How's my day in Siam?

So what does a day in a Pinoy’s life in the Land of Smiles looks like? For me, it is quite a simple one but not boring, in fact each day something exciting or fun happens (or I try to  make it like that)! 

If it is during a working day, and I don't have field work, then I am in the office from about 830 am until 5pm. Sometimes I arrive before 830 am and leave after 5 pm. If one is a researcher like me, then there is no fixed time really. Even at night I still work, reading, writing, analyzing, discussing, thinking. At night it is still work because we have European partners and they are just starting work while we are winding down, and sometimes we schedule video conferencing around 8-9pm here.

During a normal working day there is hardly any other time for doing other things. Unless you really schedule it. So gotta make work as fun as possible. I do not just do one thing but try to multi-task or vary my tasks. But it also depends on whether one specific task needs to be finished soonest so it has to be done first, with full concentration. It depends on how one manages time and allocation of work. I take breaks of course especially as sitting in front of the computer for long periods is not advisable. The breaks usually consist of walking around, drinking water, eating some snacks if any (sometimes only but my Thai RAs bring a lot of kanoms!), going out of the office and walking on the corridor, looking out of the window to look at the greenery, etc.).

As my office is quite far from the coffee shops on campus, and it is just so hot to go walking over there, it is not that easy to just go out and buy from there. So I set up a coffee corner in the office so anyone can just make their own coffee (instant, 3 in 1, brewed) any time they want.

There are no Pinoys in my office so I don't get to interact with one face to face, only electronically or by phone, sometimes. I also go to Siam Pinoy Community website  for some Pinoy-related information and discussions. 

After office hour activities depends on where one lives. Living in the same area as the workplace has its advantages, as there is more time to indulge in activities such as exercise and playing sports, visiting friends who also live nearby, and cooking meals. But if one lives a bit far, like me, well, there is really no time to do these things. One has to jump into his/her vehicle, brave the traffic, maybe stop by a mall or food center for dinner, then go home, arriving there by around 7 or 8 pm. And if there is traffic jam, or if it has been raining causing more traffic jams, probably one would arrive home by nearly 9pm or later. Sometimes there is food at home for dinner, which was prepared the night before so that saves us time.

It is more tiring than stressful as a passenger. To be sitting for an hour or more is not good to our muscles and joints. If one drives, then it is both tiring and stressful, I think. It will be sabai-sabai (thai for nice and easy) if there is no traffic and if people drive properly and keep within their lanes. And if it is not raining and there are no flooded streets. Sounds just like Manila, eh? We can still survive despite that, and every time we arrive we thank the Lord for keeping us safe. It is always a relief to reach home.

Keeping daily contact with family and friends in the Philippines is common, even if one is busy. I would usually send text messages to my loved ones to greet them for the day and wish them well and encourage them, reminding them to trust in the Lord, and to thank Him for his blessings. If there is any urgent matter then it is time to call. I use deedial service which is much cheaper than most phone services here. Other means of contact are by email, chat and social networking.

Of course the day starts with a quiet time with the Lord, reading His Word and meditating on it, thanking Him for the night before and committing the day ahead, and for other prayer requests. The day ends with a prayer, thanking God for His protection and provision during that day, asking for forgiveness, praying for protection while sleeping, for a good sleep, healing, and also praying for others. Reading God's word and devotional before going to sleep helps to bring quiet and peace to the mind and heart, especially after reflecting on how the day has been. 

Each one living away from home and what's familiar faces different challenges and have different experiences. These things can sometimes strengthen us, or discourage us. Hopefully they are more of an encouragement, but if not, hope that we can try to look up and see the good in each thing that happens, and remind ourselves that we are special in God's sight, no matter what.

Of a new month and a city experience

It's now the 7th of July. June is gone, so fast! Work in the office is so hectic and toxic so time flies so fast. Good thing and I thank God for the peace and quiet at home. There are just the two of us...the only sounds we can hear are the tv and our laughter! It's so nice to come home to peace and quiet, it is a luxury indeed. To be able to rest after the rush and stresses of work. I think the only stress at home is to decide on what to cook or eat for dinner...I know this is quite shallow. Of course there are other major issues related to life in general, you know, living in this world of political strife, climate change, animal extinction, hunger, poverty, etc. We have a choice on how to handle them, though. If we can do something to make things better, then let's do it. If we can't, then there is no use being depressed by it. Today in fact was a holiday but where was I? I was in the office. Working coz I just had to work. But it was something that did not really stress me. Just have to work and if things didn't work out, it's no big deal also. Just try better next time.

