Last night Sacha and I had dinner at Rose's place in Strathfield where she coooked this Thai/Korean dish, noodles with peanut sauce and pork with lots of vegetables that I didn't eat. Met her friend Stephanie, who is in her thirties but young at heart and full of adventure. She has a lot to say always and has a bit of a take-over/overwhelmingly gregarious personality in the start (possibly because she's spanish) but you get used to it and is really fun.
After dinner we went to see Once You're Born You can No Longer Hide at the Italian film festival in Leichhardt. It was an excellent movie despite its length. It was about this rich italian kid - who was not stereotypical at all, but very very normal - who falls off a boat during a vacation, gets rescued by a refugee ship as it is moving from greece to italy and what happens to him and the people on board, particularly two people he meets on it and the relationships he develops with the characters. The actors and actresses were excellent in the movie and the characterisation was suberbly portrayed.
I've seen two movies at the festival, this one and Manual of Love which was a romantic comedy in the vein of Love Actually and wonderfully hilarious.
We met Rose's other friend Mos, who is Mexican and seems supremely gay but says he's not. He finished with a degree in psychology at sydney uni, taught ballroom dancing in LA and has just gotten back and is looking for a job. Rose met him over the internet and they've become quite good friends. Sacha brought Luke and her other friend Dominic, who is french-canadian but originally from Poland and is taking his masters or Phd in engineering. Both Mos and Dominic were very funny.
We capped the night off with a drink at the Royal and then everyone walked me home before leaving.
Today I have decided to do my morning thing, finish taking notes for something go down the road to get some meat, make myself shepard's pie for lunch and continue studying some more! Let's hope all goes as planned.
I am dreaming of buying a blender. I am trying not to have so much coffee and to be healthier so instead I have decided it would be good to just make smoothies with yoghurt! And so I need a blender. First need to figure out how much it will cost, and if its within budget as of now.
Off to start my day now!
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Saturday, October 29, 2005
After several wrong turns and distorted maps, we ended up at a Korean resto instead of going to Dee Why for pinoy food. We'll plan better next time.. but anyway the food was great! (even if it activated my ulcer...)
Sacha and Me attempting to do Andee's patented trademark model-i-always-look-good-in-pictures-pose. Unfortunately we couldnt quite do it right. I look strained and Sacha looks sleepy and sultry. Oh well!
Sam and Simon, attempting to imitate the famous model pose - chin down, head up, etc - which I think only works for girls! They think they look gay. I think they just look alike! Which proves they are brothers!
Dinner at Seoul Ria, see the massive plates and the really full tummies. It was good value for money too!
My close Encounter with the "Hoff". David Hasselhoff from Knight Rider, Baywatch (and if anyone remembers that little bit in EuroTip where he sings in German... Duuuuuuu!) came to the office bec we're going to be selling tickets to his show. He was very nice and friendly and game and is in on the jokes people make of him. Needless, to say it was a welcome break from the phones and we had fun!
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
I have been tagged by duke and therefore:
20 random facts about me then tag the same amount of people
as minutes it takes you to write the facts
1. I like to cook but I only learned how to cook about 3 months ago
2. I love doggies but I don't own one
3. When asked what if I were an animal what would I be I answered a polar bear because it looks cute and cuddly but its secretly vicious.
4. I haven't smoked since July, but it doesn't mean I never will again
5. I can't take a shower without hot water
6. I will never stop loving chocolate
7. I take kickboxing
8. I love Bono of U2
9. I haven't really dated anyone since 2002 (this does not count speed dating)
10. I love travelling and my next target destinations are Peru and Chile (not counting New Zealand and Tassie!)
11. I have an ulcer + acid reflux and have to drink medicines every day so that my esophagus doesn't get hurt any further
12. I also have allergies, PCO, minor scoliosis and Im sure there is more but it escapes me right now
13. I am trying to live a healthy lifestyle but I love chocolate so much. Hehehhe
14. I am on the internet a loooooot
15. I love to blog, but I dont always have the time
16. My parents were never married but that never bothered me, even when it bothered everyone else!
17. I am an only child and to answer the question everyone asks, I was never lonely as a child because how can you miss something you never had (ie siblings)
18. My 2 top requirements for dating a man are he a) has to smell nice naturally (or at the very least smell normal!) and b) he has to be able to spell (at the very least his name and basic words)
19. I love to eat. and Sleep. and I miss coffee.
20. I am proud to be philo, despite having left.
I am tagging all the people I know who use blogger (most people I know are on LJ!)
1. Pia
2. Grae
3. Baby Gurl
4. Sacha
5. Selle
6. RugJug
7. Purple
8. Ivy
20 random facts about me then tag the same amount of people
as minutes it takes you to write the facts
1. I like to cook but I only learned how to cook about 3 months ago
2. I love doggies but I don't own one
3. When asked what if I were an animal what would I be I answered a polar bear because it looks cute and cuddly but its secretly vicious.
