Nope, I'm not a BUM

...not yet.

It's been almost two months since I finished school. And what have I been doing? Well, nothing much. Before I graduated, the game plan was to find work before graduation and go straight to work right after finishing my last final exam. I didn't want to go on a vacation because I felt that I've already had my "vacation" when I went to Japan for a year. Well obviously, the game plan didn't materialize. I'm now at home, writing this blog. Geez...

So, am I a bum... well, not quite. I have decided that between my graduation and my employment (and I hope this doesn't take too long), I'll do some of the things that I have always wanted to do. Simple things that I wasn't able to do basically because I was too focused (was I?) on school.

Bring out the artist in me. Yes, I believe I am an artist. Haha! I've been painting recently. It's something that I've always wanted to do, but wasn't in my set of priorities ever. But now that I've got nothing to do, I actually have time to try it out. Maybe I'll post some of my works soon.

Read. Yes. I'm a 22 year old adult and I'm just discovering the joy of reading. After reading all those textbooks on Calculus, Project Management, JAVA programming, I realized that I have never read for my own pleasure. I read Shakespeare and liked it, but I hated studying his literature. I've read a novel and have a short line up of the books I want to read. If you have any recommendations, please drop me a note.

See the Philippines. Well, thanks to my mom and dad. Hahaha! Obviously I wouldn't have the cash to do this on my own. But the family's planning some travelling. We've been to a couple of weekend short trips since graduation, and I think the family's planning for a few more.

Invest on the next generation. I've been spending some time with my church's youth group. Basically helping out in laying the foundations for a stronger organization.

So yes, I've been a bum, but a productive one at that. And until I get a job, I'll be happy to do what I'm doing.

Yup, it's been nine months since

I never thought I'd start blogging again. Maybe I've gotten too bored these days. Haha!

SO, nine months have passed. A lot of things have come and gone. I'm a university graduate now with a degree in Management Information Systems. The past year was very hectic. Of course I got a few tips and some lecture notes from my friends who've finished a year earlier, but then it was basically my show. I had to deal with pressure and stress without the luxury of what we call in Filipino, a "karamay" (how do you say that in English? geez...). It was a true experience of "fending for one's self". You bet it was tough! But looking back, I think it was a true experience of growth and maturity.

I'm totally over Tokyo life, and somehow gotten used to merely talking with my friends online and receiving infrequent emails. Oh well, things change and people move on. Too bad I can't get to hang out with them on weekends, but good that somehow we've gotten to maintain a certain "freshness" to our friendship.

Christmas has gone, so has my birthday, and easter. Time just can't be stopped. I never imagined myself feeling this way, but things seem so normal. A year ago, I was frantic about going through my senior year all by myself, while feeling really sad about not seeing my friends from Tokyo. But, wow, things are really normal now. People really just need to move on with life, and bring with them nice memories that will be needed for the journey ahead.

Yup, it's been nine months since I posted anything online. It's refreshing, that's all I can say.

Stress + McDonald's = Cerebral Meltdown ???

Have you ever felt sooo tired that you just can't seem to function properly? I mean, it just seems like your brain went through a nuclear meltdown. Well, although I'm trying to write something right now, I feel like my mind is just floating around aimlessly. I know my brain is right there but it just feels as if my head has nothing but empty space in it. (Hmmm, I guess by the stuff I've written so far, you can easily get my point.)

Anyway, this week has been really stressful. Exams, projects, meetings, errands. Woah! It's friday and I cant believe I'm still getting by. The more stressful part is the fact that next week and the following weeks ahead will prove to be more stressful! (Ahhhh! Simply writing about this makes the veins in my eyes pop out!)

That's the reason why I refuse to believe that it is my frequent intake of McDonald's burgers and fries that is causing me this cerebral meltdown. Since I came back here in Manila, I've been eating the most McDonald's ever. I think it's my class schedule... you see, every tuesdays and thursdays, I have classes from 10am 'til 3pm straight. SO, I get out of class really tired and hungry. AND, the most convenient thing to do it to get a drive thru meal from McDonald's and eat it while driving. Just yesterday, I ate McDonald's for lunch and McDonald's for dinner (yeah Jordan, it's getting that bad...).

So, is it stress or McDonald's? Hmmm... probably both! Ok ok, I know I'm not making the least amount of sense right now. Well then, after all the crap I have written and subjected you guys to read, all I really wanna do is to say "HI!!!" to you guys. So now I'll crawl into my bed to get a little rest, then hopefully wake up tomorrow, read what I just wrote, and have a good laugh at myself. Sorry for the waste of time guys! Goodnight! HAHAHA!

Hui the Hairdresser

There are some things that you just do without really thinking about it. Today, I had my hair cut by Hui, without giving it any thought. It all started with Jordan asking for a haircut. So, after class we go to my place to give Jordan a haircut. Well, mostly it was done by Hui. But I got to handle the electric shaver for like two seconds, when I almost gave Jordan a bald spot behind his head. Hahaha! I never thought those things had so much power in it!

Anyway, Jordan finished having his haircut. Then Hui goes, "How about you?". I was really thinking of getting a haircut one of these days. The last time I had my haircut was back home, when I had it all shaved off. So now, even though the length of my hair was pretty short, the back and the sides were starting to get bushy. So, yeah, instead of paying someone Y2500 for a quick cut, I decided to be subject under Hui's scissors.

OK, it didnt turn out to be bad. Although there are some spots that I think can be a little more neatly trimmed, but nothing that can't be handled by hair gel. So, thanks Hui! I saved Y2500, and had a great afternoon. Hahaha! And just in case your Shanghai plan gets a little shady, there's always hairdressing! And then, we can call your beauty salon "Annie's".

Bull Finding

In Spain, one of the most interesting things you can see is the Spanish Bull Fight or the Toro. In our JLP class however, a similar event occurs once in a while, but instead it's called the Great Bull Find. Let me just say that I am now acting as a toreador looking for my "bull". In other words, I'm trying to finish writing my report. I think you've got my point by now.

A Bull Find begins after you've exhausted all possibilities of writing a report based on facts. Like in my case, I conducted a survey. However, I can only go so far as to talking about Japanese baths and how foreign students see it. Therefore, Bull Action takes place.

Let me tell you though that Bull Finding is not an easy feat. It is essential to find the right "bull" or else, it'll simply end up as bullshit. Thats not good.

So for now, I'll be the courageous toreador, trying to find a nice bull to write about...

ストレスをたまること

It's almost two in the morning... I give up. I just spent practically the whole day in front of my computer trying to write a report in Japanese. So far, I've come up with four pages, double spaced, with huge fonts, and wide margins... I didn't write a background, and I can't think of anything to put in my conclusion at this hour... Ummm... I don't think this is good... To make matters worse, I just survived a two-hour dorm meeting... tired... sleepy... wasted...

I'm going to bed now. I'll just see how this works out tomorrow...

See ya guys, 頑張って！

Sashimi Outbreak

There's a sashimi outbreak in Tokyo now. A few days ago, two of my friends had sushi at a nearby kaiten sushi place. All of a sudden, they start feeling itchy all over. Yesterday, I buy two small packs of sashimi. I go home, take it out of the bag, get a pair of chopsticks, and eat it. A minute or two after eating the last srumptious piece of fresh tuna, i get an itch in my forehead. Then on my back. Then on my knee. Then on my hip. Before I knew it, I was itching all over!

So, i searched for some medicine, something to relieve me from the itch. I open the pantry box conveniently right under my bed, and found the best remedy for my itch.... a huge bar of Kitkat! There it goes, down my throat, into my stomach, and most importantly, into my brain. I forgot all about my itch! Ping pong!