MIND FART #16: Four Years

Four years... yes, it has been four years since I was out in the open, the real world, they say. It's as if the years prior were nothing but a good old inside joke that you only remember when you are old and gray, sitting on a rocking chair, reminiscing. But I guess it was a big joke for real (for me) because as cliche as it may sound, the thought of having my previously easier and more comfortable situation back is every inch tempting.

Who wouldn't wish to be back in a very comfortable situation of not being required to "adult", 24/7? Think, no rent/pension/health insurance bills and taxes to pay. Oh, I'd definitely want to be back in the time when I wouldn't need to think of everything all at once but my coming exams and requirements (plus college drama and the in between, which mind you, were difficult times, too but at least not as difficult as the present haha), the next frat/soro party I would attend, my stubborn Physiology group mate, or even ways of getting over an unrequited love and picking up the pieces of a shattered heart. 笑 笑 

Who would wish to be a robot in a sea of robots streaming in and out of the train station, rushing, always rushing, wanting to slow down but cannot slow down because of the fear of being stepped on or ran over by that very sea?

But you know what, I think it's good. This is good. This is okay. I am okay.

Sure, where I am now is different from where I used to be, place- and time-wise, but it's okay. Because this is where growth is. I am growing. Uhhh well, I'd like to think that way. 

And you, too. Even if you think you're going nowhere and you think you haven't had your life figured out yet (like me), it's okay. No one has, anyway. 

As long as you're living the life you've been given, and you continue to thrive how harsh the conditions may be, I think you're fine. We're fine.

And since this post started mainly because of me seeing a Facebook memory from my university graduation back in the Philippines, here are snippets I've unearthed from my college folder. Reminisce with me. ❀

Hope you got something from this post and enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing and reminiscing, on my train to work! ♥

Finally

Yesterday, I visited the campus to return a couple of manuscripts my prof lent me for our Physio special problem and to get my class cards as well. I already knew I passed the three subjects I needed for me to graduate but seeing it with my own eyes is another story. All the hardships I have experienced the past semester, as well as those happy ones, and the people who were with me throughout my roller coaster ride  flashed back; it's as if they're alive in my head. 

So, allow me to thank each one of you for everything you have done for me. Keep in mind that I am forever indebted and grateful to you all.

To our Father Almighty, thank You for the gift of wisdom, for the people who You let me rub elbows with, for all the blessings I have received and the difficulties alike.

To my family, for the trust that I can finish what I started, for the never-ending support and love. I wouldn't have come this far if not for you. Thank you Pa, for challenging me enough. Thank you, Ma, for being the mother every child would be grateful to have. To Tita Nalu, for being my second mother and for attending to my needs, isang text o tawag lang. To my grandparents, who would always be happy to see me home. To my one and only brother, for the late night chats at sa pang-iinis mo sa'kin haha. This is for all of you.

To my super blocmates, thank you! ABBCD (Bea, Bessie=Prince, Claire, Danica), thank you for giving me so many escapes whenever sukang suka na ko sa acads! Sa maraming chill moni sessions, heart-to-heart talks, random pig-outs, movie and videoke trips. Ang sayaaaa. More to cooome!

Clingy friends, Nina and Yen. Thank you for being my rant reservoir haha! Pati sa pagsama nung bitaw phase ng buhay ko. Mamimiss ko yung random dinners and trips and everything in between. Good love will find us. Tiwala laaang.

Londormers, lalo na sa mga luka kong roommates, Cherry, Ezra and Ivory, thank you sa pagtitiyaga niyo sa'kin! Sa lahat ng kwento, sa pagsabay kumain, sa pagiging human alarm clocks ko. Haha. Mamimiss ko ang kaingayan at kalukahan natin sa  green room.

UP Cells lineage, Ninong Jordan, Ninang Kim, Inaanaks Bryan and Buley. Thank you sa family dinners at usapang buhay. Ang saya kasi ang close natin kahit ilang milya ang agwat. I wouldn't want any other sponsors and inaanaks bukod sa inyo. Chos! At sana bago ko magpuntang Japan may complete lineage pic na tayo!

My closest Cells friends, thank you for entrusting your thoughts with me. Everytime maalala ko yung pinagdaanan natin, natatawa na lang ako. The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all, indeed.

Dr. Dee Maligalig, my major adviser, thank you po sa support at sa lahat ng tulong, acad-related man o hindi. Sa pag-push na ayusin yung mga gawa namin lalo na nung Physio SP days.

