With My In-Laws

Yesterday, or last night, marked my last day in Convergys. Finally I’m done with the clearance. I also have now my trophy with me at home after 7 hours standing there in elevator lobby to wait for people I know who might be able to help me. I feel so relieved and also sad at the same time knowing that I might not see my good friends from Convergys again, just like in Sykes. Anyway, I need to focus on 2012.

I spent the two-day clearance in Convergys and San Pedro. Psyche was so cute and showing serious signs of hyperactive personality. She wanted us to play catch-the-ball in the middle of the night! She was very talkative. And being there for one night, she thought I would be staying there for good with my little bag, laughs! So on Tuesday night, while I was waiting in Convergys to get my precious trophy, Mama sent me a text message about the two donuts Psyche received from a cousin. Psyche said that she would wait for me before she eats the donuts. She wanted to wait for me so to share it with me. I was deeply touched just like those in Hallmark moments. Psyche was so good at making people cry in a good way, if you know what I mean. And hey, for the records, I did not literally cry there in the elevator lobby, laughs! What I’m saying is I’m missing her, our family, the old times.

I don’t get to see them like we used to do before. I put my faith in God’s promise the He would bring my family back together in one house. Sometimes this makes me jealous of my wife her being with her family all the time. Gracia always tells me that if it’s the other way around, it’s not going to be a problem with her. That might be true. But it is still different when it’s happening. You know, it’s more than a statement. It’s a daily life for me.

Don’t get me wrong. Her family which is now my family, too, is great. Her mother is amazing and very sweet. Her sisters are awesome. Every one is wonderful, including their in-house cousin Arnel. Her Papa is also nice to me but it’s a bit awkward most of the time because he rarely talks. I could see the effort in the two of us but we always kind of fail to connect. Perhaps it is because he never had a son. Maybe it’s me who had a chain of father issues before. That’s going to be a long story to tell. What I am saying is that we want to get along as a family but it’s not easy, I just realized.

During my first months with them, I had this silent, or secret, competition with the other sons-in-law. No one was really competing. I think it’s more of manly pride? Can’t get the right thing to say. Let’s get down to the story.

Last Sunday Gracia and I spent almost the whole afternoon after church shopping for the Christmas gift for her co-employee for their company’s Christmas party this Saturday. I was really tired but I was kind of showing off, making her feel that I was a very supportive husband which was sincere act from me. After that, when we got home, I was like relaxing while reading a magazine. Just like any other woman, she wanted to fix everything before we went on relaxing. I was even joking at her that she was acting like a mother now, laughs!

Then she wanted me to pin those belt holders behind the door but I was kind of into the magazine’s interesting article. Before I knew it, her Papa was in our condo-type room doing the nailing. It was very embarrassing as if I was not a man enough to drill those nails into concrete walls. I tried to get the hammer from him but he was determined to finish it all by himself. I know that it was no big deal for him. But for me, I was kind of hurt and very embarrassed. I had a hard time getting over with it.

Then next day came in. I was cleaning our house as part of my house-husband role when Kiel, Gracia’s nephew, started knocking outside our window. Automatically I opened it for him and one of his little fingers got caught and in the next seconds, he was crying hysterically. Everyone was very concerned and that included me. I felt ‘Strike Two’ blinking over my head as Gracia’s father trying to comfort his grandson. I felt so exhausted that I spent hours sleeping until it was time for me to get ready for my trip to Convergys.

Now I am back here in San Pablo and I felt so blank, trusting God in everything. Tried reading Bible but it’s…I don’t know. I know I kind of need some help here but if someone asks what kind of help, I don’t know the answer.

But I’ll be fine. I know that because I always will, by the grace of God.

Smelling the Christmas Breeze

Found this note I wrote last month. I decided sharing it here:

While writing this, I am listening to Hillsong’s O Holy Night. Wow, it’s Christmas now in the Philippines! Filipino Christians love Christmas that we begin feeling Christmas as early as September 1st and it even affects the other Filipinos.

