Materialistic (AN: chapter 5)

Remember The Reason For The Season

I agree with Lauren Smith’s essay. The holiday season is not materialistic. Yes some people may express their gratitude to their love ones through expensive gifts but this is not necessary. As Smith stated, “Each gift that is given or received is done so with love and selflessness.”  It doesn’t matter what kind of present your giving those dear to you. This gifts can be as small or as inexpensive as long as it comes from your heart. You can give cards, bake goods, personal letters or like what my little sister does, her drawings.

       Our family usually exchange gifts with each other. We will have our wish lists posted on our refrigerator, not listing the exact item but rather describing it such as, “Something red, something soft, something sweet.” In this case, we will always be surprise in what kind of gifts we’re going to get. I have five siblings, and none of them are working yet because they are still in grade school and high school. They are very creative with their gifts. Every christmas I will receive candies, letters, drawings and something inexpensive but very nice and thoughtful. See? you don’t have to spend a lot to show your love to your family. Every Christmas Eve, we will wait for the clock to strike midnight and then we will sing a happy birthday song to Jesus, give thanks and exchange gifts. My mother will prepare foods for us to share while waiting for 12 midnight. We share stories, watch a movie, play board games and share a sparkling cider or two. My mom and dad will share their wine of course.

       

During holidays, my mother makes long distance phone calls to her siblings in the Philippines. We also get to see our cousins from the Philippines through webcam chats. Sometimes we will have family reunions during holidays. We will go to San Francisco to be with my relatives or to San Diego and spend Christmas with them or vise versa. For my family, holidays specially Christmas are the time where we are able to spend some time with our love ones. Being together eating and creating fun memories with your love ones are the best part of the season.

GAME FACE ON

         It was three years ago when I graduated and received my Diploma in Nursing. Since then I had been procrastinating whether I should go back to school to get my Bachelors Degree. Years passed and I didn’t even noticed that I have been working three years. I guess I’m enjoying my job too much that I did not think of getting my bachelors anymore. What I don’t like about nursing though is that, it doesn’t matter how good you are or how well you can perform your job. What matters is the title you have after your name. So if you don’t have a BSN, it will surely limit your job description and  your income even if you can perform the job as well or better than others.

Now I can say, Goodbye Procrastination and Hello! College life. Again. I am taking steps to be closer to what I have dreamed of. It’s not easy to work full time and go to school full time, but it’s worth it. And yes I am proud of how I can handle and manage this altogether.

I feel like since I already experienced working, my goal as a college student has changed. Now I am more serious and motivated because I already experienced first hand how it is “out there.” Before when I was in college in my teenage years, my mom will always tell me “You’re lucky I’m sending you to school and you don’t have to go to work.” I appreciate my parents effort then, but now I can put more meaning to what they always lectures me. Because YES I was indeed lucky then. Nothing to worry about but go to school and study. Now that I’m working and going to school at the same time, I feel really overwhelmed at times and wanting to give up. Going to school is expensive, specially if you’re like me who did not get approved to any financial aids. Everything is out of pocket and I’m too embarrassed to asked my parents for financial help because they already did their part in putting me through a nursing school that cost them five digits! All I’m holding into is that, after all of this I will be able to reach my dream, broaden my options in health care field and I will be more compensated with my job. That’s what keeps me motivated. With all of that in mind, I know I can face my daily 6:30am alarm clock with my GAME FACE ON!

Reality TV shows

CHILDREN SEE, CHILDREN DO

I find it really hard to start this blog because personally, I do not watch television shows. Nowadays, I do not find anything interesting about television shows. It’s not like those old days where you can turn the television on and find something interesting to watch where you can actually learn something. I don’t actually feel safe when my younger siblings watches the television because even in cartoons there are shows that shouldn’t even be considered a children’s show. 

Most of the time when I turn on the television or browse the internet I will randomly see advertisements or commercials about honey boo boo, The Kardashians, Girl next door etc. and I will wonder who watches this kind of reality TV shows? I don’t even know if some of it really happens in “real” life. Sometimes I find myself praying and hoping that it doesn’t happen in real life. Some of this shows shouldn't even be allowed to be viewed by general public specially the young ones.  Sex, money and fame are usually the theme for these shows. How to be pretty, how to be rich and famous.  And apparently, if you want to look for the Mr. Right you just need to join a reality TV show called “The Bachelor.” And after he kissed and dated all the women in the show and he thinks he liked you the most at the end you will get married to him. How romantic is that?  

I really wonder why people are fascinated with reality TV shows. Maybe for them it’s a escape from the reality or maybe they are curious about how the rich and famous leads their lives. Do they have problems just like you and me? What can they do that a common people can’t? What separate common people from hollywood people? And maybe its a relieved for them to see that they are humans just like all of us. Because believe it or not some people wants to see that people from hollywood are not perfect and they are capable of doing dumb things just like any other human beings. Nobody leads a perfect life and yes, those perfect, rich and famous people have their own struggles in life. These are just some of the reasons I can think of why Americans are hooked or entertained by reality TV shows. 

