Oooh

A couple of posts back, I mentioned that I really wanted to teach this second semester. I hope I'll be given the chance. I had my interview and teaching demo last week. I'm still waiting for the result. *crosses fingers*

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The Kite Runner

After reading the wonderful reviews on its cover, I finally purchased a copy of Afghan-born writer Khaled Hosseini's first novel, The Kite Runner, and boy, I sure am glad I did that!

The book is mainly a story about the life of this one Afghan boy. But aside from that, it also tells the recent history of the Afghan nation and its people. It begins with a setting in Afghanistan about 3-4 decades ago, and ends in the United States. It's unlike any book I have ever read. Of course, that's probably because I've never read a book about Afghanistan before. Although I hear a lot about this country on the news, I've never really imagined how the situation there is like. This book gave me an insight into the Afghanistan of today and its previous glory before the Russian invasion in the 70's.

The story is amazing, and very well written. I could not stop reading it, even while I was at work! Although it's quite long, I was able to finish it in just a few hours. That's how much of a page-turner it is. But although it's a fast read, the book is full of emotion and is so very moving. Haunting even. It's been 4 days since I've read it, but I'm still thinking about it.

I have a lot of favorite authors: Gabriel Garcia-Marquez, J.R.R. Tolkien, Alexandre Dumas, Jane Austen, Nicholas Sparks, to mention a few. Khaled Hosseini has been added to my list. I'm telling you, he's just as good as the most popular names in literature. Coming from me, you might not believe that, but just read the reviews on this book--they're all true. And if you haven't read The Kite Runner, you are missing a lot! So you should definitely read it. As for me, I'm just saving up so I can get myself a copy of Hosseini's new book, A Thousand Splendid Suns. I can't wait--it's supposed to be really good, too!

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Confessions of a Long-Lost Drama Queen

Hmmm.

I think I should start blogging again. And on that note, I think I should fill in the gap of what has happened to me between my last post and today.

I did get offered a position in AWS. I was scheduled for an interview in Cebu which I did not attend not only because it was in conflict with my finals, but also because I was just not interested. So you get the answer to my confusion in the previous post--I followed my heart.

We finished our graduation project just in the nick of time and I graduated cum laude, fulfilling my parents' dreams. This award does not really mean that much to me because of the fact that I know there are some people who receive it even if they don't deserve it, and some people who don't get it even if they do deserve it. I don't measure intelligence by any award. If you're good, you're good. People will eventually see that even if you don't have a medal to show for it. But at the end of the day, the award made my parents happy, and that was a relief for me. Of course, it looks good on the resume, so that's one nice thing about it.

There was a software company opening in Dumaguete, so I applied for that immediately after graduation. It turned out that they had some glitches, so they were not able to push through with the branch here, yet. With my desire not to leave the city, I applied for the one and only call center with a branch here. I've always been intrigued about this industry, so I gave it a go. Training was strange, and I had a lot of adjusting to do. A few weeks after I signed my contract with them, I was offered to teach part-time at my college in Silliman. I did not want to resign just less that a month after taking the job, so I turned down the teaching offer. I've always wanted to teach, but at the same time, I wanted to try out call centers. There was a difference in the pay, too, so I put the teaching offer on hold.

I've never lived my life with regrets, and I'm not going to start now. But as it turns out, I don't like the job that I have now. I'm just going to be honest here--I'm not used to being put down, and I don't like it, because I never put people down. But in the customer support industry, you get put down, and there's a lot of racism going on. I'm not even going to elaborate about that, but I realize now that this is not a job for someone as strong minded as I am.

Do I regret the decisions I've made so far? Not really. My optimism and my desire not to dwell over past decisions are two of my best qualities. I'm glad that I was able to learn my lesson this early in my career. Now, I'm just waiting for the time to explore something that I believe I would really love--being in the academe.

Life goes on, and I know that at the end of the day, it's not really your career that matters the most. True, money is important, but as an only child, I've long learned that all the material things in the world will not mean anything if you don't have anyone to share it with. For me, people in my life always come first. Thankfully, I've been blessed in that aspect. I have supportive parents and great friends. I have nothing to complain about.

