only by Grace...

Grace, my new boss in my new job is SUPER SWEET! She just gave me her own brand new Microsoft Windows Live i-buddy. I told her she didn't have to and I could just take one later, but she told me this is an exclusive piece and we are not producing any more stocks next year. This morning, I just found the cute thingy on my desk! :) It works as a laptop or PC accessory that lights up whenever an IM buddy gets online and flaps its wings once you received a message on MSN. Microsoft rocks!

Because I wasn't able to give her anything for Christmas, I created a CD of songs for her as a New Year's present. It's a good thing her name is a virtue so thinking of a cover design was easy. Hehehhe.

When she received the cd, she went wow so many times and showed it to all our sales staff telling everyone how pretty the girl on the cover is. I'm so happy she liked my gift.

Wow, 2008 zoomed in quite fast! What a year indeed. I remember it was not long ago when I was just jotting down my faith goals, and now I need to come up with a new set this soon! Well, I had my share of highs and lows this year, but I am utterly grateful on how this year has turned out for me. I just want to share some of the most important highlights and blessings I received this year- only by Grace:

1. Mummy Ana Manzano & the rest of my cell group. I was waiting to be connected with a group in my previous churches here in Singapore but after a few months of seeking, I was still shepherd-less. One day, my best friend Danzen who is working for Proudly Filipina, told me that they featured Connie Reyes in their show, and after the shoot, Connie Reyes prayed for her! Then, I remembered that Connie Reyes goes to VCF. I went into its site and found out that it is a member of Every Nation Church. I clicked on the link and found Mummy's name in their online list of leaders. I got attracted to the name (also because it's very Filipino. yay!) Our group has really provided a lot of support and has helped me mature in my faith, develop a sense of divine perspective, and learn more of the things that truly matter. I just love being in fellowships with them.

2. Having met Marian Jarquin- American slash Taiwanese slash Nicaraguan babe and one my best friends in Singapore. We went through a tough time in our previous job, but looking back I am grateful that we were together for encouragement, companionship and prayer. She's now in California and I hope to visit her soon (or vice-versa). I'm going to miss having lunch with her and watching her eat the same thai fried rice every day because that's the only thing her picky tummy can bear.

3. Turned 25 this year! I believe I am becoming more and more responsible and discplined by the day. Uhm honestly, being 25 doesn't feel any different than being 21 or 23 or 24. But I notice that I have become wiser, increased my level of persistence, become more patient and yielding, and of course- have grown more beautiful! :-)

4. Shifted to our new flat! This place is nicer, less expensive and closer to the MRT & my workplace.

5. FREE swimming lessons with Coach Lingam @ NUS Campus. I was actually willing to pay a hundred bucks for a personal coach but this came as a blessing. Goodbye salbabida, hah!

6. My new, shiny pink Sony Vaio- the most expensive (monetary-wise) unexpected blessing I received. The story on this miracle is a whole new blog entry altogether. So thanks be to God whom we can never outgive.

7. Friday dinner dates with Nipsy. This year, Nips started to work with Unilever Singapore. From Unilever-Manila to SG, Nips has her own incredible testimony to share. :) I look forward to our upcoming dates, Nipso!

8. MBA Applications- finally came around to accomplishing this. It took me months to actually pysch myself to review for the gmat and take the whole mba frenzy seriously. I've been to a lot of mba tours and have received career advice from the experts, so I really feel that I'm on the right track. I'm really praying hard for a UBC-Sauder scholarship to land on my mailbox. Just believe!

Here's to a more exciting and brighter year ahead! I pray that you will be taken to greater heights in all aspects of your lives, dear friends. Let's 'fix our [future] thoughts on what is true and honorable, on what is right and pure, and lovely and admirable- things that are excellent and worthy of praise.' (Ph 4:8)

Blessed 2009, Everyone!
XOXO from Super hot & Sunny Singapura!

Mwah!

Home Alone on Christmas Eve!

This is my first time to spend Christmas away from my family. Since moving in here in Singapore, I've been doing quite a lot of things on my own, but I occasionally fly back home for special events- holidays, weddings, and the like, but this time I couldn't afford it and I didn't want to. Surprisingly, I don't feel sad at all. In fact, I feel contentment, joy and blessings overflowing in my life. God is just amazing; He has always been.

