Categories
Canada Life

Winter is Legit Coming

Sobrang dami kong kwento. Pero limot ko na kung ano ano yun. Magstart ako sa natatandaan ko.

November 6 – Tuesday

Nung isang araw nagpa-wax ako. Feeling ko di ako mahihirapan sa pagpunta dun sa salon kasi one bus lang from work. Little did I knowww… Ganun kasi ako madalas. I-ssearch ko kung pano pumunta, tapos pag andun na ko saka ko i-ssearch kung pano umuwi. So pag search ko ng pauwi, tatlong bus pala ang sasakyan ko 😫 Three unfamiliar routes. Takot ako kasi baka maiwan ako ng bus tapos hindi ko pa kabisado yung mga bus stops eh ang lamig lamig. Ayokong magpalakad-lakad para maghanap ng bus stop. Feeling ko pag naligaw ako sa ganitong lamig matatagpuan na lang akong frozen to death kung saan.

How cute is that tail. The salon had a dog named Sierra. She looks so pretty and she let me pet her.

First time ko na-feel non na naninigas na yung muka ko. Yung kamay ko kahit naka-gloves talagang nagna-numb na. For a split second, naisip ko, parang di ko na kaya at baka bumigay na yung katawan ko. Pine-pep talk ko na lang yung sarili ko tapos pa-talon talon ako para dumaloy yung dugo ko. In short, naligaw ako ng slight. 😂 Kita ko sa Google maps na ang lapit ko na sa bus pero di ko pa din makita yang lintik na bus stop na yan. Alam kong bulok ako sa directions pero hindi ko alam na ganun ako kabulok. So in short ulit, nakita ko na. Tapos 5 minutes pa bago dumating yung bus according sa Navigo. Feeling ko 5 hours yung 5 minutes hay ang lamig talaga. Tapos nung dumating yung bus parang woo! Ang saya! Parang best thing na nangyare sa araw ko yung pagdating ng bus. Habang palapit yung bus naiimagine ko na yung warmth pag pasok ko sa loob. Makakapagrelax na din ako.

November 7 – Wednesday

So after that traumatic experience… OA traumatic. 🤣 Nag “bundle up” ako nitong araw na to. Naks bundle up. Haha. Pero hindi pa din pala sapat! Sabi nung isa kong co-trainee kailangan ko ng mas makapal at mas mahabang jacket so plano ko nang bumili. Fuck tipid muna.

So naisip kong dumaan sa Superstore. Dito nagg-grocery mga tito ko so dito na din ako napunta. Malapit lang pati. Sabi ng tito ko kung kelan daw malamig saka ko naiisipan gumala. Natripan ko kasi na magluto tapos bibili din ako ng mga pambaon sa office para less work na din sa tita ko. Every morning kasi nagluluto sya tapos nadadamay pa ko sa pa-sandwich kasi pinanggagawa nya ng sandwich mga pinsan ko. So parang ang dali dali ng mornings ko kasi okay na lahat. Feeling ko para akong grade school na inaasikaso ng nanay ko.

Bacon & mushroom alfredo with arugula pesto kasi ang mahal ng basil

Nung papunta kong Superstore, may mga areas na ang daming snow. Imbis na dun ako dumaan sa clear na road, dun ako sa may snow tumatapak. Tapos nabano ako nung lumubog yung sapatos ko sa snow. Parang feel na feel ko ba masyado. 😂 May mga roads na parang may film lang ng snow na nakapatong so ang dulas. Ilang beses na ko muntik madulas kaya ang bagal ko maglakad. Kailangan ko ata ng parang spikes na nilalagay sa ilalim ng boots. Parang nabanggit ata yun ng tita ko sakin. One of these days.

Cools

Mga cool stuff (at least for me) na nakita ko habang naliligaw sa aisles ng Superstore:

I’m not a fan of the mint Oreos (yung green na filling). Pero bakit sarap na sarap ako dito sa peppermint? Dahil ba mahilig ako sa pepper. Haha labo.
Very very interesting

Pinipigilan ko yung sarili ko na mag-explore masyado kasi baka dumami yung mabili ko, mabibigatan ako pagbibitbit. So parang ni-rush ko lang yung pagg-grocery ko tas umalis na ko.

