Tag: work

Categories
Life Secrets

Life Updates | Sarap Buhay + My Celebrity Crush + Back on TikTok

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1.

Sobrang nakakatipid kami sa food these past few weeks kasi ang dami naming free meal kits. It’s a food box subscription wherein pipili ka ng recipes for that week, tapos ipapadala nila sayo yung ingredients and the recipe cards. Since bago ang address namin, considered kami as ‘new customers’ at meron kaming free first box. Eh since may apat na meal kit services dito sa Canada (that I know of), may libre kaming apat na boxes! Hays I never want this to end. Sobrang laking tulong nya sa food gastos namin.

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Categories
Career Food Happy Things Life

Happy Things #21

Since medyo malungkot ang previous post ko, it’s time for my recent happy things!

Byeeee!

Last day ko na bukas!! As much as I love this job, I’m not sad about getting a nice long break from sitting and typing all day. Nung nagpaalam ako sa boss ko na mawawala ako ng almost 2 months (pero binanggit ko rin na willing akong bumalik after that period), ang dali nyang kausap! That same day, nagkaron agad ng arrangement na last day ko sa January 31st (bukas), pero pababalikin nila ko sa April. Favorite na kita TL!

My current job is seasonal/contractual kaya may ganitong hanash.

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Categories
Ramblings

Ramblings #38

I think ang genius na ginawang Wednesdays yung pay day namin.

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Categories
Happy Things Hobbies Life

Happy Things #19

Waking up before my alarm

Iba talaga yung quality ng umaga ko kapag nagising ako on my own versus nagising ako sa tunog ng alarm. Ang sarap. Pag natural yung pag gising ko, feeling ko ang sarap sarap din ng tulog ko. Tapos yung pagbangon ko hindi sapilitan kaya hindi ako cranky.

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Categories
Canada Life

Sick Leave + School + Drug Addicts + Ali Wong Love

Ang laki talaga ng naitutulong nitong blog ko na to sa sarili ko. Therapy talaga. Magulo kasi ang isip ko. Para bang yung movie na Inception. Patong patong. Side note: Na-experience ko na yung totoong inception. Nananaginip ako na nananaginip ako. Diba yun yun?

Anyway, absent ako ngayon. Friday ngayon. Kahapon, absent din ako. Nung Monday, absent din ako. Masama naman talaga yung pakiramdam ko tuwing umaga, pero for some weird reason, gagaling na ko after a few hours. Medyo nagguilty ako kasi kinausap na ko ng supervisor ko about absenteeism. Tapos ang dami ko nanamang absent. This week, 2 days lang ang ipinasok ko. Haha. Lagot nanaman. Eh totoo naman kasi talagang nagkakasakit ako anong magagawa ko.

Three days ago, nag-submit kami ng application dun sa apartment na gusto naming lipatan. Hindi pwedeng basta may pambayad ka, ok ka nang tumira dun sa apartment. Kailangan mag-apply. May mga background check pa silang ginagawa. Hanggang ngayon nagaantay pa din kami ng balita. Sobrang magulo simula nung naisip naming mag-decide na lumipat. Patapos na kasi yung contract namin dito sa current apartment. Kaya  magulo kasi pabalik balik yung decision namin kung lilipat ba kami o hindi na lang muna. Ang mahal kasi nung mga apartments na magaganda. Etong apartment namin ngayon, ayos naman. Sobrang upgrade eto compared sa apartment namin sa Pinas. Sobrang laki para saming dalwa.

Pero ang pangit lang, since nasa affordable range yung apartment na to, may mga tenants na masasamang loob. Yung landlord na mismo ang nagsabi. May mga tenants daw dito na nagd-drugs. At muka ngang totoo kasi minsan na kaming nawalan ng package. Nung una, pag may nagiiwan ng package sa pinto ng unit namin, wala namang kumukuha. Pero may one time na may kumuha so takot na kaming magpadeliver. Nung nagpa-deliver ako ng cat food (so medyo malaki yung box), pagdating ko, andun naman yung box sa pinto pero wasak yung box. Inattempt nilang buksan. Kung hindi pa nakita nung landlord baka mas wasak pa yun. Eh di try nilang kainin yung cat food.

Isa pang uncomforatable, laging may tumatawag saming pulis. Dito kasi, para sa mga hindi familiar kasi bago lang din sakin to dati, may buzzer. So may parang phone sa labas ng building tapos pag-dial nila ng unit number namin, may tatawag sa cellphone ko. Tapos sasagutin ko at pipindutin yung 9 para mabuksan yung gate at makapasok yung tao na yun sa building. So usually, ang tumatawag lang sakin ay mga delivery people. Nagulat ako na pulis yung kausap ko tapos sabi eh, “This is Winnipeg police. Let us enter into the building.” parang ganun. Eh di may konting kaba kahit alam naman naming wala kaming ginawa. Yun pala, akala eh landlord kami kasi yung unit number namin ay 101. Eh nasa 105 yung landlord. Inassume lang nila na yung first unit ay landlord’s unit. So dun sa mga next na tawag, dini-direct ko sila sa landlord. Hindi ko pinagbubuksan. Malay ko ba baka fake police officer sila so ayaw ko silang pagbuksan. Sabi ko tumawag kayo sa 105. Hanggang sa pag alam kong wala naman kaming delivery, hindi ko na sinasagot. At minsan pa alanganing oras tumatawag. 11 PM or madaling araw. Tapos may one time na may kumatok sa unit namin, pagbukas ni Kenneth, mga pulis na naman! Akala na naman landlord kami. So bukod sa istorbo na lagi na lang kaming tinatawagan ng pulis, nakaka-bother din na bakit may pulis? So for sure may nag-report na may gumagawa ng illegal activities. Kaya naisipan naming lumipat na basta afford.

