New things this new year...

So 2011 has started and a lot of things are new. We just moved in to a new office. It was a bold move especially because our office has been in NATCCO for 20 years and it is only now that we decided to move out and find our own place. There's too much identification with the organization so moving out was asserting identity in some ways. The moving out was a little hard both emotionally and physically. I've known a lot of people from the old office and leaving the physical space would also lessen the frequency of conversations and meeting up. It would mean finding new people to say hi to every time you pass by each other. And physically of course because there's a lot of things we have to transfer and I'm talking about big and heavy things. The books and publications of the organization, materials for training, souvenirs from different organizations in different countries, computer hardwares and other heavy equipments, tables and chairs and everything that the office holds.

But I think it's a positive move. I just hope things will be brighter for us this year and as the organization pushes forward.
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Then the first travel. destination: Baguio. 1st training this year in the coldest place in its coldest time. Good thing the participants have very warm personalities and they offer warm hugs (literally as a group) every now and then.

Hope the next trips (Cagayan and Bohol) will also be as fun and warm.:)

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New things are always nice. I think it's because they're different from the old things you had before and the idea of having them (or having experienced them) adds up to your concept of exploring bigger and better possibilities. Of course hesitations and un-acceptance sometimes comes at first but it will fade soon by looking at the positive things change can offer. Maybe it the idea of replacement that is feared. Since new things are always shiny and appealing and easier and faster and all that -er and more in it (such as in technology), the memory that accompanies the old things seems to be taken for granted as well. It's a reality. But I think people have a choice to keep things and change things based on whatever subjectivities there are. People just have to learn to let go most of the time and hold on sometimes.

I should blog more often

Yes. I think I should. With lots of things going on in my life right now, the trips, the learnings, the experiences, blogging is perfect for me. I'm just really lazy and I have not been writing (freely: out of the bounds of work reports and requirements) for months so I don't know if I'll be able to keep up with blogging regularly like my girlfriend does.

Anyway to start the year of the rabbit, (as if it matters what year of what it is at all) I thought of a flashback to my 2010. Every one's doing it anyway. Sites features 2010 in films, 2010 in news, top tourist destination of 2010 and whatever listology people think interesting. They even involve people now in deciding what's hot and what's not in 2010. Twitter and FB are gaining some ground in public opinion lately. Of course there's a question of representation of who are capable of and have access to these sites to comment but ok, FB has 500 million friends representing jejemon and bourgeois alike so let's give them credit.

So going back to the list of things I'm thankful for in 2010...

1. an NGO job I like doing

- where I was introduced to the interesting and sometimes trivial world of development work

- where I was inspired to be a highly-paid consultant in 15 to 20 years

- where got to travel to different parts of the country: Davao, Cebu, CDO, Ilocos, Abra, Iligan,

Misamis Occ. and others.

2. travel to different parts of the country and the latest trip to Indonesia (my first international

travel)

- travelling is just so much fun. Indonesia is a perfect first-time travel for me and Krista. It's not too different from the Philippines; the fare (on promo) was affordable; their temples are adorable and historical dating back to the 9th century BC; their culture is a celebration; their food hot and spicy and masarap just the way I like it; their batik cloth; their monuments and historical spots well-preserved; their train transport system better than Philippines and a lot more things to love about it.

3. Graduation (the ceremony not the actual graduation/completion)

4. 3 years of togetherness with Krista

5. Trainings I facilitated.

6. Books I read

7. Movies I've seen

8. foodtrips

9. meetups with college friends once in a while

10. treat to friends and family (once in a while)

And a whole lot more. Thankful to God for all the blessings and grateful for the provisions. I'm sure 2011 will be even better.:)