Pre Homecoming Jitters

Last day ko na dito sa Sydney office tas katatapos lang ng isang simpleng morning tea gathering para sa pag-alis namin. Maikli lang naging farewell speech ko, hindi dahil wala akong masabi, kundi dahil hindi ko maisa-salita ang nararamdaman ko para sa pagtanggap nila sa akin. They've been all wonderful workmates to us and iL never forget how warm we were accomodated here. Worth it kahit andaming kong na-miss na events sa Manila. Worth it na tatlong buwan akong hindi nakapaglaro ng airsoft o ng basketball. Worth it na hindi ko nakasama ng matagal family ko, natikman mga luto ng mom ko, nayakap si "unan baho", makipaginuman sa Justice League habang kumakanta ng "Delilah", makipagkulitan sa mga Shak Boyz habang "nakatingala" sa UP, worth it kahit di ako nakatulong maggawa sa assignments ng kapatid ko.

I miss the chaos that is Manila but Sydney will always be that peace in my heart.

I met a former HP colleague here in Sydney and there's an opportunity for a permanent work at the company according to her. Habang marami sa kababayan natin naghihikahos... nagbenta ng kalabaw, lupain, kahit katawan para makapanirahan o makapagtrabaho sa ibang bansa, ako eto... walang dalwang-isip sa pagtanggap na hindi pa panahon para mamirmi ako sa labas ng Pinas. Kahit anong pagmamarunong ko kunwari sa mga dahilang sinasabi ko sa mga nanghihinayang, ang totoo hindi ko din alam kung bakit ayoko pa.

Baka nasa Pinas pa ang kukumpleto ng destiny ko. Yeba!

Anyway, the events on my second half of stay here was condensed here for posterity:

*I went to a colleague's house in Killara.

*We went to this monthly tiyangge in Kiribilli and I got me some classic 1982 print Dune books and a cool Buddhist jumper.

Quick Fact: The Australian Prime Minister lives on the Kiribilli area too. It's on Milson's Point, a suburb strategically located just across a majestic view of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

*Cheked out a local appliances store, Domayne, for some "On Sale" products. Nearly bought a handycam, but decided against it. Torn between it and a Sony PSP.

*We had a day of ferry-riding around the harbours of Sydney starting at the Circular Quay itself where the Opera House is. We went to this cliff spot called the Gap. It was an English artillery outpost back in the 1800's.

*We headed back to French Riviera and munched a foot tall ice cream scoops.

*Hay Market - bought heaps of "pasalubong" for my mates back in Phils.

*Hoyt's Cinema - watched Da Vinci Code, X-Men 3,

*We surprised Jhoanna by saying we're leaving last June (just before her birthday) then prepared a birthday party for her on our unit. Poker games followed at 5 bucks each for pot.

*Sheridan's Rhum Coffee from Dublin at Ray's house. Yub yub!

*Sydney Aquarium trip! Wooot! Mommy ang cute ng sharks!!

*The company's 10th year anniversary at Port Orient. Isang malupit na karaoke night followed. I was second to sing with "Tears in Heaven". I dunno till now why the heck I picked that song.

*Had a haircut. Semi-kalbo. Then headed to a Chinese Resto, grubs: calamari, sweet and sour pork, roast por, tofu mushroom. Yub yub!

*Star City Casino - watched Australia versus Brazil match on my OZ jersey. 2-0 in favor of the Brazilians. Doh!

*Chinese themed party here at the office. Played ping pong and Chinese chess while chowing on Chinese dimsums and grub. Yub yub!

*Luna Theme Park at Milson's Point. Enchanted Kingdom pa din. Hehe biased.

*Union Bar at North Shore. Hanging out.

*Three Sisters mountain ranges at Echo Point, Blue Mountains.

*Star City Casino - watched Australia versus Italy. Ref bollocks!!

*Ray's house for hot pot (shabu shabu). Yub yub!!

*Capitano's pizza place for Cindy's farewell gathering.

*Blue Mountains abseiling. 197 feet of pure thrill!

*Had another piercing just above my old one at the left ear. Got a shiny blue gem earring. Cutey.

*Today, we'll have a Football themed party here at the office. The boyz will be bringing Xbox to play FIFA and the usual grub and beer of course. Yub yub!

*Regular Friday noon football games, of course. I scored one goal today. Not a very impressive one though.

Quick stats:
Train tickets accumulated - 31
Movie tickets with me - 6
Boomerangs bought - 3
Table napkins with names of the establishment on it (for my collection) - 6
Boxes of miniatures bought - 16 (yes, they occupied one full luggage)
Receipts from shopping - 10
Double "A" batteries used - 10
Double "A" batteries in reserve - 8
Books read - 6 (Warmachine Prime, Dune: Machine Crusade, Stainless Longanisa, Tau Empire Codex, Index Astartes 4, Dune: Messiah)
Magazines read - 4 (White Dwarf April, May, June, July)
Books not yet read - 4 (All of em are Dune classics)
Miniatures painted - 3
Friday football games played - 7
Days at the snows - 2
Church mass attended - 2 (shame!)
DVD's watched - 8 (Memoirs of Geisha, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, American Pie 1 - 2 - 3, Fantastic Four, Runaway Jury, 13 Going on 30)
Text Twist score - 74,630 - Level 22
Size of pics accumulated - 882MB
Insaniquarium record - 8 fish variants - Level 4-5
Weight gain - 3 kilos (araguy!)
Chocolates I got as gift - 2
Chinitas spotted - secret pa din!!! Wagiii!!!111xoxoxo111!!

See you all in Manila!!! Painom kayo pag uwi ko!!! San Miguel, I'm coming hooooome!!!

