Picking up where I left...

Days are passing by. That's what I know for sure. Waking up one day and trying to be a better person. Do my job. Love harder. Pursue bigger dreams..

All of a sudden, a year has passed already! I didn't noticed that days were so fast and I didn't noticed it (well not really hehee of course I noticed it lol). A lot of things happened and changed within that one year.

Looking back at my last post, I was there at that phase of my life where I am stuck with a toxic career and environment. Thank God I managed to get out alive and strong!

At this moment, I am happy and blessed to share some of the blessings (changes) that I had within that one year..

1) Career - After all the struggles, a better one came along and I am so blessed! I am so proud to join Lushescapes - a boutique luxury travel company based in JLT. I have two days for the weekend and I get to enjoy all the public holidays as well as good office schedule of 8:30 am - 5:30 pm (well I do overtime quite some time haha!) and a well maintained office with a stunning view of Dubai Marina side. Apart from that, I enjoy how I continue to learn every single day. My boss and my manager always push my boundaries to learn and grow more than yesterday. Learning opportunities and career growth are always being fed not only to me but to all of us. I am definitely the happiest!

View from our office - no filter used

2) Second Home - I changed flat twice within the year. First, I moved to Burjuman around May 2016 and met these beautiful girlfriends that I will forever treasure. There are rough days where I would hate our times of teasing and bullying. But we shouldn't be serious everyday right? Most of the time, I love them. They helped me go out my ultra comfort zone which is my bed! Hahaha! I am not joking! Whenever I feel bad or sad, I would stay in bed the whole day and they would literally drag me to get up. Or they would climb up to me and approach me with wide arms open.

Burjuman Girls: Ate Cory, Ate Rochelle (yes we have the same name), Lhei, Tracy, Ate Tin, ME, Aubrey and Ginny
Insert Pearl - missing in action 

Now, I am staying in Dubai Marina (don't get the wrong idea, Iam just renting a bedspace here and it's the cheapest we found!). We are 5 girls in total as of the moment and we usually have our own routine. They would go out with their own schedule, so most of the time, I am alone in the flat doing my own thing. This is what I love the most. I have lots and lots and lots of time for myself. I am starting to pick up all the stuff I wasn't able to finish like books (mostly self help for spirituality and finance books)

3) Mountains - After a two year break (rest) from hiking, I got the chance to do it again with Filipino Mountaineering Federation, also known as F.M.F. in Ras Al Khaimah. They usually organize public hiking events and it is open to all and definitely free! Yes it is absolutely free. If there's a need to rent a coaster bus for big numbers, that's the only time you will have to share some dirhams. And that's just for contribution of the coaster rental. It is equally divided to all as well. So no need to worry!

At Wadi Shah

FMF: Filipino Mountaineering Federation

4) Financial Freedom Journey - Before I left the Philippines, I am already reading a lot of stuff about Financial Literacy. And I know that one day, I will reach that Financial Freedom! But of course, the journey is not a straight line. There were times that we need to borrow money because we don't have emergency funds. There are also times that we need to relieve hunger because the salary is delayed (this happens when we relay too much from our paychecks).

I AM NOT THERE. But! I've had some progress! Each stepping stone achieved is worth celebrating! Some of the stepping stones along my journey are as follows:

*Debt Free - Me and my mom is free of debt after my dad left us with no such emergency funds.

*Small Sari-sari Store - After we finished paying our debts, we managed to put up a small grocery/retail store in front of our house. The sari-sari store serves as our bridges when there is a delay from my salary (because I still depend on it) and it made my mom busy in a good way.

*More time to STUDY - Since I get so much time off in this new company, I have read more books (than what I read in the past two years) and I have managed to read some podcasts and seminars online.

*Truly Rich Club Membership - I have joined this club because it suits my taste. I can do my studying at my own pace. No pressure of commitments for classes. The club itself didn't made me feel that I had such an obligation (attending classes) and instead, it is there waiting for your inner self to study out of your motivation.

Your first step starts here!

*COL Financial - I met COL Financial when I was still in College. And I just opened an account just this month. Crazy right? My account has been activated and I have transferred the account already! Yay! After a long time of waiting, I jumped in! It's better late than never right?

