I Will Be Alone Soon!!!

Hubby has been busy now of completing all his papers for his working permit of going back to Angola to work again! His presence and expertise is apparently been extremely needed at the moment... Imagine a mining company without a Geologist, it is like a "life without any direction at all".

I just hope I can cope to stay on my own until he comes back again in time for me to give birth. We both really are so lucky to have been given a chance to stay at home for almost 5 months now (mind you that's with pay)...

Jason's Memorial Garden

Jason Pope has been missing for over 10 years, he was kidnapped in Angola, Africa. Hubby knows him, and they got to work in Angola same time together, it was in the year 1999! They arrived two years before me, yet there was still civil wars during my time but it didn't last long as the leader called Savimbi got killed somewhere, late year 2001. Hubby and I wanted to visit this festival, to share to his family our experiences and understanding about this place, that we've been there where Jason was. Sad really..

My dad-in-law forwarded this too me, this caught my attention straight away as it reminded me how Local Bandidos treated expatriates (Filipinos, English, Portuguese, South Africans, etc) during the war time. In fact, there were Filipinos got killed too!

His family have created a Memorial Garden for him and it is only open to the general public for special occasions and will be open over the Folk Festival, and once again we will return to the fantastic Jason Garden at this years Folk Festival.

Located at the very top of East Cliff Walk (Just past the Lido/East Cliff Cafe), this amazing Garden has a stunning view over Teignmouth and is the perfect location for listening to folk festival. It was a treat for everybody that made the steap walk to the Garden but is well worth it.

It's a Stunning clifftop garden with 180 degree panoramic view of sea and South Devon coastline. Modern, stylish design with high quality landscaping and bold planting, creating areas of individuality within an harmonious whole. This tactile garden is accessible and of interest to all and its underlying ethos leaves a lasting impression. Seeing is believing.

Jason's Garden has been showcased on the BBC's Open Garden and has been included in the Yellow Book.

We All Cry For Confirmation - If We All Going Home After The New Year

Speculations are going around that "maybe" or "maybe not" - if we all going home after celebrating New Year! God knows what will happen to us... The fact that our company didn't manage to get a decent return on last month's production (due to diamond prices fall), though we did get the quota, still it didn't help at all! Would have been a merrier celebration if global economy crisis did not strike diamond industry, well, not just in our industry, all over the world...

We are still keeping our fingers crossed that we could still be able to survive, and would keep us here and save our jobs... Nevertheless, we would still going to have a MERRY CHRISTMAS after all!

Being A Breadwinner Has Never Been Easy For Me

I am the eldest among 7 sisters and 1 brother, and being into that position has never been easy for me! When I first left Philippines to come and work here way back year 2001 (when I was still 22 years old), there was only one purpose I was heading for - "a greener pasture" that could somehow would answer all my questions if this was God's an answered prayers, first, to send my sisters to universities, and second to give my family a wee bit distance above the poverty line, which was only one step higher - this is what I asked for!

During my first two years of working in the middle of nowhere, working away from families and friends, was shocking, dreadful, you name it! Again with one only phrase kept on flashing on my mind - "I wasn't here for myself, I came here for my family"...

To make the story short, one day BIG TRIAL came (that was before I met my husband), I didn't know I was going to bump into it, as a young woman who was feeling vulnerable with the politics between the Filipinos. Sounds familiar?, that instead of helping each other, there we were, fighting each other. What a life, and I remember I started blaming my family, crying, helpless, weak, defenseless and in danger.. and there were times that I really wanted to resign and go back to the Philippines, but I just couldn't dare to stay at home, watching my poor family.

"If it wasn't because of my family as my inspiration, and have stayed longer for years and years, I wouldn't have met my husband and would have been leaving my family still unfortunate"...

However, God is already in control of our life's journey, He knows even before we were born, what will going to happen. All we have to do is pray and pray and pray....

This is exactly what I did during those times... PRAYER is so powerful I tell you, and God made me even stronger! I am a real survivor as a breadwinner, as a fighter!

So, this Christmas season, since "GOD IS THE REASON WHY WE CELEBRATE" - I would solely and wholeheartedly giving my BIG THANKS UP TO HIM for giving me courage and strength in order to survive in this kind of place, and to have guided my sisters in their studies and managed to finish and fulfill their dreams, to have met the man He prepared for me (my wonderful husband), to have been able to supply all the needs of my families and lastly, to have been able to bring them not only a one-step higher but loads of steps compared to what we used to.

GOD BLESS US ALL...
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Articles You Interested To Read:
Being A Winner As A Breadwinner
Our Journey In Life - Lead Us To Our Destination
Whatever Happens, Happens For A Reason
Love Inside Your Heart
My Family - My Inspiration
Don't Loose Your Passion To Dreams
Being Stocked In The Middle Of Nowhere (Angola, West Africa)
Don't Be Afraid To Fail
Living Each Day
Hingotanan Island Bohol, My Home Sweet Home

ANGOLAN Kids Christmas Party Turned Into A Bad Nightmare!

