| Thursday, August 31, 2006 |
| Of firsts and lasts |
My first event of the year finished six hours ago for my teammates and nine hours ago for me, since I wasn't feeling well during the last leg of the event and I went up to my room to rest while the awards gala dinner was going on.
I've waited so long for this moment, and I thought that I'd be free when it was over. Instead, honestly, I feel kind of sad. This is my last overseas event with the team, and I wasn't even there at the end. I wasn't in our traditional photo-opp sessions when all staff and student assistants would take group pictures after the dinner at the stage and just about anywhere else we can pose. I didn't even savor the last few moments of the event I worked so hard for, and which caused me a lot of troubles and headaches.
Of all the times I'd choose to get sick, as in really sick, I can't believe this had to be it. =( I get sick very few times in a year (maybe once or twice) that i don't even know when I am already getting sick. I actually got a slight fever already last Saturday, so they let me rest for a full 12 hours (what a luxury!) and I thought I was fine already. Then I threw up twice today and thought it was maybe something in the food I ate because I threw up bits of cheese and
some juice. My shoulders and back hurt all day and I can't stand the cold too much. It felt like the cold was seeping in and contracting my muscles, squeezing me more and more. Finally, during dinner, I could not bring myself to lift my arms and eat anymore. So I did something utterly childish and cried lol ^_^ I swear! It helped me relieve all the aches on my body. Bakit ba? kanya kanya lang hehe =)
Anyway, At about 12.30 AM, after I slept for four hours and took my dinner, which was brought to the room, I went down to the secretariat to help my teammates clean up. Secretly, and although I knew it was impossible, I wished that the dinner was still on, and that people were still in the ballroom. The waiter who brought me my food said the event wasn't done yet. But when I came down, the ballroom was empty and the waiters had already finished setting up the room, presumably for another event tomorrow. So I went to the secretariat to work a while.
As I sent my 'Thank You' letter to all attendees at three o'clock in the morning, I felt hesitant even to click the send button - making sure that the letter was perfect, and added a little personal touch. It would be the last group letter I will send to my delegates. Many will no doubt reply, and many will not. I will probably never see or talk to all the delegates I met after this, but something about these moments that connect me to them is really just wow. For a moment, you find yourself a hundred friends, as people you only talk with through email or phone suddenly materialize. Then one smile from them is enough to take all those difficult times away.
I really enjoy and love this job. Even though I don't see myself doing this forever, even if it can get hectic and stressful, and even though my boss isn't the best of all bosses. I still love and will definitely miss it.
Now, I'm really getting sentimental here =(
I have so many kwentos and chismis about these last eleven days. Of cute delegates and 'GOs' ^_^, baladj moments, and hiding from kautangans. But I need a moment to take in all these 'last things.'
I think I'll wait for the sun to come up. |
posted by Tami @ 5:14 AM
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