You inspire me!

One unassuming August day back in 2015, I received an email from someone who told me that she stumbled upon my blog without really meaning to. She mentioned how she continued reading on until my last entry posted back in September 2014. I was so surprised to know that someone still took time to read my articles but it was sort of an eye opener too! Knowing that there are people out there who stop and take time out of their busy day to read and appreciate my blog. Thank you! I know I have emailed you back but feel I short changed you because I was still not able to go back to business and update my ofwifediaries.

Prior to this I also received a message from someone who at that time was also in Saudi Arabia…he is an FB friend now and I hope he still continues to read my stories. Hello from the Philippines! 

Then 2 days ago, I received an FB message from a former colleague who came across my blog too!  Messages like these keeps my heart a flutter as it is a confirmation of sorts that the things I’ve written about are not mere words that stumble from my head, goes through my heart, and onto my blog. It is a confirmation that whatever I write means something to someone…can mean something to someone. That I am able to inspire. That I am able to give hope, make people feel, make them laugh! I am humbled … my heart is stirred…

So I dedicate this article to these 3 people who took time to send me a message, wished me well, and who I hope to continue to inspire. 

Thank you so much!

Re-written: Relaunching the relauncher

Lately I have been thinking about going back to work. I have been working since I was in college. My parents did not even know that I once worked as a sales consultant at Rustan's, handling Benetton products. I earned money while in school. And while at that, I was also a part time volunteer at the Caritas Manila, teaching special children.

After college, armed with my diploma, the only other thing I had were my guts. I remember that my first job was at a video store as its Shift Management trainee. From there I became Promotions manager to a group of restaurants where I handled membership cards. Then went on to being Assistant Purchasing manager of an electronics company. Many years later I had a shift in my career; this was after I got married and gave birth to my second child. I joined the fast rising call center industry. and spent 7 years doing my darnedest at customer service. Years passed and my call center career had to end to give way to following my husband to Saudi Arabia. I worked at a 5-star hotel and was the only Pinay working at the HR department; there were only 2 Filipinas working in the hotel which, eventually became 3, when I was asked to hire my own assistant. As an OFW's wife I had to be there for everyone since we had no maid. So after a long while I had to say goodbye to my corporate career. The internet became my best bud and I started blogging again just so that my brain can start functioning as it's supposed to 😂.

Being a CFL (certified food lover), my "suppressed" passion for baking, resurfaced. It's surprising where your interest can take you in your desire to learn! It was equally passionate kitchen divas like Paula Deen, Nigella Lawson, Rachel Ray, and Martha Stewart that helped me along the way via the internet. I turned this interest into a business opportunity. At a young age, I knew that I like selling stuff especially the ones that I produce. My first try at the food business started way back during my call center career. It was there that I sold food while taking calls 😁. I remember having to go to the grocery to buy the things I need for that night's orders, then come home and get my forty winks. I'd sleep for about 4-5 hours then wakeup to prepare the orders.

Moving forward... We ended 5 years of Saudi and moved back to the Philippines. Thinking I could go back to work was futile as my kids wanted me to take care of them.. In their own words, they wanted me home when they came back from school. And having no "Ate Sheila" to take care of them, I was blissfully stuck with them until such a time I can finally spread my wings... again... Well to cut the story short, Ate Sheila came back and circumstances found me wanting to go relaunch into a corporate career. I am not scared of interviews, mind you! I enjoy them! I guess it is because I always have so many things to say, so many experiences to share. However, much to my dismay, joining the fresh grads, and the seasoned talents, job hunting is not as sprightly as it used to be. The internet may have made job hunting easier but I realise more than ever, that the labor market is a lot more competitive these days. Where my Curriculum vitae is reviewed alongside the ones submitted by either fresh graduates or those who have their master's degree and Phd's. So for a relauncher like me who has extensive experience (or so I thought), it was pretty tough. Relaunchers like myself have to understand that further learnings are needed to keep ones corporate profile more attractive to the companies we are sending our Resumes or Curriculum Vitae to. Do not stop at reading! Enroll or attend seminars. Keep yourself abreast with new management skills or other trending skills that will boost your corporate appeal! I have had my share of successes and failures! And as always I go back to the thought that whatever the result we must be prepared to gear on, bounce back, and move forward!

So for now, I just leave everything up to the Lord. He has provided me skills that I can work on, a restless mind that makes me want to go to the computer and do this.

Need tips on job interviews? Click on this link http://callcentermomie.blogspot.com/search?q=interview

Eid Mubarak!

Hajj is yearly celebrated by Muslims all over the world, it is a pilgrimage to Mecca (most holy place in Islam) and is said to be one of the five pillars of Islam. For us Catholics, we celebrate Holy Week by purifying ourselves and follow certain practices until Easter.  They also do their own share of purification and it is a must that they should be in the state of Ihram before they trudge their way to the Holy City of Mecca. Ihram is the state of sacred purity that a follower must be in before performing the Hajj. 

On the other hand, i think it is also their way of celebrating new year or new life, correct me if am wrong. My husband and I went to the city to buy a couple of stuff at the Kadiwa. This is a small grocery store that most Filipinos frequent in Khobar as there are a lot of items from the Philippines that are sold here. And as we walked the streets I noticed that a lot of firecrackers were lined up and being sold, including stone-like scents. I don't know what these "stone-like scents" are called but will definitely ask my husband about it tomorrow :)

It's already 3:21 in the morning in this part of the world but before I doze off, I would like to greet all our Muslim brothers out there Eid Mubarak! 

Our family's first day out

Saturday is considered as the country's first day of work, and since it was no longer a weekend, my husband decided to just ask permission from his manager to allow him to take us to IPSA and their company hospital. We left the flat just after lunch and once out my children and I felt the scorching heat. Surprisingly, we did not even perspire that much. There are no jeepneys, buses or any other mode of transportation except the cabs. My husband warned me that we have to be discriminate when it comes to hailing cabs as there are cab drivers who would take advantage and bring their passenger(s) to the dessert to rob or hurt them or worst. We first went to the company hospital, my children and I were again awe struck with the building’s interior and exterior. Everything...the ceilings and the floors were so lavishly designed. It was like walking into a palace...had it not said SAAD Outpatient building outside we would not have known that we were inside a hospital.

We just stayed a short bit and went straight to IPSA to enroll the kids. We were a bit apprehensive because we left during the exams week and we were not too sure whether they would be accepted as late enrollees. When we arrived at IPSA, the kids were sort of practicing for an event which we later found out to be their upcoming Foundation Day. We spoke with the school’s Registrar and as we explained everything to them was relieved to know that our kids shall not be refused but will have to take some sort of exam that will breeze them through the 2nd quarter. Already the children are quite excited. We arranged for their school bus as well and after which ate at McDonald’s.

We were again caught by surprise at McDonald’s the building is separated into two, one portion of the building was reserved for Families and the other half was for bachelors. The family rooms were divided by curtains where families can eat in private. Much to our delight, the soda and fries that are considered as medium size back in the Philippines are regular sized here. Plus you get the mayo for free, back home I needed to pay 12 or 15 pesos to have one small container of mayo (chicken sauce).

I have visited 3 countries, Malaysia, Japan and Saudi Arabia being the 3rd, and every time was a new experience. I hope to be able to visit more countries in the future with my husband and children. It should be exciting that way... to make your children aware that there are other countries, that differs in race, beliefs and culture but build the same dreams like everybody else...