jane&thegypsies

The blur that was 2011

2011-12-29T20:22:00.000-08:00

2011 brought a lot of changes to my life. I left my first ever "real" job after college to challenge my capabilities, explore new worlds and ultimately, strengthen my soul. I was in the OR for the 1st time in my grown life and I learned that to FIGHT is not always the best option. Everyday there were new experiences to overcome, new lessons to learn and new people to fall in love with. I never realized that the year would speed by so fast. Now I am almost breathless trying to recount everything that I have been blessed with this past 12 months. More than anything, I am thankful for all the beautiful people that surrounded me this year and I hope that 2012 brings more joy and fulfillment for everyone. I end the year hoping that I did something good for someone this 2011 and a promise that in 2012, the world will be a little bit better because of me.

I would like to welcome 2012 believing as Audrey Hepburn believes.

"I believe in manicures,. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day. And I believe in miracles."

God bless us all :)

Singapore lah!

2011-11-06T22:05:00.000-08:00

Part of why I got into my current line of work is the many opportunities it offered to travel (I specifically had Japan in mind for this - we being a Japanese airline and all but they seem to have other plans).

Case in point - for a week last August, we were sent to Singapore to join a "system boot-camp" of sorts as it condensed 2+weeks worth of material into 5 days of sakit-sa-bangs lectures and hands-on exercises. Weeks before the date, I was totally nervous. I was very new to all this but we were expected to do well among staff from other stations who were also joining. Since I never really found the time to prepare (although I REALLY meant to), I was betting on siting very near my co-manila office participant and whispering whenever I got lost to cover up the fact that I had absolutely no idea what was going on. She was, after all, a couple of flights up the experience ladder (being fresh from another airline) and was very very willing to be my cheatmate.

Now, imagine my shock when we arrived in the training office (groggy from an early morning flight and wet from rain), to find that there were only 2 of us in this "special training session" and we were to sit in desks across from one another. This was nowhere near the scenario I had built my cheatmate plans on. I had to rely on to good old hard work, FOCUS and a steady supply of coffee (I also rephrased my questions in my head a couple of times to make sure they were valid). It helped that the trainors knew I had ZERO experience and they were patient especially during exercises when I was stuck trying to comprehend the problems while the printer was spitting out my colleague's already finished work.

I'd like to believe that I redeemed myself AFTER the work day when they let us explore the fine city of Singapore. I had a list of what-to-eat and where-to-eat from ex-residents, a what-to-buy list from my sister and a pretty good idea of where-to-go even without the how-to-get-there. Luckily, Raissa (my cheatmate) was as eager to walk around as I was and we eventually figured it out. We walked so much, we would have lost weight if we weren't stuffing ourselves with fabulous food every chance we got (I took so many food photos, they deserve another post).

I think we covered the "Tourist in Singapore" basics:

We admired the Merlion (until we could look at it no more),

went on the cable car ride to Sentosa (because the only text I got from my Dad that week was: "Did you ride the cable car yet?")

snacked on ice cream as we navigated orchard road,

sampled a little bit of culture visiting Indian and Chinese temples,

pretended to be explorers in the Night Safari,

had a love affair with condensed milk, Passionfruit and the tiger (rawr!),

and shopped for extra pasalubong at Bugis street

with a repeat performance at the Mustafa Centre at 2am.

It's a wonder how this city can offer such a unique blend of experiences - it makes for a very nice place to visit.

and I have these people to thank for it:

1 stamp down and XX more to go!
Dear world, you best be ready :)

Thank you 2010, you were awesome!

2011-01-02T22:48:00.000-08:00

The Party People of Phnom Penh

2010-10-09T21:17:00.000-07:00

[Travel blog for trip of the (birthday) month September: Ho Chi Minh - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap - Ho Chi Minh. Part 2 of a 4 part, 3 city series. More photos here. (click!)]

