Life Lately: Moving to Europe

6 months ago, on Sept 24th, I secured a one-way ticket to Europe, to England specifically. Although there have been a lot of hard work on my part before that flight happened for me, it still felt surreal and "kilig" when I finally boarded my flight. Yes, months of hard work, meaning: the out of this world hospital hours, the study hours for 2 exams I had to take in the Philippines before I even get a shot at a job interview, the not so convenient flights to Manila for the TB test, my intentional isolation from friends to make sure that I don't turn up positive for COVID on my flight date and the physical exam which was the most inconvenient of all by the way. 

I flew out of the Philippines as an OFW. For the little audience who I still constantly chat, they knew that I quit my corporate job at Lexmark when COVID started and applied as a nurse in one of the private hospitals in Cebu. I worked as a respiratory nurse and have had the first hand experience in seeing people deteriorate and die from COVID prior to the vaccines being available. It's horrible, I know. During this time, nursing became an important profession again. After so many years, Filipino nurses became in demand..AGAIN. I graduated in 2011 at a time where I had to pay a hospital to secure an internship, after passing the boards, and after being registered. Ridic, I know! 

COVID, despite the havoc it brought, has become a blessing to me and to few other nurses who invested in passing the English exams and passing CBT. 

Here's a little timeline: 

August 2020 - I came across Nurse Even who vlogs about his UK experiences as a nurse. I started watching his journey and got totally inspired to do the same 

September 2020 - Enrolled me in an English review center for my IELTS (did not attend most of the classes because 12hr shifts drain me) 

October 2020 (1st - 2nd week) - reviewed like crazy. Since classes are made available online, I focused on attending the writing classes and booked one on one coaching sessions daily. This meant that I had to write sample articles for both Test 1 and 11 daily so the coach can comment and make correct. 

October 2020 (3rd week) - practised reading, listening, and speaking + I still write articles daily 

October 2020 (4th week) - took the computer-based exam in Cebu November 2020 (1st week) - results came out, PASSED! My lowest score was 7.5 which was writing. Not bad 

December 2020 - I never really did anything here. Maybe because I got busy with meeting friends before the holidays I had a slump beginning of the year, I did not really know what to do next. I thought, I wouldn't be too stressed because I was already past the hardest exam which was IELTS. 

In May 2021, I read in one of the groups I joined in Facebook that agencies and hospitals prioritise interviewing candidates with CBT or those who are OSCE ready in their NMC application so I studied for a week and took my CBT on the last week of May. I then processed my NMC (the governing body for nurses in the UK) application and handed out applications to several agencies. Initially, I really wanted a hospital which is in Central London because that's where I want to work and settle. But destiny has other plans. 

In June 2021, because of the scarcity of nurses manning the hospitals in the Philippines, the government has put out a ban for nurses going abroad. They capped outgoing nurses to 5000 in a year. This made me panic because, the timeline I set for myself was to get out of the Philippines on the same year. 

So despite wanting to be placed in a Central London hospital, I started looking for hospitals which are not too far from central (1 hr max by train) but are deploying as soon as possible. This is why I ended up in East Surrey Hospital. An acute facility located in Redhill, Surrey which is 30 mins by train to London. 

They interviewed me June 23rd. The next day, while I was at work, the agency called me saying that I passed. I waited for 2 weeks for my COS (certificate of sponsorship). By the end of July, my VISA was already available. It's true when they say that if it's meant for you, everything will fall right into place. All the other steps leading to my deployment went as smoothly as they possibly can.

Until now, the story of how I moved here in England still gives me a genuine smile I feel inside my soul. I am grateful daily of this life I get to live here in Europe. It's truly a dream come true. Just like in any part of the world, life isn't easy but because this is something I truly truly want, it makes things a lot more bearable and light and fun even.

Here are some random photos from the airport and quarantine hotel which both made or not made it to my FB/IG feed.

View from my quarantine hotel in Kensington (Central London)

Random Breakfast food while quarantining

Random supper food while quarantining

Another day, another breakfast

This was probably the hardest, enduring instant coffee! I am so used to Nespresso cups in Cebu 🥲

Online review class for OSCE! Meet my cohort!

Hello London!

My only luggage!

I wanna go out already at this point. I'm only on my 2nd day 😬

Product Obsession: Lucas Papaw Ointment

I have seen so many rad reviews about this product online but never really gotten to purchase it sooner because 1, it's an imported product and there's no local drugstore carrying them here in PI. 2, I always just chance upon it online but never really felt the need or intention to own a tube. 

Recently, someone from Lexmark started selling stuff from Australia and had a dozen or more of these on hand so I got one out of support for her and for hoping to resurrect my ugly chapped lips. 

After one application which was exactly a minute I got hold of it, I felt an instantenous effect. It felt like petroleum jelly on acid. Yes! That fast!

I searched for more uses of this amazing tube online and learned that some people put it over their nails as mositurizers and alas, it worked wonders on my dry tips. I am not even exagerrating when I tell you that I use Lucas Papaw on my nails daily as compared to using it on my lips (cos my lips don't dry out as much). 

I haven't finished this tube yet but I already re-ordered a bigger one from my friend because it has become an absolute necessity in my everyday existence. 

Also, 2 weeks ago, I burned my lower lip from hastily tasting the pasta sauce I cooked for the fam and guess what? Lucas Papaw healed it for 2 days only. I kid you not, this tube is a miracle worker. 