November 8 – Thursday

Wala na ko masyado matandaan kasi Saturday na ngayon. Pero ang tanda ko sumama ko sa mga tito ko kasi papunta silang KP (Kildonan Place – nearby mall). Balak ko na kasi sundin yung advice ni Shanshan (officemate) na bumili ng mas makapal na jacket for fall.

Ecstacy. Eskimo.

Ang mahal! Hays. Buti na lang pay day na bukas. Tas bumili din ako ng kumodigan (coined it). Para kasi syang hybrid ng kumot at cardigan. Basta nakita ko lang din sya na parang magiging useful once tapos na kami sa training.

November 9 – Friday

PAY DAY! Ang saya saya saya ko! Kasi first time kong sumweldo ng ganun kalaki. Siguro sa iba hindi malaki pero sakin nalalakihan na ko. Hihihi. Kung icocompare ko sya sa dati kong work, yung 2 weeks na sinweldo ko dito is equivalent sa 1.5 month na sweldo ko sa Pinas. Natuwa talaga ako ng very hard. Excited na ko sa next pay day.

So ang una kong ginawa, nagpadala ako sa Mama at Papa ng konti kasi kakatapos lang ng anniversary nila. So gift ko yun. Tapos may dinner treat ako dito sa mga tito ko. Sabi nung tita ko nung minsan, “Ano san tayo sa sweldo mo?” Tas sabi ko, “Name it!” Hahaha! Kayayabang. Tapos sabi nung tito ko magkano daw ang budget. Sabi ko, “Sky is the limit!” Wahaha! Pero seryoso ako. Ngayon lang naman. One-time limited offer kasi first sweldo. Sa mga susunod coupons na. 😂

Mura na to sa kanila 😅
Categories
Canada Career Wellness

Nosebleed + Potential First Day

Nino-nose bleed ako dito sa Canada. As in literal na nosebleed. Nung una di ko pinapansin pero nung dumadalas sinearch ko na kay bff Google. Ayun na nga. Gawa daw sa dry at malamig na hangin. Nothing to worry naman daw. Pero iniisip ko kung bibili akong humidifier. Samantalang dati dehumidifier ang binibili namin kasi masyadong humid sa loob ng apartment ang daling masira at mabulok ng mga pagkain. Dito kahit ilang araw nasa pantry ang ulam hindi napapanis. Amazing.

Start na ko bukas sa trabaho pero hanggang ngayon, ayoko pa din i-assume na totoo na talaga. Kahit pumirma na ko at lahat, parang ayaw ko pa din maniwala. Ayaw ko kase madisappoint kaya naiisip ko lahat ng possibilities. Na baka nagkamali lang sila tapos pagdating ko dun biglang, “I’m sorry but I don’t see your name in our list.” Ay baka mamura ko siya. Pero Tagalog para di nya gets. Kaya bukas, maniniwala lang ako na tanggap na talaga ko pag andun na ko sa mismong loob at nagsisimula na ang training. Hay sana talaga. Excited na talaga ko sumweldo.

These past few days ako ay iritable sa isang person na to kaya gustong gusto ko na mag-blog para maglabas ng sama ng loob. Nakakatulong kasi talaga. Di ko kasi magets personality nya parang aning. Kahit matagal-tagal na din kaming friends (frenemy?) para talaga syang ewan. Pero ang maganda naman, naka-move on na ko. Kaya parang di ko na feel i-kwento ang mga nangyari. Basta ako ay looking forward bukas at sa future.

