Swiss miss: Wrapping up

Three months' worth.

Thursday concluded my internship saga in the ILO Library. As I would always tell my friends here, it was all two months' worth of work and one month's worth of homesickness. I actually spent my last two days finishing up my activity report, polishing my project, having coffee with the technical specialist who helped me work on my project, and cleaning up the desk and PC which I called mine for quite a long while.

I didn't do the goodbye rounds to my colleagues, as what I originally thought of doing. I just sent a Thank You email to all of them instead. To my surprise, and for the irony of it all, I became emotional. I didn't don my temporary office with picture frames and curtains, but I somehow felt attached to it, much more, to my everyday routine at work. Subconsciously, I got used to the quietness of our office hallway, with only me (and later, another intern) playing my online radio (go Magic and RX!) to break the silence a bit. "Goodbye, desk." was what I said before turning off the lights and leaving the office for the last time.

Who I was for 3 months.

I will be back on Monday though, the day before I fly back home. I need to give back the library key (which opens all doors in the library) to the secretariat and then turn over my Swiss legitimation card to the HR. The secretary said I can keep the ILO badge as a souvenir. I never liked my mugshot in that badge, but I am keeping it just the same. Who knows, I might need it again in the future ;)

This was my first international work experience and I never felt more accomplished professionally, even though it was just a limited engagement. Truthfully, the last three months has beaten my eleven years of library experience back home. This was no doubt a professional eye-opener for me. It was the best...so far.

I am very grateful to God for this blessing which at one point, I thought of not claiming. NO REGRETS. It was all worth the claim.

Swiss miss: "Keep in touch."

I still have ten days to go here in Geneva, and four days left for my internship. October 31st is supposedly my official last day at work though, but as I still have a four-day leave more to my name (I have 2.5 days per month and earned all 7.5 total for 3 months), I took advantage of taking one off, that being on the 31st. I figured that this is the best time for me to go around the office district, have lunch with my former grade school classmate who now works at WHO, and then head to the ISO to buy that ISO document Ate Verna asked me to get for the Educ library (to be reimbursed, of course. Mahal e! Hehehe).

For this, the ILO Library threw out an early farewell drinks for me last night. From time to time, the library people hold occasional TGIF drinks, but since I won't be there anymore on Friday next week, and my supervisor will be away that entire week as well, they decided to do it one Friday in advance. This led some colleagues to believe that yesterday was my last day. In fact, three of them knocked on my door to bid me their goodbyes, give their congratulations and expressed their best wishes -- a gesture which I deeply appreciated. It was indeed a shame to say three times that no, I will still be going to work until Thursday. Good thing it just made them all smile! Hehehe. So on Thursday, I'm thinking of doing the office rounds myself :)

We were a relatively small group last night (most colleagues were on a holiday), but it was a wonderful, simple party. As usual, I had to make myself drink wine. I get really upset stomach whenever I take in liquor, but well, I risked it. It was a cocktail party and we had about eight bottles of wine on the table! I had one shot each of two different types of wine and man, by the time they started exchanging chit-chats in French, my head was floating and my tummy was churning embarrassingly.

Mid-way through the party, my supervisor gave an informal speech. She commended me for my work and after that, everyone raised their party cups for a toast. They gave me a going-away gift: a set of ILO souvenirs, which I really liked. One was a set of blank any day cards. "That's for you to keep in touch", they told me. "Expect to get the same cards from me, with my greetings, of course. Each of you will get one!", I said to them. We all laughed!

As the wine got the better of me, I needed to excuse myself sooner. I waved goodbye to everyone and before I left the room, my supervisor -- who I won't probably get to see anymore but hopefully do the day before I fly back home -- stressed, "Keep in touch, Christine." Words like those coming from a straight-forward Russian woman, who seldom gets personal, is something else to me. I firmly replied, "Yes, I will." And yes, I really will.

Swiss miss: My just reward

I finally made a demo of my almost three-month old internship project before my colleagues in the ILO Library this morning. That was like the climax of it all, much like a thesis defense presentation in graduate school. I'm happy that it turned out really well. I'm just waiting for some documents to be digitized, have the website translated into French and Spanish (I mentioned before that the ILO is trilingual), and then make the three sites public before I come back home. I even surprised myself when I said to them, "My goal is to see all of these up and running within two weeks. I'm here until October 31st, so I still have time." It wasn't really necessary for me to say the last sentence, but well, out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.

Everything else went slow-motioned after this morning. I congratulated myself with a cold Coke in can at lunch, and a pack of Maltesers!

Yey to me!

Swiss miss: Fast-forward

My ticker is now counting down in days!




And remember my not so favorite part of the apartment?
Here's the view from the balcony this morning (while I was hanging my clothes to drip):

Snow-capped mountains!

Swiss miss: Parlez-vous Français?

Knowing all the costs that I will literally and figuratively face, I finally decided to go to Geneva and push through with this internship early this year. Although the process of getting here wasn't at all a piece of cake -- involving money, connections and of course, tons of faith, my husband and I just knew that I had to grab hold of this opportunity. And so I came here with my huge trolley and camping backpack, armed with my thin stack of survival French basics: "Bonjour!", "Au revoir!", "Merci beau coup!", "Bon appetit!", "Excuse-moi", "S'il vous plait" and "Pardon". With these phrases plus my skill at charades, I knew I will have no problems getting around the city. Besides, I have good command of one official UN language (English, of course), so that will do. Not learning French won't really hurt.