So meron nga kaming nakita na medyo mahal kasi bago lang yung building tapos maganda yung location. Katabi lang ng grocery store tapos may mga fastfood sa tapat.  We’ll see kung maa-approve kami. Kakayanin na lang kahit mahal ng kaunti.

Two days ago, umattend ako ng tinatawang nilang ‘Information Session’. Eto yung parang “mini seminar”  at dinidiscuss nila yung program (or course) na gusto mong i-take sa school nila. Namention ko na to previously pero dito, imbis na course ang tawag, program yung tawag nila (Nursing program, IT program). Tapos imbis na subjects, courses yung tawag nila (English course, Math course). So yun. Back to Information Session, yung program na gusto kong i-take ay Digital Media Design. Two-year program sya. May isa nanamang kakaiba dito in terms of college education. Dito, kelangan mong mag-apply para makapasok. As in magsusulat ka ng essay kung bakit ito yung program na napili mo, tapos since Digital Media Design ang pinili ko, magssubmit ako ng mga drawings, paintings, arts and crafts, etc. (portfolio ang tawag). Tapos may deliberation. 40 students lang daw ang tinatanggap nila sa program na to. So medyo scary talaga. Kelangan mong galingan sa portfolio. So yun ang pagkakaabalahan ko sa upcoming weeks. April pa naman yung deadline pero maigi na yung maagap. Kailangang galingan. Dun sa attendees ng Information Session, mag-gauge mo na kung ilan yung applicants na interested dun sa program. Puno yung hall so madaming competition. Kailangang galingan.

Kanina, since absent nga ako ngayon, naka-punta ako dun sa dental appointment ko. Alanganin kasi yung oras ng appointment, 11AM. May sina-suggest na ipagawa sakin since na-chip nga yung ngipin ko nung kumakain ako ng popcorn. Buti hindi ngipin sa unahan. Crown yung gustong ipagawa sakin. Eh ang mahal nun! Yung estimate na binigay sakin nasa $1,100. Php 44,000! Di bale na! Pagtyatyagaan ko na lang na may tumutusok sa side ng dila ko. Ang pointy kase nung ngipin after may natanggal so tumutusok sa gilid ng dila ko. Sobrang hindi komportable. Feeling ko magkakasugat yung dila ko. Eh hindi daw pwedeng pasta lang gusto talaga nila crown. Tapos $1,100?! Di bale na talaga. Hahanap na lang ako ng ibang dentist na willing pasta-an o kaya paguwi kong Pinas dun ko na lang ipapagawa.

Sobrang nagmamasid ako kanina nung nasa labas ako kasi yung dental clinic, malapit lang sa office namin. Hihi. Baka biglang makasalubong ko si sungit-pero-minsan-friendly-pero-parang-fake-friendly-our-team-assistant Ryan. Ngayon ko lang naisip na medyo ang pangit pala nung job title nya na Team Assistant. Kung satin sa Pinas, Assistant Supervisor yun. Pero dito, Team Assistant ang tawag so parang assistant sya ng team. So parang assistant namin sya. Haha. Ang daming kakaiba talaga dito sa Canada.

Ang haba na ng post ko pero gusto ko lang idagdag na sobrang nakakatawa yung binabasa ko ngayon:

Favorite ko na si Ali Wong talaga. Sobrang walang pretentions sa katawan. Ang vulgar minsan ng humor nya pero okay pa din. Stand up comedian sya pero una ko syang napanood dun sa movie nya na Alway Be My Maybe. Nung nakita ko sya dun naisip ko, “Sino kaya tong artista na to at pumayag si Keanu Reeves na magpa-kiss sa kanya?” Hindi ko sya masyadong gusto dun sa movie. Sya ata yung nagsulat at nagproduce nung movie na yun. Pero nung napanood ko sya dun sa Netflix special nya na Hard Knock Wife, sobrang tawang tawang tawa talaga ako! As in sobra. Yung Netflix special ni Aziz Ansari ang dami ko nang tawa pero kay Ali Wong talaga extreme! Kahit hindi naman ako super maka-relate kasi puro mom and pregnancy jokes yung kanya, halakhak talaga ako.

So yun lang. 2 AM na pala. Ang aga ko kasing nakatulog kanina, 8 PM, tapos nagising ako ng 11 PM. Gigisingin ko na si Kenneth at nakatulog na sa salas panonood ng Mandalorian. Goodnights!

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

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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

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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 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
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.