Categories
Art Canada Career Life

My Lucky Streak

I just noticed (my aunt and uncle noticed it too), during these past few months in Canada, that I had been quite lucky. Here’s a couple of lucky things that happened:

  • We went to the casino and I won $100 playing Blackjack. I had gambling issues and used to go to casinos all by myself. But that was before and I stopped gambling ultimately when I had my losing streak. So when we went to this casino, I was playing just for fun. I wasn’t even playing my own money. My uncle gave us $20 each. When I won $10, I was planning on stopping. But I decided to just continue and didn’t care if I lose. But then I didn’t. 😉
FullSizeRender 2
Kept this as a souvenir
  • We were shopping in this store and I bought some stuff and this nice (pricey) wrap-around jacket that’s perfect for fall. Only I didn’t buy it. When I checked the receipt, the salesperson didn’t scan the tag on the jacket so I got it for free. I know that wasn’t the right thing to do; but I am jobless and a person who sometimes gets tempted so…
  • After just a month here, I already got a job. It was only a 2-month placement so it isn’t really something that’s permanent but still, that was pretty lucky. Unfortunately, I was having some health issues and I’m sorry, no disrespect, but I just loathe the job. I will certainly miss the residents and most of them are sweet but that’s just isn’t enough for me to stay.
  • So after working there for 2 weeks, I quit and hope that I will immediately find another job. And luckily, after a couple of weeks, I received several interview invitations. Then I got interviewed for this certain position (which is kind of similar to my previous job back home) and got an offer a few days after the interview. I was sooo happy and was jumping for joy nonstop. But that’s not it! It was a double entendre because not only I got hired, they hired me for a higher position! Which means higher salary! I can’t help but smile thinking about it.
  • Over to Dust Designs news (my graphic art business), I just got a client who needed some tags and things for her wedding. So I am currently working on it and like how things are going.
Their two options
  • I almost forgot the iPad. It wasn’t totally free because the bank let me chose if I’d want to have free monthly banking fees for a year or I’ll pay the monthly fees but I’ll get an iPad. I chose the latter because I’m planning to get an iPad anyway so it’s like I’m paying it in installments. Apparently, “24-month installment for zero interest!” is not a thing here. So that worked out. Also, the bank manager offered us free monthly fees for the first 2 months. So it’s like I got a discounted, 10 months to pay iPad. Yes!

  • Also, I get to experience snow. I consider that lucky because not everyone has the chance to experience snow. 😊

And that was it! I should be happy but… No wait, I am happy. But I am also worried. I’m worried that something unlucky will happen because of all these lucky-ness. I will be watching out.

Categories
Art Canada Career

Almost 3 Months in Winnipeg

It always crosses my mind to make a blog post whenever I’m doing something I don’t really do in the Philippines. Or when I see something new or unusual. I will always think, “I will write this on my blog.” But here I am, finally giving some time to blog and I can’t recall all of those things that I wanted to write. But I will try.

DEER LODGE CENTRE

I got a job placement as a Health Care Aide in Deer Lodge Centre two weeks ago. It’s a rehab facility for the elderly (we call them residents). We wash them, feed them, and just take care of them in general. I will really miss some of the residents (especially Henny, Isabella and Garth) ‘cos I already quit yesterday. 😅

Even though I’m not fond of the job (it was my first time to wipe someone else’s ass), I was really planning on finishing my 2-month contract. Because how lucky am I to get a job that I didn’t even apply to, no interviews whatsoever, and considering that I’ve been here for just a month? Really lucky. They just told us to be there at this date, wear scrubs, and start working already (thanks to Manitoba Start – a government funded organization). And then if Deer Lodge likes me, I will be directly employed with them and get an $18 hourly pay (that’s quite plenty because the minimum hourly wage here is $11).

So the reason why I quit this job is because my eczema (which has been going on for 10 years now) is worsening. Some may think that it’s a lousy reason to quit but I’ll tell them to have an eczema first and tell me about it. I’m okay with the dryness and itchy feeling because I have my super effective ointment to relieve the itchiness. But when it starts to cause open wounds (due to frequent hand washing and sanitizing), I really needed to think about it. Exposing the wounds to even just water really hurt. What more if it’s exposed to soap or alcohol. Harsh chemicals are a no-no for eczema. That’s why I always use gloves even when I take a bath because exposure to shampoo and conditioner causes the flare-ups too. I tried using organic products but to no avail.

