ann's journey

today marks the end of our COMP (Classroom Organization Management Plan) training, however, next week we would still be attending other seminars. Our facilator, Ms. Gerry Bohanon made a great way to end the tidious task with a bang, we had a party! ( well, its only our group ended with with fun)...Here are some of the pictures and some dancing videos...we let our hair down!!!

i had a long day of training and i am now mentally drained...am just having fun here....just got this sony camcorder and am trying it and posting it here in my blog to see if this is really a good buy or not...what do you think? comments please....

i have been here in the US for almost a month, 22 days to be exact...
i find it uninspirational to write anything in my blog because honestly, i wasn't really impressed with America, Baltimore to be exact...
on my first week, i had a series of paper works to do, from getting in my Social Security Number, to having medical exams and completing all the documents to be submitted to Baltimore city Public School System.
The next week until now and this will go on until the 3rd week of August...we have a pack of seminar and trainings...which i think even a bulk of it will not suffice our need as a new teacher to fully grasp the culture of our new students here, not unless onthe first day of class which will be on the the 19th of August...

Until, last friday came, July 25th... i was so excited to go to another state and of which it is the famous state in the Us...at last i will be going to the city that doesn't sleep...so i took the 4.30pm greyhound bus and eventually head towards NYC at 5.30. It was a 4hour trip and it was fine. When the bus was approaching NYC, my heart pounded with much excitement...my mood was so happy to see the bright city lights...they were twinkling like stars on the ground or christmas lights on july...finally i arrived and waited for ms olive to fetch me, and while waiting, i was having some happy thoughts, i was teary-eyed in realizing that finally i am in america nad in a couple of minutes will be meeting the primary inspiration of my American dreams...MS OLIVE JOPIA-ABARQUEZ...

7-7-08
8:15 pm
"In the desert, where it's devoid of clutter and destruction, the Lord speaks." Soothing calmness and quietness of Taipei Airport feels my heart when we arrived.

After taking the train to station 2, took some travelators, had some group pictures and had the quiet moment.

While waiting for our flight at 11:10 pm to San Francisco, I had a time to be at peace with my daily companion and dedache and had some contemletion. I searched for answers on why do I have to work abroad. If I would just think of myself I could live with the minimum salary rate in the Philippines. At this time I begin to search on my bag and scanned some letters that was sent to me when I had my BLD Singles Weekend. Tears feel down my checks realizing that the letters I received from my family answered my great question.

Yes my family needs this, yes I need this for my family and I'm doing my purpose here on Earth by helping my family because this is a way that I could give glory and honor to God.

Yes I love my family and I realized this when I tune in the Lord's presence and I did it when its quiet.


10:00 pm
San Francisco

"You're 25?! oh really you look like 18"
"Too bad you're going to work in Baltimore, I could have been your friend here!" These are some of the words that caught my attention when I was interviewed by the immigration officer.

Arriving San Francisco feels like I'm partly in Manila because of the number of Filipinos working here in the airport.

Now we're waiting for our 11:10 p.m. flight connecting to Chicago and here I am seated realizing that I am in the land of big people. One evidence, I can't rest my feet on the floor while seated properly because I an so small for the chair.

IM NOT IN CEBU NOW,
IM NOT HOME ANYMORE,
IM IN THE FOREIGN LAND
IM IN THE COUNTRY OF MILK AND HONEY!