It's almost 7am and I find myself staring at the Schiphol Railway Station signage. I raised my camera and took a shot. . . hmmm In my mind, a lot of questions has been repeatedly been playing for awhile now and I am almost convinced at having someone slap me and absorb the reality that I am indeed in Amsterdam and is about to ride the train to the Hague in Netherlands. YES I made it and I will be on board that train to my "New Year" in Europe.
My Miracle
- Thursday, July 19, 2012 6:15 PM - I got an email from Ms. Marianne van Dieren, Admission Officer at the Institute of Social Studies asking me if I was still interested in getting the scholarship despite the fact that I got the rejection letter last May. She explained that there was another opening and since I was the no.1 candidate on the reserved list, she was now contacting me in behalf of the School and Nuffic Scholarship Program as well;
- When I replied immediately after reading that email, Ms. Marianne informed me that she will get back to me as soon as she gets the positive feedback and approval of the NFP;
August Rush
- Next thing I know, I was in the middle of juggling my program portfolio closure at DAP and processing all other requirements for my passport and visa;
- It was a nerve wracking and beyond "August Rush" month!
- Just before that email by Ms. Dieren, I was scheduled to close the program I am handling for the League of Vice Governors on the 29th which eventually was also my embassy interview schedule. Talk about adrenaline rush;
- Good thing that the ceremony was scheduled at 5pm so I had time to go to my 8am embassy schedule, the embassy staff was very accommodating. After checking my documents, she gave me my claim stub for Friday - WOW that was also my date of departure for Amsterdam as per my e-ticket emailed by the school; dramatic eh?
- I felt a big thorn pulled inside me when the ceremony for the LGD program ended and my anxiety was all focused to the date of release of my visa which was also my departure date;
- I got to the embassy at 10:30am and after 30mins, left the building with a big smile on my face for in the 3rd page of my passport, I hold within it HIS final approval for the dream I have always been holding unto...
Send Off Party
- My former boss informed me that he was going to have a meeting in Makati around those time that I shall be done with the embassy and so we arranged a brief meeting just to say hi and bye before I left for the airport. Nepp went with me because we worked together at the same office back in Bohol;
- My mom arrived a day before my departure. I was glad to have her meet Dean and some of my office mates and other directors. Also, I finally found the chance of showing her our barangay, where we stay and my route everyday to work;
- Nepp and I went met our former boss while Hedz and mama proceed to NAIA 1 to bring my luggage which they also packed together (very thankful to them by the way because I did not exceed my baggage allowance)
Luggage weigh, change currency, check-in, terminal fees, immigration and whatnot
- I did not realize how stressful international flights are! It was my first and although I certainly hope it won't be my last, I am not exactly looking forward to the same hassle and stress that one has to undergo before finally flying out;
- But then of course, I wouldn't mind doing that again if it is the only way that I will get to where I am today;
- There were 7 of us - Lenny, Annabelle1, Annabelle2, Hazel, Maecel, Marlon and me...all for ISS and all at the same flight;
- There was a quick stop at Taipei International Airport after 2 hours from Manila. I must confess though that after I fastened my seat belt before leaving Manila, I totally dozed off to wonderland and only woke up when the stewardess was distributing our dinner (must be the adrenaline spiraling down and out of me now);
- My new pals and ISS batch mates still hit me and repeats how they thought I immediately went to sleep when we were at the plane;
- Anyway, after reaching Taipei airport, we deplaned for just 30 mins. Just enough time for a quick stop to the restroom and to update status at twitter and facebook accounts.haha
- Now back to the longer hours of travel to Amsterdam, we had 14 hrs left and even though I wanted to go back and take the rest of the hours to sleep, I could not pass the available in flight movie menu treat right in front of me! deym. why this? hahaha
- And of course to complete that celebratory flight, there was nothing more cool than to have the sumptuous meals paired with either a Terra Andina redwine or a Chardonnay;
Off to "dream land"
- We arrived at Amsterdam Airport around 5:20am local time and we waited for awhile at the train station which was just at the same area
- Gina, a petite Filipino scholar came to meet us and was very excited about some "pinoy" face to face interaction as she has been deprived of speaking in Tagalog for a quite awhile now. There were only 3 of them awarded with the scholarship last year.