4. I haven't smoked since July, but it doesn't mean I never will again
5. I can't take a shower without hot water
6. I will never stop loving chocolate
7. I take kickboxing
8. I love Bono of U2
9. I haven't really dated anyone since 2002 (this does not count speed dating)
10. I love travelling and my next target destinations are Peru and Chile (not counting New Zealand and Tassie!)
11. I have an ulcer + acid reflux and have to drink medicines every day so that my esophagus doesn't get hurt any further
12. I also have allergies, PCO, minor scoliosis and Im sure there is more but it escapes me right now
13. I am trying to live a healthy lifestyle but I love chocolate so much. Hehehhe
14. I am on the internet a loooooot
15. I love to blog, but I dont always have the time
16. My parents were never married but that never bothered me, even when it bothered everyone else!
17. I am an only child and to answer the question everyone asks, I was never lonely as a child because how can you miss something you never had (ie siblings)
18. My 2 top requirements for dating a man are he a) has to smell nice naturally (or at the very least smell normal!) and b) he has to be able to spell (at the very least his name and basic words)
19. I love to eat. and Sleep. and I miss coffee.
20. I am proud to be philo, despite having left.
I am tagging all the people I know who use blogger (most people I know are on LJ!)
1. Pia
2. Grae
3. Baby Gurl
4. Sacha
5. Selle
6. RugJug
7. Purple
8. Ivy
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
My latest creation, Roast Pork with Rosemary. I impressed myself by using cooking twine, hahahha :) It felt all chef-y to use it even if it was all just really string! It is basically pork with "pockets" of spinach, rosemary, onion and garlic inside, i added parmesan cheese to some of them just to try. The sauce is just chicken stock, leftover juices from the meat (not much!) and leftover stuffing.
Sunday, October 23, 2005
The Little Robot of King Street. We saw it sitting next ot a shop, someone may have been filming it. Sacha overheard the guy saying, "please look at it." Im not sure if it was intended to make a statement or just be artistic. Anyway, it was cute so I took a picture!
Back to the 80s & Smoothies
Last night Sacha, Andrea, Martina and I saw an Italian Movie at the film festival called "Manual of Love". It was a bit like Love Actually, with 4 different stories. Afterwards, Sacha, Andrea & Luke headed off to a party and I took Martina to Bar Italia since it was her first time in Leichhardt. After she left, i called them to get the address for the party.
The party was OpShop Formal themed. An Op Shop is a second hand shop where people just dump all their clothes/shoes for sale and the money is given to charity. Since people dump the stuff they don't like, you can imagine what kind of things are there. As I didnt have time to get an outfit - Sacha was decked out in a nice dress and Andrea was dressed normally, while Luke had an OpShop outfit that looked normal - I put on this pink long sleeved shirt my mom sent that I will never wear, I think, with pleats going down the front and jeans. When I got there there were "costumes" in the bathroom and the girls were in full 80s glory (see below!). We decided to walk back to the house - it was a block away - to get the camera and Im glad I did.
The hosts were really decked out, with puffy sleeves and flowers in their hair ala pretty in pink. The music was all abba and something straight out of the chorus girl soundtracks. Given that most of these people (kids) were in their early twenties and possibly did not remember as much of the 80s I was surprised to find everyone of them singing and dancing along to footloose, eye of the tiger, abba and other classics. (sabagay dito nga nangaling ang abba teens...) The only things seriously missing were the ballads like glory of love, take my breath away and what the heck, ocean deep. (The classics played in my school bus...) We went home around one.
The next day I got up at ten. Kartini, Sacha's housemate had planned a "Smoothie & Scone" brunch where we were all supposed to bring fruits to be made into juice/smoothies, etc. Andrea and I went down to Norton st deli and grabbed some strawberries, bananas and 2 for $4 mangoes (okay cheaper than the last time!) plus some amazing garlic aioli dip and bagel chips.
We got to their house and they had already started (it was lunch time by then). The bus we took was full since it was the Leichhardt to Coogee one and since it was such a brilliantly beautiful day, everyone was headed to the beach! Kartini had already started making juices and they were also serving champagne with hibiscus. Half the homemade scones had already been eaten so I was only able to have one regular scone and half a chocolate one (mmmmm!). Thank God for garlic aoili and bagel chips. I managed to have about two and a half smoothies, all from the strawberry blend except for the last one, which was mango and raspberry, made by Lisa and was the best of the lot. They made a lot of them with melon, which I tasted but since I dont like melons, I passed on that one. There was also one with coconut which I skipped for my stomach's safety.
After that lovely smoothie brunch Sacha and I took a walk down King Street to grab some real food and I ended up getting a nice dress at this store called "Just Feathers" so I know have a summery dress thing. Tried to find shoes as well but couldnt find anything comfortable (need black flats). Had "lunch" at a noodle shop - fried rice with chicken and salted fish, which reminded me of our thai lunches on the phuket beach, though it was not as good as they were, obviously.
