Touch Move

One gloomy morning (6 a.m. to be exact), the teacher was off to an examination - actually, it was just this morning. Last June, I just felt the need to go back to school - as a student. It took me a while to decide and it was almost deadline at that time. I had two choices for the school but I opted for the most practical one - cheaper and most familiar university for me. Next was choosing the major (Master of Arts in Education) that I would intend to take which is tougher. 

I filled out the necessary forms and had to fulfill all the required documents and stuff. The hardest part was to look for my old professors and employers to serve as my references (siyempre ang pinili ko 'yung ka-chika ko na mga prof). I then submitted every document needed (all original) and waited for another month for a positive response regarding my application. I received a letter saying that I was qualified to take the examination on September 1, 2011 (whew!). Good thing I was scheduled in the morning session (7:00 a.m.- 12:00 nn.) and I need not to skip my class which is from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

After a month, here comes the exam... (Picture this, I was out last night with some friends and I slept at around 1:00 a.m. and woke up at 5:00 a.m. to get ready. 4 hours of sleep - not that solid though). I was at the area 10 minutes earlier than the scheduled time. My head was killing me at that time and it's really cold. Too much whining on my part. It's just that I was not on my fighting mode at that time. The proctor then tells us what to do and ya-di-ya-di-ya. I heard sounds but not words. I was like thinking and shouting in my head, "Can we just get this done and over with!". Good thing I had my coffee that morning for my nerves to function and really serve its purpose. I digress...

Golden rule : "Thou shalt not go back". Touch move. 

The first part was Language Skills. Reading Comprehensions and stuff. I read each word as if I'm on the beach while having a drink and next thing I know there were 2 minutes left for me to finish 8 more questions. Adrenaline starts to kick in me. I had to make very quick and educated guesses (mini-mini-miny-mo). And then whew! We have to stop.

I was petrified. Not a good start. 


With no time for analyzing strategies on how to beat the clock, the proctor continued re-starting the timer for the next set of questions. With 4 professors roaming around would you even dare to look back on previous pages? Nah... 


Needless to say, I followed the rules and got my groove back on the track. It took us almost 4 hours to finish a 140-item exam (Language, Math, Abstract Reasoning and Logic, Foundations of Education, Teacher Qualities, Philosophies of Education and Values Formation) and the most crucial "one question-400 words-essay" part.  I felt tired after the exams. I dunno if it's the weather (nakakatamad) or because I didn't have enough sleep but I was dead tired. It was like taking the board examinations all over again. 


We were told to wait another month for the results (again).


It was 11:30 a.m. at that time and I still need to go to work which happened to be in a school again. No time to freshen up and stuff, I just need to be there by 12:30. I was inside the jeepney while waiting for other passengers when I noticed two persons right in front of me. A guy who is a Filipino (with Oriental features) and a Japanese lady. I can't help but notice how the lady took photos of the street and the jeepneys who were parked at that time. "Ay, turista 'to", I told myself. And then I eavesdropped and even had the chance to take a photo of them (I love camera phones!).

**********

an excerpt as I try to recall their conversation

Filipino Guy: "We're here in Quezon City right now and this is the biggest city in Metro Manila"
Japanese Lady: "Yes, I know Manila City"


FG: "No, Metro Manila and Manila City are very different from each other"
JL: "Oh, just like Tokyo"


FG: "I thought Tokyo is a city?"
JL: "Japan is divided into different regions and Tokyo is located in one of the regions in Honshu island"


FG: "So it's like saying New York-the state- and New York City?"
JL: 'No, it's a prefecture..."


(silence...windang lahat ng nasa jeep)

**********

It's so nice to see and hear people with such great interest about our country. Kudos to the guy who really knew what he's talking about. There's this moment when they were both silent and it was so tempting to ask the lady of her thoughts about the Philippines and stuff about Japan and its people but I restrained myself. Sayang, marami sana ako itatanong. Feeling ko propesor sila pareho eh. Iba kasi talaga 'yung mga usapan nila. Mga tipong, "Metro Manila consists of 16 cities and 1 municipality which is Pateros. We have to consider the population and income of a place before it can reach a Cityhood status" saka 'yung Tokyo factor. In such a short span of time eh parang nanonood ng Nat Geo 'yung mga nasa jeep o kaya parang nag-Google sa tindi ng level ng usapan nila. Sayang lang kasi bumaba sila ng jeep agad. 'Di naman araw-araw ganun nakakasabay mo 'di ba? 

**********

So after nun, balik eskwela na naman ang guro para magturo. Ang guro na malamang eh magiging estudyante sa susunod na semestre.