Mandarin Language Class

I wanted to learn to speak a new language. This and I was thinking of ways to prepare myself for my future plan of leaving my present company in 5 years time. So  I'm taking baby steps now in preparation for 2016. I was thinking of French. But a visit to a distant relative as well as advice from some friends (though I wouldn't call it unbiased counsel, because the one I asked is a friend who's "pure" Chinese), I decided to take up Mandarin first. French is still in the plan, but for now, it'll be Mandarin. 

I enrolled at Languages Internationale in Makati, initially for a 15-hour learning sessions of basic Mandarin. So far, I plan to enroll for another 15 hours to complete the 30-hour full course on Basic Mandarin. 

On my first class last February 22, there were 4 of us in the class; 2 Filipinas and 2 male Indian nationals. We were a funny group, all of us having zero-knowledge of this language. However, on my 2nd day, the 3 decided to switch scheds, so that left me on a one-on-one set up with my Laoshi. 

Mandarin is basically an easy language to learn. But one has to be careful with the intonations or tones, because accidentally changing the way a word is said, will give it a different meaning. Of all the things I've learned so far, I will say that I sill have a long way to go when it comes to tones. 

Since my 2nd day was a 1-on-1 session, it was partly tiring since there's no one else to do the recitations. :) But, I appreciated it a lot. I was taught numbers, time and date. It's kinda confusing, because as with all languages, Mandarin has it's own rules or principles, which I have to know by heart if I want to be able to speak this language eventually. 

And on a side note, this endeavor gave me that "something to look forward to" feeling again. Something which I haven't felt for quite a while now. It allows me to be busy and to use my brain again on things which are truly ARE NOT work related. I also know that some people are speculating as to the real reason why I took this class. To answer your question,  I am doing this for myself, first and foremost. Learning Mandarin will not make me a "pure" Chinese, so it doesn't have that much to do with him. 

Looking forward to more lessons and learnings! Until my next entry! 

Zai Jian (this is goodbye in Chinese, but I was told by my Laoshi that one doesn't really write like this, one has to really use chinese characters, otherwise, Chinese people won't understand what's written) 

Mid Life Crisis???

This entry's gonna be kind of disorganized because this one will contain the turmoil that's been going on in my life the past few weeks. In all my blogging experience, this entry I think will be the most personal I'll be having so far, and in doing so, I hope that I get to feel the relief I normally feel after writing. 


I spent the whole day today at home. Partly because my tummy acted up again, so I had to take my meds which leaves me kinda groggy and partly because, I simply just want to be home on  a Saturday, something which I haven't been able to do for the last 3 weekends. 


I think the decision to stay home both did me good and bad. Good because I was able to sleep until almost 9am, then an afternoon "nap" which lasted for a good 2 hours. :) Bad, because it afforded me time to think, think and think, which eventually leads me to questions and a sort of "self-evaluation" of my life. 


Maybe, I am just bored. Not just for today, but my life in general is boring. A friend told me about a week ago that my life isn't boring, because of all the issues that I've been dealing with, mostly at work. But then again, I don't want issues. I don't want controversies. I don't want fights with other people. 


I thought  maybe it's because of the fact that I am single. As in S-I-N-G-L-E. But I don't want a boyfriend just so I can be "un-bored".  


I can't say that I lack friends, because I got great friends! No question about. 


Another friend told me that I should keep being busy.  I thought about it, and just thinking about it made me sigh. I don't want to do that anymore. I don't want to exert effort of becoming busy just so I won't be bored or self-evaluating... Definitely, I don't want to go back to my former work schedule, no thanks!


If someone will tell me now that I should get married and have babies so that I'd have a "purpose" in my life, I'd probably just look into that person's eyes and not saying anything. Because, quite honestly, I am at that point in my life now that I am not sure anymore if I still want to marry and have babies. 


If I get to be asked now "what do you want, rose?" I'd say, "I don't know". All I know is I don't want this feeling. I don't want to be where I am now, emotionally and psychologically that is.  Not even an idea of  a vacation is inviting enough to get me out of this. 