Went to chuch after that, there seemed to have been a youth congregation meeting as there were all these groups (as evidenced by their t-shirts) including those that were wearing Australia 2008 World Youth Day pics. It was a pretty long mass but I was glad to be there anyway. Went home and will be going to bed shortly as have work tomorrow. Hopefully this week will be a light one, although it will be followed by three weeks of stuvac + exams so I hope to take advantage of this week by doing some prep and relaxing a bit.
Here's to a hopeful week!
The party was OpShop Formal themed. An Op Shop is a second hand shop where people just dump all their clothes/shoes for sale and the money is given to charity. Since people dump the stuff they don't like, you can imagine what kind of things are there. As I didnt have time to get an outfit - Sacha was decked out in a nice dress and Andrea was dressed normally, while Luke had an OpShop outfit that looked normal - I put on this pink long sleeved shirt my mom sent that I will never wear, I think, with pleats going down the front and jeans. When I got there there were "costumes" in the bathroom and the girls were in full 80s glory (see below!). We decided to walk back to the house - it was a block away - to get the camera and Im glad I did.
The hosts were really decked out, with puffy sleeves and flowers in their hair ala pretty in pink. The music was all abba and something straight out of the chorus girl soundtracks. Given that most of these people (kids) were in their early twenties and possibly did not remember as much of the 80s I was surprised to find everyone of them singing and dancing along to footloose, eye of the tiger, abba and other classics. (sabagay dito nga nangaling ang abba teens...) The only things seriously missing were the ballads like glory of love, take my breath away and what the heck, ocean deep. (The classics played in my school bus...) We went home around one.
The next day I got up at ten. Kartini, Sacha's housemate had planned a "Smoothie & Scone" brunch where we were all supposed to bring fruits to be made into juice/smoothies, etc. Andrea and I went down to Norton st deli and grabbed some strawberries, bananas and 2 for $4 mangoes (okay cheaper than the last time!) plus some amazing garlic aioli dip and bagel chips.
We got to their house and they had already started (it was lunch time by then). The bus we took was full since it was the Leichhardt to Coogee one and since it was such a brilliantly beautiful day, everyone was headed to the beach! Kartini had already started making juices and they were also serving champagne with hibiscus. Half the homemade scones had already been eaten so I was only able to have one regular scone and half a chocolate one (mmmmm!). Thank God for garlic aoili and bagel chips. I managed to have about two and a half smoothies, all from the strawberry blend except for the last one, which was mango and raspberry, made by Lisa and was the best of the lot. They made a lot of them with melon, which I tasted but since I dont like melons, I passed on that one. There was also one with coconut which I skipped for my stomach's safety.
After that lovely smoothie brunch Sacha and I took a walk down King Street to grab some real food and I ended up getting a nice dress at this store called "Just Feathers" so I know have a summery dress thing. Tried to find shoes as well but couldnt find anything comfortable (need black flats). Had "lunch" at a noodle shop - fried rice with chicken and salted fish, which reminded me of our thai lunches on the phuket beach, though it was not as good as they were, obviously.
Went to chuch after that, there seemed to have been a youth congregation meeting as there were all these groups (as evidenced by their t-shirts) including those that were wearing Australia 2008 World Youth Day pics. It was a pretty long mass but I was glad to be there anyway. Went home and will be going to bed shortly as have work tomorrow. Hopefully this week will be a light one, although it will be followed by three weeks of stuvac + exams so I hope to take advantage of this week by doing some prep and relaxing a bit.
Here's to a hopeful week!
Me and my Strawberry Banana whatever whatever ten million fruits smoothie. You can tell I loved it a lot.
Sacha the Glamour Queen at the OpShop Formal party that we went to last night. The theme turned out to be 80s...
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Bits and Pieces
Skipped kbox last week due to the water heater adventure and this week got a really bad ass partner. The thing about the advanced class is hindi na puwede yung palanta-lanta like i have this tendency to forget shit when I dont practice or concentrate hard enough but my partner is pretty good, considering she's been doing it for less then i have (ok but not by much, only about a month and a half) and she kicks ass... Also since we were an uneven number today, we also partnered with this other girl who has been taking kbox for _three_ years, has perfect form and kicks bloody hard. Damn, I felt like my arms were gonna fall off.
Finished my paper Monday night after going out to dinner with Tito Nonoy (Family friend) and Sam, who is from his office and well, i would think Tito N is his boss, and was sent here to work by their company. The company pays his suweldo in pesos (it gets paid in pinas) but he gets an allowance and the company pays his rent, car, gas, everything. All he pays for his food and the occasional phone bill. His company is australia wide and there are quite a number of former ateneans in it - one of whom got his PR already from working here for 2 years.
And I suppose that's what you get for finishing in ME.
