It's funny how we all complained about how slow January was but I just sneezed and we are now in March. In 3 or 4 months (?) time, I'll be celebrating my first anniversary here in the UK. How time flies! I could say that I have adjusted very well to work, it's definitely not a walk in the park but I am okay. Weather-wise, the cold never bothered me. Oh who am I kidding, I miss sunny Manila but I am not mad at the cool UK breeze that doesn't melt my makeup easily. Hehe!

I am trying my best to be better with my communication skills. I want to prepare myself in case I would want to continue the corporate role that I left in the Philippines. Or whatever, I just really want to speak better English. Then I am thinking of also learning how to drive, not this year though maybe next? I don't know but it is definitely a life skill that I should learn. Aside from that, I'd also like to have a theme for my room. Blame it on all the reels that shows pretty clean and aesthetic rooms.

As for any specific life updates. I HAVE NONE, STILL. HAHA.

Maybe on my next entry, I might have something to talk about. Hahaha anyways, I'll leave you all for now. Talk to you all again on my next blog.

Xo,

Ria

In 2021, I wrote Que sera, sera on Twitter (now X). There are only a selected few who know what I went through in the last two years. I had a series of many highs then suddenly followed by even more lows. In 2023, I persevered and got to where I am right now.

To be honest, I still haven't gotten over many of my losses in the last couple of years. I am still sensitive about the topic and my real friends know to not open it up and ask me about it and I am very grateful for that. When 2023 entered, it all really started with a simple prayer: Please don't let me down this time.

By the start of 2023, I already know that I am moving to a different country. But that was also how I started my 2022, so when 2023 had the same beginning, I prayed really hard that it wouldn't be the same heartbreak over again. So when I talk to people who are helping me, I sound uninterested and unhappy. Maybe it was my way to prepare myself for whatever was coming. I just don't want to get my hopes up again and be heartbroken in the end.

FFW to today, I am now in the UK. Working in the healthcare industry, which I always wanted as a kid. As a child, I grew up wanting to be a doctor that's why I took up clinical psychology. Who knew fate had other plans for me. As I said in my year-ender post on Facebook: Started 2023 with a prayer, ending 2023 with the answer. God's answer this time was a yes.

So maybe, I will start 2024 with another prayer and let the Lord decide on what is best for me.

Happy new year, everyone! Cheers to new beginnings! 

Speak Now Taylor's Version 2023

First, let me talk about my original favorites from this album:

So many things that I wish you knew, so many walls up I can't break through.

The last time I saw that person again was in 2016(?), just want to tell you a quick story lol. So it was during our reunion, just got out of the bathroom and he was outside and The Story of Us was playing in the back of my head because I was just pacing, pretending not to notice, and IDEK why (?) To be honest, I already saw that person when we arrived, went on with my life, and did not even acknowledge his presence while I said hello to everyone. LOL I think I am just embarrassed because most people know how crazy I was for him and yeah, I can't deal with that. HAHAHAHA.

How'd we end up this way?

See me nervously pulling at my clothes

And trying to look busy

And you're doing your best to avoid me

I'm starting to think one day I'll tell the story of us

How I was losing my mind when I saw you here

But you held your pride like you should have held me

 Next, SUPERMAN. Yes, the same person and yes, the same feeling. 😭😁😂

He's got his mothers eyes, his father's ambition; I wonder if he knows how much that I miss him

And I watch you fly around the world
And I hope you don't save some other girl
Don't forget, don't forget about me
I'm far away but I'll never let you go
I'm lovestruck and looking out the window
Don't forget, don't forget where I'll be

Right here, wishing the flowers were from you
Wishing the card was from you
Wishing the call was from you

'Cause I've loved you from the very first day 

And of course Enchanted. This may be one of the crowd favorites from the original release. And yes, to be honest, always for the same person. Same feeling. Same everything.

Please don't be in love with someone else. Please don't have somebody waiting on you.

Now on to the vault tracks.

You know what, when the I Can See You MV was released, it healed my inner childhood. Seeing Joey all grown and of course Taylor Lautner there -- suddenly, if we love again I swear I'd love you right doesn't sound too sad anymore. 

My favorite vault track is Foolish One, it's like Taylor speaking to my soul.

Foolish one, stop checking your mailbox for confessions of love that ain't never gonna come.

To sum it up, this entire record is about my youth. How I felt when I first fell in love and how I felt when I realized he will never feel the same. This record is about growing up from crushes to first loves and from first love to first heartbreak. How it felt the first time you moved out of your old room to a college dorm. This is about the many changes we all went through. This is Speak Now, our version.

Thank you, Taylor, for this record. This record has sustained me during my teen puppy love/heartbreak age and now my all-grown-up, healing adult self.

It has been over seven days since I arrived in the UK and approximately a year ago when I first visited the country and decided that it would be good to consider a BIG move. And so, it happened.

It was a pretty bold move for me. After only 2 days in the UK, I already started going to work. At the same time, I am giving myself some space to process the changes both with work and the culture. I have been in a corporate setting for quite some time so I am still adjusting to more physical work. So far, I am learning a lot of things but I must admit that I get anxious from time to time. As someone who is particular to detail and is afraid of making mistakes, sometimes I am hesitant to take initiative. I really hope that in time, I will get over this feeling.

For now, I still spend my off days in bed. I just feel like I went straight to work too soon and I kind of get tired easily. I off-boarded from my last job on the 26th of June and my flight to the UK was scheduled immediately on the 4th of July. By the 7th, I already started training. That's how fast-paced my life has been since then.

Anyway, I can't wait to share more of my adventures in the next coming days. I would really try to do my best to document everything. It is nice to look back on my adventures through this blog after all.

Till next time, luvs!

XO,

Ria