November 18, 2013 (Monday): I woke up early this morning at around 0730H and packed my things for I will be checking out shortly and take a bus going to Puebla, Mexico to start my Spanish Immersion Class. I am kind of nervous because this will the first time that I will be on my own to travel in this country. My Spanish was so limited but still I'm up to challenge myself to study for this vacation and hopefully my goals will be fruitfully achieved at the end of three weeks. Fingers crossed.
After seeing to it that everything were been in order and packed I then took a warm shower. I guess the temperature outside was kinda cool just like yesterday. The sky appears so gloomy. I hope it won't rain today. After the shower I then changed and went to the hotel receptionist and took my passport and pocket money kept from the safe and then I asked the receptionist (his name is Carlos) how could I go to TAPO where I will getting the bus to Puebla.
He told me to let him know when I will be leaving so that he can call a taxi to bring me to TAPO. I then went back to my room and counted the money which was exactly the same as when I deposited it. After that I decided to change money first before going to Puebla, just in case I ran out of local money. The change today was 12.35 pesos per dollar better than when I came here last Friday which is 10.23 pesos.
After changing the money, I decided to fetch some coffee at the nearby Starbuck's Cafe, which I usually frequented starting when I came here, for this is the only more convenient one for me judging by its distance from the hotel. After paying off the cafe latte that I ordered I then went back to the hotel and checked out. After checking out, Carlos called a taxi for me which promptly came after ten minutes.
I left the hotel at 1005H and the taxi driver drove me to TAPO, the central bus terminal herein Mexico City, which is located near the airport. After dropping me off at TAPO and paid the driver handsomely I then pulled my luggage inside the circular terminal and then looked for the AU Bus Terminal for I was tad that the bus usually goes there. When I got to the inquiry booth I checked the posting on the monitor and noticed that the bus will be leaving shortly at 1100H.
I then asked the lady manning the booth and asked her for one ticket going to Puebla. She showed me a monitor for me to select my seat and after choosing seat #17 I paid her with 120 pesos and then she handed me the ticket. She then pointed me where to wait and then I sat near Gate 1. I waited for five minutes and then after that the overhead pager called for the boarding so I lined up and showed my ticket and then handed my luggage to the porter which he eventually stuck underneath the baggage deposit area.
I then handed my ticket to the driver and then he marked seat #17 and he instructed me to go up and look for my seat. When I found my seat the bus left after ten minutes heading to the south expressway going to Puebla. There was no traffic on the highway maybe because it was Black Maunday Holiday for the whole Mexico and people were at home enjoying their day off.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Revisiting Xochimilco
November 17, 2013 (Sunday): As usual I woke up late at 1000H and was still groggy from the five rum cokes that I have drunk from hanging out at "Tom's Leather Bar" in Condesa. Actually, I had a blast last night watching the naked go-go boys. In fact I got drunk and had incurred a hang-over.
So much about the hang-over. Today is a brand new day. I am planning to go back to Xochimilco and enjoy the boar ride. My feet are still sore from walking a lot yesterday so I popped a Vicodin and mixed it with Neurontin. I hope I will last for the whole.
Today, I decided to take the Metro. After I changed i immediately asked the hotel receptionist to tell me how to go to Xochimilco using the Metro. He then produced a map and showed me the train route explaining the direction in broken English. I gratefully thanked him and then I took off.
I walked along Londres Avenue and decided to passed by the Starbuck's Cafe to buy a grande cafe latte and then asked the nice middle-aged security guard where to find the subway outlet for Insurgentes for a second opinion. It doesn't hurt to ask for my safety.
After finding the outlet without a miss I know that I could be up for the greatest challenge of my life. Before buying the ticket I studied the map first then inquired at the ticketer and asked for a ticket going to Taxquena as what I am instructed by the hotel receptionist. The ticketer charged me 3 pesos and told me to get off at Pina Suarez hub then go up one level and take the blue line going to Taxquena.
I was relieved that the people I had bumped were very helpful to me in giving me directions. Mexico City's subway is almost the same as the subways in Europe. The trains were clean and appears ultramodern. Problem is, it always get crowded all the time. No wonder Mexico City is one if the most populated city in the world.
