my Christmas Wishlist

Should the 2012 Mayan Calendar Doomsday (December 21, 2012) be wrong; these are the stuff that I wish kind-hearted Santa would give me for Christmas:

I would love to think that I am a pretty decent cook, after all, the stuff I cook that I share with my staff are always a hit, either they do taste good or 20% of our company's population have dysfunctional tastebuds. Lately, as inspired by yellowcab's twice baked potato halves, I have been baking...well potato halves. But I have plans to bake a pie sometime soon too. But the thought of pre-heating the oven scares the chef-wannabe in me. The few times I used our oven, I had to ask my mom to pre-heat it. My cousin asked me to bake some potatoes for her and asked me to do it in their kitchen. Instead of using their conventional oven, I got to use a simpler electric one with the same results. So this one will probably make me want to spend more kitchen-time. And yes it might be true that I get inspired to cook when I am inlove,this time around, it would be really nice if I really am love -struck, but truth is, I am just carb-struck!

I read somewhere that if a Virgo does not find time to lose weight, weight will find them.. and I concur. That is why I am always trying to be active in sports and to eat healthy, at least include fruits in my diet. But I really can not finish a whole apple, or chew on a cucumber. If I have a juicer, I could just swallow it and try to keep it down by pinching my nose. you know these healthy stuff are not always a tasty treat. 

Bath and Body works' white citrus and Nenuco colognes. I used to be a fan of heavy perfumes, but lately, these sweet-smelling stuff has caught my fancy. 

My penmanship used to be very very very bad. But since it has dramatically improved and I now write more legibly, I have come to be a bit particular about my writing instruments. Back in college, I used to collect pens and I have come to love pens by Pilot and Zebra. Working with schedules and plottings, I find these 4 in 1 pens with fine points (.5) heaven sent. 

Call me a wimpy kid, but in this electronic age of tablets and iPADs , I still do keep a traditional diary. The Starbucks diary has always been very appealing, but the kuripot side of me wins over my desire to get that diary. 1st I am not a die-hard coffee fan. Sure they may be times I crave for caffeine, but a 3-in-1 coffee mix can fix that craving.And 2nd, I do not have plenty of time to drop by Starbucks. Back when I was in Macau, I always dropped by a shop in Taipa near Wa Bao that sells school and office supplies. I brought home a couple of these dainty planners that I bought from that shop. It's been 5 years, I have used all of them. 

Keeping my fingers crossed that I am on Santa's "nice" list!

FOODIE FRIDAY : My (not so) Happy Bundle

Eversince I have started reporting for night shift duty, this little drawer that holds numerous flyers for food delivery has been a good friend of mine. See this promo from McDelivery 

I am a huge Mcdo Fan... I have mentioned this before here . Some time last August, I also tweeted this :

So last November 8, me and my staff decided to dial 8-Mcdo and ordered for a happy bundle. Service was really fast and efficient, our order arrived 25 minutes after the 8-Mcdo girl asked me to synchronize our timepieces. Too bad I didn't know back then that I could send a photo of us enjoying our happy bundle and we could get a chance to win J Lo concert tickets! This in mind, 7 days later, with money to spare as it is payday, and with the same group of people, we decided to again order a happy bundle. This decision was made after we had our early dinner . I will always make room in my tummy for McDo, moreso if it means getting a chance to see Jenny from the block perform live!

We placed our order at 7:45pm. But our food arrived at 9:20pm! 

8:50pm  - I dialed 8-Mcdo to follow up on our order. From the lady I spoke with, I learned that, they received our order at 7:45pm and that it was dispatched at 8:05pm. I asked the lady what time is it on their system and she replied 8:50pm. An hour has elapsed since the time our order was acknowledged but we have yet to receive our food. The lady said our food will be coming from their branch in Airport Road, a 15 minute jeepney ride from where I work. The lady gave me the branch's contact details and advised me to directly forward my inquiry to that store.

