The Year That Was

2014 was a colorful year, to say the least, composed of both the good and the bad, sadness and joy, new challenges, new places and an opportunity to grow and live out a new life.  But I am thankful still, because despite all the changes that happened, there are still old faces, old friends who through thick and thin, good and bad times, stuck around and never left.  Of course, I will forever be grateful to the wacky, dramatic, loving bunch of people who always got my back and who fully support me all the way - my family.

Let's see, what did happen to me this year?  I got an operation December of last year so the first 2 months of this year I was trying to get back on my feet and was in recovery mode.  One of my closest friends decided to leave the company and work abroad; I got assigned to head a team in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for a year; my cousin, will leave for the US this month to start a new life with her new family; and another close friend just recently resigned.  

My new assignment in Vietnam is challenging.  Truly challenging.  I haven't felt this stressed for a long time but I guess it comes with learning to adapt to the culture of a new country and with working with an entirely different group of people.  I am still in the stage where I am trying to adapt to everything : work, environment, people and I guess it is taking its toll on both my health and my sanity.  But no complaints, here.  I know its part of the process.  I just need to learn to let some things go and turn off my brain once in a while to relax and unwind and of course adapt as fast as I can. 

Vietnam cuisine is one thing I truly enjoy.  Local food is really good here.  Seafood, fruits and vegetables are abundant here and are quite cheap compared to Manila.  I really enjoy the seafood fare here and the vegetables here are sooo fresh and readily available. The foodie in me is very excited to try all these dishes.  There are also a lot of foreign dishes available.  One thing that got my attention was there are quite a number of Japanese restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City. 

People are also warm and friendly, but generally not all of them speak or understand english.  Communication is a bit of an issue here for me, so to avoid getting lost, I always carry a small notebook with me where my work and apartment address is written in the local language.

Good thing there is an Expat Filipino team working here in our company so I am not completely alone.  This wonderful group of people have become my family here in Vietnam.  My patch of sunshine and most of the time the lifeline that keeps me sane and helps me learn the ropes here both in and out of work.

Since this is my first time to be away from my family for very long period of time, I am missing them everyday.  Plotting vacation schedules to go home to Manila on my calendar has now become a priority.  I take comfort in counting down the weeks or days till I can board a plane so I can spend time with my family and friends back home.  And today I am very excited that I catch myself smiling for no reason since I will be flying home in a few hours :)

So before the year ends and Christmas is officially over, I would like to greet everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Bountiful New Year.  Cheers to new adventures, new friends, stronger relationships, bigger opportunities, happiness and joy and of course lots of love in the coming year :)

Till next time!

- M :)