nine mornings

so, i completed a tradition known as "simbang gabi" here in the philippines. it consists of waking up at 3 in the morning to go to church at 4 to sit through an hour long mass for nine days straight. apparently, at the end of it, you get a wish. i'm not normally a church going kind of man, but i did it for her and it's ok. it's sort of an attempt to bring some spirituality to this season that's been greatly lacking recently. also, i'd like to think of it as collecting dragonballs. i finished and i made my wish. so, i need to concentrate and make sure that it comes true.

in the matters of the art of venus, everything is ok. there have been ups and downs like in any long standing cooperation of sorts. it's been good since we've been able to weather the downs and have come back with tenacity and passion.

it's break time here and i'm lazy as ever. there is much to do, but i can't seem to wrangle up the motivation to get anything done. i started some of the tasks i've needed to do, but they're still not done and i still have a ton to read. so, after a few more days, i'll try to get back on track.

every now and then, it feels weird to look around me and realize that i'm actually living in another country. this isn't america. this isn't hawaii or colorado. this is quezon city, philippines. although there are some things that are similar, there are still a lot of things that aren't the same and just won't be. there is admittedly, a lack of quality in many of the products here. but that's ok. however, a major problem is the fact that money flows like water here. although things are relatively cheaper here, you end up buying things at a faster rate. it's hard to explain, you'd need to actually experience it yourself.

many of my friends are back home in america. the things i miss most about being home are the quality of food back home, driving, and the driving range. life moves on, here and back home. the only constant is change. but i'd like to hope that things are changing for the better and that we're only improving.

second long

the days have come and gone. i have been beaten, battered, exhausted beyond normal limits, and now i am used to the constant state of fatigue. i entered the first of our academic trials after an all nighter and found that i could barely stand. this second time around, not only was i able to function, i was able to pass that trial (thought not as well as i knew i could have). other than that, i think i understand now the process.

in matters of the heart, things are well. as with every bond, there are ups and downs. but this time around, there is a mutual interest in working at it and making this into something grand and hopefully of lasting value. there is not a waking moment when her silhouette doesn't run through my synapses. such is life.

in terms of things i miss - having a car, having income, healthy food options (actual salads would be nice), and golf. i haven't had a decent hobby in months, nor have i had the time to indulge in any. the things that i have up here that actually make me not miss home so much are - burritos from ristra's (think chipotle, with slight differences in taste but no sacrifice in terms of size), chili's (tastes exactly like chili's back home, unfortunately costs just as much), and an energy drink called bacchus (yes, i don't really like energy drinks, but think red bull only it doesn't taste like absolute shit).

to my friends, long time no speak. i hope you're all well. forgive me for not posting or commenting in a while, but know that i wish you well. take care and have a good christmas (it's september here, so it already signals the beginning of xmas - they already play carols in the malls).

"Suzy Lays Flat On Pillows Making Sex Terrific" - typical medical school mnemonic, the dirtier the better...