Federal Express (Fed Ex) : A Turtle-Like

Federal Express, as name impart, that you can trust that your shipment will be express deliver to your door step. My package from Hawaii that is sent last May 28 at 9:08 am should be already received by me by now. I thought the delayed is due to the Cebu Pacific incident, but until now I haven't receive anything and no delivery to my door from this company.

So I decided to come to their office at Road way inn Bajada and ask if they have this package. On tracking information from their site, my package is already in Davao City area, but they don't have it. I asked how come? They answered me due to delayed for clearing, and I asked again, so how long that clearing be and how many days should I wait because I am leaving soon and I need it. They response that they have no idea. HOW COME??  you are in this business how come you don't know???

https://www.fedex.com/fedextrack/?tracknumbers=802677226810

Today, I tried to call to their office at Manila but I couldn't reach the number. It might be not in service anymore because it did not ring. I patiently wait, but tonight I tried to go to their site and check one more time and to contact them via email. But I couldn't find any contact information.

http://www.fedex.com/us/oadr/

My frustration got worsen when I tried to make an account for me to be able to access any information, hoping to get any. But the severe is that after I make my account, I can not click the "CONTINUE" button. 

What happen to Federal Express Philippines? Why the "Express" become slow? 

The Update: 06.11.13
Yesterday I call the number which the Bajada office gave me. I contacted those number and the man answered my call. He said that it is in Paranque custom still for clearing. He gave me number to entertain my concern. I tried to contact but it is operator service and they keep me waiting and nobody answer, it is a long distance so I dropped the call.

The Latest Update: 06.13.13 @ 9:00am
As I woke up I call immediately the FED EX Cargohaus in Paranaque City, this time somebody answered my call. I ask that I want to follow up my package, and the gentleman reply, asking my tracking number. He says that it will be release today and it will arrived after 2 days to Davao. I have sign of relief. Maybe I am to impatient, I am just so worried because I am leaving soon next week going back to Hawaii and I need the package.

06.17.13 @9am:
I called the Bajada office again for follow up, they again gave me another number to call. They gave me the contact number of FED EX/ AIR21 Davao airport branch. As usual they asked the tracking number.

Still nothing arrived,  same story.

06.19.13 @ 3:49pm
I call the airport branch for follow up, the woman says that it is on their way already for delivery. I said ok I will wait.

@ 3:15pm the FED EX/AIR21 delivery man deliver my package at last. I talk to him why it took so long before it arrive. He says, It is because the custom checked thoroughly if there are any illegal objects inside the package. Ok that is acceptable, but the length of time is not acceptable. As the FED EX main office promised to deliver three to four days. but it take almost a month already. He says that I am not alone who lost patients with the company. As his story, one woman tried to file a case because it took so long before she receives her package. He only delivers, he is not responsible for any delayed as he explains.

I lost my patience and I am frustrated because it take almost a month before I received the package.

Missing Philippine Style

I went to social security this morning with my mother trying to avail her first loan and to avail my second loan. We leave from the house at 9:00am and arrived at 9:20am. The SSS lobby started to get crowded. I fall in line from the entrance door to the information counter just to get the priority number.

 The security is calling on number 60-65 when my mother and I seated on the waiting area. At 10:30 am, they did not call our number yet and my mother started to get hungry. My mom and I started to get bored because the service is so slow.

100 more to go before our number will be called, so my mother decided to take a brunch. We went outside to find something to eat. It rain slightly and the road is wet.  We went to Jolibee, the famous kids meal, just walking distance across the road. When we came back it is calling on 131-135 number from 121-125 of one hour when we left the SSS. Hmmmmm... 40 more to go, and I didn't realized I fall asleep from waiting to be called.

 I patiently wait for our number to be called. I miss this Philippine style :). I am talking to myself that (is this the reason why Philippines is so slow to progress?), but I still keep on waiting patiently. I talk to my mom that in other country we just send it through mail then wait and check the bank if it is already deposited to the bank account. :)

Finally, they called my number but it took five hours. It is 2:10pm when they started to call my number. Wow what a waste of time.

