In love with my job...

I can't believe that it has been 2 months since I last visited my blog site. I couldn't live a day without visiting this before. I guess my new job took my first love away, or should I say it took me away from it.

So many things happened the past 2 months. I have handled 4 training classes in total and I'm now assigned in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, trying to widen the scope of my experience and connections by meeting new people and handling an Australian account.

I'd say I am happy where I am now. It has been 2 months and yes I miss a lot of privileges from IBM, but I must say... 3 and half years of working as a trainer... this is the only time I felt so fulfilled in my career.

There's more to tell... I'll try to catch up. I'll just pick some photos and I'll tell you about my first training class. =)

Wave 8.1 - Photoshoot

It's been quite a while, I guess my work is eating up most of my time and energy. But why do I care? I'm having the time of my life!

I just had my 1st batch of trainees last Monday, and I must say, these bunch of retards here are becoming the point of comparison, the benchmark of a fun filled training.

Well, just to keep this updated, as promised here are the photos of Wave 8.1 trainees.

So here they are, the benchmarks... huh?! The Sleepers!

This is the Arab guy who said, "If the shoe fits, put it on!"

Brother Jo

Betco and Brother Jo

"Jipprey" and our staple crush- Randy

The ladies and the pseudo-ladies of Wave 8.1

The perverted boys...

And of course the pretty Accent and Conversational English trainers... Jeng and yours truly. =)

WAVE 8.1 - "Bunch of Retards"

Wow, time flies so fast... I'm now past my 2nd week in my new company and things are better.

For my first 2 weeks here, I sat in Jeng's class for Wave 8.1, I must say they are a group of smart people, with intense sense of humor, uniquely strong personality and just to quote Jeng's description of them... "bunch of retards".

It felt like I was surrounded with actors and actress, each has a distinct personality that you will remember even after month's of not seeing them. Even the people who did not talk as much in this class were as interesting as the talkative group.

It was overwhelming to see a group of trainees who can all talk good English and are very comfortable speaking it. I'd say for this class, if not all, 95% of them are above par. It was not easy co-facilitating a class like them. Jeng was out for a few days and it was difficult because I was not prepared. I thought to myself, since they are that good, they might be difficult on me. Thank God they were not. In fact they are all well-behaved, but there are hyper trainees who are pretty much tolerable and you'd like them because they're smart and they talk with sense.

I am totally attached to this group. Probably because they were the first few people I became friends with, since we all started on the same day. Actually, it is harder hanging out with them than training them because they are uncontrollable freaks... hahaha!

It's either you hate 'em or love them. For me it's both ways! =)

Wait for the pictures! =) I'll upload them soon.

Choices

Yipee! I survived 1 week! It isn't so bad after all, but I must say, I really miss the people I used to work with.

You know the most popular cliche for Filipinos? It goes, "Malalaman mo lang na importante ang isang bagay sayo kapag nawala na ito." I guess that's how I feel at some point. There is no day I don't magnify the difference between where I used to work and where I work now. But at the end of the day, I realize comparing will not really do me good. It's true, people are a lot happier and accomodating from where I came from, but the people I am with are nice as well. I guess I just need to start overhauling myself.

Things will not necesarilly go my way all the time, but I sure can handle if what happens to my life goes in a different direction.

Hmmm... self-assurance?

Yeah, there are days I ask myself, did I make the right decision?

If I had not made this decision, I'd still be comfortably happy.

I don't want to be comfortable all the time at work. Challenge is a necessity for the brain to avoid getting dull, that's why sometimes, comfort zones are danger zones.

So I guess the answer to my question if I made the right choice....

I will make it right.

Undergoing MyBlogLog Verification

Out of My Comfort Zone

Last night was my first day of work at Teletech Bacoor. It's a good thing I brought my handy-dandy notebook, while waiting for my soon to be supervisor I was doodling away inside the pantry. It's a very cozy pantry. A lot better than the one we had in IBM. It looks like Starbucks, even the tables, couches and the tables are like those of a comfy coffee shop. Their resident concessionaire is Country Style - which reminded me of Charlottie, coz she loves Country Style donuts. It was very nice. More decent I must say. But what if you get tired of Country Style's donuts? No more options....

