Just To Clarify

On what I wrote on my previous entry:

"There were some things that happened this year that made me say "Had I known this would happen, I would've stayed in Manila." And since something like that occured, it also made me think again if I was meant to be here."

...the statement had nothing to do with the country whatsoever. Australia has been good to me in so many ways (and they have been good to other people in general). From the start, this country has made immediate means for me to stay here (a job just after a week that I've moved here is one clear example). If there are times when I would like to go home, it is just ME and my issues in life. As a migrant, it is easy to say "I wanna go back" especially when you know that you still have people you have left behind where you came from. BUT I also know that the act of doing such a thing is hard simply because I HAVE A LIFE HERE NOW...this is my life now--my career and my small family is here. :) I have made a life here because I'm happy here too.

I know that there are a couple of friends from the Phils who read my entries on Australia because they want to know how great a country this is, because they also have plans of moving here. Regardless of my so-called issues in life, I do recommend that moving in Australia is a good option for those who want to have a change of life.

Yun lang pow! Magandang Umaga sa inyong lahat!

3rd Year Aussie-versary

I had mixed emotions yesterday when I celebrated my 3rd year anniversary as a migrant here in Australia. On my third year, I'm happy of the big achievements I've made (like bringing the husband here and being able to find our first home) however, it was also this year that a part of me regretted coming here. There were some things that happened this year that made me say "Had I known this would happen, I would've stayed in Manila." And since something like that occured, it also made me think again if I was meant to be here.

It was this year that I applied for my Australian Citizenship...it took awhile for me to lodge my application as I had to think again and again if I'm really going to do it. Sometimes even if I'm a bit undecided, I still do things as they are presented infront of me.

So I took the Australian Citizenship exam. I was pressured to pass (other than the fact that I hate failure because it means time being wasted--that's just me) because I'm surrounded by relatives who work for the government, one of whom even works at the Immigration. Not to mention that I am also a government employee myself. Nakakahiya kung hindi ako makapasa. The funny thing was, when I arrived at the venue for testing, the boyfriend of my cuzin (who works at the Immigration too) was at the reception area welcoming those who were scheduled for oath-taking. Ano ba??? The moment I saw him I said, "So I really have to pass now because you're here!!"

So that was my Australian Citizenship exam story. I really studied, took down notes and remembered all the names, places and dates that needed to be remembered. I passed with a perfect score. The registration took longer than answering the test (it was fairly easy).

I filed my Australian Citizenship application in July. It takes awhile these days to get an answer back as there are many people applying compared to years ago when the Immigration were the ones encouraging people to apply for citizenship. The approval came in last week, in time for my 3rd year mark. It's all good. I guess I'm really doing it now--say "I do" to Australia soon. Now I'm only waiting for another letter saying when my oath-taking will be.

We sort of celebrated yesterday by having dinner at Hyde Park. The Night Noodle Festival started this week so we opted to feed ourselves cheap Asian Cuisine at the park.

Some expensive/exclusive Chinese "resto" at the park. We didn't eat here. We just lined up at one of the stalls and had dinner near the fountain at Hyde Park.

They had dragon dances for entertainment. Very very festive. I almost wanted to shout "Kung Hei Fat Choi!" hehe

Our Yum-Cha dinner: Fried Dim Sum, Pork Buns and Prawn Dumplings.

Very oily Hookien Noodles :)

Me in my "ngarag" look.

Chris

Our friends Louie, Luanne and Teena who brought us so much laughter by asking "jolog" questions.

With all the good and the bad, I'm staying and in general terms, I am happy still. I will admit that I've fallen inlove with this country already, plus the friends that we have here had made it more home. And believe it or not, the husband likes it here more than I do, so wherever he is, that's where I will be. Home is where the heart is...home is where he is.

Bukas

We're moving!!!!!

{photo source}

Terrifying Morning

I'm exhausted.

The day started with a very memorable and scariest experience. We were on our way to our first appointment of the day aboard a bus when our our bus crashed into another vehicle. The vehicle infront of us was going out of their garage and probably didn't notice that there was a big bus on his rear. Chris and I were the only ones inside the bus. We were peacefully looking upfront when we noticed what was about to happen. The lady driver made a loud scream and in a split second the vehicle infront of us made huge tumble to its right side and the windshield of the bus made a shattering sound. It was a miracle that no one got seriously hurt. Chris and I were able to hold on tight to the seat handles infront of us. My left leg hurt a little from the pressure of the seat infront of us, but other than that, we're physically okay.

Emotionally though we were shocked and shaken. Til about lunchtime, we'd find ourselves quiet and looking into space thinking about the accident.

Thank God we're still here.