A Milestone to Cheerish

".... And nothing but the truth...."
This is the interviewer told me and I answered yes with right hand raised.

March 18, 2013 at 3:15 am, the alarm ring. I get up and started to prepare for my appointment to Honolulu. This is a big day for me. I have interview for my Citizenship.

At the Honolulu, I go to the 5th floor at the U.S immigration. The security checked my purse and my appointment letter and then I proceed to the lobby. I go inside to the waiting room and get a priority number. I am number 21 then. When the interviewer called my number, I get up, and I smiled and greeted her. I walked and followed her inside about ten meters to her office, I felt a little nervous. Then, we enter to her office and before we start, she asked me to raise my right hand. After swearing, I sit in front of her desk. She started to ask me many personal questions followed by asking about the U.S history. She corrected and noted all my paper works with my answers. It took almost half an hour before she announced that I passed the interview. I thought we're not finished yet, but I am shocked to hear that I passed the interview. I almost cried and jumpped out of happiness, I just cover my face and says to myself "oh God thank you!" I give thanks to the interviewer.. She says that I need to come back for oathtaking at two o'clock. She scourted me going out from her office to the waiting room and called another candidate.

At the ceremony, I sit in front. There are many people from other countries who also get the citizenship. As the area supervisor gave speech, I am touched because I remember my journey of coming to this country. I remember the adjustments I make just to come up to this wonderful and great milestone of my life. I kept my tears not to fall down. I congratulate myself for all of my sacrifices; sacrifices to be far from my family. I am so much glad that these sacrifices pay off already through this granted of having my Citizenship.

The after effect
The next morning  I wake up, I give thanks to God for the new day. I deeply feel the new day and a new person in me. I see the world differently and I feel joy that I never feel when I received my residency. I see the new boundless horizon. The  boundless possibilities.
I feel very light, like floating in the air. It is like a magical moment that I only think of all wonderful times ahead. I feel the limitless freedom and unlimited dreams. I see a clear path for my goals. I see the sun shines differently that morning. I feel the new way of thinking in me. I am extremely grateful that I already belong to this great nations. It is true that this is a great nation, because I have better life here, I have a job. I can work without discrimination. I am confident  about my future now. I have new kind of energy within myself. Beyond these words I can not express more enough how I feel. I thank God that he gives me bundles of courage that I never give up, that I never quits.
I love this nation and I do care because I have better life...

God Bless America! today, tomorrow and for the coming generations!

Auto Survival when Panic Attack

How would you feel when you are in a dark closed cage? will you be afraid? will you scream? what will you do?

Last June, I had vacation in Bohol with my mother. We visited our new friend in Carmen and stayed there for a night before going to Chocolate hills in Carmen, Bohol. We stayed first in Tagbilaran and decided to go to their place. We arrived at noon time, it was 30 minutes from the market to their place. The sun's location was 90 degrees and we ride a single motor or small bike for 30 minutes to get their home. It was a thirsty, bumpy, and dusty ride; yet I enjoyed and loved it. When we got there, It was such a pretty nice and fresh location. The homeowners, which our new friends, was so hospitable. Even their house was so simple but their service was excellent, excellent than the lodge we stayed in the city. In their backyard where we seated, I felt very recharged and refreshed while watching the greenery; hearing the sounds of the birds, the chickens, the cows, and goats while smelling the fresh air. The lifestyle in the province has no hustles, no bustles, no worries, and no pressures; therefore, I enjoy the simple country living though.

The next morning we're ready to go to Chocolate Hills, so our new friend prepared a contact Van to take us to Chocolate Hills. I gave him enough money to show how thankful I was for their hospitality. My mother said that we paid the hotel without excellent service how about this family that spare us a place and gave service beyond the hotel can give. :) They treat us like a family.

We stayed another night at Chocolate Hills, It's my first time to see such unexplainable landscape; where the mountains are perfectly coned shape of different heights and sizes. The only negative part of the site was that it need constant maintenance. However, I do loved the vastness of the mountains with different heights and colors. I enjoyed the open area, the freshness of the natures.