Still waiting.... I roamed my eyes around the area, and checked the bulletin boards. Announcements, parties, and I'd say they're very organized. Even the letters you receive, they track it and post it so you can easily see.


Suddenly I felt nauseous... not with disgust but beause my heart felt like throwing itself out of my chest. My feet were cold and my hands were like water fountain wet because of anxiousness.
I still have time to back out!

But I didn't.

It's such a familiar feeling, my fear of not blending in. I wasn't really the"unpopular kid" at school, but it always comes to mind that at some point in my life I will be a doormat. I don't want that to happen. Then I realized, I'm not so good in mingling with ohers. I mean I have lots of friends, but these people I met were as clueless as I was. Freshmen, first job, fresh wave. I remembered, I did not do so well in my law and history classes because I was with a different block. I never had friends there.

Questions start pouring in. Is this worth it? Should I be really seated here? I was tempted to stand up and go.

I didn't.

Leaving my comfort zone in IBM is the toughest decision I've ever made. I don't know what's waiting for me here, until my soon to be supervisor came and gave me a tour of the site. I was confused until I saw their incredible pantry which looked like a bar, a sleeping room with double-deck beds (can you imagine, real beds with no couples making out!) and a game room and DVD room with a wide screen, nice couch and movies to watch.

So much for comfort! Until I reached the training suite.... there I saw my future. Work... work... work... and no blog, no facebook, no YM and other internet stuff. Ooooh.... yeah.

Paradigm shift.

I survived my first day with overflowing assessments online. I was so full of it, I didn't wanna touch my pc when I got home.

Hopefully tomorrow is a brand new day to survive.

Thank You and Have A Nice Life

In my 3 years and 6 months of stay here in IBM, I never thought I will send my share of goodbye letter. I never thought it would be this hard. So I guess instead of saying goodbye, I’ll just thank everyone in this company who made my stay here worth it.

To my trainers, Pia de Ungria, Rowena Banda, my lss Maricris Jimenez, thank you for being such good mentors and motivators. Being an agent as a first job is really difficult, but you did a great job in pushing me to work harder and in helping me find the right motivation in me.

To my former team, KANSAS, I’d still say we are the best team in Sprint. To my tl Marilou Dabo-Rosuelo, I don’t think I’ll ever find a supervisor as good as you. You molded us, encouraged us despite our weaknesses and indeed you helped us grow in this company.

To all my friends here, especially the VA new hire trainers, with you I have shared a unique camaraderie which I hope will continue in the years to come even though I shall not be here with the company.

To Jerome Ora, you have been my supervisor for the longest time. You were there with me in every happy and devastating moments of my life. Siguro pwede mo na akong igawa ng talambuhay, sa dami ng pinagdaanan ko na nandun ka. I thank you for everything, you helped me keep my sanity during the time I felt so lost. And for that I consider you one of my true friends here in IBM.

To Kristian Cabrera, Rajah Singh, Jon Juliano, Briggs Baritugo, thank you for welcoming VAPS to your team. Though I felt at some point, handling our team was a challenge; I'd say you did a great job because our team learned a lot, especially me. I hope my dreams for VAPS will come true eventually. I have no doubt about that, because the team is in good hands. I have been extremely satisfied with my work here at IBM, working under your guidance has been a learning and an enjoyable experience. I thank you for your support and encouragement during these 3 and half years. I’ll bring with me all the lessons I've learned from each of you and the mantra of a trainer will always be with me, "Be a guide on the side, not a sage on the stage" (hope I got that right! har!)

And of course, to the VAPS trainers, it took me a long time to write this because I couldn't fight the tears. For 3 long years I have been with VAPS, from the very first batch of VAPS trainers up to the newest faces of VAPS, I couldn't contain the emotion I have right now. This team, I consider my family… I can't seem to say goodbye.