I wish to say more about my Financial Journey because we're not OFW's just to work and spend money like there's no tomorrow right? Don't worry, I will post another one soon so that both YOU and I will reach that Financial Freedom.

See you next post!

Ciao!

THE POWER OF NO

Companies, big or small, lay off employees in Dubai these past few months. However, our company is the complete opposite of this scenario. They are hiring more staff instead. Guaranteed that there will be enough workforce in our department, I planned a 10-day leave on May to commemorate the first year death anniversary of my dad. The operations manager said she accepted my request but I should wait for the new employees. She said I should ask the admin manager too before I book the ticket.

Today, I saw our admin manager (which is very rare) so I asked her if I can request for the leave form. The conversations are as follows:
Admin: You are requesting for a leave?
Me: Yes but it's for May.
Admin: You can't take a leave.
Me: Why not?
Admin: Because you just took a leave.
Me: That's last year. It was an emergency leave. 14 days. I haven't fully consumed any annual leave.
Admin: No. I don't think you can take your leave.
Me: Uhhh....
Admin: *walks away*

At first, I felt bad. I am mad. I want to scream it out. She did not even ask me as to why am I requesting it. She didn't even ask how long will it be. She never opened her heart to fully comprehend the situation yet she closed it with such a harsh answer. A NO.

In reality, it's getting on my nerves. But I can't let that happen especially this week which is already rough and stressful. So I called my best friend, the Gift of the Gap. Okay, I will try to put my situation in her shoes. Maybe it's not a good timing and she's thinking of other stuff related to our company which is more important than my leave. Maybe she's having a bad day and that's just her initial reaction. Maybe she's just kidding. Maybe.... The list is endless.
 

Two letter word. NO.
Powerful. Deep. And simple.

It's a simple word. It's very easy to comprehend. But why is that we cannot use it properly? People are using it for the wrong ideas with its essence being trashed.

When it comes to our loved ones, we always say no to their small favors very easily. Our thinking is that, they will understand me because they know me. But when it comes to other people, we cannot say no because we want to be "in" or we want to portray a different version of ourselves since they don't know us yet. Sounds familiar? The examples of wrong usage are endless. Our norm (and stupidity) of saying 'no' is infinite. The ideology of how it is being used is so wrong that we cannot notice its impact. Why?

We have to be reminded that we have choices. These choices are the answers to the things that we can't control...

Yes.
Yes to commitments, to dreams, to achieving goals, to success of everyone, to love, to adventure, to "YOLO", to the life ahead of us.

Maybe.
Maybe we can do something. Maybe there's another way. Maybe we can check it first. Maybe it's not the right time. Maybe there's something better.

No.
No to the things and words that hurts you, me, and other people.
No to the ideas that kills the passion, integrity, and principles of this society.
No to the toxic people and relationships that hold us back to realize that we deserve better.
No to everything that is not helping us to be a better person.
No to the wrong ways of this world.

We have a choice of what to use.
And that simple choice can change something... maybe someone's life or someone's way of living. Who knows? One day you will realize, that maybe it's time to change YOU.

EXTRA MILE: A SECRET RECIPE OF SUCCESS

A Syrian guy with an Indonesian wife (I guess) asked for a dummy ticket for CGK - BEY flight. What I know is that we can issue these dummy tickets as long as the original tickets are refundable. So I gathered all the information and their preference for the said tickets.

Before making any booking, I called one of my boss for his go signal about this tickets. He told me that this dummy tickets are risky and that I should not give it. I asked him why and he cannot give me a valid (and logical reason) so I kept asking him of what I should I offer instead. Then he told me, "JUST DON'T. I WILL JUST GIVE YOU SALES TODAY FOR YOU TO STOP."

I was like... woah! EXCUSE ME?! I told him straight away that that was so rude of him. It's totally inappropriate. The boss told me then why do I kept asking if he already said so. I told him that I was just fishing out for options of how can I help this guy. And right away I told him I don't need any information from him any more, thanked him and cut the line.

I just explained to the Syrian guy that we can't issue the tickets on that cities. But I feel so bad because I know we can. In return, I just gave him a booking reservation for free which he truly appreciates it. For him, I was so kind. For me, I am disappointed that I can't go beyond my boss' orders.

