Xmas 2008

Hey people! What’s up? It’s is but the holiday season. The most awaited time of the year for almost all people especially in the west. Happy holidays everyone!!! I wish all of us the best the season could possibly bring.

How was your Christmas people? Was it great? I hope so. As to mine, here in China, as usual, as Chinese people don’t celebrate this holiday. It’s getting popular, though. I had to give classes on that very day. But it was a grand celebration. A lot better than my first Christmas experience here. I really felt the real essence of the holiday. I enjoyed a lot. Another thing, I treated my adult students to dinner on Christmas eve, to somehow feel the essence of it. We went to a buffet restaurant. T’was a great surprise because a lot of people standing outside the restaurant. Good thing I booked the table for about 14 people the day before. It was a great idea. Then we went to ktv. Afterwards to Hilton hotel(bar). We finally went to a hotpot restaurant. Ended it up at around a quarter to 3 am. When I went home, at my doorstep, I was shocked, only to find out, I've lost my keys... I didn't know what to do at that fucking cold dawn. I went back to Hilton and asked the waitress who were cleaning the bar. They saw nothing. I went to the hotpot restaurant, and again I found nothing. Got no choice except to stay in a hotel... I went to a hotel, a cheap one. As I entered, everyone was sleeping (receptionists)... I tried waking them up, yet they sleep soundly that cold moment.

As I looked at the clock, it was like 4:30am. So, it's not also wise to pay 168 Yuan for 2 to 3 hours co'z I've got a class at 1pm. So I went back to Hilton and stayed at the lobby... That's how I spent the rest of the time. At 6am, I phoned our HR telling her about it. Then she said to come to the main office at 8 to get the duplicate. What a x'mas experience!!!... And again, I was hoping I could sleep for like 3 hours before my classes, there I met my boss, then we had a long chat. It ended up around 11:30. So no choice, I have to prepare myself for my class. After my classes, kindergarten one, I met some colleagues, foreign teachers from other branches then we had a short time talking for I have to leave them again, I have another class at 6pm. I told them I would come to the buffet restaurant after my class. Haaahahhaaa... But to tell you, we went to our boss's dinner party for x'mas is his birthday at the same time. All of us, including some Filipinos and a Chinese who are not bluniverse's.


Then, they were saying to go to Soho bar at Hilton again. I mean for me again, but for them it's not. I've got no choice... Imagine myself then that time, no sleep for 48 hours straight... Hahahahaaa.... What a x'mas!!! The next day, still have to do some classes... What a life...

That was my 2008 x'mas story. You, what is yours?

…yOuNgEr BrOtHeR’s BiRtHdAy

You might be thinking it’s the repeat, but it’s not. Totally different! My elder and younger brothers’s birthdays are just consecutive, one after the other, May 21st and May 22nd, respectively. The latter always complains, co’z we usually celebrate them as one. So on his birthday, somewhat what is left from the previous day is resumed. What a pity for my birthday, he always shares to us.

Well, for me, celebrations and big parties are not important in commemorating one’s birthday. It’s not the huge cakes, colorful balloons, well wrapped and fantastic presents, big parties that matter most, what is the most essential is the one that couldn’t be seen by our naked eyes. As the secret of the intelligent fox, “It is only with the eye that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.” I highly adhere to that. It’s perfectly true! In one’s birthday, as long as he is happy and in good condition, those are the most improtant things, and not the ones aforementioned. They are also good, though, but not necessary.

Man, it’s your birthday today, good luck to your state of life. Life is what we make it, as it is said. Best wishes for you and for your endeavors. Have a wonderful birthday. May your wishes come true. As the message I gave to our older brother, same to you.

May you special day be surrounded with happiness, filled with laughter, wrapped with pleasure, brightened with fun, blessed with love, remembered with joy and enriched with hopes. Here’s a simple message from your brother, hoping this birthday would bring joy to you, what you deserve of……….. …..years and years of great and happy days filled with lots of joy and love. Have a wonderful day! Happy birthday to you, brother!