When our plans of going to vietnam and cambodia started to take shape, I immediately contacted Tra, a Cambodian who was a friend of KAPS back in Japan. He went to the same school as I did (although he was a post graduate student) and was pretty much in every party the filipino scholars arranged. We (south east) asians were tight. He agreed to be our host in pnomh penh, even offering to pick us up and drive us to wherever we needed. I was really excited to see him (and his family!) because it made me feel that I did have "couches all over the world".

After we left at 9 am, our ride from Ho Chi Minh to the Cambodian border was considerably quick (about two hours along scenic country road). The bus took the Bavet-Moc Bai crossing, the first one to open to foreigners and the most popular one for those travelling by land. Our bus guide had collected our passports as soon as we got on the bus to check for visas and prepare for immigration procedures (he filled everything out for us too) and since most of the people on the bus were locals and satoko, who needed a visa, had applied for and received one in advance, crossing over to the next country didn't take much time. We stopped at a canteen near the border for lunch, changed a couple of dollars to the local currency (TIP: research on the exchange rate before you get there! at that time, $1 converted to roughly 4500 riel or Php1=100 riel) and continued on to Phnom Penh.

(the loveleh border. the designs are culturally inclined, AND pleasing to the eye. I'm so inggit.)

I was looking out my window the whole time and saw dirt road, endless green and houses on stilts. If it wasn't for the occasional temple (and sugar palm tree), I would have thought I was on Philippine soil, taking a trip up north.

After four more hours, we reached the capital tours bus terminal in the middle of a busy market in Phnom Penh. I had arranged for my cambodian friend to pick us up and even asked my bus seatmate, a middle aged cambodian man whose name I could not pronounce, to call him a few hours before we arrived so we wouldn't have any trouble finding each other at the station (I don't know if its just me, but I feel more comfortable talking to strangers in a foreign country). Just as I imagined, as soon as we got off the bus, a group of tuktuk drivers descended upon us offering their services and whatnot VERY VERY PERSISTENTLY. The trick here is not to let them get to you, they're just trying to make a living.

Tra found us soon enough and within a few minutes, we were riding around phnom penh. We were there kind of late so there wasn't enough time to see the city while it was light outside but still we passed by some interesting places like the Royal Palace, the prime minister's house and the Independence memorial before we drove to our home in Phnom Penh. Tra and his family lived in a gated community with people who drove luxury cars for neighbors. Apparently second hand luxury cars from the US are a popular form of family transportation. Bikes too.

After a quick shower we all went out to enjoy Phnom Penh's night life. First stop, the Phnom Penh night market where they sell everything from food to crafts to cellphones and antiques. There is a big stage in the middle of the market where performers entertain the huge crowd of locals out and about. Food stalls are grouped at the back of the market around an open space where everyone can picnic (like a school fair! what fun). Oh and we saw more than a few people walking around in pajamas - not just loose clothes that you would usually wear in bed but real pajama sets! That was awesome.

(KFC is the first international fast food chain in cambodia)

Next we went for dinner at a fancy cambodian restaurant/NGO. Squid with peppercorns, fried frogs, fish amok, green curry and Angkor beer filled us with happiness. Angkor beer tasted like a cleaner version of San Miguel Pale Pilsen and was nice and refreshing. But what really won me over that night was the peppercorns in the squid dish (as I have never tried fresh peppercorns before). Fun AND yum.

After a quick drive to tra's in-law's house (we had to drop of their kid for the next destination). We went out to DANCE! Phnom Penh IS the nightlife district of Cambodia. We arrived at around 10 pm and the club was already full of people of different races (and fashion inspirations). Basketball shorts and tsinelas, anyone? Too bad we couldn't take photos.

The music was great (except for the sometimes odd interjections of the dj) and the big surprise of the night: everyone knew justin beiber (and danced to his music too). Also, the waiters seem to be allergic to half-full glasses. They were constantly roaming around topping up drinks, adding ice and compulsively cleaning.