So much about the hang-over. Today is a brand new day. I am planning to go back to Xochimilco and enjoy the boar ride. My feet are still sore from walking a lot yesterday so I popped a Vicodin and mixed it with Neurontin. I hope I will last for the whole.
Today, I decided to take the Metro. After I changed i immediately asked the hotel receptionist to tell me how to go to Xochimilco using the Metro. He then produced a map and showed me the train route explaining the direction in broken English. I gratefully thanked him and then I took off.
I walked along Londres Avenue and decided to passed by the Starbuck's Cafe to buy a grande cafe latte and then asked the nice middle-aged security guard where to find the subway outlet for Insurgentes for a second opinion. It doesn't hurt to ask for my safety.
After finding the outlet without a miss I know that I could be up for the greatest challenge of my life. Before buying the ticket I studied the map first then inquired at the ticketer and asked for a ticket going to Taxquena as what I am instructed by the hotel receptionist. The ticketer charged me 3 pesos and told me to get off at Pina Suarez hub then go up one level and take the blue line going to Taxquena.
I was relieved that the people I had bumped were very helpful to me in giving me directions. Mexico City's subway is almost the same as the subways in Europe. The trains were clean and appears ultramodern. Problem is, it always get crowded all the time. No wonder Mexico City is one if the most populated city in the world.
Visiting The Park And The Zocalo
November 16, 2013 (Saturday): I woke up late today. Well, it's understandable because I came last night at 2300H and maybe slept late. I haven't kept track of the time because I forgot to change the time difference between the west coast and the east coast. My bad! I thought my iPhone will automatically changed it but it seems that I haven't programmed it either.
I woke up with 0700H Los Angeles time but it was actually 1000H in Mexico City, there's a three hours difference. Having noticed it, I programmed my iPhone right away. I immediately woke up and started to took a warm shower then changed. I decided to skip breakfast so I planned to just get coffee at Starbucks near my hotel.
The weather was nice hear, not too hot and not too cold. The sun was happily out and shine brightly on the clear blue Mexican skies. It's a good time to roam around the city and seized the beauty of the day. I still don't know where to start until I kept ambling towards Avenida Reforma and saw the Gold Angel Monument at a rotunda from a distance then I continued trekking the avenue and started my day from there.
I woke up with 0700H Los Angeles time but it was actually 1000H in Mexico City, there's a three hours difference. Having noticed it, I programmed my iPhone right away. I immediately woke up and started to took a warm shower then changed. I decided to skip breakfast so I planned to just get coffee at Starbucks near my hotel.
The weather was nice hear, not too hot and not too cold. The sun was happily out and shine brightly on the clear blue Mexican skies. It's a good time to roam around the city and seized the beauty of the day. I still don't know where to start until I kept ambling towards Avenida Reforma and saw the Gold Angel Monument at a rotunda from a distance then I continued trekking the avenue and started my day from there.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Anxious About The Trip
November 15, 2013 (Friday): It's been two days now that I've been sulking at my apartment trying to prepare for my long awaited vacation to Mexico, to volunteer and at the same time enhance my Spanish through immersion classes which I have arranged before. It would be quite a very hectic schedule but I think it's for my own good. For sure it will be fun and very challenging as well.
Apparently, I did not accomplish any packing yet during my two days off for I was heavily procrastinating and at the same time was recuperating my fatigue because I had worked seven days straight just for me to give time for packing but here I am doing nothing. Ah.... actually watching the series of "Once Upon A Time", an NBC hit series had suit me instead of packing. I was enchanted with the stories so I vowed to finish all the 23 episodes of season one. It had made me dreamy and believed that fairy tales indeed ends happily ever after. A good tonic indeed for my anticipating anxiety.
Maybe, my apprehensions about the impending trip had made me to just take it easy and thus procrastinate. There was no feeling of excitement, anticipation, and eagerness, unlike my previous trips. I just don't know what to pack, my mind was been clouded with the unknown. There are a lot of things to include and consider but the baggage should not weigh more than 50 pounds, as what the airline regulation says. I don't want to overweigh and then pay for the excess baggage.