I am hoping you are feeling happy and healthy. Be the best of what you are. Good luck and more powers to you. Success to the road you are taking. I love and miss you! Happy happy birthday to you.

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…eLdEr BrOtHeR’s BiRtHdAy

Celebrating one’s birthday is one of the most happiest moments in anyone’s life. He is very happy on this very day. Majority of my students even says that their favorite month is the one where their birthdays are found. Their reason is just, their birthdays are there. That’s all.

Today, May 21st, is my elder brother’s birthday. What a pity for me that I am away. I can’t celebrate with them. With this situation, I can do nothing except to wish him the best. I may not be there physically, but I’m there spiritually. I am with them. Bro, I wish you the best that the world could possibly offer. I am making this message for you, just for you!!!

May you special day be surrounded with happiness, filled with laughter, wrapped with pleasure, brightened with fun, blessed with love, remembered with joy and enriched with hopes. Here’s a simple message from your brother, hoping this birthday would bring joy to you, what you deserve of……….. …..years and years of great and happy days filled with lots of joy and love. Have a wonderful day! Happy birthday to you big brother!

I am greatly hoping success in your taken career. No matter what happens, we are at your side, journeying with you. Be always happy! Wish you the best! I love you big brither!!!

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…M - O - T - H - E - R

"M" - is for the Mountainous struggles she did for us
"O" - means One worthy to be praised and thanked,
"T" - is for the Teardrops she shed just to give the best for us no matter what,
"H" - is for her Humility and kindness in rearing us, her offsprings;
"E" - is for her Eternal and everlasting care and support for us,
"R" - is for her Resourcefulness when meeting a backbreaking moment.

With these letters put together, they spell, "MOTHER," a word that means everything and very significant for me.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!

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…HaPpY mOtHeR’s DaY tO aLL mOmS

Can you imagine the sacrifices she made for her offsprings? Have you thought of her importance? Have you thanked your mom for her unending efforts to raise you in the right path? Have you discovered her continuous support and eternal care for her children? Have you seen her love to everyone, especially for her children, that she even wanted to give her life to them? Have you detected her generosity towards everyone, more to her kids? Have you found her endless struggles to uphold security for her youngsters? Have you observed her perpetual devotion to her families? Have you treated your mom with high regard or the other way around? Have you observed that she's very willing to sacrifice and give her life for you?

Friends, we only have one mother. We may have many friends but only one mom. We are not what and who we are now if without our mom. We wouldn't even be in this world if without her. We are nothing. So, she is worth thanking a million times. She deserves them. If you weren't able to do so, do it now before it's too late. Let's say, "thank you and I love you, mom, together."

To all mothers out there, congratulations for a job well done. Thank you all for you endless efforts for us. You are our inspirations! We love you all. Happy mother's day to all of you!!!

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…nO bLoWiNg Of CaNdLeS

As we filled the room with enjoyment and laughter, we felt tired and so hot, that we even called the assistant to turn on the air conditioner. We rested from dancing. This time, it’s the instant to light the candles and slice the cake they bought for me. A grateful heart is talking to you. Thanks a lot.

Such a good-looking cake they prepared. T’was a chocolate cake. Perfectly decorated. I do appreciate all of you, guys. They lit the candles for me. The big candle opened like petals of flowers, with candles on each, such a beautiful one.

We danced around the tables as we sung HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONG. We were like primary students turning around. I missed those times, acting like a kid in front of my family. I wasn’t able to blow the candles, ‘coz they were already out when we stopped dancing. I seriously sliced the cake and served them one by one. We delighted eating the cake and they, too, enjoyed putting icing on my face. T’was really a wondrous moment, worthy to be remembered.

We started singing and dancing again few minutes later. Then, we parted ways a short while after. I, in truth, was truly happy in that moment. Thanks for that feeling. I thanked all of them as we went home. Guys, you are one of a kind. Thanks for the acceptance. I do value that. Take care always and see you soon.