And so I quit. I was not happy about it because I really wanted to earn money right away (and I’m planning to get the iPhone XS 😂). But why should I stay in a job that: 1. I don’t like and 2. worsens my already worse eczema? I say, don’t. Manitoba Start was okay with it and said they’ll try to find another placement for me. They were all really nice. It turns out I didn’t even need reason #2 to finally decide that I won’t finish the contract. I learned that it wouldn’t be a problem if I just say that I feel like I’m not a fit for the job and that I changed my interests.

And then I also had the okay from my uncle and aunt (whom we’re living with) and said that I should just find an office job. They were all really kind and supportive. I can’t really express how thankful we are to them. I love them so much!

Impromptu photo shoot. Ang lamig!

RBC (Royal Bank of Canada)

This is our bank here. Here in Winnipeg (or maybe across Canada), there is no maintaining balance. We opened a bank account with zero dollars on hand (because we didn’t have our money at that time). The manager was also a Filipino so it was a pleasant experience.

The most exciting part was their ongoing promo. They are giving away free iPads (the latest one) to newly opened accounts. What’s so great about this is, for months I was really planning on getting an iPad Pro for my graphic business. iPad Pro because it’s compatible with the Apple Pencil. But what’s even more great is that the latest iPad (the one RBC is giving away) is already compatible with the Apple Pencil. So yay! I don’t need to get an iPad Pro anymore! Yehey yehey!

Zero $$$

The iPad will arrive next week! I’m so excited.

I think this is it for now. This post is getting too long already. I think I’ll blog more frequent now since I don’t have a job anymore anyways.

PS: It was already snowing yesterday!!! Sobrang bano ako 😂

Categories
Canada Family Pals

Zones

Isa sa mga nakakainis at nakakasad pag nasa ibang bansa ka ay (obviously) yung time difference. Gigising ka sa umaga tapos makikita mo andaming ganap sa Messenger kasi pagabi pa lang sa kanila. Tapos kung kelan may time ka na magreply, mga magtutulugan na sila kasi mga antok na at gabi na nga dun. So maghihintay ako ng matagal na oras hanggang gabi. Looking forward ako lagi na mag-gabi dito kasi umaga na dun, gising na sila ulit. Kaya minsan nagpapakapuyat na lang ako para maabutan ko silang gising para maka-usap ko sila. 😞 Sad.

 

Categories
Canada Life Travel

First Week in Winnipeg

Nakakainis hindi na ko nagb-blog! 😭 Dami ko na nami-miss i-document. So andito na kami sa Winnipeg. Eto na mga nagawa namin and other highlights:

