Tuesday, September 8, 2009

travelling alone

being a travelling host or a part of a travelling show has always been the top of my list when it comes to my career path. thus, when someone offered me a job as a field researcher, i no longer considered how small the salary was. for me, as long as it will drive me away from being an almost four month old pataBUM (patabaing bum), its fine. besides, travelling all expense free (food, transpo and hotel accomodation included), its not that bad, right?

i was assigned in north-westerm luzon (the intersection of edsa and pasig river as the central and reference point), which is composed of pampanga, tarlac, pangasinan, zambales, bataan, la union, ilocos provinces and baguio. basically, the job only requires a minute of interviewing and mapping; and almost a day of travelling and i mean lots of TRAVELLING, to a point where your feet and butt will just literally go numb.

almost the perfect job for anyone. but then i've realized its not always about the perks nor having fun that matters in this kind of profession. everything you think of becomes different when you realized you are actually travelling alone.

nonetheless, its exciting! travelling in unfamiliar places is a very humbling experience. it makes you a very polite, independent and simple person. it makes your status, advantages and priviledges that you carry out from being a city person disappear because you know for a fact that these people you encounter in provinces have something you don't and you need.

you learn how to approach and socialize with strangers. how to ask in the politest way possible. how to ride old and rattling PUVS, that are way scarier than taking a MRT ride during rush hour. how to deal with them based from their own culture and traditions, that you can barely do in the city. it makes you realize how the simplicity of life is not all about having the biggest number of options that you usually get in living in the metro. rather its the other way around: the lesser your options are, the lesser complications in life you will have.

tonight, as im writing this entry, i am on my way to san carlos city, pangasinan to continue the other half of my research. though, i don't have someone to tag along with me, i am still grateful for i've realized travelling alone makes you appreciate these simple things that can help you in determining where you are actually heading.

*but seriously, im still open to the idea of someone tagging along. hehehe!

19 comments:

Ely said...

My aunt is from San Carlos, so I've been there quite often before. The last time, sabit ako sa jeep tas ang lakas ng ulan!

citybuoy said...

nice! i'm green with envy. gusto ko rin nyan. haha takot lang ako to leave the city. i really live up to my name.

the geek said...

that's why i enjoy traveling. it makes me think. call it my "me" time..well, except for some peanut kisses you'll meet..hehehe

now, i know you dont have someone to tag along but i know you are carrying something with you. please be safe...

engel said...

nice job. its always great that you learn things about yourself while doing your job.

Dagger Deeds said...

Ang saya naman.

<*period*> said...

WOW, SAYA NIYAN KUYA!

teka po, bakit niyo po kilala si 'kuya'?

bakit ganun? huhuhuhuhu

secret lang po kasi naming dalawa yun, kaya nga po hindi ko siya pinapangalanan...baka po kasi machismis eh

sana nga po maging close kami kasi parang ang sarap na maging kuya ko siya...

Grace Flores said...

napaka pangmulat nitong article na ito,. so it could be fun even ur alone right? sa dami nang new experiences along.. :)

having fun and being paid ! so cooool ... !!

Bulaang Katotohanan said...

lucky...lucky you.
minsan mas gusto ko pa yung journey kesa sa destination.
mag-e-emo sa bus o sa dyip.

lazy john said...

congrats... (me halong ingit) hahaha it has always been my dream job as well to be travelling and being paid for it... mas masaya nga lang if you have someone you could share the experiences with plus me tagakuha ka pa ng litrato hehehe...;p

<*period*> said...

kuya!

gustuhin ko mang isiwalat kung sino si 'kuya' sa kuya chronicles, hindi po pwede.

siguro balang araw, kapag nagkakasama na kami at personal na nagkakabonding..

sigurado akong magugulat ka kapag nalaman mo kung sino yung tinutukoy ko na kuya kasi wala malayo sa image niya ang magiging mabait sa isang gaya ko..ingat ka po parati

Eternal Wanderer... said...

bring me along with you!!!!

ehehehehe

Chyng said...

and you need a very good camera and a tripod! ;D

til sept29 ang spiral..

Mugen said...

I like your job. I am very happy for you erik. Your wait was well WORTH it.

Ingat ka lagi sa iyong mga paglalakbay. Sana, balang araw, pasalubungan mo kami ng iyong mga litrato.

LoF said...

shamelessly rubbing it in.

lucas said...

sounds really cool! you get to travel, learn things, tapos libre pa? bloody cool!

san carlos, pangasinan is our province. matagal na nga lang akong di nakakapunta dun ulit.

kiel estrella said...

i can relate as my job also requires me to travel alone a lot.

i always believed that people who travel learn more not only about the places they visit, but about themselves.

pie said...

traveling alone is kinda like soul searching na din. i'm glad you landed a job thats downright interesting. balitaan mo kami ng mga lugar kung san ka mapapadpad, at mga taong makakasalamuha mo.
gudlak.

Anonymous said...

Do I get paid for coming along? Hihihi.

Catch said...

same here, i've always wanted to be a travel show host.. you get to travel a lot and get paid doing it.. such a sweet life...