If I were a rich man (Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum)

If I were a rich man,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy man.
I wouldn't have to work hard.
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Yidle-diddle-didle-didle man.

-- Tevye, singing If I were a rich man in Fiddler on the Roof

***
I have two jobs right now here in Auckland. One is as a Marketing and Communications specialist, which is my 8AM-5PM, bread-and-butter job(It's also a job I need to keep to get my residency). The other is an ushering job for three of the best performing arts venues in New Zealand: the Aotea Center, the Auckland Town Hall, and The Civic.

Yes, ushering, as in showing people in the theatre and seating them. Minsan we also keep the place quiet, like asking people to turn-off phones or not take photos. I love my ushering job, since I get to watch concerts and theatre for free (and I even get paid NZ$12.30 an hour!). It's also a good first job if you're new in New Zealand, since the schedule is flexible (you are asked to work only when you are free, so you can still look for other jobs), and you get a lot of practice talking to the locals.

I never did two regular jobs in Manila since, personally, it wasn't worth it. Here my second job can pay for my weekly rent and groceries(around a hundred). This makes my real job/pay my savings. Cool eh?

In the past weeks, I've ushered the Auckland Symphony Orchestra, The NZ Philharmonic, local and international singers (one of whom reminded me of Martin Nievera), George Benson's farewell tour, and locally produced musicals. Tonight I was rostered to work Fiddler on the Roof, and I'm excited to see it. I heard it starred the original London cast, including Chaim Topol...

Well, to tell you the truth, ma! (That's short for malay ko! Hehehe). I have no idea what the story is about, nor do I know who this Topol is. Apart from hearing that its a good show, I'm totally clueless. They even say I should recognize some of the songs.

Here's also a link to Fiddler in Wikipedia, I should see it before I go tonight.

Welcome back to the light

Hello... Remember me?

So, after a long break, I've finally found time to write again. It's Sunday, 6:38AM here, probably 3-4Am in Manila(?), and its the only time in my week that's not... psychedelic, to say the least. Then again, that's probably not the right word.

Jaded?

Maybe. I'll explain why soon. In the meantime, some updates [enter telegram SFX, dit-didit-didit-tooooootttt....]:

- I left Manila and arrived February 21, 2007, so that about 3 Months here in Auckland
- I have a job, doing PR for a wonderfull Trust organization (I am now qualified to file residency, yipeee!!)
- Tomorrow I'll try to loose that wonderful job (not as wonderful as I first thought). I just accepted a new offer and hopefully I start in a week. I'm not being picky or maarte... Basta...). So now I have to wait 1 paycheck till I file residency(Argh!).
- I have another job, working as an usher for The Edge, which I absolutely love since I get to watch free shows (Theatre, orchestras, opera and other performance arts).
- I live in a small apartment building(emphasis on the “small”), at the corner of Queen Street. That's just like living in Manhattan, with the volume turned down.
- I have flat mates. And I consider them more as flat mates than friends (Yet again, to be explained again soon... or not.).
- We pay NZ$75 each for rent a week, and my weekly expense is around NZ$200 ($1=P33). I can get by fine, but hasn’t been always the case.
- I just found out that I hate "makukulit na tao", so I won't be makulit anymore (yes, expect a long, ranting post on this soon)
- I'm thinner (I can hear "yeah right!" all around-- Aw shut-up!).
- The music playing in my head: The acoustic version of Mr. Brightside by The Killers. More of the rhythm than the lyrics though.
- Current mood: Happy, but not content.

I really don't know how to put in words all that has happened since I first arrived. There's so many, and I'm so new.

So, more to come from the new and improved new Tuny's Fishbowl.

Sweet-azz!