Today, I woke up so tired at 0400H and started to rearrange the contents of the luggage eliminating those things that I don't need to bring and seeing to it that the weight is just enough. My mind is still boggly and undecided. It was a very tedious job. I got exhausted honestly. My flight will be in the afternoon at 1750H so I still have time to do some last minute errands and last minute instructions to my beloved landlord who will take care of my dog, Diamond, when I'm away. Surely, I will miss my baby!
As the hours keep ticking, my anticipatory anxiety keeps numbing me, delivering me doing things half done. I just can't think of what to do. You know, I am so nervous for this trip because I have to do it alone without a guide. My friend in Mexico City is currently out of the country (actually, he is in Japan right now), and I don't know what to do and expect when I am there. Hopefully, it will be okay as well as safe but still I can't stop worrying.
I think I have to challenge myself to do this. Honestly, being in a different country is strange. And I myself have a share of those mumbled and silent moments during my trips to Europe years ago. I pretty much can understand Spanish but the setback is I could not speak or express it well verbally. And with that, I am so nervous. But oh well, I hope I can manage it.
I called the taxi at 1500H, and bade goodbye to my landlord. (He looks handsome today.) The taxi arrived and the cute Russian driver smiled at me and asked me where I'm heading. I told him that I am going to LAX Airport as I am mesmerized with his icy blue eyes that melted me away with his stares. He gave me an option whether to take the side streets or the freeway so I told him that the freeway might be better because of the "fast lanes". Here in Los Angeles we called it "Diamond Lane" or "HOV" (High Occupancy Vehicle Lane).
The traffic at that time was just sporadic and we made it in less than an hour. I still have time to check in my luggage. We arrived at the airport at 1540H so I paid him enormously and thanked him for his services. I then lined myself up to check-in my luggage and guess what happened, my luggage had overweighed. Oh my God...... what should I do? Well, I have no choice but to dug up what's needed to be taken out and then hand carry it for I don't have time to go home and leave them. Luckily, it was not heavy for I only took out couple of jackets and then place them inside my black messenger bag.
Next, I lined up myself at the security line which I have no problem and gone through without any fuss. Piece of cake! I then went up and looked for my boarding gate. When I was on the departure level, I decided to look for some key chains to reserve for my impending close friends for the Spanish class (whoever I will befriend, that's why it's still impending). I also bought a club sandwich at the nearby grill because I was very very hungry. My God.... the prices of food and beverage at the airport was sky-high.
We boarded early at 1715H and left early at 1745H. There were a lot of passengers and the plane was somewhat fully occupied, although the seat beside me was vacant. The flight was smooth and not that bumpy for the weather was excellent when we left Los Angeles. I dozed off my fatigue during the three hour flight and had not noticed what's happening inside the plane. We arrived at Mexico City early at 2300H and when we were taxiing at the tarmac, I suddenly felt the numbness which even made me more worried.
I was worried what will happen next when I got out of the airport because I don't know where to get a taxi on this strange city (although I went here three times already but those trips I had assistance from my friend). After alighting from the plane, I then headed to the immigration to get stamped and there was no problem there. I got through without any questions.
I then went to retrieve my luggage at carousel 19 and 20 then looked for a money exchange and changed my dollars to the Mexican peso. I then went out of the immigration lobby after I turned in my customs declaration form and then looked for a booth that schedule for a taxi. I then asked the lady that I needed a taxi going to Zona Rosa in broken Spanish and I paid the charge or 325 pesos.
She then pointed me to exit at Gate 10 and look for the line of the taxi that was stated on my ticket which says Porto Taxi. It was a long walk going to that gate and luckily I found the line. It was already midnight that time and the night was going deeper and deeper in Mexico City and I'm still at the airport waiting for my taxi to drop me off at my hotel in Zona Rosa. It was kinda nippy at that time and good thing I am wearing a jacket enough to warm me up until the taxi will arrive.
