CHRISTmas greetings

Have a blessed celebration everyone.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS! c",)

WhaT is HOMESICK?!

Homesickness (or in some cases, Nostalgia), is the distress or impairment caused by an actual or anticipated separation from the specific home environment or attachment objects.

Believe it or not but I don't normally feel homesick though I'm so far from home. I guess living in a dorm during college days and in an apartment during my Hitachi days make me so used to being away. Besides, I have my brother (our eldest) and his wife around and their presence somehow makes me feel a piece of home. I also have my college friends here plus some office friends and my weekend is never idle because of them.


Isa pa, dito I could do more things. One example is diving. It's expensive in Pinas. And so only those richy rich could afford such activities. In short, am having fun here. And I'm not missing home much...

Uhm, not until recently.



Mom, Dad and my four pamangkins were here last October. It was a very short stay - roughly 10 days. But they were here just in time for my birthday. (My birthday is 25th. They were here on 24th evening, almost 25th mn. Their flight was supposedly a week earlier but due to the kid's exams in school, they had a change of sched.) Btw, my birthday was just an added reason on why they went here. They have some other agenda. Nevertheless, their presence added much joy to my day! I'll post my so late entry 'bout my party soon.

Our place was a mess those times. Imagine having 4 kids in the room! Yet the feeling of going home after a looong day at work excites me knowing that I'll see Mom and Dad plus the kids again. Bago pa lang ako makauwi, tatanong ko na kung san kami pupunta. My kuya and ate decide on where to go. Sila ang may mas free na sched.

Mom and Dad enjoying the view

Family souvenir

Tourists =)

Li'l Pink Girl and Li'l Green Boy

The KiDz Hannah Banana and Daddy with the super messy background

Me and Li'l Me

Luv this li'l girl

It was Nov. 3 (3am flight) when they went back to Pinas. The room seems empty when they left. Sob!

Friday last week I called Mom:

Ma: Uwi ka naman (for Christmas) kahit 5 days lang. Naho-homesick ako e.

Me: Ano ka ba, Ma?! Nasa HOME ka kaya! =)

The conversation made me laugh for a while but later I realized sana nga I could go home.

Symptoms in homesickness may be emotional, cognitive, or physical. In extreme cases, physical health problems accompany the hallmark symptom of homesickness, which is preoccupying thoughts of home. Most people describe homesickness as a want or longing to be back home, continuously missing their parents, spouse, relatives, friends, mates, pets, and aspects of their familiar environments. People may describe their feelings as a deep sadness, depression, frustration, anger, or hopelessness...Symptoms may include cramps, ulcers, diarrhea, headaches, tense muscles, vomiting, tears, crying and withdrawal, etc.

I knew I'll miss my FAM. But I never thought I'll have this extended feeling of Homesickness. Dec na kaya! Hindi naman ako ganito last year. Hhhmmm, kaya cguro lately I'm becoming sickly.

GeN naho-HOMESICK na OFW

Can't sleep

I was lying on my bed for more than a couple of hours but i just can't sleep. Sabi nila sa mga ganitong pagkakataon daw na d ka makatulog may nag-iisip daw sayo. Totoo kaya iyon?

I guess.

Dahil sa mga oras na ito may isang tao na sa tingin ko ay d makatulog dahil naiisip ako - ang Mommy ko. She's missing me. And I'm missing her too.

ApPLe of the eye ng Mommy ko

just a little unwell

Today is one of the very few times that I stayed home the whole day... Yes! That is because I'm not so well.

I don't wanna say I'm sick. I'm just a little unwell.

It started with colds yesterday. I usually don't take medicines pag may sipon. Pero since may nagmagandang loob to give me some meds and a bottle of lemon juice, I took colds tablet and have a short rest (I got out from work early). I still have a function to attend to sa gabi - NAMA-UAE General Meeting.

I was okei naman during the event. Buti hindi ako hinaching ng hinaching dun kagaya nung nasa office ako. I was home past 12 am and decided to take rest agad.

And this morning, it isn't the usual okei feeling. But i need to get up. Hindi na rin naman kase ako makatulog. Started doing the laundry after the morning rituals and a not so hearty breakfast. My brother has been doing the laundry the past weeks so it's time na ako naman.