But just now I realized, it does sometimes. And whenever any UN human resource office would say, "Knowledge of spoken and written French is an advantage", believe me, they mean well.

Yesterday morning, I took over the reference desk to relieve my colleague for his coffee break. I have been given Reading Room duty since August, and although I'm up for the challenge, being seated there isn't quite exactly my favorite thing. To me, reference duty is a struggle and the reading room is my battlefield. Yesterday wasn't any different. It was the last day of the World Microfinance Forum here, and since their venue is right next to the library, many bankers in black suits came in and out of the reading room during their session breaks. Some were just checking out the library, a handful lounged by the sofas, while others meant serious business.

One lady found me at the reference desk and sensing the earnestness in her, I believed she needed help with something in the collection. After the customary exchange of bonjours, she launched on to me in French. I smiled and interrupted her, apologizing that I don't speak nor understand French. The eagerness in her face slowly faded away. She really needed something, I knew so well. Using contextual clues, I somehow managed to decipher her next question: when will my French-speaking colleague be back on the desk? At that point, my knack for charades automatically kicked in. I pointed at my wristwatch and counted up to twelve using my fingers, telling her that my colleague will be back by 12 noon. She nodded, said "Merci beau coup (thank you very much)", and then went ahead. I figured she was good at charades. At the same time, I also felt insecure.

That was not the first time I assisted a pure Francophone, though. But that was the first time I felt so limited. I would've helped the lady find what she's looking for, but because of my inability to speak the language, I couldn't do anything more. It's frustrating and sometimes embarrassing. I sat twice on our staff meetings and I wasn't able to say and contribute much because when my colleagues get carried away, they speak French all throughout. I would have to drag myself whenever my colleagues throw out occasional TGIFs (cocktails) in the library, for the simple reason that I couldn't socialize in French and it really feels terribly awkward. Don't get me wrong, my colleagues are friendly and sensitive, and I must say I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with them. But just like me back home, they will converse in their mother tongue, of course.

I had the chance to express this to one of my colleagues, who is an English speaker. He's taking up French lessons thrice a week at the ILO, so he is conversant in French. He told me he can relate. He does charades too! But with Spanish-speaking clients. We both laughed at our ridiculousness.

I'm not alone in the boat after all :)

Swiss miss: Bonjour, October!

Since I had the longest two months ever, October seemed so far away once upon a time. But now, my sweet October has come!

To those of you who knew about my homesickness saga, you will understand perfectly well why this month is so important to me. My twelve Mondays are now down to just five. While I despised my airport bus stops for the longest time, I now gaze at it with so much anticipation and excitement (mind you, I already memorized where my airline check-in counter is located!). I am now half-stressed about going around to check the sights and sounds of Geneva and visiting its neighboring cities, as I only have five weekends left. Things suddenly started whirling at top speed, which made me feel like I have tons of catching up to do!

I remember saying something about leaves turning yellow and heaters coming on -- that these will tell me that I'm going to go home soon. Well, it's all happening...

View from the ILO building's 5th floor window

And look at my ticker...




I AM SO COMING HOME!!!

Swiss miss: Fall is coming

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/

I've been constantly in check of the weather since mid-August (if my faulty memory serves me right), mainly, for rain. I'm not an umbrella person, so I'm always on the look out when I should bring an -- or in my earlier days, kidnap my flatmates' -- umbrella. Interestingly, weather forecast here is something you can depend on 99% of the time. Upon learning that, I would always see to it that I print the forecasts at the beginning and end of the week, and prop it up (that, plus the bus time tables) on my study desk at home. It's not an obssessive-compulsive thing. I just need to keep myself in check all the time (e, OC nga).

Since I've been accustomed to this (ay, OC nga talaga), I noticed some changes these past days. Sunrise and sunset have been extended and shortened to 30 minutes respectively. I thought it only gets cold after a downpour, but judging from this week's 5-day forecast, I'm now thinking twice. Could it be that autumn is really coming on in full swing?

I was bragging to my husband that I now have rosy cheeks (naks!) because of the cool breeze. This morning however, when I felt the cold, damp air on my face (while steam escapes from my nose and mouth as I breathe) on my way to work, I got worried. I can feel my face and lips going dry and am feeling a little itchy again because of the cold climate. I guess it's time to bathe on body lotion twice over and then wear my second skin.

Oh, wait. If autumn indeed has come, I only have a few weeks left to stay here then :)

Swiss miss: Rainy days

Our workweek was shortened to three days this week. The city observed Jeune Genevois (Genevan fast) last Thursday, but the ILO decided to close office until Friday, therefore, a four-day holiday. I've been dreading this long holiday since last month for the simple reason that I have no idea where to go with who. I'm not sure if I will thank the weather for completing the picture for me. Rain started pouring down since the start of the holiday, today being day 3. It seems that I'm holing up indoors after all. I did manage to go out yesterday afternoon and strolled along the old town before heavy rains started hammering down again. I won't risk doing that today, though. It's minimum 10 degrees low outside. I got up late this morning, thinking that it's still dawn, when it's already past 10. That's how dark it was (and still is) outside.