It's easy to be negative and to always complain about things. But you know what, life is what we make it. And it can be truly wonderful if you live it with passion, optimism, and of course, faith in God.

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Decisions, decisions...

Last Saturday Advance World Systems (AWS), a Japanese IT company with branches here in the Philippines came to Silliman to conduct a company presentation and job recruitment. All graduating IT students were required to attend the activity, so off we went. We took an IQ exam, wherein 11 of us passed (out of the 20+ who participated). They then interviewed us, and told us afterwards that if we passed that interview, we would be called up for another interview in Cebu.

Oh my. I hope I don't pass that interview. Why? Because I don't want to work in Cebu, or Japan for that matter.

One of the interviewers during the interview asked me if I'd like to stay in Japan again. I told them that I definitely want to visit the place again for a vacation, but gave them a somewhat vague answer when they asked if I wanted to live there again for another year or two.

A few months ago, I was willing to work in Cebu. But now, I've got my mind set on applying for a job at a call center company with a site here in Dumaguete. And when I say set, I mean set--I don't even want to apply to other companies not based in Dumaguete anymore. I got accepted in one company for a contact support position in Manila, but I turned it down, not only because the salary was too small, but because I don't want to work in Manila. Sometimes, I feel apprehensive though. What if I don't get accepted to this company I really want to work in? What if staying here won't be good for me, after all?

I don't wanna leave this place because I feel that there is no point in living in Cebu or Manila, or any other place in the Philippines, for that matter. I mean, what for? I don't have homes there, and I certainly won't be able to live comfortably there. Maybe I'll just be wasting the money I'll be spending on board, lodging, and transportation. I want to migrate, and that's what I wanna prepare for. And I know I can prepare for it better if I stay here. I want to live abroad, but if you say Philippines, there's no other place for me except Dumaguete.

So, theoretically, let's say I got accepted into AWS. Or let's just say I got accepted into a good and reputable company that wanted to assign me to Cebu, Manila, or Japan. Should I consider accepting the offer? Or should I go for what I really want?

What would you do?

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I'm back!

Wow, it's been such a long time since I last blogged. What have I been up to? Well, nothing much, except finishing our graduation project. Less than two months more, and I'll finally be marching to the Pomp and Circumstance... at least, I hope!

Anyways, I hope everybody's holidays were a blast! Mine was ok... and I'm looking forward to another "holiday", 'coz my classmates and I will be going to Manila next week for our field trip!

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Wheee

Happy birthday to me!

Well, actually, my birthday was yesterday, but I celebrated it tonight because it's Friday. Had a get-together here at home with my friends and classmates.

Oh, 23. It's such an "ordinary" age, isn't it? But I'm feeling old. Hmmm. Yeah, it's definitely kicking in...

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PhilNITS and more

I was in Cebu over the weekend. I was there with some schoolmates and our teacher to take the PhilNITS certification examination on the Fundamentals of IT last Sunday. The PhilNITS exam isn't a licensure exam. It's just a certification, known before as the JITSE, or the Japan IT Standards Examination. It's basically a Japanese examination, that's administered to IT people in foreign countries, or maybe in Japan as well. Anyway, we weren't prepared for that exam at all, as we were not planning to take it. However, the guys at PhilNITS gave Silliman 15 free slots, so that we didn't have to pay the Php1,500 fee. Of course we grabbed this opportunity, and the opportunity to go to Cebu once again. (We had also gone to Cebu just a month ago for the Java in Cebu Seminar.)

The exam was not as difficult as expected. We actually thought that we wouldn't be able to answer a single question. But the theoretical exam during the morning session was not so bad. If we had only reviewed properly, I believe it would have been a sure thing. The programming exam for the afternoon was the difficult one. Anyway, whatever the outcome of that exam will be, I'll just have to charge it to experience.