…KTV – tHe rEtUrN

Right after we basked the savory food during our dinner, we proceeded immediately to the KTV right across the restaurant. So funny, we had to hide the cake and soft drink, ‘coz it’s not aloud to bring them inside. We covered them with jackets for it not to be so obvious. Sounds funny, right? Then, we continued our enjoyment there.

Everybody tried to pick their songs and showed their hidden talents. The room was indeed full of laughter as we were singing and dancing. I couldn’t imagine myself doing it. But it’s kinda fun. We all enjoyed that time. It’s a thing I pretty like with these people is that, they are easy going. They are very friendly.

We had our songs one after the other. I also had the chance of sharing my hidden talent to them. And we all laughed. I like that place for they have lots of English songs, than that of the other night. And indeed, they also tried to sing a lot of English songs. Such a joyous moment! We were like kids singing and dancing together.

Guys, thanks for that marvelous time. I did enjoy it. My 25th birthday really was one of the most memorable one. I had such a great moment though away from family. Kinda I haven’t felt it. Thank you all for being there for me. Have a good time everyone.

…bIrThDaY – tHe RePeAt

As I was making this one, I couldn’t help but laugh ‘coz it sounds like a concert, the repeat. Hahahaha! Yet, it is truly factual. I did have other celebration the night after my birthday. I did consider my friends here to be very important, too. But they are not somewhat related to the school, I mean the company. So I didn’t want them to be with the first celebration, with my colleagues and students.

I was kinda shy to these people for I was late in going to the restaurant. I did a special speech training for an hour for those who were not able to come the other week. I came there at 7:00pm, right after my class, but we agreed to meet at 6:00. I told them about it, though. But I still felt shy about it. I don’t want them to wait for me for that long. I got no choice, anyway.

One picked me up at school for I don’t know how to get there. thanks Jim for that. When we came in, they were of course, there waiting for us. I did ask for an apology. Sorry for that guys. But they did understand the situation. I just told them to order ahead of time, so that when we would come, we would start eating right away. Yes, they did. They are all smart and professional. That’s one thing I like with this group. Thanks for joining me in my time of happiness. Greatly appreciated.

We did have a nice chat as we enjoyed the food. Some cracked jokes while we were eating and we all laughed. We truly had a great time together. We shared our experiences and so on.

I just wanna express my warmest and heartfelt gratitude to all of these people; Stephen (a Canadian guy, foreign teacher in the teacher’s college here), thank you for spending your precious moment with me. I know you are pretty busy, too. But you did come. Thanks a lot. To Jim, for picking me up and for arranging for the event, my contact person. Thanks a lot for the sensitivity. To Linda, my great adviser, thanks for the wonderful thoughts you’ve shared to me. To Wendy, thanks for being such a nice friend, just think positive as we always say it. Last but not the least, to Sarah, thanks for being there and for always being there. I highly valued your presence last night. Thank you so much guys.

"Friendship is a strong and habitual inclination in two persons to promote the good and happiness of one another." --Eustace Budgell

…bLoW tHe CaNdLeS

As we savored the luscious food, some also enjoyed singing at the same time. I felt like I was at home, doing the same thing the moment we have a celebration like this. Homesickness was gone. It was diverted into happiness. Thanks for that feeling.

In the middle of the celebration, they let me sing two songs. They all clapped their hands. You know, only few English songs here. Then, we continued eating. Laughters surround the place all through out the entire event. I can see every one was also happy.

“Blow the candles, time to blow them now,” that’s what I heard from them. Yet, one Chinese teacher programmed the sound system before blowing them. So I still have to sing again, 25 minutes by MLTR ‘coz they said I am already 25. Well, I got no choice. Everyone stood up as I sing the song and clapped their hands altogether. I was really touched. Then, happy birthday song followed.