I started feeling cold again this afternoon even after two tablets of Paracetamol! And now my eye bags are puffy na parang I haven't slept.

I hope tom I'll be SO WELL.

HaPpY HaPpeNiNGs ...SEPTEMBER Rewind!

Sept. 1 - Dinner Celebration at Baitong
Congratulations Ate Catz for being one of UAE's licensed driver!

For all those who doesn't know, it isn't easy to get a driver's license here. Hence, this event really calls for a celebration.

while the others are getting ready, the rest are having photo sessions

Teng-teng (Captain Barbell Dubai Version) & Me

(Wishing to be slim) Me & (Fatty) Xandz

Time to Eat
She's eating much & it isn't new

Gwapo (Handsome) c Josh

Cuties! =)

Kiddos

Purple & Pink & oily faces

ApPLe, Ate Cathy & Leyz

September 1 is also the start of Ramadan kaya naman office hrs is shortened. For me, 2 hrs less time sa work! Wow! =)

Sept. 5 - Ate Bing's Birthday Celebration
Another special occassion for the barkada. Everyone's at the mansion (that's how we call the flat in Bur Dubai. It's so spacious, that's why).

picture...

...picture!

gifts presentation...

bday girl with Ton-Ton & Tin-Tin

with our Ate Beng with Jun-Jun, Anne & Tuni

with Teodz

with K. Francis & Me

macho daw, happy birthday girl & long haired me (Ate Bing showing her golden make-up kit)

with the barkada's new couple, Xandz & Ate Cathz (& their gift from Ace hardware)another shot for their bonggang Lacoste gift (uhm, d lang kita. hehe!)

Ate Loves with Kuya Loves... LV gift! sosyal! =)

Time to do VIDEOke...while drinking the nyt away

Sept. - Coffee Chizmizan at Starbucks & Burger King
Nothing to celebrate. Just wanted to unwind.

Partners still

Johnz, para kanino 'tong picture natin? charing!

Since Starbucks is closing earlier than we wanted to go home, we decided to head to Burger King.

More chika, more photos...

E, bakit ako lang? super close up pa! =)

let's have some group photos...

hindi masyado kita c Johns

again (take 2!)...

Birdz, you're not so kita
again (take 3!)...

Ayan! =)
hindi naman kami sobrang masaya ng lagay na 'to! =)

Acknowledgment:

Sept. 1 & 5 photos are taken (using his DSLR), re-sized & sent by Xandz.

Starbucks & burger king photos are taken by Teodz, Johns & Birdz using my camphone & Birdz' digicam.

Note:

This post has been in my drafts folder for the longest time! hehe! =)

Another set of happy moments that I could look back to.

THANK YOU, guys! =)

SiLeNCe

My blog has been silent for quite some time. Not that i don't have the time to blog. Just preferred reading instead of writing during the past weeks. There are so much to blog about. A lot of things happened the past month and the recent weeks.

Soon i'll have a rewind of those good & happy days. The sad ones? Guess it would be better not to write about those times... today, actually, is one of those not so good times... =(


Apol on emote mode

_______________________________________________________________________

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plansto prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

FridaY FuN DaY c",)

10 October 2008

We (my Dubai Kapamilya friends) had a chance na magkasama-sama kahapon. They called me and asked to go sa Mansion. I though t we'll just hang out at magkukulitan to the max sa bahay. Alam ko pupunta rin kase ung College schoolmate namin who was here pla early this year pa (pero hindi sya natuloy). Hanep naman may pupuntahan palang party, wala akong kaalam alam. My get up? The usual Bur Dubai (that's where the mansion is) japorms - shirt, shorts & sneaks. Buti na lang children's party naman pala, sa Burger King. It was Jayron's (ate Bing's Nephew) 7th bday. I had a great time eating. haha! PG talaga ako! Hindi naman obvious, d ba Kuya MM? I mean Kuya Francis! =)

(MM = Matandang Mayaman)

After the party, there has been a plan of going out. But later we decided to just stay at the Mansion and just have some bottles of beer and do our fave past time - Videoke and kulitan! I decided to stay. But since I have pasok this (usual KJ) Saturday, I went home muna to get my things. Salamat sa driver.

