Happy New Year

I'm such a bum. I woke up this morning and the first thing on my list of things to do was watch a DVD. The Beach. Great film. Watch it! Especially if you've done any sort of exotic, soul-searching travelling before. If you haven't, maybe don't watch it, cause then it might discourage you from being adventurous, especially if you're idea of travelling is the search for utopia. "Paradise is something you can find only within yourself. It’s not some far-off idyllic place. It’s not some fantasy or the next stop on the train station. It’s where you are now – finding and experiencing things on your own that will make you happy." I'd elaborate, but I know how annoying it is to read people's blog entries when they start getting all deep.

I dont mean to be a scrooge, but this New Years isnt going to be very sentimental for me... mostly because I wasn't around for most of this year, and looking back on a year places me back in the Philippines... It's okay tho. Tomorrow, I'm leaving for the Poconos where I'll be spending New Years with my cousins and their friends. The randomness of my New Years plans fits the randomness of this past year. I'm looking forward to snowboarding and ringing in the new year in a non-traditional way, in a bare cabin with no access to TV or any form of live media that would guide us through the countdown.

To all of you reading this, Happy New Years to you and your families. It feels good to be back home. Here's to friendships that can endure distance... See you in 2005.

I was talking to my older cousin earlier today. I asked him what he wanted from Santa for Christmas. He looked at me funny and said, "uh, Santa doesn't exist you dweeb." What a shame... he told me that I need to grow up. I rolled my eyes in both disgust and pity and thought, "only because you don't believe in him." If only he knew the truth...

Aloha

The more you travel the more starry-eyed and impulsive you get about exploring new places. For example, the other day I decided that I hate not seeing the sun here in NY, so now I'm applying for jobs in Hawai'i. I talked to Elise (my favorite hawaiian) the other day and she's gotten me very excited about the possibility of living there. Nice people. Hot women. Fun in the sun. I asked her if the cost of living was expensive there, and she said I could just live in a hut on the beach for free. Am I making you starry-eyed and impulsive too? Let's go!

Xmas Cheer

My car was towed today. I had an interview in the city, and my car (my mom's car) was nowhere to be found when I returned to it. Can you imagine how that must feel? Actually, my panic attack only lasted a second... makes me think I can handle surprise, high-pressure situations well... like an ER doctor. So, I immediately called 311. The car was towed at 3:34, exactly when the meter expired, and just 10 minutes before I arrived at the spot. Bastards!!! They were totally out to get me. Towing companies are in the business of screwing people. They should be called screwing companies. The more people they can find who are violating parking laws, the more money they make. And I guess they don't believe in the "holiday spirit" of cutting people a break.

Tomorrow, mom and I go to the city to pick up the car as I shell out a big chunk of my Fulbright money to the bastards. Surprisingly, my parents took it well. As long as I pay for it and say I learned my lesson (which I did!), they're fine with what happened. Our conversation today when I got home was like an episode out of Full House. My mom also excited about making an excuse to go to the city tomorrow to see the Christmas sights. See, that must be where I get my optimism from.

On a lighter note, I came home and decorated the Christmas tree and put jingle bells on my dog's legs. haha... it's great. Now he's like this black, fat, low-riding reindeer when he walks around.

Nostalgia

Downloaded Pilipino songs that I listened to all day long over and over and over again....

"Noypi" by bamboo... A great Pinoy Pride song that shouts, "Hoy! Pinoy ako! Buo aking loob, may agimat ang dugo ko!"

"Itsumo" by Dice & K9... a rap that spells out way too many words: "u wanna get down with K.N.I.N.E., make sure thats pure L.O.V.E., never talk about the I.C.E. cause i only have my H.E.A.R.T. for Y.O.U." yeah yeah, i know its dumb how they S.P.E.L.L. in the second verse, but dont be a hater... they're Bisaya! oh, and the girl is japanese and according to some japanese people i met in laos, "itsumo" means "always". hooray for former colonizing cultures becoming mainstream... hehe

"Kahit Kailan" by Southborder... i'm not ashamed to admit it, these guys are cool... this song is worth listening to just to hear the ridiculously high note that the guy reaches in the last chorus.
"The Show" by Southborder... best line: "turn off the lights, i'll put on some rubber.... shoes for running."

"Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang" by Freestyle... tagalog sounds best in love songs

"Balisong" by Rivermaya - good band; i like the eerie keyboard lines

"Don't Touch My Birdie" by Parokya ni Edgar - Ateneo dropouts? correct me if i'm wrong... these guys are funny... reminder: "birdie" is euphemism for penis

And for those of you who are courageous enough: "the Otso-otso" and "Pamela one". just be openminded and keep in mind that Filipinos are a festive people, and nothing is more festive than mind numbing, corny pop music.

Oh, I'm heading to DC for the weekend to meet up with Cheryl, a fellow Fulbrighter. Back by Tuesday for a job interview (Memorial Sloan Kettering has the HONOR of being my first interviewers). Then up to Boston College to fart in Nikki's dorm room. haha

Where am I getting the money to do this? I just got a FAT reimbursement check from Fulbright for excess baggage fees. thanks...

"Interview"

Today was my interview with FAHSI (Filipino American Human Services, Inc.). I'm volunteering to be a kuya (older brother/mentor) for a little Filipino kid in Queens. This was the first interview I had where being a "good" kid might be undesirable. It was obvious that the interviewer wanted to hear stories of a rebellious childhood. I guess because delinquent kids that later reform their lives make the best candidates for these mentoring programs. Of course I had issues with my parents growing up... who doesnt? But as a kid, I was never the type to defy authority. So yeah, I think I disappointed the interviewer because I wasn't able to turn up any juicy drama stories from my childhood. I'll probably still get to be a kuya for the program, but because of my personality, I have a feeling they're going to pair me up with an overachieving Filipino goody two shoes.