A once-in-a-year experience of ANGOLAN KIDS to be happy, and would have been given a chance to feel the REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS, but unfortunately, it turned into a BAD NIGHTMARE!!!

This time would have been their first happy Christmas ever in their entire life as kids to experience a happy Christmas, since this was the first time our company bought hundreds of toy sets, foods, softdrinks and shirts for the registered children of our local workers!I finished work at around quarter to 2 o'clock in the afternoon last Saturday, which I only made 5 hours total! I don't work in Personnel Dept to have been given this task to be "all of a sudden" which then had became our responsibility ("WE Filipinas"). I didn't complain, though I wasn't so convinced to go to their local town until God knows what time we were going to finish, even though I was told that the party won't last after 6pm in view of the fact that they won't be fixing any lights! We drove straight to their local town's primary school (about 20 minutes drive from the camp), we put some decorations. By the way, it was only our Filipina Nurse and myself were left behind with the rest of local ladies who work at our laundry to organize all the decorations, which we managed to finish as early as half passed 3!

The original plan was to start distributing all the toys, shirts and foods by 4 o'clock, but it didn't happen because we had to wait for our Angolan Personnel Director to arrive, and it was getting very late so we decided among ourselves to let all the kids to come in and just give t-shirts and let them dance and play while waiting for him! "STRICTLY NO PARENTS INSIDE", because we only had such a little space which was only enough for more than 300 kids total....It was perfectly fine until he arrived! There was no problem whatsoever, he didn't stay long either! Imagine he arrived late and did not stay long... As soon as he left, on his way out, he told all of them to get inside! CHAOS, absolutely CHAOS!! It ruined everything, since we didn't have much space for the kids to fall in 2 lines (1 line for boys and 1 for girls), so we had to call their names 1 by 1, and didn't help either because it was getting dark and we didn't have lights....

Therefore, WE DECIDED TO STOP DISTRIBUTING.. Everybody panicked to have not been able to receive their toys (both parents and kids). They were shouting and some went into one direction where the toys were, some were shouting looking for their kids, and kids were crying and shouting looking for their parents. Poor me, I was stocked right beside where they were squashing in, my half body was sandwiched by all these stupid parents who were trying to get as much toys as they can. If it happened the same in rural areas in Manila, yes it will be the same but not as horrible and worst as it did happen here! Luckily, God forbidden to have none of them have initiated to punch anyone, otherwise, would have been a bloody and deadly fight in the middle of the dark small place!

I tell you what, I WAS SHAKING, FRIGHTENED, SHOCKED, and totally SPEECHLESS!! Because that HEARTBREAKING and DISTRESSING STAMPEDE of "WOWOWIE", that I experienced myself back in February 2006, was all refreshed on my mind that very moment! It was my 2nd frightening crowd in a mad dash. The moment we got to the camp, saw and spoken my husband, I WAS IN TEARS shaking like mad!

From now on, I will always stay away from any horde of people....

Online Shopping As Christmas Present For Myself

.....Another Christmas in the middle of nowhere!.....

Sounds pathetic, sad.... huhuhu... Yet, needless to say that we still regard ourselves as lucky (as we work together) compared to the rest of the expats here, whom they work away from their wives and children.

I have been telling everyone that we are in the "bush", "middle of nowhere" - without shopping malls, no cinemas, no beaches, no markets! However, we all been used to live with it "contentedly and cheerfully"! Why if nothing is in there? All because we do not do anything except to wake up in the morning, take shower and go to work!! EASY LIFE.... You can read our stories here, and here, and here, and here, and here lol:)...

Anyway, shopping is always the first thing comes to our mind when special celebrations (birthdays, anniversaries, chistening, etc) or any major occasion like "Christmas" comes! Sad to say that I had to do mine, ours online. When we were in UK last September, my husband bought my Christmas present already, its a TAG HEUER two-tone watch and have been wearing it since we came back here. I didn't manage to wait til Chistmas.... :) Besides, I have already given my present for him, latest PC Games (5) with Joystick since he likes playing computer games, this was through our South African friend who went on vacation last month.

So, I browsed on EBay, and have had found gorgeous things I would have asked my husband to buy for me if we were at home. They were shipped to the Philippines, did arrive safely, and asked one of my colleagues to bring with him who arrived just this past week! I found this Australian company called Pink Beauty, not so expensive though.