Everyone was there, as in complete ang cast of characters! =) Sayang lang I wasn't able to take photos. I have a couple of pix taken using my phone but I look super taba so i will not post it here. haha! (Okay, fine. the photos are not lying. I really am mataba. Pero basta hindi ko ishe-share ung photos!) C Xandry kase was not feeling fine kaya walang picture, picture. (O, sya magpagaling para maraming picture sa susunod... un pla un!)

Well, I had fun. Really!

Sa mga fans kong nakakaaliw, u made the night FUNnier. Kumuzta na lang sa inyo... Hi, Kuya MM & Jhun! (wag na natin isama cna Teodz, Johnz at Xandz, masaya na sila) Wag kayong mag-aaway! charot! =)
Hindi naman siguro ito mababasa ng mga hopefully soon to be GF's nyo. ;)

Note:
I had half the tall red horse can last night, slept at 2am but still able to get up on time and not even having the usual antok feeling at work today.

Conclusion:
Red horse if not overly consumed and drank at a speed of 1 gulp per 30 min. would have an effect much like of caffeine. haha! =)

This' just ain't Me

My friends know me as Maka-MASA (masandal-tulog) girl, I easily get to sleep ke asan pa 'ko basta nakasandal, maayos man ang pwesto o hindi lalo na pag idle or bumibyahe. But lately, medyo hirap ako makatulog agad and I'm having mabababaw sleeps. In fact, yesterday I was able to watch Aga and Anne's "When Love Begins" ng buo at ni hindi dinalaw ng antok. Considering na nakahiga pa ko nun. Then we started another movie, ung "Close to You" nila Bea, John Lloyd & Sam. No signs of antok pa rin but I transferred from the sofa kung san nakasiksik at nakatulog na c Kuya Francis (naunahan pa nya 'ko sa sleeping session!) to the cushioned floor thinking it would be more comfy & I could have a nap. I just wanted to sleep so being puyat won't show in my face. Note that I had only around 4 hrs of sleep the night before (or should I say that morning kze Ate Catz & I slept at 6am!). Yah, nakatulog ako pero it's so mababaw nagigising ako sa bawat daan ng mga kiddos who are playing around. Normally, kahit umiiyak pa cla sa tabi ko hindi pa rin ako nagigising.

Then, this morning I heard my phone ringing. So, what's unusual about that? The fact that it was able to wake me up at 5 o'clock and the phone was placed malayo from the bed. After asking, "Pol, ano nga ung stone na sabi mo sa'kin nung nasa SGP tayo?", she said, tulog na daw ako ulit. huh?! Oh well, that's my mom! I closed my eyes hoping na makakatulog ulit. I wa able to but was up again before 6am.

This sleeping problem started last Thursday or may be last Wednesday. This isn't normal. And this' just ain't ME!

ApPLe
(hindi na yata) Maka-MASA girl

Being Away

I called my mom yesterday morning (past 9am in UAE, past 1pm in PI). She said she was in a Doctor's clinic to have her eyes checked. Tinanong ko kung sinong kasama nya. Sabi nya, "Wala.". My dad is in Manila. He needs to buy some stuff. But she said she's okay then later cuts the conversation as it is already her turn.

It saddens me na malayo ako. Kung nasa Pinas ako at least she'll have a company sa mga check ups nya. I could ask her to have her check ups scheduled on wkends para wala akong work or I could make paalam sa work if the need is urgent.

Hay, malungkot! This is one of the hardships one has to bear being away from his/her Family. Mahirap maiwan, dahil naranasan ko na yan when I was in Pinas and my mom is working abroad. Pero mahirap din ung ikaw ang nasa malayo. You can't be there right away pag gusto mo o pag alam mong kelangan ka nila.

This morning, I've learned that my officemates' (sisters cla) father passed away. Kahapon daw. Imagine the agony, kahit gaano nila kagusto to see their dad agad, to hug their mom, they cannot immediately do it. Iiyak ka then later kelangan mo ma-realize ang mga dapat mong gawin... agad! hey, kelangan mo mag-check ng earlieast available flight pauwi and have your things ready... sad!

Pero hindi lang sa kanila nangyari 'yan. Marami pa sa ibang officemates ko at sa iba pang Pinoys working abroad. And I pray that they'll have the courage to move on and the strength to be away again. Dahil kahit hindi pa tapos ang grievance, babalik na naman sa pagiging malayo para magtrabaho.