Darkness covered the room that time as I lit the candles while everyone was singing. I blew the candles of the two cakes after I made a wish. Then, they clapped their hands the more, even louder. Slicing of cakes succeeded afterwards. I handed each one a slice of cake. I indeed had a fun time. I was genuinely happy, too like everyone else. Then, eating, laughters, singing and talks continued. We all had a fantastic time. Around an hour later, we parted ways. Thanks for the time guys. I somehow forgot home. Thanks a lot everyone!.

…MiXeD fEeLiNgS

I barely couldn’t understand what I felt to my colleagues and adult students last night, as we celebrated my 25th birthday. Mixed emotions ruled all over the night. I was very happy with them. I wanna cry or something for like, they are real my families. I also felt like I was surrounded by my loved ones. But I still couldn’t take away the sadness for missing my family on that very day. But thanks to all of them for filling in the times where I should have spent with my family. You were there. Thanks a lot.

I don’t know how to thank you enough. Words are not sufficient to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you. Thank you and thank you so much. You really were there during the times I badly need someone to be with, talk to and enjoy my day. To my adult students: John, Chris, Linda, Jupiter with his lovely wife and super talented daughter, you are not just my students, but also my real friends. I won’t forget those times. Thank you so much. Thanks also for your presents, I do love them. To my headmaster, to my immediate boss, Mr. Wang (whom I call dad), to my fellow teachers; Joana and Doris, and Matthew (an American guy), to our staffs; Susan and Joy, my warmest gratitude to all of you for being there. Thanks to all of you for your wonderful presents. I highly appreciate them.

It wouldn't be a such happy moment if without you guys. I would just be like an island celebrating my day if you weren’t there. I sincerely express my fondest thanks to all of you. Thank you and thank you. Have a good time and take care always.

…a ReMiNiScEnT tImE

I just couldn’t help but think of those days I happily celebrated this day with my family, relatives, neighbors and circle of friends. I feel I am homesick now. I just find this so peculiar this time. Couldn’t explain what I feel. Mixed emotions surround me now. So strange! Well, maybe because it’s a special time, yet away from them, and I feel so lonely, and first time to encounter this situation.

I have several impressions in mind now. I keep thinking of, “If only I were with my family, if only I were home, if only were not away, if only I were with my friends, if only they were here, if only we were together, if only… if only… if only…, I wouldn’t have felt this way, I wouldn’t have been lonely, I wouldn’t have been sad, I wouldn’t have felt homesick, I wouldn’t… I wouldn’t… I wouldn’t…"

Somewhat I hate everything. I do love music, yet I don’t want to listen to it. It would just somehow add my loneliness, especially listening to songs we usually sang together before. I would just remember those times the more, and add this odd feeling of mine. I don’t know what to do. I can’t understand. I just badly miss them, I guess. That’s why I don’t want to remember special occasions, ‘coz it would just make me feel lonely, instead of being happy. Well, thanks to technology that it’s just easy to communicate with them. But sadness still rules my world at this time. Yeah, I can do it. It would just be over in due time. I only have to be strong. Thanks a lot guys!

…tHe DaY I wAs BoRn

Ever since I got to know what’s going on around me, I never thought of experiencing this situation, celebrating one of the most special days in my life away from my loved ones. I was always around them when this day comes. We celebrate together, eat, laugh, sing and talk together on this day. Kinda sad to think about it now. But here I am, away from them. I have no choice except to accept the reality of life – we are not together always, right? I never had experience this before. Yet life must go on.

Well, now that I am away, I just wish I could make myself go back to the day I was born. I would never have felt sadness or whatever. I only thought of eating and sleeping, and be in the bosom of my mom or dad. Always being hugged, kissed and taken cared of. What a nice feeling! Yet it’s inconceivable. We always change and grow. And here I am! Proud to say I do exist and develop and grow.