Sam has been here since April but has never made it past paramatta (Respeto! Westie!). He works in Blacktown (Pinoy Mecca) and is a couple of years younger. I have promised to take him under my wing, introduce him to Jojo, Sacha, Andee and the rest and make sure that he makes it to the beach!!! Hello! No Bondi, No Coogee, No Manly. NOTHING. Doubt that he's ever been to the city! Respeto.
Went to see my professor after submitting the paper and found that Im actually doing better than I thought in that class. In the afternoon we had this bizarre case in HRM that discussed computing the cost of replacing someone in the company with only two figures (past and current salary) to work with. Also saw Martina and we are planning to see 40 year old virgin sometime soon.
Had dinner with Sacha Wednesday. Meant to have her cook (so it would be cheaper and i cooked last week!) but as we went out to buy meat we ended up getting take away at an African restaurant where they had amazing food and the most wonderful, fragrant rice with African spices. Must eat there again, its called Kilimanjaro. I had the Yassa which is chicken cooked with tomato and african spices and was in this sauce that was soooo good.
Kartini, Sacha's housemate who is Indian-Indonesian and has the IS accent is planning to move by the start of next year and wants Sacha to go with her. She would like a house with a garden somewhere in the inner west area near a train. I brought up the prospect of all of us living together - since I have to move by the end of the year - and it seems like it has potential. I could always get an interim house by december (or sleep on their couch!) if I have to. The only thing is they want to be near a train/newtown so living in my area of the inner west is not one of their options. We shall see. Also have a prospective house to check out in Balmain. Im still essentially a Leichhardt girl though...
Cousin Andrew (pinoy version) has sprained ankle again due to basketball. Also dating an Indonesian Chinese girl who he seems to really be into because "eto na, serious na talaga" and despite the language differences they have a lot to talk about, according to him.
Cooked veal steaks today in breadcrumbs. they turned out okay. have also still got leftover african food which i will be eating tomorrow.
Also discovered that I dont really even have to go to the embassy to apply for my passport renewal. I just need xerox copies and a check payable to the philippine consulate plus my thumbmarks! (Hello, lagyan ba ng pentle pen ang kamay?!?)
Have also got to go to the ATO to get my taxes sorted out, will most likely do this tomorrow between tute and work.
Sleep time now.
Finished my paper Monday night after going out to dinner with Tito Nonoy (Family friend) and Sam, who is from his office and well, i would think Tito N is his boss, and was sent here to work by their company. The company pays his suweldo in pesos (it gets paid in pinas) but he gets an allowance and the company pays his rent, car, gas, everything. All he pays for his food and the occasional phone bill. His company is australia wide and there are quite a number of former ateneans in it - one of whom got his PR already from working here for 2 years.
And I suppose that's what you get for finishing in ME.
Sam has been here since April but has never made it past paramatta (Respeto! Westie!). He works in Blacktown (Pinoy Mecca) and is a couple of years younger. I have promised to take him under my wing, introduce him to Jojo, Sacha, Andee and the rest and make sure that he makes it to the beach!!! Hello! No Bondi, No Coogee, No Manly. NOTHING. Doubt that he's ever been to the city! Respeto.
Went to see my professor after submitting the paper and found that Im actually doing better than I thought in that class. In the afternoon we had this bizarre case in HRM that discussed computing the cost of replacing someone in the company with only two figures (past and current salary) to work with. Also saw Martina and we are planning to see 40 year old virgin sometime soon.
Had dinner with Sacha Wednesday. Meant to have her cook (so it would be cheaper and i cooked last week!) but as we went out to buy meat we ended up getting take away at an African restaurant where they had amazing food and the most wonderful, fragrant rice with African spices. Must eat there again, its called Kilimanjaro. I had the Yassa which is chicken cooked with tomato and african spices and was in this sauce that was soooo good.
Kartini, Sacha's housemate who is Indian-Indonesian and has the IS accent is planning to move by the start of next year and wants Sacha to go with her. She would like a house with a garden somewhere in the inner west area near a train. I brought up the prospect of all of us living together - since I have to move by the end of the year - and it seems like it has potential. I could always get an interim house by december (or sleep on their couch!) if I have to. The only thing is they want to be near a train/newtown so living in my area of the inner west is not one of their options. We shall see. Also have a prospective house to check out in Balmain. Im still essentially a Leichhardt girl though...
Cousin Andrew (pinoy version) has sprained ankle again due to basketball. Also dating an Indonesian Chinese girl who he seems to really be into because "eto na, serious na talaga" and despite the language differences they have a lot to talk about, according to him.
Cooked veal steaks today in breadcrumbs. they turned out okay. have also still got leftover african food which i will be eating tomorrow.
Also discovered that I dont really even have to go to the embassy to apply for my passport renewal. I just need xerox copies and a check payable to the philippine consulate plus my thumbmarks! (Hello, lagyan ba ng pentle pen ang kamay?!?)
Have also got to go to the ATO to get my taxes sorted out, will most likely do this tomorrow between tute and work.
