• Travels,  USA

    My FIRST International Trip

    Yes, we’re going to North Carolina, USA, finally to visit and spend some time with my nephew. Yeah, this is my FIRST international trip, and I wanted to document everything.

    We arrived at the airport really early at 12:30 am. Better to be early than miss the flight. We spent our time on the benches near the check-in counter until it opened. We hurried to line up as soon as the counters opened. They asked me to pay the travel tax, which I had not done because my sister said that it was included in the ticket. Turns out it was not the same tax mentioned on the ticket. After checking in, we were immediately assisted by the assistance service. Everything happened so quickly after immigration; we were already sitting on benches near the gate. The wheelchair assistance was a great help; there were no long lines in immigration, as they took us straight to our gates.

    Our trip was from Manila to Hong Kong, New York, and finally Raleigh. I will never forget what happened in Hong Kong airport. After being dropped off at the gate, I went to the restroom. When I returned, there were barricades on my way. But there was no other path, so I lifted it and walked through. A staff member approached me. I told her I went to the restroom, and Mom was sitting in the front row. Her approach was a bit odd.

    Another unforgettable experience moment was at the New York airport. My bag kept on going back and forth through TSA, which made me very nervous. It turned out to be my nephew’s J&J cologne I packed. We also had a long walk to our gate. I cannot imagine myself traveling alone and navigating the huge airport.

    Finally, we arrived in Raleigh. It was quick, and soon enough, my sister and her family welcomed us. I finally got to see my nephew—he’s the cutest, and I really miss him.

    After our mini reunion, we went straight to eat. I ordered shrimp, and there were so many in one order. I thoroughly enjoyed them. We went to Walmart for groceries after our meal and then went home.

  • Life Lately

    Work from Home Tips from a First Timer

    This is supposed to be the last day of the quarantine period. I think I have spent quite a bit of time working from home. It is not that different from working at the office. When it comes to working from home, it is all about balance and enjoying the benefits of home.

    Below are some tips which helped me in the process. Hopefully, these tips will help you get to the groove and optimize your time working out of the office.

    Follow the Normal Work Routine

    This is the hardest part to adapt. With the technology that enables our bosses to communicate and reach us on a regular basis, we can end up working 24/7 (including weekends and holidays). A 9 p.m. work email/message can wait until the next morning for a response. Know when to log in and log out. If you get into work at 8:30 a.m., then do not log in until 8:30 a.m. Establishing a limit on the hours of work per day is critical to the prevention of burnout.

    Establish Boundaries

    Do not interrupt one’s family time or social time in order to complete pending works. Take your days off seriously. Working on weekends/holidays is sometimes necessary, but taking time off can do more for your health, especially this quarantine.

    Make Sure to Take Time for Lunch, Snacks, and even Breaks

    Use a break to go out for a walk or a little chit-chat with your family. Breaks can recharge you for a better job. If you do not have the work-life balance, you will not last too long working at home. Allow yourself to take a much-deserved break; it is a great way to get away from work.

    Listen to Music

    I am not too fond of silence. For some reason, music motivates me for different tasks. When I need focus, I go for instrumental music. When I am bored, I go for pop or rock or something upbeat.

    Find Your Ideal Working Spot

    Just because you are not in the office, it does not mean you cannot have an office. It could be an empty room or a spare room. Since most of us do not have the luxury of having a new place to turn into an office, regardless of the space, set up an area that works best. Make sure you have enough natural light, too.

    Do Not Work from Your Bed

    It is essential to have a distinction between your relaxing space and your working space. This is another killer of productivity. While it may be tempting to stay in bed, you will find yourself sitting in a position that could end up with back pain.

    Pretend Like You are Going to the Office

    Get up, get out of your pajamas, take a bath, put on nice clothes, and make a coffee cup. With the right mindset, you will be able to get your work done.

    Plan on What You will be Working

    Projects do take time. Commit to do more than you set out to do. Before the day comes to an end, try writing your next day’s schedule. Having a carefully planned day can help you carry out more of your tasks.

    Dive in To-Do List as Soon as You Started Working

    It can be challenging to keep track of what you have to do throughout the entire day. Stick to your task list. After each completed task, cross it out.

    Stay Connected

    Our team makes use of Messenger as our mode of communication. Learn to communicate as much as possible. Do not be afraid to ask questions if further clarification is needed. Make sure that you check in on a regular basis, just as you would in the office.

    Technology Enables Remote Work

    You must have a laptop (I am using my personal), a decent Wi-Fi connection, and the right software to work from home. Find out what resources your company will be offering and paying for. (Hopefully, my company will reimburse me for these expenses.)


    At first, you may find it a bit challenging to get settled. But yes, you are going to adapt in no time.

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