"I hope we find you a job once you're here..."

That was my employer the last time we talked. The one who's helped me process my H1B petition.

Uhhmm.. so... it's confirmed. I have no sure task yet when I get there. See? I never asked! I never ask.

"What's the package? What's their offer?" JS had asked me one time. I know he wanted to know how I'd survive there. He's been my mentor and knows me too well. ME-- not the careless but the carefree ME. Nothing seems to bother me.

"I don't know. I haven't asked about that," I said laughing. I never bother to ask anything about my job offer there. All I know is that I will be going there to work for three years with a title, program/analyst on my petition.

"If given a chance, I would even choose NOT to work in I.T., eh." I told someone one time.

"Did you know that one of the top-paying jobs here in the U.S. is in I.T..?", one of my surrogate tatay said to me when he said that when I get there we'd go to Vegas and he'd pay for my fare but then I had to pay him back when I get a good-paying job. Of course.

But I'd like to start small and pave my way up. Do the things that I would really enjoy doing. You know, like staying at home, writing, cleaning the house maybe, preparing a meal, doing the laundry, etc..

Alright, who am I kidding? I never cleaned a house and never had any chance to prepare a full meal nor do anyone's laundry when someone does everything for me here in the Philippines. Altho' I honestly like to do those stuff-- at least when I don't really have a demanding job or a busy lifestyle.

"Kuya, can I just stay in your place, take care of your daughter and clean your house? Can I just be your katulong so I wouldn't have to do programming job?" it was a joke half-meant. I know my brother would be kind enough to take me in but he's thinking about the contract that I have with my employer.

Well... nagbabakasakali lang naman ako baka makalusot. *hehehe*

But you see, I earn as much as $50 a month now from doing little tasks each week. Do the math if you are residing in the Philippines. Then sometimes one of the sites that I am maintaining would give me my monthly retainer's fee of at least $45 (altho' most of the time they forget about that deal eh).

I am not saying that I will stop from there nor I am saying that I will be contented with that little amount that I could get regularly from working at home. What? With my lifestyle and my dream of that balikbayan box? I don't think so. But what I'd like to know is that if I earn $50/month and refrain from going out if I don't need to go out in the U.S., will I survive at least for a time-being, at least until I get a decent corporate job there? Then I'd be out hunting for my own apartment when I'm ready. I'll make it soon of course.

Then JS says, "No. You should start saving your dollars now."

I hear yah!

I am set for an interview with a consul at the US Embassy on July 9, at 9:30am (prayer warriors here we go again).

For the cost of $10, VisaPoint made it easy for me (usual way would be calling 1-909-101-7878 in the old times). Thanks to JS for doing the research for me. *hehehe*

We were sitting at the office one time, talking about my future activities. He learned that I just go with the flow. What procedure I get, I follow. After paying for my visa application form in BPI, I was lost. I didn't know what to do next. No one has informed me what number to call to have my interview booked. I wasn't worried tho', I know I'll get it somewhere and in time.

I was right not to worry.

I have no internet connection in the office so JS googled it for me and we were brought to this site . A great help for those who doesn't have a PLDT line (mine is Globe) and for those who have a toxic schedule (well, yeah, like me!) because it is a 24/7 service. All I needed was my MasterCard for the $10-fee and viola! We have something to prepare for and look forward to again!

I was the one who opted for that date. My employer said I should get the earliest possible sched. I chose that date because my contract with my current job ends on the 8th. 9th is a Wednesday, it'll be badminton night. If my contract will be renewed (I hope at least for another month to keep me busy), I could at least take a leave from the office for the interview and in the afternoon proceed to meet my friends for badminton. It should be a fun day, I thought. *hehe... yup! those were my considerations.*

So there, I have until the 3rd of July to edit my information on VisaPoint. But for now, I am scheduled for interview on the 9th of July and a package from my employer should arrive before that. *tik-tak*

I have another question tho'... If I have to work abroad for 3 years and my passport will expire in 2010, how's that? Can I take a vacation in 2010?

Okay... I am fast-forwarding. Stop the clock!