the mind, don't they?

hey!

It's been a long time huh. Well, been going around LA for job interviews. I finally got a job in downtown. It's with an online business company. I am one of the secretaries/clerks who work closely with the owner. I like the job because it is busy and there is no idle time. There are just so many things to do.

Good news!I already passed the California Subject Exam for Teachers (CSET) and I can already teach anywhere in the state. I am actually hoping for a full-time teaching job this coming September but if I cannot, it is still okay. It is still a win-win situation for me. I already have a job. I went to a teaching job interview last Wednesday and I had a 45-minute teaching demo. Well, the experience was really good. Let us wait and see and pray.

So working in the US is not easy. I need to leave the house at 6:30am so I can make it to work at 8am. Every night, I arrive around 7am at home. By that time, I am already tired. But it's still fun to cook and press my housewife mode button whenever I get home. Alex does not arrive until around 7:30pm so I usually make sure food is ready before he arrives.

What else can I say? Well, I need a car soon. I will save up for that.

work permit and SSN aftermath

Ok, so I got my work permit in April and my social security number 2 weeks ago. Meaning, I can finally look for a job that I want! No. My work permit just simply means I need to work on my desired career and not just any other job. Since I got my work permit, I've always had at least one interview every week. Praise God for that! With the recession and rising unemployment rate in California, my pace is not bad. I give God all the glory for that.

So what is my job now? Well, I am working on becoming a certified teacher. I need to take exams and education units to reach that goal. While I am doing that, people who know me very well know that I cannot just sit down and wait. I need to do SOMETHING. I need to WORK!! So I applied and applied, resulting to interviews scheduled week after week after week.

Week 1 - I was in Oakland with my husband for a job teaching interview. The Oakland Teaching Fellows invited me for a 6-hr interview. After two weeks, they told me I am on the waiting list because the Oakland School District made some budget cuts, but they encouraged me to continue keeping in touch with them because once a slot is opened, they will offer me a teaching position.

Week 2 - I was interviewed for a Receptionist/Marketing Assistant position for a skin care clinic in Glendale. A Filipino aesthetician owned the clinic. They hired me right on the spot. It's part-time and I get to write press releases, assist in marketing, invite more clients to come and avail of our services, etc.

Week 3 - I was interviewed by a staffing company for a Receptionist position at a medical office. The doctor really wants a Filipino receptionist. The interviewer really liked me and he already oriented me how the job should be, the pay, and the employer but...I changed my mind. After all the orientation, he told me I will be working on a Saturday and it is required. I politely told him I am not able to do it for religious reasons. We called it a day. Until now, the position has not been filled up yet.

Week 3 - I went to a building near my husband's workplace. A Marketing firm called me the day before for a Receptionist position but the guy said, my personality fits more for a Marketing position. Two days later, he called me and said I got the job and I will do marketing FULL-TIME. Waaah. I do not think I still want a marketing job. Enough is enough.

Week 4 - I had an interview yesterday for a Teacher Assistant position at a school in North Hills. It's high-performing, especially in Math and Science. Out of almost 20 Teacher Assistant job applications I did last week, only this school replied. This is how hard it is to find a job right now. Anyway, the interview went well. The Principal and the School Coordinator were basically asking me about my teaching experience in Palau. They said I am qualified. They will let me know next week what are the next steps to do. The school district has requirements I need to comply. School starts in September and so I still have time to do all the tests and they still have time to do background checking.

Week 5 - Interview on Monday next week for a Hotel Clerk position. Instructional Aide Test with Burbank Unified School District on Friday.

There you go. I really do not know where will I be in the next days/weeks. Let God lead me. I enjoy doing interviews and jobhunting. How I wish there's a job that entails jobhunting and be paid for doing it forever. I would love to have that job. I love jobhunting so much, but I just hope and pray I will not get stuck doing this for a long time, unpaid and unemployed. Of course, I want to have a stable job with benefits and retirement plan.