(c) myservicefirst.com

What is Customer Service? Why do people cut it back even if they know they can do it?

I've been in a customer service-oriented industry since I was 16. Been in fast food chains, theme park, call center - directory assistance, hotel, and now in the travel industry. Customer service is meeting clients' expectations. Giving them what they need. As easy as that.

However, there's a thing called 'Extra Mile'. I have learned this from my training when I was in McDonald's. It was a great strategy. People will be happy of your customer service but people will love you from your extra mile. People will never forget what you did for them. It keeps the business rolling. If employees must always remember that, I think superiors and bosses must embrace it. Because if not, there's no point of being in a Customer Service Industry.

At the end of the day, I am disappointed because what I learned throughout the years was just a failure because of a boss' orders. An underdog employee like me? What can I do anyway?

NEW YEAR, NEW ME, NEW GOALS

Happy New Year! 

It's the time of the year where everything is fresh and new! Last year might not be one of the best years of my life, but it's over. It's already in the past. So right now, I should focus on planning and claiming to be waaaay moreee HAPPY this year! And for me to maximize my time here in Dubai (Inshallah), I've decided to come up with a list of my own goals (SMART goals).

These smart goals, once achieved and accomplished, will have it's own post here in my blog. And so here it is and let me try my best to fulfill these goals before the year ends!

Travel, Sports & Adventure - UAE
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Global Village
Walking Tour - Old Dubai
Arsekal Avenue
Ferrari World
Ski Dubai
Jebel Jais
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
Iceland Waterpark
Motiongate Dubai (still under construction)
Oman Musandam
Practice ice skating in Dubai Ice Rink (Dubai Mall) and in Hyatt Regency
Try paddle board around Burj Al Arab
Attend one Yacht Party

Travel - outside UAE 
Hike one mountain/volcano
Visit one town outside Luzon
Travel to one Asian Country
Try Couchsurfing as a GUEST

Road to Financial Freedom
Be debt free
Create a solid emergency fund
Help our small convenience store in the Philippines to grow bigger
Buy 1 22k carat gold as an investment
Buy the gold arrow ring or a necklace with the arrow pendant
Open an account in mutual funds 

Personal Growth
Land in my dream job/company
Learn how to do make up professionally
Learn how to wear good heels

How about you? What are some of your goals for this year? Let me know and maybe I can add it to my list! Good luck to everyone!

YOU JUST DON'T WRITE WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE IT: YOU BLEED

It's been ages since I was active writing stuff under the sun. I was too consumed with a lot of things and sometimes I think there's nothing important to write about. Although there are times as well wherein I feel like I wanted to write everything.

Writing, is not an obligation to me. It's more of, an exercise of the mind and my freedom. I feel like to write whenever I had a bad day. Or when I am upset. Or when I am sad. I write because of my emotions raging. Not just because I am not busy.

However, I must use the excuse that I am busy this month (at least in my opinion). I have to focus more at work so that I can reach the targets as early as possible. And I have to focus on a lot of problems at work which is made by yours truly as well.

It is the end of the month and almost the end of the year. Things kept on happening which surprises me. And people still come and go. And there are some persons who suddenly came back out of nowhere. That's when I bleed the most.

I bleed and yearn for a big heart. That after so much sadness, I hope I can still love them as my friends, colleagues or whoever they may be. I yearn for a big heart that after so much hurt, I hope I can still accept them without any fear and anger in my heart.


After all of these, it's gonna be a new year and I am looking forward for a brand new start.

50 DAY CHALLENGE: ACHIEVED!

Who am I before the 50 DAY CHALLENGE?

Craziness is my forte and I realized that I became a monster out of craziness. Distress ate my positive view in life. And I was not aware that I am not myself anymore. I am surrounded by toxic energies and toxic relationships. And soon enough, I became the poison itself. I even lost a love one because I can't handle my own stress and shit. Day after day, everything is a struggle. Work is full of distractions, stress is my best friend, and sleep is just a break.

So last September 14, I pledged to listen to TED talks once a day for 50 consecutive days. I opt for the 21 days only since it's the suggested number of days to create a new habit/routine but I felt that it was too short to change the mindset of a person.

