I have been looking forward to seeing this famous festival since about five or more years ago. When I was still living in Manila, I have always wanted to travel to Cebu during Sinulog festival but nobody wanted to travel with me, it was either due to work schedule conflict or simply lack of time due to other stuff.

When I got here in Cebu last year, I told myself that there is no more excuse to miss this one big event.  Thousands and thousands of local and foreign tourists visit Cebu City during this time of the year.  Accommodations must be booked as early as three months before the festival; else, you’re going to have to rely on chances and luck. That’s exactly what happened to me; blame it on my super hectic and stressful work schedule. At least I was able to book a room close to the airport yet too far from the city centre. It was not a great accommodation but at least we had a decent room. It was a condominium building converted into a hotel that looks like a haunted building. Not too bad for a one-night stay though

Major roads are closed to traffic during the festival, due to street dancing and parade; and the only way to move around the city is to walk under the scorching heat of the sun following the crowd until you reach their destination. Well, everyone is heading to the same direction so there is a very slim chance of getting lost. It was fun and exciting especially for a first-timer like me but I think it was my first and last at the same time. It was just too difficult and tiring.

To be continued…

I had my tickets booked as early as 3rd week of December as I wanted to go home for Christmas day but due to hectic work schedule, I decided to cancel my flight again for the nth time. It was very disappointing, but that was the most logical thing to do since work was and still is in a crucial stage. I decided to stay for another 4 working days to finish what I had to finish before leaving, and this time I really have to go home to spend New Year’s day with my parents. Work has been very stressful and I need a few days to recharge my batteries.

I had my return ticket booked on the 2nd of January but due to the recent development at work, I need to be back by January 1st so I can go back to work on the 2nd, this is insane.

Others say “be happy and thankful for your job”,  but hey I’m only human. I get tired physically and mentally. I guess we all deserve to whine a bit. I know I need to work to earn a living but too much stress can be lethal.

So I’m hoping that this short break will recharge my batteries a bit, and I hope that it won’t drain my pockets

happy new year everyone!

]]> http://wanderinglass.wordpress.com/2011/12/28/ill-be-home-for-new-years-day/feed/ 1 wanderinglass http://wanderinglass.wordpress.com/2011/12/04/i-feel-like-going-home-now/ http://wanderinglass.wordpress.com/2011/12/04/i-feel-like-going-home-now/#comments Sun, 04 Dec 2011 15:42:05 +0000 wandering lass http://wanderinglass.wordpress.com/?p=1437 Continue reading →]]> Running away from things that don’t make us happy anymore doesn’t mean giving up.

When I decided to accept my current job, I was so excited and hopeful that I could travel around the country. I was really looking forward to exploring all the gorgeous beaches, and the places that I’ve wanted to visit.  Working away from home and traveling around the country on weekends sound perfect, especially with a free roundtrip (domestic) airfare once a month.

All these excitements and hopes died as early as my first weekend here. It was like a never-ending work and stress more than 12 hours a day Monday to Saturday and a few more hours on Sunday. I seldom experience a real weekend and I’m already feeling sick and tired of it all.

One evening while working until midnight, I found myself crying in front of my laptop. This was the first time my work made me cry. I was feeling so frustrated, tired, stressed and unhappy about how things turned out. With tears all over my face, I whispered “I wanna go home now.” I’m not happy being here anymore. The nature of the job itself is something that I was looking forward to but the circumstances that surround it are the things that make it more complicated.  There are things in this job that are beyond my control and all I could do is hope and pray and that things would turn out right one morning. Being in this place is already a big challenge for me, and dealing with people who seem to pray for my failure is another thing.

Part of me wants to stay here longer, for as long as they need me here. Other part of me tells me that I should go back home and find another job and/or place that look and sound normal. I said those words mainly because whenever I tell my friends where I am right now, I never fail to get a what-are-you-doing- there kind  of reaction. They cant seem to understand how on earth I got here and what made me take this job. Well, two things are for sure… I love the nature of the job and coming to this place sounds like an adventure.

I hope that things will turn out right in the coming days, and I hope that my sudden desire to go home will somehow change.. for the better. I know there will always be challenges and hardships wherever I may be, it’s just that I’m not happy being here anymore.