Let us wait and see. All I can do is do my best and let God do the rest.

Ok, here are updates.

Got sick. Whew. I thought it was swine flu but thank God, it's not. I am better now except for the cough.

I have been busy studying for the CSET on May17. I hope and pray I will make it.

The trip to the north was awesome!!

I got my work permit, finally. The jobhunting is on! Well, not until after I finish the test on May17 and I hear from Oakland.

Goals/Prayers: to find a stable job and to normalize my life with Alex.

hello world!

After almost two years, I had guacamole again today. A friend made one for my lunch. It was really good. It was my first time today to actually like guacamole. Having a Hispanic husband did not work for me before, but homemade guacamole is actually good, I realized. The one I had for lunch today was better than the ones in restaurants. I have always liked avocados and so Diane and I just mashed one avocado, add a little tabasco and salsa, put a little rice vinegar, sprinkle some onions and salt and pepper, and squeeze a lime into it. That's it. My guacamole was perfect. I plan to do it at home so Alex can enjoy it too. With my guacamole was quesadilla with cheddar cheese inside. Hmmm.. It was just perfect!

Anyway, I have been busy lately. I have two, no, three major preparations to do. I will have a 6hr teaching interview on the 26th and I have an interview with the USCIS for my permanent resident status on the 30th.I will do the former in Oakland and the latter in LA. These are places in opposite directions. My mind lately was full of bus and train schedules, hotel bookings, studying, mailing registration materials to Evaluation Systems and my transcript to AERC, following up my registration/application, collecting proofs of union including pics, tax documents, and other papers that are asked for by the immigration. It was fun! I like being busy anyway. Every moment of it was worth it. I like planning and preparing for something good to happen!

And there's this CSET on May 17. Hopefully, the Evaluation Systems would approve my application for alternative testing arrangement. I really cannot take it on a Saturday.

What else? Hmmm.. A close friend and I reconnected after a slight misunderstanding a year ago. We talked for almost 30mins on the phone and it was just like the old days. She just opened an online business called Pinoy Takeout (www.pinoytakeout.com) and this is for OFWS who want to send food and/or flowers to their loved ones in Pinas. So, to all OFWS, check the website out. I personally think the business is a brilliant idea.

I have been toying on the idea of having a 2nd wedding in the Philippines when Alex and I visit Pinas. It will still be a simple one but for sure, my parents and immediate family will be there. All my friends will be invited, and it will be on a beach setting!! Originally, that was what Alex and I wanted but because of money and time constraints, we were not able to do so. I am excited to do it! Hope it will be soon!=)

Speaking of weddings, Alex and I served as emcees of the wedding reception of our friends Eden and Stan on April 5. It was cool that we were able to do it together. My husband was soo good. He made the audience laugh. He just knew what to do when he's in front of people, because he loves to be so. It's so funny that at the end of the celebration, some people asked us, "You two are good together. Are you together?" Alex said, "Yeah, shes my boss." Hahahaha

I will tell stories more next time. I will surely take pics in Oakland! Pray for me guys. I need this teaching job.=)


Eden and Stan's wedding in Riverside

just random thoughts

Man, it's already April 2! "Time flies so fast" is an understatement. I have been in California for 10 months now and I still feel like I just arrived and I am still new to the place and I just got married. Wow.

My life has been pretty messy here, though. I am still not satisfied with where Alex and I stand right now but so far, we've been blessed. We have surpassed the trials, he has an OK job, we have a church that loves us, we have things we get busy with, we have many things to look forward to. Just when I was so depressed one day, we received a letter from USCIS about our scheduled interview on April30, and two months of waiting time is blessing enough compared with 6months to 2 years for others! God is still very good to us. In my 10-month stay here, He has taught me patience because I do not have that. My friends, family, and husband know that. I wanted to work so badly though I should not. I wanted to adjust with American life right away though I have only been here for a short time and I do not even go out that much. So many things I want to do but I cannot. I am still a baby in this country. It takes time to grow up. Patience, Rica. It pays to be patient.I have been praying hard to be one and so far, God has been helping me. So happy..It has results I did not imagine to see.

