Marking my journey to becoming an American citizen

After 3 years, I am flabbergasted of all the things that I've been through in this country. I could even compare my experiences to a Bipolar individual which more often has extreme highs and extreme lows. The glimmering halos and bright lights of Los Angeles, California  on November 10, of 2009 as my POE (port of entry) reminds me of my first day (technically, 1st night)  in the United States. My feelings are squirting in many different directions as to how am I going to start my life here? Where?, and What to do first? By the grace of God and extensive willingness to learn a lot about this country each day, is what propelled me to be someone who knows how it is to start a new beginning  as an alien.

August 25th of this year, I finally mailed off my N-400 Packet which is my Naturalization Application for American citizenship. Being married to a USC (United States Citizen) makes you eligible to apply for naturalization 90 days before your 3 yr period of residency mark in the US, and 5 years on all other visas.  And it seems to me that its whenever you have to mail off a very pertinent cluster of documents, its when the PO screws up, and any other days... expect your mails to be delivered promptly as if its just walking at the park. That day I was mailing off  my packet, (we are talking about Saturday here), I originally wanted to send it off on an Express Mail, then the lady said, "well, it won't get there tomorrow anyway, cos it's Sunday" so I went ahead and told her I will purchase a new envelope and write a different address.(as we are speaking, she already punched in a different zip code in the computer) Did what I have to do, and hand it over to her with the Dallas' address not the Lewisville. But she must've forgotten to rectify the zip code she initially put in the computer so when I called USPS to tracked the packet.. I'll be damn! It's on its way to Lewisville. I thought, You've got to be kidding me!

I can't wait until this whole immigration annoyance to  be over with and hoping this does not have to bring me to my therapist. From the very first filing of my documents which took a year, then to the Removal of Conditions (to replace my expired greencard) that took 10 months, and now... this, which we are projecting to take for at least 3 months.

I'm definitely titillated as to  how this whole Naturalization will turn out and the pace its going to move. It was already terrifying during my interview with a consul back in the embassy, much less with an Immigration officer.

After I received my NOA (notice of action) they will mail me off another notice that will tell me when is my BIOMETRICS schedule at my Local Immigration service center (that will be in New Orleans, LA), then another notice when will be my Interview. If I passed the interview which comprises a CIVICS, GEOGRAPHY and READING/WRITING Test... they will mail me again another notice when I'll be taking my Oath of Naturalization.  Whew! you see? just from typing all these, Im tired already.  :)

A have a lot of work ahead of me in reviewing this booklet I obtained from my friend where most of the interview questions is coming from. I shall read it diligently and religiously; Until then... I'll stop right here, and I'll come back and update you on significant stops of my journey to becoming a USC.

Below will be my timeline of my journey, and little footnotes will be included as I go along. I'd like to thank you for taking the time to read up until this part. 

UPDATE about the address:
My Packet was delivered today, 08/29/2012 @ 4:33 AM at Dallas. Thank God!


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-My Naturalization Timeline-

Packet Received-----------------------------------08/29/2012
NOA via text & email from USCIS-------------------08/31/2012
Biometrics Appointment---------------------------09/19/2012
N-400 Interview-----------------------------------11/20/2012 (APPROVED)
Oath taking---------------------------------------01/16/2013

 I am now a proud American Citizen! God Bless America!

UPDATE: Review for FITFlops

First, My apologies for not coming back in the certain day I have promised to come. I could go on and on and on how horrible my week went which you don't wanna hear about it. :) I am back information that I hope you could use if ever you intend to buy this brand.

Fitflops. It is becoming to be a household item here in America. So, lets cut the crap... "I LOVE MY FITFLOPS!" It's truly very comfortable. I have also noticed that after wearing them for little over a week, I have noticed a significant decrease of discomfort in my feet from working all day, so as my back pain had been better. Of course, while giving you a chic feeling from a very catchy look (I've had numerous complement about my shoes) Fitflops has been one of my favorite pair of shoes.

I don't know how the technicalities to give you a full review about this amazing item, but as one proud owner of this item, I think they serve what they truly claim.

So, the next time you hear about this item, I would strongly recommend for you to buy your Fitflops.

Fitflops or Fit flopped?

My sister has been trying convincing me to try this footwear brand where she works for based in UK called, Fitflops which claims to relieve back ache, foot pressure and even giving you a work out while walking. I  gave it a shrug last she was talking about it, but this time; I finally raised my white flag and bought it last week.

Since I am in a medical field, I need a footwear that can surely work with me on those long hours of standing and non-stop walking. I just consulted a chiropractor for my severe lower back pain and feet with excruciating pain at the end of the day after walking all day in the MedSurg floor. Hofepully, this foorwear will not disappoint me because after shedding the price, It will take a little while before I would afford another one.