Original source of the picture

Here's the list of all the talks that I've listened to:
1) The only person you need to marry - Tracy Mcmillan
2) Is it lust or love? - Terri Ordburch
3) How to stop screwing yourself over - Mel Robbins
4) The slut, spinster & perfect woman - Martha Mosse
5) How to become more confident - Till H. Grob
6) How do you define yourself? - Lizzie Velasquez
7) How being heartbroken was the best thing ever happened to me - Emma Gibbs
8) If you want to achieve your goals, don't focus on them - Reggie Rivers
9) Select the right relationship - Alexandra Redcay
10) Is there scientific proof that we can heal ourselves? - Lissa Rankin
11) Why are we happy? Why aren't we happy? - Dan Gilbert
12) My philosophy for a happy life - Sam Berns
13) Life is easy, why do we make it so hard? - Jon Jandai
14) The psychology of self motivation - Scott Geller
15) How to believe in yourself - Jim Cathcart
16) How to magically connect with anyone - Brian Miller
17) Be the warrior, not the worrier - Angela Ceberano
18) You're already awesome, just get out of your own way - Judson Brewer
19) The art of being yourself - Caroline McHugh
20) The unsexy truth, the hookup culture - Lisa Bunnage
21) Growing up in a pornified culture - Gail Dines
22) If you've had sex, you know how to sell - Mace Horoff
23) Happiness is all in your mind - Gen Kelsang Nyema
24) Meet yourself: A user's guide to building self-esteem - Niko Everett
25) The secret to self-control -  Jonathan Bricker
26) You don't wake up fabulous - Robert Ferrell
27) The happy secret to better work - Shawn Anchor
28) Let's face it, charisma matters - John Antonakis
29) What could be wrong with monogamy? - Marc de Hond
30) How to practice emotional hygiene - Guy Winch
31) How to know your life purpose in 5 minutes - Adam Leipzig
32) The power of defining yourself - Amma Asante
33) Programming your mind for success - Carrie Green
34) Being insecure - Tomas Jech
35) How to lose your self-esteem - Matthew Whoolery
36) Freedom from self doubt - BJ Davis
37) Overcoming hopelessness - Nick Vujicic
38) Why I stopped watching porn? - Ran Gavrieli
39) 10 things you didn't know about orgasm - Mary Roach (skip this - it's absolutely not worth your time, I just read this out of curiosity *defensive I know haha*
40) The habits of happiness - Matthieu Ricard
41) The art of asking - Amanda Palmer
42) Never ever give up - Diana Nyad
43) What you don't know about marriage - Jenna McCarthy
 44) Why some of us don't have one true calling - Emilie Wapnick
45) Draw your future - Patti Dobrowolski
46) Why happy couples cheat? - Esther PErel
47) Looks aren't everything, believe me I'm a model - Cameron Russell
48) Home is a song I've always remembered - Teitur
49) Why I read a book a day and why you should too - Tai Lopez
50) How to find the work you love - Scott Dinsmore

And yes, after 50 consecutive days (this is a late post by the way), I am proud to say that I am successful with my challenge! Congratulations to me! Woooh!!

So who am I now?

I am new. I am healed. Stuff and stress is still there but I know (and I am confident) that I can handle it very well now. I am back to the high-spirited version of myself. And I more focused on my dreams. One thing is for sure, the balance that I've been looking for... I already found it.

Photo source

SUPERHUMAN IN KARAMA: CHINESE & FILIPINO

First of all, my intention of this post is not to bring down any nationality working here in Karama. However, I just feel the urge to uplift these hardworking people which I believe is needed to be heard by others. I just wanna let you know that these two groups are competing here in Al Attar Shopping Mall when it comes to salons. As of writing, I heard that this building houses 18 salons (for ladies) and 3 salons (for gents) which are as follows:

1) Gupit Pinoy
2) Relax N' Style
3) Royal Star Gents Salon
4) Hair Shine Gents Salon
5) Arabian Dessert 
6) Hollywood
7) Skin Plus & Beauty Salon
8) Athena
9) Athena Gents
10) Reena
11)  Dali Zhang
12) Ciao Bello
13) Judy N' Jacky
14) Hair Shine
15) Beauty Care First
16) Nasmat Jamal
17) Meteor Garden
18) Miracle Touch
19) Belo Plus
20) Hollywood
21) Reflection Beauty Centre

I cannot imagine how a  Four-Storey Building (the size of this building isn't big as Burjuman Center or Al Ghurair Center) can accommodate 18 salons. Can you imagine the competition?

