Trip to Bohol :)

Yes our trip started at 6 AM on 25th of December. After nice Christmas Eve we took taxi to the airport to fly to Bohol with Cebu Pacific Airlines. We reach our destination at 10 AM, weather was very nice. We went for some breakfast and think what we want to do and see during next days. There were 3 people joining us later (Katherine, Natalia and her boyfriend), they are having internship in Davao. After some discussions we decided to go to Alona Beach on Panglao Island

We found there nice accommodation and of course went for beach. Unfortunately we were so tired that all of us slept almost all day :) Next day we rent a van for two days which took us for a trip around Bohol. We see Blood Compact , Baclayon Church Loboc river and Man- made forest in Billar. After around 5 PM we reach Chocolate Hills, unfortunately it was too late to see them because it was already dark, so we stayed in the top of one of the hill for a night. In the morning we weren’t very happy because it was raining L so again no of Chocolate Hills. L But after around 1, 5 H sun rise up and in front of our eyes amazing view appear. It is very interesting how the Hills looks like. Our next stop was Tarsiers Visitors Center. Those are cute animals which looks like Gremlin and ET :) This little crazy animal can fit in the palm of your hand, rotate its head almost 360 degrees, move its ears in the direction of sound and has huge eyes, 150 biggest than a human’s in relation to its body size :). You can’t touch them because they will die very fast by making suicide. After those nice 2 days of trip we drive back to Alona beach and stayed at the same place as before. Our next 4 days were to relax on beach. Because most of us were not very into just chilling and doing nothing on the beach we decided to take Diving Course :) Yes!!! It was one of my best decisions ever! The Philippines are one of the most beautiful countries to dive so being here 1 year it will be silly not to use this chance. Our course took 3 days and it was unforgettable experience. You can’t even image how much you can learn about yourself. We had a great instructor Alex which made this experience both very useful and fun at the same time. We started with theory and movie than get to know equipment and first pool session. After first session and practicing some skills we went for Open Water :) Wow! For a first time I saw the underwater world in reality! IT is even hard to describe how beautiful it is. All those magnificent, colorful fishes and corals! During next two days we had more theory, tests, pool session and next 3 dives. The deepest that we went was 20 m! Now I have my license and can go diving in many places, can’t wait to do it next time :) If you will have chance to do your license don’t think to much just do it! On the last day which was 31st of December we had finally J some time to lay on beach and relax :) For New Year Eve first we were have some drinks in our room with some friends and then we went for beach :) Yes for the first time I spent NY on beach when it was around 25 degrees :) On the 1st of January we had fly back at 11 AM so we come back to Manila around noon and at the same day one hour later new trainee from Peru came :) So now I have new flat matte – Karla.

That was story about my last week :) if you are interested to read more about Bohol visit this page: www.bohol.ph

Christmas with Filipino Family

When you are so far from home, in such tropical country it is hard to feel Christmas spirit. It is around 26-28 C every day, sun and even all the Christmas decoration, songs, shopping mania is not helping. Sometime I think that maybe it is better not to feel that this is special time, it is helping me not to miss much family and be sad. Together with other trainee we decided to go for a trip about of Manila to Bohol. It is island which is part of Visayas Islands about 1 h by plane. Our trip was from 25th morning till 1st of January. I will write more about this trip in next post ;)

What was very nice is the fact that we had chance to spend Christmas Eve with Filipino Family (of my work friend). We (me, Eva and her boyfriend, Milan) went there around 9.30 PM. We were first guests (as always :) ) Whole family gathered around 11PM. We were waiting till Midnight and start the evening :) we started with short pray and thanks for the food and all the good things. Later we started dinner. As always a lot of delicious food but nothing special (traditional) for this evening. After dinner we had some time to talk and after short second prayer. At the end around 1.30 AM it was time to give presents. It happens in the same way as in Poland. Whole evening finished around 2 AM. It was very nice experience to see how Family is important in the Philippines. When we reach home it was already 2.30 AM and we had around 3 h of sleep because at 6 AM we needed to go for an airport and start our trip to Bohol.

Christmas Party in Headway

Last Saturday, December 13 we had our Headway Yearend Party. That event was to summarize whole year, thank to employee for they contribution and of course to spend time together and enjoy. The event started around 7 pm when all of the guests gathered in Café Attivo, small restaurant near our office. We started with delicious dinner and even more delicious desert :) after making our stomachs full we started the program. Hosts of the evening were: Michelle (Accounting Assistance from HBS) and Justin (Business Consultant from HPL). On the beginning we had speeches of Mike and Flo, our Headquarter, later Noli, Tim and Akie (managers of Headway companies) shared their thoughts and gave wishes for next year.