Since I've known this dreadful holiday for weeks, I somehow anticipated everything. I stacked up for the rainy days, so to speak, not even knowing that rain is going to come down. I have more food than usual . And now that I'm stoned in my room, I am again full of random thoughts.

I was reading the news over Inquirer.net earlier on. The article about the anomalous C-5 project made me sigh. Then I listened to the episodic noise of cars passing the avenue nearby. "Circus pa rin sa atin (We are still in circus)", was what came out of my mouth. Many people are still greedy. Whenever I see the very efficient transportation system, the electronic police monitoring the roads, and the disciplined motorists here, I can't help but feel the pangs of cruel treatment, especially of people in power, back home. My collection of ifs is slowly piling up. "Kung ganito lang sana sa Pilipinas (If only the Philippines is like this)...". "Siguro kung sa Pilipinas 'to nangyari, malamang (If this happened in the Philippines, maybe)..." . I can only pray and pray hard for my country.

On a totally different subject, I remember asking a friend here if she has ever seen Swiss miss or St. Ives apricot scrub in grocery stores and pharmacies here. I thought these are supposedly Swiss made and for the longest time, I've never caught sight of these in stores. She said neither did she. I told her, maybe these are US made. Today I learned that indeed, they are. They're just Swiss-inspired. Swiss miss (ConAgra Foods) for the Swiss chocolates and St. Ives for the Swiss formula. European shops do not usually patronize stateside products.

So given that, should I change my Swiss miss blog entries to Swiss-inspired? I think I better not. I'm too lazy to edit

Swiss miss: Immunity

I'm now immune to:

1. Geneva's airport. I mentioned a couple of times before that I live near the airport. I never wanted to stay in our apartment balcony because I see planes flying off every five minutes from there. But because I go here everyday to take the next bus to work, and this being the only place where shops are open on Sundays, I really have no choice but BE in the airport. I just can not avoid this place. There were moments when I cry silent as I stand waiting for the bus to come. But now, not anymore. I even sent my friend off twice up to the pre-departure area when she left Geneva. No more tears.


2. QWERTZ, the Swiss-German kezboard. It has the Y and Z interchanged, plus umlauts (i.e., ü, ä), and some punctuations put in other places different from the English keyboard. Surprisingly, it is quite easy to navigate, as it is closer to the latter. In fact, I didn't bother requesting our Library's IT person to change my keyboard at work. Although I'm not so sure if I will have a hard time reverting back to QWERTY when I come home. That remains to be seen


3. Dead weekends. I dread weekends here. For some reason, everything stands still, especially on Sundays. For this, I thank my routines. They keep me busy during these days.


4. Peaceful bus rides. Everyday is the same: buses are punctual and drivers are respectful to passengers and pedestrians. I sometimes find it boring. No pounding stereos (in an afterthought, nami-miss ko na!) The next best thing to loudspeakers is the computerized voice announcing "prochain arret (next stop)...", prompting passengers get ready to hop off the bus if it is their stop.
   
   I have been secretly wishing to see a commotion to happen in the bus, just to distract the blissful monotony going around. And then one day, I got my wish. On my way to work one morning, the bus driver hit the brakes hard. He slid open his window and yelled at a private car. I didn't understand what he was saying, but judging from his gestures (parang charades, hahaha!), it seemed that the car swerved by the bus lane, something that private cars are prohibited from doing (buses strictly follow their dedicated lanes, keeping them prompt to arrive on all stops on schedule). As this excited me more than scared it me, I quickly turned around (I was seated up front) to check on my co-passengers' mixed reactions. "Uy, bago 'to!" I said to myself. Some were upset, probably because they can't afford a minute more of delay. But most were puzzled as if to say, "This can't happen. This is a peaceful bus."


5. Bag-your-own grocery. Unlike in the Philippines where there is a person being paid to sort out and bag your groceries while you pay, in Europe, it is no else' job but yours. The cashier is just the cashier. I usually panic when the cashier punches all my goods and when s/he's done, I haven't even teased my plastic bag open yet (at least here in Geneva, plastic bags are provided for free, but you will have to pay extra if you wish to get the reusable bags). I feel like I'm always in a race! But by virtue of constant practice and logical thinking (dairies go together, toiletries and dry goods on separate bags...), I have now mastered the skill. Hehehe.


6. My cooking. Wahaha! I don't really cook. But because I can't always afford to dine out (again for the record, everything here is expensive), I am compelled to cook and eat whatever it looks and tastes like. I just psyche myself that everything I cook is gourmet, so I would always end up with a clean plate. In effect, I eat a lot. I'm scared to go hungry. Hehehe.

Swiss miss: Ultimate survivor

L-R: Scott, Mario, Kani and me

Last Monday and Tuesday, I had the chance to visit the WTO and the UN libraries, along with my co-interns here at the ILO library. I missed the WHO library visit, when in fact, WHO is the ILO's nearest neighbor (just across the street!). I had reference/reading room duty that morning that's why I wasn't able to join them.

Side story: All UN members (diplomats, employees, interns, etc.) carry their offices' badges, which is also an ID. The coolest thing about owning a badge (in my case, the ILO's) is that one can enter all UN offices in Geneva without going through the hassles of inspection. Just flash the badge before the security people, you get a nod and then you can go right in. Some of my colleagues even have lunch in other UN buildings' cafeterias.

