First Birthday away from home

So I have a series of stories on how I had my birthday here in Australia.

Pre Birthday Celebration (May 16)

Chelo and Cristina, together with their husbands, were very kind to invite me to have breakfast with me at a café. We supposed to have dinner on my birthday and go clubbing, But because of our different schedules, they decided that instead of dinner, make it breakfast. We had breakfast at One Forty Café.

Cristina, Hannah (Me), Chelo

Their food serving was really worth the price. I mean I was used to having regular sized bread and bacon. Look at the photo that I took. I mean I didn’t even finish my food. Yum.

Poached Egg with Bacon and Sausage

After we finished, I wasn’t aware that they would surprise me with a Cupcake with a candle. Yeah it was cute and pink.lol. I mean also yummy. I had to just take it home cause I’m too full to eat it.

Yeah I’ll blow my candle

At work, I thought it would just be a regular day. I was busy going in and out of the storage area that when I came inside, Paula turned off the lights and my colleagues sung me a Happy Birthday song with a cake candle and card. I wasn’t expecting something from them. I was really happy that I thought no one will notice that it is my birthday tomorrow.

On my Birthday (May 17)

Today is 24^th birthday. I mean age doesn’t matter to me but every time people ask me what’s my age, usually I don’t tell them. Most of the time, they thought that I’m either 18 or 21, well thanks guys. Hehe

Anyway, Tita Melody was kind to go with me to have groceries for my party. I cooked Potato and Pumpkin Au Gratin (Baked), Penne Sausage Pasta, Leek and Thyme Chicken Roulade. I was supposed to use the vanilla sponge cake that I bought and garnish it with fresh fruits and syrup but I was too lazy at the party to even make it so I just served it as it is.

Party Food Porn. hehe

Then at the party/ gathering, I saw some of my other friends. I didn’t know that we have the same common friend. Filipino community here is bonded ei. I also met familiar and new faces. We had to chat chat and chat the whole night. I mean I enjoyed sitting and getting to know other people. I’m lucky to meet these people. Thinking that I am alone here in Australia for a year, who would have thought that I won’t feel home sick. Hehe

Yeah. Guys are outside. It’s just us Ladies.

I was home almost 12am and I Skyped with my family and boyfriend. I blew candles with my cake here with them.

Blowing my candles on Cam

Yeah I miss them especially my bf and my cat. I video my cat via skype and she was still as cute as before. I miss Yuri (my cat)

Yuri on Skype

Post Birthday (May 18)

I woke up late hence I didn’t have my breakfast. Good thing that I had a brunch schedule with Arlene, also one of my Filipina co – worker at the Hotel.

Arlene and I

She picked me up at home and we went to Bunbury Forum and had our lunch at the Dome. They told me that food there is good. But I think expensive compared to the Birdcage Café. The food portion is less but enough for me. Hehe.

Chicken Parmigiana with Salad and Chips

After lunch, we went to Big W and heck I went shopaholic mode again. Grrrrr. I have a guilt feeling every time I go shopping. In the Philippines, I seldom do clothes shopping while compared here I do it every pay day. Imagine right. But I don’t spend all my pay and seldom do I splurge for expensive stuff. I really enjoy dressing up here cause in the Philippines I can’t usually wear the clothes that I want. I think about what others might say. But here, I can wear anything. Hehe. We went back to town, look at shops again and went home. And I bought 4 bottles of Strongbow again.

I spent my remaining hours at home watching Be Careful with My Heart and blogging.

What more can I asked for right.

Cheers,

Hannah

Vlogging made simple

I will just have this post to tell you that I have my vlogs uploaded at my Youtube Channel. Though I speak in Filipino most of the time. So I think for those foreign readers, sorry. Hehe. I know how to converse in English but at times I tend to use my native tongue for comfort ability.

Having a vlog may mean self – absorption yet I still upload for the sake of my family and friends in the Philippines. So readers and viewers, please bear with me. Lol

I bought a Canon Ixus 125 HS just for vlogging and compact camera. I mean I have my Lumix LX3 but it is still bulky ei. And I trust those youtube vloggers who use this camera. Yeah it’s good.

I just use Windows Movie Maker to edit videos. I don’t know how to operate other programs. Enough said. hehe

Here’s my youtube Channel link:

http://youtube.com/blueharmony

Just leave comments or anything. Just spread love not hate please. J

Cheers,

Hannah

BTW, I also am new to Instagram. So follow me as well. J (username: hans12022)

An encounter with my Achilles’ Heel

So long time no post ei. So it’ll be my second month here in Bunbury Australia. So far so good. I mean come to think of it, my first month was really that hard, especially that I am alone. I have no family nor friends here with me to help me sort things out or just even listen to my problems, rants and joys.

But that first month, even though it was tough for me, seemed to have helped me improve and mature. I had mixed emotions throughout that month. From the excitement of starting my work, to meeting new people and of different nations, time of coping up, maybe a little of culture shock, frustrations, jealousy, pressure and depression. It was my first time to even experience these emotions in my life and problems which I can proudly say that I solved.

After that first month, I had a few realizations. I must be able to stand up on my two bare feet, be strong and be mature with things. Yeah I admit that I was really pressured at my work. I can’t cope up with how they want me to work. I mean they thought that I have a lot of experience towards work that’s why during my first month they kept on pushing me hard, as in really hard. There was this time that I thought I messed up things and I wanted to cry. But I didn’t, instead I still carried myself well. At home that night, it was when I cried. Hehe. I won’t let anybody at work see me cry or lonely. It took days before I started to be back with my cheerful self. I mean it took me long before I stopped thinking about my frustrations and stopped pressuring myself more. Expectations, they ruin things okay.