Sleep time now.
Monday, October 10, 2005
Tuuuuubiiiiig!!!
I spent this weekend staffing an anime festival, as you can see from below. For more pictures check out the links at this forum.
Saturday night I was so dead tired from the festival I kept falling asleep while Sacha and her friend Andrea (the girl who rented her room before her and is now sleeping on their couch) came to visit. Andrea might take Handle's room now that Duncan is gone. Moses and Toby's parents went to Canberra/up the coast for an overnight trip so I fed the doggies. Moses tried to sleep with me so I let him get up on my quilt as he kept my feet warm. He got up in the middle of the night so I let him out. In the morning there was lotsa dirt on my quilt cover but it was due for a washing anyway. This is given that i can find the time to wash.
This morning there was no hot water. I managed to cook my tocino, do the dishes and hug the doggies a bit before discovering, my God walang mainit na tubig (just like a commercial...) So ever the innovative pinay I put the hot pot on, cleaned out my little pail (that's technically a mop pail) that i use to make babad my clothes in and put the hot water in it. With some added cold water, I managed to take a shower and not wash my hair. Messaged my housemates and Miki replied with "I discovered that this morning", which means that she was probably actually under the shower - I always blend the water first, thanks to winter - when she found out. Micheal called later on to ask if I would be home tomorrow so the guy could come to check out the heater. I said I wouldnt be free till Wednesday and so it looks like we won't have hot water till then.
Which is why I called Sacha and asked if I could come shower before class tomorrow morning because to quote my housemates "Its fucking cold.". And I would like to wash my hair without using the hotpot... :P
Saturday night I was so dead tired from the festival I kept falling asleep while Sacha and her friend Andrea (the girl who rented her room before her and is now sleeping on their couch) came to visit. Andrea might take Handle's room now that Duncan is gone. Moses and Toby's parents went to Canberra/up the coast for an overnight trip so I fed the doggies. Moses tried to sleep with me so I let him get up on my quilt as he kept my feet warm. He got up in the middle of the night so I let him out. In the morning there was lotsa dirt on my quilt cover but it was due for a washing anyway. This is given that i can find the time to wash.
This morning there was no hot water. I managed to cook my tocino, do the dishes and hug the doggies a bit before discovering, my God walang mainit na tubig (just like a commercial...) So ever the innovative pinay I put the hot pot on, cleaned out my little pail (that's technically a mop pail) that i use to make babad my clothes in and put the hot water in it. With some added cold water, I managed to take a shower and not wash my hair. Messaged my housemates and Miki replied with "I discovered that this morning", which means that she was probably actually under the shower - I always blend the water first, thanks to winter - when she found out. Micheal called later on to ask if I would be home tomorrow so the guy could come to check out the heater. I said I wouldnt be free till Wednesday and so it looks like we won't have hot water till then.
Which is why I called Sacha and asked if I could come shower before class tomorrow morning because to quote my housemates "Its fucking cold.". And I would like to wash my hair without using the hotpot... :P
Me in the Pocky hat made by one of the attendees. That's the cloakroom behind me where people check in stuff like bags and weapons, as in like the giant stuff that's carried around by the FF people.
This is a fuzzy picture of one of the Cosplay manager dressed as Totoro, one of my favorite characters from the Hiyao Miyazaki film, "My Neighbor Totoro". It took him 3 months to sew the costume and he once took it to Melbourne for a convention and had to pay extra to fit it in a special taxi because it was too big!!!
I have no idea who this creature is. People put a lot of effort in their costumes. One of the best ones I saw was the Final Fantasy tribute which had 6 FF couples (as in Cloud, etc) waltzing in full costume. One girl worked on her costume - a puffy dangerous liason like ballgown since January. They won best act, which they really deserved.
This is the panty monster from all the hentai movies. (What's hentai? Ahhh. look it up.) He used tubes and yes, that is lingerie attached as wings.
One of the events at the animania festival is called Cosplay, where people get dressed up in costumes of their favorite characters. This one is a friendly moose. People actually make their own costumes, it was amazing.
This weekend I staffed the animania show. This is me wearing my borrowed fuschia cat ears. I regret forgetting to take a camera (twice) although considering the lighting I think my camera did ok
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Last night, the Wests Tigers won the National Rugby League Championships. By default due to my suburb they have become my team despite the fact that I do not follow the sport but sort of my default know how it goes due to us selling tickets to the games for work. Although its cool that they won, I still firmly maintain that despite the fact that there are many suburbs in the wests (thus the plural) there is something grammatically incorrect about Wests Tigers.
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Mangoes
I meant to update last week with whatever new adventures I'd had but I was so busy. This will be, in case you can't already tell, a very long entry to make up for that.
Today I got a forward that was just the right thing I needed to hear: "You may be going through a tough time right now but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can. Keep the faith."