Few minutes later a big white suburban truck came and the old man manning and regulating the line told me to hop in so I handed him back my ticket for verification and then gave my luggage to the cute driver with curly hair. My God, taxis in Mexico City were huge. It was very spacious in that suburban taxi and I enjoyed the night view of the city while we were silently driving going to Zona Rosa. It reminded me of my previous visits full of memories. I broke the ice and greeted the cute driver "Ola" and then he asked me if I can speak Spanish and I told him "Poquito". We talked about the weather and about the traffic which is not apparent during those times.
We arrived at Zona Rosa after twenty minutes. The freeway has no traffic that's why we arrived at my hotel fast. After dropping me off at the hotel, I then checked in at the reception and then paid my courtesy at the receptionist and then he handed me the key to my room after signing all the necessary papers for my three days stay here in Mexico City.
Now that I safely arrived at my hotel, all the apprehensions and anticipatory anxiety were immediately dissipated. I conquered all my fears and I did it alone. I am proud of myself and I congratulated myself for a job well done. I am very very exhausted right now but I have to blog first because I just don't want to pass my eagerness to write my experiences today and suffer forgetting them have I not insisted to finish it.
Tomorrow will be a brand new day for me and again more challenges ahead. It will be a long day tomorrow and I am planning to tour again the zocalo, the Metropolitan Church, and maybe the National Palace if I have enough time. I am also planning to go back to Xochimilco, who knows. But for now, I am going to hit the sack and get ready for a very long day tomorrow. Adios mi amigos y amigas. Muy amable y bien gracias!
Apparently, I did not accomplish any packing yet during my two days off for I was heavily procrastinating and at the same time was recuperating my fatigue because I had worked seven days straight just for me to give time for packing but here I am doing nothing. Ah.... actually watching the series of "Once Upon A Time", an NBC hit series had suit me instead of packing. I was enchanted with the stories so I vowed to finish all the 23 episodes of season one. It had made me dreamy and believed that fairy tales indeed ends happily ever after. A good tonic indeed for my anticipating anxiety.
Maybe, my apprehensions about the impending trip had made me to just take it easy and thus procrastinate. There was no feeling of excitement, anticipation, and eagerness, unlike my previous trips. I just don't know what to pack, my mind was been clouded with the unknown. There are a lot of things to include and consider but the baggage should not weigh more than 50 pounds, as what the airline regulation says. I don't want to overweigh and then pay for the excess baggage.
Today, I woke up so tired at 0400H and started to rearrange the contents of the luggage eliminating those things that I don't need to bring and seeing to it that the weight is just enough. My mind is still boggly and undecided. It was a very tedious job. I got exhausted honestly. My flight will be in the afternoon at 1750H so I still have time to do some last minute errands and last minute instructions to my beloved landlord who will take care of my dog, Diamond, when I'm away. Surely, I will miss my baby!
As the hours keep ticking, my anticipatory anxiety keeps numbing me, delivering me doing things half done. I just can't think of what to do. You know, I am so nervous for this trip because I have to do it alone without a guide. My friend in Mexico City is currently out of the country (actually, he is in Japan right now), and I don't know what to do and expect when I am there. Hopefully, it will be okay as well as safe but still I can't stop worrying.
I think I have to challenge myself to do this. Honestly, being in a different country is strange. And I myself have a share of those mumbled and silent moments during my trips to Europe years ago. I pretty much can understand Spanish but the setback is I could not speak or express it well verbally. And with that, I am so nervous. But oh well, I hope I can manage it.
I called the taxi at 1500H, and bade goodbye to my landlord. (He looks handsome today.) The taxi arrived and the cute Russian driver smiled at me and asked me where I'm heading. I told him that I am going to LAX Airport as I am mesmerized with his icy blue eyes that melted me away with his stares. He gave me an option whether to take the side streets or the freeway so I told him that the freeway might be better because of the "fast lanes". Here in Los Angeles we called it "Diamond Lane" or "HOV" (High Occupancy Vehicle Lane).
The traffic at that time was just sporadic and we made it in less than an hour. I still have time to check in my luggage. We arrived at the airport at 1540H so I paid him enormously and thanked him for his services. I then lined myself up to check-in my luggage and guess what happened, my luggage had overweighed. Oh my God...... what should I do? Well, I have no choice but to dug up what's needed to be taken out and then hand carry it for I don't have time to go home and leave them. Luckily, it was not heavy for I only took out couple of jackets and then place them inside my black messenger bag.