Before I forget, I am so glad that Papa and Mama were in 11AM service at our church yesterday. Only Alex, who was in camping, Psyche, and Chris were not there with us. We were on the third installation of the series ALL IN and we listened to more beautiful gifts from God through the grace of Adoption. It was also the Communion Sunday, remembering what the Lord Jesus Christ did for us in the cross.

God is so great that even Pastor Ernie had a hard time preparing the series. You know what, the illustration of adoption to become the children of God is truly awesome that I don’t know if I could share the whole idea here. I might resort to Podcast, we’ll see.

Last week was the first week we joined the Micah’s team. I still did not know who my other team mates are. We’ll find out tonight. I miss Team May, I miss TL May. Well, TL Micah looks as nice as TL May. I heard so many good things about him. We’ll see.

I am excited for next month. I am not really sure why. I think it’s because I have so many PTOs filed for the month of October. And next month is my birth month! Well, it feels that there is something so huge and so beautiful going to happen in October this year! I don’t have a clue at all but it feels that way. I am praying that there will be something to happen which is great for all of us next month.

Now I am busy writing In (The Dreamwalker’s) Soul Mates. The story is getting clearer now, laughs! Hope this one gives way to the realization of an old dream. Let’s pray for that. This is it for now. Just wanted to write about current details in my life so I won’t forget in the future.

Five Days of Battle

Day One: The Beginning

On Sunday night Gracia could not sleep. She always took trips to the bathroom. I could see the seriousness of the pain she felt that time on her face, even though she was trying to show me the opposite. She was complaining about abdominal pain. She knew it was UTI. She just went on one-week medication exactly last month. But this time, it was more painful. I was trying to comfort her but I had a fever myself. So we hardly slept the whole night.

Day Two: Had Interstitial Pneumonia

Gracia and Nanay were so worried about me because I had no sipon and no ubo. It only meant that I might have infection. I could not drink any medicine without seeing a doctor except Biogesic because I also have allergy in medicine. But my fever would not go away. And it was like on and off. And once in a week I got fever. But the one I had last Sunday was the most painful.

On Monday morning, Gracia and I went to the Community Hospital and had urinalyses thinking that it could be UTI. After the long process and a series of waiting, the Urologist had already left and would come back on Wednesday. And some of the unprofessional hospital staff was adding to my irritation.

Even if I had fever, I still wanted to go to work since I promised TL Micah that October would be my month. And that’s true, my goal for October is to get 4 for my scorecard. But my fever was getting more serious this time and my joints were feeling worst and my nerves in my head and in my chest felt like strings of guitar being strummed every after minute. I also had LBM. So Gracia decided to take me to Doctors Hospital where they had checked my blood, my breathing, and I also had X-ray. In the process of it, I wanted to give up and just go to work and if they saw me crawling on my knees they might let me go home. But it would take me 3 hours to go to work and another 3 hours to get home. Not a better option.

When Dr. Dy checked my Urinalysis from Community Hospital, he said it was okay. I did not have UTI based on the result.

I am thankful that TL Micah was trying to help me. But after hearing the findings of the Dr. Dy, I rolled my eyes and could not imagine the face of TL Micah once he knew about my Interstitial Pneumonia. I could not mingle with people for the next three days while I go through medication because it is contagious. Dr. Dy insisted that I don’t report to work and I don’t travel for the next three days. I also needed to wear a mask so people around me and I could be safe.

I am thankful to TL Micah that he put me on VGH on Monday shift. When Gracia left me in the room, I heard a woman cry in our room where I was left alone. When Gracia was back, I didn’t tell a word for I did not want to entertain that kind of talk.