April 30 would be a turning point for me. After that, the challenge of getting a job begins. The journey of getting to the real world starts. I am anxious. I do not know what will happen, what career path will I be in, who are the people I will be with, where will I be..or, will I even get a job?? In California alone, the unemployment rate is 10%. That is high. Even degree holders lost their jobs due to recession. Even government employees arent secured anymore. It's a scary reality. So many uncertainties lie ahead. To whom will I hold on to? My husband is here, very supportive, very encouraging, loving, and he's been a very good guide to me, but he cannot help me in the fulfillment of my dreams. He can encourage me all he wants but it's still me and our God who can make everything possible. I need to use my knees and have the faith that everything will get in place in His own time. I have been in this state before, when you're on a dead end and you do not know what's next to happen. Worse, you're blindfolded. At that point in 2007, God and I were holding hands on that dead end and He opened a door for me in Palau. All the while I thought I'd only stay in my home country but God did something out of the blue, a very good opportunity for me to explore the world and appreciate Him more. I feel like I am on a dead end right now, holding hands with God and waiting where He would lead me. Just like what He did to me before, I am sure He will do a beautiful surprise to me again, a life that is in tune with His will. It's about time, Lord. I cannot wait until that interview ends. I cannot wait until you'll show me where to go and what to do!!! I cannot wait! Ooops, I mean, I will wait.=)

2009 will be a challenge. Get it on!

You are Charlie Brown:
You are tender, you fall in love quickly but you are also very serious about all relationships. . You are a family person. You call your Mom every Sund ay. You have many friends and may occasionally forget a few Birthdays. Don't let your passion confuse you with reality.

This is so true!!

***

My worst week was last week. It's my worst week ever since I arrived in the USA. I was just put in a spot that I became uncomfortable with and I was in misery. Something came up that got in the way of my family. My daily routine was ruined and that results to me freaking out.

I hope this week will be a better week. Please, Lord..

B-U-S-Y

I just realized today that I am a busy person. I actually do a lot of things. Look.

1. I am studying Language and Literacy Education in UPOU. Mind you, UPOU is demanding too.
2. I am reviewing for CBEST, the first 4-hr test I need to pass to become a certified California teacher. It will be in April.
3. I have a choir who does church-hopping almost every Saturday. Search for SOLE VOCE OF LOS ANGELES in youtube and you'll see how serious we are in God's ministry. We're eyeing on 4 concerts this year. The first one will be on the march 28.
4. I help my husband make money.
5. I have a husband to take care of. He does not require me to do so but I want to.

Wow, I cannot believe I actually have a lot of things in my hands. Once again, I have proven to myself I cannot be idle. I hate being idle.

***

Pray for me, guys. My greencard interview with my husband is on April 30.

argh!!!!

I was so mad last night. 'The Bachelor' is such a jerk.

He proposed to Melissa at the show's finale then he changed his mind 6 weeks later because he realized it's Molly he's in love with. What kind of guy is that?

DO not get me wrong, Melissa and Molly are two great girls. They are loveable and mature enough to handle a relationship but Jason, the guy, is such a fickle. Argh. I hate guys like that. He does not know how to take care of a girl's heart.

He already proposed to Melissa so he should be responsible enough to be true to his words. I like what Melissa said about engagement and marriage as a one-time thing. It's one stage in a person's life that you should not play with or take for granted. When you're engaged, you are already committed. There's no turning back. There's no backing out. If feelings change, work for it. Feelings come and go. Love is a decision. It's not based on feelings. I do not think Jason is ready for a commitment. Look, he is divorced and that means he can easily break a promise. And now, he breaks off an engagement. Again, he can easily break a promise. What kind of guy is that?

