a few days after i turned 17 or 18, some1 left a present for me at the bakeshop my friends and i used to frequent. it was very thoughtful of the person who, sadly, still remains secret up to this day.
during that time, i really wanted to read through the pages of "memoirs of a geisha"—i just couldn't find a copy anywhere. to my surprise, that was exactly what was inside the modest newspaper wrapping.
it made me the happiest nerd in the world. so whoever left that present 2 or 3 years ago, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
it's not everyday that i get gifts. i only received nice things in colorful wrappings, as a little girl, on my birthday and on christmas. now that i'm older and nicer (i hate to admit i was aloof as a kid), the presents seem to stop coming forever, 1 by 1.
over the weekend, though, i came home to something that made me extremely excited for the 1st time in so long.
as soon i set eyes on the brown box, i turned into a little girl again.
inside were booklets and mags i could use—especially 1s about journalism, the environment and colleges in america... a love letter disguised as a friendly note, too (or so i wish! haha!). but the best part was the present within the package.
my jaw dropped the instant i discovered what thick book was inside the pretty wrapping! i wanted to scream and jump up and down, only it's forbidden at home.
you're not gonna believe that he had sent me a copy of the world's first novel by a lady of the court in medieval japan!
since i learned about "the tale of genji" some years ago, i've looked for it as i've looked for "memoirs of a geisha" back in high school. but because copies are rare over this side of the world and i honestly can't get 1 online, i tried temporarily forgetting about genji's interesting story.
life is generous, though. i thought i would only be able to read about prince genji when i'm already too old and worn out. but a thousand thanks to ****, who must be truly fond of me, i can already read through the 1,120 pages of murasaki shikibu's masterpiece!
right now, i'm still floating and smiling in love heaven.
arriving home to a thoughtful brown box, after a dreadful saturday, just lifted my spirit. it helped me forget about all the blood and poverty i've witnessed and learning more about the pitiless politics in media with my internship.
it's not my birthday. it's not christmas. i didn't even ask any1 for anything. the absence of an occasion makes the gift, like that of the mystery person's, sweet beyond words.
Monday, May 21
sweet surprise
Tuesday, May 15
genrev camp '07
if i could, i would. but it's almost always impossible to write about every good thing worth blogging about, especially if you're already having your internship in broadcasting.
it would really be fun to write about this year's crazy genrev camp, and to share with you the cool and helpful stuff i learned, especially from the sessions... sad to say, there's much drama but little time. the mid-term elections (god bless our country!) is keeping everybody from getting enough sleep and from blogging. haha.
for the mean time, i'mma let you inside my incomplete and unpolished camp diary.
day 1: finding refuge
this is it, i told myself when i arrived during the hottest time of the day. for the weekend, i would be temporarily spared from the politics of the world outside. they say that this is a place where i could be myself and be with people who have also come here, in search of a refuge.
a refuge, i learned, is a place where people can find shelter and protection. it's like a hideout from the worrying world.
this place may not be resort-like and i may not be as used to camping out like outback jack, but i'm game. i also know i'm here for some reason.
night 1: will i survive this?
this afternoon's tribe games were fun. for the 1st time, i faced my fear of being hit in the head by flying objects (i.e., balls) by joining 1 challenge that involved biiiig balls. it's relieving that i never got hit and that i'm still intact and alive!
so far, so good. camp-cooking is the only thing i'm not sure i like or will like. never in my wildest imaginings have i imagined it to be so stressful. haha. good thing we have 2 stoves, so all we have to work very, very hard on is grilling in the darkness of the evening hours.
for dinner, we had burnt meat that fell to the ground. dirt sprinkles, mmmm!
day 2: heaven in a pile of leaves
this morning, i woke up in pain and had to miss exercises. my fluffy sleeping bag lost to the tree roots and rocks... have you ever heard of butt-ache?
well, some girls must be having it, too. as i was struggling to get up, i heard a familiar voice say, "heaven is in a pile of leaves!" later, i found out that she and her tentmates moved to the mountain of brown leaves next to our tent.
my tentmates and i "crashed" into their new spot soon after. we're thankful the neighbors let us in their overpopulated tent. it's fun and funny. for those inflicted with butt-ache, heaven is indeed in a pile of leaves!
yeah, i'm loving it here, even if it's bumpy. it gets verrry hot, too; you could fry eggs on your head. but the baths offer comfort: there's cool water, and you can bathe 3, 4 times... even more.
also feeling "deprived", many of us here in the girl's camp site are craving for cola. it would really go well with the meat we're determined to grill correctly this time, before the sun sets.
p.s.: at the genrev press con i was assigned to cover last month, i remember some1 who said that these tests are part of the spiritual lessons campers will be taught. hmmm.
night 2: through the door
this morning, we had a liberating session about forgiveness... this afternoon, the gals learned about immaturity (a.k.a. girlhood) and becoming a woman. tough stuff, both of them. but what i learned from today's striking sessions, i will carry with me for as long as there'll be breath in me.
worship tonight was as wild as the tribe games. my old buddy, THE DOOR, was brought out during the altar call for the lost sheep (i.e., me). when i saw it again after a long time of getting up and backsliding again, i became so scared for my life. passing through it would mean dying to myself and offering my youth back to god.
but guess what. i made it through the door.
it's the hardest thing but heaven's gonna be worth it... what helps and gives me comfort now is the love i'm getting from the other genrevers here. it's weird. you get so much love that you just wanna overflow.
day 3: back to the real world
parting with this physical refuge is hard. it may be rough out here but they made this genrev camp the hardest on purpose, without the resort-like venue and catered food, so we learn a grand life lesson: finding refuge is possible in a tough world.
all these things that engulf me, i understand now: hardships like sleeping on bumpy ground and cooking are like the problems we encounter each day, outside of here. but we can always turn to community (which, in my case, is elim/genrev) for support and, more importantly to the lord, who will never ever let us down.
i'm going to miss so many nice people, too. some from luzon and mindanao. goodbyes, even if they're just temporary 1s, make me sad. but i'm also very, very happy to be blessed with wonderful friends in genrev cebu.
i'm really glad i came. i found refuge.
