Behind-the-Wheel Test

I failed my three driving tests (in Arvin, Bakersfield and Arvin again) for I made critical mistakes. So I reapplied last thursday. I got no choice but took the test right away since I was at the DMV already. I passed it before without studying, so I believed that I will pass it again. I have been driving always around town and also the freeways (99, 178, 58). It is a practical test so for those who want to take it and know how to drive already, don't worry much. You'll pass it.

For the driving test, I think luck is needed for me. I always met challenges down the road that made me nervous and failed. Don't feel/show any nervousness cos it will really affect u. The instructor told me to get over my nervousness and needed to take the manual test again. I've been driving well with hubby, but it is really different when I am driving with somebody whom I don't know especially if he's checking on me... Well, If u fail, just don't worry.Try and try and you'll learn a lot of things along the way...If you fail, don't ever quit.

Don't commit the same 3 mistakes I committed:

1. not looking over the shoulder when pulling away from the curb
2. driving too slow ( i didn't see the speed limit sign and i was nervous, i remember the video on youtube that if there is no sign, just drive slow>>>I was overfed with information and was too cautious which I knew too well that I should not be)
3. too nervous that I wanted to finish the test right away and didn't let the pedestrian pass. I was at the 4-way stop signs. I was too unlucky cos that pedestrian was a lady pushing a stroller. She didn't make any eye contact with me but still she tried to cross. It was too late for me to let her pass cos I went ahead already. It was my fault :(

3 tests that I failed that was why I reapplied again. I am hoping to pass the 4th time I need my confidence back lol If i fail, then I will gladly take the test again. I hope you guys would learn from my mistakes... I knew about all these but still, during the test, I completely disregarded it... Hubby couldn't believe I failed again!

Holy Week Traditions and Beliefs

The Holy week is coming up and if I am in Philippines, I will be observing it well. Usually, we go to church for a vigil on the night when Christ is dead. That is Good Friday. My parents used to tell me to be careful because Christ is dead. If you get hurt like having wounds, it will take a long time to heal. We believed that and we were so behaved and scared. Maybe Mom told us that for us to be good. Cause for the Holy week, we need to reflect ourselves and ask forgiveness. We even forbid ourselves from doing the fun things for Christ is suffering and we need to at least give up something that we love to do for just a few days. Some people will give up meat, games, and delicious food. So when Good Friday comes, we only have Tabirak or benegnet for food, no meat. It is similar to porridge but with sweet potatoes, banana, coconut milk, jackfruit, corn flour and sugar. We also stay at home and avoid going anywhere. The streets are so quiet and there are only a few businesses which are opened. When Sunday comes, that is the day that we rejoice because it is the day that Christ has risen. People go to church early in the morning and join the people walking around the city proper with flowers in their hands. The flowers come from the bouquet prepared for Christ's rebulto (statue). Only a few can get it so sometimes it creates chaos because they are pushing each other just to get it. They say, the flowers are holy, it can be used to cure diseases if soaked in water and drink it. My Dad used to get some of those flowers and offered it to our altar. We only celebrate that and we don't have Easter Sunday (some do that). Oh I miss it!

Fave Eating Spots

It took me two years to be able to visit my favorite eating spots. A few days ago, my friends and I went to LA, CA just to visit the places that we used to go always in Philippines like Goldilocks, Chow King and Jollibee. W don't have these here in Bakersfield so when we had the chance to be closer to LA, we went there and enjoyed the food that we missed for so long. LA is almost a 2-hr drive from Bakersfield. We had a trip to Pasadena so we just drove a few more miles just to get to Eagle Rock Mall where these eating spots are located. I felt like I was in Phi. We'll be back again, hopefully soon.

"Jabe!"

The Divas in Concert!

Divas 4 Divas concert was performed by our talented and popular filipino artists namely Pops Fernandez (Concert Queen), Kuh Ledesma (Pop Diva), Zsa-Zsa Padilla (Divine Diva) and Regine Velasquez(Asia's Song Bird). They just had a show last night in Pasadena, CA and I, along with my friends who drove there, enjoyed it. A lot of filipinos came at the Pasadena Civic Center and the tickets were sold out ($58, $68, $78, $125). There were booths outside by the sponsors. We were even taken a picture by the GMA7 booth as if we were promoting GMA7. Their next stop is San Jose for their USA concert tour. So watch for them.

Regine singing "And I Love You So"

Opening Number

Last Number

St Patrick's Day

It is pinching day! Wait, did I hear it right?

My student just told me this morning that I'll be pinched. I didn't get it at first. Then he explained to me why. I realized that I was not wearing something green and that was the reason that I will get a pinch. Well, they can't do that. Then I took a clover sticker from the drawer and sticked it to my shirt. Here I got green!

Honestly, I didn't remember anything about pinching on St Patrick's Day. All I knew was that people will wear green and will have fun celebrating it in different places. I noticed that on this day, there are a lot of greens and hopefully, will be lucky to get greens (money) :)

Driving Test-First Try

At last, I did my driving test yesterday. It took me long to schedule my testing date. I just scheduled it last week and I got lucky to have a closer behind-the-wheel test date. I was not that sure to take the test since I didn't have much time to practice. I only drive mostly in the evening and not every day. Only when I was in the office and when I was with my husband. Still, I encouraged myself to go ahead and take the test. Just like what I suspected, too much confidence will cause me a few mistakes. Unfortunately, I failed my first test. I still have 2 more tries. I took the test in Arvin, CA. I liked it there, fewer cars and not too busy. At that time, there were a lot of students coming out from the school so it was a challenge for me. I thought I did good. I had only a few mistakes but it was critical. She made a comment about not making a signal, checking the mirror and looking over the shoulder when pulling from the curb. I totally lost that I didn't do it. I was a bit nervous, maybe that was why. I was confident at first but nervousness struck me. I thought maybe that was OK since I was parking on the curb and ready to turn right any moment. But still, it is an SOP to let the people behind and in front of you to know where you are heading and for safety purposes. My bad... Better luck next time then and at least I know where I did wrong and what to do next.

Hail in Bakersfield, CA

This is my first hail experience in my 2-yr stay here in Bakersfield, CA. I thought it was snow because that was hubby told me when he called. At that time, it was snowing already in Taft and Derby Acres, a 45-minute drive from Bakersfield. I was so excited when I heard about it because I haven't experienced snow yet. They say that snow comes in Bakersfield once in a decade and it has been 10 years already when it snowed last time. So when hail came, I was amazed. As if someone was throwing stones of ice at me. It was smaller though compared to the bigger ones I saw on videos which are scary. You'll get hurt if you are hit. I touched it and felt it in my hand. It was oily and slippery. Then hubby said, it was because we are in Oildale area :) I guess, he was just kidding.