I like Melissa's parting words, "Do not call me. Do not text me anymore. Leave me alone, please." That was strong. That was courage.

If I were Molly, I'd have 2nd thoughts of accepting Jason back. She really should know more about him. His commitment is unquestionable. He can easily dump something. He can easily leave someone he promised the world to. He does not know what he is talking about. DOes he know what really love is? His statement, "Wish I can control what I feel. Wish I can control my mind" does not tell a person who knows what love is. Feelings are just part of love, but they are not the main ingredient of such a beautiful thing and so, yes, Jason, you can control your mind and heart by being responsible and mature. Grow up, man.

I have been with jerks before. They said they loved me but they're not strong enough to fight for the relationship with me. They did not know how to be the leaders of the relationship. They did not know how to care of my feelings. They did not know how to be responsible. Actually, they did not know what love is. I am so blessed to have ended up with Alex. Even if we have ups and downs, we always work for our relationship, and he leads the way. Love is an everyday thing. It's not an easy road to take but because we are committed to work it out, we are happy with each other every single day.

Love is commitment. Love is a principle. Love is a decision. Make that decision and the feelings will just follow.

conversations

One night, Alex was really sleepy while I was still studying..

Alex: Langga, goodnight. Dream of me tonight.
Rica: What? YOU dream of me.
Alex: That's the plan. (zzzz)

***

Last Saturday, I was torn between going to observe my choir in Palos Verdes church or meeting Alex's dad and brother. They're driving one hour from Lancaster just to see us.

Rica: Believe me, I want to hang out with your dad, but, just curious, are you open to the possibility of me going with the choir while you meet with your dad and brother to have guys' hang out?

Alex: Yeah.(pause) But I won't be happy.

So I stayed and waited for his family to arrive.=)

marriage

Marriage is hard. Now I believe my mom when she told me that.

Do not get me wrong, I do not regret marrying my husband. He's the best for me. I know I could not find anyone who's as nice, understanding, loving, and smart as him. Everybody, including those Filipina women in church, who knows him always tell me, "He's nice. You made a good choice." I know I made the right choice. No doubt about that. But we're still two different people with our own likes and dislikes. Everyday, we communicate. We re-commit. We flirt. We laugh. We hug. Sometimes we argue. We cry. We get tired and frustrated. This is marriage and I am very much ready to continue facing this big forever partnership.

Though I am an optimist, I worry too. And pessimism comes with worry. And when pessimism strikes, it's so hard for me to rise and move on. I sink more than I rise. So starting today, I am going to make changes. I am going to dwell on positive things that are happening everyday in our marriage and the efforts of my husband to keep our love alive.

After all, this is how Philippians 4:8 says. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

I have realized something since I said, "I do" to Alex on September 12 of last year: Marriage is only for the strong people. I am glad I am married. =)



Happy Hearts day to my provider, friend, confidant, counselor, lover, listener, fan, supporter, partner, and spiritual partner Pierre-Alexander Glaze!

i messed up..

it's just very easy to make, but i messed up with my deviled eggs. it's supposed to look like this but mine's just, hmmm..messy and looks lousy.so frustrating.



as usual, alex was understanding about it but i didnt like it. i should have boiled the eggs a little longer, mixed the ingredients more thoroughly.sigh* next time..next time..

25 things

1. I used to have 50+ penpals in elementary and high school. i would not spend my daily allowance for snacks. instead ill use it for stamps. i’d go to the post office during recess to mail my letters. Crazy me.

2. Because I had a lot of penpals, I used to collect stamps from the letters they sent me. It was so fun! I would cut the stamps from the letter and soak them in water to separate them from the envelope. then I’d dry them under the sun. This was my sense of fun.

3. I started getting interested in geography at 10 when miss universe was held in manila in 2004. I was reallya amazed with the number of countries represented by different women with different looks, so I started looking at maps and atlases to locate those places. There I knew there are 7 continents and different cultures from different countries.