Since we had another early bus ride the next morning, we couldn't stay for longer. And when the sun shone the next morning, we thanked the party people and bid them goodbye :D

Useful Information:

Capital Tours Guest House

cheap rooms, right where the bus stops

No. 14AE0, Road 182

Sangkat Beng Prolitt

Khann 7 MAKARA Phnom Penh, Cambodia

http://www.capitolkh.com/default.htm

Phnom Penh Night Market

Red Soil Garden, Along Riverside, North of Old Market (Phsar Chas)

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Open friday to sunday (5pm-12am)

MEKONG EXPRESS LIMOUSINE BUS

87Eo, Sisowath Quay, Sangkat Wat Phnom

mekongexpress@online.com.kh

-- we took this bus to siem reap. they charge an additional 3 dollars for foreigners (but you would never know that if you didn't try to have a cambodian buy tickets for you). You get snacks (yummy pastries) and water on board. plus the tour guide is pretty informative about the surroundings. :)

Good Morning, Ho Chi Minh :)

2010-10-02T20:07:00.000-07:00

[Travel blog for trip of the (birthday) month September: Ho Chi Minh - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap - Ho Chi Minh. Part 1 of a 4 part, 3 city series. More photos here. (click!)]

When we had our passports renewed a year ago, our lolo asked us where we were going next and I immediately answered Thailand. I promised a couple of friends that we would meet again in a foreign country and Thailand seemed like the best option for all of us. Unfortunately, Thailand was receiving some grim publicity at that time, so my dreams of going around south east asia was put on hold. Even my friends, busy with their own lives (in their own countries) were unable to commit to a date and the initial excited planning died down to a promise that we will all converge somewhere in the world, someday.

Fast forward to a year later, I was determined to put a stamp on my passport that had gone unused since. My international travel history listed only 2 countries and I had used a new passport every time so my dream of having a collection of immigration stamps was nowhere near reality. A friend from work suggested Vietnam (partly because she was a vietnamese language major and had friends there) and said she would happily accompany me whenever I decided to go.

A couple of weeks (and an airline promo) later, we were on our way to saigon.
Before the flight, I read a couple of travel blogs, looked at some photos and asked a few friends on what to do in ho chi minh. Eating (and eating A LOT) was on the top of their lists. My list included singing along to "Miss Saigon" while walking along a sidewalk, drinking only coffee (and beer) and fanning myself with a million dong. Ate was on a mission to hoard mountaineering equipment for Mt. Pulag in december.

And because I was really bent on collecting stamps for my passport, we squeezed in a plan to cross the border to Cambodia and go see the angkor wat. That way, we get to be in two countries in a week! It was tiring just to even think about the amount of time we were going spend in land transit (because we were backpackers with no money to fly) but that was trumped by the thought of old buildings, trees and tomb raiders.

We flew in on Cebu Pacific's late night flight (never too late for games!) and hailed a cab outside the airport. Our vietnam-based contact recommended only VinaSun or Malinh taxi cabs because the drivers won't try to charge you extra. Plus they have clean cabs in an assortment of sizes. We went straight to a backpacker's lodge located in district 1 that Satoko had found and booked over the internet. The seem pretty used to tourists, spoke good english and helped us buy bus tickets to Phnom Penh the next morning.

The bus was scheduled to leave at 7am and 9am. We chose the latter so we could go for an early morning walk in search for breakfast. There was a park right across the alley where our guest house stood, filled with Vietnamese people of all ages playing badminton, dancing to ballroom music and enjoying a lazy saturday morning. There weren't a lot of tourists around (probably still asleep or drunk from the previous night). We walked for about twenty minutes and found the deli we were aiming for where we got some Banh Mi (incredible sandwiches consisting of baguettes filled with sliced meat, pickled vegetables and liver pate) which we promptly brought to a nearby street-side cafe and devoured. And when I say street-side, I do mean street (we were sitting on the side of a building with a styrofoam ice chest acting as a table. a common sight around hcmc).