Anyway, there are some TV shows like America’s Got Talent, Survivor, Amazing Race, Project Runway etc. which showcases people’s talents, how they fight for their dreams, determinations, skills, and how far teamworks can take you. They are entertaining and at the same time very educational. These are the shows that they should produce more.

Reality TV shows has a big impact in our society. Media all in all has a big influence to our nation, specially to the younger generations. As they say “Children see. Children do.” Ever wonder why there’s more teenager that’s anorexic or has eating disorders? Blame it to social media. But there’s also good influences from these kind of shows like pursuing your dreams by joining talent shows. We just have to guide our loved ones on what to watch. I just hope that they have more restrictions to these kind of shows. But since they’re making big monetary gain with this kinds of shows, I do not think it will happen soon. Business is business.

Angels without wings

Thirty six patients, if you’re lucky thirty two. Patient unresponsive. Patient having chest pains. Code blue. Patient with coffee ground emesis. Patient fell out of bed. Patient pass out. Family complains and demands. Doing rounds with doctors. Carrying out doctor’s order, critical lab values, not to mention charting and documentations.  It doesn’t happen all at the same time, but sometimes it does. That’s how a typical day of a nurse is. Specially those that works in a long term care facility. 

Sometimes I ask myself, is it worth it? I had doubt my profession many times. Going home very exhausted and felt very unappreciated. In the first month that I worked as a charge nurse, I felt like giving up. Stress with how am I going to finish passing medication within the two hour period on top of answering phone calls, and attending to families concern.

“This is not for me,” I said. 

One day while doing my  medication pass, I was greeted by a warm smile by one of my patient, she told me thoughtfully, “Thank you for all you do.” And in that moment, I realized, “This is why I became a nurse, this is what I signed for.” Seeing your patient  was able to walk again. Patients that weren't able to talk or see, but touches your hands when you’re taking care of them. Thank you notes from families and chocolates as a sign of appreciation. Knowing that you’re one of the instrument that God used to help them eases their pains and aches. Hugs from families that really appreciates your care for their parents are some of the reasons why I chose to stay with this vocation. Yes, nursing requires patients and a lot of dedications. It can be very stressful at times. But going home knowing that you were able to touch life is a very rewarding feeling.

JOLLIBEE

A red big bee! Jollibee!  In the Philippines, Jollibee has always been the biggest rival of McDonald's.

My mom is a good cook. She always prefer to cook for us instead of eating outside. Occasionally she will treat us to fast food restaurants when I was little but most of the time she uses this as a bait. For instance, I remember my mom will “force” us to wake up early in the morning to go to catholic mass. I will never wake up for church. I rather sleep in or play outside with my cousins instead. When my mom tells me, “If you get up for church, I will take you to Jollibee after the mass.” I will wake up as fast as a ightning, and get dressed in a blink of an eye. During the mass however, all I will think about was the crispy, crunchy, yummy chickenjoy and the warm gravy that goes with it.  Hmmmm... Just the name of it makes me drool. When I was little, I also get excited about the toys that came with your “jolly meal.” The  fast food

This was where I go to "Church"
when I was little
 Jollibee in the right corner:)

restaurants has a clever way of selling their products by  means of toy collectables. In order for you to complete the toys, you have to eat several times and purchase it with your order.

When I was in college in the Philippines, I had to move to the big city and live in a dormitory. I live and breath fast foods. Especially because my dormitory was next to Jollibee! My mother was not too happy about it, but I don’t have any other choice. I was too lazy to cook. Sometimes I would go to carinderia. Carinderia is a local eatery that serves viands for an affordable price. The disadvantage though was that, the cleanliness of how they prepared the food was questionable, but this is not a general opinion. Some carinderias are clean. So, the only choices I had back then was to get fat with fast food or to risk getting e.coli with carinderias. Also my friends first choice of food then was fast food. It was not fun, but the people with me that time made it a memorable experience!

My dormitory, and yes! that's Jollibee in the far left corner :)

Nowadays, my mom still cooks for us and packs us lunch to work. In fact, on my school breaks, I still go home and eat at home instead of buying junk foods. I’m not a big fan of fast foods, thanks to my mom! I crave my mom’s homemade foods more than anything else. And I think after reading salt, sugar, fat by Michael Moss I will be more cautious of what I put in my mouth. There’s still an instance where I crave for fast food. I don’t give in much with this temptation though, and try really hard to avoid it. Unless, I’m really stress out and I need some kick or a picker upper. Funny thing is, when I was in the Philippines, even if I eat whatever I want, I don’t gain weight. In here, when I eat, it feels like all the fats just go straight to my belly. Maybe its my metabolism, or maybe its because of the food contents. We’ll we will never know, because the food giants will never tell.

Philippines Vacation 2011 Jollibee

 

Opening of Jollibee franchise in Queens, NY