Moving

Posted by s7even at 02:29 AM on February 11, 2008.

to a better blog.

Currently listening to: Tu Pleures - Maxim Nucci

2 commentaire(s).

Natasha St-Pier: elle est très belle !

Posted by s7even at 10:16 AM on February 4, 2008.

She can definitely invite hormones without doing anything. I got a high-quality copy of her TV5 Europe Acoustic live performance (le 18 fevrier 2006), and it's 600+ MB!

Currently watching: TV5 Europe Acoustic - Natasha St Pier 20060218
Currently feeling: impressed

Commentez ici.

First French class EVER in my life

Posted by s7even at 12:16 AM on January 18, 2008.

Because I took the placement exam last month, I was qualified to start with the middle of the chaotic battle instead of Module 1. I immediately landed to the only class available for my module, which (un?)fortunately, is handled by "THE" teacher. For the most part, it should be good because he usually adds more notes on grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and even culture, and gives hand outs to complement the books and the school's program. In a sense, it may also be bad because I am required to immediately adjust to his style with more effort than all of my classmates.

I went to the school hours earlier to visit the library. While browsing some books, I would usually get goosebumps because of the native French speakers talking in French (They were talking about classifying the newly arrived dictionaries). Some Filipino teachers were also there, and the goosebumps became palpitations as soon as I overheard my teacher saying that he would give an exercise on the first day of class.

As expected, each student must speak to the entire class in French every meeting. In my case, the first experience was introducing myself to the entire class. I can understand their introductions but I was worried that I might be mispronouncing words or ignoring some essential grammar concepts. Fortunately, the professor did not correct my pronunciation. The medium of instruction is French but I understood most of it.

The written exercise is a short essay that would require us to apply the last lesson in the previous module. I was able to construct some sentences correctly but my vocabulary is very limited and I had a major mental block even if the topic was very basic. I am not yet proficient enough to express a wide range of ideas because of some deficiency in grammar and vocabulary (I hope that grammar and vocabulary were just vitamins that I can take in extreme doses). I think it is better to continue self-studying too, because I still do not know my performance compared to my classmates and the established academic standards.

Apparently, I am the only student who (shamelessly) did not start with Module 1. The class is small but the culture is diverse. We come from different professional fields and nationalities (I have Spanish, Australian, and Indian classmates), and reasons for studying. My seatmates are very friendly, and they should definitely be additional reasons for continuing the classes.

The tuition is slightly expensive, but in my opinion, my money is worth the entire experience. The school's color is red, and for me, it will always signify "nosebleed", but at least learning too much is better than learning nothing at all. I am looking forward to more days of great adventures!

Currently feeling: cheerful

2 commentaire(s).

Plans for 2008

Posted by s7even at 09:23 PM on January 5, 2008.

I will try my best to not be involved in a romantic relationship this year because I need to concentrate on the following goals:

1) Study at Alliance Française de Manille

Objective: To learn, be in a diverse culture, and know many people.

Status: Enrolled to start Module 3 (instead of the original assessment, Module 4) soon. Purchased the book and applied for a one-year membership. Planning to study for three straight years. Received advice from former students even if they do not know me personally (Thanks to Friendster).

2) Get out of a Stanford Prison Experiment

Objective: To be away from the monopolized culture of the political pyramid.

Status: Accomplished and very satisfied. Congratulated by some people who also want to go out. Heard several confessions from former inmates unexpectedly.

3) Rent a solo place and buy a computer

Objective: To have more free time reading books and less time traveling, and for more efficient implementation of other plans.

Status: Preferring Makati or La Salle area. Considering a condominium in Makati

4) Decide which masters degree to take

Objective: To have a clear future!

Main considerations: Applied Economics, Financial Engineering. De La Salle University - College of Business and Economics

Added problems: Business-oriented on-the-spot essays on the entrance exam (which is difficult for a non-business graduate), budget

 

So far, I have not received any bad news at all, so this is a great start for me.