The sidewalk cafe served vietnamese coffee for people on the way to work (or anyone else in need of a fix) so we got some to go with our sandwiches (and so we they would let us sit there). This coffee, served SWEET and in beer mugs filled to the brim with ice chips, was a revelation. I have always been more of a hot, black coffee person only because I have never encountered iced coffee that I liked in manila. But this was a whole world of difference. I couldn't stop. It was so sweet that the first sip tastes like chocolate, but the rich, earthy flavor of the coffee and strong kick of caffeine wasn't too far behind. Like frozen, dark chocolate covered espresso beans in liquid form that was flooding my mouth. I finished my mug even before the ice melted (which is probably recommended to stagger the strength of the coffee and dilute the sugar) and I ended up drinking coffee like crazy for that whole week. It was really THAT good.

We decided to walk back to the hotel so we could immediately put all those calories to work but it turns out we burn food pretty fast and we still had time (and space in our stomachs) to swing by another alleyway shop for a second breakfast. We had beef noodles, strawberry sinh to and passion fruit juice (which is literally just one whole passion fruit sliced in half and squeezed into sugar water and ice. delish).

This (double) breakfast was easily one of the better ones we had in the entire trip. Lazy, local and purely delicious. Plus, it kept us full until lunchtime at the Cambodian border. But that's for next time :)

Useful Information:
GUEST HOUSE THANH THUONG
241/6 Pham Ngu Lao st. Pham Ngu Lao ward, District 1, HCMC
booking can be made in advance, english OK, payment in US dollars, breakfast optional. Free WIFI and nice staff. they would even help you buy tickets for your next destination.
email thanhthuonghotel@yahoo.com

CAPITOL TOURS BUS

Phnom Penh Office and Station

#14AEo, Street 182 Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Tel: +(855) (0)23-217627

www.capitolkh.com

English Speaking bus guides, cheap rates (although bus stop is in the middle of a prett busy market). they also operate a backpacker guest house for the budget traveler :)

BANH MI sandwiches and beef noodles
available everywhere :)

full days

2010-08-29T22:30:00.000-07:00

It's a rarity for me to spend weekends in Manila. Even rarer for me not to take advantage of mondays declared as holidays (thus, a three day break) and not plan for a weekend further out into the beautiful Philippine countryside. But when thursday rolled around last week and I still couldn't decide on where to fly off to, I decided to fill my weekend with crafts I wanted to do, things I wanted to eat and people I needed to see within Metro Manila. So saturday took me from caloocan to pasig to makati to quezon city, meeting with new friends, college friends and even friends from high-school. Saturday felt like a long day that was still too short. If you get what I mean :) (sunday saw me nursing a hangover but that's beside the point. everyone needs a rest day)

art makes me happy

2010-08-23T03:05:00.000-07:00

Growing up, I never had confidence in any of the drawings that I made in school. It was always not cute enough, or too real or tried to do/show too much. Needless to say, I didn't enjoy projects that involved a lot of drawing. Or the use of pens. My handwriting wasn't any better. I could not for the life of me write in cursive. I would literally sweat buckets and hurt my hands from gripping my pen too hard. I dis, however, enjoy crafts. In kindergarten, my hands were always rough with dried up glue and I always had weird paper cutouts stuck to different parts of my body (still happens to me now and it makes me very happy).

When I started studying Japanese, I was frustrated at how my handwriting looked nothing like the characters that appeared in the books. I felt like I was drawing the characters and forcing them to look right instead of them coming together naturally with every stroke that I add (which, I heard, was what it was supposed to feel like). My handwriting looked like a font. Comic sans in Japanese.