Next, I lined up myself at the security line which I have no problem and gone through without any fuss. Piece of cake! I then went up and looked for my boarding gate. When I was on the departure level, I decided to look for some key chains to reserve for my impending close friends for the Spanish class (whoever I will befriend, that's why it's still impending). I also bought a club sandwich at the nearby grill because I was very very hungry. My God.... the prices of food and beverage at the airport was sky-high.
We boarded early at 1715H and left early at 1745H. There were a lot of passengers and the plane was somewhat fully occupied, although the seat beside me was vacant. The flight was smooth and not that bumpy for the weather was excellent when we left Los Angeles. I dozed off my fatigue during the three hour flight and had not noticed what's happening inside the plane. We arrived at Mexico City early at 2300H and when we were taxiing at the tarmac, I suddenly felt the numbness which even made me more worried.
I was worried what will happen next when I got out of the airport because I don't know where to get a taxi on this strange city (although I went here three times already but those trips I had assistance from my friend). After alighting from the plane, I then headed to the immigration to get stamped and there was no problem there. I got through without any questions.
I then went to retrieve my luggage at carousel 19 and 20 then looked for a money exchange and changed my dollars to the Mexican peso. I then went out of the immigration lobby after I turned in my customs declaration form and then looked for a booth that schedule for a taxi. I then asked the lady that I needed a taxi going to Zona Rosa in broken Spanish and I paid the charge or 325 pesos.
She then pointed me to exit at Gate 10 and look for the line of the taxi that was stated on my ticket which says Porto Taxi. It was a long walk going to that gate and luckily I found the line. It was already midnight that time and the night was going deeper and deeper in Mexico City and I'm still at the airport waiting for my taxi to drop me off at my hotel in Zona Rosa. It was kinda nippy at that time and good thing I am wearing a jacket enough to warm me up until the taxi will arrive.
Few minutes later a big white suburban truck came and the old man manning and regulating the line told me to hop in so I handed him back my ticket for verification and then gave my luggage to the cute driver with curly hair. My God, taxis in Mexico City were huge. It was very spacious in that suburban taxi and I enjoyed the night view of the city while we were silently driving going to Zona Rosa. It reminded me of my previous visits full of memories. I broke the ice and greeted the cute driver "Ola" and then he asked me if I can speak Spanish and I told him "Poquito". We talked about the weather and about the traffic which is not apparent during those times.
We arrived at Zona Rosa after twenty minutes. The freeway has no traffic that's why we arrived at my hotel fast. After dropping me off at the hotel, I then checked in at the reception and then paid my courtesy at the receptionist and then he handed me the key to my room after signing all the necessary papers for my three days stay here in Mexico City.
Now that I safely arrived at my hotel, all the apprehensions and anticipatory anxiety were immediately dissipated. I conquered all my fears and I did it alone. I am proud of myself and I congratulated myself for a job well done. I am very very exhausted right now but I have to blog first because I just don't want to pass my eagerness to write my experiences today and suffer forgetting them have I not insisted to finish it.
Tomorrow will be a brand new day for me and again more challenges ahead. It will be a long day tomorrow and I am planning to tour again the zocalo, the Metropolitan Church, and maybe the National Palace if I have enough time. I am also planning to go back to Xochimilco, who knows. But for now, I am going to hit the sack and get ready for a very long day tomorrow. Adios mi amigos y amigas. Muy amable y bien gracias!
Monday, November 11, 2013
Five More Days Then I'm Off To Mexico
Yes..... the anticipation starts to escalate as my impeding long vacation to Mexico is looming right at the corner. What awaits for me there is a big question mark. I myself doesn't know what will happen. All I know is that I am going there to improve my Spanish and that's it. Hopefully, my goal will be realized. I am not really excited for the apprehensions had numbed me for it.