A month ago, I lost my job. I didn't even think that I would have a very merry Christmas. Back then, everything didn't matter so long as I found a job to cover the next month's rent. But now, God has placed me in a company of generous, cheerful, pleasant, and lovely co-workers! They gave me gifts and encouragement as if I were working with them for a long time. I could have been hired by the other companies I previously applied to, but God has other plans and He indeeed has a reason for everything. After all, He does all things well :)

Right now, I'm watching Love Actually (for the 3rd time I think). It is one of my favorite feel-good holiday movies. I'm waiting for my housemates to arrive from work so we can all feast together. But I'm savoring this wondrous feeling that is a blessing in itself- solitude. The rain has just stopped and I can sense the dampness of the chilly air blowing from my window. The grey clouds are still and the sun is beginning to light up the horizon though not as harsh as on a sunny day.

Allow me to bask in all this- the quiet holiday break, piles of dark chocolates from friends, a good book on my bedside table, the pleasantly cold weather, sunlight from my windowpane, singlehood and independence, and the opportunities to celebrate the ongoing works of Jesus in my life.

The Antidote.

Thumbing through the loose threads at the knees of my trf jeans
I listen to the huskiness of Paolo Nutini’s voice as he strikes a soft G.
I wonder why the neighbour’s dogs have stopped barking
Could it be that they’ve lost their voice?
Or perhaps bashfulness is at their senses’ reach
If only I could sniff just as well...
But maybe they’re also like me
Picking up the pieces
Of whatever’s left of the pellet on the floor
And maybe just like me
Summer is their favourite season
A time of rice cakes and strawberry milkshakes
Sunsets and cheese omelettes
Bicycle rides and ipod tunes
Whistles and stares
(Though I wouldn’t be bothered)
Making dog-ears in my beloved paperbacks
Rendezvous with my polygamous lovers-
There’s Coke after lunch
Ice creams at supper
And Cadbury whenever
Poetic License. Geraniums.Orchids.Daffodils.
Treading barefoot
Along my custom-made valley
A prerequisite for the mountain heights
Whistling on a rainy Sunday
With a drenched cardboard for cover
Listening

Seeking

Waiting

Enjoying

Living for moments that take my breath away...

On Our Way Home

An entry by Mary Southerland for Girlfriends in God Series.

One of my favorite movies is "Apollo 13" in which we first heard those famous words, "Houston, we have a problem", an understatement, to say the least. The astronauts faced seemingly impossible odds of getting back to earth but refused to give up the fight until they splashed down in the waters of home.

Life is much the same. We are often thrust into a daily life of foreign and often frightening worlds, shaky circumstances, and impossible trials with no obvious way of escape. It seems like we will never get home and our world will never be right again.

I have discovered a truth that surfaces in my heart every Christmas holiday. We all come into this world with a sense of being lost. Tucked into the corner of our souls is a feeling of restlessness...a longing for home, for something eternal. That longing will never be satisfied outside of a relationship with Him! God holds each today and every tomorrow in His hands. Nobody and nothing can fill the "God-shaped" hole in our heart.

I have come to cherish that desperate heart cry that drives me to my knees and into the lap of my Father! Each and every time I come to Him, He whispers, "It will be all right. You are not home - yet."

I do not want this broken and torn world to be my final home, but merely a place I am passing through. While I am here, I have a God-sized job to do, an extraordinary mission to complete and a wonderful purpose to fulfill. Is that awesome or what? Absolutely! But it is only the beginning of the eternity for which I was created. It doesn't get any better than that, my friends.

So as you dive into your hectic schedule, remember that one day, we will be home - with Him - but until then, let's celebrate here! Guard your hearts and mind by filling them with God's Word. Hold fast to the true meaning of the season and don't let go! Look for ways to share the message of the manger, embracing that longing for home as a sweet reminder that one day we will celebrate His birth in Heaven. What a Christmas that will be! And we are on our way home!

the Script is ♥

`Cos when a heart breaks no it don't break even'...


At first I thought they were just another boy band coming around the bend. The Script describes their music as the new 'Celtic Soul', combining pop melody with soul and some rock dynamics. (Even if it were cuckoo music, I would still have listened).

Well, I am utterly captivated - the lyrics AND the Irish accent made the difference. Plus, it didn't hurt that Danny O'Donaghue (lead, 25) is a hottie! But more than anything, I fell in love with the voice (oh, man!) and how the lyrics transcend beyond the simple use of narratives and rhymes.