Going back, the library visits were arranged by one of my co-intern's (Kani's) supervisor, as Kani's internship ends this week. I never had the chance to bond with my co-interns here, until this Monday, probably because my program/training is different from theirs. I'm the only intern who's done with school and has been practicing librarianship for ages, while they are working on an internship project which is probably thesis-/school-related. My office space is isolated from them, and I am treated as one of the regular staff. When I enter my "bat cave", I will never know what goes on outside.

I was too excited to finally get to spend time with my co-interns, only to find out that they are all leaving this month and I will be the only one left behind! Scott (USA) is leaving in 3 weeks, Mario (Spain) leaves tomorrow, Kani (Thailand) leaves this week, and Etienne (Switzerland, not in the photo) in two weeks time. I, on the other hand, still have October.

It's a shame that I didn't have the chance to get to know them, nor have lunch or coffee with them, after one month of being here *sighs*. Maybe a new set of interns will come next month. By then, I will only have weeks, but I will make sure that I build new friendships.

Swiss miss: Translation gone bad

This is the sign posted on all female restrooms at the ILO:

A classic example of a language translated literally into another. I remember what my supervisor (UP Lib) once told me when she consulted a linguist to translate an English document to Filipino. The linguist told her that when one does translation, the document should bear the same thought and meaning when it is translated back to its original language. Obviously, the example above does not qualify.

Some people tried to correct the errors in other restrooms, though. But as evidenced by this one, perhaps the "Your cleaning team" hasn't seen it yet. Or more likely, they've had too many signs posted up already and it will be a lot of work (and this is the ILO, -- where decent work is the advocacy) to just take them all down.

I can only guess.

Swiss miss: 32 days and counting

My 2nd abonnement. I'm done with month 1! I liiiiiiiive!!!

And then I never thought I would even survive!

What a roller coaster of a month it has been for me. When I first entered my apartment room in July, I was totally disoriented. I didn't know what to do next. Unpack? Sleep? Eat? I ended up curling in bed, still wearing that airplane smell, crying while cuddling Mumuy. The silence of my room was deafening. After all the sulking and drama, I later decided to unpack, take a bath and then wait for my flatmate to take me to the nearest mall (not as big as what we have in the Philippines, of course) to go get my abonnement (transport ticket renewable every month) and buy some food. I remember how flabbergasted I was the first time I saw the soaring prices of goods. I don't even remember buying a box of rice (at the International Foods section). Maybe I did get one, I'm not so sure.

The following day, my grumbling stomach woke me up at 3am -- 9am Philippine time. I got up and ate my very early breakfast at 3am! I went back to bed afterwards but got up again at 6am -- 12nn Philippine time. I had lunch at 6am.

As I've finished breakfast and lunch at 6am, I had nothing else to do. I wanted to explore the city since owning my abonnement. With my flatmates still drowsing in bed, I got dressed and readied myself to go out. Then the unthinkable happened: I couldn't open the main door. There was some sort of a trick with the key which I couldn't figure out. Fifteen minutes or so later, I managed to open it and then spent another fifteen minutes to lock it back but I couldn't do it. So I left and whistled away, leaving the door open to predators...Another hurdle was the main door of the apartment building. Again I tried but I couldn't get it open! I ended up hitting number 3 in the elevator, and then I'm back to where I started. My flatmates later taught me the twisting stuff with the key but couldn't believe I was that stupid not to get the building's main door open.

That was a month ago. Now I'm cherishing my second abonnement, staring lovingly at 29.09.2008. Soon it will be 29.10.2008 and then that will be the last. No more one month renewal because I will then be heading back home!

I'm still jetlagged, by the way. Not with sleep, though (I fell down twice from my bed on my first week subconsciously thinking it was our wide bed back home) but with my eating schedule. On weekends, I still get up at 6am, no matter how sleepy I am, just to have "lunch".

Swiss miss: Going Swiss

I was in the supermarket yesterday meaning to buy a can opener, but ended up getting more:



I've always wanted to own a genuine Swiss army knife, but back home it's heavy in the pocket. I'd rather get a pair of blouse and a cheap pair of flat shoes instead of this multi-tool, for the same price. At least here, I can pretend that it's just twenty pesos.

There's more tool with the cork screw, but my nails are chipping off from taking them all off, plus I'm scared to get myself unwanted cuts. So much for bragging. Hehehe.

Swiss miss: Linking Mexico to Geneva

My husband has gone back home from Mexico for more than a week now. As there were very few fellow participants from the Philippines in that conference, he instantly made new friends with people from DOLE, DFA and other UN agencies. One of them was Peach. Vincent was so happy to have found a fellow UP alumni in the crowd! Peach was about his age, and so they clicked. In one of their conversations, he mentioned that I'm here in Geneva and will be here for the next two months. Peach works at the UN headquarters here and said that she'll be travelling back to Geneva right after the conference. Knowing how much I'm sore from homesickness, my husband was so excited at the thought that Peach and I could actually set up a time and meet while I'm here. Incidentally, Peach was once an intern at the ILO herself and her mother is friends with my landlord's mom. Things are beginning to fall into place, I should say.

Vincent mentioned Peach to me just once while he was in transit on his way back home. I never knew her contact details and my husband only knew her email address, which he often forgets handing out to me. I really had no way of getting hold of her. In short, I put aside the idea of meeting her personally.

To Vincent's right is Peach.