Sa mga ganitong pagkakataon, naiisip ko tuloy 'bakit kase umalis pa ko?'. Pro alam ko sa mga ganitong pagkakataon mas kelangan ko sabihin sa sarili ko na 'May choices ako noon pero eto ang option na pinili ko. At dahil nandito ako, kelangan kong gawin ang kelangan kong gawin.'

I pray that the good LORD would continue to bless my family (and their families) with good health & safety. And by the time na able na ako to be in Pinas for good (Don't want to be forever working abroad. Neither do i want to migrate to other country) i could still enjoy their presence at HOME.

APPLE, 27, OFW

Thank GOD it's ThUrsdaY!

I'm always looking forward for this day to come. Salamat, last working day na naman! And at this point na am not so enthusiastic bout my job, doble ang saya sa pagdating ng araw na 'to.

Tonight I can do anything. Pedeng mag-stay ng late at hindi mag-worry that i will not have enough sleep again. Pedeng super tulog! =)

Btw, one yr na pala since I first posted an entry here. Talaga naman. Ang bilis ng panahon.

Happy One Year to my page and happy Thursday to Us! =)

Cheers! c",)

Your Negotiation is Not GOOD!

What would you do if your immediate superior tells you you're skills are not good enough?

I have some items to buy na pending for the longest time. Paano ba naman isa lang pala ang pagkukunan. Ni-raise ko na 'tong concern ko sa superior ko ang sagot sakin bilhin ko muna ung iba then deal with the others later. Repeat order pala sya. Dun lang sa vendor na un nakakuha ung isang kasama ko para sa mga naunang projects (wala pa ko nun sa New Build Rig Procurement). At para sa pangatlong rig namin na nasa akin ung Purchase Requisition para sa same item lahat na ng vendors namin para sa item na un napag-inquiran ko na. Pati dun sa ibang vendors na bago pa lang nag-iintroduce sa company namin nag-inquire din ako. Pero wla clang mai-offer na ganun. Ang mga superior ko sabi kakausapin na din nila ung superiors nung vendor na pinag-requestan namin ng quote.

Ang tagal ko kayang naghintay ng quotation. Finally, sinend sa 'kin ang offer. Ang kaso 9% increase dun sa previous price nila. Tsk, tsk. Need to negotiate. Kaso talagang un na daw ang price. So cannot proceed pa rin ako sa order placement. Malaki ung percentage increase na un para sa 6 month period lang. I approached our procurement coordinator. Pagpasok ko ng rum nya medyo busy pa sya. So kahit deadmatology sya sa presence ko nagsalita ako kase hindi un titingin or titigil sa ginagawa nya until magsalita ako.

Me: This is the quotation from chuvanez for the chenez item.

Procurement Coordinator still looking at his monitor. Then turns to me and say

"Genevieve, your negotiation is not good."

He's referring to the PO made for pipes I submitted yesterday na until now nasa table pa nya kase d pa nya pinipirmahan. Same case. Previous prices cannot be retained. Eto namang mga pipes na ito kakabili mo lang 2 weeks ago ngayon iba na ang prices. (Pipe prices is a different story. Eto talagang mabilis magtaas ang presyo.)

Ewan ko pero parang d ako affected masyado. I don't know if dahil kase alam ko lang na mahilig sya mang-joke o dahil confident ako na nakipag-SUPERnegotiate ako. Pero naisip ko pa rin parang 'Huh?! Ano bang hindi ko ginawa?'

Me: Why? (Parang how come you were able to have that conclusion) Did you talk to vendors?

Coordinator: Yes. One said, you did not ask for discount how can he give you?!

Me: I asked all the vendors for discounted prices.

Coordinator having that familiar look on his face say...

One vendor will be coming tom. By the way, to whom did you talk to from this vendor (he's holding one quotation)

There he goes. Another pangjo-joke nya na naman un. Sabi na nga ba. How could he say I didn't ask for discounted prices kung hindi pala nya alam kung cnong contact person. Teka, teka, e nilagay ko kaya sa bawat PO kung cnong kinausap ko sa vendor. Hindi nagbabasa! Mapagalitan nga! Charing!