SO I AM gathering up my skirt and exposing my bare toes, ready to soak them in the puddle. Everything else does not matter for too many nights have fallen for me not to notice the countless, gorgeous stars embedded in a blanket of black. Existence IS bliss...this is my silver and I'm loving it!

After Pilates class, I went back to our flat only to find a surprise from my housemates :) This Princess is indeed very, very happy! Looking back, I realized that I am truly blessed in more ways than I had initially thought.

A few weeks before my birthday, I posted an entry concerning a crisis I was going through. It was not severe (like a lemme-see-a-shrink crisis) but I definitely felt that there was something wrong with me and it was not just simple PMS-ing. I became insecure with my status quo and I felt that I needed to do something but I did not know what. I longed for the past yet I also wanted change. The alarm went off in my head and my friends told me that I was having quarter-life crisis. Then I realized (perhaps from reading too much Time & Newsweek) that crisis starts when uncertainty sets in. But I also learned that uncertainty ferments trust, faith, dependence, and a desire to seek wisdom, all of which are necessary to make us all the more human.

Well, I don't think I'm still in a crisis. The emotional waves have subsided (and I'm being poetic again :p). 25 is a good age; and I know some people would die just to become 25 again (e.g. my hunky boss).

This also marks a complete year of living alone... living on lychee puddings, instant noodles, bottles of Coke Zero, and pipe dreams handwritten on recycled springbound notebook...while realizing that this stage is a paradox in itself- characterized by a need to learn more and a desire to secure one's innocence.

I am grateful to the people who have blessed me with their friendship; who have kept me grounded; who have encouraged me; who have rebuked me; and who have allowed me to be hurt, to suck it up, and to grow . More importantly, I am grateful to Him whose promises are always fulfilled AND whose Princess is so loved and favored upon.

More celebrations, testimonies, and photos to come!

QLC: Everyone's going through it!

QLC stands for Quarter Life Crisis and I'm currently in it (I think). Marian, my best bud in the office, and I were just discussing how she's been having the blues lately. We both don't know what we want in our career and our relationships, and we are simply not content with what's in front of us.

She sent me an email describing the symptoms (from Wikipedia I think) :

• feeling "not good enough" because one can't find a job that is at one's academic/intellectual level
• frustration with relationships, the working world, and finding a suitable job or career
  confusion of identity
• insecurity regarding the near future
• insecurity concerning long-term plans, life goals
• insecurity regarding present accomplishments
• re-evaluation of close interpersonal relationships
• disappointment with one's job
• nostalgia for university, college, high school or elementary school life
• tendency to hold stronger opinions
• boredom with social interactions
• loss of closeness to high school and college friends
• financially-rooted stress (overwhelming college loans, unanticipatedly high cost of living, etc.)
• loneliness
• desire to have children
• a sense that everyone is, somehow, doing better than you

Bathroom Conversions ensued...

Marian: You know Jules, I met this PR Manager in a hotel last Tuesday night. She added me in FB and I looked at her blog and she stated she's going through symptoms of QLC as well!

Jules: See! It's not only us, we're sane...I'm relieved!

Marian: I know. It happens to all of us I guess.

Jules: Uh-huh.

Marian (in a singsong voice): But I found a solution.
His name is J-E-S-U-S! :)

30 things to try before we turn 30

I recently had my hair done at Jean Yip, and the stylist made for me 2 hairstyles in one:
Alaveeeeet hehhehehe!

But anyway, as I was having my haircut last night, I came upon this list from Cleo Mag, and I find this funny and interesting...I'm turning 25 (not 30 ok) waaaaah I'm getting old sheessh!

30 things to try before we turn 30:

1.Channel an old school movie and throw a drink in a man's face.

- Hmmmm...what a brilliant idea...I'll do this soon hahahha.

2.Delete the words “like, random and totally” from your vocab.

-I so totally will do this! ;D

3.Break someone’s heart; similarly, have your own broken. -Been there, done that!

4.Divorce toxic friends. - Meron ba??

5.Drink a champagne cocktail in a Paris bar. -Ah boss, when are we going to France?

6.Master the art of choosing the perfect wine. -Grapes na lang, can?

7.Confess that (present or past) crush on your best male friend. -Done this a long time ago, like when I was um, 8?