The next morning before going back to the city of Tagbilaran, we took breakfast at the Hotel Cafe.
From the hotel to the high way we walked down the road to have last sight seeing for that place.
We are waiting for the van, We texted our friend who reserved a seat for us from the market place. We waited for about 20 minutes. When the van arrived, we crossed the street and take the back seat because it was already full. The van holds 10-15 persons. At the back seat while I had a joke of Bohol language where their H pronunciation is K to other pronunciation.  When Boholano language is mathematically expressed, if "IJA" =  "AHU" where J=Y example of IJA is IYA in cebuano, SELF in English, and if H=K then Bohol became Bokol. Therefore, I told them how about Bohol is it Bokol? if it pronounced to other language? Bokol in Cebuano mean swelling, so my mother, my brother, and Kuya J cracked their laughed at me. and I laughed too. Now I got it, Bokol because it made of swelling shape mountains, name Chocolate Hills. :)

After a minute inside the van, I felt something different with myself; I suddenly felt I can not breath.  I was having a panic attack because of the closed crowded van. Though it was air-conditioned van, I think I am claustrophobic, so, I suddenly become quiet for awhile because I thought I am going to pass out. I feel weak. They didn't have any idea that I had a panic attack. My chest tightened and heavy as I saw all the passengers in front of me. I felt I was inside the closed cage. I wanted to go out and tell the driver to stop. But I was hesitated to do it, it might be very shameful if I did. So, In order to survive such weird dangerous event, I kept myself remain calm. I closed my eyes and I imagine that I am in an open area as far as I could.  Then, I took a deep survival and relieving breath. I kept my eyes closed so I can not look at the crowded closed van. I disciplined myself to remain calm and kept imagining that I am still in an open area. I keep reminding myself that everything will be alright and I can conquer panic attack by calming my mind. I did not open my eyes until I feel better. It took a couple of minutes for me to do my survival panic attack but it works. I did not say anything to them, so they will also remain calm. Because If I did told them, the situation become worsen.

Pre-menstrual Agony

The opening of the year 2013 is a promising year for me. I smell already the success, I smell the good life. I am enthusiastic of our coming perfume crafts with my sister Maya and my high school friend Cristy. I am full of hopes and dreams, my passion is firing up, my desire is boiling and so for my sister and my friend too. We are both having positive attitude, and we help each other. The months ahead is shining bright for us. Month of January is full of enthusiastic ideas and research. My friend and I exchange information that we find in the internet. We are brave and full of dreams. It seems like no one can ruin my mood.

But then suddenly, without knowing, my mood changes dramatically. It started the 4th week of January, full moon, when I felt deep anger inside. The anger that I couldn't explain. The anger that deep rooted from the past without basis, or if there are, it's been uninteresting to other part or subconciously forgotten event. I couldn't see any goodness, the clouds are dark. I feel so gloomy then.

I think,  every women feel the same as I do or experience the feeling as I do.  If not exactly the same experience, but I think every women can relate how I feel. This is the sudden change of mood either before or during menstruation.

But for me, my pre-menstrual cycle is an agony. I experience headache and I become moody. My past memories resurface and anger follow. It is like a volcano eruption that is so damaging. Very damaging. When person doesn't know me well nothing can be understood the why I act. Epecially of my attitude during pre-menstrual period. I feel so irritable and very hateful. When I have my pre-menstrual coming I feel like a devilish in me. It hurts to the person that I am displacing my anger. Because I fully displacing it without thinking what I am saying.  It hurts me too after all because I can not control.

I learned that this is due to gradual influx of Sodium (Na) ion within the cells of our body that depolarize when menstruation is coming. It gives potential event of sensation that changes the cell's activity.

Reviewing 2012 while anticipating 2013

I know, year 2012 is not yet over. I want to look back what 2012 brings me. I am thankful and blissful that I experience a wonderful year of 2012.

