A great year that was

(No time for edits or pictures. Just plain raw thoughts that come to my head at the moment.)


"Growth means change. Change involves risks, stepping from the known to the unknown."
- from a friend



The year of 2009 was all about taking chances and having the thrill of having new experiences. Hell yes, it was. I'd like to share with everyone the memories and recount the blessings I've had with the year that was:

January: College academic life over. Still happy about the group thesis award and the thought of graduating soon. Excited to get myself a job.

February: Graduation march. Now officially an alumnus of DLSU-M. Applied for AIESEC's Global Internship Program.

March: Got myself accepted into the internship program. My career world was now open for anything anywhere in this globe can offer. Sweet.

April: Through AIESEC, I started applying for jobs in Europe. I was quite ambitious myself at that time, and eventually I got in talks with a company from Germany.

May: Germany didn't turn out so successful because of documents to settle. I had not enough time to dwell on this AIESEC internship thing, and I was about to give up because I promised myself that by the time June comes, I'll get myself a job no matter what. Then an AIESEC guy emailed me about a job opening in Malaysia.

June: Exchanged emails, did interviews, etc. And after a website design proposal later, this Swedish-Malysian company based in Kuala Lumpur officially hired me as a Multimedia specialist.

July: Papers were submitted, but needs time to get approved. Worked on the company's website at home, back in Batangas, in the meantime.

August: Bags are packed up for 'Malaysia, truly Asia'. Stepped on Malaysian soil on August 14, ready to embark on a new phase in life. Met Jiong Kit, the AIESECer guy who emailed me about the job, and Daniela, a fellow intern from Brazil.

September: Was enjoying my stay so far. Have gotten along good with the AIESECers, other AIESEC interns, and the people from the company. Spent my birthday away from home for the first time.

October: Andras from Hungary came, and a week after, Letzy from Peru arrived. We are now 4 people inside the condo. Daniela and I are now confident teaching Andras and Letzy the ropes here in KL.

November: Things got busier in the office. Two friends from the Philippines got to visit, Izah and Leola. Didn't get to meet Izah in person while she was here for the SEAChange conference though. Leola had Sarz and Viel come along, and all four of us went touring KL, and got ourselves some fun time in Genting Highlands.

December: The last intern, Martin from Czech Republic, had finally arrived. Christmas party with the company. Prepared a mean Chicken Macaroni salad for everybody, and was glad everybody praised my first time cooking well. Left Malaysia to spend holidays in the U.S. together with my siblings. Went to different places, (details and pictures to follow in a separate blog entry). Finally got to experience snow in Palm Springs, CA, and in Grand Canyon, AZ.




So much things have happened, most of them, good. Sometimes I like to think that 2009 was my year. A time when I have felt that I could be whoever I wanna be. A time when I felt like I could take on whatever that comes my way. A time when I took risks. A time when I decided on things for myself.

A time when I have never felt so much ...alive.

I really am grateful for all the experiences that I have had in my life so far. I am so lucky to have met talented people from all over the world whom I can learn from and look up to. Thank you, I have always liked learning.

And all this goes out to thank God and all my family and friends out there who are always there to give their love and support.

I like inspiring people as well. So there, I have never felt so adventurous in my entire life. My life has gone through a 360 degree turn, back to being not as passive and shy as I was before.

"Life is what you make it." No matter how cliche's go, I'm telling you that they are true.


Spreading the love from KL,
JV