After a couple of years, my handwriting got better and I started appreciating how cute my drawings and characters looked like. I guess exposure to the Japanese culture made me look at "cute" in a whole different way. It also made me appreciate handwritten notes and hand drawn figures (which, I think, is a rarity in the Filipino culture. we don't write a lot of notes as a people). The fliers advertising organizations in ritsumeikan were always hand drawn and there was a certain soul to each of them that I couldn't "feel" in the other posters that were produced using computers. I guess hands just have some sort of magic for me.

About a week ago my boss handed me an envelope from an art university in Tokyo. Inside was a postcard made from recycled "bagasse" and a note from a group of senior students who were heading the art project. Bagasse is the pulp that remains after the juice is extracted from sugarcane. They made it into raw material for paper and sent these postcards to people living all over the world (I assume they sent one to every Japanese embassy). The letter says for the recipients to mark their locations on the map, draw whatever, and then send it back to them. The postcards will then be used in an art installation. I don't really know why my boss handed me the card to complete. I think I looked bored that day and he was sweet enough to give me something to do. I'm actually excited to send it back.

What do you think I should write on it?

never too old

2009-11-25T06:16:00.000-08:00

we found a hidden mickey lying around the poolside canteen and the workplace suddenly became the happiest place on earth (for a few minutes anyway). balloons are so much fun :)

i wish we could have made it look like he had several costume changes but i was the only one who loved the idea enough to stand the heat. maybe tomorrow..

Sidewalking

2009-10-29T05:52:00.000-07:00

I've always been a fan of walking. Given the choice, I would choose my own two legs to carry me places rather than hail a jeepney, or worse, a tricycle (ugh.) Provided, of course, that I have enough time to cover whatever distance I need to cover on my own pace.

These past couple of days, I've been walking from the train station to work. The scenery in this particular part of Manila has fascinated me for the longest time. Every day, there is always something new and interesting to see.　I keep planning on bringing a bigger camera or spending more time taking photos but I'm restricted by a fear of getting mugged and a ticking bundy clock. Anyway, sometime this week I brought my salome along for a sample shoot of the people and things that greet me every morning.

I don't know when I would have enough courage to shoot in my favorite side streets. I would love to get the kids running around, the sari-sari stores with their colorful products and the old men playing chess outside the barber shop. It just FEELS like MANILA and it's beautiful.

I think I'm walking again tomorrow. Maybe I should bring my fish along too.

bad bloggers go to bed

2009-10-21T06:12:00.000-07:00

It's been almost a month since I last updated this blog and the reason that kept me from blogging is simple:

Sleep is delicious.

It is far yummier and more refreshing than mais con yelo on a hot, sticky day.
And it is good for all boys and girls (especially those who are in the process of growing up).

Dear weekend, you are so near yet so far.

xoxo
jane

maybe this is how NOAH felt

2009-09-27T07:10:00.000-07:00

One whole day of EPIC rainfall in Metro Manila brought about massive flooding everywhere in the city yesterday. The weather bureau says that more rain fell in 6 hours than it usually falls in a MONTH. And we live in a tropical country (meaning we get more rain in a month than other countries get in a year). It is just surreal.

I woke up to a rainy morning but I didn't think much of it until I went outside and tried to go the mall to meet up with a friend. I walked as far as the main thoroughfare, braving the wind and ankle deep water, until my mother text messaged me that the areas around the mall were already waist deep in floodwater.

I immediately turned back and spent the day at home - watching the news about the disaster that the floods were bringing about everywhere. The massive currents were flinging cars around like they were made of plastic and sweeping away cats, dogs and children. I started texting my friends to see if anyone was stranded, or worse, cold, wet and homeless.

It took a while but it seems like everyone I know is safe. Thank God.
I realized how extremely lucky we are that we live where we live. If it ever floods in our house, it would spell disaster for the people down our street. They would have nowhere to live.

It stopped raining at around midnight yesterday. The typhoon went away leaving at least 40 people dead and incredible amounts of property destroyed. Today the streets were seen littered with soil, garbage and evacuees. The floods have subsided in some areas but it's going to take a while to clean everything up, especially for the people whose homes and properties suffered along with them. Everyone needs to pitch in. I know I will.

