And I'm Back!

Yes, I am back!

I've missed lots of entries on my blog and I'll try to make up for the lost times.

It's been awhile and lots of things had happened personally and professionally.

So first things first...umm, where should I begin...

My team mates and I were moved to another project.

And as expected, it's not easy.

I was teary-eyed when I said "See You Soon" to my "Kuyas" and colleaugues with whom I had spent every single working day in Doha for almost 5 years.

Things are going quite well except for some issues with HR which in the end, was also sorted out.

Our new teams are ok, so far.

With all the movements and changes, I am not closing my doors still to other opportunities which might come my way too.

Lives were lost in a recent fire incident in Villaggio Mall.

It was really devastating and heart-breaking; words are not enough I think to describe how those who had lost their loved ones feel.

The summer heat is still scorching HOT.

I am working mostly on afternoon shifts so as expected, I have to brave the high temperature and have my daily doze of sunblock.

Wheeewwww...

And I am back, hope to tell you more about my adventures and all...

XOXO

Joana

Life...Oh, Life!

Happy Birthday, Hamode!

To my precious boyfriend, best friend, confidante, provider rolled in the one, Happy Birthday!

I wish God will still grant you more years to live, better health than ever and more blessings to come your way.

Don’t worry if things don’t go just like what you want them to, or the way you planned it, always remember that God knows what’s best for you.

Don’t give up on hoping and praying as God is always listening.

Kisses, Hugs and Love,
Joana

I Recently I Turned...

It was indeed another blessed year!

I had celebrated my 28th birthday (hmmm, I was thinking if I will need to rename my blog once I hit 30…).

I have so much to be thankful for…

I have a good health as I can say…

My dad is still with us after an almost fatal cardiac arrest…

My brother was promoted in his work and am looking forward to bring him here in Doha very soon…

My family is still together and we manage to communicate despite the distance…

I may not have a lot of friends but I can say that I am thankful for the few ones who know me inside out, those who had seen me through my ups and downs…

I have a job – something that I enjoy doing and helps me provide for my family…

I have a partner who understands where I am coming from and loves me for what I am…

Lord, I can’t thank you enough!

The First Million

As I was browsing the Cosmopolitan Magazine (a pasalubong from a friend who went home for vacation), an article caught my attention.

It was about how young people were able to earn their very first million.

Whew, who doesn’t want to have a million pesos especially in these hard times?

These people did not get it in an instant: it was worth sleepless nights, hardwork, prayers, talent, risks and whole lot more.

In the article, they had mentioned some investment ideas.

I had immediately checked the website for Online Stocks Trading and confirmed the requirements.

It was just in time as I have a bank account and I would want to earn more out of the little money that I have there.

I had checked on the risks: yeah, it’s a bit risky but I will never know until I try.

If I will be careful enough, I will get more from the dividends and stocks sales than the interest from the bank so I had transferred my funds and had started trading.

I have to learn and read a lot.

I’ve downloaded “Stocks for Dummies” and read articles from different websites to help me get into the game.

Since I am working on evening shift, I needed to wake up early to do the trades as it should be on Philippine Time then get back to sleep.

So far, I am doing well and I am hoping that it’ll continue still.

I am waiting for my dividends by the mid of June.

An online shop seems to be a good investment too.

Since I moved here, the web has become one of my best friends.

I had checked with a friend if she would like to be my partner for an online shop and she did say yes!

I was thinking of buying stuffs from here, take photos and place them on the site for people to see and choose from.

I am very positive that it will be worth the try and am praying hard to the Lord to guide me in my investment ventures.

Who knows maybe I will get my first million anytime soon?

Mid-Year Resolution

I was meaning to write a New Year’s resolution but I never got the chance to do one.

Now, in the middle of the night, my mind had kept on wondering what would this year be for me.

Last year was a good one as I would like to put it.

On a scale of 1 to 5, I would give it a 3.5.

I was home for my first-ever vacation and caught up with the stories of my family whom I dearly missed.

I met some old friends and made new ones.

I had shots of “Squeeze Me” and “Bad Trip”.

I had a shopping spree in Divisoria.

I wandered the air-conditioned malls and department stores.

Me and a friend joined a bazaar and learned a valuable lesson – never do business whenever Manny Pacquiao has a fight.

Then came the New Year.

The start of the year wasn’t good.

I had some issues regarding my personal life and Thanks God as I had the courage and positivism to go through them all, of course with prayers and the support of family and friends.

I was sad and stressed out and had relied on the positivism that I still have.

My Dad had a heart attack last Valentine’s Day and stayed in the Intensive Care Unit for sometime.

God is good as I had applied and was approved for a loan in a bank thus I was able to clear up the hospital bills and support my Dad’s medication.

My Grandmother passed away and I had decided not to go as I am thinking of the expenses and had chosen to be practical.

I had really been tested this year and I know that I can pass them all through God’s help.

I would like to achieve my specific goals this year.

Be Healthy and Gain a Little Weight

My boyfriend would normally tell me how I am scary thin and I wish to gain a little weight.

I will need to eat a lot and build some muscles – Yes! Muscles, that’s why I am doing these weights stuffs.

Invest and Save

I had been looking for something wherein I can invest my little money as my expenses are growing – 2 of my brothers are in college, my Dad has continuous medication, my younger brother is also in school and my Mom cannot leave my Dad alone anymore because of his condition.

Yes, I am a proud breadwinner of the family.

I was thinking of franchising but it would require a lot of work and since I am away it would be a little harder then I came across Cosmo Magazine.

There was an article on how some people and celebrities had acquired their first million.

There were suggestions on how to invest your money and I had immediately prepared the requirements and applied as an online stock broker – I shall write a separate entry on this one later on.

I had started packing my lunch or bringing food to the office religiously so that I don’t have to order food.

Hopefully, I can earn and save enough this year.

Travel.

It has always been one of my dreams: spending your hard-earned money on something that you would treasure your whole life.

I wish to see other countries.

I want to go to Hongkong Disneyland maybe or Brazil for the World Cup if God permits.

Inspire.

Sometimes, envy, though it is a bad thing, comes and challenges me.

I envy those people who were able to bring change and affect other people’s lives.

I shall do my best to be a very good example to my siblings and hopefully I could lead them to a good path.

Way back in college, my professors would usually ask us to write down our expected grades for the courses during the start of the semester and there was one professor who was different.

She said; write down the grade that you would like to work for; the same thing for my Mid-Year’s Resolution.

I had opted to write down things that I would like to work on really hard – of sweat, sleepless nights, and early mornings and long working hours, instead of writing things that I wish, just wish to achieve.

I shall get the better of 2011!