  • Nakakita na ko ng snow! Haha. Nasa eroplano kami tapos malapit na mag-land, kita ko yung mga bundok may snow sa tuktok. Yun na yun 😅 (sa Vancouver to)
  • Walang mga tinanong samin na kahit ano pagdating namin Winnipeg. Kala ko ang daming tanong para sa mga new immigrants. Wala. Aside lang dun sa usual na birthday and stuff. Kala ko tatanungin bakit di kami same ng last names ni Kenneth, kung tama ba yung amount na dinala naming pera, kung anong nasa maleta at boxes na dala namin, etc. Pero wala. Ang dali lang nya.
  • Sa Pilipinas kami nahirapan. Muntik na kaming hindi makaalis! 😂 Meron kasing nire-require and PH government na pre-arrival seminar for new immigrants. Wala akong idea na may ganun. Nahara kami sa immigration tapos pinapunta kami dun sa booth na nag-iisue nung required na sticker (as proof na umattend ka nung seminar na yun). Medyo nagpapakipot pa si aleng sticker hindi daw talaga kami makakaalis ng wala yun. Dapat daw kasi binabasa namin lahat yung documents na binigay samin nung inissue yung Canadian visas namin. Pinakita nya sakin kung san naka-indicate, talagang hindi ko nga nabasa. Hanggang sa nakatulala na lang ako sa kanya hindi ako umiimik. Hindi din ako umaalis kahit sinasabi nyang hindi daw talaga pwede ng wala yun. Tapos parang miracle, biglang pumayag na din sya nung huli. Ang taray nung una pero patawa-tawa na nung huli. Iniisip ko nga baka naghihintay lang ng lagay. Hay salamat!!!
  • Pagdating namin sa baggage carousel, nakita ko na agad sina Kuya Jon2. Una kong nainom sa Winnipeg ay Tim Horton’s na kape. 😄
  • Sa first day namin, kumuha na kami ng SIN and Manitoba Health Card (kahit daw magpa-opera na ako ng gallstones ko ngayon walang problema). And dali lang din wala nang kung ano-anong requirements. Hindi din ganun katagal ang pila. Nakakatuwa.
  • Tapos nung weekend, pumunta lang kaming mall tapos kumain sa buffet and Jollibee. Mas masarap ang chicken joy dito at mas malaki. Pero mas masarap ang burger steak sa Pinas.
  • Feeling ko super tataba ako dito. Daming masasarap na food parang feeling ko kailangan ko matikman lahat. Nag-Costco kami kahapon nakakaoverwhelm yung mga bagong food na nakikita ko. Tapos sabi pa nung tito ko, “Kumuha ka lang ng gusto mo wag ka nang mahiya.” Eh di kumuha nga ako 😂😂😂
  • Nakakatuwa din yung mga itlog dito; may expiration date na naka-tatak sa bawat eggs
  • Ano pa ba. Sobrang sarap nung cookies na Kirkland (from Costco din). Kinonvert ko, 15 pesos lang isa tapos super sarap! Pinaghalong lasa ng cookies sa SB at M&S. Saraaap.
  • Summer “daw” ngayon pero ang highest temp today ay 19 °C at ang lowest ay 10 . Wow. Pano pa kaya sa mga susunod na linggo. 😭
  • Nakapag-open na din kami ng bank account. Nakakabano. Pag nag-open ka ng account, walang initial deposit walang maintaning balance. Nag-open kami tapos yun na yun, $0 ang laman ng account namin 😄 Tapos may free na iPad pag nag-open ng account. Anong klase kaya yun hahaha. Ang pangit lang, may monthly fee ang bangko dito. $15 per month. Boo!
  • Ang mahal ng parking. Tapos pag nag-park ka, kailangan mo na i-set kung ilang oras ka lang pa-park. 250-300 pesos ang 3 hours tapos babayaran mo na agad. Pag 1 hour ka lang nakapag-stay, wala nang balikan ng pera. Boo ulit!
  • May pinuntahan kaming isang government office na nagbibigay ng funding for education. Gusto ko kasi nga mag-aral ulit para makapag-work ako dito ng matino-tinong trabaho. Yung mga above $15 per hour sana. Sana ma-approve ako dun sa grant. Laking tulong nun.
  • Naka-schedule na kami ng Manitoba Start (orientation program for new immigrants) sa August 27. Yun yung earliest available schedule kaya may kulang kulang 2 weeks kaming walang gagawin. Gusto ko sana mag-ikot pero parang wala gaanong mapuntahan dito. Merong iba pero malayo eh hindi pa pwedeng mag-drive si Kenneth. Ayaw pa ng Kuya Jon2. Hindi makapasa 😂 Di naman sya makaangal haha. Kung sa iba yun buringot na yun.
Categories
Art Career Life

Why Are You Doing This?

I’ve just encountered a great video on Youtube about photography but it actually applies to everything that I am trying to learn nowadays:

 

 

The phrase that struck me most is, “Learn and understand why you are doing this particular thing, and not just how to do them.” Aannnd I’ll leave it at that.

Categories
Family Life Pals

Despedidas

Para sa friends ni Kenneth, nagbook kami thru Airbnb ng place sa Tagaytay. Maganda yung room pero mahal. For me mahal. Sabi nila mura na kasi 9 pax kami tapos 10k yung accommodation. Syempre hindi ako gagastos ng ganun kalaki. Eh may Airbnb coupon kasi ako na worth 9k so 1k plus na lang binayaran namin. Hehehe.

