Just Ask

I have always been comfortable in asking people. I mean, why do I need to go on the hassle of figuring things out if all I have to do is ask?

But, there are also things that I have to figure out on my own. And this means that I have to traverse the more difficult path, crack my head till it hurts, accept frustrations and failures. And when the answers come, I know that I have learned more than what I was just asking.

Well, it's monday and this is my second week here in Rio.
Weekend was so fun and I had a lot to thank for. I mean, it is really difficult to be in a place where everyone speaks alien words, or perhaps, just what Leah told me, I AM the alien. This is their place anyway.

And for the past week, I survived by asking (thank you Ma'am Zhar, you are my walking translator :p )
I asked a lot about how things work around the office, I ask about the portuguese translation of things I thought were so simple! How do I ask for a tissue? How do I say excuse me? How do I say I'm sorry? All these, I never even imagined would have to be difficult. Difficult, but fun I guess.
And, because of asking, things are a little bit easier. Imagine if I tried cracking my brain out for these supposed to be simple things!Whew.

Well, i think it goes with how we handle things in life too.
There are some things that we need to find out on our own, and get all the experiences and learnings along the way. But, there are also simple things that all we need to do is ask. The answers are easily availble, and the experience comes afterwards.

Well, it's my second week.
Wish me luck and we'll see how things will go around here.

Ola :)

Beside me is Chinese, on the other side is caucasian, behind me is indian, in front of me are brazilians. Whew.
I'm at the other side of the world!

Today is 11 hours ago in the Philippines, and 7 hours ago in Dubai and Georgia.

Things has been really fast for me lately. But I don't say fast in a bad way. There are times though, that I am caught off-guard with all the things that's been happening. It's amazing you know, how life could give such wonderful surprises.

This is my fourth day in Brazil now. Would you believe that for this month only, I've been to 7 different countries! Not to mention different timezones too! Good thing my watch is not complaining with all the adjustments I made. Seven! Though most are stop-overs during my trip from dubai-manila and manila-brazil, still, it is an amazing fact.
I remember back in college, I told myself that I will never go out abroad to work. When I was a child, I had bad impressions with "old" people who go abroad for work. It seemed to me that working abroad means leaving everything behind, I thought it meant forgetting and starting anew.
The thought of entering the "flying-abroad-for-greener-pastuers" scared the hell out of me when I started working at globe. Reality spoke to me, because I witnessed how my team leads went out of the country to get the opportunity that came their way. And I remember it perfectly, when, for the first time in my life, I asked myself if it is an option for me too. And this happened almost four years ago.

And now, I joined the bandwagon. I am here, at the other side of the world, across the atlantic ocean, with thousands of miles apart from the place I call home.
This is a different challenge I know, and I am looking at this as a good opportunity to grow and mature.

This is my fourth day, and so far, I am enjoying each day. Even if sometimes, I thought I am in another planet with people talking alien words! Hahahaha.

...

As the damp wind blew and touches my face,
I knew this was it.
Fleeting, but all real.
Linger,
For a while I stayed
and closed my eyes instead of looking away.
I might have summoned all the forces
and lost track of time,
wondering if all's possible to seal
yet knowing
that soon i will have to make
that first scary step away.

I just knew
when the morning came
and yes, it is time.

**Simple things**

4 minutes before lunch, I thought of the simplest things that make me smile. And, on my random thoughts, here goes...

>Morning sunshine -- it has been been really cold for the past days, and I couldn't have felt more than glad when I felt the sunshine on my face!
>Coffee sessions -- with the people I love having conversations with, of course.
> A surprise phone call
>Lip balm and lotion -- fetish, why not!
>Sound trip on Road trip -- with all of us singing (trying to sing) in the background
>Thursday nights -- weekend!
>Hot choco and puffs
>Hugs
>Gratitude
>Assurances
>little appreciations
>Choc nuts!
>wood flooring - and hearing footsteps on it
>half day at work
>friends' sharings
>my photo in someone else's page
>a person saying what's exactly on my mind
>a nice stare
>small talks
>small tokens
>a song describing exactly what I am feeling
>singing a song describing someone else's feeling
>beach road
>car watching
>day dreaming
>beautiful dreams

++Primer++

It's 2:52pm, Wednesday, and between coffee sips, my mind wanders.

It has been almost four months, since I took that big leap of faith.

To leave the comfort zone, where almost everything is predictable and manageable, was a difficult decision. Difficult, but i think, it was one of the best decisions I made in my lifetime.

It's amazing you know, to realize that some hard things could be easy afterall. As long as you have the trust, the willingness, and the faith.

I look around, and smile secretly.
Four months ago, I was this scared girl who was as if thrown out to the living hell. Scared to death, I struggled, fought, cried silently, and look each day with little steps.
Four months after, my heart flutters to see such wonderful people around. People came, some just in passing, some stayed.
This morning, I went to the office overloaded. With friends.
Every night, I count the many blessings I have received. And think of the many more I will be receiving.

The countdown begins, and in a few weeks I will be leaving.
Perhaps, life is just like that. Nothing permanent, all fleeting -- but, just enough. It gives you a certain time limit, to explore, to nurture, to savor..and when it's done, it's done. Kalas!

And so, I am going to end this melodramatic primer with few simple words.

Each day is a blessing.
Love more, give more, expect less, take away the bullshits and pay forward the goodness.