After the official part we started games :)we had both team and individual games. I have to admit that I had a great fun to see all the people completing tasks and doing different funny things :) one of the games was: How good do you know your Manager?. Both managers and employees were asked few questions; the task was to answer in the same way without communication. HDI (Headway Dynamics) team become the winner, they know each other very well :) rest of the teams should spend more time with each other and get to know, integration meetings are recommended :P . We also had time to exchange gifts and we choose Best Look Girl and Boy of the evening, our winners were Flo and Jewel but she left earlier so we decided to give award to Ate Elsa :) Whole evening finished at 1 am and till the end we enjoy time together had a lot of nice moments and laugh. I think that idea of organizing such events is a great. We had chance to gather all employees and show how thankful we are that they are with us.

Filipino Ballet

Last Friday thanks to one of my work colleague I had chance to go for ballet. It was the first time I had ever seen ballet and what is funny my first time was in the Philippines. The performance took place I Aliw Theatre near Star City (playground) the theatre itself was quite similar that those in Poland. Of course there were some differences which pay my attention like: people weren’t in official clothes but casual, at the beginning of the ballet there was National anthem. Interesting was also that the ballet had a story teller which was explaining at the beginning what the story will be about. The ballet consisted of 3 parts, 3 different stories. Name of whole performance were: “Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang”

All the performance was amazing, very professional, and colorful and it was great to watch it. I hope I will have chance to visit this kind of places more often. After the ballet you could go and change ticket for entrance to Star City. Of course we did it and go to it. Here were many different …to ride so we enjoyed our evening :)

Merry Christmas…?

Yes even if it is November Filipino are crazy about Christmas, an actually it starts in October. You can notice Christmas decoration everywhere, people have a Christmas tree :), people starts shopping like crazy (I don’t want to know what is going on here just before Christmas), in malls you can here Christmas songs. It is hard to feel at least a little bit Christmas spirit because it is around 25 C and no snow :( but maybe when it will be December something will change… I don’t have plans for 24th of December maybe I will eat some dinner with interns or have dinner with some Filipino family. An on 25th with 2 other interns we are flying for one week to Bohol Island. So I can’t wait to have one week break and see all the amazing things that can be find there

Paintball!

Next thing that I did for a first time – paintball! On Saturday with company colleagues we went to paintball. There were 10 of us. Actually I didn’t know what to expect :) I have to admit that it was a good fun! Especially to shut someone from your team :P the person that a lot of people would like to shoot :) haha we played 5 games (2 teams for 5 people) I was shut 1 time and even I had protection still have sign on my hand. All of us enjoy the day, no one was seriously hurt, what is positive of course :) I’m sure we will do it again but we will try with a bigger group. After 2 hours of playing we were exhausted especially because it was very hot (like everyday here :) ) and of course hungry (like all Filipino) so we went to Chinese restaurant and have an amazing food. Ah you can’t image how crazy Filipino are about food, and what is worse I also become like them :) so at least 3 main dishes during the day, hahaha I’m curious if you will recognize me when I be back :P (10 kg more)…

After almost 3 months

Next week it will be 3 months that I’m here. Ah hard to believe in that, time is running so fast! Every day here was so intensive! I saw things that I’ve never seen, I ate food that I’ve never eaten, I did things that I’ve never did! In the scale from 1 to 10 I will say that overall I’m on 8,5 with my satisfaction of this internship. My JD is very interesting I’m doing a lot and have a big responsibility, company is very nice and like a family so I enjoy it very much of course there are days when I’m frustrated so nothing is perfect but I’m trying to take every day here as a learning experience! The country itself is also very interesting and beautiful so I’m looking forward all the next trips that are waiting for me. I was never expecting to see volcano, swam in such beautiful sea, see big spiders and some other animals :) I appreciate every day that I have here! I’m learning here how to be happy of the things that I have by observing people who don’t have anything and sleeping on the street and still are happy. I already have good friends here not only among other interns but also among Filipino. There was a time when a lot of bad things happen in Poland and I had a very hard time but thanks of close people here I manage to overcome it and still feel that I’m close with my family. Now I’m looking forward for by Best friend who is visiting me in January and my sister! So that I can show them everything here. Of course I miss my friends especially now when they are planning to meet for Christmas and I can’t but I know that they are remember about me, I’m trying to share with them as much as I can and if only they can bring them here to really understand how it is to leave in the Philippines :) Once again if you are one of the people who like experiencing sth new, unexpected go for internship!