Day Three: Nightmares

Gracia was still feeling pain and I am still dealing with my on-and-off fever. I was also starting to feel pain when I peed. So it was not an easy day for the two of us. I felt something was not right about the whole thing and I went upstairs in our room which we hardly visit everyday. I played Gospel songs and I prayed there early at night all by myself. I could feel something was moving around me in that room but I refused to get distracted. I kept singing songs of praises. I heard the box of Gracia’s wedding gown moved like it was swaying in the air. I was feeling scared but I declared the presence of the LORD in our house. The evil spirit became still.

I went down and talked to Nanay and asked her to hold Bible Study at house. (Our house has three little homes. One for me and Gracia, another one for Ate Sheryl and Ken, and of course, the main house.) Nanay was happily and excitedly agreed to my request. So after dinner, we held a Bible Study. We discussed about Romans18:18-20. Our conversation extended to the exercise of power and authority our Lord Jesus Christ had given us.

And then we went to sleep and had a couple of nightmares.

I saw myself in a movie-like setting where two groups were fighting against each other with guns. The other group had real sturdy-looking guns while I as part of the other group had a funny-looking lizard toy gun which blew just like a normal gun would. Then my team had to jump off from a very high place down to a wide river or lake surrounded with many falls. I felt myself submerge into the dirty water like that of a pond. In my head there was a voice which was like doing the storytelling and it told me that that river had so many huge snakes. The moment the word snake was mentioned, I bumped into one. And yes, it was really a huge one like an Anaconda. But the swimming was only for few seconds. I swam out of the water and found myself in a reunion setting at a house I had never seen before which in my dream it was ours. My family was there and so did Gracia’s. Innocently I knew that I came home with a snake. In my head it was just the ordinary snake, not the Anaconda. But in that part of the dream, I was actually with a man who was only wearing a pair of pants. His whole body was covered with bleeding tattoos. His blood was burning like lava. He looked like the devil but it was not getting acknowledged by me in that dream. Then I remembered my baby sister Psyche in the other room of that house and I felt she was scared. So I took her and tried to comfort her in my arms. When we got down the man who had tattoos all over his body became a little girl whose face was like of an angel but the tattoos were still there, making her look like the devil. I was worried that the tattooed girl might get offended so I tried to comfort her. She tried to play with Psyche and the tattooed girl became a normal-looking kid. But she suddenly showed her tattoos on her head which became real devil horns and that made Psyche cry. I took Psyche away and all the elders in our families hold the young girl and casted out the devil from her. She was strong but we did not stop until the black spirit was released from her body. Then we prayed about our other family members who were sleeping for protection. Then I woke up and went to the bathroom. When I got back to the room, Gracia was awake, still in pain and I told her about my nightmare. Then I went to sleep again.

In my second dream, it was as if the continuation of the first one. Psyche was tall in that dream, her height reaching my shoulder. And she spoke fluent English. Then the setting changed so quick that we were all in a dark place. Only people were visible. It was like we were all in the outer space with no stars. We were having dinner and in the corner of my head, I was worried about Gracia’s niece named Kate who was in the upper room in that dream. After dinner I decided to confront the evil spirit with a Banana Que stick in my right hand. I went upstairs and found a huge dog standing on its four feet on a terrace. Then when I got nearer it changed to just a head of a beast I could not describe because I could not remember. Then it spoke to me. It said that there were nine who came ahead of me and all failed and I would also fail. But I told the beast that I knew what he was doing. We would cast him out and to fight back, the beast would make us remember all the bad past we had. And it’s not gonna work this time. I reminded the beast of his future and that is in hell. Then Gracia woke me up. She said I was crying and groaning in my dreams.

I prayed and went to sleep again.

Day Four: Revelations 20:9

Gracia and I went back to Community Hospital for another checkup. We had urinalyses again. Before we left home, there was blood in my pee. We finally met Dr. Valdez, the Urologist. He prescribed medicine to Gracia and when he saw mine, he worried a bit and advised to have my kidneys ultrasound. But Ultrasound Room was closed already that early in the afternoon that day. I had to come back by myself the next day.

