My First Two Weeks in Notre Dame

“Where do I begin? To tell the story of how great a love can be….”

I like that song and the movie that popularized it – Love Story. I am not going to write about the movie though nor about the song. I just came to singing that part when I thought about sharing what I have been doing the past few weeks.

Where do I begin?

For the next nine months, I am sure I am going to have one of the best times of my life. I just know and I feel it. Nope, I am not pregnant as some of the airport personnel in Cebu readily considered after asking me why I was going to the US. I am taking my LLM in the University of Notre Dame.

Up to now, I am overwhelmed with such an opportunity and I thank the Lord and praise Him for all these blessings.


DRIVING TO NOTRE DAME

As stories go, I drove myself to Notre Dame. Yahoo! That’s from Maryland to Indiana. We left Germantown at about 8:15 PM and we arrived at South Bend at 6:30 A.M. Thanks to my parents who lovingly accompanied me to my apartment and helped me settle in.

I’m sure despite all the overflowing of blessings, I would have cried that first day had I traveled alone here.

In the following days I met one by one most of my fellow scholars. There are 17 of us in the program and we come from 17 countries. Isn’t that amazing? The richness of each other’s experiences shared is in itself worth more than taking a three credit course or one year of study for that matter.

That is why, I encourage everyone to go out of your shells and see the world. Expand your horizons. Start by searching at www.filipinoscholar.com (Okay I just had to promote the site again. Hehehe)


THE NEWS

Little did I know that a few days after I arrive, I’d be interviewed for a news story. The circumstances are not too happy though but it’s not altogether morbid. Two students were shot at a club a few meters from our apartment. They are now currently on recovery. The shooting was an uncommon incident and I reassure all my family and friends that we live in a fairly safe neighborhood.

I found the interview on the internet a few days later. I will not share with you the link because I already know that my hair needed a little more combing and in my TH effort to being understood better, my sister Myrtena already had a funny comment about my accent. Hahaha.


THE HAIR

Despite Michelle and Alou’s comments about my hair, two people commented that they liked my hair. How about that! And one of them is a living legend in Notre Dame. Hah! What an achievement for me. Hahaha.


THE ENDLESS WALK

Notre Dame’s land area is 1,250 acres, 32 acres more than U.P. Diliman. Whereas UP has its Ikot and Toki plying almost every few minutes around the campus, Notre Dame has scheduled bus trips which does not really ply the inner areas of the school. Therefore, we have to walk and walk and walk unless we have a bike which most of us do not have.

Especially during the first few days what with all the documentations to be filled out and submitted from one building to the next. Of course, there’s the part of getting lost and taking the longer routes for not really being very familiar with the places even with a map on hand. Whew.

The duration of the walk to the Law School would depend on whether I walk with somebody or walk alone. Alone, I can do it in 15 minutes or less. But if I am with colleagues, we do it in 20-30 minutes. They usually call my attention on how fast I walk. It’s a big effort for me to slow down.

Apart from three married colleagues who have their family with them here, fourteen of us live in one building with most of us having one roommate. It’s actually one apartment with two bedrooms, a dining area, a kitchen, a receiving area and a porch! Not to mention a bar. As if! Hehehe. The married LLM students live in the University Village along with other married students studying in other departments who have families living with them here.

So, see whether you are married or not, Notre Dame welcomes you. ;) Come and enroll.


THE BUS RIDE

In the Philippines, if we want to ride a bus or any public vehicle, we just wave our hand to signal the driver our intention to ride.

Most of the countries and states I’ve been to however, have designated bus stops and you wait at the designated bus stops without waving your hand.

In South Bend, the system is a cross between the Philippines and the other systems of other places. Here, you stand at the nearest corner where the bus passes if it is not a designated bus stop and wave at the driver. Interesting! It gives me a sense of being in a developed place at the same time there’s that hint of its being homey.


THE TECHNOLOGY

After I graduated from USC and worked at the Ateneo, seeing a number of students carrying laptops in school was a very new experience for me. I laughed it off to the disparity of the rich and the poor in the Philippines even though students in USC cannot really be considered poor and not all students in the Ateneo are rich.

