♥

Last day of May

May 31, 2012

I slept last night so it was, of course, a challenge to get up from bed. I did eventually after hitting the snooze button a couple of times :-P 

Lara was there when I got to the office. I saw a Facebook status written by my Professor talking about the Practicum paper that we need to do. It is dues on June 5th and if we can’t make it by then, he’ll give us an INC. I messaged him and man is he always so emotionless and scary in sending messages. Since then, I had a weird feeling in my heart because I don’t know if I can make it by June 5th because I’ll be arriving that day at 10-ish pm and he said I can send it earlier but how can I do that with so much things going on here? I can’t think.. no, I DON’T want to think about school stuff here. I don’t even felt that bad and rant so much about getting only 6 units in the first round of pre-enlistment because right now I don’t really wanna go back to school. But yeah, I don’t know if I should try to beat the deadline or just get myself another INC (my first was from PE gawd). What d’y’all think? -_-

At 11-ish, Lara and I head to Memphis Botanic Garden to take down our exhibit there. After one month, I’m finally back there! :D We did it only for 30 minutes, a lot faster than what Lara expected. Although it was because I had to do the hard part at the office - untying the stings etc. 

On the way, we passed by the University of Memphis which I think is pretty big. It looks nice too (from the outside). Well I guess all schools look nice here because they’re made of brick and they kinda look like castles. Lara went there for college and their university color is blue like that of Ateneo’s, but their symbol is tiger. :-D

After that, we head to the Memphis Library to do the same. This was a lot harder because these paintings are in frames and we had to bring it back to the way it was when they sent it. We had to wrap all thirteen delicate art pieces in bubble wrap and assemble it back to the crates. It was really tiring and we finished at 1:45pm and we haven’t eaten yet so we were hungry.

Lara and I went to Pei Wei, an Asian restaurant to eat lunch. It is an Asian fusion restaurant. I got myself a fried rice which was pretty good. It was served in a humongous bowl so I had to use the take-out boxes because I can’t finish it. :-P

The sky was so dark when we got to the office. It started raining when we walked to the office and I was carrying two big boxes! It was unimaginable. :)) I started sorting out the strings and putting out and getting stuff out of the way at Lara’s office. I then scanned the Practicum report and listed out things I needed information of.

It was scary but I knocked at Randy’s door and sorta interviewed him. I didn’t ask much and he was like, “What do you think?” bla bla. :-( But I got some things that I might use too so it wasn’t that bad.

Lara said she’ll take me to Graceland tomorrow and her sister might take me to the zoo on Saturday while we were on our way to the garden. When afternoon came, our Graceland trip was already canceled and instead she questioned me of some Filipinos I know and I didn’t know that she called Ate Ana and arranged her to take me there tomorrow morning. I think it’s good this way but I keep on troubling Ate Ana. So I guess, we’ll see how the zoo goes. -_-

At quarter to 9, Jessica fetched me at my apartment with her cool Benz SUV. Her ride is so cool, with a cool GPS, and she can see the rear of his car when turning around because apparently there’s a camera! It was really cool. We drove to East Memphis to a restaurant called Folks Folly. It is a popular steakhouse and it looks so classy. 

I had a lamb steak which costs a million (now this is the most expensive things I got @$40) -_- Their french bread was awesome too. The restaurant set up is like fine dining and Jessica is used to it because she loves steakhouses in NY.

We just talked about different things. She’s really brave because of her stories. Those are like only happening in movies but yes, it happened to her and for that she’s really cool. She had a row with one of her professors and she’s ready to take it to the next level - lawyers and all. Pretty cool eh?

The waiter was kinda bothering and also the manager. I guess that’s how it should be in restaurants like this. They keep on having conversation with us and the waiter, Greg, kinda belittle my course. Pff. We were the last to go and we really felt like they’re getting rid of us. HAHA. 

We drove back to downtown and stopped by at Jessica’s awesome loft!! It was soo nice I wanted to live there!!

The roof deck was also so nice! You can see the Memphis bridge and the river from there. The building also got a swimming pool there and a gym. Pretty awesomee!!!

She dropped me off at my house  little over 12am and we bid our goodbyes. I’m glad to have met her. :) I think I’m learning a lot from the people I’m meeting here randomly.

PS: Last days of my stay here! I am extremely sad!!

Night out.

May 30, 2012

We finished the Education Book today! YAY! :-D *Now I’m wishing they’ll have time to show me around, like because I’m leaving Monday? Hello?*

Nobie gave me my final checks today. And then she told me she should find me a job so I can stay here. She also asked if I’ve been anywhere and I said shopped at Wolfchase and she told Lara we should go somewhere tomorrow or Friday and take the day off to show me around. She’s really sweet, like maybe the sweetest in the office. I remember when I got there, she gave me menus of different restaurants around downtown so I can choose where to eat.