As soon as our conversation ended, I dialed the number she gave me and a girl took my call. I explained that I called to inquire about our delivery that was dispatched from their store. I was asked to stay on the line. I waited for a few seconds and another girl talked to me and all she said was that our order has been dispatched and that it is on the way. I asked if they have a way of getting in touch with their delivery guy so as to know what happened. The girl said "walang pong cellphone yung rider" (really?).I asked if their time is synchronized with their 8-Mcdo system and before she answered, I was again placed on hold. This time it was a guy who spoke to me. I was getting upset by the minute, I was only asking if their time is the same as that of their delivery center and now I have another person to talk to again. Upon hearing a different voice from the other end of the line, my first reaction was " Wait you're a different person, need I tell you too the reason why I called?" This guy now told me that they are trying to locate their rider and told me that he will call me back in 10 minutes to update me. And he just kept saying pasensya na po for the delay. 

9:02pm - I received a call from Eric. Telling me that their rider returned to their store, with our food. He allegedly sent a message to the mobile number we gave asking for our location. Huh? At first I was told that the rider does not have a cellphone, now he texted us? Oh and right, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport is a very difficult place to find, especially for McDonald's Airport Road Branch!!!

I told Eric that I wanted to speak to their rider so I can give him instructions. It turned out that delivery guy was not familiar with the place because he was just a reliever. And meron siyang cellphone, I guess the fact that he is just a reliever, the people from that branch just  didn't know his number. Eric said I should expect my food in 20 mins. He also assured me that the food has been replaced. For all its worth, he was apologetic. I also asked for the branch manager's contact details. I know I was starting to sound AMALAYER-ish over the phone.

9:20pm - Our food arrived. But we were too pissed to take a photo for the J Lo tickets promo. We didn't order for an apple pie, but 1 was given to us. Nice touch, not really an apple pie fan but it was a thoughtful gesture. But wait! A hotfudge sundae is missing!!! I checked the receipt :

Yup we were charged for the sundae. I have decided to just let it pass, it has been a long day, I don't want to stress myself any further. It was a happy bundle gone sooo wrong!I have to admit that I was tempted to storm to their branch and do my own AMALAYER rant. Good thing I was not yet done with some paper works that I wanted finished before I go on day off.

After 5 minutes, Eric called, he was asking if we received his goodwill apple pie. I said yes and thanked him. I also informed him that a hotfudge sundae was missing. So he said he will again send his rider to deliver the sundae. 

I have had my fastfood chain days. Spent more than a year working for KFC so I know things like these happen. Delivery guys lose their way, incomplete orders being dispatched...but both things happening to the same customer? Am I that jinxed? 

US Visa Application - Part 5 : The interview

This is it! The dreaded interview day. I have heard a lot of stories of applicants being denied of a US visa. There really is no guarantee,this is the day that will determine whether I am eligible for a US visa or not.

What to wear?

Wear something comfortable yet presentable. Some people might tell you to wear your nicest clothes, and your finest jewelry... I don't deem it necessary. No need to wear your sexy stiletto, keep your Jimmy Choo's at home. First because you will be standing in line for quite some time before you get to enter the embassy and second, if you plan to impress the interviewer with your shoes, don't bother, they will not see it. I wore a plaid top, khaki slacks and silver glittery ballet flats that I got for 175 pesos at a department store's kid's shoes section. I also brought with me a pink cardigan.

What to bring?

I had with me my visa confirmation letter, my passport (current one and my previously cancelled one), 2x2 pictures (just in case they find the photo electronically attached to my application not acceptable), other documents that I prepared (please refer to my previous post),my company ID, Sophie Kinsella's Can You Keep a Secret, a black ballpen ( you will need this to fill up a form once you enter the embassy). Consider bringing an umbrella too, you will spend  quite a long time outside the embassy while waiting to be allowed to go in. That is why I think it is best to get the earliest schedule, at least the sun is still a wee bit friendly. (My skincare expert told me sun exposure before 8am is still ok, but of course sunblock is still necessary).