And now I am in Notre Dame located in a first world country. I am sure all the students here have their own laptops. If not, I don’t know how he/she can survive. Notes, assignments and announcements are sent through email. Even registration and enrollment are done online.

You will certainly be at a loss if you do not check your University email often.

Students can come to class with their laptops and search online for the answers to the professor’s questions. Students can also print using the University’s printer remotely from the dorms or the apartments.

I don’t know if this system is replicated all over the first world countries or affluent schools in whatever country. It is simply wowific! (I’m inventing the term)

I am curious to know how things are in USC. I was thrilled with their “automated” IDs. I wonder what’s in store when I get back.

Everybody is keeping up with technology these days.


THE CLASSES

So far, I’m enjoying the classes I’m taking. There are endless readings to comprehend and analyze. Still, I am happy.

And for me to maintain this state of happiness, I need to take a rest now, sleep a bit, or attend to my assigned readings. Until next sets of stories.

My Knight In Shining Armor

"He's my knight in shining armor! His name is even Knight on my cellphone!"

I overheard an upcoming bride say the quoted lines at a bridal shop today. She was excitedly confiding to an equally eager and wide-eyed shop assistant about her Knight and their wedding plans.

Despite my nature to eavesdrop, the otherwise interesting conversation faded as the love story was drowned out by what others may call cynicism.

While my eyes took in the sea of bridal gowns and corals of bridesmaids' brocades, it hit me that I still do not get it.

When family and friends tell me about their romantic interludes and promises of forever, I feel happy and excited for them. I cry at movies and enjoy watching romantic comedies repeatedly. But today, the words coming from a stranger jolted me.

I still do not get it.

Why the insatiable desire for grandiose weddings? Why the undue hype about having to just get married without internalizing the consequences? Why overlook that love is a choice?

Why are there still damsels impatiently waiting for their knights?

Where in the World Am I?

"Where in the world is Myrfi?" My friends are asking me.

As if I'm really that much of a jet-setter. Hehehe.

Anyway, presently I'm in a place where time moves too fast. There must be some scientific explanation somehow but I am too tired to investigate it.

I thought at first it was just me who noticed it. But at some point, I learned my mom and sister noticed it too.

Where we are, we wake up; eat; live; and the next thing we know, it's time to sleep; and the next day, we wake up again - the cycle then continues.

What's up with the East Coast?

LUCK

I am going to boldly make a claim.

I am lucky. Really, really, really lucky.

SAVORING TOKYO ON A TIGHT BUDGET

Even with my semi-retired state, I was able to enjoy Tokyo and Miyake-jima with family. Despite Tokyo’s reputation for being one of the most expensive cities in the world, it was one of my least expensive trips.




Thanks to my aunt, Gemma, my cousins Paulette, Therese & Glen, my cousin Paulette’s special friend Minh, and her colleagues in Miyake-jima who wholeheartedly shared their blessings with me. Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart!




I like Tokyo. I like the city, the buildings, the trains, the subways, the suburbs, the architecture, the food, the cleanliness, the technology, and the discipline interspersed with the hint of “rebellion” as shown in their “whatever goes park,” the goth kids and the flamboyant outfits in Takeshita-dori.



I like Miyake-jima.



I like the peace and quiet, the rock formations, the peridot-laden shore, the lush forest view from the school’s rooftop where the swimming pool lay, the laid back feeling even with availability of internet and technology, and of course the people.





One remarkable thing about going places is actually meeting people and getting to know them beyond how they are portrayed in the movies, in the news or in history.

When it comes to hospitality, I thought that’s OUR (Filipinos) turf. Humbled was I when I realized, the Japanese could give us a run for our money. Paulette’s colleagues and students were so sweet and thoughtful.



They organized for us a very hearty and authentic Japanese dinner and went out of their way to see us off the island --- complete with festive and colorful ribbons!



They welcomed us in their yoga class and were very receptive with our tinikling! (Paulette and Therese danced. Glen and I tapped the bamboos. Hehehe)



Added bonus: The Japanese embassy changed their visa application procedure to applying only with designated agencies and processing in Manila just right after I obtained my visa in Cebu without any intermediary.