Exactly 25 years ago, everybody was totally happy especially my family and all people around me, seeing a healthy baby came to witness the beauty of the world. They had a blank idea of what and who would I become in the future. They were just wishing I would live a good life and be successful in due time. Thanks for all their wishes and prayers, they are truly part of what and who I am today. I do owe you all a heartfelt thank you. I do miss you all. I love you and hope to see you all again very very soon. Thanks and have a good time. Hugs and kisses to all of you.

…DiNnEr AnD KTV

That’s my ultimate plan before when I would celebrate my birthday here. Somewhat no other choices. Well tonight, we are going to dinner and KTV. I invited all our staffs and all my adult students, for I suppose to have a class with them tonight. So we are going to have our class in KTV, joke. We will enjoy once in a while. They agreed, too. So no problem at all. They also like the idea.

So, my boss called the place in advance. Then he also phoned all my adult students and reminded them again and told them the place. So, see you all later, guys! Let’s enjoy and have fun. Thanks for being with me as I celebrate my happy moment. Let’s have a good time. Let’s party!

…BoTtOmS uP

In the middle of the day, enjoying my off, I received a call. A Chinese teacher, telling me that the parents of my student invited us, all teachers to a dinner. She asked me if I would be available in the evening and told me it’s okay if I would not come. I responded that there’s no problem. She added that she’s going to meet me at the school at 5:00 pm. But later in that afternoon, she texted me that parents moved the time for they are working, so she’s going to pick me up at 5:30. I was sleeping when I received the message, though.

The time came and we went to the restaurant together. It’s just five minutes walk from our school. We arrived there earlier and we proceeded to the reserved section. I still have time to take photos around. We had a great chat before they arrived. A little while later, our student arrived and we asked her where her parents were. She replied they're at the parking lot. Then they came and started ordering. Both of her parents can’t speak English, as expected, good that my colleagues were there to translate for me.

Food was served a short while afterwards. Cheers and bottoms up, the father invited me as he gave me a glass full of beer. I had no choice. It’s a Chinese practice to drink first before eating and we’re not used to that. We usually drink in the mid of eating or even after. I felt something strange inside. I knew it’s because of the beer. Then we started savoring the mouth-watering food, absolutely delicious. I was actually sweating due to the beer and ate no rice yet. My colleagues asked me if I was alright, I just pointed my stomach and they understood what I meant and I asked for rice.

Cheers and bottoms up came every now and then. My colleagues explained to my student’s father that I am still young and not used to drinking. He was expecting that foreigners are good at drinking because of what he has experienced with a German guy. What a pity for me!

I was stuffed. I ate a lot to somehow reduce the effect of the beer. Everybody also was. The food really is very tasty. As a whole, Chinese food is so luscious. My head is falling, I felt. I still have one glass left. The father wanted me to finish it before we would go. I slowly consume it and ate some more. At long last, I made it. Then we left. I really was 85% drunk. If we stayed longer and ordered more beer, I might not be able to go home alone. I was just fortunate that he understood. And I was very happy because they were truly friendly. Thank you for the bang-up dinner.

…YoUnGeSt BrOtHeR’s BiRtHdAy

Time is in truth gold and it is fleeting. It’s been a while that we were calling our youngest brother, “baby,” but now he is already 20 years of age. Somewhat he is already shy to be called one, because in few years time, he said, he would have his own baby. We were just laughing to him. We used to play and make fun of him before, but he knows now how to deal with jokes and tricks. We badly miss those days. We even wished that he would remain as a baby forever. But it’s impossible, right?

Today is his 20th birthday, two decades of existence here on earth, and I am oceans away from him. I couldn’t hug him and greet him personally. I couldn’t understand why my tears flows down my cheeks as I write this early this morning. I just miss him so much, somehow. I have mixed emotions now. I wanted to go home and celebrate with them. This is really one of my waterloo. It makes me sick and cry once there’s a celebration in my family and I’m away. Well life is like that, we just come and go, and we should go on no matter what.

