Days before my flight back, I sent online applications to clinics that were hiring hoping that when I get to Manila, I'd get callbacks for interview and if I'm lucky enough, I get to work real soon. Out of the six dental clinics that I applied, only two responded. I was so hyped with the thought of working in an unfamiliar city, earning and living on my own and thought two is better than nothing. So I had two scheduled interviews the following week. On my first night, I stayed as transient at a dormitory around Taft. I can't remember having been able to sleep at all. The bed was so small, so crowded and there was barely and air from the fan, what more from the windows. The next day, however, I went to Ortigas where my sister is staying with her friends. She worked in Manila for the time being but little didn't I know that she's gonna leave me soon enough. She told me that I can live there and we can share the rent, together with her two friends. It's basically a studio type condominium. So that had been my home for two months. The week of my interviews came, and I didn't yet know how to commute considering it's my first time around ortigas. I took grab to an interview in Katipunan which cost me around P350. That's when I realized I need to learn to commute asap because the allowance my mom gave me won't last me another week if I continue to depend on grab and cabs. The interview went well but I kinda didn't like the work set-up because it's jumping from one clinic to another. Just thinking about it makes me really tired already. That happened on a Monday, the next interview was on Wednesday. Later that day, when I got home, I received a call from someone asking me if I'm available for an interview tomorrow (which is on Tuesday). Turns out, my sister had been sending my applications while she isn't doing anything at work. Since I've got nothing else to do on that day, to the interview I went. That interview landed me my very first job. And guess what, I started working the minute the interview was over. The owner's exact words were, "Can you start now?" And I'm still with the same clinic for over a year now. And I'm really happy to be working with such competitive colleagues whom I can actually learn and improve my practice. I have been struggling in my first few months because the pay isn't actually that high, just depends on the flow of patients. Since it's my first money on my own, I get so excited every time I get my paycheck and splurge it on books not thinking I still have rent and other bills to pay. I never remembered having too much money to be splurging on things I want. But I spoil my self at times. I left my first home in Manila which was in Ortigas. I lived in my tito's house for about two months and when my sister left for Iligan, I looked for a place on my own. I stayed at a condo where I get to share with strangers who later became my friends for a year. And now, I'm on my fourth transfer, a condo just beside my workplace. Still waiting for that day though when I can get a place of my own. The truth is, I'm still broke, and you know what, it's just money and it will come. Probably what matters most at this point in my life is the experience I get to bring with me for the rest of my life. That I got to experience how it is to be living alone, supporting myself and paying off my bills, being able to buy the things I want. Waking up and seeing a new day as a challenge to survive. That's when it's really worth something. That's when I can say that there is so many things in this world that is worth more than money. Read the first part here: http://patriceism.tumblr.com/post/161241538139/small-town-girl-in-a-big-city-part-1. (No hyperlink only blogging thru phone 😞) Let's connect! Instagram: @pattiebear Twitter: @patttieebear
