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.