- After buying our tickets, we proceed to platform 6 for Den Haag Central. We bumped into another scholar from Canada and she joined us in our section
- I lost counting the time going to the Hague aboard the train, I only remember a very significant word printed largely on what seems to be a house or barn...something like that. It said RELAX...
- Wow, I almost cried instantly. It felt like a welcome message for me to finally take this time to savor everything after working for awhile now and finally treat myself to this...
- When we arrived at Den Haag Central Station, we decided not to take the tram or bus to ISS as Anabelle's stroller gave up and the wheels were no longer functioning. There was no way she was going to carry more than 30kgs with her all through that hassle of riding the bus! Also, my mom was going to explode if I will go around pulling my luggage considering my 1 month old operation wound. So we decided to get a minivan where 6 of us got on board while the other 2 got the taxi.
- We were surprised to meet an African guy who seem to have been dispatching the riders for taxi and was speaking in Tagalog when he realized we were Filipinos. So, Adam (his name) talked to the drivers in the cue and in 5 mins, the driver of he minivan was already carrying our luggage at the back.
- We split 25euros for the minivan, there were 6 of us and at that point even I was willing to pay a 500-peso equivalent for an individual payment just to get rid of the hassle. It was just a 10 mins-ride and just like that, we were in front of the ISS.
- Ms. Ef, met us at the door and led us to the 2nd floor (which was actually a 3rd floor, they start counting floors with "0" instead of 1st floor) so anyway, we had the registration at the 2nd floor and went back to the ground floor for our photo session for our student I.Ds - this is cool though because the student IDs also is some form of debit card which can be used for us to get some coffee of have some prints needed, swipe! cool...
- The head of the student affairs gave us back our passports. She instructed us the process for opening our student bank accounts.
- Mr. Martin also with the registration team led us to the room where he gave us our briefing kits which included the student manuals and the academic calendar. He also asked to help ourselves with some chocolates (there were 3 kinds - mars, snickers and something i was not familiar...hehe). Of course I had the snickers. I couldn't help but still think, I must still be dreaming. All seems to be wishful thinking.
- Another Filipino who was the librarian of the ISS Ms. Cynthia or fondly called by everyone as Mama Cynch gave us keys to our room and pigeon holes. She has a very sunny disposition. Very accommodating and she treats everyone as if she knew them for a very long time now.
- The registration was really wonderful! everyone was treated nicely with hearty snacks! apples, raisin bread (which I bet will be one of my future favorites around here), coffee, sodas and juice
- It was almost 10am and we were on our way to our dorms to settle in. There were 3 of us in the same building, Annabelle, Lenny and I.
- We were scheduled to meet again at about 5pm for a welcome dinner set by Gina and the rest of the pinoy family here at ISS.
- I checked the room (woah so big for a regular student back in the Phil) but I think the perfect kind any student should have complete with own cr, bed, fridge woah fridge?, two chaired sala set and a study table with all the cabinets needed for other things.
- I managed to check my mails, yahoo chat, twitter account and my mom's FB (still contemplating if I should open one again) in between unpacking and getting surprised by the things my mom and my cousin hedz included in the things I brought. Woaaaah 2 big bottles of efficascent oil? coooooool! hahaha seems like my mom would want me to open a masseuse parlor!
- At 3.45pm I was already worn out (totally felt all day's travel) and soon started to drift after making sure I set the alarm clock at 4.30pm
- Took a bath after sleeping a bit (although I'm not sure if I did) I was bothered because I'm not used to sleeping alone and this is the 1st time that I would be staying in a room for a long time without a company. Grrrrrr
- We met at the common room around 5pm and transferred to the building were Gina and the rest of the gang were waiting for us for the pinoy welcome salu-salo. It was amazing counting and recalling some other ISS alumni stories including Ms. Reg whom Ms. Cynthia also recalled being one of the Boholanos who has been here.
- We head back to our dorms around 7pm and was surprised by the sun still being up around that time. I thought we can still squeeze a walk around before heading back but everyone was already decided to call it a day, oh well, it was our very 1st and after all those travel hours, we did feel the much needed rest, so, we said our good nights and went to our rooms after agreeing on the meet-up time for the next day...
0 comments:
Post a Comment