When we got home, I shared with Nanay about my dreams. Then Gracia also shared her own experiences about the woman she heard laughing in the middle of the night and the person who lay next to her on her bed when she was alone which I also had experienced myself. The talk about the spirit of a little girl who was a shape-shifter in the area was also mentioned. That same girl could be the one in my dream. We prayed about it and read the Bible. She read to me Revelations 20:9-10. Verse 9 had made a powerful revelation to me. So I went upstairs and prayed there again and the comfort of the LORD filled me there. I thanked God for His protection and guidance in our families. I prayed for my families and friends and the churches. The night came and we had a peaceful sleep.

Day Five: The Results

I had to go to the hospital all by myself for Gracia had to report to work. She had been absent for three days, too. I went early in the hospital and was listening to The Anthem by Planetshakers. I was there as early as 7 a.m. but ultrasound for my kidneys would be around 10 a.m. I was thankful that I was the first one because I had to hold my pee until after the session and that hurt. When I had the result inside a white envelop which I had to bring to the urologist, Dr. Valdez was not there and I was asked by the nurse to come back at 2:30p.m.

I came back and praise God, it’s nothing serious. Just little medication and I’m good.

Strength from The Inside

Late Times Three

Last week I was late three days in a row. The first time, I was late for three hours! The second time was only for five minutes, I could sigh on that one. It was so frustrating. The third one was the most unfair situation of all.

Imagine this; I woke up at 5PM, dragging my tired body out of bed so to ready for work. My wife was still at work. (You see, we don’t see each other that much, schedule conflict. She works at daytime while I work at night shift.) She was not there to help me prepare my things and I learned a routine how to prepare everything before I go to sleep. Prior that shift, I made a promise with TL May that I would not be late again. Well, it seems like promises are really made to be broken.

I was thankful that I was able to leave the house minutes before 6PM. I was feeling good when I was able to get a bus around 6:30PM. My shift by the way starts at 9PM. Yes, I travel three hours to get to work in Alabang. I am used to it and my body has learned to adapt to the schedule and to the distance.

So there, when the bus was in Alaminos there was an unbelievable traffic. The worst traffic of my life! The bus was not moving for almost two hours! I could see people from the other vehicles getting off the buses and jeepneys, walking on the street. If only Alabang was just right in the next town, I might have tried walking myself but that would not work for me.

I tried to do something else on the bus as I waited for it to move it a foot or two. I had my new notebook for my thoughts and I wrote there how I was feeling that time. I listened to Worship Songs from my cell phone. I had fallen to sleep many times and every time I would open my eyes, I was still on the same bus and the bus was still on the same street.

I was chanting ‘Mind Over Matter’ telling myself that everything would be okay. But I guess myself knew so well that I was just fooling myself. I would be late again. I texted TL May, letting her know that I would be late again.

Don’t want to send this text because it’s so frustrating. I’m still in Alaminos, but bus not moving. Super traffic. Third day. I’ll be late—again. Sorry, TL. Is it possible to get VGH first half of the shift?

Then she replied her disappointment. I felt that she did not believe me. She thought I woke up late again just like the first time. I panicked and tried to find a proof that I woke up at 5PM and that I was spending ‘quality moments’ with the bus driver and the bus steward with other passengers on the bus. I was tempted to call TL May and let her speak to either the bus driver of the steward. But I did not have enough loads to do that crazy option. Then I remembered the ticket in my bag. So I texted TL May telling her that I have an evidence. The way I composed the message, I could imagine her laughing through her swelling disappointment.

I arrived in the office at 12MN. Scream.

The Un-Official Team Building

It feels sad that the team is going to be dispersed this September. TL May is transferring to a different account. Ivan, Nikka, and I will also be transferred to that account but we do not have a date yet when this will take place. And the rest of the team will be separated joining different teams. I don’t want to be mushy on this but it somehow hurts to see the team gets disbanded. But it’s part of growth and we take it as an opportunity to know more people and to learn more things in a different environment. Besides, we can still see each other and we will remain friends, although I can’t really count on the first part of the statement.