THE PROSPECT OF AN LLM ON A SCHOLARSHIP

Roughly seven days after Tokyo, my chance of getting a Master’s in Law on a scholarship became more reachable with an approved US student visa! I am still exhilarated at the thought of being a Domer! Thank you, Notre Dame and all its benefactors! Thank you to my family too especially my parents, and my sisters Michelle and Mary Ann for taking care of some of the costs.


PIECES OF GOOD FORTUNE AFTER BEING LEFT BY THE PLANE

Six days after my student visa was issued, I was left by the plane. I thought my flight to Cebu was at 1:30 PM. It turned out to be at 1:00 PM and I arrived at the airport just 5 minutes before that. I had to extend my stay in Manila.

Fortunately, it was not a series of unfortunate events. Because of that, I was able to help my friends with the 6th Workshop of the Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, stay and eat meals at a 5-star hotel, spend more time with friends in Manila, support and accompany my sister Mary Ann, and some other wonderful and charming things besides. ;-)


PIECES OF GOOD FORTUNE AFTER FLIGHT DELAYS AND BEING BUMPED OFF

Eight days after my two-week stay in Manila, I was not able to catch my plane to Washington DC through Doha. This time, I was not at fault. Qatar airways could not check me in because they were overbooked and there were no more available seats. Nine of us were bumped off.

As compensation they provided us hotel stay with meals and a choice of a travel voucher amounting to $200 (one-year travel validity) or an upgrade. I chose the latter.

So, a dream has come true--- to travel in business class at an international flight. Yeehah! What luuuuuuuxury!

The delay also allowed me to pack my bags better, buy more “tugons”, meet up with more friends, talk with a VSO Bahaginan representative regarding my application to volunteer with them, spend time with family, converse with Lola Lelen, and feel rich at the Hilton.


Did I mention I’m lucky?

Seriously, it’s not just about luck but about faith in the Lord--- Faith that with Him, all things will be alright.

Maps of travels

To see the world--- that's probably one of the most common dreams of people and I am no exception.

Of course, before seeing the world, I want to see the Philippines first. :) So I have a blank map of the Philippines and the world.

I color the places that I've been to. It's really exciting! Some friends are doing the same thing.

So, imagine my surprise when I found the site mentioned below. With patience, it can generate a map of your own Philippine travels also! Cool!

Get to know the Philippines!

My Lakbayan grade is B!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.


And here's my World map



create your own visited countries map
or vertaling Duits Nederlands


And my US map (which includes States I've passed through, hehehe)



create your own visited states map
or check out these Google Hacks.

Scholarships for Filipinos

Scholarships are for geniuses or the uber talented.

That's what I thought while growing up. Little did I know that the average I can avail of different kinds of scholarships in different parts of the world.

One just needs to find the right opportunity. The delightful experience of learning and relearning leaves me with such unexplainable happiness that I want people to share my joy by experiencing for themselves the beauty of acquiring knowledge not only in the four corners of the classroom but in the everyday meeting of peoples and the lessons learned in travel.

That is why I urge my friends, my family, and my fellow Filipinos to try getting out of your comfort zones. Find endeavors to tickle your brain.

As a start, you might try checking out www.filipinoscholar.com and there find an interesting program for yourself.

Scholarships are not exclusive to geniuses. Those that go the extra mile will do.

Natural Blush

“Did you put on some blush?”

My sister Mary Ann asked me when I met her at the mall today.

I answered by shaking my head.

“Oh! Your cheeks are so rosy. You look like you’ve put on some blush.”

My sister emphasized.

Okay, no, I do not claim to have miraculously gotten that natural blush. I wish.

The reality was that my face was flushed because for the first time, I traveled with my 3-year old niece and my 5-year old nephew in tow - - - quite some juggling act for me.

The last time I went to a mall alone with a child was when one of my younger siblings was around 5 years old. I promised then I would never, ever go to the mall with a child in tow. She was screaming and whining and crying then wanting to buy whatever toy she fancied as we were walking. Can you imagine how many they were? We were at a mall - - - the very same one where I met Ann today.

Just to be clear about this. I am not swearing off children. I’m not just taking them to the mall alone even if they give me that minutest semblance of a mestiza look.

P.S. I read somewhere that Mother Teresa once said that in all her advices, one people should always remember is this: Love the children.