“Hard work gets you to the top; attitude keeps you there,” said the student who delivered his speech during the Recognition Night in our school just a while ago.
Medal
Mommy arrived here in Ovada today, just in time for the Recognition Night and our graduation for tomorrow. Well, as you can see, I got a medal from that recognition night. So did Audrey and Kpop Lover (though Kpop Lover wasn’t able to receive it because she’s in Bangkok right now). Audrey and Kpop Lover, congratulations to you both! Hooray for us three!
Aside from the medal, I honestly thought there was a cash prize. Well, there wasn’t. But it’s alright. At the very least, my earnest desire for cash brought me to where I am tonight. I’m the best clinical pharmacy intern, you know.
Kimmy introduced me to Ian Choe’s music. Ian Choe is a Korean residing in Massachussetts, and is a friend of 2PM’s Nichkhun. Let’s welcome him to YouTube by watching his very first video:
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I used to think that Goldie is happy because she’s got almost everything a person could dream for: money, parents who are doctors, a big house, iPhone, credit card, etc. But I was wrong. She said that all of these, she doesn’t really want. What she really wants is to be best at something so that people won’t compare her with others anymore. Her parents always compare her with her brother who’s always a dean’s lister, and the college org which she handled before always compares her with the new president who managed to grab them an award for community service—one thing Goldie failed to do during her term.
During a lunch date at McDonald’s with Kpop Lover and Audrey last week, we talked about our dreams and the means on how to achieve them. We also talked about our sad issues and who may be the saddest person in our dorm.
I thought of all of my dormmates and realized that each of them is sad in one way or another. Veronica is sad because she’s not close with her parents and as a result, can’t open up her feelings to them. Goldie is sad because she’s always being compared with her siblings and orgmates. Unni is sad because there are a lot of things to do and too little time on her hands. Kpop Lover is sad because her mom expects her to watch over her little brother and take responsibility for their pharmacy. Audrey is sad because she still doesn’t have a US visa. Jobie is sad because she’s leaving for the States on July and will have to leave her non-US-citizen mom behind. Ruffa and Gretchen are still a mystery to me but I think they’re sad too.
While I was sweeping the floor just moments ago, I thought all those things over, and realized that even though I’m not rich like most of them, I may actually be the happiest person in the dorm.
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Kpop Lover flew to Manila tonight. Tomorrow, she and her family will be flying not to Korea but to Thailand.
Just got home from Magsaysay Avenue with Kpop Lover, Audrey, Goldie and Nathan. We had durian, and gosh! It was awesome!!! The D101 variety, to be specific! Pair it with Coke, they say. (Sorry, I don’t drink softdrinks, but even so, durian was really yummy!)
Durian with Coke
Tonight was great. We had dinner at Pard’s, took pictures at People’s Park, and ate durian. These may just be ordinary for others. But for me, tonight was great because I got to spend it with great people.
BTW, I read some articles about durian and learned that it contains a lot of tryptophan, which is a precursor of serotonin, the happy hormone. So in other words, durian makes a person happy.
I’m alone in the dorm tonight yet I’m happy. Today has been so full of kindness. First, there was Audrey waking me up for breakfast; and then Rosca thanking me so many times on YM for the module I sent her; Mama Steph inviting me to the Philippine Eagle Center; and finally, Ate Inday telling me I’ve been a very kind tenant, and that for this reason, the land lady agreed to let Mommy stay here in my room on the 20th to 23rd for free. Because of their kindness, I’m inspired to be kind too. Kindness is contagious.
We’re having lunch here at Tiny Kitchen. I heard that their pasta and paella are really great (great enough to bring Unni and Goldie here everyday since Monday). When Goldie told us this morning that she and Unni were going to eat here again, we thought we might dine in as well. (When I say “we,” I’m referring to Kpop Lover, Audrey, and me).
Mango Sansrival
The place looks good, and er… tiny. The menu on the blackboard looks good also, full of words like paella and pasta and anchovies. We ordered Paella Mariscos (Php 390) which is good for 2-3 persons, and Chorizo Tomati Cheese (Php 156) which is good for 1. Since we were already starving by the time we arrived, and the foods we ordered require 30 to 40 minutes of preparation, we had our desserts first. Kpop Lover had plain sansrival, while Audrey and I had mango sansrival (Php 65). Yum yum!
Paella Mariscos
True to their word, they served our orders after 30 minutes of waiting. As you can see, they look really good! And taste good too! But my gosh! My mom can do these too! I’ve seen this types of dishes many times before in our own home! And on my own plate!
Chorizo Tomati Cheese
Now I realize how great Mom’s dishes are! With genuine ingredients and all! When I get rich, I’m so building her up a restaurant! She truly deserves one!
Looking back at my previous posts, I notice that I’ve been eating out a lot.
To reward ourselves for finally completing the 360 hours of internship, Kpop Lover, Audrey and I had lunch at Picobello Ristorante Italiano and immersed ourselves in 3 kinds of pizza.
First was Rustica Quattro Formaggi, the pizza with four kinds of cheese. This was our favorite. That’s why we ordered two of this, and one of each of the other two. So we had four pizzas all in all.
Rustica Quattro Formaggi
Next was Pizza Con Salciccie, the pizza topped with a lot of meat. For me, it just tasted like Rustica Quattro Formagi. Just add meat on it.
Pizza Con Salciccie
Last one was the Calzone. The word literally translates to “stocking” or “trouser” in Italian. It is made by folding over the pizza dough and sealing all the “toppings” inside.
Calzone
In the end, we weren’t able to finish all the pizzas so we still had some for dinner.
