The Right Hand Rule

                 It was another day at the site. As a designer of buildings, I am tasked to talk to clients regarding their taste for a certain design. This has something to do with their culture. Today I meet with a client, a Saudi national who is also a friend of my boss. After a long walk of discussions regarding the changes within his house, we have gathered for some coffee break in a small space within the unfinished building.Two mats were laid while dates fruit and Arabic coffee is served. I've heard our client saying "tfadel" inviting me to dig in. So like them, I also crossed my legs as I sat on the carpet. I was in front of him and beside me is my boss who is also a Saudi national. After I sat, the client looked at me and was surprised I was able to sit with legs crossed. I told him it's normal. Then he told me that it was not ordinary for non Arabs to sit that way. But I've known for a long time that the Oriental culture were used to this. While drinking coffee, they had a few conversation with my boss to which I do not belong because they were conversing in Arabic. This is a typical situation for me to watch them talk without understanding. It's like watching a non-English movie without subtitles. After I finished my cup, the client noticed it and offer me another. So he asked me to hand me my cup and so I did. Although he was in front of me, he was slightly on the far left so I decided to give him my cup using my left hand. Then my boss beside me somewhat reacted that I should have used my right hand instead. Then I offered my apologies. I really don't know it was a part of their culture to use the right hand as a sign of respect. I thought it won't matter if i use my left hand. My right hand was holding seeds of dates and I thought it's more practical to use my left hand to hand him the cup since it can reach his hand conveniently. I learned something today about their gesture and culture and from now on I will always keep that in mind.

A Genie in Maroon

Today is the Feast of the Black Nazarene. It is a special event for most Filipinos especially for devotees to participate in a procession of the statue of Jesus Christ in Quiapo,Manila every 9th of January. Devotees are walking barefoot, wearing maroon shirt and aiming to hold the rope that pulls the carriage of the statue. Most of them are doing this as part of their "Panata" or a sworn tradition of doing something in exchange of a wish granted or something good to happen. Example is good health,surviving an accident or cancer and the like. For others do it to show their strong religious belief. The said event has been a great part of the Filipino tradition and culture. But as of me, I don't have anything against that. I can't question the logic of faith and religion. But my suggestion is this, why not take hard work, pray to God with all your heart, and accept all things as it happens and be a good man everyday of the year instead of following a black statue in a procession in order for a wish to be granted. I bet most people will disagree because the former takes a lot of time,work and effort and the latter will take only one day. One day that a genie can make a wish come true.

Welcome 2013!

2012 has been a great year for me and I am so thankful for all the good things that happened. After all the hard times that I've been through I eventually survived them all. I finally get to go back home after two years of working abroad, I passed my architect licensure exam with flying colors (I ranked top 8), I celebrated Christmas and New Year with my family again. I feel so blessed. Last year I learned that good things happen if you really work hard and pray. You have to take risks, believe, and patiently wait for the right time. I also learned the playful dimension of destiny. That thing that you can not control, you can not ask and you can not expect, but if it is for you it will eventually come to your life whether you like it or not. Faith is its prerequisite.

For this year, I could not expect much. The least I could do it to be hopeful and thankful that I keep on surviving. To the One above "thank you for another year!". Another set of blank pages to fill up. Another Goodspeed to continue.