Dear AMW Readers:
I
have been blogging for around 3 years and a lot of you knew bits and
pieces about me base on each post. A lot of you may wonder how I get
all the energy, the confidence, the passion to do the things I love.
Well, this is the moment you'll learn something deeper about the girl
behind AskMeWhats.
First
of all, I got an invite from Bobbi Brown Philippines to take part in a
blog contest, to share a story on how we feel "Pretty Powerful"! To be
honest, I felt uneasy because I've always preferred teamwork over
competition. But come to think of it, I cannot pry myself away from
competition as it is an integral part of our life! Looking back, I've
been competing (on life) without me knowing it and have been luckily surviving!
When we were assured by Bobbi Brown's Ms. Ina Casas
that there won't be any pulling of hairs, punching of the throat,
kicking of each others' shins, and worst, pulling each others'
fingernails *gasp* I told them I'm in! Because I have a story to
tell, a story worth sharing, a story that made me who I am today!
I was called a "Crybaby", "Weak person",
"Scared-y Cat" most of my life! Crying is a sport I've perfected!
That's why I've always been put inside a bubble that protects me from
reality. When I turned 22, it was the time I suddenly wanted to get
out! I graduated with honors, got myself a good job even before I
graduated, everything was sunshine-y for me but I felt it's not enough! I
haven't seen the world, the "reality". I've always wanted to travel - that
explains why I took up Tourism in the first place. I've always wanted
to start with the country I studied the most after my very own (Philippines)--- which is
China!!! I am not the type who would ask for money straight out from my
parents and I obviously haven't earn enough to spend that much on
travel! I was searching for "out of the country job" through my
low-speed dial-up internet and I remembered having only an hour left on
my internet credit when I found the website called "Teach in China".
As I clicked from page to page, my hopes were high! I can speak
English! It'll be easy to Teach and Travel in China all at the same
time! Gosh, I was that optimistic then! *laughs*
It
was an hour of CV attachments, after I finished up the credits of my
internet connection, I went to sleep, purchased another internet card
the next day, and I was really hopeful and all ready to "choose" where I
plan to work!
Of course the world didn't work that way!
I got a lot of email replies, a lot of rejections!
Here are some of the valid reasons ---
"You don't have a teaching degree."
"You don't have teaching experiences."
"We require candidates coming from English Speaking countries."
And a lot of unacceptable ones ---
"You don't look foreign enough."
"You should have blonde hair or blue eyes."
"You look like one of us!"
And
you think that would stop me? Of course not! Who are they to stop a gorgeous 22-year old lady like me? *laughs*
Don't they know me? *hahaha* Okay, seriously, as hurtful as the responses sound, that did not stop me! It was actually a challenge that
made me want to conquer! I was even more determined to scatter my
resume and my "cute" 1x1 sized photo! I got rejected 50 times? Well, guess what? I will send 50 more!
One University (God bless that University),
accepted my application after series of phone calls. I got in a big
University called Zhejiang Forestry University located in Lin'an,
Hangzhou, China. Difficult to pronounce eh? Well the place is
difficult to find I tell you! But hey, I passed, someone with NO
teaching degree, no teaching experiences, and mind you, I have black
hair and dark brown eyes! Best of all, someone who has an email box
called "Clefairy" (a Pokemon character)! *groans* I must be jumping for joy right? Well, I shouldn't, as it was the start of my Real Life Adventure.
As
young as 23, it was the most difficult moment in my life to be away
from my family, my friends and my then boyfriend Keith. I was armed with One
Year Contract, a round trip ticket, and $100.00 (which my brother gave me). I seriously thought of jumping out of the plane during transit and head back home and cry 'til my eyes pop!
I didn't...it was a battle I wanted to face! I chose this road.
As
a University Professor for an Australian Program called TAFE, I was
surrounded with a group of highly qualified, professionals, Non-Asian foreign teachers. All of them have
teaching degrees impressive teaching backgrounds. I won't forget the
first day of class, I was even scolded by the school administrator for
"loitering" around during class period thinking I was a student! (Can't blame him! I was wearing Powerpuff girls top!)
I
have to explain to people gazillion times that I am a teacher, not a
student! That I know how to speak English! That accent doesn't matter,
because we all have our own accents to be proud of. That I love
teaching by nature, that I have passion and compassion on students who
have a hard time learning...amidst my salary being the lowest just
because...I look like them.
I
have been advised, many times by my friends back home to dress up
maturely! To use more make-up just to appear "older" than my real age.
I told myself, I know I have the talent, I know I have the heart to
teach, I don't need to change for people to believe in my capabilities.
That well said, may I borrow Bruno Mars' song ---
"Cause girl I'm amazing, Just the way I am" :P ? That's what I did, I stayed just the way I am. I did gain a lot of weight though! *laughs* It
wasn't intentional! It was all the Hot Pot, the oily cafeteria food,
the change of weather, and of course, the homesickness!