Fitflops footwear are very fashionable and chic. The prices...eh, is quite pricey. Let's just hope that this brand definitely reciprocate their claims and actually delivers the relief they are advertising.

This is what I picked:  FitFlop FF Supertone Luxe Shoe - Chocolate Bronze--$75
Got it on sale for 50%  original price was a whopping $150, and I was eligible for Free Shipping.

(Of course I can't let my vintage touch guard down...:)

Now, my sister had told me that during the next 5 days... its called "adjustment days" where the shoes is starting to correct the damaged that was done. This shoes features a "Biomechanically engineered Microwobbleboard™ midsoles. Originally designed to activate leg muscles more, studies show they also offer excellent shock absorption and instant relief from underfoot pressure. (fr Fitflops site)

I will come back after 7 days from today and see if this footwear truly works!

20,000 Miles, Roundtrip.

Wow! I can't believe it has been several months from the last time I wrote in this little corner. To tell you why; Well I have been busy with school, and I've been doing a little bit of part time job as a caregiver of a 92 y.o. man (who is so sweet btw). Apart of it is also snapping pictures of my Photography clients. I only have 24 hrs each day which to me is quite short to allocate time on writing about my craft(s).  Maybe a 25th hour will be something that some watch companies would consider :)

Anyhow, What I am excited to share to you about is that I went home to my beautiful country; Philippines last December of 2011. I spend 15 days over there which was full of happiness, fun and tender memories me and my family made. It has been 25 months since I left Philippines, left family, left friends, left my collection of shoes and bags, and sunglasses just for sake of the love. :) My primary and sole reason for my trip is to see my family especially my very sick grandfather who has been having heart problems. I have been wanting to come home probably from Day 1 since my arrival in the States because it was very tough and hefty to leave everything behind and literally start a new life. But you see, I took my lick and sucked it up. Those strenuous days were over that I could say I am now fully adjusted with my new ways in which whenever I feel homesick I just shrug it off and I'd call my mom then I'll be fine. I'm just stoked and ecstatic that I'm finally able to come home even for a very brief time.

This is Manila. The capital city of Philippines.

(Landscape shot)

This is where I spent most of  my bachelorette time, went to college, met the most amazing friends and of course, learned to go with the flow in the city's hustle and buzzle (wink*). Boy, it was such a nostalgic moment when I first landed at the airport. I could smell those moments which were nothing like how I am living now in America. Those bright city lights as I was landing definitely brought back the salad bowl of emotions. Then, I realized; I am truly home. 

I spent the night at my mom's house here in Manila and when the dawn breaks, Me, my mom together with my sister Ken, and bestcousin Christian hauled our selves to the bus terminal and were all ready to embark a 10-hour bus ride away from Manila to my grandparents house in Bicol Province.


During my Philippine trip, I mainly stayed @ my grandparents house in the province which doesn't have internet connection, No cellphone coverage, No cable or Satellite TV, just pure laid back lifestyle. Who could have imagine that after a 22 hr plane ride, Who'll still have the guts to travel 10  more hours to get to the final destination? Viola! this girl. Right here! You'd travel for love, Baby!

To me, traveling by bus was one of the greatest experience if you want to have a little sight-seeing extravaganza.  This picture right here....

..is a typical view you'll see in that 10 hr trip to my grandpaw and maw's house.
We do have the Hawaii views! After all, the weather and climate is almost the same as Hawaii here in the Philippines.

Highlights of my trip were:

• Let's start with, when I got got sick for 5 days because I caught the flu. I bombarded myself with medicines so the bastard didn't last long. Some of my plans got paralyzed. Oh well, I'm glad they're spoiling me with so much love.

• I threw a big  Christmas eve lunch for my family and relatives. We slaughter a hog and we definitely had a feast!

  

• I got another tattoo! yeap! I'm not denying I'm a tattoo lover. It's a Hindi script which means " Always seek success in the opposite" Thanks to one of my closest buddy Jon for doing it for Free!

• I got to see my family and my Mom's boyfriend who was one of her suitors even before she met my Dad. It's more of an unforgotten love, because after 26 yrs, they were together once again. Aww. Whoop! Whoop!

• I explored Manila once again with my cousin, Rachel who is a first time Manila traveler.(I brought her with me from the province) What made our bonding time so enjoyable was when I realized she was having a massive culture shock attack of how liberated people are in this huge city. If you know what I mean... (GRIN)

• We, and when I say "WE" that includes the big gang of my relatives who gave me so much joy just seeing us cutting up, throwing unlimited jokes, and loud laughter that resonate the whole Spring resort. 