Naglaro lang sila Xbox most of the time tapos naginom na nung gabi. The next day, may booking naman kami sa Narra Hill. Advance 2nd wedding anniversay celebration namin. Super ganda nung place. Nature trip. Naka-set na yung expectation na walang WiFi and walang TV. Wala naman problema kasi sobrang nakakarefresh yung lugar. Kahit 1 night lang kami dun nabitin kami. Ang ganda ng view nung room namin, masarap food nila, mababait sina ate tapos tahimik lang. Ang sobrang gusto ko sa place nila, paglabas ng room amoy fresh flowers. Parang naka-air freshener yung buong Narra Hill. Ang magical feeling ko may mga fairies na lalabas.

Nung next weekend naman, sa mga friends ko naman. Pero dito lang sa Lucena, videoke lang. After ng 3 hours namin sa Welkin Tower, lumipat na kami kila Benson. Tapos biglang nagpauso si Benson ng mga message-message saming dalwa ni Kenneth. Tapos sobrang natouch ako kasi naiiyak si Benson. Tapos nag-take turns sila sa mga messages nila sakin. Lahat sila umiyak (except Xali) nung nagbibigay na sila ng message sakin. Sobrang napa-aww naman ako dun. Huhu.

Ayoko pa din masyadong isipin ang magiging future namin dun sa Canada. Nakaka-overwhelm kasi isipin. Basta ang iniintindi ko lang eh yung mga dapat namin gawin like magpapalit ng dollar, mag-empake, etc. Pero yung mismong iisipin ko yung pag dun na kami nakatira, na wala kami friends dun at konti lang ang family namin dun, nakaka-sad. Mapapaisip ka for a split second kung talaga bang tutuloy kami dun. Talagang tutuloy naman kami syempre at resigned na kami pareho at kung ano-anong preparation na ginawa namin. Pero di mo lang maiwasan na indi maisip yung mga ganun. Scary talaga ganun talaga.

Categories
Career Life

Jobless: Day 1

Yesterday was my last day of work. So what I did was:

  • Went to the office to return company assets and my ID
  • Tagged along with my previous teammates to watch Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
  • Got my hair chopped (thinking of dyeing it as well)
  • Got my pits sugared
  • Hugged my office mates goodbye
  • Had dinner with Kenneth at Rice & Dough

Then we went home. It was raining hard. When we got home, I felt weird that I didn’t need to login to my laptop to work. I felt weird that I don’t see my office laptop anymore in our room. It was really an uneasy feeling — up until now. It’s uncomfortable but exciting at the same time — because I could do anything now! There’s just a lot of possibilities.

For today, I’m thinking of cooking Kenneth’s dinner later. I’ve also been meaning to start working again on the wedding invitation project. I hope I’ll be productive today because recently, I have the tendency to just lie around and watch YouTube videos all day long. Or I’ll just lie in bed thinking of the things that I should do but actually doing nothing. Until it gets dark and it’s time to go to sleep. Another day wasted.

I just remembered that I had to pack some orders from my online shop. Brb.

 

Categories
Japan Osaka Travel

Japan 2018

First solo international flight ko ngayon. Hindi naman ako masyado kinakabahan kase twice na ko nakapuntang Japan. Nakapag solo flight na din ako dati nung pumunta kong Cebu pero andun naman si Kenneth. Ngayon solo lang talaga ko. 3 days lang naman mabilis lang. Ang ayoko lang sa trip ko na to eh naka parang dorm lang ako (para tipid). Eh medyo paranoid kasi ako feeling ko laging may mangyayaring masama (PTSD). Siguro next time hanap na lang ako ng mura basta solo lang ako sa room. Safe naman sa Japan pero mas ok pa din yung sigurado.

Kailangan ko nang maligo in 10 minutes. Sana wala akong malimutan. At sana wag ako masyadong maligaw dun kasi hindi na ko nagrent ng pocket WiFi. Wala naman ako masyadong pupuntahan.

Mamimiss ko si Kenneth and Almond. ❤️