Monday, May 23, 2016

Third Time a Charm



After some grueling reviews, sleepless nights, and  tears shed, I finally passed on the third  time of taking the Licensure Exam for Teachers.  The first and second time, I reviewed very hard and was disappointed that I did not pass.  After that, I was done, I doubted my abilities of becoming a teacher but my sister told me to keep trying and  to give it a try one more time.  Before deciding to go to Manila, I  took the exam again but this time, I did not  study and wasn't expecting anything and  what a great surprise, I passed!  Third time is a charm I guess, thanks be to God and to those who believe in me.  I am finally a licensed teacher.

After some temporary jobs that I got in Bicol  after graduation, I decided to  go to Manila  to see if there's some good opportunities there for me.  It is so hard to find a job here in my country.  Even though you are qualified for a position, there is no available job to apply for.  My sister Rossel told me  that her husband might help me out because he works in TESDA that's why I went here.  So far, I have applied for two companies and still waiting  for their decision.

For now, I am  spending some quality time with my nieces and nephews while I am still waiting for  the  companies I applied for to call me back.  I actually interviewed for one and got accepted but  it was like a networking job so I did not forgo with it.  

If only job opportunities  is good here in the Philippines, it wouldn't be  so hard.  No wonder a lot of people are going out of the country to work abroad.  I am actually thinking of applying  abroad but I don't know yet.

I went home in the province with my sister Rossel and visited Mama one more time  while I don't have a job yet.  I have been encouraging Mama to go with me but so far, she doesn't want to leave our place.  I love the simplicity of living in the province but I feel depressed when I go there.  There's nothing there productively.  It is not just a place for me.  My sister Rose really inspired me to  spread my wings and take chances.  

I want to   thank my  brother-in-law John and my sister Rose for not giving up on me, for their  continued support and encouragement. Without them, I couldn't have gone to college on my own.  They are my biggest support system not just financially but emotionally as well, so thanks you very much Ate and Kuya, I love you both!

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

4 Places In the U.S. That Look Like You’ve Arrived In Greece

It is the summer, and already your mind is drifting to far-off places, exploring ancient sites and lazing next to jewel-toned waters or perhaps even looking for the best places to retire. Perhaps you are dreaming of Greece and its islands; but then your dreams come tumbling down when you pull up international plane ticket prices.

Well have no fear, because there are simple way to get a taste of Greece right here in your own backyard. In fact, here is a list of some places in the United States that’ll take you across the pond.

Nashville, TN
Nashville is pretty big on Greek Revival architecture; many buildings feature soaring white columns (Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian) as well as impressive pediments, including the State Capitol Building and the Belle Meade Plantation. That, paired with its impressive emphasis on education in the late 1800s—it was the first Southern school to establish a public school system, and was the home of Vanderbilt and Fisk universities—granted it the title of “Athens of the South”.

But what truly sealed the deal with this nickname was when Nashville up and built a full-scale replica of the Athenian Parthenon in 1897, complete with friezes, pediments, and a large statue of Athena inside. The Parthenon here gives an amazing sense of what the Parthenon in Greece looked like some 2,000 years ago; even the statue of Athena (which no longer exists in Greece) is close to what it would have looked like, which was ivory and gold (and painted some interesting colors).
And if you’re looking for Greek food to cap off your day, there are several great options down Nolensville Pike, which is famous for its international community.

Tarpon Springs, FL
If you find yourself longing for a Greek island, Tarpon Springs is a fantastic option for you. Located on the Gulf Coast, it has been continuously occupied by Greek families for about a hundred years—and still has the highest percentage of Greek-Americans in the country. Many of the residents are sponge fishermen who come from a long line of sponge fishermen from the islands, and you can visit the Sponge Docks to watch them in action and the Sponge Factory to learn more about the history of the sponge trade in the town. The restaurants are spectacular, and there is a yearly Greek Food and Wine Festival, too.

New York City, NY
Astoria in Queens is notable for its large Greek community (and restaurants, and Greek Orthodox churches, etc.), and the Onassis Cultural Center in Manhattan has many fascinating programs and exhibitions that are entirely free and focus on Hellenic culture from antiquity to modern times. Another great place to see ancient Greek and Byzantine artifacts is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is the place to go in the U.S., and we mean that literally—it has the largest collection of ancient Greek artifacts outside of Greece itself.

Wisconsin Dells, WI
Wisconsin Dells is home to Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park—as in, an entire amusement park based right off of Greek mythology. Hokey? They have a giant Trojan Horse, so most definitely. Worthwhile? Most definitely.

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