Despite how I felt I still can't imagine what to expect. I've been to Mexico several times yet I never felt like this before. If there's a chance to back-out I might probably consider it but it's too late already. I am just apprehensive and I think it is normal for a traveler to feel like that. I hope for the best though and hopefully everything will turn out well.
I've been slaving myself to work for seven days so that I can have a two days off before I left just to a lot it for the packing. Honestly, I haven't packed yet. Hopefully, I will manage to make it easy. So this coming Tuesday, I might rest off and then do the packing on Wednesday once I recuperated from my fatigue of working for seven straight days. I am happy that I finally took a personal decision to take a break from my very hectic schedule. It had really burned me out so I needed this much needed brake. Thank God!
My trip had not sunk in yet. I never felt excited about it. All I wanted to do right now is to finish working seven days then plan out about it. I knew all the hotels were booked and reservations were all made. All I needed to do is to plan out every day activities so that this trip will be fruitful and productive. Hopefully, it will be fun.
My anxiety right now was up to the brim. It had made me numb that's why I never felt eager and excited about it. I am just not focused about it for I have a lot in my mind lately. A lot of problems had surfaced it. The problems with my car, the typhoon tragedy in the Philippines, finishing up my schedule before embarking on this long vacation and a lot of things that had cropped up and made me worry too much. It was mind boggling.
Excitement is not the priority now. I felt that I have to take things one at a time so that I can focus well. Thinking or worrying of the unknown defeats my ability to make wise decisions and now this anticipatory anxiety had rendered me not fully focused to my goals. It's strange for me to be like this. Procrastination is not my cup of tea but it is happening I guess. I am really scared of the outcome. Haist.
I guess I am making my life very complicated when things seems easy. I don't know what is happening to me. Could it be because I am lonely or maybe depress. See... I am still on a verge of denial. I still refuse to accept that there is a problem about me. It really had affected my judgement and clouded my decisions. I am not behaving the way I am before.
The apartment needs a lot of cleaning and organizing and doing my chores was even been set aside because I am busy. I always made my fatigue and hectic schedule as an alibi to not tackle and handle my responsibilities well when in fact there is something wrong about me. And it affected my decisions and preparation for this trip for I haven't accomplished anything yet. Even doing the packing was not yet done. It seems that the answer for me is to cram just like I've been doing all the time when I was still in college.
I dreaded this kind of habit but I let it to happen. I know I can hurdle this challenge yet I never started the first step yet. Thinking of it just worried me so much but I have to face this setback alone and no one else. My mind says to plan but my body was really tired and begged for rest. That's why I haven't done anything yet because my mind and body are clashing each other which made me highly anxious and apprehensive.
Hopefully, this vacation will be a soul searching experience to make me aware of my self subservience. I have to walk the walk for there is no one else to help me. I am more mature enough to do this so I have to rely on my inner belief and skills to face the odds. This trip is also intended for knowing my strengths and weaknesses and it will be a good avenue to pinpoint what's needed to be eliminated and what's needed to be change.
Challenge comes in many forms and for this I have to equip myself with courage to face the odds. The odd is I don't know what will I face and I have to be ready for what will be coming. Hopefully, I will be ready and will make wise decisions in the end. I am just hopeful that this trip will change me and make me more brave to face every thing that life will throw on me. I hope I will not falter and will end up victorious in the end. So help me God.
Despite how I felt I still can't imagine what to expect. I've been to Mexico several times yet I never felt like this before. If there's a chance to back-out I might probably consider it but it's too late already. I am just apprehensive and I think it is normal for a traveler to feel like that. I hope for the best though and hopefully everything will turn out well.
I've been slaving myself to work for seven days so that I can have a two days off before I left just to a lot it for the packing. Honestly, I haven't packed yet. Hopefully, I will manage to make it easy. So this coming Tuesday, I might rest off and then do the packing on Wednesday once I recuperated from my fatigue of working for seven straight days. I am happy that I finally took a personal decision to take a break from my very hectic schedule. It had really burned me out so I needed this much needed brake. Thank God!
My trip had not sunk in yet. I never felt excited about it. All I wanted to do right now is to finish working seven days then plan out about it. I knew all the hotels were booked and reservations were all made. All I needed to do is to plan out every day activities so that this trip will be fruitful and productive. Hopefully, it will be fun.