Randy asked me to make copies of the receipts and tally them. So now I’m at the accounting department. Hoho. I kinda got scolded again with the receipts I copied but turns out it was really not my fault anyway. And I’m pretty sure I redeemed myself because I inputted those receipts in my computer and saved it.

Lara’s sister, Rebecca which she calls Biebs, went to the office today. Lara and I talked about her before and I really wanted to meet her before because she was 18 and I sorta wanna be friends with her. But seeing her.. I think it isn’t possible. She’s like her sister, friendly but unfriendly. Our only interaction was when Lara introduced me as the intern from the Philippines and hi and hellos and nice to meet you. She was pretty though, like her sister. But they don’t look alike. 

Anyway, they have plans with Alicia to go shopping at a clothing store one block away from the office. I heard them talking about it days before but Lara didn’t ask me to join them until like 2 minutes before they left at lunch break. And she was like.. “Okay so we’re taking our lunch break.. Oh do you wanna come? I figured we haven’t invited you..” And I was like, “Where are you going?” because I didn’t really know at that time. And she said, “Shopping at a clothing store one block from here.. It’s okay if you don’t want to..” See? Now this feels like something she’s saying to be nice, she doesn’t really mean it. She’s like that sometimes. And sometimes I’m thinking what if the I was with the girl before her, would it be different? Because based from what I read from the past interns, their relationship with the old assistant was close. They went out at night together and things like that.

I helped Virginia in rolling signed and unsigned posters which are to be sent to the diplomats. It was fun because we get to talk again and she told me about her trip to Italy and Ireland. I wanna go to Ireland too and I got excited when I learned she’s been there. We also talked about me leaving and her leaving MIM too. She said she’ll work here until Friday only. I was so sad for her. :|

Kevin interrupted us and asked me until when are they kidnapping me and I said I’m leaving Monday morning. And he asked if I’ve been anywhere. Yep, I’m having this conversation a lot lately. He joked, “that Blevins, he’s working you too hard! I’m gonna have a talk with him.” Haha. 

Today is Chris’ last day. She’s a seasonal staff only and she got lots of shirts and caps in the merchandise room. I hope I’ll get to have shirts too before I come home. :-D

Before heading out, I cashed my checks. :| My last money. :( And because I got money, I bought chips, soda and candies! :P

While chillin’ at my house, Janet messaged me if I wanna join her and her friend. She’s in Memphis just tonight and will head back to Nashville tomorrow morning. I was reluctant because I don’t want to spend so much and we’re eating at an expensive place. Anyway, I didn’t saw her message that they’re outside my house and just saw it 30 minutes after so I said I’ll pass and come out later after they’re done eating.

I went out at 9-ish and met them at Bardog, a bar here in downtown. I just walked going there. The streets were clear when I walked there so thank God. Beggars can really be scary y’know. And ecause it’s weekdays, no one really checks if you’re legal or not so I’m good. :)

I met Jessica, Janet’s friend at med school. She’s 32 years old already and she’s really cool. She has lived in New York for 14 years but she’s from Memphis. She’s also been to different cities. She said Tahoe, California is the best place to go to and that NY and LA are not America, they’re a place on their own and that Memphis is very America. She has a lot of insights and she’s really frank. :))

Jessica told me I don’t have an accent and some of my words have British accent (wow!). She also told me I look like a big city girl. Janet agreed and said she can totally see me living in big cities. Again, Janet thought I was really brave because I’m 19, I traveled here and lived here alone to which Jessica agreed on.

We just hang and talk there and Janet and I drank water while Jessica drank beer. The waitress was really entertaining though, she flirts with everyone in the place. Like, even girls! :))

At 11-ish, we walked to Beale Street because I said I haven’t been there at night. I’ve been there in the afternoon but I wanna see it at night because there’s bars there and I’m curious how it looks like. This is another thing crossed out from my Memphis bucket list! Yay~

With Jessica:)

The original plan was to go to Jessica’s apartment because she has this great roof deck but I said I wanna go home at night and it was already 12am so she said to just hang out anywhere. We went to a place called The Flying Saucer and she drank again and Janet and I just had desserts. We talked and they mostly talked about school, their weird Professors and classmates. Jessica was really funny because she said medical guys are weird and she wouldn’t date them.

We walked down towards my apartment because they are parked across from me. Janet was insisting I get a ride from Jessica because she drives a Mercedes Benz SUV and she feels really powerful whenever she rides with her but that I’m just right across from her so no point. We went to my apartment first and I offered my polvoron to them. Jessica liked it! And now I don’t have polvoron anymore, I had enough visitors to fees on them. :))

I slept at like 1:30 when they head out. It was fun though, I’m glad I did went out and hang out with them.