On a rainy Wednesday afternoon rush hour, my friend LK and I were standing near the door inside a jam packed bus, as we were headed downtown. An Asian girl hopped on the bus the next stop after the ILO's, and the moment she jumped in, she immediately recognized LK and joined in our Tagalog conversation. LK introduced me to her using my nickname (Teng). Somehow, she was able to make the connection because when we shook hands, she said, "Teng...Christine? Wife ni Vincent?" It was Peach. Grabe, I wanted to hug her at that moment! I thought to myself that this was the same Peach my husband exchanged stories with halfway across the globe. And now she's here with me -- on the bus! But I restrained myself from doing so kasi baka matumba ako. Hahaha! But I was so excited to have finally met her.

Her place is just two stops away from where she alighted, and since we were all standing in a moving bus, I just asked her to type in my cell phone her email address. We've been in touch through email since then.

Such a small, small world.

Swiss miss: Geneva, PHILIPPINES

Once again, I am congratulating myself for surviving yet another workweek, and another week crossed out of my waiting calendar! Yey! Vincent and I are also celebrating our eight months together today as a married couple. Although miles and miles apart, still we hug!

Weather here has been unfriendly these past days and I'm quite sure it will be in the days to come. When it rains, it means cold temperature the day after. I would print out weather forecasts weekly just to tell me when to and when not to bring an umbrella (By the way, I don't own one. I nick my housemate’s. Hehehe). I feel that summer is about to end, though. I would always check on the leaves of the trees outside of my room window and see if they're turning yellow everyday. 'Pag nagdilaw na sila, ang tuwa 'ko lang. It will mean that autumn is just around the corner, therefore I have survived one month in this costly city. And when the heaters are fired up on all floors of the apartment building, it will tell me that it's October and just a few weeks more of waiting, I'll be finally coming home.

This week was rather exciting. I was able to find the only Filipino merchandise store in Geneva. When you enter the store, you are suddenly transported back to Manila. Maingay sa loob as fellow Pinoys exchange chit-chats, even if they are strangers to each other. They also offer money transfer service to the Philippines, so most Pinoys go there to send money back home. They also have a huge TV overhead where they show TFC programs. I was there for two straight days to accompany a friend (she's actually the one who took me there), and while waiting for her, I was watching Iisa Pa Lamang. Hehehe.

Since it has no competitors, ginto lahat ng presyo sa tindahang ito. But I didn't care. Thanks to this store, I had tuyo for breakfast this morning, I would have a teaspoonful of bagoong on my plate everytime I have dinner, I will have gata for my vegetables and will cook ginisang munggo this weekend! Haaay, ang sarap.

Oh, and the UP Singing Ambassadors will have their concert here on September 8th. I once sat down for lunch with a fellow UP alumna (who's a regular ILO employee) in the cafeteria this week. Pareho kaming nagbabaon ng lunch.

He said he misses UP. I told him, "Lalo na 'ko".

Swiss miss: Ting-ay gone missing

I didn't get a decent sleep last night because I was subconsciously keeping track of my husband as he travels back to the Philippines. We were in a minus 7-hour timezone difference from where I am right now so when I am about to sleep, his day was just about to start. It's good that he's now back home surrendering to jetlag. As soon as he's gotten enough rest, we can at least catch up.

As his London-HK flight was delayed, he had to literally dash to his boarding gate as soon as he touched down in HK in order to make it to the boarding gate of his Manila-bound plane. He did make it to his seat, but later noticed that his carry-on bag was gaping open and realized that he was missing something. In the haste and panic, he dropped Ting-ay along the way!

Ting-ay is our little stuffed pup cuddler (read about him HERE). He's been with us for four years and losing him is truly heartbreaking. Vincent took Ting-ay along with him to Mexico while I took Mumuy, our cowlette cuddler, with me. Read the latest about them HERE.

So saaaad.

Swiss miss: It's Frrrriiiidaaaayyy!!!

As the common expression here goes...Voila! I have Friday Madness on my computer. It's good to feel like I'm home. If it weren't for Magic, I wouldn't even realize that today is 080808, the opening of the Beijing Olympics, and lots of weddings taking place (good feng sui they say). Right now, it's almost 11PM in the Philippines while it's nearly 5PM here.

I go to work eight to five, but because I had an extended lunch break (I got together with new Pinay friends to send off another Pinay as her internship ends today), I should leave at around thirty-forty minutes past five. People respect the honor system so much here, at work and on public transport. Coming from an office where a bundy clock is god, this is something else. No one watches me from behind. I owe it all to the bundy clock training, though. My feet lead me to my office when I should be working.

Going back to the subject, I never really looked forward to weekends when I'm out of the country. In fact, I DREAD weekends here. It only means I need to work up a plan for me to get out of the apartment and let the days pass. Maybe ride several buses the whole day around town and walk back home, if only to kill time. But this weekend is not a problem for me. It's the culmination of Fetes de Genève (Geneva Festival). Lots of happenings going on around the edge of Lake Geneva. They say the fireworks are spectacular. I'll be going with my new Pinay friend I met here at the ILO.

I have a strong feeling that I'm going to be excited every Friday beginning today. It means I've survived five days equals one week scrapped off my waiting calendar. I also have a feeling that a wonderful surprise is in store for me in the weeks to come. I'm keeping the expectation :)

Happy weekend, people!