Prof. Ruperta Asuncion, nasaan man kayo ngayon, thank you po sa life lessons, kahit na sobrang nabuwang ako kakahanap ng 60 published sources at pagsulat ng 150 notecards for my Eng2 library research paper tungkol sa tattoo. Prof. Vincent Hilomen, thank you po sa pag-inspire sa'kin maging Zoology major. Di ko po makakalimutan nung sinabihan niyo ko na mag- Fine Arts nung nakita niyo yung drawings ko ng rotifer at starfish sa Zoo3 manual. Prof. Grace Banaay, nag-enjoy po ako mag-SA sa inyo. Thank you po sa pagiging patient sa'kin pati po sa pagpapataba niyo sa'kin sa Eco Lab, ang sasarap po ng pagkain! Haha! Thank you sa lahat ng profs at instructors, andami ko pong puyat natutunan chos haha!

Clingy Physio groupmates, yey we survived Physio! Salamat sa pagreply sa GMs ko, for actively doing your parts sa exercises at SP. Mamimiss ko yung kain trip natin tuwing pagkatapos ng lab, mga puyat nights and all. 

Bio 120 labmates, thank you ang saya ng mga puyat nights natin nung skit at model-making. Gumagaan yung mga mahihirap na trabaho, andami natin laging tawa kahit na karamihan sa inyo eh na-meet ko lang talaga dahil sa Bio 120. Salamat sa mga libreng pagkain haha! Thank you din kay Prof. Mia Azanes, sorry po naiyak ako nung cnongratulate niyo ko sa pag-graduate ko haha!

To my second families, UP Gawad Kalinga-Los Banos and UP Cell Biological Society. Sa fun company, pati sa pag-intindi sa hindi ko pagiging visible last sem pero just the same, welcome pa rin ako every time. Thank youuu.

At sa ibang nakalimutan ko, thank youuuu! Ang saya ng last sem ko sa UPLB because of you all! I wouldn't be where I am now, kung di niyo ko pinagtyagaan. :) Legit na ang pag-post ko nitong grad photos! :)

Sablay 

Toga

Casual

Creative HAHAHA

Another Physio Story

So we need fresh semen and urine samples for our Zoology 120 Animal Physiology laboratory class and our group was assigned to get herbivore samples. Being the only ones with no classes before our 10AM lab class, Danica and I agreed to meet someone from the Carabao Center who would assist us in gathering the samples we need. We arrived at the center around eight in the morning contrary to the 6AM calltime because Danica and I were afraid of the 10+ carabaos blocking the gate! Imagine the look on our faces when we saw those sharp and massive hoooorns! Good thing a tractor (?) passed by and without second thoughts, we said yes when the driver asked us if we want to jump in since he's going the same way as ours. And the rest is historyyyy! 

Here are some of the few pictures I managed to take since we're running late for claaaasss!

I don't really know what this is for. Maybe for weighing the feeds?

Haha he stuck out his tongue when I aimed to take a picture! Cute!

The carabao from which the urine sample was taken. Thank you, buddy!

Carabaos at the center have ear IDs each for proper identification and monitoring.

The long and winding road to Carabao Center!

Hello, Danica!

My lakwachera shoes yay!

Breathtaking view!

The semen samples given to us were already in tubes so I don't really know how they acquired it from the carabaos. Just a tip, if you're getting semen samples, you might want to bring with you a jug full of ice so that you can place the tubes of semen there, especially if what you're going to examine in the lab is sperm motility. As for the urine samples, a wide-mouthed bottle or container will do. :-)

Los Banos

Photo from dontpanicitsorganic|Tumblr

Nakaka-emoshit pag iniisip ko na darating ang araw na iiwan ko rin to. Saan man ako magpunta, wala pa ring makakapalit sa LB, sa mga masasaya at maging mga karimarimarim na pangyayari, lalo na sa mga taong nakilala ko sa ilang taong pamamalagi ko sa lugar na yun. Hindi ako nagsisising nagpauto ako sa nanay ko na pumasok ng UPLB imbes na UST (na gustung-gusto ko talaga ang course ko dun: BS Psychology) at naging matigas ang ulo ko dati na hindi sundin yung utos ng nanay ko na lumipat ng Diliman para daw mas malapit sa bahay namin. Umalis man ako, babalik-balikan kita kahit ilang oras pa ang byahe. Kung malayo man ako, tatanawin kita sa puso at isipan ko. :”>


Nagmamahal,
Alyssang Tagabundok