Throwback Thursday: San Francisco with the Boys

A few years ago we tagged along with Sweetie when he went to the US for an event. We were in San Francisco for a few days and since it was Miggy's first time I thought it would be a good idea to bring him around. 

I still have some fuzzy memories of SanFo from my childhood. I was 4 the first time I went. Tito Mon had a house there where we stayed for a few days. I remember visiting Fisherman's Wharf because it was so cold. I wanted Miggy to experience it, so that was our first stop when we arrived. We ended up dining at The Franciscan Crab Restaurant where we had seafood. We walked around for a bit after and we enjoyed the breeze from the bay.

After that we met up with some friends to visit a pumpkin patch. It was a fun experience for Miggy because I similarly visited a pumpkin patch with my scout brothers before. After that we hung out with our friends at a Vietnamese restaurant and had milk tea after.  

The next day Miggy and I walked over to Ghiardelli Square. We had fun going in and out of shops because they would sometimes give free pieces of chocolate. Took a break at Lori's Diner then headed to the Presidio National Park. I wanted to see the Yoda fountain and walk around the Palace of the Fine Arts.

 

By early evening we headed back to the wharf to explore it a bit more. It was fun to hang out in the area because of the wildlife. There were a lot of birds and sea lions. Dined at Bubba Gump just to experience it and then met up with Jay. We checked out the Musee Mechanique. It showcased a lot of 20th century arcade games and artifacts. It reminded me of the Tom Hanks movie, Big. 

We only spent a few hours going around the city. The only thing memorable was seeing a huge warship docked in the bay and walking around the Embarcadero. It was a quick trip. Maybe we'll get to go back someday :)

#BeKind #StaySafe

The Trip to the Mothership and More

I thought I would have time to blog in the US since I was spending 2 weeks here. That obviously didn't happen since I'm only blogging now. During my first week I was so badly jetlagged I just used whatever energy I had to make sure I was up and lucid during our summit (a.k.a. trying not to look like a zombie). I would wake up so early I'd do my Asia-related work during the wee hours of the morning so I wouldn't be behind with my mail. Things go really bad by lunchtime and it took every drop of caffeine I drank from the coffee to stay awake.

I was happy to meet my new team-mates and glad that to see the other half of my team again. Being alone in the region all these years (and well in the Philippines before) can get really sad. To not feel so homesick I then collected hugs!

I managed to clock in 12 hours of sleep Friday night, Saturday trip to SFO though was cancelled so Philip and I just went to our favorite place, the gigantic Great Mall in Milpitas! That place is dangerous since you could really go broke. Ate some merienda at Chipotle, shopped more and capped the evening by eating at Jollibee!

On Sunday I met up with my good friend, Rey, who I have not seen for 16 years now! We both got so busy with work and well he moved here (and well aren't we all bad staying in touch after college?). We went to hear mass, eat lunch at a Mexican place and bored Philip to death with our college stories.

I was planning to see another college friend, but then I injured myself -- scratched my leg on the trash can! Grrrrrr!

As always my second week at the mothership got busier with meetings, catching up with fellow Pinoys, more meetings and trainings. By Tuesday my head was already spinning with too much information, but all is well and I would just take late afternoon walks around my hotel (yes... to the nearest Target! Haha). My luggage is now full of too much chocolate! I just kept remembering friends and would go back to buy more chocolates (very, very bad stress relief activity!). Anyway, I ended up buying a new bag because of that (hmph).

I spent my last night in the US in San Francisco and just working out of the SF office. I'm glad I also finally met Fumi in person and she was so nice to walk me back to my hotel on her way to the train. I also managed to squeeze in some time to meet a childhood friend -- Maan (he now calls himself Marnie!). He made sure I ate some good ol' American burger and walked me around Embarcadero which talking about our crazy teenage years!

My trip ends tonight and I'm finally going back home! I've been away from my boys too long and I seriously need family time before I head back to my assigned ship in Singapore.

And no, I am not leaving my heart in San Francisco because it's in Manila.

Hello from California

It’s been almost 7 years since I’ve last been to California. In the last few years my team’s hub was in Europe so I never had the chance to come back to the US. I am marking my 8th year in Google on my birthday this year (yup my work anniv is also my birthday!). I always tell my friends, “Tumanda na ako sa Google!”. 