Swiss miss: Surviving Geneva

I'm alive! After almost 20 hours of long haul, I'm here. Today is my fourth day in expensive Geneva (and I mean really expensive) and my first day at work at the ILO Library. But obviously no, I am not working. How's that for my first day? 'Wag tularan.

I actually went here yesterday just to be sure I won't get lost in my way on my first day and then get the feel of the place. Almost everybody here wears coat and tie, despite the scorching heat outside. Yes, summer is in its peak but because I came here overly prepared for the cold weather, I am to wear my turtle necks to work everyday beginning today. But right now, it's raining outside and as it is the classic me, I have no umbrella. There's a storm coming, I was told. Seems that I brought Cosme and Frank with me to Switzerland ('di tulad ninyo ni SA, Emang!).

Today is Swiss National Holiday. All offices and establishments are closed, EXCEPT for the dakilang International Labour Organization, although most people here in the Library, even my supervisor, are on a holiday. My supervisor left me with some readings, though. My other focal person gave me a tour of the Library and introduced me to some 15+ staff members but because of my faulty memory, I can only recall 4 names with the correct faces. I was shown into MY office, complete with PC, printer, phone, and soon, a name in MY door. Now that is overwhelming. But what overwhelms me more is the bulk of work laid for me. REALLY. I was told that by my mid-term, I will be a part of the team to revise the ILO Library's indexing and thesaurus guidelines. Whoah! I was blown away! Makes me not want to go back next week. Hehehe.

How am I doing really? The work, I can handle. But the loneliness whenever I enter my apartment room is unbearable. Add to that is the agony of seeing the airport everyday (as that is my bus stop to ride another bus to the ILO), giving me the feeling that I am sending off people back home while I stay behind, EVERY SINGLE DAY. I live just four short bus stops from the airport and I can see planes flying off every five minutes from our balcony (see photo). The balcony is my least favorite part of the apartment.

I want to go home.

Leaving in a few hours...

After torturing the bathroom scale just for my luggage to make it to the 20kg-limit, I'm finally set to go. I've no idea as to when will I be able to post another entry, but for sure that will be soon.

All my shoes are in the bag, my tickets and papers are in. Yes, I'm ready to go. All set for the long haul.

See you in Geneva :)

Twelve Mondays

By this time next week, I would probably be unpacking my stuffs in an apartment room alien to me (My apologies to those who thought I've already left because of my apparently 'misleading' blog entry I published previously. Panaginip lang po 'yon. Hehehe.). While I'm on to that, my husband would be in flight (probably somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean) to Mexico City.

The wallowing is coming on to me again. Truth is, I will miss my Vincent. Call me cheesy, I don't care. As we were sorting out our stuffs yesterday, I was chanting, "It's just going to be three months. Time flies like a speeding twister..." over and over again. And then Vincent said, "It's just going to be twelve Mondays. One down next week, tapos eleven na lang!"

From now on, I'm going to count in twelve Mondays. The feeling has changed from melancholy to excitement! And so is this ticker. That's me chasing the plane!

Cause and effects

I just got to the apartment in Geneva and was starting to unpack my things. I had one small and one large luggage. The small one was stuffed with my clothes all in. When I opened the large one, expecting to see a lot more, I had the scare of a lifetime because what were in there were just a pair of sneakers and a whole bunch of plastic bags!

"Nasa'n na yung (where are my) passport, tickets at papeles 'ko?"
"Where are my office shoes?! I can't come to work on my sneakers!"

I was having rounds and rounds of panic attacks. I kept retracing my steps, cracking my head. Where have all the papers and the shoes gone?

"I can't have possibly reached this place without my passport and tickets, can I?"
"I've got to tell Vincent to send me the shoes."



Cause:
The trip three weeks (counting it in days makes it look darn too soon, so I'm not doing that) from now.

Effects:
1. Separation anxiety.
2. Travel stress.

Manifestation:
Travel nightmares.

The one above-retold was the latest I've had about two nights ago, aside from the two I related in my last post. The dream was like a continuing effect of the last activity I did that day i.e., shopping for weather-friendly clothes. I wasn't able to get everything in the bag, specifically, a pair of shoes for the office and a pair of new sneakers for any day strolls.


I've got to get those shoes. I can't afford one more shoe nightmare.

I want my own clock

Truth is, I'm starting to get emotional little by little everyday. Whenever I look at the calendar lately, nostalgia wades in every time. If only I can have my own clock.

There is no doubt that my husband and I are totally excited about all the amazing things that's been coming along our way, most of which are products of incredible leaps of faith. Personally, I am grateful for everything. I am humbled by God's goodness. I just didn't realize soon enough that with every blessing that I receive, I have to prepare myself to take it and rake it all.

I'm beginning to have nightmarish dreams about going away. Weeks ago, I had this silly dream of not being able to exit the airport because my visa was torn apart in two, and I had to reattach it to my passport. And then two nights ago, I dreamt of not catching my plane for the oddest reason: I forgot to pack my bags...Maybe it's the stress. Though frankly, I don't think that that's just it.

I am not an amateur with long absences. This is not the first time that I'll be away from my loved ones. I know I shouldn't be wallowing this much. It's not like I'll be away forever. But it's an entirely different story this time. It's not easy.

As I am writing this, I would from time to time take a peep at my husband who is now fast asleep.

