Venus 101

Laugh is what I do best. I believe laughter is a universal therapy.

So I've been blabbing for 2 days now about my struggles with blogger so let me introduce myself...

My name is Venus and I'm originally from the Philippines. Both my parents are Filipinos but I was born in Cyprus (Google it if you don't know where it is.) After a couple of years in Cyprus, my family and I moved to New York and lived there for a year. After New York, I started kindergarden in the Philippines until the 3rd grade. Moved once again to Cyprus until the summer I turned 17. And now at 19, pursuing a college degree here in the Emerald City, Seattle.

The Space Needle. I'll visit you some day. Seattle is love.

I like it here. I can't believe September marks my 2 years. Time sure flies. I've learned so much since I got here. I became independent, bold and grew as a young, mature individual. I guess living away from my parents made me learn to look after myself. Sure, my aunt and uncle are there but it's just different. I learned how to do the smallest things such as laundry to the bigger, important things such as controlling my budget.

Another factor that shaped me to who am I today was when I got my first ever job which is an International Peer Mentor. I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the 5 student leaders representing the international population for the S.Y. 2006-2007. What we basically do is help new and current int'l students adjust to the life here in Seattle and integrate them into the campus. My co-workers are from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea and Vietnam while my boss is from Japan. (Are we culturally diversed or what?!) I've been working as an IPM for nearly a year now and it's sad to let go of it in a couple of months (the program changes IPMs every year to give other students opportunity to work for this amazing job). I learned SO much (what I've learned is another blog entry..lol)

Hung (Vietnam), Billy (Indonesia), Mari (Japan), Venus (Philippines slash Cyprus), Mickee (Korea) and Polly (Hong Kong)
The coolest people you're ever going to meet :)

On my spare time I love to shop. I was such a big shopper before but when I started getting my paycheck, I just wanted to save coz hello, I worked dang hard for it. Lol. My dorky side is I like scrap booking. (It could be my sentimental side, too). I love sports but I've been really lazy lately, thus I'm out of shape. I was a varsity in volleyball in high school and that went down the drain when I moved here. Right now, I try to keep in shape by jogging on the treadmill. Joy.

Travelling is a passion of mine. I've been to Israel, Greece, Lebanon, Canada and a bunch of layovers in Japan, Kuwait, UAE, Korea and Taipei. If given the opportunity, I'd love for a tropical island to be my next destination.

But nothing beats the Philippines. Yeah, it's mainit, crowded, traffic and whatnot. But don't you just thank not having to call a cab when you need one? There are like a gazillion of them. Malls are great too. Naiinis ako pag nagmamalaki mga puti tapos tinatanong kung may malls sa Pilipinas. Sa isip-isip ko, "mga malls nyo, parking space lang ng mga malls sa Pilipinas!". I love visiting the Philippines. I'm not really into the whole patriotic "Pilipino ako" type of thing but I'm proud to be one. At my college, I feel like I'm representing us under the international programs. Hay nako, mabuhay. LOL.

I'm also a random person. We might be talking about a specific something when a few minutes later, my conversation with you could completely go off tangent. Sorry in advance!

I love making new friends. I may not easily get close to a person but when I do, I get attached. But I choose my friends wisely. You'll know if your friends are real when they stay up with you till 3am on the phone, listening to your crying. I love my friends.

Costi, Raff, Tish and Laura. I miss them. Years of friendship will never be forgotten.

My family is my everything. We've had our ups and downs but no matter what, they're my family and we stay strong together. My weakness is my nephew and he's one spoiled, lil' kid.


He's my precious, Adam Lee. Love it when he calls me "titatatata"


I'm running out of things to say so I'll just blab some other time.

That's about me for now. Watch this space.