My anxiety right now was up to the brim. It had made me numb that's why I never felt eager and excited about it. I am just not focused about it for I have a lot in my mind lately. A lot of problems had surfaced it. The problems with my car, the typhoon tragedy in the Philippines, finishing up my schedule before embarking on this long vacation and a lot of things that had cropped up and made me worry too much. It was mind boggling.
Excitement is not the priority now. I felt that I have to take things one at a time so that I can focus well. Thinking or worrying of the unknown defeats my ability to make wise decisions and now this anticipatory anxiety had rendered me not fully focused to my goals. It's strange for me to be like this. Procrastination is not my cup of tea but it is happening I guess. I am really scared of the outcome. Haist.
I guess I am making my life very complicated when things seems easy. I don't know what is happening to me. Could it be because I am lonely or maybe depress. See... I am still on a verge of denial. I still refuse to accept that there is a problem about me. It really had affected my judgement and clouded my decisions. I am not behaving the way I am before.
The apartment needs a lot of cleaning and organizing and doing my chores was even been set aside because I am busy. I always made my fatigue and hectic schedule as an alibi to not tackle and handle my responsibilities well when in fact there is something wrong about me. And it affected my decisions and preparation for this trip for I haven't accomplished anything yet. Even doing the packing was not yet done. It seems that the answer for me is to cram just like I've been doing all the time when I was still in college.
I dreaded this kind of habit but I let it to happen. I know I can hurdle this challenge yet I never started the first step yet. Thinking of it just worried me so much but I have to face this setback alone and no one else. My mind says to plan but my body was really tired and begged for rest. That's why I haven't done anything yet because my mind and body are clashing each other which made me highly anxious and apprehensive.
Hopefully, this vacation will be a soul searching experience to make me aware of my self subservience. I have to walk the walk for there is no one else to help me. I am more mature enough to do this so I have to rely on my inner belief and skills to face the odds. This trip is also intended for knowing my strengths and weaknesses and it will be a good avenue to pinpoint what's needed to be eliminated and what's needed to be change.
Challenge comes in many forms and for this I have to equip myself with courage to face the odds. The odd is I don't know what will I face and I have to be ready for what will be coming. Hopefully, I will be ready and will make wise decisions in the end. I am just hopeful that this trip will change me and make me more brave to face every thing that life will throw on me. I hope I will not falter and will end up victorious in the end. So help me God.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Remembering My Parents
Yesterday was the day of the dead in my country and for us Filipinos we always celebrate it annually to remember our dearly departed ones who left us and live happily ever after in the other life. I don't know but it's been our culture to celebrate it every November 1st and I've been accustomed to it while growing up.
Both my dear parents had already passed away and for this day I will remember them as my family will be celebrating the "Day of Dead". Over here in America, this celebration is not being observed. Culturally, only in the Philippines and Mexico celebrate this kind of event.
I remember when I was little we used to go to the cemetery and visit our dearly departed ones, bring them flowers, light a candle, and utter some prayers for their eternal rest. It was a very solemn event but for us kids we make it as an excuse to play and roam around the cemetery and look for our classmates and friends and collect melted candles and make some wax balls. We even were competing to make the biggest wax ball. We also recycle it by using it to wax the manual flat iron to keep it from not geting rusty.
We also go around the cemetery and follow th epriest praying from tomb to tomb and sprinkling holy water. We used to follow the "grannies" or female elders chanting a religious mantra and then laugh at it when it's offbeat. It was a hilarious experience and I missed it a lot. I wish I could go home and experience it hands-on. But it only happens in my dreams I guess.
My parents were a very noble couple. Dad is a very strict disciplanarian. A martinet per se. He was emulated for hus firmness and compassion as a father. He is responsible and provide us financial sustenance for our studies. We don't have to look for a job while going to college because dad always makes sure that all our financial needs were been taking cared of and that all we do is to concentrate on our studies. I consider him the best dad in the whole world.