Pre Homecoming Jitters

Last day ko na dito sa Sydney office tas katatapos lang ng isang simpleng morning tea gathering para sa pag-alis namin. Maikli lang naging farewell speech ko, hindi dahil wala akong masabi, kundi dahil hindi ko maisa-salita ang nararamdaman ko para sa pagtanggap nila sa akin. They've been all wonderful workmates to us and iL never forget how warm we were accomodated here. Worth it kahit andaming kong na-miss na events sa Manila. Worth it na tatlong buwan akong hindi nakapaglaro ng airsoft o ng basketball. Worth it na hindi ko nakasama ng matagal family ko, natikman mga luto ng mom ko, nayakap si "unan baho", makipaginuman sa Justice League habang kumakanta ng "Delilah", makipagkulitan sa mga Shak Boyz habang "nakatingala" sa UP, worth it kahit di ako nakatulong maggawa sa assignments ng kapatid ko.

I miss the chaos that is Manila but Sydney will always be that peace in my heart.

I met a former HP colleague here in Sydney and there's an opportunity for a permanent work at the company according to her. Habang marami sa kababayan natin naghihikahos... nagbenta ng kalabaw, lupain, kahit katawan para makapanirahan o makapagtrabaho sa ibang bansa, ako eto... walang dalwang-isip sa pagtanggap na hindi pa panahon para mamirmi ako sa labas ng Pinas. Kahit anong pagmamarunong ko kunwari sa mga dahilang sinasabi ko sa mga nanghihinayang, ang totoo hindi ko din alam kung bakit ayoko pa.

Baka nasa Pinas pa ang kukumpleto ng destiny ko. Yeba!

Anyway, the events on my second half of stay here was condensed here for posterity:

*I went to a colleague's house in Killara.

*We went to this monthly tiyangge in Kiribilli and I got me some classic 1982 print Dune books and a cool Buddhist jumper.

Quick Fact: The Australian Prime Minister lives on the Kiribilli area too. It's on Milson's Point, a suburb strategically located just across a majestic view of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

*Cheked out a local appliances store, Domayne, for some "On Sale" products. Nearly bought a handycam, but decided against it. Torn between it and a Sony PSP.

*We had a day of ferry-riding around the harbours of Sydney starting at the Circular Quay itself where the Opera House is. We went to this cliff spot called the Gap. It was an English artillery outpost back in the 1800's.

*We headed back to French Riviera and munched a foot tall ice cream scoops.

*Hay Market - bought heaps of "pasalubong" for my mates back in Phils.

*Hoyt's Cinema - watched Da Vinci Code, X-Men 3,

*We surprised Jhoanna by saying we're leaving last June (just before her birthday) then prepared a birthday party for her on our unit. Poker games followed at 5 bucks each for pot.

*Sheridan's Rhum Coffee from Dublin at Ray's house. Yub yub!

*Sydney Aquarium trip! Wooot! Mommy ang cute ng sharks!!

*The company's 10th year anniversary at Port Orient. Isang malupit na karaoke night followed. I was second to sing with "Tears in Heaven". I dunno till now why the heck I picked that song.

*Had a haircut. Semi-kalbo. Then headed to a Chinese Resto, grubs: calamari, sweet and sour pork, roast por, tofu mushroom. Yub yub!

*Star City Casino - watched Australia versus Brazil match on my OZ jersey. 2-0 in favor of the Brazilians. Doh!

*Chinese themed party here at the office. Played ping pong and Chinese chess while chowing on Chinese dimsums and grub. Yub yub!

*Luna Theme Park at Milson's Point. Enchanted Kingdom pa din. Hehe biased.

*Union Bar at North Shore. Hanging out.

*Three Sisters mountain ranges at Echo Point, Blue Mountains.

*Star City Casino - watched Australia versus Italy. Ref bollocks!!

*Ray's house for hot pot (shabu shabu). Yub yub!!

*Capitano's pizza place for Cindy's farewell gathering.

*Blue Mountains abseiling. 197 feet of pure thrill!

*Had another piercing just above my old one at the left ear. Got a shiny blue gem earring. Cutey.

*Today, we'll have a Football themed party here at the office. The boyz will be bringing Xbox to play FIFA and the usual grub and beer of course. Yub yub!

*Regular Friday noon football games, of course. I scored one goal today. Not a very impressive one though.

Quick stats:
Train tickets accumulated - 31
Movie tickets with me - 6
Boomerangs bought - 3
Table napkins with names of the establishment on it (for my collection) - 6
Boxes of miniatures bought - 16 (yes, they occupied one full luggage)
Receipts from shopping - 10
Double "A" batteries used - 10
Double "A" batteries in reserve - 8
Books read - 6 (Warmachine Prime, Dune: Machine Crusade, Stainless Longanisa, Tau Empire Codex, Index Astartes 4, Dune: Messiah)
Magazines read - 4 (White Dwarf April, May, June, July)
Books not yet read - 4 (All of em are Dune classics)
Miniatures painted - 3
Friday football games played - 7
Days at the snows - 2
Church mass attended - 2 (shame!)
DVD's watched - 8 (Memoirs of Geisha, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, American Pie 1 - 2 - 3, Fantastic Four, Runaway Jury, 13 Going on 30)
Text Twist score - 74,630 - Level 22
Size of pics accumulated - 882MB
Insaniquarium record - 8 fish variants - Level 4-5
Weight gain - 3 kilos (araguy!)
Chocolates I got as gift - 2
Chinitas spotted - secret pa din!!! Wagiii!!!111xoxoxo111!!

See you all in Manila!!! Painom kayo pag uwi ko!!! San Miguel, I'm coming hooooome!!!