Make a difference, change a life

I just got my recent job as a fundraiser for World Vision.  They called me up for a group interview where I have met similar people like me who advocate children's rights.   It was my first group interview and I really didn't know what to do but I guess my intuition as an occupational therapist guided me through it.  I just thought that since this was called a "group" interview, they might look for someone who can blend well with the group.  Not one who outshines others but someone who brings out everyone's potentials.  I most certainly did not expect for them to call me, really.  I mean, the people I've met and worked with during the interview were amazing!  They had incredible conversation skills unlike me who stuttered a lot.  I was really really awkward!  But I thought, heck!  I'll just do my best next time.  And I did get much comfortable answering questions afterwards. At that point, I just wanted them to know me as plain as day so, I was really honest and upfront with my answers.  When I got back home, they had already called to give me the good news.  \\(@^0^@)//

So, all of the fundraisers were called for training on October 31st - Halloween.   We got to meet our own team and the other teams who are stationed to malls in different places in British Columbia.  Hundreds of us were interviewed but only around sixty (60) people were there.  Woah!  That's when I realized the gravity of the competition during the interview.  Talk about delayed reaction.  I don't even know if I can even say it was a "delayed reaction".  It was too far off.  Anyway, I had a lot of fun during the training.  I can proudly say that our team had the coolest name ever!!!

GRINCH BUSTERS

We'll make your heart grow three sizes!

Making a difference one child at a time

Two days into the job and I'm doing good.  Getting as much feedback as I can and trying out all the techniques Team Leader Kirsten has told me.  It was awesome!  I've had great conversations with people and I'm getting more comfortable with doing the "Pitch" although, I still am having a problem with my words.  Dang you Brodmann's Area 44 and 45!  Can't get my words right.  I'm probably going to have to work on reinforcing appropriate responses to train my flexibility in communication.  Getting comfortable with the language one step at a time.  Although, I am getting a lot of feedback from co-fundraisers and random people I've talked to that I don't sound new at all.   I tell them that sometimes when I speak Filipino for a great deal and if I hear Filipino accent, I do catch that pretty fast.  On another note, I don't let it get to my head much and just do my best with every stop I make.  After all, it's not about how good you speak or the money you get from this job.  It's about getting these kids a Christmas to look forward to.  A day when they can readily go to school and not have to pick trash for a living.  Evenings when they can actually sleep with food in their bellies.  It's about changing their lives with just a dollar a day.  It's about acting now to be the difference in this apathetic world.  I may not be ridding the world of poverty today but planting altruistic seeds in people's hearts is already starting a movement.  A movement that perhaps can lead us to a world closer to a dream.

Ate Korina and me at the booth with our little angels \\(@^0^@)//

Team Leader Kirsten with me yey!  Thanks for Chris who took the picture  (@^-^@)

I feel really honored.  Being chosen gave me more confidence.  You'll really never know what will happen if you've never tried.  And you know what? Just believing in yourself accounts to a lot.  Hoping to spread my passion to every people I meet and make them part of the change.  

Can vending machines take over Earth?

Let me tell you the first time I saw a vending machine, it was one of the most profound moments of my life.  Laugh if you want but yes, I was fascinated by it.  No kidding.  Everytime I see one, I can't help but check my pockets for change. Heck! I even like the Skytrain and Bus ticket vending machine. So, being the meticulous memory jogger that I am, I tried to trace back my love for vending machines.  It was from that old Coca- Cola commercial in the Philippines!  The one where a boy was trying to buy a coke from the vending machine.  It goes like this:

Man: First time mo?

Boy: Mag-coke?  Di ah.

Unfortunately, I tried to find the video on youtube but it wasn't there.  It wasn't anywhere!  What a pity.  It's such a nice commercial.  I hope someone uploads it.  But here, I stumbled upon a great commercial by Coke.  



Totally unrelated to vending machines but it got stuck in my mind so I thought I'd just post it.

So...anyway, I kind of understand  now why Dr. Doofenshmirtz (from Disney's Phineas and Ferb) collects coins just in case vending machines become a dominant race.  Because here in North America, they do have a lot of vending machines.  A variety of them in fact. Chips, canned drinks, hot drinks, gum, chocolate, gummy bears, jelly beans, DVDs, magazines..you name it!   And, hear this!  Most of them give...*drum roll*...CHANGE!!!  Woah...how high tech is that?  Back home, you need to have the exact amount of coins or paper money to get the merchandise in the machine.  Expect no change for your money if you give extra.   

Do you collect coins?  Just in case...