----------
In happier news,

I got to celebrate my 23rd birthday in 5 separate occasions.

On wednesday, Julius bought everyone (read:TK) an Italian feast as his final farewell before flying off to japan - I bought cake in the aftermath. Little did I know that I would be having slices of cake all week :D

On thursday, it was more pizza and pasta with my HRIM buddies after we dropped by funeraria paz and paid our last respects to one of our beloved professors. (Ma'am V, may you rest in peace).

On friday (birthday day!), it was pizza for the 3rd DAY in a row. Cherrie (co-september celebrant) and I bought 3 MONSTER pies for the office which made everyone happy. I guess that was also a great way to introduce myself to those who still didn't know me after I started working there two weeks ago.

After work, my family took me out to dinner at ARYA, a newly opened persian restaurant in the ortigas district.
I had wanted to try out something other than what we usually eat when we go out as a family (that would be Italian, Japanese or Spanish) and this restaurant sounded interesting. I LOVED the long grain rice. I LOVE rice. period.

Yesterday, I was supposed to have guests over but the rains wouldn't have it. Postponed.

Tonight, I finally got to make a wish and blow a candle on MY birthday cake/pie. Happy Birthday to ME ♥ (I know you're not supposed to say what you wished for, but I wished for sunny skies and an outpouring of love for all the people who lost their homes and livelihood in the storm that just passed. I know God is good and will grant everybody peace at the very least).

God bless us all.

simple pleasures

2009-09-21T03:12:00.000-07:00

Kimmy Dora with Nice after work on friday, In My Life and Mccafe with Jayvee and Razel on saturday and a tagaytay wedding with Clarice and the team on sunday.

whew.

Good thing today was a holiday :)
I spent the day listening/singing along to musicals and eating beautiful carbohydrates. I say, there is no better way to spend a three day weekend than to completely tire yourself out the first two days and spend the last one in bed. Don't forget to eat and EAT GOOD.

I was so happy to have seen two filipino movies that I have been wanting to catch since they opened in the box office. Nice and I ended up sitting on the stairs of the theatre because the cinema was completely packed. We were able to get seats halfway through the movie and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard at the movies. I guess our train ride home was quiet because we were completely exhausted.

Saturday's movie was In My Life (Vilma Santos, JLC and Luis Manzano). I initially thought the movie would just be a 2 hour extended version of the trailer, but there were a lot more plot twists involved (along with one COMPLETE SHOCK). When the lights came back on, they revealed me and my eyes which were swollen from crying. The movie was so emotionally HEAVY that we had to go for a sugar and caffeine boost.

I bought coffee and cake for the three of us. McCafe remains to be MY place to go for a good cup of cappuccino. I forgot to tell the barista to serve our drinks in ceramic cups and they came in the paper kind with the plastic lids. The servers must not like to wash dishes very much. Sorry mother nature :(

Then we went to Timezone because somewhere in our conversations over coffee, we ended up talking about purikura. There's a new japanese purikura machine in the arcade at G4. It's more expensive than the korean one we used to frequent but the colors are nicer and there's more space in the booth to jump around in. I want to go back sometime just to test how many people we can fit in one box.

Wheeeeee~ something sparkly for the corkboard :)

Sunday's wedding was fun too. It was the bumping into unexpected people kind of fun.
And I might have some new (read: fabulous) shoes on the way. Love!

breakfast

2009-09-11T22:51:00.000-07:00

The month of August was declared by the DOH as "National Lung Month". That time, I was in and out of the lung center for the bulk of a week trying to get myself clearance to work. A radiologist at the medical center spotted a slight irregularity in my x-ray and referred me to a pulmonologist. I wasn't at all happy about it because hospitals scare me and I don't like how some doctors make me feel powerless and ignorant. Anyway, I sought out the help of a lung doctor and he sent off to get some tests done.

