Coincidence

The stars are above you. Coincidence?

I have been with my present company for almost four months. Somebody once told me that after my birthday, I will have new chapter in my life. My phone rang days before my birthday then I was hired days after I turned 23.

Many of us believe that things are destined to happen. Many of us also believe that they are just coincidence. As defined by WordWeb, coincidence is an event that might have been arranged although it was really accidental. Which side should you believe?

I had a nice morning. It was a great morning. I had a great sleep. I had a dream, I saw stripes.

Hmmm....

Strike!

Homesickness---a deadly disease.

I will be three months away from home on May 16, 2008. Time is indeed fast especially if you are thinking of your pay slip. I am almost settled here in our new apartment (again, a 14-year-old structure). My bedroom is almost complete. I say, 60% done. 40% left to make myself at home. Can anybody donate me a flat screen TV?

During my first week of stay in Cavite, I had sleepless nights and sleepy days. Why? Homesickness. Tonight, I had a talk with a friend. He was desirous of going home (Google his blog if you want to know more about it). It’s a disease that 90.92% (if my calculations were right) of those working far away from home are experiencing homesickness. I am included in that figure. I can’t guarantee myself that I will never experience being homesick. But I am much better in handling homesickness now.

I do not have a Ph.D. in Homesickness but here are some tips that I can share with people out there who misses their homes.

1. Love your work or your studies.
2. Keep yourself busy, but please don’t kill yourself by being too busy. Being busy and too busy are two different things.
3. Think of your crush. Preferably those you can see in a day.
4. Eat some sea foods! Steam some veggies! Yum yum!
5. Don’t get late for work. Strive not to get late.
6. Buy things that can be afforded by your excess cash. Spend only the extra money out of your savings. Prioritize saving if you are still starting your job.
7. Invest today by saving. Read Bo Sanchez’s 8 Secrets to Real Rich People.
8. Read a book! Og Mandino said that 90% of the total population is illiterate. I am in that 90% believe me.
9. Watch your favorite movie. A movie date would be great (please refer to #3).
10. Join an organization, a community, a fraternity/ sorority. A rock band perhaps?
11. Skip this line.
12. Perform magic! One of my favorites.
13. Talk to your apartment mates. Laugh with them. Have fun with them even if they are making fun of you. They shall have their turn soon.
14. Talk with God. Maybe listed last but the most important. I save the best for last, trust me.
15. And the fifteenth? Second to the most important in my list will be… (drum rolls and entrance effects please)…et cetera. Thanks Sir Samson for the idea.

There many things that you can do to avoid if not, minimize homesickness. You can do something about it. Be creative my friend. You are not alone. Homesickness chooses anybody so be prepared. See you soon!


Always your friend,
Nino

(I hate this keyboard! It’s murdering my name! Ommm…breath in, breath out..)

The Countdown

May 16 will be the BIG day and my blog site is two weeks old!

Eleven days from now, I will be deployed in the field. Mixed emotions. Scared? I think not. More of being excited. Workitopia here I come!

From 7.8% unemployment rate last January 2007, it has dropped by 0.4% last January 2008 (more at http://www.census.gov.ph/data/pressrelease/2008/lf0801tx.html). Yet many of our countrymen are still hungry. I am optimistic that the figures will continue to drop. I feel blessed that I am employed after graduation. I still haven't taken the ECE licensure exam but I will take it next year.

Before I decided to take the job offer, I ask for several insights. One of my mentors in the review center told me that I should have taken the exam last March 2008. Forget about the job offers first. He told me that jobs are everywhere when I have my license. Job is instant when I have it. Unfortunately, I accepted the offer. I talked with him after I accepted the offer, he told me that I am damn lucky. I told him, "Blessed, I think sir."

Well, that's it for now. I love the song I'm listening right now...If I Am by Nine Days.

Stars Above

To whom it may concern,

There are a lot of people who think better or worse than I am. But I know for sure that I know myself better than anybody in most aspects of my life. Ia have been with myself for the past 23 years. It is indeed a big trap to assume.

I pity those people who think they are better than I am. Those who think that they are innocent but not me. Those who think they are as clean as a white sheet of paper but not me. A lot of those people exist even in your own family. If somebody told me that I am stupid I would gladly accept it if that person is not stupid. Unfortunately, most people are. Judge others if you are done judging yourself. Find your flaws first before you find the flaws of others. Look in front of the mirror. Don't be sarcastic my friend. If you are really innocent, admit first that you are not.

Do not do unto others what you do not want others do unto you. Simple as that. Stop making stupid stuff to others if you don't want to feel stupid. Be considerate. Be sensitive.

Think well and God bless you my friend.

Your friend,
Niño