I woke up this morning computing my expenses for the month. Strangely enough the Australian Consulate is correct when it says you need an average of 1200 dollars a month to stay alive in this country. I discovered this the hard way, when I got taxed (given that once I am taxed I don't end up with the suggested amount monthly). I seriously think my tax is wrong. I've talked to several people - none of whom are tax experts, just various team leaders/co-employees - and some say yes, you're getting taxed too much, some say no, you're getting taxed that high because you're international. I'm calling the tax office tom to make sure, because Andee doesnt appear to get taxed that high and this whole tax thing is making me feel very bad. It works out that I'm living from paycheck to paycheck and that I can't save. I don't want to do that. I need to be able to save and pay for additional expenses.
By the way, in case you didn't already know, I work for a call centre company and this is our client
I went to see an ulcer doctor this week, and he explained what exactly was wrong with me. Apparently the muscles in the bottom of my esophagus are weak, and the way it goes is that when the acid from my stomach bounces up, its supposed to close but it doesn't, because they're weak. Since the inside of the esophagus isnt lined the way the stomach is, its like skin, i get burnt. So I have to take medicine twice a day to allow the acid to abate and let my esophagus heal. If I dont take care of it, it could get worse and then I would end up having to have my esophagus stretched (Don't ask). Its also not the average ulcer/gastritis that is caused by bacteria. Its called acid reflux and like the rest of my diseases its permanent but manageable. He assured me that I would be able to eat spicy food with medicine (like Im going to try anytime soon though) and worried that it was possible that I had been undertreated at home, although the availability of drug brands at home might be the reason for this.
Also went to see Merchants of Bollywood, with my friend Rose as well as Sacha, her housemates Kartini and Lisa and their friends. They had bought tickets, but I got free tickets thanks to work! (Yaaay!) It was very entertaining and colorful. Had lots of fun. Last night Jojo, Sacha and I also saw the movie Murderball which was about the US paralympic wheelchair rugby team. I thought it would be depressing and strange but it was great, and inspiring besides. They play rugby with wheelchairs that look like they have viking sheilds attached to the wheels and slam into each other and tip over and stuff. It was great. I highly recommend it.
I worked full time this week because of the holiday. Thursday we started selling season packages for the Australian Open, and Saturday we started selling single season tickets. The men's championship date was sold out before I even came in at 12noon, and this is considering we started selling them at 9. The thing is, to me that's expected, not only because I work for a ticketing agency but because you're competing for tickets with people all over the world, that's a big thing, and its logical. Which is why I could not understand people calling me at 6pm on the same day expressing shock, or asking for tickets in the lower foreground in the front. Hello. It's the Australian Open. It's tennis. People are fanatic about sport - like the American who called the day before to make sure he got the dates and times right, I had to run a time zone conversion from him and he said he'd call from the golf course the next day. That is commitment to sport and I hope he got tickets.
This week I cooked char-grilled chicken with mango salsa (all while chatting with
sanshine_butete) which is actually not as complicated as it seems, its all in the sauce and if you can find fresh mangoes. This week I am thinking of cooking pork or beef or mustard style chicken. (Woman's Weekly cookbooks rule!) I also bought a new cookbook. I would cook more, but its hard to find the time, and I get sawa easily, because the portions are so big, so it takes me a few weeks to finish one meal - I'm still eating my cheese fritatas up to now, I had 6, I ate 2 a week, Im finishing it this week.
I found a great recipe for my ricotta and mistakenly purchased cottage cheese, which involves pasta shells and baking, but I've got so much leftover sauce from last week (as in like more than half a tupperware) I've got to finish that first. Im trying not to eat so heavy, so that tupperware is going to take a while. I was thinking of using it as sauce but its already got beef and mushrooms in it so that will end up being too heavy.
Sacha and I were supposed to take the train to Canberra this weekend, but the 6am train was sold out and the next one left at 12 and got there at 4, so never mind. I got myself a new book on the history of africa, which I was meaning to wait for next payday for, because I worked extra hours this week, but it was sold out in most stores, borders had 9 left and the publisher wouldnt be getting them till at least mid october so I went and got it in case it disappeared. Im a nerd like that. I have a list of books in my head that I am going to ask my relatives for for Christmas. In exchange, I believe the next person who comes here will have to bring everyone's Christmas gifts, I know what to get them all, straight from Manila where its cheaper!
Ive been spending a lot of time on my groupwork, just reading and reading all the stuff I'm supposed to be writing for the various projects I need to do. I have one group which is really good, we're all working hard and we have a good leader, one group where we're all working individually and I think we'll come together in the end but so far none of us have done much and my last group where we're trying hard but its one of those cases where I have groupmates that are really nice and trying really hard to understand but... Let's just say that it has further encouraged me to study mandarin. I have always meant to but its becoming apparent that I seriously need to study mandarin. Now.
