In 2009

So many things happened, and I can't believe it's (almost) over! I'm a big fan of lists, so here's one to tie the 2009 bag of craziness up!

• Had my first New Year's eve outside of home
• Moved to Australia
• Learned to do house chores (or had to... lol)
• Started my B Psych degree in UWS
• Drove on the other side of the road
• Learned Spanish
• Spoke more German than I ever have
• Went to Melbourne with friends (!)
• TURNED 21! (Can't wait to go back to Vegas!)
• Started paying my own bills
• Learned to take public transport
• Dated, dated, dated
• Watched a play and 2 musicals
• Got a job
• Went to Queensland with a friend
• Visited heaps of museums and art galleries
• Travelled overseas by myself (back to Manila)
• Applied and got accepted to move into my own place (though in uni) for 2010
• Met a wonderful, wonderful boy <3

It has been a fun-f'in-tastic year with lots of ups and downs. I met heaps of different people, fell in love, got dumped, slept a lot, and spent much of my time by myself a lot. I can't say it was brilliant all throughout, but it has definitely been such a good way to finally grow up. Without further ado, I bid 2009 a big fat good bye and welcome 2010 (a new year and a new decade) with a big fat HUG!!! Cheers, prost, salud, what have you, just have a blast!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

¡Prospero Año Nuevo a todos!

Ein Glückliches neues Jahr zum Alles!!!

Summertime

Just wishing you all lovely people a wonderful summer. I wish I had been in Sydney.

With all my love from the Philippines,

Ryc

HELLO AUSTRALIA

Metro Manila is in ruins, so let's pool together donations for the Storm Ondoy victims. We're accepting donations to be sent straight to organizations in Manila ASAP. For questions, inquiries, pledges, etc call Mio Paredes at 0424338472 or 98363494 or me at 0425218416 or 98328862. Thank you :-)

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Hello everyone,

As you may know/have heard, the Philippines has just experienced a great natural disaster. There have been deaths, and a lot of damages that need rehabilitation. My parents have been directly affected in our Manila home. Some friends have lost their properties. All I ask is for all of you to please pray for their safety. Please pray that courage fill their hearts to know that we will all pull through this.

However, the Filipino masses are needing assistance, and sadly, it has been reported that the president has used up the emergency fund of PhP800,000,000 for her foreign trips (read all about it here: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=496123). The damage has been done, and this is what Manila looks like today:

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=ondoy

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090927-227074/Too-much-rain-too-soon

Any help that could be forwarded would be deeply appreciated. Listed below are the drop off areas for donations in Manila.

Xavier School, Greenhills -

You may donate food (canned goods etc), bottled water, etc to the Xavier School Multi-Purpose Centre. Those who wish to volunteer, do come over and help collect and sort the goods. See you there. Please pass.

La Salle Greenhills -

Relief Operations Drop-Off Center has been set-up beginning 9am, Sunday, September 27, those who are living in the nearby areas may bring their donations to Gate 2 of La Salle Greenhills, along Ortigas avenue, Mandaluyong. Those interested may contact Louie Aguinaldo at 0917-5295706 or 216-8505.

De La Salle Health Sciences Institute -

For those in the Cavite area: De La Salle Health Sciences Institute (DLSHSI) is launching a relief drive, please drop off donations of food (ready to eat) canned goods, clothes, blankets at the lobby of the University Medical Center starting today.

Ateneo de Manila University -

Accepting donations preferably cooked/ready-to-eat food, clothes, medicine, blankets & water. Donations may be dropped off at MVP, University Dorm or Cervini Lobbies. Also in need of volunteers for relief operations today. Please bring boots, shovels, large vehicles/small watercraft. For donations & enquiries please contact 09088877166. Pls pass

Help through SMS donations (Philippines only) -

1.6 million Philippine Facebook users. Donate 100 pesos each and we'll raise 160 million for Red Cross rescue and relief. Red Cross donation through SMS: text RED to 2899 (Globe) or 4483 (Smart). Spread the word and help.

Mean Streets Manila blog -

The rest of the information for all other local & international methods to send help can be found here http://meanstreetsmanila.wordpress.com/

A million thanks again for all of your prayers and encouragement. Please forward this e-mail to get the help all around as soon as possible. God bless us all!

Sincerely,

Ryc Aquino

ryc.aquino@gmail.com

16602902@student.uws.edu.au

+61425218416

And so it begins!

7.09am in sunny Manila and I am waiting for my 9.00am flight to heatwave Sydney. I'm at Philippine Airlines' Mabuhay Lounge and it smells of Chinese. I have no idea why but there's only old people here it's not even funny. UGH, what a way to start the morning. And you call it a lounge? Haha. I can't complain, there's free internet.

I didn't sleep the entire night obviously, due to excitement and an attempt to hold back all tears. Emotional as it sounds, I find that I will miss Manila - the traffic (but not really) and the hustlin' and bustlin' of everyday. I'm being contemplative and reminiscent of all the good things the Philippines has to offer while getting myself hyped for all the new experiences I'm about to have in Oz. Most of all, I'm thinking about the people I'm leaving behind and I'm sure as much as they're all sad about our parting ways they're as excited as I am. Meanwhile, my mother is busy getting her roaming service to work.

My eyes are starting to hurt from the sun and it sucks. I think I need sleep but I'll stay up until I get into the plane. Not to brag (this is really more like an exciting moment for me that I just want to share), but Mum and I got business class seats! :-D We didn't really purchase it (duh), but we just got it off our Miles thing. I'm so excited. Recaro reclinable almost bed seats and L'Occitane toiletries! :-D

In 8 hours (+3 due to timezone differences) I will be arriving at the Sydney airport. It's my 3rd time in Australia and this time I'm staying for the long haul. That is the basic reason why I'm starting this blog, just to keep everyone posted and stuff. It's all so exciting for me and I'm sure I'm gonna have such a mad time.

I'll finish uni there but for now ('til late Feb) I'll just be on holidays/bumming around. Being a bum has been my job for the last maybe 6 months and I'm used to it. In a week's time I should be able to get around the community on my own and head to the uni for some important, dorky, academic stuff.

LAWL.

Now, since I'm still pretty new (but a bit familiar) with Oz, I need to get used to the slang and find some things to get busy with. What do you guys suggest I do for the next month? Give me some ideas and I'll probably do them anyway, just as long as I won't die of some weird totally hilarious accident. God forbid.

Well I begin this blog in Manila, just as I'm about to depart to a new land of great opportunities and a wild ride. You'll hear from me as soon as I arrive Down Under. Should be fun aye? :-D

x
Ryc