HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE! Some people say it’s bad luck to feel sad on New Year’s eve. But, really, who can blame me? This is the first time I’m celebrating Christmas and New Year away from my family. And, I was at work when the clock hit 12 midnight to welcome the new year.
Yeah, I was at work on both holidays. It sucked big time. This is what I don’t like working in a call center – most of the time, you celebrate the holidays at work. Sheesh. But, what can I do. I chose to work here knowing the fact that I don’t get to spend the holidays with my family and loved ones. That’s one of the major sacrifices of call center employees. So, those people who say that working in a call center means no hard work or less sacrifices, better think again.
I was able to talk to my nanay, tatay and brother before midnight. I was trying to imagine what they were doing but I decided to cut it ‘coz I was just getting depressed. Mai was already taking in calls by 11:30pm so I didn’t spend it with her either. I was all alone at the rooftop/terrace, looking at fireworks all around me.
I told myself, I can’t let this depress me. Bad for the new year. So, I decided to join my program’s countdown to the new year. That made me feel a li’l better. I may not be close to them yet but at least, I stopped feeling so alone.
Now, I wonder why celebrating the coming of the New Year is crazier than celebrating Christmas here in the Philippines . I doubt that Americans celebrate New Year more than we do ‘coz of the heavy queue of calls today. On Christmas day, we had high availability. Culture differences, I guess. But, wait, I'm forgetting the fact that we're ahead by 12 hours at most.
Wikipedia describes celebration of the New Year as a MAJOR global event. Different countries celebrate in their own ways. We’re ahead by 12 hours at most so we celebrate it earlier than Americans.
Maybe, the reason why welcoming the New year is crazier is because we spend it, most of the time, with friends. Christmas is more intimate so most Pinoys celebrate it with their families.
Almost everyone here was greeting each other. Heck, even people I don’t know greeted me a Happy New Year. Another reason could be that we’re expected to welcome the New Year with a bang – I mean with fireworks, loud music or anything noisy to drive away evil spirits, as the Chinese say.
Whatever the reason is, I wish I’ll spend my next New Year’s eve with my family in Manila and my partner Mai.
How about you, my dear readers? Where did you spend your New Year’s eve?
Again, I WISH YOU ALL A BLESSED 2009!
It's a good year for me -2009. Because I step up more levels towards my success.
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