Currently listening to: Vois sur ton Chemin - Les Choristes
Currently feeling: accomplished

1 commentaire(s).

I hereby declare 2008 my year

Posted by s7even at 09:42 AM on December 25, 2007.

(Coincidentally, 2008 is the Year of the Rat according to Chinese zodiac. I was born in a Year of the Rat, 1984.)

The year 2007 has shown many good signs: (eventually) finishing a "challenging" degree from a highly reputable university (*chin up), having the strength to risk the stability of my first job to be in a more enjoyable job, and being satisfied with the unexpected second job even if it was not even a part of the original plan.

Because these, together with other recent events, have shown great signs that things are in indeed the process of falling into the right places, I have decided to push many things to the next level by myself, without passively waiting for destiny to open new doors for me.

I just fully realized recently that the place where I grew up, my academic background, my nationality, and other deterministic factors are merely influences and should not fully define me and my future. Because of this paradigm shift, diverse possibilities suddenly crossed my mind.

However, my realistic self knows that a person can only focus on one big plan at a time. While I have not finished completing the list and ranking them according to priority (Should I meditate first?), I decided to study something that I find interesting and I would never regret pursuing even though it might not have any direct impact to my career. Aside from constantly learning new things, I can also meet new people, which is a great bonus.

I am also planning to rent, and I will use the three hours of daily traveling as an excuse. I want to rent mainly because I want to have full control over my own life, removing unnecessary factors when I decide to pursue something big in the near future, such as studying for a graduate degree.

All of these plans, and many more, will force me to budget money more wisely and having more self-discipline. My life will never be in a downward spiral.
___

Christmas wish list:
1) Les Choristes DVD -- I desperately want to see this movie!
2) Nobody would steal the contents of my lost/misplaced/stolen ATM card.
3) [already given] Planner -- The Project Manager for the Quality Assurance team, who is in Oslo, gave each of us a cute planner (My mom finds the color very nice)

Currently listening to: Les avions en papier - Les Choristes

7 commentaire(s).

Low point

Posted by s7even at 10:19 PM on October 13, 2007.

Just recently, I have reached the point where I somehow wish I were a totally different person instead (but not just any different person). I know that this feeling is temporary, but it feels too bad. I do not know whether I am the only person who ever felt this way, or everyone has already experienced this feeling at least once in their lifetime.

I tend to rationalize things by giving myself reasons why this happened or why this must happen to me, which is bad because I am only trying to make excuses to myself. It is painfully difficult to admit to myself that I have been trapped in a bad cycle that only gets worse as it repeats. Even if it is not entirely my fault anyway, it is still mostly my fault for being passive, for not doing anything about it, for letting the cycle happen to me all over again.

Because of this sudden insecurity and constant doubt, I suddenly feel clueless about how I should act in almost all the situations that I encounter, even some of the smallest ones. Losing my old confidence has greatly affected my overall mindset. In fact, I do not feel much eagerness anymore when I wake up each day, and I can get tired more easily nowadays. I need more thinking, not only about this aspect of reality but also about anything connected to it, which means everything.

There are so many people who think of heavier problems, but my selfish mind cannot see that fact right now. It is as though only my problems matter in the world and the rest are minimal or irrelevant.

At times, I think that I only create my own problems to worry about. If I only had a different mindset, I would not be worrying about this at all. Maybe I should change the way I perceive things, process information, and interpret concepts. After all, it is all in the mindset.

All of this, I promise myself, shall pass. Anyway, a person cannot be elated all the time.

Currently listening to: On the way down - Ryan Cabrera
Currently feeling: worried

2 commentaire(s).

Accepted a new job

Posted by s7even at 08:13 PM on August 21, 2007.

Quality Assurance Engineer, Colibria. It was offered just days after ending my contract with IBM. Because of this, I will have less of the planned (self-imposed) vacation.