My friends who will get to read this will probably worry about me and even get scared that I'm going psycho or something (frankly, I do. :) ) And again, the answer to that is "I don't know". :( 


I was thinking (yah, thinking) that mid-life crisis has come to me 14 years earlier than its supposed to. If that is the case, then maybe there's something to be happy about my situation now. At least when I turn 50, I'll never have this. :))

Cebu Experience Part 2

I know,  I know! I am not writing about my Cebu trip in a chronological manner. But then again, who cares?! :) 

Anyhow, here's the 2nd part. This shall cover other places that were covered in the tour organized by the celebrant himself!

Lapu-Lapu, who else!

And so on my 1st day in Cebu, which was February 12, we went to the Lapu-Lapu Shrine. Frankly, and begging for every Cebuano's forgiveness, I didn't care much about this stop or maybe we didn't just stay long enough for me to appreciate this particular spot. We just went around and had our photos taken. 

Next stop was the Magellan's Cross, which was basically located next to the Basilica del Sto. Nino. Some more photo-op happened here! 


And final tour destination was the Cebu Taoist Temple. I read about this on the internet days before my trip and so I wasn't that surprised about the 99-step stair feature of this Temple. It was in fact something that I set as a challenge for myself, sort of "see if I can climb this one". Me, the queen of laziness in using the stairs at the office if only for climbing up or going down 1 floor! :0 

Temple Facade. This after the 99 Steps!

And so there I was, tried my best to reach the top and I was able to do it! I even offered prayers and wishes inside the temple. :) Cameras are not allowed inside the temple though, so I wasn't able to take shots. :( 

ang mga turista, nagpapahinga bago umakyat ulit! :) 

Cebu Experience Part 1

I was blessed to be able to go to Cebu last February 12-13, 2011, mainly to attend a friend's  birthday party. There were 2 or 3 "firsts" for me on this trip; (1) my first time to go to Cebu albeit this being an overnight trip only; (2) my first time to attend this particular friend's birthday party and (3) my first to attend a party wherein most of the invitees were from another group or department in our company.

I shall write about this 2-day journey in parts as I want to capture my experience as much as I can in words.

A trip was organized by the celebrant and his friends, for the "Manila contingent". It involved 4 famous tourist spots in Cebu, namely the Lapu-Lapu Shrine, the Magellan's Cross, the Basilica del Sto. Nino  and the Cebu Taoist Temple.

Outside the Basilica

Let me start this by sharing my experience in Basilica del Sto. Nino, this being one of the most meaningful part of my trip.

As I said in one of my posts here, I am not what one can call a devout Catholic, but whenever I'd visit new places, I always find it a delightful experience when I get to visit Catholic Churches in the area. It always give me that sense of serenity, of hope and history whenever I'd get to visit an old Catholic church.

The Main Altar

Center of the Main Altar

Needless to say, I savored the experience of being inside the Basilica.

I even went back the following day, a Sunday, and lined up in order to have the opportunity to venerate and pray right before the miraculous image of the Sto. Nino. It took me nearly half an hour before I finally got my chance. As soon as I stepped inside the room where the encased image was located, I instantly felt an unexplainable feeling of calm. It's as if all the worries and tensions I have been trying to carry and get through the last month had been lifted off me. As soon as I was in front of the Sto Nino, all I could do was stare at His face. It was so lovely and innocent, really like a child's.  To give way to others, one isn't allowed to stay long in front of the image. If you wish to pray longer and really talk to the Sto Nino, you can do so at the side. And I did just that. Touching the glass encasement, there I prayed and told the Sto Nino all that has been in my heart for quite sometime now. All the hurts, the anger, the forgiveness that I am seeking, the gratefulness I feel for God's continuous guidance to each and every member of my family. There I prayed too, for my friends who are sick, who are going through tough times at work, emotionally distressed, and lastly, I prayed for one person and begged for a chance to take care of this person. I was crying the whole time I was praying. I felt like a kid, making "sumbong" all of these to Sto Nino. I didn't care that other devotees can see me. I stayed and prayed for sometime, don't know how long I was like that, all I know is the moment I opened my eyes, I felt different; emotionally, I felt lighter. You know the feeling when you have questions that has been left unanswered for so long that you lose hope of ever finding out the answer, then suddenly, there it is? It was like that for me. I felt that every thing I told the Sto Nino was heard and will be answered.

And yes, the following day, Monday, something happened which made me say "Thank You, Sto. Nino!". I just know in my heart now, that everything's going to be fine. All I need to do now is to be patient. :)