As this weekend preempts to finally fold, I am reminded of the weekends in the past 2 months that seemed to be no different from the complementary weekdays. For a bum like me, I did not plan my activities with the ceremonious grip of the days of the week. And while I could discuss to you the relationship between unemployment and inflation, I have realized I could not even remember the term for that economic hullabaloo. So I gather I might as well write about the tides, the flowers, the dews and the clouds and the things that made my almost 2 months of bumming experience as explosive as Boy Abunda's shocking, nonsensical revelations on The Buzz--he looks like a yellow bee, doesn't he?
I'm now rolling out 7 ways how I got through being a bum without breaking a spine, hopes, dreams and my own sanity.
1. Acknowledge you are a bum.
I have told myself long before that I would take a vacation after my bond ends with my first employer. Having this in mind, I had no pride left acknowledging that I was going to join the brood of the unemployed.
2. Spend a great time with family.
Back in college in the dorm, I would cry over a cheesy Globe family-oriented commercial on TV. My grandfather died within my bumming period, and relationships strengthened during this time were enormous in value. Needless to say, staying with my immediate family in our humble house was reminiscent of the many years I spent there mostly as a student. It was also great getting into petty fights with my younger brother; this time though, I could only reign supreme in intellectual bouts--he's grown too much I couldn't even win a pillow fight.
3. Adventure, and be fit.
I am fortunate to have high school classmates who are based in Davao City, and you can't be a hard-core Davaoeno if you haven't explored the wonders of a neighbouring island that bears the fancy name of Island Garden City of Samal. So thanks to all my friends who had me floating in deep sea without a life jacket, only because the boat we rented didn't have enough life jackets for everyone! Also, I don't have a good pair of engineered running shoes but this didn't stop me from running regularly around UP and Quezon City Circle. I will join my first marathon in August.
4. Learn new skills.
I packed not only clothes but also books. Among the books I brought with me was the Speedreading Book by Tony Buzan. It was amazing how I could improve my reading skills a dozen notch faster by learning techniques I wished I learned before. This was helpful when I read broadsheets from front to back, including obituaries. I also took driving lessons in the College of Trades and Industries at USM, and it was interesting to learn that my driving teacher was the former boyfriend of my Earth Science teacher in first year high school.
5. Watch and compare films from accross the globe.
I cannot help but blame Charo Santos or Mother Lily for the grossly pathetic films they have been showing at our local theaters. I've watched more than a dozen films during my bumming days-- German, Latin, Asian, Arabic, American--and they all displayed greatness in story and technicality. I won't believe money was an object because I've seen Palestinian films that are just as relevant as the events that surround their territory. I do not want to generalize, but I can't help it.
6. Be a cultured, educated bum.
I would like to sound just as cultured and educated for this segment.
It was with the highest regard of intellect and the deepest respect for the culture and the arts that I took utmost preponderance in immersing into intellectual discourse among my highly intellectual housemates--you know who you are, and you know how hilariously pretentious the entire household can become, and into paying a visit to Imelda's Cultural Center of the Philippines to watch never-before-staged plays with Bembol Roco surprisingly stealing all the accolades in a play about chicken gall bladder and gizzards.
After reading that previous paragraph, you may already have the idea that it was such a stretch it could have been pushed, and was an outright ostentatious display of wit one can rightfully call a hubbub.
7. Be thankful you are a bum.
I am thankful to the Lord for this great experience. It was an experience I may not ever have the chance to exeperience again until my bones turn brittle in retirement. I asked for it, and He has given it to me just when I needed it. Surely, there were days when I was hoping it would end soon because I was already running out of funds, but He ended it in a manner that it was packaged in a birthday gift I won't ever forget. I started with my new job last July 12, the same day I turned 25.
You may ask why 7? Of course, I can give you more! But in the rich tradition of 7nish, I will leave it just that.
One more--and I wont count this as 8th--be sure to make a commitment to end your days of being a bum. You do not want to see yourself explode, or rot, or ferment and turn sour.