 

•  Ok... (tears) This was one of my favorite moments. It was when my grandpa were playing "Pick_up Sticks" with me and with his other grandchildren. And seeing him enjoying himself gives me so much happiness because I get to enjoy his company. Not only that, but also;  To see him play with me like how he did while I was younger. So... Naturally, he doesn't have so much hand control so he could never salvage more than 1 stick because he was always shaky and all. He always lose his game. ha ha

Pick that stick Grandpa!

• And most especially... I get to have a family portrait before something bad happens to my grandpa.  I love him and my grandma so much which happens to be the parents of my crazy, yet the most funniest mom I could ever asked for.

MEET US! 

Oh, by the way.. that's my two beautiful sisters; Karen (farthest left) and Kathleen (at the bottom).

I love them too, though they drive me crazy a lot of times.

:)

Thank you for joining me in my journey as I look back from my home, away from home.

Until next time.

--Cathy

Love, Where are you?

I have been meaning to write since I have the much needed vacay from school.  I've exhausted a week so far out of my 2 week break and tell you what, I have done nothing but to abode laziness in my system. The idleness is driving me nuts though. School literally engulfs me into the blackhole of studying and fully disconnect me to my friends. So I thought I will make this week as a "reconnection week" with some friends I haven't talk since forever. 

From different variegated conversations with different friends; There is one friend of mine who asked me a question which I didn't have the answer off hand. She is a friend of mine back in college whom I didn't know have secretly looked up to my pretty lame aspirations in life which I've once said in one of our drunken college nights. One of her great dream is to be married to an American. When yours truly happen to be married to one, just made her paddle the boat harder to the coastline of her dreams. Her question was; Why I can't find a decent guy to date online? My first reaction was... define decent.

As I retrocede from the chapters of my life. Greg and I didn't met on an online dating site rather it's one of those boring days on Skype. I can't just make up an answer which I know would impact the way she thinks about men here in United States.

Ladies, I am not here to tell you that this is how it goes. I am speaking from what  I can see on the surface from the different layers of the online dating whirlpool.

Finding love in Chat rooms.

Set yourself for quite a long haul. I can't tell you enough that by the time you even consider yourself entering this not so welcoming Chat room, you have already set yourself to disappointment. Guys from all over the world in the internet can't hold their selves even for 2 seconds just to be respectful and gentleman enough to get to know you first before asking you to show your private parts. This is the reason why they all flock in these rooms. They are not there for love, they are there to have fun, to see what's between in those legs. It's like looking for a needle in the haystack for a man who would actually be polite to ask more about yourself. Men from other countries doesn't seem to see how important respect is for few Asian ladies.  Filipinas are one of the few conservative ladies who would shut down when asked to be "all the way" on chat talks. When guys engage in a quite torrid conversations, some ladies feel awkward and feel insulted, and defeated from their expectations. But in all honesty, your purpose doesn't belong to these rooms. Unless you find a man who is searching the same thing as what you are,in the same room, that's the only time it'll work. 

I have a friend who came up to me and shared her story how unbearable it was for her to be fully attached to this guy, who have showed a genuine interests towards her but she was left with a broken heart when the guy disappears without saying goodbye. 

Love on dating sites maybe?

I would assume that the only reason you have that well structured profile in your favorite dating site is that you  have had the fair share of heartaches with these guys around your area, or even in the country. It's not bad to find love in these websites but you have to be very, when I say very, very careful. You have to guard your heart and sift  all these intentions coming from the guys you have met so far. There will always be a bad guy, and without a warning they would penetrate your vulnerable heart. There are a lot at stake when you open your heart to the possibilities to be with someone you haven't seen in person. There is the price of being once again attached to your feelings of wanting to make things work so badly, also not meeting your expectations about this person, together with all these; how would you address the pressure of intimacy which is pretty much the core of every relationship. Ask yourself, are you ready to be that person who would not feel silly doing peculiar things on webcamera just for the sake of love?  The key here is to carefully put bits and pieces about this person who would first of all want to get to know you. Decipher how they treat and address your presence. How does he say things, does he makes premature "too good to be true" statements? These are some pretty essential questions you have to add in your guidelines when venturing love online. Always make yourself  feel wanted by someone, if you can't feel its a two way street, let it go. Don't hold onto that little gut that this person would feel the same as what you feel, considering the amount of distance between the two of you.

A lot of people think that online dating is much easier than dating the traditional way because there is less physical pressure. However;  It's a wrong assumption because they don't know how much you can be so invested on your emotions without the assurance that you'll be compensated.  

You might be asking me now..."Then what's the difference between Chatroom and Dating sites anyway?" The answer is "Purpose". Where do you go when you need a bread? Don't go to the hardware!