I will miss watching him in his sleep.

The return of the OCD checklist

I'm going through another OCD moment here. Anyone who knows Bree van de Kamp (now Hodge, since remarrying) of Desperate Housewives knows what I'm talking about.

As I'm leaving next month for yet another stretch of European immersion, the stress of travel preps is slowly creeping in. Unlike my husband who flies almost every year both out of and around the country, I am not a frequent flyer. Prior to last year, the last time I boarded a plane was in 2004 -- my first time to go abroad. This will be my second time to go out of the country and visit the continent and my experience four years ago is definitely an advantage. I'm extra mindful of the culture and environment, the climate especially, and the clothes that will go along with it.

Yes, I am not into luggages. Anything that involves packing bags to me is a horrible nightmare. So what I did four years ago was to list down all my travel essentials in a handy notebook, which I started doing about a month before my trip. I noted down all personal effects that came into my mind practically everyday until I've had it all in the bag! I was scared of some things that I might forget. As early as three months before the trip, I already purchased a huge luggage. That's how obsessive-compulsive I was.

And now, I'm at it again. I remember that small notebook very well and I know I stowed it away somewhere. Vincent tells me to just forget about it and make another checklist, but I stubbornly insisted on sticking to it because I know I can never come up with another one like it. And so for days, I have been turning stuffs upside down around the house. I even went back to my cousins' house one day and burrowed my head down on all my stuffs that I have yet to move out from there, but the quest was in vain.

I haven't given up on it, though. This morning, I saw one storage box that I haven't checked out yet. I had a strong feeling that it could be in there. And eureka! My husband's head was shaking left and right while I was taking pictures of my precious notebook, page by page. Hahaha!

TOILETRIES --

CLOTHES --
"Why do you need to bring three pairs of pajamas?! One is enough!" My Chilean friend gushed when he saw this on the list.

PERSONAL EFFECTS --
Tabo (dipper) is a must bring must have!

"Have you seen Europe in the map?!" (as brownouts are taboo in developed countries), again asked by my bewildered Chilean friend.
"That's my security blanket," I told him.




SALVAGE GOODS --
At least I had something stacked away to eat before seeing the supermarkets there.




MEDICINES --
One thing I learned is that these things are expensive in their local pharmacies.




ACCESSORIES --
I didn't have a digital camera back then.




TRAVEL DOCUMENTS --
I brought lots and lots of ID pictures and photocopies of original documents, and I sure didn't regret bringing them along.




SCHOOL AND LEISURE STUFFS --



Denise and Vincent actually did the packing for me at that time. This one was Denise' handwriting (lola, naalala mo pa ba 'to?). She listed down all that should be stuffed in both the large and small luggages.

I can sleep well now. I have THE notebook! Weeeeee!!! :-)

A junket

I'm into ILO readings these days. I'm doing this as part of my internship preps. On top of "virtually" familiarizing myself with my would-be workplace (at least for a couple of months), I have to read about some related literature: the Treaty of Versailles, the United Nations, labor rights and standards. As I'm not a newspaper and world history person, this is really challenging for me. I have to motivate myself to at least have a spark of interest about these things. It's a good thing that my husband is into these. He explains them like he's just teaching me how to cook scrambled eggs.

The International Labour Conference (ILC) is currently happening at the ILO, and of course, I'm keeping track of it as part of my "review". The ILC is an annual worldwide gathering of member states to craft and implement international labor standards. Each member state must send a delegation from the government (2 representatives), the employer sector, the worker sector, and then the advisers. I was curious as to who are the people sent there to represent the Philippines. Well, I wouldn't be surprised if our country will send a rather big party to sit up there, I know, but then again, the number astounded me! Thirty seven delegates! Personally, it was a government junket to me. Sa dami nilang 'yon, sana lang may ma-contribute silang kapaki-pakinabang sa labor and employment ng bansa natin.

I think my readings are working. I'm starting to get involved now.

Second thoughts

I've been busy assembling my travel papers lately (and sucking up to all the red tape that went with it, yes). I'm almost done with it, though. I just need to pick up my visa from the Embassy, and then the rest is just pretty much luggage work -- for which I have sufficient time. And because Switzerland will not issue Schengen visas until November 1st, I'm going to apply for one from the French embassy soon. Trivia: the French/Swiss border is just a stone's throw away from the international orgs headquarters in Geneva.

As some of you know, I'm bound for Geneva in late July for an internship, although I haven't been talking much about it. Maybe later I will. In fact, I may even populate this blog with entries on that when I get there. But for now, let's just leave it at that.

Although lately, I've been having second thoughts about leaving.

Screwball, ano? After all the harrowing MRT rides, after completing all the papers, even after purchasing the tickets, nagdadalawang isip pa.

Really, I'm a fan

NKOTB performing on the TODAY Show.

Convinced yet?! I can't get enough of them now ;-)

House arrest

I've been under "house arrest" for being sick for almost a week now. Six days straight to be exact. I'm a walking and croaky talking viral infection. Name it: flu, colds, telenovela-ish coughs (my husband says my coughing sounds like that of a melodrama queen heard over AM radio during siesta)...and just as I'm over with my on-off fever, then comes sore eyes! Ano ba.