I was eventually diagnosed with latent PTB (in layman's terms, I had the TB virus sleeping somewhere in my lungs) and the doctor decided to put me on medication for the next 6 months to make sure the virus doesn't go crazy and lead to infect other people. Strictly no alcohol and limited late nights while I'm taking mega doses of drugs that I cannot pronounce.

what does this have to do with breakfast?

My pills have to be taken on an empty stomach once a day and I decided on taking them every morning before everything else. That meant I would have to wake up an extra 30 minutes to an hour earlier to make sure I get to eat breakfast before heading out to work.

As much as I love breakfast, the past few days have been hard. It's gotten me thinking if I should have chosen sleep instead. Gulping down huge pills isn't really a stellar way to greet the morning.

But, because I really want to make this medication as effective as it should be (and so I would never have to be subject to it ever again), I'm sticking with the good morning pill routine. I just feel like I'm going to get a better routine out of it. Meanwhile, I'm going to work extra hard to make my breakfasts even more special. Like poached eggs on toast. Or on salad. Or on everything.

Doctor says I should also keep a closer eye on my weight. The drugs might make me gain.

So more of this:

and less of this:

Only the best for the most important meal of the day :)

Pledging weekends

2009-09-07T23:18:00.000-07:00

More than a year ago, I came across an ad in the corkboard of the university shopping center. It was an ordinary looking piece of white paper, no different from the ones beside it except that it didn't advertise a room for rent, an org activity or a tutor for hire. Rather, it was an ad about this group called "An event to remember" that was currently looking for assistant wedding coordinators. I was intrigued. I snatched the ad off the board, put it in my pocket and walked off to do the things I was there to do.

I emailed my resume in the very next day. It wouldn't hurt to have a real part-time job, I thought. I certainly did very well balancing studies, moneymaking and being a normal person when I was in Japan. Prior to being an exchange student, the only real job I had was encoding receipts for my parents' auditing firm for one summer.

A few days later, someone called Mariel called to invite me for an interview. It was a school day and I had an EXECOM meeting to preside over but I agreed anyway. Our execom meeting was made short and sweet so I had plenty of time to head over to the coffee shop where I was to meet my interviewers. It was only when I got there that I realized that I wasn't exactly dressed for a job interview. I hoped they would understand. I could always explain that people (especially students) don't really dress up for school in UP and at least I wasn't in my pajamas.

I walked in the cafe and surveyed the people inside. The usual crowd, I thought. I was a little early for our appointment so I ordered some coffee and waited for a text or a call.

After ten minutes of nothing, I called them.

Simultaneously, a phone started ringing inside the cafe.

I stood up to look for the person with the ringing phone, and our eyes met. I had to laugh a little - we were sitting across from each other all along. I walked up to their table and introduced myself to two VERY pregnant women. There were printed copies of my resume in their hands. We talked for a good 30 minutes, then stood up and shook hands. I drank the rest of my coffee on the way home.

That same weekend, I was called in for an orientation, which turned out to be more of a dinner with the rest of the coordination team. They explained to us new girls how event coordination isn't for everyone. Sure, it sounds glamorous and its fun to get to go to elaborate parties but it is also a lot of physical and mental work. To be a coordinator requires stamina, quick wit, and a great sense of humor. Plus you need multi-tasking skills, a keen eye for detail and flawless taste. The list goes on. Yes. You have to be so fabulous, you sweat glitter.

I happily counted off my first three "test" weddings.

Sometime in the months following that, I just lost count.

I also lost a lot of weekends.

In the year that I've been doing this, I have come to understand to a greater extent why wedding coordination isn't for everyone and why it took Clarice so long to build this team. Our Team.

In two days, I am going to be part of the "real world". I am going to be commuting everyday for my "real job". But I know I am not going to give this up. Even if it means no more weekends.

Images by Paul Vincent Photo