First, I am glad I finished spring and summer classes while fall session is almost done and I am thankful to have an excellent professors at University of Hawaii. Thankful for the new knowledge that I acquire through this institution. I am still feeling proud to be a part of this institution and have an education. I do believe that they have the best education system in the world. My first course was a Chemical Engineering which I always love. I am planning to incorporate what I've learned from Chemistry to Nursing; which is Biochemistry. This course is what I am planning to pursue.  I do really enjoy going to this University, where I compare their level of teachings and how the technology works in this area. The University have great cable classroom, where the I can learn from home, or streaming from my laptop if I don't want to come into a classroom. I can repeat many times to watch the lessons and store it in a long term memory. 

By this system, I have a chance to balance my life from work to school. If I miss the class due to some reasons, I can still recap the missed lessons of the day.




Second that I am thankful for this year is that I got a chance to visit and have quality time with my love ones. I have very relaxing time in the Philippines, I visited Cebu to Malapascua Island and Bohol. I needed it to regain my energy and I am worthy to have a vacation. I worked so hard.

Third, I am physically and mentally fit thanks God. I am tiny but strong, healthy, happy and very contented with my life.

While waiting for the 2013, I always like to sneak to my zodiac sign of what will be the events would be like for my sign for my personal guide.
http://www.gotohoroscope.com/2013-horoscope/aquarius.html

Well, ok I read it already.. so I need to keep going when contentment sets in.. hmmm.. keep going but give me another vacation and I can do it all. VACATION.. Is all I wanted.

I know Maui is one of the best place to have vacation. Hmm yeah I know.  Well I still need to be out here once in a while.

I claim that the year 2013 will be an awesome year for me. I sense that I have boundless graces from heaven above. I now adjusted my life so well than the first year of my transition. I sense that the good energy of the Universe will continue flourish me. My goals, my visions are clearer. My passions, my blessings, my graces are continuously multiplying not just the year 2013...

I am excited too for my coming perfume crafts. I hope and pray it turns out so well.
I am more than thankful of what I have, of where I am, and of who I am now.
I know I did not forgot my missions before I came here, it is always and always in my heart. That is my very best guide; my sound of inner voice, beyond intuition and beyond material world can explain.

Reviewing the year 2012 helps me realized how blessed I am, how I overcome challenges, and knowing all the people who always there for me. These all give me enough inspirations to keep going, keep believing, and keep dreaming. These all give me enough courage to face another year, a year full of GOOD LUCK, HAPPINESS, and LOVE!

Welcome to you year 2013!

Living and working Abroad

    Born being in a middle class family means you have had just enough for your needs and not enough for your wants of luxury of things. More to it the miserable living below middle class family. Living in a third world country, like Philippines, many are poor family of almost about 85% of the population. They can hardly had three heartily full meal in a day. Ordinary employee has an average wage of less than $10 per day with the expenses of $2 to 4 daily per person. Nothing will be left to set aside for emergencies and for savings. Not enough for recreational for the whole family if it has more than two members within the family. For single men and women with good salary will not fall into this category. According to Villegas of Manila Bulletin, the vast majority of the middle class in the Philippines falls in the $2 to 4 daily spending range. The poverty line defines by $ 1.5 per person per day (Bernardo M. Villegas).
    Due to globalization and technology, people are more aware of his potentials that will fit into the world of employment to overcome poverty. Most of the Filipinos who are not happy with their status because of poverty and uncertainties are planning to go abroad or motivated to work and live abroad as we have seen in many young generations. Poverty and uncertainties are one of the many factors and reasons to push Filipinos to live and work abroad. Professionals who feel that their potential qualities are not meet with the standard salary expectations will also have in their mind to find a better options to use their full potentials that might find and use in abroad.