Then nag-shift na ang usapan namin dun sa item na inilapit ko sa kanya. He called the same guy who told me 'he cannot do anything with the prices given by their principal'. Sabi ni Mr. Coordinator, kakausapin nya ung bossing ng vendor. Sabi naman ni Sales Guy nasa bakasyon ang bossing nya. Oh, good excuse! Then, sabi ni Mr. Coordinator, 'do something'. Magsabi daw dapat sa principal that we are requesting for the prices. At tsaka nagsabi sya sa vendor na ang tagal nila mag-reply. "She (ako daw) was struggling to get the quotation from you." ...Oh, well glad he knows super effort ako in making kulit for the quote. He has noticed naman pala my effort. Or was it pambabawi dun sa pangjoke nya sakin.

I really never want to hear that "your negotiation is not good" line again. It's as if you were told HINDI KA NAGTATRABAHO.

Now, I'm waiting for the vendor's revised quote.


GENEVIEVE R. ATIENZA
Buyer, New Build Rig Procurement
Maritime Industrial Services
Sharjah, UAE

NaaLaLa ko lang...

Today is June 18. One month from now I should have been celebrating something (supposedly) special. If things had only worked out the way I hoped. Pero talaga lang cgurong things are not meant to be the way I dreamt na mangyari.

Medyo matagal-tagal na rin un. I'm glad i'm doin' good now, feeling better ...while still praying for the best to come.

Naalala ko lang. And I hope masaya na ang lahat.

c",)

The House PRiNCeSS Left HoMe... Again!

So I have left my comfort zone.

Hello, Dubai! I'm back! I'm sory if I am not so excited. It just feels better being home...

YeLLoW GeaRs & BLue SkieS

Went to Bicutan today to check Scuba Boy for my diving needs. I really wished I'd find something that wud fit me. Alam nyo naman ang size ko! Kahit wet suit lang sana for the dive we've been looking forward to. And look what i got.

Yellow fins not yet included in the photo kase d ko pa nakuha

No wet suit lang kase na pink or at least a touch of pink kaya i opt to have these yellow gears.

Now my yellow gears are waiting for the blue skies... hoping that the weather would allow them to experience diving in Pinas! c",)

BaDMiNToN

I am not really into sports since (1) I was an asthmatic kid at konting pagod lang sinusumpong na ko & (2) I was the type na scared to try new things. During Intramurals nung Elementary days I prefer to just watch my classmates and envy them dahil they can play and they excel. But it's good that now I am no longer having asthma attacks. And I have overcome my fear of trying new, unfamiliar stuff.

Just recently I have this want to learn Badminton. Just wanted to try another new thing after having my scuba diving certificate although d ko pa masyado naeenjoy to the max ang diving. Still have to experience diving in Anilao, Bohol & of course Palawan... but that's a different story.

So, bakit nga ba Badminton? Kase i tried playing pero I just can't hit the shuttlecock. hehe! I envy those who can play. Then my 11-year old niece and nephew are now into this sport. Nananalo pa sa competition ung nephew ko. How inggit na naman I am! So to get rid of this pagkainggit e dapat i-try ko.

One more thing... my mom insist that i should go see a (Diabetes specialist) doctor for check up. Since she's a diabetic, she's afraid i'd also be one. So last wk I had my blood & urine tested and saw the doctor the following day. The doctor's findings... I am a potential diabetic! My HBA1C is high though still within normal range. So as early as now I have to have a preventive action, diet & exercise, that is! I have to have something to do at least twice a week. Running or any sports. Sya daw she's playing Badminton 2x a wk... Ting! Badminton... That's what I will try!

I have my shoes na nga e. =)

CeRTiFieD...

PADI Open WaTer DiVeR
CoNGRaTuLaTioNs to me!

Me & my DiVinG Instructor Joel

Thanks, JoeL ...for the patience sa pasaway mong estudyante na palaging absent o nagpapare-sched, late kung pumapasok man, ayaw mag-mask clearing, nagpapa-tow kahit d pagod, naglinis ng regulator na d pa naka-tighten ang cap ng 1st stage (oi, once lang un ha!) at d pa nagsagot ng 'knowledge review' pero nagmamadali magkaron ng PADI diver's certificate. (buti pala cinertify nya ko noh?! hehe) San pa ko makakahanap ng instructor na ganyan?! =) (nambola pa e may certificate na nga! ahaha!)

