ToyNk: My 2013

My amazing 2013 journey continued ...

JULY

I still continued to study for the New York State Bar Exam. I wasn't able to finish all the materials I had at hand. That made me nervous. But I had to persevere.

So, off I went to the land of the US of A by myself 10 days before the exam. From LA, I went straight to Albany. It was my first time to visit the capital city of the New York State and also my first time to travel to the US by myself. Albany is a simple and quiet city, but very nice. My mom followed just 2 days after the exam for my much needed moral support.

The experience is quite surreal as I took the exam not in a classroom but in a stadium. Test areas are at the center court and the pathway near food stalls.

I find the New York State Bar Exam less hard than the Philippine Bar since it has lesser coverage and it is just a 2-day exam, unlike the 4 Sundays of the Philippine Bar Exam.

But you could not blame me if I was still nervous. I had to make it worth it.

AUGUST

The day after the New York State Bar Exam, my mom and I went to New York City - concrete jungle where dreams are made of. We watched Mamma Mia, went around the streets of New York, visited Times Square, Rockefeller Center and the MET, and walked around Central Park. I also met Zachary Levi.

And that was just during the first 2 days of August. Off we went to LA to spend time with my sister and her adorable daughter, Ally.

I then went to visit my aunt and her family at San Diego. I also went there to take the Multi-Professional Responsibility Exam. I reviewed for it for a week. I decided to take it in San Diego since I figured I could study more there than with Ally, because I know I will play with her often .. haha. But I truly had a great time with my cousins at San Diego. And I am pretty sure I gained a lot of weight as well :)

SEPTEMBER

And so I went back to my beloved Philippines. I went to my daily grind of reporting to our office. While I was away, our office had a renovation. I am really proud of my mom for her knack in designing everything.

I had a lighter teaching load with just my Sales class in law school.

By middle of September, the MPRE results were out. And I passed! Thank you Lord :)

OCTOBER

October is the bar exam month in the Philippines. As it were in the past years, I then went to Manila for Bar Operations to give support to our students. This was my first batch of students who took the Bar Exams. I really pray that they do well. I also pray that my dear friends who took the same will also pass this time around.

And on the 30th day of this month, I found out that I passed the New York State Bar Exam! Amazing talaga si Lord :)

NOVEMBER

November was not that much great for the Philippines for Yolanda struck. The news was really disheartening. I was relieved when I found out that a law school classmate of ours survived it.

But aside from the devastation, I think the bigger news was the help extended to the Philippines from across all nations. I just hope and pray that their help would really be extended for such purpose. May GOD bless the lives of all the concerned citizens all over the world.

It was also in November when I get to attend a wedding of a law school friend. I was glad to meet up with my first year batch mates.

DECEMBER

'Tis the season to be jolly.

My aunt for Saudi was around from November until first week of December.

I was able to attend the IBP Palaro/Christmas Party and I had fun that night. Next time, i-career ko na .. hehe

I did not get to attend a number of parties, though. The reason is that by December 21st, we already left for Australia, where we spent our Christmas and New Year with my dear sisters, Johanna and Jessica.

I will try to post a separate blog for our Aussie trip. But I hope these pictures will do for now.