Vending machines become a dominant race hahaha

Weird lyrics but now, I guess I don't find it so weird.  And speaking of weird, I've tried to search for the most unique vending machine I can find over the internet too.  Woah!  You wouldn't believe that most of them really do exist or have existed at one point in time.    Guess where most of them are found.  Yep, if you're thinking about sailor costumes and anime, you're absolutely right.  Some weird s*** happens and it's in Japan - no biggie.  Check these out:

Start of world domination maybe?

If you want more spice added to your ordinary dose of sugar from Coke, well, how about getting it from a walking and talking robot?  I don't know if it'll be the one to hand the cola but how cool would it be just to approach that thing and get your drink in the middle of the street, right?

Pet beetles on the go, anyone?

Apparently, if you suddenly have to get beetles and can't find an open store for that, here is a machine that'll gladly dispense them for you at a very low cost.  Probably for kids who still play with dung beetles.

One fresh 9-inch pizza please!

I don't know where this is but it really does pique my interest.  How fresh would the pizza be if it would come out in just under 5 minutes?

Oh my gosh!  Just realized that I needed gold.

Gold on the go!  When you need gold and need gold really fast.  Germany has probably the richest people if they needed gold on the go.  Nowadays, only the world leaders handled the country's gold right?  That's why paper money was disseminated among the people.  Can't really imagine where they would need gold.

Sailor costume please!

Well, I really can't explain what this is for but uh...you get the picture.

Used panties, you say.  Yeah, we got it.

Fetish to the max!  Woah...this is the weirdest vending machine ever!  Who would want panties that were used, really?  (Aside from those who are...you know.)  This is just plain sick and weird.  Can't imagine my own undies there.  It's a good thing that they have banned these in early 90's.  Although, the fact that this thing was brought to life is a very curious incident indeed.

From Heron of Alexandria to the modern day inventors who update these wonderful machines, I thank you with all my heart.  I'm curious on the future of the machines and how one day they will serve us more than they have now.  Vending machines are wonderful inventions that truly help our daily life be more accessible and efficient.

Lastly, a picture of mama and that vending machine from the library that I have yet to use

World Vision Job Opportunity

For Children.  For Change.  For Life.

Today, I saw an advertisement in the newspaper that they had openings for their mall fundraising teams  in World Vision.  I desperately applied even though I had no sales background and technically even fundraising.  I think I sounded a little aggressive in my cover letter but I was willing to give it my all.  If they'd just call me up for an interview, I'll show them how passionate I am.  I have much to say and have much to advocate to fit it all in the cover letter.  This passion cannot be contained in an 8 1/2 x 11 inches of bond paper. I'd have had to take out even the margins and use the back page too! 

Anyway, they had an interesting form to fill in their job page.  They had a question at the end asking what was my motivation.  I answered:

"I came from the Philippines where poverty is widely seen and pitifully...ignored.  From a very young age, I have met parents and children who live just to survive.  Children forced into labor and sadly having dreams hindered by their educational attainment.  I have probably not seen all the hardships in the world but I have seen enough to know that I need to do something.  Right now, as I start a new life here in Canada, I want to do something I know I love - that is helping people."

Too much?  What do you guys think?  Well, I just hope that they do call.  If they don't well...then...I'll just try again!  Ha!  That ain't the last they've heard of me.

Just be you...

You learn something new everyday.

If there was one statement that could greatly describe how I perceive this new life I'm trekking, that will be the quote right above.   Somehow, with all the foreign things surrounding me, I can't help but feel like a kid.  Getting out of your comfort zone has never been this extreme!  Believe me. There are what we call basic "awkward~" situations where you get a little uncomfortable. But with simple and basic socially awkward situations at least more or less you are self-aware of the comfort endagering situation.  You have at least a marker on this one.  You know, like crossing the imaginative line of personal space or going out of your house gate when you were still a child.  Think about leaving that marker and venturing out into an unknown place, where people speak different languages and everything just seems so...NEW!  Right now, after all the nerve-wracking (and not to mention painstakingly humiliating) awkwardness I have been secretly carrying on my back, I have reformed to being a child.  So socially awkward sometimes that I have no care if I have acted rather ridiculously - like a child telling a green joke by accident.