We all have our bars set I would hope on how far we would go in terms on finding that right person, in any way. The extremities of these circumstances comes with unusual decisions that we might encounter along the process of getting all the pieces of the puzzle fit together to have a good picture how life would it be with this person. Family members might decry your persistence. You might blame yourself in some point for being so gullible for letting yourself open up,but its normal. Just know that when you have done enough to find that one person on cyberworld you believe is meant for you, maybe it's time to look in a smaller perimeters. Look around. Maybe you're just not letting yourself notice him.

Weight gain is self -esteem lost

Yet another compulsive shout out in the middle of my work out. So random that I just literally just shut off the DVD workout I have been using for quite sometime now.  I said, I have battling this weight which I have gained so far from eating carelessly and now I can't seem to loss the numbers. It's hard but I stayed diligent to achieve my goal. And here I am,  I can't complain of my weight anymore rather just maintenance.

Every girl's dream is to have that perfect body. So perfect that you starve yourself and restrict from eating the right food for your body. Which is WRONG!  All it takes is choosing the right food, right time to eat and right amount of  food to shove in that hungry mouth. Take a look at the picture below. 

The first picture was when I was in my "Desirable body" and the second picture is when I have gained 20 lbs from the base weight I was and including the 2 lbs of muscle mass I have toned so far ever since I have used Jillian Michael's 30 day Shred Out. Everyday, as much as I feel enervated from the 20 minute work out DVD, to me being healthy is my top priority. Yes, it is also important to look good, and tone but looks is just something you can't choose in time of sickness. You can have 36-24-36 measurement but if you can't manage to walk even 10 minutes, there's something wrong sister. 

I am writing this because I would like to encourage everybody to dedicate at least 20 minutes of physical movements and refuse to live a sedentary lifestyle. If you are able and fully functional individual you can have a healthy day everyday. We all know that United States offers  a wide array of cultural recipes on the table, it is hard to decide which restaurant to eat out in Friday nights, if its Buffet; more and likely you'd settle there like what happened with me and my husband. However, soon I realized I often times feels farouche wearing those sleeveless shirts, It was time to take an action.

I goggled and searched which one might fit my schedule best and a work out that will keep me motivated rather impatient. P90x was has well rounded reviews, but I thought it was too drastic and time consuming for a nursing student like me. So I settled on Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred out DVD. I have been using it for over a month now and I can definitely say its working for me. My endurance and agility has been continuously improving so as my body. I have lost 14 lbs in a month and gained 2 lbs of muscle mass.   I am very finicky on choosing the serving of my food, but mindful of the calories. 

I know food is very addictive and prodigious. It's very hard to negate the invitation that our fridge stores for us. But when you watch the show, "Extreme Makeover: Weight loss edition" people struggle in so many things that they turn to food as their comfort and as soon as they found it, it is so hard to turn their backs and control the seduction. What I would like to impart here is that, I wasn't as much as overweight like the ones on the show but I  know how it feels like when nobody is there to talk to you in hard times. It was my personal battle to stop eating, and also procrastinating that I would watch my food the following day. But I never did. There, 30 lbs easy! I strongly discourage you to take this path.

I can't make you stop on indulging or make you move maybe , but there is one thing that we have in common; that is weight gained is self-esteem lost. Think about the times when you never had a problem shopping for jeans because the  your size was never kept in the storage room, think about a time that your loveone would put his arm around you, but you have all these unwanted cellulite which are so embarrassing but its there, think about a time that you might have to rely on a machine to keep you going everyday, or insulin that will make your body hate injections. THINK about all these. Its not yet too late. Walk, do something, and get healthy. I did it, and so can YOU!

A little push.

I have been in the nursing school since Fall of last year yet it feels like yester years already. I know its drastic and nobody will hand the degree to me in silver platter but I am in the point now of really breaking down. However, there was one reason that feels like the Almighty God had whispered to me and showed me that life is too short to continuously seek yourself to what you really want to do for the rest of your life.

A day ago, I just finished my Geriatric clinicals. If there was something as a reward for cleaning feces and giving bath to an uncooperative person; hearing them trying to utter the words “THANK YOU” in consideration of aphasia, staunchly gives me a wonderful feeling of appreciation beyond words they could ever spoken. These elders have endured their life and now has come to the part where we all will going too. Being confined in the nursing home with bunch of caregivers who acts like animals in giving a so called “Care” to these pityful elders; definitely gave me push to keep going and finish what I have started. We will never know ahead of time how are we going to be treated in our old age, I expect the same treatment to me as what I am giving to them now.

It’s not for the money alone why I decided to engross in the nursing school, but there is nothing priceless enough to see a person who is suffering on something and having someone who makes that person feel better despite of what s/he is going through. And as a nurse in the making, I truly believe that I can be an instrument to these people in restoring their health and see them living  life we all want to culminate in a good way.

The road I am taking now is not as green as it can be, but because of the people around me who serves as my succor in all ways, I know I can make it up until the end.