I am learning many things about different cultures through these groupwork experiences, plus a lot of things about me. Like I never knew I had all these filipino traits that I never thought I had. The articles I have read for class are true, your cultural traits become more apparent when you are outside your cultural context or country. For instance, my american groupmate has probably no idea that if I didnt have enough experience with americans I would probably perceive him as arrogrant or even aggressively determined because he's so task oriented, etc. Or I had no idea that the filipino concept of "hiya" existed in me until I came to this country. Or that the collective vs individualist concept (thinking of the good of the group vs thinking of yourself) is so true, in the sense of asian vs western. For example in work. In my old job, if you had a problem and someone else could help you with it, even if they were talking to a customer, etc. they'd help you out, because essentially it was for the good of the group. In my new work, we're not allowed to do that. Work on it by yourself, focus on your own call, even if it was handled by a diff person previously and you need their input. It sometimes requires a certain amount of adjustment, but all in all, its very interesting, when you notice the cultural differences.
Last weekend Sacha performed with her capoiera group at the Newtown food and wine festival. I have never seen such a variety in my life. I had African snacks with lentils in them and they were very good. (I may have mentioned before that I discovered I liked lentils in this country) I also found friands for 90c each that were amazing! This was where I found the 3 for 5 dollar mangoes at a thai booth, which were very sweet and uber hinog (ie overly ripe). My dad says that the Australian govt doesnt really allow for the export of mangoes into the country because of strict quarantine laws and i suppose general paranoia about tropical diseases. He also made fun of me paying $5 for mangoes. (Thanks, dad.) My uncle assures me that they should be able to grow them in Darwin, although he has a mango tree in his backyard in Sydney that does not bear fruit due to the climate. I never really thought I would ever miss mangoes, but strangely enough I do. I think its the accessibility that I used to have that I cant get used to not having - literally turn the corner and there's some dude selling mangoes - but here, even the weekend markets dont have them, or if they do its rare. And even if i've always loved bananas and apples more, much to my mother's consternation, a philo without mangoes is just well, it just doesnt seem right!
I'm looking forward to the holidays, I am hoping to go somewhere local, even if its just Brisbane or maybe even Tassie or what the heck, Melbourne again. I was originally supposed to come home for a visit in February but that's looking fuzzy, in which case I am all right with staying here and working full time until school starts. At least Im earning. I have resolved to contemplate more on these things once school ends for the summer. In the meantime, its been getting sunnier and I've been able to - shock of my life - wear sleeveless again. Go Me!
Today I got a forward that was just the right thing I needed to hear: "You may be going through a tough time right now but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can. Keep the faith."
I woke up this morning computing my expenses for the month. Strangely enough the Australian Consulate is correct when it says you need an average of 1200 dollars a month to stay alive in this country. I discovered this the hard way, when I got taxed (given that once I am taxed I don't end up with the suggested amount monthly). I seriously think my tax is wrong. I've talked to several people - none of whom are tax experts, just various team leaders/co-employees - and some say yes, you're getting taxed too much, some say no, you're getting taxed that high because you're international. I'm calling the tax office tom to make sure, because Andee doesnt appear to get taxed that high and this whole tax thing is making me feel very bad. It works out that I'm living from paycheck to paycheck and that I can't save. I don't want to do that. I need to be able to save and pay for additional expenses.
By the way, in case you didn't already know, I work for a call centre company and this is our client
I went to see an ulcer doctor this week, and he explained what exactly was wrong with me. Apparently the muscles in the bottom of my esophagus are weak, and the way it goes is that when the acid from my stomach bounces up, its supposed to close but it doesn't, because they're weak. Since the inside of the esophagus isnt lined the way the stomach is, its like skin, i get burnt. So I have to take medicine twice a day to allow the acid to abate and let my esophagus heal. If I dont take care of it, it could get worse and then I would end up having to have my esophagus stretched (Don't ask). Its also not the average ulcer/gastritis that is caused by bacteria. Its called acid reflux and like the rest of my diseases its permanent but manageable. He assured me that I would be able to eat spicy food with medicine (like Im going to try anytime soon though) and worried that it was possible that I had been undertreated at home, although the availability of drug brands at home might be the reason for this.
Also went to see Merchants of Bollywood, with my friend Rose as well as Sacha, her housemates Kartini and Lisa and their friends. They had bought tickets, but I got free tickets thanks to work! (Yaaay!) It was very entertaining and colorful. Had lots of fun. Last night Jojo, Sacha and I also saw the movie Murderball which was about the US paralympic wheelchair rugby team. I thought it would be depressing and strange but it was great, and inspiring besides. They play rugby with wheelchairs that look like they have viking sheilds attached to the wheels and slam into each other and tip over and stuff. It was great. I highly recommend it.