Go get one now!

xo, J ♡

Product Obsession: Nuxe Dry Oil

It's been a while. I know everyone has transferred to a new platform which is Youtube. But really, ever since I deactivated my Facebook, I felt I needed a good place to write again. Currently, I am obsessing with looking for 'products that work'. In that fashion, I return to this abandoned space to blog about some of the products I've been using to make me feel my best.

My first one is definitely this:

Nuxe is a French brand that I came to the Philippines a few years back. This oil retails for 2150php but is definitely worth the splurge. This is a repurchase already and I love how the scent is clean and fresh but not overpowering. It isn't sticky as well which baby oils are known for. I especially love slathering this after I do a scrub bath because I feel like they soak through my clean skin.

If you want to feel extra on a special day or a bad day, this one's a pick-me-upper :)

xo, J ♡

TRAVEL DIARY: Jas X Osaka Part III

Our 2nd day in Japan happens to be our last day in Osaka. I know there's a lot more to see and eat in Osaka alone but we also wanted to see the other places in the Kansai region. Before we headed off to Kyoto, we visited this one famous tourist spot in Osaka...

The breathtaking site that is The Osaka Castle

The Osaka Castle was built by the ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi who dominated Japan in the 16th century. Stories had it that thousands of people were asked to report daily to finish the construction of this 5-tiered, 9-story castle. It took only about 2 years to finish it considering how huge it turned out.

The castle is a 10-15 minute walk from the train station but very easy to find since you can see it's glory from afar.

I can hear my heart beating fast when I saw her from a distance.

I wouldn't really mind walking when the scenery is this amazing. There is just too many pretty corners and back drops in this place. I can easily categorize this place as one of my favorites. 

The weather in Osaka was about 13-14 degrees C. And Jp wasn't even wearing a coat. 

How can a "very urban" area incorporate so many trees? Japan is really something else.

This little pathway is love.

This river offers cruises which is another way of seeing Osaka.

Getting closer

 I think the travel time we chose is just perfect. These trees are my favorite kind backdrop.

This angle is your view when you're tired from walking and you just decide to chill for a bit in one of their benches in the castle area.

Hello Love!

One whole class of little Japanese kids waiting for their tour inside the castle.

Matcha Green Tea Soft Ice Cream. Gaaaaaaah! (So there's a whole lot of food stall in the castle grounds -- it's like a tourist spot on it's own. And being the bad storyteller that I am, I got no pictures because I was busy going from one stall to another.)

A European couple offered to take our picture after I took a *reallyyyyy*** nice snap of them. Hahaha

One of the many artists I see around the castle grounds sketching a beautiful portrait of the castle.

Oh Japan, it's only my second day but my senses are already on a travel high. What a beautiful sight you are! Thanks for not letting me down. 2016 may have been a bitch but thanks to you, you still got me believing about the beautiful things this world has to offer.

x O x O, 

jb

TRAVEL DIARY: Jas X Osaka Part II

After going around food stalls and feeling the first vibe of Japan, I dragged Jp to the more upscale part of Osaka. Of all the people I know, I think Jp is really one of those who loves to go up a high building and get a 360-degree view of the city. (Heck, we still do this in Cebu- Tops Busay!)

So there's no other place I brought him to other than the Umeda Sky Building. This 173-meter tall building is made up of 2 towers which are connected in the 39th Floor by the Floating Garden Observatory. This is one of the 2 attractions that we actually paid for to get in. For 1000 Y, you will be able to get the best viewing experience in one of the top 20 best buildings in the world.

From the train station, you need to walk for a little over 15 minutes. The area where Umeda Sky Building is very modern. You will be able to see lots of sky rise buildings.

Christmas lights everywhere.

Japan is widely Buddhists and Shintos, but you will truly feel the Christmas spirit by how they light up their public places.

Some famous girl being filmed and photograph.

When we reached the Umeda Sky Building, we were just in for a treat. There was a Christmas village set up. It was like Sugbo Mercado but in a more elaborate and fantastic kind of way. There was a lot of food and trinkets for sale. I wish I did not eat so much ramen in Dotonbori but oh well, I just went ahead and admire them with my eyes. 

Round and round goes the merry go round.

Christmas Trinkets

Beer stall

But of course, a giant christmas tree!

Another beer stall

Little me under the big christmas tree

While going around the christmas village, we almost forgot our real purpose in going to that area. When we finally went up the building, we rode the fastest elevator I have tried in my entire life, It was so fast, I forgot to take a video of the transition from one floor to another. 

Upon reaching the 38th floor, we rode a really long escalator going up to the observatory.

That's the 2 towers connected by the "donut" floor.

Aaaaaand that my friends are the different views and angles that we came up for!

Look how the traffic is freely moving on that lane in the left side.

Aughhh! I could stare at this the whole night!

Part of the observatory garden is an area where you can put love locks. 

Tip: To be able make most of your experience. It would be best to go up in the afternoon so you can both have a feel of the daylight and night time. Also, I've read that there is a stunning sunset you can always catch if you're there during the golden hour. I'm a little sad to have missed that.  

Also, if you plan on staying til night, make sure to have cover ups ready as it's very chilly up there. I hope you like this installment. 

P.S. I'm bad with night photography, one of my goals for 2017 is to learn how to use the night mode of my point and shoot camera (:

Part 3 is coming! <3 p="">

x O x O,

jb