If you can pass by in this building, you will get to experience how they try to market their customers. And that is by giving flyers. So, yes, they are giving out flyers in their own ways. I learned that these people are doing that when they don't have any customers at all. I asked some of them how often they do that in a day and in a week and they told me:

In a day: Maybe 4-7 hours depending on the day
In a week: Maybe 4-6 days a week

Answers varies but that's the average answers and out of the observation of people around. So it means that giving out flyers is more often than doing the job itself in the salon.

These people are working their asses off because the salary that they receive are not enough (I believe). I heard that they can receive some commissions whenever they can invite customers to the salons through giving flyers. Some of the commissions are on percentage basis while some don't get any commissions at all.

The Chinese staff receives twice a month day off and the Filipino staff receives once a week day off.

I am very embarrassed of myself as to how I complain about my work. These people never complain about standing all day long, out in the sun, just to give flyers. I can even see them smiling and goofing around with their colleagues, while I am always on my bitch mode on when I don't have clients.

Knowing these people, it inspires me to work smarter in life with humility at its finest. I got the chance to see them from a closer point of view and in the span of five days, I remember a lot of values that I should never ever forget.

I admire these people for working hard despite of any job that they are doing right now. There's a lot of jobs out there harder than these, and I admire all of you (if you're one of them) for being strong and for doing it just to fulfill your deepest why's.

It's my pleasure to be transferred here in the office and I will never forget this wisdom from them. Kudos to all Temporary Foreign Workers or TFW's, may it be here in Dubai or around the world!

LITTLE OFFICE AROUND THE CORNER

I was told I will be transferred to Deira office last week but after a few days, the memo was put on hold due to some considerations I believe. Though I am not sure of the agenda of the considerations. Is it because of my performance? Or are they just waiting for the new employees so that they can set all the new office assignments?

Anyway, as of today, I am well adjusted to my new humble office here in Karama (except for a fact that this office doesn't have a water dispenser so I missed drinking coffee). So yes, good news! I am still in Karama and I don't need to take metro or bus unlike if I will be transferred to Deira. Though I hoped for a new environment, but I am still grateful for what I received in return.

I would like to share my few observations (this small office offers a good spot if you like watching people as a hobby which I do enjoy the most) and reflections for the past two days:

1) There's a lot of salons in this building (that's a fact) and the competition for them is really really high. For them to get customers, there are people downstairs giving flyers for their salons. And when I say they are giving flyers, it is the intense way of giving flyers I can say. That's their sole job, to give flyers. I have lots of thoughts about these people (good, bad, sad, etc.) and I am thinking of another post to be written specifically for them.

2) For the past few days, I complain a lot about my work and my salary but there are lots of people working in this building with worse conditions than mine. I just realized I forgot to be more grateful, more humble and more compassionate. And this office makes me remember those things all over again.

3) This small office receives fewer inquiries and that means I have to work my ass harder and wiser. I got scared sometimes that I might not hit the targets daily. So during the first two days, I tried my best to convince myself  that I will hit the target plus working my ass off and yes, I am hitting the targets (exceeding the margin even!). I just noticed that I am slowly coming back to my positive self and I am loving it!

With my pa-bebe look at the new office. ☺

Wish me good vibes and please always include me in your prayers. Have a great week!

P.S. I got SATURDAYS OFF as per the memo! I AM SO HAPPY! I hope they will not make any changes. I am looking forward to get a lot of chance to go out of Karama during these Saturdays off. See you around!

CLOSING ONE CHAPTER OF MY LIFE IN GHALIYAH TRAVEL

Last Monday night, I was caught using Facebook (not literally but since I'm very honest, I told them that I was checking someone's message in Facebook) and that lead to salary deduction of 500 AED plus I will be transferred to another office.