I worked full time this week because of the holiday. Thursday we started selling season packages for the Australian Open, and Saturday we started selling single season tickets. The men's championship date was sold out before I even came in at 12noon, and this is considering we started selling them at 9. The thing is, to me that's expected, not only because I work for a ticketing agency but because you're competing for tickets with people all over the world, that's a big thing, and its logical. Which is why I could not understand people calling me at 6pm on the same day expressing shock, or asking for tickets in the lower foreground in the front. Hello. It's the Australian Open. It's tennis. People are fanatic about sport - like the American who called the day before to make sure he got the dates and times right, I had to run a time zone conversion from him and he said he'd call from the golf course the next day. That is commitment to sport and I hope he got tickets.
This week I cooked char-grilled chicken with mango salsa (all while chatting with
sanshine_butete) which is actually not as complicated as it seems, its all in the sauce and if you can find fresh mangoes. This week I am thinking of cooking pork or beef or mustard style chicken. (Woman's Weekly cookbooks rule!) I also bought a new cookbook. I would cook more, but its hard to find the time, and I get sawa easily, because the portions are so big, so it takes me a few weeks to finish one meal - I'm still eating my cheese fritatas up to now, I had 6, I ate 2 a week, Im finishing it this week.
I found a great recipe for my ricotta and mistakenly purchased cottage cheese, which involves pasta shells and baking, but I've got so much leftover sauce from last week (as in like more than half a tupperware) I've got to finish that first. Im trying not to eat so heavy, so that tupperware is going to take a while. I was thinking of using it as sauce but its already got beef and mushrooms in it so that will end up being too heavy.
Sacha and I were supposed to take the train to Canberra this weekend, but the 6am train was sold out and the next one left at 12 and got there at 4, so never mind. I got myself a new book on the history of africa, which I was meaning to wait for next payday for, because I worked extra hours this week, but it was sold out in most stores, borders had 9 left and the publisher wouldnt be getting them till at least mid october so I went and got it in case it disappeared. Im a nerd like that. I have a list of books in my head that I am going to ask my relatives for for Christmas. In exchange, I believe the next person who comes here will have to bring everyone's Christmas gifts, I know what to get them all, straight from Manila where its cheaper!
Ive been spending a lot of time on my groupwork, just reading and reading all the stuff I'm supposed to be writing for the various projects I need to do. I have one group which is really good, we're all working hard and we have a good leader, one group where we're all working individually and I think we'll come together in the end but so far none of us have done much and my last group where we're trying hard but its one of those cases where I have groupmates that are really nice and trying really hard to understand but... Let's just say that it has further encouraged me to study mandarin. I have always meant to but its becoming apparent that I seriously need to study mandarin. Now.
I am learning many things about different cultures through these groupwork experiences, plus a lot of things about me. Like I never knew I had all these filipino traits that I never thought I had. The articles I have read for class are true, your cultural traits become more apparent when you are outside your cultural context or country. For instance, my american groupmate has probably no idea that if I didnt have enough experience with americans I would probably perceive him as arrogrant or even aggressively determined because he's so task oriented, etc. Or I had no idea that the filipino concept of "hiya" existed in me until I came to this country. Or that the collective vs individualist concept (thinking of the good of the group vs thinking of yourself) is so true, in the sense of asian vs western. For example in work. In my old job, if you had a problem and someone else could help you with it, even if they were talking to a customer, etc. they'd help you out, because essentially it was for the good of the group. In my new work, we're not allowed to do that. Work on it by yourself, focus on your own call, even if it was handled by a diff person previously and you need their input. It sometimes requires a certain amount of adjustment, but all in all, its very interesting, when you notice the cultural differences.
Last weekend Sacha performed with her capoiera group at the Newtown food and wine festival. I have never seen such a variety in my life. I had African snacks with lentils in them and they were very good. (I may have mentioned before that I discovered I liked lentils in this country) I also found friands for 90c each that were amazing! This was where I found the 3 for 5 dollar mangoes at a thai booth, which were very sweet and uber hinog (ie overly ripe). My dad says that the Australian govt doesnt really allow for the export of mangoes into the country because of strict quarantine laws and i suppose general paranoia about tropical diseases. He also made fun of me paying $5 for mangoes. (Thanks, dad.) My uncle assures me that they should be able to grow them in Darwin, although he has a mango tree in his backyard in Sydney that does not bear fruit due to the climate. I never really thought I would ever miss mangoes, but strangely enough I do. I think its the accessibility that I used to have that I cant get used to not having - literally turn the corner and there's some dude selling mangoes - but here, even the weekend markets dont have them, or if they do its rare. And even if i've always loved bananas and apples more, much to my mother's consternation, a philo without mangoes is just well, it just doesnt seem right!
I'm looking forward to the holidays, I am hoping to go somewhere local, even if its just Brisbane or maybe even Tassie or what the heck, Melbourne again. I was originally supposed to come home for a visit in February but that's looking fuzzy, in which case I am all right with staying here and working full time until school starts. At least Im earning. I have resolved to contemplate more on these things once school ends for the summer. In the meantime, its been getting sunnier and I've been able to - shock of my life - wear sleeveless again. Go Me!
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