Life Begins at 30

DISCLAIMER: This post is a lengthy one, so if you’re not keen to put up with this blabber,  skip the next lines of text and go grab a beer.

I dedicate this post to the people who touched my life in more ways than one. [Yes, that includes you!] Thank you so much for filling my 2009 with a load of good memories — for all the trips and places we’ve seen together, all the cuisines we’ve sampled,  every recipe we exchanged,  for every bit of adventure we shared, every fun event we had and for the laughters, tears and heartaches we endured and overcame…  for all that was and what has been… I say this from the bottom of my heart – THANK YOU FOR MAKING 2009 ONE HELLUVA RIDE FOR ME! I wouldn’t do it any other way.

Despite its quirks and uncertainties, 2009 proved to be  a year of many interesting twists…  one that I will forever revisit in my memory even when my teeth starts to fall off.  Indeed, it is not called a hallmark year for nothing.  It is after all, a year of emotional rollercoasters, of life lessons learned, of fervent prayers answered, of newly built friendships and rekindled ones, of new adventures and destinies realized.  Above all things, it was a year of renewed relationship with God, my personal saviour.

As we segue into 2010, I wanted to take a step back, reflect and relive how 2009 panned out for me.

JANUARY 2009: Say Hello to New Beginnings

What some people viewed as a promising start of the year, was to me,  a tearjerker drama as I bid my folks farewell at the airport. Until that very moment, it did not dawn on me that I was saying goodbye not only to people who mattered, but more importantly to my life in the tropics.  Maybe not forever, but at least for a very long time.  It was a feeling that I underestimated because up until then, I didn’t realize that moving to the Netherlands actually meant leaving my whole life behind, saying goodbye to the comforts and conveniences I have been so accustomed to, bidding farewell to friends and family, and the people I love. This was the most difficult part, especially on my last night at the hotel, when my friends stayed until it was time for me to go. [Guys, thank you so much for sharing that special night with me.]

14 hours later, as I arrived in the Netherlands, the cool winter breeze gave me a jolt that later on formed butterflies in my stomach.  Yes, I was nervous! Waiting by the Meeting Place for an hour prompted me to ask myself over and over – Is this really happening? Am I really ready for this? Heaps of anxiety came over me until the Taxi driver showed up and shook me out of my psychological battles.  Indeed, this is  for real and there is simply no turning back!

As I struggled to pull my luggages into the hotel room with every last bit of strength I had,  I felt a surge of adrenaline rush as the excitement of realizing that I am finally here sank into me.  I  couldn’t help but fiddle my way clumsily through the room to get my internet connection set up and chat with people back home. Yes, I was already getting homesick and this was only Day 1 of my European adventure!

Days turned into nights and I started making friends, mostly people from work who I’ve met at the New Year’s Drinks or in the office corridors.   Even before coming to Holland, I was already firm in my resolve to learn the language, no matter how difficult it seems, so I started attending Dutch Lessons, to catch up with the group who were already in their 15th Lesson.  Additionally, I finally met some of the Filipinos from the office. After a few email exchanges, we finally managed to pick a common time to meet for dinner.  They were kind enough to patiently answer my questions, stupid ones in fact, and even took me out for some Korean Dinner. (Yes, finally RICE!!! Seriously, one week in the hotel without rice was really a bummer!).

Being new to the place, I wanted to experience the thrill of commuting, so I decided to skip taking the rental car and just hop on the bus to work.  For a day, I thought it was actually doable.  However, on that fateful Tuesday night when I attended Dutch class, I realized that waiting for the bus after 6PM was actually the biggest mistake of my life.  Read: What kind of idiot would actually stay out at the bus stop for 45 minutes in -10 degrees weather? Obviously, what happened after that night is all part of history now. I did learn my lesson!

Little by little, I found myself adjusting into this new lifestyle.   I managed to figure out my exits in the highways, finally understood the concept of driving through tram tracks,  identify which products I needed from the supermarket and gradually settled in like a normal expat.  Also,  I found a friend who shared my undying devotion to Starbucks Coffee, despite its harmful effects on my stomach… and I learned that, despite having the closest and only Starbucks branch a 30 minute drive away from our office, there is someone who is crazier than me who is willing to go this distance to have a coffee fix!

FEBRUARY 2009: A Season for Heartbreaks

The second of February came and  I settled down in my own apartment! Yes, finally a place I can call my own – I call it my Aquarium!  Chris and Dennis helped me move in to my apartment… and for the first time, we had Chinese dinner at my place with Adam, Eric and Adona.