It was the perfect time to be in Cebu, though. SM had a 3-day sale over the weekend! Almost all shops were shops were giving up to 70% discount! I was able to get myself a Girbaud bag, and lipstick that I can't find here in Dumaguete. That's not a lot, but I guess I'm starting to become practical. I can hardly wait for the time when I'll be spending my own money. And speaking of my own money, working in Cebu is starting to appeal to me more and more these days...

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Sad News

The dean of our college died tonight.

Engr. Alfredo Ang was a very active man. He'd be at the Computer Center almost every day (even during Saturdays)... walking around, supervising, making jokes with people. Last month, he suddenly had a heart attack. He was airlifted to Cebu and a bypass surgery had to be done. But it never really did save him. Complications arose, until finally, his suffering ended tonight at the Silliman University Medical Center.

It's so hard to imagine the Computer Center without Sir Ang. Even before we became a college, he was already leading us, fighting for us, finding ways to give us the best computer equipment. Nobody can ever replace him. We will surely miss him.

May he rest in peace.

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All Things Japanese

Okay.

Before that job recruitment last Saturday, I didn't want to work for EPSON. After all, I don't (or didn't) want to be a programmer. But after they presented their compensation package, well... I drooled! I don't exactly know how much their entrance pay is (they only told us it was above average),but their benefits are great! Plus, they have added incentives for people who can speak Japanese because EPSON is a Japanese company and they send people to Japan all the time. Isn't that just great for me? Also, their office is located in a swanky area in Cebu. Cebu! Not Manila! Perfect, huh? But... I still don't know what will happen to my application. I don't even know when I'll get the results.

I was pleasantly surprised with their exam, however. It was in 3 parts: a psychological exam, Numerical Reasoning, and Abstract Reasoning. For the first time in my life, I found the Numerical Reasoning section the easiest. That was a real surprise, considering how lazy I am with Math. The first part was not very good because there was a time limit, but the third part was, in my opinion, the most difficult. The crazy thing is, in all exams I've taken in the past, my highest scores are in English and Abstract Reasoning, even if I always find the latter part difficult. So, really, I have no idea how that exam turns out. Apparently, they'll just contact the people who qualify for the interview. Ohhh, I'll have to cross my fingers real tight. Just imagine how great it would be if you had a job waiting for you even before graduation!

Anyhow, Uchida Sensei and some Japanese girls from Ferris are in the Philippines right now. They came to my house last night, and we had lechon because Sensei really loves it. They also cooked Japanese food, which was really nice. They brought me Japanese foods that I missed, too! So I am ureshii.

Aya, one of the girls who was here as an exchange student last year, was with the group, and she gave me a copy of her pictures of Ferris. I wanted to share them with you...

So here are the pictures of my school when I was an exchange student in Japan--Ferris University, in Yokohama:

The main entrance.

One of the classrooms.

The swanky computer room.

My favorite rest room.
It's big, and the lights automatically turn off if there's no one in the room. Each stall also has a noise-emitting device so your neighbors won't hear whatever sounds you're making.
No kidding!

The multimedia section of the library.

And they even have a fitness gym now. Crazy, huh?

Anyway, if you know a Japanese, ask him/her about Ferris. He/She probably knows about it. It's seriously the most sophisticated "all-girls" university in the country. That's how lucky I am to have been given the opportunity to be there.

lechon - roasted whole, young pig
ureshii - Japanese term for happy

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The Last Leg

I've been pretty busy recently, but we finally finished presenting 75% of our design for our OJT. It's a step in the right direction, but of course, it's still a long way to go. Things are really sinking in right now, though. I've finally realized that I'm almost down to my last semester in college. I'm looking forward to so many things, but at the same time, I'm feeling downright scared of the changes that are coming my way.

I'm afraid, because I guess I don't really know what to do. I'm afraid of leaving things and people behind, but I guess I'm more afraid of staying, because in staying I'm more prone to disappointment. I hate how this issue has been the only thing in my blog entries for the last few months, but I guess the reason is because it's one of the biggest things bothering me right now.

Oh, choices. Some are so hard to make. And the crazy thing is, sometimes the hardest ones are what's good for you. But I guess I just need to have faith--that God knows what's best and will guide me in the right direction as long as I hold on to him.

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