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Jul 26, '06 11:40 AM
for everyone

Today marks my first year anniversary in China. One whole year. I wish I could list down all the changes in my life within my one year here, but I know it'll be futile. Where do I start and how do I explain? Some of my friends are wondering what's so great about China that I refuse to go home yet. I don't know. I can't pinpoint it exactly. The best I could come up with is that it's more exciting. I wake up each morning and look forward to new adventures. Every little thing is an adventure, from taking the subway and managing not to get lost, to having lunch alone in a restaurant that I've never been to and trying to make myself understood. Being in a foreign country heightens my senses. I look at everything and try to find logical explanations to otherwise ordinary circumstances. It's like even the most familiar things have a weird slant to them that needs careful observation.

I wish I could explain it better. Perhaps I need one more year to find which words can describe my experiences fully. For now, this will have to do.

**For an update on the Harlequin Theater Festival 2006, click here. Go watch! Go go go! And tell me all about it. Take pictures! Take videos!

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29 CommentsChronological Reverse Threaded

gegebebe wrote on Jul 26, '06

you survived!Ü congrats!

volperine wrote on Jul 26, '06

Oppps!... What a nice way of life! ( IMHO...of course). But I can understand exactly what you are living on. As myself borning in Europe, and growing and living in so cities as Quito, Medellin, La Paz, Peru, and Buenos Aires... My God! exactly as you said: "Every little thing is an adventure, from taking the subway and managing not to get lost, to having lunch alone in a strange restaurant"... Hehehehhe.
Go ahead sweet girl! ... you can do it...
Kisses
Miro

sanapakaininmoko wrote on Jul 26, '06

I survived... and I can't seem to get enough of it, apparently. :p

Thanks, Miro. What's IMHO? I saw a picture captioned with "my students" in your site. What do you teach? Just curious.

smellmyknee wrote on Jul 26, '06

From one expat (errr cge na nga OFW) to another... good on ya! Each day is indeed an adventure! You are definitely a citizen of the world!

prominentmoth wrote on Jul 27, '06

nice

thejonastory wrote on Jul 27, '06

nenet is sad that you're staying another year. he was wishing so hard you wouldn't find work.

sanapakaininmoko wrote on Jul 27, '06

Thanks Melanie!

Jason, was the broken keyboard the reason for your long absence? Or was it the illness? Glad to see you back!

Nuna. Awww! I wish you guys could all just visit me here. Well, he will just have to be satisfied with the eagerly anticipated box. Ang mahiwagang kahon!

thejonastory wrote on Jul 27, '06

sanapakaininmoko said

I wish you guys could all just visit me here.

still working on a-ko's passport. sigh.

sanapakaininmoko wrote on Jul 27, '06

Updates?

thejonastory wrote on Jul 27, '06

sanapakaininmoko said

Updates?

we went to the immigration records section last week. the unpleasant woman there refused to give me her number and promised to look for the document and call us after a couple of days with news. of course she didn't call. i had to track down her number and i've been following up the stupid document for 3 days now. i need to call her back again tomorrow. grrr.

sanapakaininmoko wrote on Jul 27, '06

Did she say why she didn't call as promised? Although of course nobody would really expect her to call even if she said she would but I though it would be nice to rub in her face.

Actually, it will be a little harder to visit me now although not entirely impossible. We'll work something out when Akoh's passport is done.

thejonastory wrote on Jul 27, '06

sanapakaininmoko said

We'll work something out when Akoh's passport is done.

and let's all hope and pray that that day will be soon.

volperine wrote on Jul 27, '06

IMHO a short form for "In My Humble Opinion".
I'm a teacher for Windows Computer OS, and the entire MS Office software.. among others like Adobe Photoshop, Page Maker, etc.... Also for Spanish, English languages.

vincigroyon wrote on Jul 28, '06

babalik ka pa ba dito? videoconference na ba ang defense mo?

sanapakaininmoko wrote on Jul 28, '06

Babalik! I don't even know when my deadline is. When do I start counting? I started my MFA in January 2001. Do I start counting from there? O do I start counting from the time I passed the comps? Or my proposal defense?

sgie wrote on Jul 28, '06

basta jons, pagnatuto ka ng mamaril, turuan mu kmi! haha =p

vincigroyon wrote on Jul 28, '06

Di ko maalala kung 5 or 7 years ang limit. You start counting from when you started the program.

sanapakaininmoko wrote on Jul 28, '06

Shit. If it's five years, I'm dead. Pero ang alam ko 7 e...

thejonastory wrote on Jul 28, '06

vincigroyon said

Di ko maalala kung 5 or 7 years ang limit.

kung 5 years deadline ka na pre.

sanapakaininmoko wrote on Jul 28, '06

Di lang deadline. Dead talaga.

chamjanice wrote on Jul 28, '06

thejonastory said

nenet is sad that you're staying another year. he was wishing so hard you wouldn't find work.

i can just imagine nenet saying that with a frown on his face. he'd be soooo cute.

chamjanice wrote on Jul 28, '06

sgie said

basta jons, pagnatuto ka ng mamaril, turuan mu kmi! haha =p

good idea! dapat in exchange for teaching them english, they should teach you how to shoot. then you can teach us.

sanapakaininmoko wrote on Jul 28, '06

Nuna, you should post more pictures of the tatlong itlog.

I don't think that would be hard to arrange. I was helping two of the boys with their training the past two days by acting as a referee. It was boring as hell, though. I had to say "8 seconds. Load," wait for a minute then say, "Attention. 3. 2. 1. Start," over and over and over again for an hour and a half. There were at times slight variations, like instead of saying 8 seconds, it'll be 6 or 4. Gaaad!

xcaucaznx wrote on Aug 1, '06

World travel is highly underrated! Being a stranger in a strange land is the most incredible experience. I love it love it love it.

sanapakaininmoko wrote on Aug 1, '06

You can say that again. In fact, I will: I LOVE IT!!! And you have to tell us all about your trip to the Philippines. I sincerely hope you'll have a great time.

bluejeanjunky wrote on Feb 28, '07

hey i like this blog of yours, i love the feeling of being away from my comfort zone and just getting by in some far away land like goa, india or wherever, maybe south america.. Its exciting just being there and discovering something new that you dint really know about until some form of natural force leads you to it, or you get hit with it. Someday i will travel.

sanapakaininmoko wrote on Mar 1, '07

Salamat, salamat! You should. Then we'll all go and visit you and you'll have to feed us. :D

bluejeanjunky wrote on Mar 2, '07

cge visit me in goa, india..

sanapakaininmoko wrote on Mar 2, '07

Sige ba.

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