Thank you for putting up with me despite my tantrums, my bitchiness, and my craziness. It feels so painful to leave the team that gave me so much comfort for 3 years. I know minsan hindi ako mabait, pero sobrang mahal ko kayo. (Corneeee!) Take care of our team.Kahit minsan di tayo magkakasundo, this is our little family here in IBM, so ingatan nio.

Tatagalugin ko na ang mga bilin ko, di nio na naman ako mabibigyan ng EOP ticket eh. Hehehe!

Jet and Judith, take charge. Follow Jon and be good leaders to the team. Kung kailangan hagupitin ung di sumusunod... hagupitin! Kung ayaw parin, text nio lang ako.... itatapon ko mug nila! =) Jet, sa kasal mo invited parin ako ha. Judith sa birthday din ni Zoe ha.

JJ and Babbitt, alam nio na ang gusto ko sabihin.... sa inyo kadalasan nakasalalay ang phonetime! =) JJ, wag ka mag-alala, kakanta parin ako sa kasal mo. Babbitt, be wise on your decisions. Sometimes go for the mind over heart.

Baby Tynn, wag lagi galit pag nag-eexplain ok. Salamat at pinatikim mo ako ng chicken nuggets sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon ng buhay ko. Narealize ko, di pala lahat ng sinasabi ng mga nanay totoo.

JP - wag mo maxado pahirapan sa Web time modification si Gene ha, basahin mo ang mga email at wag i-delete without reading para di mo akalain na ang mga training schedule eh sa gabi instead na umaga.

Mike - magsalita paminsan minsan para di ma-misinterpret ng nasa mga tao paligid. Assert yourself.

Gene – pasenxa na sa mga modifications. J I’ll miss you sobra! I will miss our salon bonding and food tripping. But we will still do that okay.

Basta sa buong VAPS team, old and new batch. I don’t think I’ll ever find a department as crazy as ours. I love you guys!

I am bidding adieu today to this company to pursue other career opportunities. As I move on, I would like to take a moment to remember and cherish our times together. It's been great interacting and knowing each one of you. Even though I will miss you all here I am looking forward to this new challenge and to start a new phase of my career.

To IBM Daksh, thank you for all the lessons learned, for all the opportunities and for making me feel that this company is my second home.

God bless everyone. Have a nice life! =)

Strength in Despair

Dear God,



They say in times of trouble, count your blessings and thank You no matter how small those blessings are. I am in a tough situation, I am nearing desperation but I still want to take time to thank You.



Thank you for my husband, Gerald. He, I think, is the best companion a woman can ever have. Despite what we are going through, he can still make me laugh and he makes me forget the problems we are facing. Marriage is so much easier with him.



Thank you for my son, Joaqui. My adorable son, who alleviates all the pain and the stress I am dealing with. His smile alone makes me feel heaven.



Thank you for keeping us healthy especially Joaqui. I'd be shattered if my son gets sick.



Thank you for my job, no matter how sickening it can be sometimes. Thank you for the new job I'd be taking next week. Looking for a good company to work for is tough already, but I made it!



Thanks for giving me friends. Friends who can laugh with me and laugh at me without judging me. Thanks for making them real.



Thanks for giving me life, even if sometimes I want to end it, I still think living in this world is something to be cherished.



Thanks for the strength. Day by day, I struggle. Each morning I wake up contending strenuously with problems. Problems that left me with my dignity down the drain.



Sometimes I get tired of going forward, expending great energy but no matter what I do I can't seem to find the answers to my problems. But You have been there to hold my hand to keep me strong and still smiling.



But today, I feel weak. I feel that I am losing my faith but then I realize if I stop holding on to You, then where can I hold on to. I cannot make myself fall. I know You will not make me fall.

I implore to you Lord, reach out to me and hear my plead. It feels like I am holding on to a cliff and slowly my fingers are drifting off, each finger lifted up from where I am hanging to. I don't know until when I can hang on.



I don't want to give up.