So we had an un-official team building after shift yesterday. But not everyone was able to join. Leif, RH, Dan, and CJ went on VGH (Voluntary Go Home. Not Paid.) even before lunch and they went in Green and Grills in Festival. They greeted the dawn with towers and towers of beer and cigarettes.

Eventually, almost the rest of the team went on VGH after lunch to join them there. So we went there waiting for TL May, Gay, Lorie, and Chester. The place was dark matching the mood for drinkers and smokers. They were singing in Videoke, choosing loud songs. I contented myself on a well-lit table where I was reading the Student Bible of Nikka. In few minutes, Nikka, Ivan, Robyn, and Dan joined me there.

We had talked about the Genesis. I was impressed with Ivan’s knowledge of the Bible. It felt like I could learn more from him if I get a chance the next time.

Ellen was getting jealous of the situation and wanted us to join them in their table. I was hesitant because of the smoke but then I joined them.

When it’s morning already, the others already went home. TL May finally arrived. In RH’s car, Dan, Ellen, TL May, and I had talked about so many crazy and interesting topics. We went in Ellen’s house in Cavite. We had breakfast—tinapa, fried eggs, and fried talong.

After breakfast, Ellen served as a host to Dan and RH in the outer sala in their house, while TL May and I enjoyed our conversation inside. I learned so much from her. She is a very strong woman. We exchanged life stories and it was really inspiring. Some stories were cute.

I drank some dry wine until I got so sleepy and fell asleep. I woke up quarter to four in the afternoon. I refreshed myself and decided to leave. I would be meeting Gracia in Sto. Tomas so that we could go home together.

Seeing Psyche Again

I received a text message from Tita Sol while I was on a van to Alabang which had put an instant excitement in my heart. She was with Psyche in Star Mall. So before I went to the Bus Terminal to Batangas, I dropped by and met them in Food Court. I was so happy to see Psyche again. I hugged her and she hugged me back. I kissed her on the lips. I asked her so many questions but she only smiled back at me. It was breaking my heart that my family is not together at the toughest time of our lives. One of my major requests to God was that this whole setup would not affect Psyche negatively. Also I’m praying for everything to get back to normal real soon. All my hope is in Him who knows better than me. I know this will end real soon and we will be together again.

When I kissed Psyche my goodbye, I saw the disappointment in her eyes. She was holding back tears. I was impressed that she was trying to be strong at her very young age. In those eyes I could feel that she silently wanted me to take her home with me. But I just could not. Oh God, I just couldn’t… I forced myself to think of beautiful memories to deny the sad tears about to flow from my eyes.

Strawberry Flavor

I waited for Gracia in 711 in FPIP. I decided to buy her a drink. I could not find her favorite Mogu Mogu. I remembered that she wanted to try the Soya Drink so I got her one. While choosing the right flavor, I remembered her saying to me to choose what I do not like and for sure she would like it instead. So I chose the strawberry flavor which I didn’t like. And yes, she likes that one.

Funny Chat

Funny Chat

Now that time is running before the team gets disbanded in September, everyone is always making sure to have fun on the floor.

One time, we were playing on the chat room. When someone left his or her computer unlocked, Ellen, Robyn, Nikka, and Ivan were playing on that person’s chat! Well, it was only on the team chat. And it was really funny!

See the pictures below.

Also I want to share the newspaper versions of the picture during the Class Awards in Convergys where I got this!

Missing Heart

Yesterday I was anticipating seeing Psyche when I went home to Calamba but to my disappointment, there was only Papa at home. I prepared breakfast for him. I even joined him in breakfast. We had Sinigang Na Baboy, Fried Bangus, and Sopas but he did not want the Sopas so I ate the Sopas all by myself.

