My December

December had been fairly eventful, what with all the holiday spirit hovering in people's minds, if not everyday then at least every weekend. For the entire month, I felt like I didn't want to do any work in the office. I figured there are days like that, when your mind or body just kind of has a mind of its own or something (or maybe that's just me, hehe). I wanted to feel the Christmas spirit anywhere I went. Of course, I didn't so the best I did was listen to Michael Buble's Christmas songs while waiting for the bus, reading Coelho in the train while wishing I had the chance to visit home during the holidays.

I'm glad to have spent some days with my Filipino colleagues. On this Friday night, we decided to gather and have an exchange of simple presents, jokes and stories, all of which really made my day.

Kat and Cath

Brian

They "heart" me!

Val and her animated expressions

meet Reena

laughing at April's stories, I guess

Adi was explaining something

Reena laughing at her genius "idea"

April opening her present!

She got cute bookmarks, she says thanks

Uh-oh! She didn't look happy...

photo taking never ends, even at the bus stop

I spent Christmas Eve at Desiree's, thankful to be around more people who spoke bisaya this time. Almost all the Filipinos I work with and the people at home are from Luzon and at times I find it quite exhausting to be always speaking in Tagalog most of the time. I think I've never been able to converse in Bisaya for a while except when I call home or chat with friends.

Anyway, Charlie and Louie invited me for their Christmas dinner, which was really simple and intimate but nevertheless a good way to spend the night.

We also did a little exchange of gifts, not knowing who will get our present, I chose a good book to give away, John Green's "The Fault In Our Stars" which I also haven't read but I notice it's getting good reviews so I was confident it was a good present to give. I got a fleece blanket from Dorothy and a nice little coin purse from Charlie and Louie which had a nice message printed on it.