Dry run

On a regular day, around midday, it takes me an hour to an hour and a half to commute from our house to Bonifacio Global City (BGC). And since I will soon be coming to work at BGC, I tried to see how long it will take me to get there during the morning rush. 

I woke up later than I wanted to, around 5:30 AM. I left as soon as I could at around 6:10. It took me several extra minutes to reach the train station because of the volume of cars out and about. By 6:35-6:40 I was at the MRT North Ave station and in less than ten minutes I was on a moving train. By 7:15 I arrived at the Ayala Ave station then I headed down to the Fort Ayala bus terminal. This was the only time I had to really wait, because the East bus took at least 15 minutes to arrive. Before quarter to eight, I was standing in front of the tower we're in. Approximate travel time: 1 hr 30 min. 

I was rather surprised how easy it was to commute from QC to Taguig during rush hour, or start of it I guess. I thought I was doomed before I even left the house because I wanted to be at the train station by 6. A week ago I saw the line entering the MRT station up to about 100m outside the station and that was a quarter to seven in the morning on a Monday. To my surprise, it was a breeze to board the train. But I think I must arrive at the station at least 30 mins earlier during Mondays, to avoid the extra long lines. Of course commuting back home is another matter. I think the ease of my commute to work is aided by the fact that the North Ave station is the first station. Ayala Ave station on the other hand is a little more to the middle of the route so getting on the train would be far more difficult.

Here are some pressure points (Masterchef?) that I think are worth considering when commuting during rush hour:

• Five minutes makes a lot of difference in the volume of people you are commuting with. Leave the house/ office (hehe) as early as possible.
• Dress comfortably. It would kill me to be standing the whole way in heels. Or long sleeves.
• Be patient. 
• Be patient.

I have always regarded commuting in groups (in this case public commuting) better than traveling separately. It's cheaper and very environment friendly. Commuting in groups is more fuel efficient, contributes less pollution and erosion, and enhances traffic flow. But of course I'd like the luxury of commuting more privately, e.g. carpooling, so it would be easier especially during the rainy season.

I start work on Friday, srsly.

I secured a job a few weeks ago and they want me to start on the 16th, I guess so I can begin the day after salaries are handed out. It just feels weird though, to start on a Friday. I was told it would probably more of an orientation for me, being a noob and it being the end of the work week. 

I know my responsibilities but I don't know exactly how to fulfill these. Hello zero experience. I abhor uncertainty. Yes, I do know what I am getting into but I want to know the nitty gritty of it all. I have no work experience and I'll be learning from scratch. I dread that I may not perform well enough, this is not exactly the type of job an applied physics major is trained to do. Maybe I just have very high expectations of myself, I don't know. I am anxious to say the least.

I think what drove me to frequent Booksale was my hunt for Italian language books. I wanted to buy a second hand dictionary, since I was taking a basic course it makes no difference if I buy something a few years old. But it took me several months of browsing to discover an Italian language book that my Italian course was actually over when I did. 

And so, back to Italian and Booksale. Tita Vien, a friend of my Tia, borrowed my Php45 Just Enough Italian pocket reference for her trip to Italy. I was at Tia's during one of my job hunting escapades and we were having doughnuts (I think) when Tita Vien told us about her upcoming trip. Amazingly, I had my book with me because I had lots of idle time and I figured I should brush up on my Italian. Just Enough Italian was perfect, especially because of a dedicated chapter on shopping.

She just got back and so did my book. One of the tours she was in was on Leonardo da Vinci (and I guess somewhere along that leg is where she got me this Vitruvian Man magnet) and it can be concluded that he is becky! Or kami lang nagassume, kasi in addition to his scientific, mathematical and artistic endeavors ay events planner/ coordinator and clothing designer din siya. Hehehe

I am so proud of my cheap-o reference book! Naunahan nya pa ako pumunta ng Italia. :p