Towards the end of 2012, I mentioned that I was going to
try something new. What is it, you ask? I moved to a new "second home". It's still in the line of HR, in the beauty industry (more high end!), but this time not in manufacturing but rather, in distribution.
It was very difficult for me to leave because I love the people I used to work with. They are a lot of fun and I have truly learned a lot from them. That's where I first had a taste of this profession which I truly have the passion for. It's with that company for women that I have experienced how to sincerely serve, to be fair, to manage events, to coach and train and motivate... there's just so much I learned! I must make a separate post on this one of these days.
If you're wondering why the move, well let's just say I let God fully take over my career and the opportunity's timing couldn't be better. It came when I was at the peak of some doubts. It took me a few sleepless nights to decide as I was already in my comfort zone (six years in my previous company wasn't a short period) and the work location does not agree with how I would've wanted it (it's in Manila, about 90km away from my little dude!) but I prayed hard for God to guide me and well, this is where He took me.
Although I'm still trying to get the hang of my new environment, there are a couple of things that I've been liking since I moved:
1.
Access to events I've always wanted to go to but was constrained to do so because I was based far south and I did not have connections.
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| ManilaFAME! I used to only read this from blogs! |
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| Posh product launches |
2.
Convenience of city living made quick trips to the grocery, bookstores, salons, banks, etc. easy peasy. Everything is about a 5-minute walking distance to my office. There's a BPI just on the ground floor of our building, S&R is just a few blocks away, and High Street is within a stone's throw away. Heck, if I didn't have anything to wear for an event a day before I needed it, I could just cross the street to Mango or Cotton on and I'm good! Now, the tricky part is how to control shopping urges. Hihi.
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| Got to experience the great S&R sale for the first time! |
3. Also because of number 2, i
mpromptu meet-ups with old friends is more likely. Because almost all my friends live or work within the area, having lunch with them just needed a text and a quick check at my meeting calendar.
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| With college buddy, Omar, at Kitchen's Best |
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| IE friends, Lei and Pao, at Slice |
4.
The pressure to be pretty. For the past decade, I've been ignoring my appearance and my old kikay self took a backseat. Having been exposed to the manufacturing environment where the no makeup look is a norm, I have forgotten how to blush my cheeks or put on a little color to my lips. Add to that, my fashion sense needed attention since my wardrobe was predominantly jeans, polo shirts, or shirt jackets. With my new job, however, everyone is really conscious of their get-up and coming into the office that seemed like a model's runway everyday, naturally, I have to cope! I am proud to say that I've been buying a lot of dresses, blouses, and high heels lately. I also have a one-on-one basic make-up application refresher course lined up. Hahaha!
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| Sample peg. HMU c/o my lovely officemates. |
5. The most important change that I am enjoying now is
precious time with Jax. Because we now carpool, we have at least two hours each day (one hour each going to and from work) to talk about our schedules, aligning our plans for the future, how to discipline our little dude, growing our finances, etc. I love how we have created another communication venue for us that allows us to bond and (believe it or not) get to know each other even more. During the first weeks, I felt like I was a new girlfriend again being picked up from the office by my boyfriend!
Like I said, this is all taking a bit of getting used to, but aside from the challenge of having to force hubster to pick me up by 6pm so we can come home to Marcus in time for dinner, I think I'm pretty much fine.