4. If I was under College of Social Sciences and Philosophy in college, I’d surely be a Sociology major. If I was into medicine, I’d want to be an OB-Gyne. Don’t know why.

5. I was not a good big sister to my younger siblings. apathetic. But now, we’ve really grown close.

6. after my graduation, I started paying the tuition fees of my younger siblings.

7. tall guys have always been my type, I just did not expect God would give me a 6’7 man. He’s the tallest man I’ve ever seen! Guys who are good in basketball are also my type but my husband doesn’t play the game. He's into soccer.

8. In college, I sold dewberry cookies.hahaha. it's either for an org's fundraising or personal needs.remember, batchmates? gosh, shameful days.hheheeh.

9. i have never liked berries - strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, either the real fruit or flavor.

10. i am a good liar. very good liar.

11. I was a broadcast communication major but ive never worked in productions since graduation EXCEPT when my boss in an ad agency where i worked part time as communication officer asked me to direct and write the script of a PhilSci AVP. it ended really good. the faculty and staff of the school liked it so much.

12. i knew i should have done more productions because i studied them for 4 years but God led me to teaching. I taught one sem in Ateneo de Davao, 3 sems in UP Mindanao, and one full school year in Palau. I taught 6th grade in Palau SDA School, a mission school.

13. I like reality shows - Homeland Security, The Bachelor, Pinoy Big Brother.

14. the best place ive ever been to is palau, a small island in micronesia.it's stress-free, very simple,full of natural resources, ocean and sunset is glorious, clean and marvelous beaches. It’s just wonderful! i had lived without cellphone and TV for a year, and I had never craved.

15. during college when everybody was talking about their plans after grad, i'd plan to go back home because 'davao needs me.' i was known for that line. hahaha.

16. i went to law school for 2months in ateneo. that was a great experience!i liked the adrenaline rush during recits.i liked staying in the library from 7am to 5pm everyday reading and studying and photocopying cases. scra was my bestfriend!!man, i miss those days!well, i stopped due to sabbath probs. sad.

17. without my parents' knowledge, i wrote their love story as an entry to chowking's greatest love story contest in february 2006. a few weeks later, my dad was surprised to have received a phone call from chowking saying they won in a love story making contest. chowking sent us lotsa gift certificates!!!

18. my favorite house chore is folding clothes. lavit!

19. i only learned to eat cereal, spinach, bell peppers, onions, celery, and hot pockets when i arrived in california last year.

20. im enjoying my studies in UP Open Univ very much!!!i didnt expect my gad studies would turn out this exciting!my major is Language and Literacy Educ.

another desperate attempts

so last night, i watched homeland security again. my eyes were all on TV, never did I leave even during commercial breaks. I would not want to miss any detail of the show. That's how much I like the show. I can feel thrill, challenge, fun, and seriousness at the same time.

Here are a few of the real-life situations that were shown last night:

1. Puerto Rico is already a US island territory so once you step there, you're already in US, though it's not part of the mainland. 93 Dominicans were spotted on a sinking boat by a high-tech manless plane that has high-end microscopes connected to the Customs and Border Patrol on land. They were headed towards Puerto Rico, hoping they'd get a better life. On their way, winds were strong and waves were angry. Their lives were at risk. US Coast Guard and Customs collaborated to save those 93 people. They sent a bigger boat in the middle of the night and off they headed back to Dominican Republic to return the hopeful illegal migrants. There were mothers and father, young men and women,and teenagers on that sinking boat. Already safe, a few people were interviewed and they said that looking for a better life and future is what pushed them to go to Puerto Rico. They wanted to leave Dominican Republic because there are no jobs there, no future, no improvement. I could empathize with these people.Sigh*

The US Coast Guard learned that the leader of their illegal adventure to Puerto Rico is the man whom they have been looking for since 1998 because of human smuggling, big-time smuggler he is. After arriving in Dominican Republic, ten of the 93 passengers, including that big-time smuggler, were sent back to US for federal punishment because of their criminal records. They're now detained.