Yes, you read it right, I will be moving to another office starting on Saturday.

I spent my whole weekend sulking, and sleeping, and stress eating and thinking.

I was upset at myself for these reasons:
1) I was not able to learn my lessons when others got their salary deducted from using Facebook.
2) I was too consumed from reading messages that I was not able to hide it (if I was careful it won't lead to something like this)

I was upset at my company for these reasons:
1) I already hit the targets for the day let alone my monthly target which I am proud to say that I hit 200% of it.
2) It was 9 pm already and I already hit the targets 200% (this means that I don't neglect my tasks and work responsibility) 
3) Employees have their own version of their productivity strategy and using it doesn't mean that I am not productive

Okay enough with the explanation. After exactly one year (I reported as an agent in Corner Office last Sept. 6, 2014), I will be moving to Deira office this coming Sept. 5, 2015. 

At first, I was sad and upset of course. The market is already here. I am (at least) stable with my humble accounts/clients. People knew me already in this area and clients were coming back for me with their own reasons and judgments.

After a whole day of sleeping and meditating, I get a grip on my composure. I found myself excited for this new chapter of my life. My soon to be office is a challenge to me. New environment means new colleagues to work out with. New boss. New clients. New strategies. New lessons. New leap of faith. 

And all these new things mean one thing. Getting out of my comfort zone. 

I am excited as to what person will I be after 12 more months. Hoping for an exciting year for my career! See you around in Al Ghurair Center! 

MY OWN BUT NOT WITH ME

It's Sunday today and my day off will be on Tuesday. The lad from the land down under and me are planning to go to Oman Musandam Trip on Tuesday. We're going to cross the border of UAE and Oman. Of course, crossing a border requires one thing: PASSPORT. Right now, I am still on a dilemma since my passport is with my company.

I already asked my supervisors to lend it to me. However, the admin told me that she will still ask the big boss (owner) since the passports are with them.

Now I have two thoughts:
1) If they will lend it to me, that would be great! I'll get the chance to seize the day with my friend and that is priceless! And at least, I will feel happier in my work place. Because I can prove to myself that they can still grant my simple requests.

2) If they will not lend it, this is a pity. I don't know if I can still pull out from the booking. And it will really spoil the plans. We don't have back up plans for Tuesday. The lad told me that he wants to go to the Musandam Trip WITH me and not alone. So if I cannot come, I am not sure if he's gonna go alone.

And as for my company issues, if they are not going to lend it to me, I am not sure if I can be more motivated than I am today. Though I am still grateful because I have a job but I know I deserve better than this. And this is my limit, I guess.

One sleepless night thinking of Ghaliyah Trouble

I cannot sleep tonight despite the fact that I haven't slept for more than 5 hours last night. And from the fact that I am not feeling well, I think I should get some good sleep right? But no.

As I am thinking of ways how to get sleep, I am just here lying down and my mind is out of control. All the possible things I can think of was now in my mind.

For tonight's topic, let me share you an insight of what's happening in my company.

A few days has passed and a lot of things changed alreay. It started last Sunday. My colleague, a good friend of mine and my former roommate was caught playing random games that afternoon. Yes, it was wrong of her to do that since we are within our working hours. After two days, the big boss asked her to leave our office. And since she doesn't have a choice, she transferred to another office in return for my good friend as well.

I should rejoice because I've been waiting for this friend of mine for her to be assigned in Karama, but I got mixed emotions. Maybe because our friendship was still in our 'down moments' or maybe I got too attached to other friend already.
From that moment, some supervisors are way too focused on us to look after what we're doing. But I felt like it is kinda suffocating. I felt like the trust was not there anymore. I think I can understand of where was that coming, but I think we also deserve to be work freely as we can. We are all professionals as well. We're not kids to look after from time to time.

For all the employees out there: Let's strive hard to be better at work. Not work harder and longer but work wiser and stronger. Let us not waste the opportunity of our job. If you think your job sucks, try my job some time. Though my job has its own ups and downs as well. 

For all the employers and superiors out there: Don't let a bad stuff be a barrier to a good employer-staff relationship. Good ideas and better communications motivates us to work better. Punishments lead to poor performance.

That's all for now. Ciao!