8.Drive a wickedly cool car, even if you have to rent it. -Pink convertible for the princess please!

9.Use an alias for a day. -Undercover: Hot Chick... lol.

10.Visit a strip club. -For what??

11.Have a favourite book which isn’t chick-lit. - I have a lot!

12.Quit a job, without having another one to go to. -Twice, man!

13.Buy a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill and a black-lace bra.
-Sabi na I should have bought that set!

14.Learn who you can trust, who you can’t and why you shouldn’t take it personally.

-Uh-huh..:)

15.Live by yourself (for at least six months). -How about 12?

16.Travel somewhere by yourself – a foreign country, another city or just a road trip to the country. -I've been wanting to go to the Hague! Let's!

17.Forgive someone who wronged you; apologise to someone you've wronged.

- I did. Di lang halata. ;p

18.Master cooking one impressive three-course meal. -Ok ok!
19.Learn to change a tyre. -Oh, man!
20.Buy an original piece of art. -Andy Warhol, bebe!

21.Volunteer for a charity you care about. - I am (ymca)...unicef next!

22.Break-up with a man who you know is bad for you; similarly, have a fling with a man who you know is bad for you!

-no comment.

23.Dine solo in a restaurant – no phone, book or notebook allowed.
-Why not?

24.Run a marathon. -Coolness.

25.Pay off your credit card(s)/HECS debt/car loan.

Just did this last month. Whew!

26.Spend a whole pay packet on a pair of shoes.

-Jimmy Choo!

27.Have a killer joke you tell perfectly ready to use for those awkward moments.

-How bout Singapura anecdotes?

28.Try something you always said you’d never do – whether it be sky-driving or eating escargot.

-Skydiving definitely!

29.Learn how to stand up for yourself, rather than silently seething when you receive poor customer service or someone makes a snide remark.

-Righteous anger dapat!

30.Get married.*

-Oh... Will do ;)

the girls who failed to catch THE bouquet

I recently attended my good friend Bea's wedding in Fernbrook Gardens last August 8. I flew all the way to Manila just to witness her tieing the knot with our college friend Glenn, because she is the first best friend to get married in our barkada and yeah, I miss the rest of my girlfriends as well. Wedding photos can be viewed here.

Up until now, Bea is complaining that she hasn't finished uploading all their pictures, and when I looked at her recently uploaded pics, I couldn't stop laughing at this:

Hahahahahaaaha so hilarious!!! I was caught on cam with an obviously disappointed expression! Of all the faces of single women there, the photographer decided to zoom in on my face! You know how it is in weddings- tradition would be to invite single women to gather onstage and battle in catching the magical bouquet thrown by the bride. And so from this picture which explicitly describes the story: we weren't able to get it. Hahahhahaha ano ba! 'Twas so funny because I never realized that I DO want to get married soon AND I don't remember wearing this expression that night (defensive)!

Before the 'catching'... Abounding Beauties: Only in the Philippines!

Okay, so I really want to get married..hahah...but not now. I haven't exhausted my youth yet and I haven't done or accomplished something that made a difference to people which I can boast to my future kids...and...um...okay lah I'll say it: my Prince hasn't found me yet....harharharhar.

To my chicas: Say no to frogs nor chickens! We deserve Princes ;)

Isabel's Painting

On my flight back to Singapore, I didn't expect that I would meet this cute and super sweet girl. Her name's Isabelle Villar and she was sitting beside me in the plane. I smiled at her and she smiled back, forming round bulges with her suntanned cheeks. I resumed my aimless task of solving a sudoku puzzle and she started filling up the embarkation card. I couldn't help but glance over her shoulders as she scribbled tiny letters. I told her, "Sweetie, you should write in block letters." To my surprise, she started drawing boxes around each letter! I laughed and told her that I meant capital letters. She then drew several lines over the words as if trying to erase them and asked for her mum to write for her instead.


After a while, she started telling me about their five dogs back in their house in Magallanes Village and how she has taken care of them. Suddenly, she unzipped her backpack and pulled out her sketchbook and began showing me her paintings. They were so beautiful, but what's more amazing was the fact that she's only 8! Then she took out a clear plastic that contained a couple of silver bling blings she just bought. I commented, "Yo! They're really nice, yo!" She began to whisper something to her mum so I looked out the window. After a while, she tapped my shoulder and offered me the other necklace! I was so surprised by the sweet gesture but I told her I couldn't possibly accept it. She was really persistent so I asked if I could have one of her paintings instead. She agreed, signed her name on it and gave me her Manila address asking me to visit her soon. Aaaaaawww....such a sweet sweet darling!....







