My 2014 - Part 7

OCTOBER (PART 3)

While my parents were on their way back to the Philippines, I was on my way to Minnesota to visit Janice and her family.  I was really excited for this trip as this was my first time to visit another state without my parents or any relatives.  I was there to visit a dearest friend.

I arrived on a Sunday and from the time they picked me up at the airport, we wasted no time!

First Stop!

Cherry on a Spoon!

So adorable!

Dinner with officemates!

Gerry, the tall guy, was my first seat mate.  Ronald was my teammate in one of the projects!

On my second day, Jan and I talked most of the time, haha!  But we were able to squeeze some time for a trip to Mall of America!

Think Happy!

The Kid in Me!

Love, love, love!

We also got to visit this place!

For Mighty Ducks fans!

 It was my first time to experience Autumn!

 When I Fall in Love ... 

I miss these kids!  Don't grow up too fast, okay?

It was indeed a fun and memorable trip and I am so grateful to the Tsangs!

I went back to LA, where I got to spend Halloween with Ally!  And no, I had no costume, hehe!

 Ally with her Dada at school!

We still had time before my flight in the evening.

 With Ally and her cool dress!

The kiddos in their costumes!

Oh-some October indeed!

My 2014 - Part 6

OCTOBER (PART 2)

I wasn't kidding when I said my October was Oh-some.  In fact, I could not write just one blog for my October.  So, here I go again.

Another reason this US trip was so worth it, aside from Ally's Birthday and my Oath-taking, was because of my sister's graduation from her Masteral.  I am one proud sister!

Up there!

Full Support!

 Celebrate good times!

 Triple celebration!

We are family!

And of course, we also went to San Diego to visit Auntie Juvy and her cool family :)

National History Museum

Love Teams!

At USS Midway!

Mom and Dad left a week ahead of me.  Their trip was 2-week escapade US-Canada-US.  And just before their flight, we visited the Andradas :)

Barkada!

The reason I stayed for another thing was because I went to Minnesota to visit my friend and her family.  And that deserves a separate blog!

My 2014 - Part 5

OCTOBER (PART 1)

October was one heck of a month!

Just before we left for the US, I had tons of work to finish and I was thankful that I was able to accomplish them.  I noticed that every time I have to leave Davao City for an out-of-town travel, work amazingly multiplies! Hehe

Anyway,  October was also Oh-some.  I left for the US to take my oath as member of the New York State Bar.  I received a letter sometime in January that I was supposedly scheduled for the August oathtaking.  I begged off since I cannot leave in such short notice, and because I still had tons of stuff to do along with my classes.  So I requested for an October schedule so it would coincide with the sembreak.   

But before I left, I had to finish my classes first!

 Sales Class 2014 (2-Manresa)

And so my mom, dad and I left for the US. We arrived in Los Angeles in the evening and we celebrated Ally's 3rd birthday at Goofy's Kitchen the next day.

Goofing with Goofy!

Notice how Ally is mesmerized! (haha)

In the evening, we left for Toronto, Canada.  Start pa lang, hectic na .. haha!

The View from our room!

And so we went around Toronto!

You can stay under my umbrellas! Hehe

Toronto Downtown Centre with the grannies!

Teaching Ally how to do a Jump Shot!

Taking a Break

At the CN tower

I'm on the Top of the World looking ..

We just stayed for two nights in Toronto as we left the next day for New York.  But before that, of course, we just had to stop over at Niagara Falls!  I have been truly blessed to see this God's spectacle twice.  The first time was from the New York side, and this time from the Canada side! And also, I got to ride the Hornblower!

 Girl in the Hood!

 Happy!

 Amazing!

Riding it out!

From Niagara Falls, we then went to Albany for my oath taking.  Yes, the main reason for this whole trip was for me to take my oath as a member of the New York State Bar.  I am so happy and grateful that I passed the exam.  No more what if!  I don't know yet what to do with this title but I am sure glad that I was able to prove something for myself once again.  And of course, I am really happy to make my parents happy and proud :)

And I Swear!

Certified

Full Support!

New York, New York!

And I am not yet done!

My 2013 - Part 2

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.

Pretty amazing 2013 huh?  And I only have GOD to thank you for it.

Looking forward to a blessed 2014 :)