As I take this unanticipated step, I realized several things. Even though I always thought that I always knew the things that I want to achieve in life, I currently feel more clueless in the middle of the battlefield. I do not exactly know the battle - all I know is, I must survive with success and satisfaction.

I also realized that the things that I wanted in life, even if they are listed in my mind - are still too generic that a detailed plan is needed for it to be considered concrete/realistic.

The things that I have established seem to be irrelevant today and in the future, now that I have totally shifted my goals in life. So, even if the entire idea is scary, I am willing to start from scratch and open myself to new possibilities just to align myself to the future that I now want to happen. To avoid making wrong choices that will significantly affect everything, I must question my beliefs, who I really am, how I perceive myself compared to how others see me.

I doubt whether I can be totally happy, because I will always face compromises in every situation. Because "the only constant thing in the world is change", I believe that most, if not all, of the feelings of happiness are only temporary.

I am hoping that I have made the right decision, and this door will open better opportunities for me. Que sera sera.

Currently listening to: Pas Le Temps (Acoustique) - Jonatan Cerrada

2 commentaire(s).

From Belgium straight to my player!

Posted by s7even at 04:43 PM on August 8, 2007.

For weeks, I had been desperate to find specific French songs, but I could not find them on my usual resources (limewire, www.esnips.com). I even asked some people to try to find them for me, but to no avail. I almost became hopeless because I know that the original albums do not exist in non-francophone countries (except Spain, maybe).

When I was trying to find ways to buy from www.amazon.com (albeit the price), I found someone who is willing to send me ALL the songs in the two albums through e-mail.

I suddenly appreciated the efficiency of the Internet. Until now, the entire idea of worldwide information exchange still fascinates me. I can either buy the album without going to Europe, or better, I can endlessly thank the generosity of a stranger living in in Belgium. She even said that I do not have to thank her because she is just promoting the music of the artist to further improve his career. How altruistic!

I currently like one particular song in the first album, so receiving all the songs in the two albums would be more appreciated. All it takes is an online profile and knowing how to beg in French.

It is also amazing how a person who only speaks fluent English and Tagalog (+ poor French) can deliver the exact message (AND get the desired result) to someone who only speaks French. (I cannot blame the primitive people for presuming that the world is either flat or smaller than the actual size.)

(Last Song Syndrome - The title literally means Black Ribbon (usually used to show political awareness). I like the effect of swearing in Spanish.)

Currently listening to: Ruban Noir - Jonatan Cerrada

5 commentaire(s).

Je ne sais pas ce que je dois faire dans la vie

Posted by s7even at 11:21 PM on July 23, 2007.

I do not know what to do exactly in life - to succeed, to be stable, to be more independent, to be happier. In the real world, nobody can dictate or guide a person to the right path as though only one effective formula for success must be followed.

Nowadays, even many of my friends face similar problems. Life as we see it only has become more complicated after finishing college. There are relatively successful people who are still not satisfied with their jobs, wealthy people who still do not know how to maximize their money, or people who became successful in their fields but want to leave their specializations to pursue a different interest. In my case, even with equally great options at hand, I am afraid to eliminate one to choose the other one. I cannot have both; to get the other opportunity, the current one must be totally released first.

Indeed, so many people realize that making significant decisions alone is scary. In real life, failures do not come at the end of the academic term - there is no second chance.

While a lot of people would be satisfied with having my current status for the rest of their lives, I choose to strive for something more. However, achieving better things is not as easy as hastily picking a color. Reality strikes; I am not the only person who can control reality. In a sense, I am merely a speck in this world. I am always faced with compromises and conflicting situations instead of extreme and ideal options.

In the end, I am the only person who can decide for me - which only makes me think infinitely without arriving at a definite decision. Nobody knows the most appropriate option until I try it myself, with the risk of failing.

Currently listening to: Daughtry - Home (Acoustic)

5 commentaire(s).