I don't know but somehow I felt refreshed with that encounter. You see, while waiting for the plane to land, I was actually talking to God. I asked Him for strength and guidance as I continue my journey with a promise to let go of the past and give it my best shot this time. And He gave me Isaiah 43...."Do not be afraid...I have called you by name; you are Mine....because you are presious to Me...I love you..."





Geee!! He was telling me He loves me not just in words but through Isabelle! I was feeling down that time but having met her felt like my heart was being balmed. He was romancing me in ways that just left me awed. Thanks, Isabelle! Thanks, Dad!

No Gummy no Honey in SG

I'm sorry for the lack of a better title..haha!

The moment I announced to my boss and office mates that I would be in Manila for the rest of the week, they began offering me their bucks for a unified request- chewing gum. (Just writing it makes me salivate). Na-ah, they do not want just packets; they want boxes! One of my colleagues, Marian, who just came from Taiwan, showed me how she’s been saving broken pieces of her gum so she can chew one each day. I’m also a chewer and I can definitely finish a blanket of Dentyne in one take, so I sympathise with her.

But why is it really illegal to sell gums in Singapore? One of my Malay friends told me about how once upon a time Singaporeans were joyously chewing like goats and sticking their wads of saliva-soaked leftover under mrt seats and subway sliding doors. Then one time, one of the train doors became clogged and it was not able to function properly. So from then on, the government banned vendors from selling gums in Singapore. I wasn’t able to validate if this story is true but knowing how the government is easily freaked out, it made sense.

Because our cravings need to be satiated, I would probably make a living out of selling gums here (secretly, that is).


Note to my parents: If I got held up by the immigration officers on the way back, you know the reason.

i miss my bff

Belle, me, Danzen, and Bea

gorgeous LaSallians in Boracay (May 2007)

Career: Med student/princess, TV producer/writer/princess, Marketer/writer/princess, Flight attendant/wife/princess

Status: Open, In a relationship, Waiting, Married

LaLuz, Batangas (May 2008)

Nothing in the world beats the beaches in the Philippines! Totally awesome white sands, blue waters, breathtaking sun, plus packed with abounding beauties!

it's a man's world after all

My bosses, colleagues and I were on our way back to the office after a hearty lunch. I was trying hard to keep up with their pace but I needed to sprint before I fell into step beside one of them. Big French men ahead of me sauntered with a nonchalant gait, while I, a scrawny girl (but with love handles and all) scampered on pretending not to look a bit out of breath and flustered in my stilettos. Right then I was convinced that stilettos were made by a patriarchal society aimed to suppress women even more.

Three years after graduation, I would like to believe that I am still wearing those rose-colored glasses and that badge of idealism which made me think that having a good head on one’s shoulders is enough to become who one wants to be. True, I’ve been working long enough to learn that the real world requires more, but as I approached my desk and slumped on my chair, I once again sensed a sad epiphany dawning.

I looked around my surroundings. In the office, the top management was composed of men, armed with MBA’s and PhD’s; while the women were Administrative Assistants, HR Manager and Project Coordinators. Our major sales and investment deals were sealed over bottles of beer but not over scoops of strawberry ice cream or nail polish sessions. I tried thinking about female CEOs or Directors I know of but I could only name two: Mary Kay Ash and Andrea Jung (Avon), both of whom are in the same industry- cosmetics.

Honestly, I am not too sure where this entry is leading to and I will not just sit here and chant about gender inequality. But, as I looked down on my antagonistic shoes, I reprimanded myself for feeling sorry and a bit mistreated. Women are not created to compete with men. Yes, we can do and perform better yet were not given due credit most of the time, but it will only hurt if we always try to be better at something men are made to do. I realized that we do have different roles to play in order to supplement the other, and it’s not actually about what the society dictates, but what our hearts impel us to be.

I’m not saying that we make ourselves doormats of men as they work to be on top of their games, heck no. In fact we should continue to educate ourselves, engage in things that are purposeful and enduring and be the most beautiful ezer kenegdos for the men in our lives. . .

Therefore, I refuse to take these rose-colored glasses off and yes, even my stilettos for that matter.