I had my first taste of clubbing Amsterdam-style on the first weekend of February, which taught me a valuable lesson – never believe Eric when he measures distances. His concept of nearness could also mean a good 15-20 minute walk on cobblestones with open-toed stilettos. (Peace Ejong… lapit lang naman yun parking natin nun, di ba?)

My first wave of visitors arrived in February, on the day of hearts. It was actually my second time to visit Amsterdam, but a first to try all sorts of things, including sampling raw ingredients necessary to make  Heineken Beer! Carlo and Evan’s visit proved to be one for the books. Why and how things turned out that day will not be revealed in this blog, but definitely, I will remember this day forever!

Heineken Tour

Chris' Birthday Bash with the GB

The following week, another good friend of mine came for a visit.  Unlike the big touristy trip the previous week, this was more of a leisure trip with clubbing as a big part of the agenda.  On Friday night we had some interesting conversation over wine and some fancy dessert on top of the Euromast, overlooking the beautiful lights of Rotterdam… then  later on partied like there was no tomorrow in Baja.  The following day, we both went crazy in Amsterdam, but you don’t want to know what happened there.  On Sunday, Chris and Dennis were kind enough to take us on  a day trip to Brussels and Brugge.  This was the first time I ever set foot outside the Netherlands! Indeed, this weekend felt like a marathon, driving back and forth between Brussels, Brugge and Schiphol.  One has to ask – what where is all this energy coming from?!? Finally, on our way home from the airport,  Chris put on a very interesting CD in his player — For the record, this was the first time I ever heard and understood how an Aegis song sounded like… I had to admit – it wasn’t bad at all.  In fact, it was meaningful for my emotional state at that time!

Rotterdam at Night

On a whim, I decided to join the guys for a weekend in Rome!  This was my first big trip with the GB  outside the Netherlands…  and I was so giddy excited about it.  I fell short of breath at the very thought that I was actually going to this big piece of artwork called Rome! Though short and really crammed, this proved to be one of the most tiring, yet culturally enriching trip I have ever done in my life.  Rome is definitely one of those cities I would love to go back to. Not only to revel in its architecture, its historical significance, and culinary offerings… but also to experience the culture, the romanticism and the life.

The Colloseum in Rome

MARCH: The First Signs of Spring

While the temperature was still pretty low in general, spring already started to show some signs around mid march.  Mary Ann, another good friend of mine, came over for a visit during this time and we decided to jump into a train adventure to Brussels. We met up with Val and Bernard, two guys I have worked with for over a year without having really met.

Brussels with Ann

Sorry, Ann had the pics with Val and Bernard so couldn’t post them here!  But it was good to finally put a face to the name. On towards the remaining part of our journey, we found that the trains were in a mess that day! Apart from the fact that they moved the departing station of the last train going to the Netherlands from Central to Noord (at least 5 minutes before it had to depart), we were also surprised that it was no longer a direct connection to Den Haag! What was supposed to be a day trip to Brussels turned into a long and winding train adventure that made me swear off train travel to Brussels forever!!! Call us unlucky, but sometimes, life plays funny tricks on us, right?

We spent Ann’s last day in The Hague at the outlet. We had a LOT of fun shopping, that she ended  up buying one extra bag to stuff everything she bought and brought with her! We drove straight back to Schiphol Airport, where Ann had to take her flight back to Prague.  It was cool day for shopping, and playing real live NFS on the highway with a red Suzuki Swift driven by this really cute guy. Aaaah yes, I am a girl afterall Before heading home, Eric invited me to come with him for dinner to meet the rest of the guys at this Brazilian churasco place in Scheveningen called Rodizio’s.  Being the “kaladkarin sa gimmick” that I was, I decided to come along since  I didn’t have plans that evening anyway.  That was the first time I met Sherwin, the last Filipino colleague, who later became one of my coolest travel buddies, shopping buddy, shrink and friend all rolled into one.

Venice

As the days drew on, the weather showed significant signs of improvement.  There was more sunshine… but also occasional rain in some parts of Europe.  Eric, the ever hyperactive traveler that he is, found a good deal on flights to Venice, and so I decided to take off for another spontaneous Italian adventure with him. As the rain continued to pour over the succeeding weeks,  I found myself soaked in freezing rain water, as I traversed through the narrow alleys  of  Plaza San Marco in Venice.   This trip, despite the horrible weather, allowed me to cross off one of the many things in my 1000-things-to-do-before-I-die list: To go to  Venice and ride on a real gondola.  Like every other trip, what happens in Venice… stays in Venice.  Indeed, I had a fantastic time with Eric, Adam and Adona in Venice.  It was an experience I would never trade for anything.