When things cleared out for my chefs that I wasn’t well experienced, they said sorry for they treated me hard. Since then, they were patiently teaching me and answering my questions.

These days, I do better on my work. I coped up fast without me realizing it. I pleased and impressed my chefs with my work. I am too is impressed on how far I’ve come through since day 1.

My family and friends might know that I am independent and strong. This independency and strength of mine were really put to test with my situation and location now. Who would have thought that I can surpass those challenges. Yeah, even the strongest person has his/her own Achilles’ Heel (weakness).

Cheers,

Hannah

Soul Searching in Bunbury Australia

Nah, I’m kidding. I’m currently here for an Internship. I am working at a Hotel’s kitchen as a Chef Apprentice. I’m now on my third week. As for what happened in my first two weeks, life was hard. I was just starting everything as from nothing. I had to learn everything in our restaurant’s menu. I still have no accommodation for 12months. My mom stayed with me at the hotel. Kindly, my hotel provided me 2weeks free stay. But because of circumstances, we have to move somewhere. Just 5minutes from my work. Gratefully, I found someone who was also looking for a place to stay for 12months as well. He is a Pastry Chef, so He also knew what I was experiencing as a chef. In just a day, we found a place to stay, just 15minutes away from work. I was more at ease there than the apartment my mom and I stayed for a week.

Now that I’m on my 3rd week here, I’m doing well actually. My chefs let me do breakfast service by myself now. But I’m still trying to sort things during dinner service. In time, I told myself. Yeah. I found friends at work but I’m still collecting more confidence to go out there to be active maybe in arts and sorts.

Yey payday. Unlucky, because I forgot my atm pin, the machine swallowed my card. So I still have to wait another week for a replacement. Haha. And btw, I’m buying a bike with a cute basket in front. This way, I can easily go to places here in Bunbury.

Up until now, I still getting myself familiar of places, how to get there and what not. Yeah I can figure things out soon. And after I get a bike, I promise to post photos and videos here as well.

Cheers,
Hannah

Taking Back Tuesdays: Life is Harsh!!

I just realized that it took me six months to realize how I really love reading books and writing whatever topic comes to mind. I was too busy starting out my career as a Cook and hopefully a Chef that I forgot how it feels to write.

I’ll be starting out this Taking Back Tuesdays wherein I will share to you some of my past experiences in life which can inspire you.

LIFE IS HARSH!

It has been almost eight months since I became a bum. I mean I wasn’t able to find a work after finishing my academic years due to personal reasons. July to September 2012 I was recommended to re train. I felt refreshed. I wasn’t aware that I hadn’t lost my skills in cooking and Managerial skills. I became a trainee at my University’s Coffee Shop. But then again, some things I’m working on made me stressed and depressed. I don’t have a back up plan. And then I decidedd to start working thus earning some funds of my own insteaad. Luckily, I was accepted as a Kitchen staff at a Cafe- Restaurant. And nowadays, that’s what’s keeping me excited is I’m off to a greener pasture soon.

I realized a lot of things after these things happened.

Life is harsh! It is really a pain in the ass. Smallest thing can happen and suddenly everything can change. Even the slightest decision can make a lot of difference.

When things went wrong, make it right by starting again. You can’t undo some mistakes you did that made the situation worse. Instead of stressing and/or depressing over those, set new goals. I’m sure you can make it right this time.

Frustrations, problems and such can ruin you. I understand the feeling of being frustrated. The feeling that everything seems to be out of your plan. Instead of thinking why these happened to you, just think and believe that everything and everyone will have their own time.

Waiting and Patience is a virtue. Just trust that in time, everything will be okay.

(If you’re not into waiting..) Why wait later when you can act now! Nothing will happen to you if you just wait on fate to land on your shoulders. If waiting is not a plan, then don’t wait and lay around. Walk and run towards your goal. Start now!

It had no time to waste those times that I thought about these things. I have to decide in days on what to do with my life, specifically with my career. May these things clear your mind and Start this year right.

By the way, HAPPY NEW YEAR.

*Hopefully I can revive my blog again. I really miss this space.

Im new on BB

It’s my first time on blackberry. I was an android user back then. My galaxy ace screen glass broke down on me and instead of repairing it, I bought a BB Curve 9380. Though I’m not used to it and with less applications, it’s all right for me. Cheap but it is also a smartphone. I was surprised that it has a free app download of wordpress. Atleast I can blog anytime. I have also access on twitter and Facebook. I’m not a techy person but I like a camera phone. And this has a 5MP camera. I’m used to using Vignette app. But anyway, I just downloaded other photo apps. I’ll just update my blog ASAP. I’m just really in the mood to try wordpress on BB.

Past to present

Nov 15,2011

I remembered a movie in which a girl is writing herself an email but to be sent after 1year. The purpose is it will remind her of things that happened to her incase something will do.

Today I’m starting this journal. I don’t know if I will be able to keep up but I will try my best. I also started a Bible plan days ago.

My boyfriend tells me that I should write and write eventhough I’m not on the mood. I guess he’s right. Ideas will keep flowing even if there’s no inspiration.