Singapore dream

I really don't remember how I've suddenly gained this desire. I was working as a Corporate Communications Officer in a local insurance firm in Makati and was slowly building up my portfolio as an employee just fresh out of college. But 'slowly' means turtle speed. Because I'm a newbie, I was never assigned challenging work even after a year of working. I've tried studying again to be able to input more creative ideas, but the company culture does not allow independent decision-making from um, well...a mere clerk. A 5%- annual increase (I can feel your shocked expressions) did not motivate me at all and promotion never happens unless the person your senior gets to be promoted first. So it wasn't surprising when I saw staff after staff resigning.

One of my best buddies who's also my lunchmate confided to me that he got a job offer as an IT analyst in Singapore. He was being recruited by a Filipino agent and they were offering a salary triple (or more) than what he was currently getting. Being an IT whiz and a fast worker, he would surely be a valuable gem the company is bound to lose. But as the character of Piscine in the book, Life of Pi by Yann Martel puts it, "People move in the hope of a better life." And so my lunch mate and my only advocate in the office left and took the too-good-to pass chance to work in Singapore.

I missed him but the thought of working abroad was too far-fetched for me back then. Few months later, I met Ivy, who was my classmate in graduate school in De La Salle. We were both taking up Master in Marketing Communications and she shared with me her plan to go to Singapore. Right then, I was wondering why everyone was going to that country. But Ivy told me the advantages:

1. It is very easy to enter Singapore. No visa is required.
2. SG is one of the safest countries to live in.
3. It harbours a multi-cultural environment so you won't feel marginalized or left out.
4. A lot of MNCs (multi-national corporations) had set up their headquarters in Singapore.
5. The economy of Singapore relies heavily on international talents. It will collapse if it does not open its doors to foreign workers; thus, it has very lenient regulations on hiring foreigners. In fact, the government encourages hiring them.
6. And last but definitely not to dismiss, one sgd is worth 33php!

As I look at the projects I've done with the insurance company, I did not feel that proud at all. I felt that I could do more and learn more. Suddenly there's a yearning to expand my area of responsibility and take on a more challenging role... So I thought about it long and hard. I prayed and asked for signs. Although my credentials and transcripts of records were quite impressive (I think), I felt that the chances of me getting a job (taking into consideration that I do not possess an IT experience) through an agent while still in the Philippines was slim. Fortunately there's EPEC (Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate). If you were granted an EPEC by MOM (Ministry of Manpower), you will acquire a one-year social visit pass that allows you to stay for 12 months or more in Singapore which will then give you ample time to look for employment. More information can be viewed here: https://epec.mom.gov.sg/epec/index.do.

So I took the shot. I was asked to give details about my academic credentials and which school I came from. Then I was asked to provide soft copies of relevant documents, such as passport details, resume, and diploma. After 5 days, I was informed via email that my application has been approved and they will send the certificate to my mailing address within 2 weeks. However, because of carelessness, I wrote in an incomplete mailing address so I wasn't able to receive the certificate even after 4 weeks of waiting. Because I was too excited to go for I already received calls from prospective employers, I tried applying again. EPEC is only issued once, but I tried to work around the system. I tried calling the MOM officers for some help, but they said they could not re-issue the certificate. I applied for EPEC once again but this time under a different email address and it worked! My EPEC certificate came into my mailbox just a week after my application got approved.

I have a lot of friends and officemates whose EPEC applications were not successful, but because MOM will not disclose their rationale for not approving, I can only guess:
1. Incomplete documents or information
2. Undergraduate course is not relevant to recent job experience
3. Underage or below 20 years old
4. Multiple applications
5. MOM's quota has been reached.

For those of you whose EPEC application has been rejected, do not be discouraged. You can still go to Singapore and try your luck maximising the 30-day visit pass for tourists. But before doing that, make sure you have contacted or sent resumes to hundreds of hiring companies. Look into all the job portals and inform them of your date of arrival in Singapore.

I would not end this entry by saying that after getting my EPEC approved and finding a job after 3 weeks of searching, everything went well with me, because it did not. Well, thank God I do not have horrifying stories to tell and it has been so much better now since I started less than a year ago, but I will never regret going through all those struggles that I will narrate in my upcoming entries. Working in Singapore is truly challenging, stressful, fun, and full of epiphanies and learning experiences.