Settling In
After a frantic few days of setting up a home, getting oriented and learning how the most mundane things are done (i.e trash collection), I finally feel more "settled." I think I have the hang of the buslines thanks to my handy compact guidebook. At least until I get the rest of my stuff and buy my own furniture by August.
Luckily the company allows us to get a survival kit for a month -- including major furniture, to towels and plates, to a TV and DVD player.
But really here, you are your Identity number -- so my "existence" only began this Tuesday night when I got my employment pass (well it only takes 24 hours.)
Now I have cable TV (because trust me there's only one channel on free TV that's watchable), a broadband connection and by next week a digital phone line (what we Filipinos refer to as landlines) and a mobile phone line. I also have a bank account (albeit empty haha). I joined a gym again (at 3x the cost of Manila).
Now I just have to get over "sticker shock" at the supermarkets -- everything costs 3x as much as in Manila.
Can't say I'm getting acclimatized though. I still hate the feeling of a wet shirt clinging to my back. Especially because buildings can tend to be Artic.
But every day is still an adventure. It is exciting, although I really can't wait for the rest of my colleagues to move in to make the office feel more "homey." I miss the Filipino hospitality. Only the secretary spoke to me in the last 3 days in temporary workstationland-- and that's coz she had to.
Oh well, luckily now I can work from my living room. But since I don't have a landline -- I'm going to take a bus to the office to use the phone!!!
Luckily the company allows us to get a survival kit for a month -- including major furniture, to towels and plates, to a TV and DVD player.
But really here, you are your Identity number -- so my "existence" only began this Tuesday night when I got my employment pass (well it only takes 24 hours.)
Now I have cable TV (because trust me there's only one channel on free TV that's watchable), a broadband connection and by next week a digital phone line (what we Filipinos refer to as landlines) and a mobile phone line. I also have a bank account (albeit empty haha). I joined a gym again (at 3x the cost of Manila).
Now I just have to get over "sticker shock" at the supermarkets -- everything costs 3x as much as in Manila.
Can't say I'm getting acclimatized though. I still hate the feeling of a wet shirt clinging to my back. Especially because buildings can tend to be Artic.
But every day is still an adventure. It is exciting, although I really can't wait for the rest of my colleagues to move in to make the office feel more "homey." I miss the Filipino hospitality. Only the secretary spoke to me in the last 3 days in temporary workstationland-- and that's coz she had to.
Oh well, luckily now I can work from my living room. But since I don't have a landline -- I'm going to take a bus to the office to use the phone!!!