He watched TV the whole day. I easily fell into a sleep as I lay on my stomach. I woke up to Eat Bulaga. We were laughing together at Jose’s jokes. Then we only had Instant Pancit Canton for lunch. He also had some of his garlic bread and the peanut sandwich cookies which were supposedly for Psyche. He could not eat something else.

Secretly I was hoping that my brothers would come home earlier that day because I wanted to see them. But it was getting late that I did not see them when I left home. I kissed Papa a goodbye and I saw the sadness in his eyes I always see recently. Somehow it hurt my heart and I felt guilty leaving him alone there. Part of me was telling me to stay a bit until someone got home to replace me. But also another part of me was reminding me that I had to meet Gracia after her work so we could go home in San Pablo together.

I was feeling heavy-hearted when I decided to meet Jae Em. But instead of updates with each other when I got to their house, I found his Ate Mabel there and I enjoyed listening to her funny stories from her work.

After that, I went to SM City Calamba to fulfill a promise. I went to National Bookstore and bought Gracia a beautiful Sketchpad. It is called Minerva. When I saw it I knew it was the one for Gracia. When I checked the price, I coughed playfully and decided to look for something else. I found affordable ones but they did not level to the beauty of Minerva Sketchpad. So I decided to take the Minerva one instead.

I also remembered as if Gracia was inside my head whispering, “Uy, don’t forget about the water color pencils.” With a smile on my face, I looked for water color pencils and it took me just a few seconds to find one and err, the price caused my heart to skip a beat or two, laughs!

Before I knew it, I was there standing before the cashier to pay for the sketchpad and its family. I was so excited to see Gracia to give it to her. I also bought myself a cheap but decent notebook. I thought I needed inspiration now that I am back to real writing.

On my way to Batangas to meet Gracia, my heart was still feeling heavy because of the situation of my family. It hurt a lot. It is getting difficult and tiring to define this pain. But something in me is hopeful and knowing that it will end real soon. I just have to wait and let myself see how the Hands of God move in our lives. Truth is that I cannot do this anymore. And glory to God who is the source of all my hope, faith, and strength. It is not easy but I can still smile a real smile.

On the other hand, at work, VGH or Voluntary Go Home (We are offered to go home early if there are not much calls in queue. This is not paid. ) is flooding on the floor everyday, making people on the floor buzz about the unwanted change maybe real soon.

In Team May, I think everyone is secretly emotional about the disbanding of the team this September. 

Everyone is taking time to join team breakfasts and other bonding time.

Well, we’ll see.

Team May: The New Horizon. The Second Team Building

The Final Interview

Just when everyone in Team May was so excited about the team building as the shift was about to end when a new chat-room from Ms. Jo popped up on my screen as I assisted a customer on the phone. Felt like all the sleeping butterflies suddenly got disturbed and their wings were flapping like they were giving me instant LBM right there! Oh my, I was so not prepared! All I was thinking was the team building. But there it was, asking me to take the interview for QA Apprentice post right after shift. Boy, I was so heart-brokenly nervous!

So the verdict started as I got fetched by Kai, all I was praying to God was to guide me all the way. One thing was sure, I could not do it all by myself. So I couldn’t control my brain from thinking of exaggerating thoughts.

When I was being interviewed, I was more nervous than before. When I was asked to rank myself about computer work, I gave Mr. Bert a nine score to rate myself. But he asked specifically about Microsoft Excel. I did not know what to say. All I knew was I badly wanted to be part of QA team and so I could do researching more. I saw Jeremy Castro at Mr. Bert’s back giving me hint with his fingers and I couldn’t see it clearly because I did not want to take away my eyes from Mr. Bert. I thought I saw Jeremy Castro showing me ten fingers. But I didn’t think I could take ten for my score so I stuck to nine, leaving one more finger for room of improvement.