I still look cute naman di ba? :P
But you get the drift! I just changed physically but I did not change the way I am in terms of personality and teaching style!
(Note: The super sexy girl with "hand horns" in the middle, is..ahmm..me!)
It was a tough ride, but students are starting to get used to my round
face, getting used to the way I dress, getting pass the stage of
"shock" on how much their parents paid for a Foreign Teacher but got someone who looked like them instead! They finally stopped trying to find
ways to irritate me, or to bully the "young teacher". They finally
opened up their minds and hearts to listen to my teachings and realized I
do make sense! A year quickly passed. My students who are on a Basic
English Level went up to Intermediate Level, some even to Advance
Level! It was a very proud "motherly" moment for me.
Ang serious ni lolo, nag aaral pa din kahit picture taking! :D
Because
I was starting to be known as a "very good
(and hyper) teacher", I was given extra
night classes to teach adults and professionals! Some were
grandfathers! I won't forget that fateful day when I saw one of my
"grandfather" student on the street as he went up to me, introduced me
to his wife, and said:
"She is MY teacher who made me speak Good English I learned a lot from her!".
It was an achievement for me that no amount of money can
ever replace the price of pure happiness and contentment.
Year 2004, after nearing the end of my contract, I received an award given by the University to 10 deserving teachers (of all colleges)!
I was in line with teachers who were teaching for more than 30 years.
My name was printed on the University Paper as "Top 10 Best Teachers".
It was an achievement, I was the youngest, and I was the ONLY foreign
teacher who received such prestigious award!
A closer look on the article for people who can read Chinese :D
One achievement I won't forget, after a year of service, I, confidently marched up to the University President (wearing a Peanuts shirt)
the day before I head back to Manila, without appointment! I gave him a mouthful (in a very respectable manner) on how he should open up his eyes in hiring talents not only from
specific countries but instead, search for good teachers who have the passion for teaching! Almost an hour of
debate and second-hand smoking! It was worth all the effort as I
received a plaque of appreciation from the University the next day and
best of all, the University started to hire Asian teachers! *yay!*
This shirt was my lucky charm! So don't laugh! :P
What does this long story had to do with Bobbi Brown's Pretty Powerful Campaign?
Lots! The Pretty Powerful campaign symbolizes Bobbi Brown's belief that
all women possess natural beauty. She wanted individuality and inner
beauty to shine through with the right kind of tools. In my case, I was
expected to dress up differently, I was advised by school authorities
not to blend in so much with the students because no one would respect
me if I look like a kid. With the same ideals as Bobbi Brown, I wanted
to embrace who I was almost 10 years ago, I was young then and I am
comfortable dressing up and putting on very minimal makeup! I don't
need to conform to the standard on how foreign teachers should look just
to fit in! The key is confidence, I am confident with my capability to
teach and be heard amidst my looks and age!
You can see 3 looks of ME in the photo below:
Pretty - natural me, no makeup at all!
Powerful - a darker makeup that hides the flaws and some contouring to give my face a bit of change and dimension.
Pretty Powerful - very natural look that's not far from the original look. The best feature (according to the hubby) which are my cheeks, are enhanced.
No Makeup to a Darker Makeup
This is a great attending a party or event
look. I think this is what other people want me to achieve.
Look older than my age and look professional. This look will definitely
separate me from the rest of the students, though it does not take that
long time for me to create this look way back, I personally do not feel
comfortable at the age of 23 to wear such make up.
No Makeup to Very Natural Makeup
This was the look I sported way back
because I think it's appropriate to my age. Plus the fact that I have a
busy teaching schedule, I go home late and I need to study for next
day's lesson! I have to wake up at 5:30am for a 7:00am class! Teaching
classes after classes for full 4 hours in the morning and another 3
hours in the afternoon, it is just right to sport such natural look
without me having to worry if my eyeliner or mascara are smudging on me
or my red lipstick stains my teeth!
It's a look I personally like because you
can still see the flaws, the laugh lines, the under eye circles, these are proofs how I did my part to be where I am today.
I've used the Pretty Palette to create looks above
Real women should celebrate real beauty!
Looking back, I am glad I embraced the real me! I may be really chubby
those years, but those were the times I felt the strongest! I worked
out five times a week, I played tennis, I do my own household chores, I
hiked, I biked, I accepted multiple teaching jobs! No one sees the
young, chubby-looking Nikki anymore, all they see is a strong woman who
survived homesickness and the harsh reality of life outside my comfort
zone! They have seen the Nikki - who may not have the teaching degree,
nationality and right age they were looking for, but a very effective
teacher who helped change lives! I, was a living proof
to them, that they, can also make a difference, in their own ways even once in their
lifetime!
That, for me, is Pretty Powerful!
How about you?
Do you consider yourself Pretty Powerful too?