What not to bring:

A lot! While waiting in line, a few enterprising folks will approach you holding a list of the things that you cannot bring inside the embassy. I was warned not to bring my mobile phone and any other gadgets (tablet, camera or any recording device) . A small bag is preferred. But the list that they show you outside is more restricting. A few of the things that I remember are:

• Lighters
• Food
• Memory card
• Usb
• Perfume

I made the mistake of bringing with me my office bag, which contains pretty much everything I may need to survive being away from home for at most 2 days. I had with me a bottle of perfume. These people walking around with this list will offer to safekeep the "prohibited" items that you have with you. They handed me a plastic bag, told me to put my perfume and a pack of crackers inside and gave me a number. Works pretty much like a supermarket baggage counter, only they are mobile and you have to go looking for them , somewhere by the foot of the overpass where there are little stalls selling food items (roughly 200 meters away from the embassy's gate). Don't bother asking how much they will charge for safekeeping your items, they do not have a fixed charge and will just tell you to give them any amount. To be saved from the hassle of trusting strangers with your personal belongings,  just don't bring the above mentioned items. No chewing gums too.

My mom was the one driving and we parked a couple of blocks away from the embassy. The embassy is located along Roxas Boulevard and there is no guarded parking spaces available. We walked to the embassy and joined the end of the line for non-immigrant visa applicants at around 6:20am. Behind us, lines for the 7:30 appointment was already being organized by some security staff.

The line started moving a little before 7:00am. Before we reached the gate, we were asked to fold our confirmation letter crosswise and to slip it inside the passport. Upon reaching the gate, a barcoded sticker was placed at the back cover of my passport and a pink slip was given to me. I was told to get just one number for me and my mom.

Once inside the gate, I again presented my passport together with my mom's passport and we were given a number. We proceeded to a covered waiting area where we filled up the pink slip with our personal details. While in the waiting area, an electronic board displays the numbers that are currently being processed.

Applicants are ushered inside the building by 10's. My cousins's family was number 2122 and me and my mom was number 2123. We stood while waiting for our number to flash on the monitor. Once I saw our number, me and my mom proceeded to our designated counter.We gave our passports and our confirmation letters as well as the pink slip. Basic questions regarding our personal details were asked, birthdate, stuff like that. The guy at the counter took the pink slip and returned our passports and confirmation letters.

We again waited for our number to be called.This time, my cousin's number and my number consecutively flashed and me and my mom was processed after my cousin's family at the same counter. We were entertained by a very pleasant filipina with an amazing american accent. She was very friendly and she made me less nervous.  This was where our fingerprints were scanned.  After this was the final step, the interview with the consular officer.

I tried to read the Kinsella book I brought with me, my mom took out her crossword puzzle booklet, but somehow, I couldn't focus on reading because I kept glancing at the electronic monitor and can't help but listen to the other applicants while they were being interviewed. I found the interview with the merchant seamen, entertaining, the consular officer handling their interview was a pretty funny guy who cracks a joke once in awhile.

As soon as my cousin's number was flashed on the monitor, I placed my book inside my bag and prepared my documents. I was a bit worried when the monitor skipped a few numbers and flashed number 2130! Have they forgotten about us? Was there a pre-screening and are we being interviewed at a later time? Mini-panic attack!Good thing there was another applicant who asked a roving embassy personnel and it was explained that numbers are randomly flashed.

Not too long after my cousin's number was flashed, I saw my number and we proceeded to be interviewed by a different consular officer. As I approached her counter, I smiled and said good morning. She asked the following questions:

Consular Officer: How are you related?

Me: She's my mom.

C.O. : Oh you look like sisters.

Me: You just made my mom very happy.

C.O. : What will you do in the states?

Me : vacation and visit relatives.

C.O. : Who will you visit?

Me : My cousin.

C.O. : What do you do?

Me : I work in the airport.

C.O. : As what?

Me : As a duty manager for passenger services.

C.O. : For how long?

Me : I'm on my 12th year.

C.O. : How much do you get per month?

Me : blah blah pesos

(To my mom) C.O. : How will you pay for your ticket?