Ate LoVes, Kuya LoVes & XanDrY ...weeeh! 'this the end of the beginner's first step & the start of new adventures.

c",)

So...

If someone is taking you for granted, why bother sticking with him.

SuPeRMaN Returns

Oh, yes! He's back. =)

MaaRTe daw ako!

Okay, I agree. Pero this is really me and this is how I am.



If circumstances would have your path cross with mine then you have to deal with it. And if by hard luck you were stuck with me then you have to live with it. (i'd also try to deal and live with your kaartehan naman. All of us has it. We just have this iba-ibang definition) But if by choice you have stayed with me then I would presume that you have learned to accept (and eventually love) my kaartehan.



Yah, I am Maarte. Pero hindi naman sa lahat ng bagay. And i hope you'll know that there are things in me far better than my being maarte.



c",)

NiCe VoiCe, MiSTeR!?!

A number of people told me that I have "nice" voice daw. But wait til they hear me sing. Babawiin nila ung cnabi nila! haha! ...They are simply referring to my voice when having a casual conversation especially over phone. Hhhhmmm, maybe may effect and distance o ang receiver kaya maganda pakinggan ang boses ko?

I have these experiences which I would like to share...


SToRy 1:

There's one Pinoy guy here at work who I call once in a while para sa pakikipag-coordinate ng pagbili ng materials nya. I already had an idea how he looks like kase I asked my office friend Eugene to describe him. Kaya naman nung napadaan sya sa Procurement sa Rig building alam ko na sya un. Ako, he recognized me because of the name plate on my desk. And his comment... "Uy, Gen! Ang ganda ng boses mo."

He could have remarked on how I look like in person but it was my voice that he remembers. (Mas remarkable daw kase ung voice?!)

SToRy 2:

- After negotiation -
Gen: Okay, Mr. Bunty. Thanks!
Bunty: Ah, Gen, are you eating too much honey?
Gen: - confused - Huh?! y?
Bunty: Because you're voice is so sweet. It can change anyone's mood.

AYOS naman! Actuali, it seemed like he was in a bad mood nung pagtawag ko sa kanya. It was good that I was able to uplift his mood. Several days later tinawagan ko sya for some follow up. Seems like bad trip ulit sya at d ko na nabago mood nya. Inis na yata sa pag-follow up ko ng quote... Oh, well my "sweet voice" doesn't work sometimes.


SToRy 3:

I was asking a vendor named Tony for some discounts when I just have to stop kase parang he's giggling. Sa isip ko, "Ano'ng nakakatawa sa sinasabi ko?". Then he said, "Gen, ur voice is so sweet."

Hhhmmm, magkamag-anak kaya ito'ng c Tony at c Bunty?! hehe. =)

Pero kahit ganyan ang sinasabi ng mga nakakausap ko over phone, pag nakaka-receive naman ako ng quotations "Mr." pa rin ang nakalagay before ng pangalan ko.

My SuperMan is Gone

the title says it all... =(

My HaPpY VaLeNTiNe

Who wouldn't be touched by a surprise bouquet on VaLenTiNe's day? I just thought no one would care to give me flowers this Hearts' Day. The roses alone made my day. A big THANKS!

the YeaR that WAS

2007 has been another year of blessings. Though d lahat ng kaganapan ay MaGaNDa at MaSaYa, still it's a year one has to be THANKFUL for.


Sa nakaraang taon, I made a life-changing decision. Yah, every decision naman e life-changing. Pero eto MAJOR. I've decided to move, let go, change career, go on -have a life make-over. In the process, I've made new friends, made stronger bonds with some old pals, gained new learnings, realized unknown facts, discover new things, had the guts to try those i won't dare do before. I guess i've been TOUGHer. But sometimes I feel this ISN'T me...

Minsan din I have what if thoughts. WHAT IF i stayed? WHAT IF i didn't agree? WHAT IF i pinched myself so I'd get back to my senses? Pero everytime I look back, I realize those were the decisions I made. Just gotta have COURAGE to face the outcome... whew!

GueSs i'll just be lookin' forward to a brighter year ahead...