The red in my eyes is almost gone, though, but I still need to confine myself at home for one more day. My worry was my husband catching all these nasty contagion after me. And so he had to change his bed linens, camp on sleeping bag (wawa naman) and disinfect himself from everything I use (phone, TV remote, et al). All that did not seem to work. After we woke up this morning, he was coughing badly. We both went to see the doctor a few hours ago. We had separate prescriptions, but with one medication. He's now down in bed with fever while I'm here barking to blog.

It's my turn to be the doctor. I'm done being the patient.

Musing randomly

On MRT: Why can't it be logistically efficient when this can be done with sound planning?

On boyfriend-girlfriend exchanging SIM cards: WHY??!!! What for?! I neither find it cute nor sweet. It's annoying.

On blue lady guards: Their incredible patience over impatient, non-abiding customers always amazes me. I wish I have the same.

On gadgets I know I will never own for practical, economic and sensible reasons: But then again, I get to hold them without really acquiring. Talk about perks of being a UP librarian surrounded with kids not knowing the full potential of their educational "toys". Hah!

On pretty girls: How come they still look pretty when they're all sweaty and dirty? It's unfair.

On honor students: Getting a medal for academic excellence doesn't mean one is brilliant. It doesn't always follow, I figured out lately.

Not so perfect timing

I was busy vacuuming our really soiled floor Sunday last week, when Vincent drew my attention over to one short article in the morning newspaper. It says, Switzerland joins Schengen visa protocol.

Too eager to know the details, I snatched the paper from him -- while he just sat there grinning sheepishly, I wondered why so. But after reading the first line that goes: "Starting on November 1, 2008, Switzerland will apply Schengen rules in the issuance of visas...” my enthusiasm died away as quickly as it soared seconds before. Starting November 1 pa. Great. Just great.

For the longest time, Switzerland isolated itself from the rest of the EU member states (literally and principle-wise -- see map HERE), but has integrated some cooperative policies (primarily, trade) to maintain its ties with them. But with this new development in the Schengen agreement, Switzerland can now issue Schengen visa to enable one to move freely across borders into other Schengen-member countries. One doesn't need to secure two separate visas (Swiss and Schengen) anymore.

As if to add insult to injury (although of course I knew for a fact that it was not intended that way), the article stressed on: "But visas issued before November 1, 2008, will be valid only for entry into Switzerland.", in case a few concerned readers still didn't get the point. Fine! I get it alright.

I just wish they broadcasted this bitter-sweet news much later, say, in September, if only to cushion the blow a bit.

Lost for words

I guess this will be my best friend from now on 'til before this year ends, unless I take French lessons this summer, which I am seriously considering. Or else, it's doomsday for me. I just wish UP's still open for the next quarter of French crash course.

On equal footing

They say that no matter what your social status is, everyone smells equal in the toilet.

This thought was floating in my head last week while I was waiting in line at the NSO. Ingliserang sosyal ka man o pobreng matandang ale (whether you are an English-speaking lass or a poor old miss), it doesn't matter. It will never matter when you're at this government office's mercy. It felt like sweet revenge to the rich and self-important, as I watched a lady in oversized shades with hair highlights demand from the blue guard that she be served ahead of others because she's been there since morning, to which the guard nonchalantly replied, "Hintayin nyo na lang po na tawagin ang number nyo (just wait until your number is called)". This obviously pissed the porcelain skin off of her, but just like the rest of us, she had to sit down and wait. I can just imagine how much arrogance she had to swallow after making a scene in front of about a hundred of us patiently waiting for our turn.

At least for once I get to level off with everybody. Never mind the sweat and hassle.

2007 was something big; 2008 is bigger

I haven't been posting anything up here since September last year. I didn't notice that until I checked up on this today. I never failed updating another blog actually, and that gave me the impression that I am updating this one at the same time all along.

Whoa! There's a lot of catching up to do! Honestly, all I can remember is that I've been very busy during the last quarter. Save for one homecoming I had with my Dad in Iloilo last November.

Cake looks fake but it sure is real!

Since I started blogging in 2005, I usually say something about what happened to me in a nutshell at the end of every year and what I look forward to in the New Year. It's the 7th day of the brand new year and usually by this time, as in the previous new years, I've already got loads of recapping stories to tell. Yet, of all the remarkable events, I can only think of my wedding day that happened later in the year. Yep, I'M MARRIED! I'm Mrs. Christine Manglal-lan Abrigo now. It keeps on replaying in my mind ;-) Gano'n pala 'yon (that's how it is). I've been keeping quiet about it for quite sometime. I'm not really a spotlight fan; I never wanted to be the center of attention. But whether I get the attention or not, I couldn't care less now. I'M SO HAPPY!

2007 was a challenging year yet again, a trying time for my family. I guess it was even tougher than 2006. And again, I am grateful to God that we were able to overcome as a family. Where there are challenges, there is also an overflow of blessings. I look at my nephew now and realized how much he's grown (he can chase me with his tubby feet!) last year, when in 2006, I was a struggling “Tita-Yaya”. It's so 2 years ago now...I looked at the stove this morning (and oh, how I panicked cooking eggs and hotdogs for breakfast, I used up two frying pans!), gave Vincent a guilty I-messed-up-this-early-Good Morning! smile, and realized that he's my husband now. Big challenges, big changes, all the more that I am grateful realizing how blessed I am with so much.

There is definitely a lot to look forward to this new year.