Hopes and Dreams
    Hopes and dreams are another factors that one might want to live and work abroad. Professionals and not professionals have a degree or different intensity of dreams. Dreams are for free, but in reality it is a high stake materials. Hopes are the fuel to fire up dreams. Hoping to step out in a rut of poverty. Dreaming to live a prosperous life. Below middle class and the middle class family of four to six or more members did not experience the prosperity of life. Dreaming to have a beautiful and comfortable home for the family, can afford all the necessities, and some luxuries; cars, laptops, cellphones, flat screen television, sending kids to a high standard school and much more. These dreams are big and bold because you are full of hopes, intense ambitions, and powerful motivations. This can be equalize by discouragement, trials, and thinking of giving up once you are in transition stage. Transition in living and working abroad should anticipated very well.

The transition
    Transition as per definition is a passage from one state, stage, subject or place to another (Webster). It is the first stage you come across when you are already in a new country you are living in. Transition is one part of how well you adjust from what you usually knew from your culture to the new culture. Transition can be hurtful and damaging. You can encounter different kind of problems such as language, traditions, opinions and etc. Like what happen to Sarah Balabagan and many other Filipnos who work abroad. You also meet with challenges like not finding a work as immediately as you want, or if you are working already, you experience cultural discrimination but this can be relatively personal.
    Weather challenges is another thing, since Philippines is a tropical country you used the warm weather. Like what happen to my friends in Michigan and London, these areas are freezing cold. What would you do when you live with this kind of places? Always remember it is easy to say than the actual experience. They are having hard time to go out especially when there’s no transportation or you don’t know how to drive.
    Another challenge is the transportation, in the Philippines you used to commute unless you know how to drive a car. There are many types of transportation in the Philippines to let you drop anywhere you want. Like public utility jeepneys, tricycle, tricikad, and taxis. Transportation plus weather challenges are more difficult than just weather and transportation alone. When these two combine you are hardly to go out and this triggers your homesickness.
    Homesickness plus pressure from the adjustment is dangerous, others cannot cope up with this that leads to depression and psychological disorder. Like what happen to other Filipinos who went back home to the Philippines that damage psychologically. Thank goodness to the new technology that lessen the homesickness; skype, yahoo chat, facebook, my space and much more. I ask my friend in Dubai, he’s been there a few months ago if he feels the homesick and he answered YES! I feel homesick. And I ask him how you manage your homesickness? He said he open his facebook.
    How did you feel when you can no longer understand the language? How you can go independently to nearby malls, parks, post office, and police stations when you can't read their national writings. Places that are different from your language other than English is such a real challenge. Places like China, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and some Europe country that English is not their primary language. Language is another part that should be consider for the transitions.
   One more transition is the food. You love to eat rice, Filipino loves to eat rice, every meal has to have rice it is part of basic necessity. When you'll be in a country that does not really need rice as their source of carbohydrates, you'll be crazy to death to find and cook rice. I personally experience when I was here in Maui a few months and did not eat rice for a few days, I feel I am going crazy.
     Threshold is different from each individual. Threshold is your emotional imaginary marker that you alone knew your limits, your ability to know this marker is essential for your survival. You should not go beyond your threshold to avoid emotional burn out.
     Have you tried to observe the galloon full of liquid? the difference is between how you pour it. When you pour it faster it has turbulent effect, while when you pour it slowly it has a nice calm flow. This is a metaphor of how you handle the transition; keep it easy, keep it slowly, keep it to your own pace. Don't let outside turbulence affects you.
    When your transition is not smooth, just think of it as a temporary problems. According to the bible, it will come to passing. Just hold on to your faith and always think why you’ve been in this place. Always look back and that might helps you to continue to achieve your dreams. They say that if you do not know how to look back where you come from, you cannot proceed to where you want to go. The fruit of success might follow afterwards. I want to quote the quotes “No guts, no glory” and “ there’s no glory without sacrifice.”
   Therefore, before deciding to come live and work abroad plan it well. Be patient, live with lower expectations until you pass or overcome the transition stage, and recognizing that transitions is not always easy. Learn to adjust so that transition is more enjoyable.

reference:
Bernardo M. Villegas, . "Middle Class." Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation 29 April 2012, n. pag. Print.