Life as AFAC

I know, I know, I haven’t been blogging for ages (thanks to facebook) and I haven’t written anything about my holidays in Goa and Europe. But I’m too lazy now! So FAQs na lang muna:

Q: You went to Goa? When and why?
A: During the October holidays, I had nowhere to go coz I was supposed to be in Europe but the visa took so long to process. My officemate Anna said, “Wanna come to Goa with me?” I said, “Okay! Here’s my passport, photo etc. By the way, where is that?’

Q: Where did you go in Europe?
A: Sa city mismo. Hehe. Original plan was just Paris, Barcelona and Amsterdam/The Hague. But I met the nicest locals who gave me a tour around the city and even drove me outside the cities. So I got to go to Versailles in France, Figueras and Girona in Spain, and Haarlem, Hoofdorp and Delft in Holland.

Q: Were you not afraid?
A: Well, it was quite an adventure travelling to very far places that I can’t speak the language. So I just made the most out of it. And I didn’t say yes to every single person who invited me noh.

Q: What is the city you can imagine living in?
A: Paris. It’s the most beautiful city there. And the most artist-friendly. Plus they probably pay the highest!

Q. What is your favorite city?
A. Barcelona. It’s not as beautiful but the best ones are there. Gaudi, Dali, Miro, Picasso. But I don’t like the manana habit and the Spanish time (Pilipino Time is considered punctual next to it).

Q: Which city has the cutest guys?
A: Paris has the cutest guys. Barcelona has the flirtiest. According to tita bing, “Flirting and following girls around” is their national pasttime. Holland according to tita bing has the most number of gorgeous men per capita in europe, according to stats. Dutch people do look so alpha male. But they are all fab, I can’t complain.

Q: (phone in question of Angelo) Mr Right?
A: Hmmm… Mr Right now?
Haha, these things you never know. I am not an expert on this topic, obviously.

Q: Best food?
A: Paris. Their portions are so big too! The paellas I tasted in Barcelona were a letdown, but maybe I went to the wrong places. Cheese and stroopwafels in Holland are the best! Cheese, ham, eggs and chocolates… that’s my diet for 3 weeks.

Q: New discoveries about yourself?
A: I can communicate with Spanish people! Ilonggo has more espanol than I thought. I also discovered I was more gutsy than I thought. And more boring than I wanted to admit (declined the only opportunity to go clubbing). And that it’s okay to flirt (I learned this in Goa with Masters Anna and Fiona, but only applied it in europe).

And… that mabenta ako in Europe! 8ku asked if I want to run for mayor, haha! Ba’t sa Shanghai it doesn’t work? Shanghai is my kryptonite.

Q: New discoveries about Europe?
A: French people are super duper nice and helpful! Not snobs at all! They are not the warmest but they are certainly the most helpful to me. As in if I ask for directions to a theatre, the stranger would call using her cel then ask if I want help in booking tickets; and people help carry my very heavy luggage in every stairway in the metro (and there are millions!) Also, hindi uso ang escalators and elevators in Europe! Gosh! Learning yan! I paid penance for all my shopping.

Q: Memorable moments?
Getting invited to TNT’s house party in Paris. Being spontaneous in Barcelona and Amsterdam and ended up with lovely new friends. Finding out I got a totally wrong Hague-Paris ticket on the eleventh hour plus the paris strike. My amazing race to the airport with Martin because of the stupid total transport strike in Paris.

Q: Best shopping?
A: Barcelona, coz it’s good and affordable. Paris has fab things too but super expensive.

Q: Quotable quote?
A: from a paris TNT: “Daig pa namin ang presidente dito. Pati congressman at senator. Pag may trabaho, damit basahan kami. Pero pag linggo, naka-boots din kami!”

Q: How did the trip change you?
A: Not really change but it made me want to improve myself in terms of A. overplanning less and be more spontaneous. B. I want to be a real artist sooner! (Original plan is 40 years old)

Q: How did you feel coming back to Shanghai?
A: I feel home. It’s funny coz I never knew where home was for a year. It’s not Makati anymore and it’s not really Bacolod nor Shanghai. Until I breathed the polluted Shanghai air again.

Q: Is your trip really as cultural and wholesome as your facebook photos show?
A: That’s for me to know and you to find out!

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 24th, 2007 at 4:23 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.