Teacher therapy

Last night I felt so special. 

My friend, Ariane, sent me this message early in the morning of September 10, 2008:  I will be waiting for you tonight. I cooked sinigang and bought a cake for you.  See you!

I did not reply to his text because I wasn’t sure whether I could go or not.  Then he resent that message to me at around 4pm.  At around 6, I arrived at his condo.  At the elevator he kept on repeating that he got a new sofa and that he got a cake for me.  But I was not paying attention to it.  When we got in, he got not only a new sofa but a new dining set as well!  Oh perhaps that was the reason why he asked me to come, so I thought.

He served me of his sinigang (so delish!) and fruits and cake and chocolates!  I felt I was so pampered.  While at the dining we exchanged lots of stories as if we haven’t seen each for centuries.  We talked just about anything and everything under the sun.  That was a real delight.

After 2 hours I went home.  While I was in the cab, I sent him a message thanking of how grateful I was for making me feel so special.  I also texted his mom, who is in Japan, telling her of how lucky she is to have such a sweet child in Ariane. 

You see Ariane’s age is just half mine but he has served as my inspiration in pursuing my dream to get a PHD degree.  He’s just 21, and he has already achieved a lot in terms of linguistics and language studies. 

Thank you, Ariane!

With Marie (Ariane’s Mom), Ariane & Edu.  Red Box, Makati. August 16, 2008.

Andy and I have been friends for nine years now.  We met when he was still single, and since then we clicked.  We shared hearty laughter, and we also shared oceans of tears. 

Now, Andy and his family lives in the middle eastern country.  They come home once a year.  And every year we also get to meet. 

I am touched by this gesture — of Andy finding time to meet us everytime he comes home — among his many friends.  His homecoming can never be without us getting together, no matter where and what. 

Andy, Sir Lamb & Tet during Andy’s housewarming. Quezon City. July 27, 2008

I have been too busy lately.  I could not find time to sit and write. What sort to be my therapy has been neglected for days.  Perhaps it is the reason why I am feeling so cranky!

So what makes me so busy?

- Ariane’s birthday preparations:  I volunteered to help my PHD classmate and friend in preparing for his 21st birthday tomorrow, August 8, 2008.  At first, I thought there were only be a few of us - his undergrad classmates and us.  But as the preparation progresses, the number of guests also increases.  Now we are preparing for 100 persons! 

Coordinating events, like birthdays, is a very fulfilling experience for me.  My inherent creative talents (which I think everyone has) are awakened; it has been slumbering for years due to my work and studies which require me to go very technical.  At least now I have the opportunity to harness the creative side of my brain. 

- Meetings, meetings, meetings.  I am not complaining of my work as a teacher, but my work as administrator kills me.  I am sick and tired of sitting in meetings that last for hours.  Just like today, I was in the meeting form 1:30pm to 5:30pm!  When I got back in my desk, I felt so darn tired.  So I got a CD and danced to release the stress away.  After that, I sat down and started writing my thougths away.  So here it is!

- Thinking about my integrative paper. It’s been a while that I haven’t touched the many articles that I need to read.  I need to read because I need to write a sensible integrative paper - a requirement for my studies before I am allowed to write my PHD dissertation. 

Yes, all these make me busy.  But I thank God that I am busy.  It only shows that I am alive, and that my existence has meaning. 

Our contrastive rhetoric class.  DLSU-Manila. March 2008