People always ask me how I got my job. I got it because I took the chance (even though the job description was really intimidating) and applied online. I never expected I’d get a call from the recruiter. I actually almost back out of the final interview because my Mom was in the hospital. My parents pushed me to go through the interview. And during the final-final interview I was also very sick with a 41’C fever. I just remember they asked about stats that day. I must’ve rambled the right numbers despite my frying brain coz shortly after that they said I was in.

The last 8 years of my life has certainly been very eventful. I learned a lot and have been stretching myself beyond my limits. I never imagined that I’d be able to do the things I’ve been doing and I’m still in awe of the opportunities given to me. I still remember that manghuhula at the Ad Congress in Cebu in 2005 who said, “You have a big star in your right hand. You will have bigger responsibilities and will be known for your work.” I told him, “I just got promoted maybe that’s it.” I never expected what was in my future.

I look back fondly in my last trip to the US. I was certainly at the crossroads when it came to my love life during that time. I was praying hard to find the right one because my September 2007 deadline was near. I told God back then that if I didn’t find the right one by September 30, 2007 it was a sign that I should dedicate my life to service. I was already planning to take my doctorate back then. 

But lo and behold, as I was being shown the coastline of San Francisco by a friend, Jay (who was in Manila) kept SMS-ing me and saying that he missed me a lot. My friend was so pissed because my head was down reading messages throughout the stretch of the coastline. Ay sorry naman. When I got home, through my jet lagged brain Jay and I became a couple on Yahoo messenger (yes! Yahoo! Hahaha). And the rest of our love story is history. 

I feel this trip truly marks a new chapter of my life. I have a year old heart still ticking (sometimes noisily with the ring attached to the valve). There are a lot of challenges, but with my family, friends and colleagues, everything should be alright. 

Cheers! 

*Wrote this on the plane to SFO.

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

From 20,000 miles up in the air
Transiting to Washington, D.C.

I couldn’t believe how time flew so fast. The week was long but made short with a flurry of activities from morning till the evening. I must’ve barely slept and that made my jetlag much more worse, but I could say I learnt a lot both for work and for myself. It’s just a little sad that sometimes even though you work hard for something, it just really wouldn’t push through if it’s not meant to be. At least I could say that I tried and I took the risk. I may hyperventilate a lot, but I am no coward. The secret though is to know when to ship out.

Anyways, off to happier thoughts. I had a grand time the whole week. I attended a barbecue party right off the plane. It was a pleasant surprise that guys from this side of the world can and would do the cooking and the after-party cleanup (how come those are rare in Manila?). Sebastian and Jay could give our local barbecue restos a run for their money. Plus Juan Carlos can probably start a hamburger chain on his own. And let’s not talk about how these guys can guzzle down hoards and hoards of drinks (right Franklin?). Man, these guys could party. (And I couldn’t express how much gratitude I have for these guys for making my stay easy and fun! Thanks, hugs from me!).

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I thought it was really sweet of the guys to bring me to the Flea Market. We went around and around and around. It was so much like being in an open-air tiangge back home. I didn’t buy anything since everything’s available back home. Sunday night was spent clubbing in Poleng Lounge, San Francisco for Christine’s birthday bash. What was interesting about that night was meeting a filmmaker – Benito Bautista – who shared that he’s going to make a film about the Barong with versatile actor, Raymond Bagatsing as part of the cast. Don’t forget I volunteered to be an extra! LOL.

The whole week was spent on work. Meetings, meetings and more meetings. I spent a lot of time as well with Pinoys. You rock guys! It was a pleasure to share with them bits and pieces about home and I’m looking forward to their visits. Meeting people from different nationalities is also something I look forward to whenever I come for a visit (free lodging in any country!). I love learning about how it is in other countries, what makes them tick, what makes them laugh, how kulit they could be. I was, of course, the behaved Pinay (shy kunwari LOL) – but then they all discovered my blog. So there goes my cover. Hahaha. Keep in touch guys!

I was more than a starstruck fan when I met some rockstars. I was awed, literally drooling. Hey, I never dreamt of having this great opportunity. Come visit me when I’m home so you’ll see my new décor. Meeting them though was a great reminder to me about my mission and what I have to do and what I have to do better. Uyyy, serious.

I almost missed my flight from Salt Lake City to Washington, D.C. coz the ride from SFO was delayed. I felt a bit embarrassed that the flight was delayed coz they had to wait for me. But it wasn’t my fault anyway, and thank God they waited for me. I just hope my luggage is here in the flight as well. I’m spending some time with my Ate (yes I have one!) and I haven’t seen her for 4 years already. I hope though we don’t drive each other crazy! LOL.

System re-booting. A fresh new beginning.