May 29, 2012

I saw my gorgey neighbor again on my way out of our apartment building. He was really so gorgey, especially with his shades on (Haha sorry). He looks more European than American though, which can also be true especially if he’s living in a downtown apartment. But! He has a car parked on the street side. *confused*

What we did at the office today was basically just the Education Book. Lara and I are almost finish. I think we can finish it tomorrow and then Adam can start beautifying it. :-P

At almost 4pm, we had a break from working and celebrated Lara and Kevin’s birthday!! Too bad Kevin (sponsorship) wasn’t there because he had a meeting. Aww. Anyway we had a coconut cake which Chris made. It was weird, I know we use coconut a lot in the Philippines but for a cake? Virginia made coconut cupcakes. It was a coincidence that they’re both coconut cakes. Haha.  The finance team gave money to buy food and we had butter cream ice cream and cookies. It was all full of sugar!! :-P

We just ate at the conference room and they told different stories about people trying to get a ride on their golf cart. Some pretended to be fainting while some used their handicapped relatives. While some are just drunk as hell.

We continued working quarter to 5. After compiling everything I can for the education book, I went home at around 6. I stopped at Family Dollar first, a really small grocery store before going home because I want some chips. 

At home, I had the ‘hungry man’s’ meal with chicken, rice, mashed potato, corn and brownies. Yuuum~ Then I just chilled and watched The Moon That Embraces the Sun eps 14-16 then started reading Divergence by Veronica Roth. :D

Oh and I can totally relate to Joe Jonas’ experience in the Philippines. Mine is just the other way around. :P

It’s funny because the pork was much smaller than we Americans are accustomed. I really thought it was just the appetizer, not the whole meal - Joe Jonas

PS: I want a weekday day-off!! HUHU

Memorial Day Party

May 28, 2012

National Holiday today in the US so I’ve no work. *grin* But I’ve no plans either. *switch to sad face* Almost everyone are taking an out-of-town trips because of the long weekend so yeah..

I really would love to eat at McDonald’s or Burger King because believe it or not, I haven’t eaten there (well while I’m here) yet. I live Downtown and what we have here are restaurants, not greasy fast foods. And.. I dunno why but the people I hang out with (i.e. Lara, Randy, etc) doesn’t like McDonald’s or fast foods. Randy doesn’t even eat meat except for chicken. So anyway, I thought of eating there today and ride the crappy and only public transpo here, the MATA buses. But when I looked at the schedule.. um never mind, so I thought of eating at the Arcade Restaurant instead. The last time I was there was mother’s day and they closed early so I didn’t get the chance to eat there. It was 11-ish so I wanna make sure that they’re still serving their famous breakfast dish at lunch time so I googled it and they are! So I took bath and walked down there.

I got their TV Network favorite~ sweet potato pancakes, sunny side up eggs, bacon and fries. It was delectable. I was so full! My $11.92 + tip was worth it. :-)

This food’s a lot so I this is what I end up (minus the fries and egg). -_- I didn’t even know how to eat my yummy eggs without rice or bread. -_-

The Arcade Restaurant is one of the places you need to go when in Memphis. (At least that’s what I’ve heard.) It’s even included in the Historical Sites!

I wasn’t even finish eating when they started preparing to close down at 1pm. Because it’s memorial day, they are closing early. I’m glad I was on time this time.

I walked on the way home too and passed by the National Civil Rights Museum. I’ve been there before but today is different because there were a lot of tourists there today. And I’m a tourist today too. :D

I also stopped by The Peabody Place for a while and just checked the building out.

I just stayed at home for the rest of the day until Peter asked me if I want to go to a party. It sounds weird going to a stranger’s birthday party but I think it’s better than just lazing off at my apartment. And, I really wanna make the most out of my remaining days.

Peterpicked me up at 8-ish and we drove to Shane’s house, Kat’s boyfriend. Ate Kat is turning 23 tomorrow. I met a bunch of people there, 4 of them are Filipinos. They’re all University friends and I’m glad I came because I had fun and at least I experienced how a house party/college party looks like. :D They danced, do Karaoke (because there are Filipinos here!) and more dancing! :))

Filipinas: Kat, Kim (I originally thought she’s Japanese), Me

With John, Kim’s boyfriend. He’s half-Chinese, half-Cambodian. They’re both from California.

L-R: Shane (Kat’s bf), Rickey and Pia (she’s a Korean who disses her country and countrymen lol. She hates SNSD but loves 2ne1 and Bigbang)

Zac (the one on the farthest left is taking up dentistry and doing medical missions in the Philippines), his twin brother and his girlfriend (I forgot their name, they left early so I didn’t have much time to talk to them).

Because Peter is giving me a ride, I had to wait for him. Peter, Mark, Pia and I were the last to leave at past 12 midnight. We watched different videos including the Cholo Adventures and they tried scaring Pia and I with ghost videos. I hated it, I’m living alone so please noooo!

When I got home, I just slept because there’s work tomorrow at 9. :-)