Mom : I am entitled to discounted airline tickets as a dependent of my brother.

(To me) C.O. : How long do you plan to stay in the states?

Me : Around 3 weeks.

C.O. : What are the countries that you have visited?

Me : Japan, Thailand,Macau.

At this point, the consular officer took a green sheet of paper, and while scribbling something, she was telling my mom that her application is subject for further review. She assured my mom that there is no need to worry, that this happens quite often. She handed the green paper to my mom.As for me, she said that she thinks everything is okay and that I should expect to receive my passport via courier within a week.

After the interview, we left the embassy and went to find the roving baggage counter. I gave her 50 pesos and she returned my perfume... But not my crackers.

I was interviewed on a Tuesday, the courier delivered my passport Friday morning. I was granted a 10 year multiple entry visa. My mom's passport was delivered after 10 days.  She too was given a 10 year visa.

There really is no guarantee that you will be granted a visa. Don't believe those who offers to assist you with your application for a fee and assures you of a visa. There are no shortcuts, you can't pay someone to go through the application process for you. The embassy's website contains all the information that you may need in applying for a visa.  There is a tagalog version too. You really have to honestly fill up the application, present yourself to the embassy for an interview and answer the consular officer's questions consistent with the information you have provided in the online application.

US Visa Application - Part 4 : Prepare for the interview

After the interview appointment has been set, you will need to print your confirmation letter as this will be the one that you will need to present. Stated on this letter are the documents that you need to bring with you to the embassy on the day of the interview. I was just asked to bring my passport. But it also stated that I can bring other documents that may be required to support my case. For this I have prepared my payslips, an employment certificate, bank statements and proof of ownership of real property. I went as far as memorizing my cousin's (the person I stated in my application that I plan to visit) home address and where she works. I also asked my cousin where she plans to take me (popular tourist spots) should I be granted a visa, although honestly, a trip to Victoria's Secret for lingerie shopping and to Bath and Body for body splash overload will be exciting enough for me... And of course, outlet store, outlet store, outlet store! It would be nice to be able to watch an NBA game too.

I tried to be as organized as I could possibly be with my documents. My mom, who clearly has more organizational skills than me, had her documents in a clearbook. I was told to only present documents when the interviewer asks for it,  so the last thing you would want is to fumble while looking for your documents. They say an interview would last for only 3 minutes, I don't think the interviewer would patiently wait without getting pissed if you take your time in finding the document that she needs to see.

The night before the interview, I called up some friends who have gone through the experience of applying for a visa too. They just told me to relax and to be early for my appointment.  After preparing the folder containing all my documents, I also prepared the clothes that I will be wearing.

Washed my face, brushed my teeth, whispered a prayer, set my alarm to go off at 4:30am, checked my fb and twitter one last time and tried to sleep.

US Visa Application - Part 3 : this little pig went to the bank

After the online application form has been properly completed, the next step is to pay for the US visa application fee. I got this table from the us embassy website :

160 US dollars for a non-immigrant visit visa. Whether your application for a visa gets approved or not, you really have to shell out this amount. Once you have decided that you are ready to part with your hard earned cash,  Go to this site : http://ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-paymentinfo.asp

and choose whatever payment option will be convenient for you. I decided to pay cash at the bank. 

After clicking on the option, you will be directed to a page that you need to print. 

Should you be applying with your family, please print a separate slip for each member, 1 payment slip = 1 applicant. Present this to the bank. 4 hours after your payment has been processed, you can now arrange an appointment for the interview.

Go this this site : https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/

and create an account.

After being able to successfully create an account. you will see this page:

Now we are ready to find a suitable date for our interview.

choose the visa type that you intend to apply for:

You will be directed to a page where you will be asked for your personal data. Please note too that you will be asked to input your DS-160 confirmation number so you must keep that handy. This part will also ask for your mailing address. approved visas are mailed so make sure to correctly input your mailing address.

TIP: Choose the earliest interview time! Tell you why on my next post!