2. In Miami airport, while passengers were getting their things from the luggage area, the airport alarm sounded off. All TSA people, Border agents, and other security officials were alarmed and shooed all the passengers to leave the area. A certain travel bag was suspicious. It was the cause of the alarm. They found it and all of them were anxious what's in it. They called a Drugs and Narcotics representative and another who's trained in Explosives. They would not open the bag until those who are called would arrived. Everybody was nervous. They're all serious. What could be in the bag? It could not be something light because the airport alarm went off. They found the owner of the bag and he's a crippled man. He was interrogated and compelled to open the bag. All eyes were on the bag, all mouths shut up, everybody was anxious and silent...they're all waiting for the owner to open his bag. The man's hand went down the bag and guess what he got from down there? Hmmm... A massager!!It was vibrating and so it sent signals around the area which caused the alarm to sound off. I could hear every official made a sigh of relief. The supervisor then shouted, "Everything cleared." And they all went back to their work. Whew.

3. A huge truck was passing by the border of Mexico and Texas. The driver was stopped for inspection. He was detained for a few hours for interrogation because up in his truck, a family was found - the parents and their son. The driver claimed he didnt know anything how the family got in there. Both parties were interviewed separately and the man was released and allowed to go to US after he convinced the Border agents about his innocence. The family, on the other hand, was sent back to Mexico. I cannot believe people can do that, risking a fellow's integrity for their selfish desires.

These are just a few of the stories featured last night. I cannot wait for next week's episode!

Homeland Security USA

I have a new favorite TV show and the title of this entry is the show itself. As I always tell Alex, I like reality shows. Homeland Security USA depicts real life situations that happen in international airports, borders, and other entry points of legal and illegal aliens getting to US. It is very challenging to watch how border patrol agents and members of TSA detect suspicious travellers and drug lords crossing the border to the US. I will tell you some situations in the last three episodes showing how desperate and stupid people can be in their desire to enter this country.

1. There is this Hispanic man in an JFK airport in NY that was about to throw up while waiting for his luggage. The TSA members were alarmed and guided him to a bathroom. Still he did not feel well. So he sent him to a doctor who performed an Xray of his stomach. Alas, 28 1.5-inch pellets were found inside him! They guided him to the bathroom again and asked him to throw them all up. He released 5 of them. When TSA inspected what the pellets are, they discovered there's heroine inside!Sigh* All 28 pellets in his tummy is worth $100,000!!! Stupid.Stupid.Stupid.

2. Another interesting situation happened in the border between US and Mexico. A woman was walking to a bridge that connected the two countries. What caught the border patrol agents' attention was, she was covering her mouth with a mask. They confronted her about it and did interrogation. She removed her mask and claimed she had a dental work done. She even showed the cotton inside her mouth. When the agents asked for her green card, she showed them a card with a different face. The face on the greencard looks chubbier and cheeky, so that explains why she was wearing a mask and pretended to have dental work while crossing the borders so her face would appear cheeky and chubbier. She said somebody sold the greencard to her and the money she spent for that was her savings for 5yrs. She looked sincere and telling the truth. Her face was not a face of a deceitful woman. She said she did not know what to do in Mexico after they'd release her. She does not have family anymore. When she was about to cry, the agents started going to the bathroom one by one to wipe their tears. They understood the situation but they had to do their job. They let her go back to Mexico with good and encouraging words.

3. One car in US-Mexico border 120 miles from San Diego was about to pass inspection successfully when a K-9 dog approached the car and would not let go. The dog went round and round the vehicle. The agents were concerned because they already inspected everything in the car and the driver was cleared. But the dog knew more than that. It smelled the tires one by one, and round and round the car. The agents went to touch the tires and there, they sensed something inside. They cut one of the rubber tires and there, they saw packets of drugs. Man, another desperate guy. So they led the driver aside and did processing.

