One of my friends wrote this article and I decided to post it here since it really did touch my heart and somehow enlightened me reading it. This article is all about the reality in working abroad. Actually, he is working abroad most of his life. Here it is:

So it Goes!

by: pao

There seems to be a common denominator for all the cultures of the world. No matter how you have been good in doing your work, just make one mistake, and all the good work you have done will be trashed away.

People tend to magnify mistakes and error, and if you are a foreigner, expect the locals to multiply it tenfold. Knowing this, it adds to the pressure of being as tagged as the “Bagong Bayani” of the Philippines. You have to very cautious of your every move. For you know, you are only secured with your work as long as you perform correctly. Well, can’t blame the Employers, that’s the very main reason why they have hired foreigners, it is easier to manage, just like a toilet paper, once it served its purpose, just flush it down with all your shit. They just can’t do that with their fellowmen, or their courting lawsuits.

This thing reinforces my idea of loyalty, that is to my stomach. I have already developed the radar of knowing a sinking ship, and the ability to jump to a better ship once there is an opportunity. For me, they have already served their purpose ^_^.

How I wish I could apply the same principle to my personal life. But no matter how I try! I always fail. Somehow I realized that yes! I will fail, for work and one’s personal self operates on different level.

For work, you know there are no strings attached, its just work, a means to get money to spend to live. There will be a good Employer but it do helps that you know that they are hiring you because of your services, and once that services is not needed anymore, then you are a goner. Simple as that. Easy to accept.

Personal relationship does not operate that way. Whether it started with a firm ground rules, you are just not so sure how would it turn out. And then life goes on!

The Cagayan de Oro River -- mighty and beautiful. Experience its full glory. Experience whitewater rafting at its best with the newest outfitters in the Cagayan de Oro River, the Cagayan de Oro River Tours Corporation. Inspired by the might and beauty of the Cagayan de Oro River, we aim to provide utmost customer satisfaction and the highest levels of professionalism.

Safety is of paramount concern. Our equipment are all imported and all brand-new. Our guests are provided with complete safety gears such as helmets, flotation devices, rescue ropes, first-aid kit and dry bags.

Our guides are well-trained, traversing the river 100 times as whitewater raft guides before they actually become full-fledged river guides. They are also trained by the Philippine National Red Cross in First-Aid, Basic Life Support and Swiftwater Rescue. They also undergo Tourist Relations Training with the Department of Tourism and Cagayan de Oro City Tourism Office.

Safe and enjoyable whitewater rafting has never been this accessible. Jumpoff area is within city limits and just less than an hour from urban Cagayan de Oro. And at the disembarkation point, a fresh shower andclean comfort and changing rooms are available for the guests'convenience.

Now, there is every reason to experience the fun and excitement! Soothe your weary souls with the cool waters of the Cagayan de Oro River.

Enjoy the ride of your life with Cagayan de Oro River Tours Corp.

Visit Rafting CDO and make your reservations now!

Here is a new gaming notebook from Packard Bell. The specs is pretty good, because the laptop uses Nvidia GeForce 9800M GTS with 1GB of GDDR3 VRAM, powered by the Intel Core 2 Quad processor Q9100, 17-inch 1920×1200 HD display, WiFi 802.11 draft-n and an optional Blu-ray drive. Packard Bell’s iPower GX Gaming laptop will be available in January next year for $999.

Family:
Some expenses may seem like they are 'through the roof,' especially food, medical, repairs, appliances, education and entertaining. Vehicle replacement may be required for a 'second' vehicle or the purchase of one for a member, especially children of educating age. Dishing out dough for travel expense may add to the burden. Some kind of 'disheartening news' is possible near the 19th to 21st. Keep everyone's hopes up. Unfortunately, loss is a possibility, especially with elders, pets and those who have been 'vulnerably ill' recently.

Love:
Strong 'appreciation' energies unfolding in love and adding a new awareness or dimension to that love, no matter how old or new it is, will be likely this week as gratitude takes over the lion's share of love energy this week. Finding out just what a 'partner is made of,' one way or the other, is highly likely. Read the weekly partner horoscope...

Friendship:
Finding out what friends are made of and whom you can depend upon is also up for grabs this week and 'money isn't everything' may be a phrase tossed around in your mind as you weigh the value of a pal against the 'oncoming challenges' of your life.

Career:
Some of you may 'hit a wall' near the 18th that smacks of 'poor cooperation' and you are left alone to finish or foster a project further. Another 'brick wall' of financial unraveling is likely near the 19/20th but you appear to scramble it together 'just in time,' the 21st. Allow 'destiny' to intervene near the 21st, especially if Sagittarius, Capricorn, other Taurus or Virgo are involved.