Then Mr. Bert asked me list of questions about Microsoft Excel. “Do you know this?” I hesitated a bit and said, “No.” Then another do-you-know-this question which was answered by me with another No. And there were like three more questions and answers like that. Oh my! Then the question was asked again, “How do you rate yourself in Microsoft Excel?” With humble voice I said, three.

Scream! Oh my goodness! That shattered all of me right there in front of him. Still, I let Father God to do the rest of it. Please LORD…

Team May: The New Horizon. The Second Team Building

Part One: Si Mang Fred

The setup was that Robyn, Lief, and Julius would join Saundra and John in their car. The rest hopped into Dan’s van. I took the front seat with Arjie. Laine was also with us. The travel itself was already fun. Jokes filled the van. Ellen joined forces with Chester in making fun of me, laughs!

When we got in Pansol, we were received too much of ‘hospitality’ from ‘resort barker’. We waited for Mang Fred, our guide to Villa Emma where we would celebrate our team building. I wouldn’t be able to detail out the ‘eyeball’ we had with Mang Fred, gulo niya kausap sa phone! It took us almost thirty minutes to finally find him. He said on the phone he was wearing yellow shirt and we got a bit paranoid out of too much impatience that we literally harassed all who wore yellow passing by our parked van, laughs!

After one thousand years, we found Mang Fred and he led us on his humble bike to Villa Emma. Smiles.

Part Two: The Battle Of Cooks

Everyone was busy cooking the foods. I was trying to help by preparing the other ingredients, naks! Ellen was with Chester. Dan was busy in his specialty, the tacos! Laine got too occupied with her early session with Gay with The Bar that they almost burnt the spaghetti pasta, laughs!

When everything was almost ready, TL May and Saundra went up to their room and prepared the games. Getting hungry, Laine and I began to eat. Boy, the food was great! Even though it did not look so presentable on our table, I’m telling you, it was great! In fact, you could ask Laine about the foods! Laughs! She couldn’t stop eating!

Part Three: Playing The Games

We played Charade in which my team lost! Laughs! Then we ate our lunch together. Then we played the famous Pinoy Henyo (Pinoy Genius) where we were divided into two teams. I was with Princess, Robyn, Laine, and Dan. Every turn, each team should choose a representative who would pick the word he would need to guess by asking questions to his team mates. His team mates would only be allowed to say No, Yes, and Maybe. And it was timed to two minutes.

There were so many funny moments. There was a time when it was Dan’s first turn that he was so excited to represent our team. He first picked the word Liempo (for those who don’t know, it’s like barbeque). Dan had a hard time guessing the word. Funnier part was that when it was the chance of the other team to steal, they could not even guess the word! Laughs!

When it was Dan’s second turn, he picked the word Puso (heart). And, again, he did not guess the word. And I said good job because the other team could not also guess the word.

On the last part, Dan wanted to make the guess again and that time the other team was a point ahead of us. I quickly pushed Dan back down to his seat and said, “Oh please don’t!” Laughs! That was the only chance we had to at least to tie with the other group.

We forced Robyn to take the guessing job, laughs! And in no time she was able to guess the word Canada.

For the tie breaker, everyone agreed that each group would give the word that the opposite team needed to guess. Dan suggested Internet. Gay, from the other group, almost guessed the word. Then, again, Dan took the guessing job. The word was Dandruff. I doubted he could even get close to the word at all. But guess what? He did it! He was able to guess the word! Laughs! We won!

Then we ate, sang the videoke, others drank, Chester slept upstairs, and made fun of each other.

Part Four: In The Pool

Again, I don’t swim. Still, I like skipping in the pool, laughs! Scariest part was when Gay and Laine were trying to pull down my shorts, laughs! Good thing it was tied real hard that they could not even pull it close to my knees! But that was so scary, laughs!

And there was so much fun in the pool.

Part Five: Going Home

It felt bitin when we had to leave by five. I hope there would be another team building.

Part Six: The Pictures