These are just some of the situations shown in my new favorite show. Reality. Drama. Challenge. Intellect. Instinct. They're all in Homeland Security USA.

I want to be a border patrol someday!=)

i miss emilia.

Emilia was my favorite singer in high school. I really liked her song "Big, Big World" which was a hit in the US and UK before. I forgot about her for years after high school and today I looked for her in youtube. I found out she recorded more songs and produced more albums. I listened to some of her new songs and I realized I still like her, she is still my favorite. Her songs are pop-like and the messages deal with coping with real-life situations. They are also about being positive in life and being good about yourself. They are encouraging and inspiring, that's why I like them. This is one of her songs that I like, "Good sign."



Isn't she good? Isn't she pretty too? She's half-Ethiopian, half-Swedish.She is so simple too. She does not need heavy makeup and extravagant and sexy clothes to send her message across.=) I love Emilia now.

2008 talk

What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Staying in US for 6months.. travelling on a train for 7hours alone and penniless (but with ticket,of course)..Getting married. Yeah, I was never married before.

Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Didn’t have resolutions, only goals. I did not expect though I'd change my mind in not finishing my contract in Palau.

Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes, Pastor Edgar's wife in Arizona! Finally, an angel came after 3 failed pregnancies.

Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no.

What countries did you visit?
Early January, I was going back to Palau through Japan and Philippines. From then on to May, I was in Palau. June, I was in Davao. The last half, I was in US. Stopovers: Guam and Hawaii.

What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Maturity.

What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Sept 12, 2008 - I became Mrs. Glaze!Yay!

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
My marriage with my loving husband.

What was your biggest failure?
Not finishing my missionary contract in Palau. I needed to go.=(

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Sprained ankle because of too much excitement to chat with my then-boyfriend.

What was the best thing you bought?
A $79 dress, more expensive than my wedding dress. Waaah.

Whose behavior merited celebration?
My brother in law's. He just started dating after 8 long years. What's amazing is that, the girl is my close friend.

Whose behavior appalled you and made you depressed?
Mr. J's in Palau..A jerk.

Where did most of your money go?
Saving for my change of status. Whew.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Travelling to another countries! Studying in UPOU!

What song/s will always remind you of 2008?
Still thinking.

Compared to the previous years, are you:
a. Happier or sadder? Happier.
b. Thinner or fatter? Fatterrrrr.
c. Richer or poorer? Richer, but still not enough, US-wise.

What do you wish you'd done more of?
Saving money. Pray more.

What do you wish you'd done less of?
Wasting time being angry and jealous of someone who does not even deserve my attention.

How did you spend Christmas?
With Alex's family over turkey, salad, pumpkin pie, and lemonade. The roasted turkey is the best!

Did you fall in love in 2008?
Yes, with my husband again and again.

What was your favorite TV program?
PDA and a telenovela of Claudine's. I watched them over pinoychannel.tv. I am very fond of Grey's Anatomy now.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hmmm...not really.

What was the best book you read?
I have read some books but they're not really good.

What was your greatest musical discovery?
Singing.=)

What did you want and get?
Visa and marriage.

What did you want and not get?
Work permit.

Favorite film of this year?Have not watched a lot of movies.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
My mom prepared food and invited my high school friends at the last minute. My mom's the best! I was 24.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A career that would satisfy me personally and financially.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?No fashion sense, but I am learning to dress according to the different 4 seasons though.

What kept you sane?
God and His promises.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Alicia Keys. Patrick Dempsey.Just because of their looks.

What political issue stirred you the most?
Prop 8

Who did you miss?
My family back in davao!

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Do not stop dreaming and setting goals.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Cant think of anything.

The most touching experience you've had in 2008?
Surprising Alex with his favorite San Jose Sharks jacket.

What did you like most about yourself in 2008?
Was still goal-oriented.

What did you hate most about yourself this year?
That I couldnt control my emotions. I still easily get emotional.

Was 2008 a good year for you?
Yes. Too many challenges.=)