Finances:
Fair at best

Family:

Most of the early week goes smoothly but after we hit the 21st you show one issue, need and problem piled upon another with fatigue, personal illness, aggravation and disappointment likely, especially with Sagittarius, Gemini, Virgo, Cancer, some in-law and 'youthful' members. Clashes and discussions over youth, money and behavior are likely, especially in extended families or with 'ex's.' On a positive note, some of the 'older issues' that needed to be address can be off your back 'once and for all.'

Love:
Romance is probably 'the' best area for the Ram this week with stunning improvements for paired Rams, especially where matched with Leo, other Rams, Libra and Scorpio. Hot new prospects for those single and looking litter the week right up to the 21/22nd and then a more conservative attitude may be required. Read the weekly partner horoscope...
Friendship:

New friends are likely near the events of the 17/18th, especially in day time meetings, lunches, through friend-of-a-friend or 'quite by chance.' Invitations for the 22/23rd may require more money, effort and patience than you are ready to supply right now; think it over.

Career:
An opportunity near the 17th may help with expansion efforts and/or improve your 'reach' in some way. Expenses near the 18/19th may be unavoidable or fall into the 'takes money to make money' area. Return messages fast the 20/21st and be 'very clear' the 20th in all forms of communication from spoken to written. Make sure you know they have gotten '100%' of your 'meaning.'

Finances:
Fair only

Her breakout role in “Transformers,” 22-year-old brunette beauty Megan Fox has gained an enormous fanbase online.

Megan Denise Fox (born May 16, 1986) is an American actress and model. Fox's career in modeling and acting began with her winning several awards at the 1999 American Modeling and Talent Convention in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. She began her acting career with the film Holiday in the Sun (2001), later appearing in the films Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Crimes of Fashion, and the TV series The Help (all 2004). She is well known for her roles on the television series Hope & Faith (2004) and in the 2007 live-action film Transformers.

So it was big news this week when Wonder-Who.com revealed that she would be portraying DC Comics superhero Wonder Woman in an upcoming big screen adaptation. There’s only one problem: it’s a fake.

In the “Holy Trinity” of DC Comics superheroes, one iconic character has been conspicuously missing from movie screens.

Superman had his heyday in the 70s, Batman in the 90s, and both have been revived in the past three years.

But Wonder Woman, the Amazonian princess with the magic lasso and invisible plane, has not had a live-action portrayal since the last episode of the TV series aired in 1979.

There have been attempts in recent years to put together a film version at Warner Bros.

Pictures shepherded by Joel Silver, veteran producer of the “Lethal Weapon” and “Matrix” franchises. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” creator Joss Whedon was attached to write and direct, but he left the project for “creative differences” last year.

The Samsung i8510 is a high-end mobile phone and some of the striking features of this device are 'still-cum video-camera', Quad-band network with GSM 850,900,1800,1900 network, Bluetooth, EDGE, USB, Wi-Fi, the Internet, downloadable games etc.
Here are its full features:

GENERAL:
2G Network - GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network - HSDPA 900 / 2100
Announced - 2008, July Status Available. Released 2008, September

SIZE :
Dimensions - 106.5 x 53.9 x 17.2 mm
Weight - 140 g

DISPLAY :
Type - TFT, 16M colors
Size - 240 x 320 pixels, 2.8 inches
- Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate
- Optical trackpad

RINGTONES :
Type - Polyphonic, MP3
Customization - Download
Vibration - Yes
- Stereo speakers

MEMORY :
Phonebook - Practically unlimited entries and fields
Call records - Practically unlimited
Card slot - microSD (TransFlash), up to 8GB
- 8/16 GB internal memory
- 128 MB RAM

DATA
GPRS - Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
HSCSD - No
EDGE - Class 10, 236.8 kbps
3G - HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps
WLAN - Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, DLNA
Bluetooth - Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
Infrared port - No
USB - Yes, v2.0, microUSB

FEATURES
OS - Symbian OS v9.3, Series 60 rel. 3.2
Messaging - SMS, MMS, Email, Push Email, IM
Browser - WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML
Games - FIFA 2008, Asphalt + downloadable, order now
Colors - Black
Camera - 8 MP, 3264x2448 pixels, autofocus, image stabiliser, video(VGA@30fps, QVGA@120fps), flash; secondary videocall camera
- Built-in GPS receiver
- A-GPS function
- Camera geo-tagging, auto-panorama shot, face, smile and blink detection
- Business card scanner
- DivX/H.263/H.264/WMV/MP4 player
- Video editing
- MP3/eAAC+/WMA/AMR/RealAudio player
- 3.5 mm audio jack
- TV out functionality
- Java MIDP 2.0
- FM radio with RDS
- Organizer
- Built-in handsfree

BATTERY
- Standard battery, Li-Ion 1200 mAh
Stand-by - Up to 310 h
Talk time - Up to 8 h 30 min
- Voice memo/dial