Last week I spent nearly the whole day in the big city. I went to the Embassy and I was there at 845 am, and waited outside (just standing) until it opened at 9. However, as a rule, the time to release any document is at 2 pm. So I was at a dilemma what to do coz by the time I submitted my papers it was nearly 930 am. It was not practical to go back to my office as it would take me maybe 1.5 hrs to reach it, then another 1.5 hrs to get back to the city. So I'd better hang around somewhere and wait out for the 2 pm releasing time. The question was where? I wanted to get to an internet cafe coz I was thinking of my work. With my upcoming trip overseas I really need to work on the contacts I need to meet. I walked back to a gas station I passed on the way to the Embassy. There was a coffee shop there and I saw a sign earlier that they had Internet. So I went to order my mocha coffee and bread coz I did not have breakfast yet. I was thinking that I could check my emails and reply to them while drinking my coffee. Alas, the staff said the server was down. So why did they not remove the sign saying that Internet service was available?

After my breakfast I took the sky train to go to the nearest mall. Then I remembered that near this mall there is a second hand bookshop. I have ordered books from this shop many times by mail. So it would be my first time to really go there and choose the books myself. So I walked to this bookstore and spent some time there browsing through the shelves. It was quite difficult to look for the books and I think it is better for me to just download their database in excel and browse the file to order the books. I finally settled on two books which I have just heard and read about before. So this time I could really read them. I had 2 more books added to my collection that day.

I went back to the mall and it was nearly noon. Lunch time but I did not eat coz I was still full from my breakfast at 10am. I went around to look for the internet section. Along the way I saw some shoes which were on sale. I found one which I liked but unfortunately they did not have my size. I was glad to find the internet section and was able to check my emails and respond to them. I was so engrossed with what I was doing that I almost forgot the time. When I looked at my watch it was already 145pm. It was time to go back to the Embassy. I just took a taxi coz I did not want to walk a long way from the sky train station as it was so hot. I reached the Embassy before 2pm anyway. When I got there, I did not immediately present my claim slip as the staff was adamant to serve claims at exactly 2pm. And since there were people who came before me, they had to be served first.

I finally was able to leave the Embassy at around 215pm. I immediately left to go back to my office. Coz of the sky train and special service from my dear husband who picked me up at the last sky train station, I arrived in the office at about 330 pm so I still had enough time to continue my work. I was at the office until 6 pm. I was glad that I was able to get the documents I needed from the Embassy that day. I also thank God for protection and for keeping me in good condition as usually I do not feel good going into the city using public transport, due to the heat, pollution and the general atmosphere in the city that us folks who live in a quiet and green environment could never get used to.

Yehey, It's Friday!

So? Somebody might ask. Would you ask the same thing? What's so special with Friday and why the glee? For me the day started quite early but still I came to office at the regular time. No use coming early. Probably due to waking up early that I felt a bit dazed ... sometimes dizzy... maybe it's the heat. So today I just stayed put in the office as it is cooler. I did not even dare walk to the coffeeshop to buy my mocha coffee. Good I have some coffee here in the office so I was able to have my caffeine input. So all day I was a little bit 'lethargic' but I tried to make myself active by moving around, talking to others, laughing at simple stuff. Maybe it's the time of the month that's why I am starting to feel a bit of a headache. I willed it away with my Poy-Sian inhaler. After 3pm when I had already my cup of coffee I felt my 'mood' lifting and this prompted me to write this blog. It's Friday! I feel excited about it. So the week was a drag, sort of, 'work-wise' that's why. What with budget cuts and other stuff. I am ready to take a break. Maybe do some gardening, cooking, shopping, foot massage, sleeping in. Yeah, that will be nice.

What do you plan to do this weekend?

I love Christmas!

Photo by Leilani G.

Merry Christmas to all!

I love Christmas because it gives me a perspective of what love really is. Christmas eve last night Key & I spent singing Christmas and praise songs, reading Luke 2:1-20, meditating on it and praying & thanking God for His gift and His many blessings. Earlier at lunch time we had an end-of-the-year party by the lake with my officemates. Each one brought a dish or two so we had an international menu (Filipino, Thai, Bangladeshi, Nepali, Indian, Vietnamese, western, fusion). We had an exchange of gifts and also carol singing. It was good fun and we enjoyed the camaraderie as it is not often that we can get together in this informal way. By 2 pm it was back-to-office time. When evening time came, in the midst of cooking spaghetti (for a 10pm get-together party that never materialized) I remembered that I still have not called home. I was planning to call earlier but I got busy with cooking. I know my parents would be waiting and would be disappointed and sad if nobody called. So I called and had to try many times. The networks were busy, as usual. This is always the case calling the Philippines at Christmas time and new year! Finally I was able to get through and talked to my parents to greet them and give some encouragement.

I have found the internet to be very useful especially when I want to listen to Christmas songs. So for many days now I have been listening to them through imeem.com or watching them through youtube. I had a post on Christmas songs last November here which I go back to as well. Below is really very good! Thanks to Pinay Ads for the link. Happy viewing and listening!