You know what are those? You need to open that box first...lol... They are FASHION JEWELRIES... I love fashion, wearing different styles everyday at work is my great passion. I don't buy expensive ones, I'd rather have 10 than 1... You know what I mean? I am like a little child sometimes :)

I bought 3 earings, 3 necklaces, and 1 bracelet, plenty huh! Look at them.... big thanks to my Santa Claus!! They are gorgeous, aren't they?

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Related Articles:

Diamond Life In Cuango - Angola!

Being Stocked In The Middle of Nowhere

How I Got Engaged In The Middle of Nowhere

My Family, My Inspiration

Spending Our Weekends Here

Diamond Industry Holds Crisis

We are very much affected by the credit crunch everyone has had to experience due to worldwide financial crisis! We are working in diamond mining industry, the fact that diamond prices are down to at least 20%, though we have been trying to mine and produce more to compensate the loses, but then it is just quite difficult to make more, which would mean for us to spend more money to be able to get the same amount of money we used to get for a certain quantity. Now what will happen next? Everyone was insinuating to have a manpower downside in every department. It is sad because they have started to implement to have all the overtime to be cut, so no more extra money for the Filipinos and for the Nationals.

We normally get 50% of our basic salary as a "holiday pay" (this is once a year), which we then get paid for the month of November, plus another 50% as "Christmas bonus" on December. But we are told not to expect these two bonuses, as our company don't have enough money to pay all. Looks like that even then we meet our monthly target, we still don't get our monthly bonus.

This is on the news worldwide: Traders, cutters, polishers and producers from the world's top diamond hubs — including India, Israel, Dubai and China — held crisis talks in this Belgian city to keep the shine on their multibillion-dollar business. Industry leaders De Beers Group and Russian mining giant Alrosa announced plans to cut production of rough diamonds and to launch a massive media blitz in the United States to lure consumers back to jewelers and prevent a panicky markdown in prices. Still, industry experts warned of a possible 15 percent drop in sales in North America next year, a 10 percent sales drop in Europe and a five percent drop in Japan.

Click here to read more updates on diamond industry crisis. Are diamond industries set to loose it's sparkle too?

Building Bridges Instead of Walls

I am always a friend to anybody! I remember when I first arrived here in Angola, and when I became friends to almost everyone here (Filipinos, South Africans, English, Angolans) there some people who irrationally didn't like me of being that close to everybody! Is there anything wrong with that? Of which apparently, they used to make stories out of my attitude... that I was trying to seduce the men at the camp! Apart from that, there were some Filipinas who was so jealous of me having loads of supporters.

Yet, I still remain friends with everybody. Until, they decided not to speak to me, about 7 of them...so I was under their personal politics which didn't truly bother me at all, and have soon realized that the more they saw me laughing and talking to everyone, the more they hated me until our friendship bridge collapsed. I then realized that it wasn't worth feeling down about it. I feel so sorry especially those who didn't even know me during those times (newly hired Filipinas), of what they have said about me. You know, I know you all familiar with a phrase "you can't expect your co-countrymen to be there for you"... in fact, sometimes they were the first ones to put you into the hitch. Shame, because we suppose to help each...

Anyway, to make the story short, my husband and I got transferred in another project (but same company), without realizing that we were be working with one of these Filipinas I was referring to (1 of the 7). We just stayed civil and tried to persuade her in a way that she made mistake of not knowing me first. But then, she was too high that I could hardly reach her! She never had spoken to me since, and yet I still try to become her friend... I always try building bridge between ourselves but she can't be bothered. Why?...I used to get upset every time I catch her attention but of no response, as if I don't exist. I just don't get the logic as to whether why she had to do that to me, until only recently, that I have given up! I managed to give in of my feelings (after a long time) of being so defenseless. I don't bother anymore. But I have noticed that she is trying to be friends with me now, for some reason which I don't know. Nothing wrong with that right?, and why not...

It is all about attitude, and after all, attitude is everything. This is I learned the secret of winning friends.

How Smile Turns Bad Mood to Extremely Good...

Well and good, so far, I have never encountered any problem in the past with my friends, families, daily encounters and whoever I called "close friends" though I don't spend much time with people these days. Yet, people would always tell me not to stop "smiling" every time they see my face with a puckered brow! What a huge effect unto other people's lives ones attitude! They even used to call me a "band mood booster", due the fact that I always smile at them... and every time they hear my laugh, it makes their day....

But until I got fed in this place, I never heard people longing for my smile anymore. I soon realized that why not, it is free anyway. Laughter, some said it's the best medicine in the world. So start smiling and laughing as much as you can. Have a hearty laugh over every amusing situation. Laugh even at yourself and smile at the simplest pleasures in your life.

With smiles and laughter, your days will become lighter, more joyous and more bearable even on those hay-wired days. Your smiling face looks much more appealing and beautiful too.

Give away your smiles freely and in abundance. Spread your laughter around as it's contagious.

"Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day".