The thing is immigrants like us are welcomed here in Canada and being awkward is fine.  Hey nobody is perfect!  You can't be all good at mingling with people right away.  But you can try.  Just try and try and eventually you'll get better.  Like a baby learning how to walk.  You have to risk falling before you actually learn.  And I bet that didn't just happen overnight.  You had to learn how to turn over first, sit unguarded, stand with the help of furnitures and practice letting go.  You can't just skip it all.  Take risk and be awkward.  Be you.  Afterall, you're building relationships so as much as possible honesty must be present.  They may find you weird at first or ...well, I can't think of anything except for weird so we'll just go with that. That's just how it is!  I tried to talk "casually" as soon as I got here and woah...you wouldn't believe how excruciatingly awkward I was to those people I have talked to.  I stuttered, mumbled, went out of topic and in the end I was talking in one word descriptors.  Talk about desperate communication right?   Nevertheless, I tried because I know that that is the only way to go.  I'm glad I did strike up those childish conversations though.  I can say that I have gained confidence in speaking and the stuttering is almost gone. My flightiness is a little hard to deal with but I think I can manage that through PGH style modification.

Hooray for Sir Jerry and Ma'am Ai~!!!  Thanks for straightening me out when I was still in Ward 7.   It's a great help now.

So view everything like a child - without prejudice and malice. I bet you'll find the world a better place.  Let me tell you it is easy if you try.  Just let His wisdom guide you (or you could just go with the weather topic.  Yes, it always works.)

Tutoring Kids

After four months of staying here in Canada, I have decided to take on a new volunteer experience that is somewhat related to occupational therapy.   Tutoring kids with learning disabilities!  I saw the advertisement made by the Learning Disabilities Association of British Columbia - Fraser South (LDAFS) in the newspaper and decided to call them up a month ago.  Truthfully, I have filed for two (2) volunteer jobs but the other one was pushed back in November and I didn't know the status of my application in Red Cross.  In the end, I decided to go for this one first as Miss Kenny Leung of Red Cross has told me that I could re-apply again when my availability changes.  Red Cross needs two weekdays to make things work but things just didn't work out.  They were very kind to call me after a week (Miss Leung was out of town when I called). They don't plan to give me up and I don't plan to give them up either.  

Day of interview (was too early so I took some pics)

So after the information night, I went for the personal interview and passed!  Yey!  The interviewer told me that I don't have much foreign accent and that that is an asset I certainly can bring to the tutoring.  That perked up my self-esteem.  You know, to have someone tell you your good points is very reassuring.  I told her though that sometimes my Filipino accent does come out when I am really nervous.   After that, she told me to work a little bit on my printing (writing) because I will have to teach kids how to write too!  Hahaha  assertiveness at its finest!  At that moment, I thought to myself, THIS IS MY GOAL!  She has mastered the art of assertiveness.  Anyway, I just laughed internally.

Henceforth, training was conducted once a week every Saturday for three weeks.  Everyone got to introduce themselves again like how we did during the information night.  The people I've acquainted with during that day had varied reasons on why they wanted to volunteer and mysteriously, I felt a sense of belonging.  Kind of funny aye?  Different people from different places with varied stories at their backs come together to advocate literacy.  Upon realization, I almost cried.  Belonging has certainly been a feeling I have not sensed in a long time.  The luxury of friends has yet to come and although I know they are just acquaintances...somehow it just felt right.

(And the free muffins are awesome too!  Hooray for free food!)

Individual guidebooks given to tutors 

My nametag on the left and just a little picture of the guidebook

Last week, I decided to finally get my Criminal Record Check at the police station.  I worried that they might have a body check so I decided to do it at last minute.  That nasty bruise on my right antecubital area has finally receded!  Yes!  Thankfully, they did not have a body check as I imagined they would.  When I told them the story, they laughed  hahaha!  Oh and I also met someone who was jailed for 72 hours when I was waiting for the bus.  He was pretty happy about being let out.  Good for him :)

Getting my Criminal Record Check from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Tomorrow is my first day of tutoring and I certainly hope to make a good impression on the kids.  Preparing some stuff for rapport can never fail you :)  I was thinking of doing magic tricks like Jess would.  Going to pack up on confidence too!

If you have time please do check out their site and learn more about their advocacy!

LDAFS logo (@^-^@)

Awaiting Romance

by Akemi

Twenty years of dreaming..

A prince and his white horse to come

Twenty years of singing..

A song to which he will listen

Twenty years of love..

A place in my heart not told

Twenty years of a life..

With much ardour to spare

Twenty years of … yes, perhaps..

A little more to wait

For the romance of a lifetime

(January 16, 2011)

A Woman's Glory / Kapurihan ng Babae

A Woman’s Glory

by Akemi

The hair is cut

But the weight remains

The burden of faith

Makes it heavier

The knees give in

The head hits the earth

Kapurihan ng Babae

ni Akemi

Pinutol na ang buhok

Ngunit ang bigat ay naiwan

Ang pasan ay paniniwala

Ginagawa pa itong mabigat

Bumigay ang mga tuhod

Ang ulo ay bumagsak sa lupa

(April 12, 2010)