Again, let me greet you whole-heartedly and all those who celebrate their birthdays today, HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I just wish you all the best in this world, best for your future, happiness, miraculous health, for he was a little sickly, success in everything, long and happy life, and all good things life has to offer, I wish them all for you ‘coz you’re so special. I hope you stay cool and good all the time, I know you’re one. And I would like to ask an apology that I can’t be there to celebrate with you and buy you some presents and cake. Sorry for that. Once again, be the best of what you are. Happy happy birthday, baby brother!!! I miss and love you…

…SpRiNg FeStIvAl

What did you do last Spring Festival or Chinese New Year? Did you celebrate? Did you travel? Or just stay at home. Or where did you go? Who do you celebrate with? Was it great? What did you prepare?

Spring Festival is Chinese’s most important festival as Christmas for most of the western countries. On this day, they prepared a great dinner with all members of the family together. They usually eat dumplings. Children receive money from their folks and parents. They prepared for this event for several days. They usually clean their houses and wash all their dirty clothes, that they are clean to meet the new year. It’s one of their practices on this marvelous event.

It was really great for me ‘coz we had more than a month vacation. So I traveled around to meet some of my friends. My first stop was in Hefei, the capital of Anhui province where I stayed for a night. Then I moved to Chuzhou the next day, still a city of Anhui, where my colleague in another branch is residing, a Filipino. I stayed there most of my time. We supposed to go to Guangzhou, but because of the snow storm, we decided to stay. Days after, we went to Nanjing in another province, Jiangsu Province. It used to be the capital of China. We roamed around there by subway for the entire day. Then we went back to Chuzhou in the evening by train. My friend toured me around the city. I also met a lot of friends there. I even plan to go back there soon.

My first Spring Festival in China was really great. We also had a big dinner. Our fellow Filipinos prepared a big banquet. There were 8 Filipinos that time, all teachers and a Chinese, my friend’s colleague. I ate a lot for they served Filipino dishes which I missed for so long. We perfectly had a fantastic dinner together.

Then one day, we went boating in Chuzhou’s South Lake. We had a lot of fun. We preferred to rent a manual one that we could have a race. Everybody enjoyed the activity. Then we went to sauna, massage parlor and shopping. T’was really a perfect moment.

I somehow forgot my problems that time. Completely funny. I stayed there for almost three (3) weeks. Then I went back to Hefei again. We also had different celebration with some Filipino friends there. I could really say, Spring Festival is one of my best memories in China. What about you, do you have one?

…KTV at ABC

People around the world have their own various ways on how to amuse themselves. They do different recreational activities, some like fishing, swimming, camping, sailing, indulge in sports, traveling and many more. Here in China, common practice by Chinese people is going to KTV, especially when celebrating a special occasion. In fact, I was amazed that we had to book at least two (2) days in advance to surely get a reservation particularly on peak seasons like holidays. This is so because of China’s vast population and it was National Holiday. Well, pretty surprising.

One of our Chinese teachers celebrated her 24th birthday a couple of months ago. She invited us to a dinner and KTV right after. That was I thought. But it was all in one place. We went to the most known and expensive KTV here in our place. I felt like I was in a movie theater, for the screen is like half of a movie theater’s. Yet the roon is like one sixteenth (1/16) of its size. The screen is really huge. The rooms are well ventilated, well decorated and well cleaned. I thought I was in a five (5) star hotel. It is really nice and big. Well, it’s Chinese KTV, so there are only few English songs. But I did enjoy as well as all my colleagues including an American guy. We all had lots of fun.

Recreational activities help us feel relaxed after an arduous and backbreaking work. We need them once in a while for us to be energized. All work and no play makes you dull. So plan them ahead of time and make them as enjoyable as possible.

Enjoy your days everyone and have a good time. Be reminded always, everything happens for a reason. Once again, thank you for passing by and take care always. Hope you learn something. Catch my next blog. Thank you and more powers to all of us.