Swiss missing

This morning, while I was working on our mugs of hot choco for breakfast, I subconsciously told Vincent, "Sana pala nag-uwi ako ng Swiss coffee mugs...bigla 'kong na-miss ang Geneva a!", to which he replied, "Well, it's been a year."

Yes, it's been a year. This time last year, I was just counting the days until I'm finally back home. But I still very well recall that, along with the excitement of coming home was the ripping feeling that I was leaving Geneva, and was not sure if I'll ever get to see Switzerland again. I remember telling Tet and LK (always had lunch with them at work) a few days after my internship was over, that I'm going to miss Geneva after all. It was a totally out of the blue remark, a half-banter in between, and I knew I blew them away with it. Si Teng ba 'yan?! They knew how much I desperately wanted to fast-forward everything just to get home, and then there I was, having my touching moment. I, too, was surprised at myself when I expressed that.

That was so a year ago. But the Swiss links are still very much on fire! We still have choco dragees in the fridge and enjoy the fruit tea every so often (Thanks, Peachie!). Above all, the amazing memories and friendships will never be taken away from me.

Craving...

...for this:

This used to be my staple snack (besides Maltesers) during my "quiet times" at my office space at the ILO. Been bugging my husband to bring me home a box of this. Sana lang 'di malusaw agad. 

All in a day's work

The challenge of a true manager is really, to manage. To administer. To be on top of everything.

The manager's challenge is to be a manager, no matter what happens. Just as doctors are to their patients, to be objective about decision-making does not mean one is being heartless. And when decisions are made, they are justified. The heart is there.

In the end, it's just all in a day's work. And for some, going home at the end of the day is the best happy ending of all.

Not for barfing

My first encounter of an air sickness bag not used as such was when a friend gifted me with VCDs wrapped in a PAL barf bag for Christmas years ago. I thought it was "economical and resourceful". Imagine, all he needed to do was to nick a barf bag from an airplane and then turn it into a gift wrapper. Cool, diba? Wala pang gastos

However, my fixation on barf bags took off when I was on my first flight out to Geneva. And no, I wasn't thinking of converting it into a gift wrapper. I was meaning to use it for packaging my lunch kit when I start going to the ILO. I was able to take home two barf bags from Etihad (the airline I boarded). I was pleased with their sturdy bags.

Etihad's

When a friend in Geneva went to Johannesburg for a mission trip a few months ago, she not only brought home for me a barf bag. She even gave me Air France's amenity kit, as she travelled business class. Air France's barf bag isn't the durable kind, but the amenity kit is definitely a hit! I still use the purse, minus the blinders, socks, earplugs and all.

Air France's

Since then, I would always ask my husband, my friends or whoever I know will travel by plane to bring me home a barf bag. When Vincent and I went to Palawan last December, we were able to bring home four PAL barf bags. This bag is classy:

PAL's

Vincent is going to Geneva for a meeting next month. I'm curious if KLM's barf bags are tough or not. As early as now, I wouldn't quit bugging him to bring me home four of these:

KLM's

I'll think about barfing next time

Still remember Serg's?!

Chico and Delamar's top ten yesterday morning was about extinct brands or products. Vincent and I were just laughing at breakfast while recalling them. Napaghahalata ang katandaan! Hahaha! It was fun, though.


Some brands that were texted in were (from what I can randomly summon up):

Superwheel (bar detergent)
Ola -- ang pinong panlaba (that pink bar detergent)
Klim (it's milk spelled backwards. Lea Salonga was just in ponytails when she endorsed this)
Dahlia -- ang sabon ng mga artista (beauty soap)
Nano nano (that sweet, sour and salty candy)
Pritos ring (junk snack)
YC bikini briefs (sige na, kantahin n'yo na)
Mighty kid (rubber shoes)
Prell (shampoo)
Gee, your hair smells terrific (manang, pabili po ng...gee, your hair smells terrific)
Stayfree (sanitary napkins)
Tarzan and Bazooka Joe bubble gum
Benson's éclairs
Nutri bun


And then there's Serg's chocolate bar. Now this is my blast from the past! Bigla 'ko itong na-miss. In high school, I used to eat two bars (yes, two!) of Serg's after having lunch. Lunch was not lunch without it. It was something I can't live without at that time. How simple were my pleasures back then, ano?

Grateful

I thought I lost it, as I didn't have it two years ago. Maybe I was too happy to worry at that time. But the New Year jitters didn't spare me.

I usually get emotional and anxious, more often, about the incoming year. Anxious about sickness...and even deaths in the family. What will the challenges be in my life and family in the year to come? Since getting married nearly thirteen months ago, may nadagdag sa anxieties 'ko. Will I be ready for motherhood this year? Will the goals I share with my husband materialize at the end of 2009?

I knew I was too focused on the negative and I didn't like myself being that way. I was in my moping and brow-crossed state, until I heard the message at church at New Year's Eve. And then it hit me. If I was able to entrust my 2008 to God, why can't I do the same with my 2009? Instead of being apprehensive, why can't I just be grateful for 2008 and excited for 2009? I wouldn't get a year back of my age if I wallowed away my new year, would I?

2008 was a year of blessings and trials for my family, but overall, it was a good year. For starters, my husband walked with me all throughout the year, and he will be with me from that year on until we grow old! My husband and I had the best first anniversary honeymoon, I had no problems with my health, I was able to cut back my major loans, I was able to see Europe again after four years, and had the best international internship experience in Switzerland! I may have struggled big and small, but I've also had so many answered prayers to compensate all that. No room for complaints.

I am claiming 2009 as yet another awesome year for me. I can't wait to rake it all in!




P.S. I haven't blogged in anything here since November, but ever since coming back home three months ago, everything is bliss

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.