What I don't like about him is his vices. He is an alcoholic and a chronic smoker which cause a toll on his age at a very young age. He lost his kidney function because of alcohol and was been diagnosed for cirrhosis and end stage renal disease requiring him to have hemodialysis three times a weak. His health had declined so fast and he died at a young age of 55-years-old.
My mom is an elementary teacher and was the most caring mom in the world. She is very supportive to my dad and a very loyal wife. She didn't remarry after dad died and just focused on taking care of us while we were studying as well as taking care of her grandkids after she retired.
Mon was a little overweight and I specifically told her to lose some pounds because of her late age but she was a stubborn lady eating foods that she's not suppose to include in her diet. At a young age of 62 she experienced a bad stroke which took her independence away beacause of paralysis. She got depressed after that and she declined rapidly.
A year later, she suffered a massive stroke which was more worse compared to the first one and had her stayed in the intensive care unit for two weeks. When she got home she was been put on couple of anticonvulsant because of the danger of having a massive seizure due to the effect of the bleeding stroke. She had declined progressively after that until she died at the age of 74-years-old.
I missed both of my doting parents and for this "day of the Dead" I am trying to remember them although I always remember them every day of my life for I could not be where I am without their passionate love for each other. To you both, Mom and Dad, I love you both with all my heart. Rest in peace and I wish you both eternal happiness with the Almighty God. Thanks for your unconditional love and I always remember you both. Take care Mom and Dad. I love you both!
Both my dear parents had already passed away and for this day I will remember them as my family will be celebrating the "Day of Dead". Over here in America, this celebration is not being observed. Culturally, only in the Philippines and Mexico celebrate this kind of event.
I remember when I was little we used to go to the cemetery and visit our dearly departed ones, bring them flowers, light a candle, and utter some prayers for their eternal rest. It was a very solemn event but for us kids we make it as an excuse to play and roam around the cemetery and look for our classmates and friends and collect melted candles and make some wax balls. We even were competing to make the biggest wax ball. We also recycle it by using it to wax the manual flat iron to keep it from not geting rusty.
We also go around the cemetery and follow th epriest praying from tomb to tomb and sprinkling holy water. We used to follow the "grannies" or female elders chanting a religious mantra and then laugh at it when it's offbeat. It was a hilarious experience and I missed it a lot. I wish I could go home and experience it hands-on. But it only happens in my dreams I guess.
My parents were a very noble couple. Dad is a very strict disciplanarian. A martinet per se. He was emulated for hus firmness and compassion as a father. He is responsible and provide us financial sustenance for our studies. We don't have to look for a job while going to college because dad always makes sure that all our financial needs were been taking cared of and that all we do is to concentrate on our studies. I consider him the best dad in the whole world.
What I don't like about him is his vices. He is an alcoholic and a chronic smoker which cause a toll on his age at a very young age. He lost his kidney function because of alcohol and was been diagnosed for cirrhosis and end stage renal disease requiring him to have hemodialysis three times a weak. His health had declined so fast and he died at a young age of 55-years-old.
My mom is an elementary teacher and was the most caring mom in the world. She is very supportive to my dad and a very loyal wife. She didn't remarry after dad died and just focused on taking care of us while we were studying as well as taking care of her grandkids after she retired.
Mon was a little overweight and I specifically told her to lose some pounds because of her late age but she was a stubborn lady eating foods that she's not suppose to include in her diet. At a young age of 62 she experienced a bad stroke which took her independence away beacause of paralysis. She got depressed after that and she declined rapidly.
A year later, she suffered a massive stroke which was more worse compared to the first one and had her stayed in the intensive care unit for two weeks. When she got home she was been put on couple of anticonvulsant because of the danger of having a massive seizure due to the effect of the bleeding stroke. She had declined progressively after that until she died at the age of 74-years-old.
I missed both of my doting parents and for this "day of the Dead" I am trying to remember them although I always remember them every day of my life for I could not be where I am without their passionate love for each other. To you both, Mom and Dad, I love you both with all my heart. Rest in peace and I wish you both eternal happiness with the Almighty God. Thanks for your unconditional love and I always remember you both. Take care Mom and Dad. I love you both!
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