A dream vacation in Tagaytay, a time away from the stresses of thesis-writing and the monotonous life of a student, an opportunity to go soul-searching and a chance to be independent—I couldn’t be any more excited to go on a 3-day camp in Tagaytay. I didn’t really feel pressured to study and review Obstetrics, Nutrition and all just to save the face of my alma mater. Heck, I just wanted the time away. And I’m quite lucky to be one of the few chosen ones to go that trip.
July 1, 2010. 6:00 pm we already had to board the bus to Manila but a few hours before, I was caught running to and fro the premises of the school trying to smoothen out the huge heap of tasks I’ll be leaving behind and settling an anomaly with our travel order. For one thing, the administration kept on confusing us for another pair of students also going to Tagaytay for the same reason. We thought they were from another campus. For the biggest joke of all, our travel order contained the name of my mother instead of mine. No wonder she was more excited to go the trip. Another issue I have to clear out was the photo shoot for our Fashion Show ’10 that was scheduled July 2. I won’t be around that time to facilitate things so I had to clear the activity out with everybody. I also had to enumerate certain responsibilities to my fellow officers of Women’s club: our re-accreditation, foundation day t-shirt, fee collection, etc... Finally, I had to secure an excuse letter to our level coordinator for my supposed absence for concepts on Friday and 1st day of duty on Monday. Leaving Albay in a totally slovenly shape did not concern me as much as telling my mom we would be escorted by a professor who didn’t really exist. I’m such a liar. Sorry Mom.
The dread of riding the bus and suffering from insomnia and hypothermia along the trip haunted me. Plus the thought of going to a crazy massive place I’m faintly familiar with annoyed me. This is what I wanted. I’m in it already and there’s no holding back. Although, in the back of my mind still lies a tiny speck of anxiety despite my huge craving for independence.
So there I was merely freezing and slowly becoming another fossil from the Ice Age, my butt drained of blood, my feet numb, my mind hazy and everything about me was wrong. Finally, like a long time prisoner receiving parole, the bus stopped at the Cubao terminal. I could barely walk and move my hands but I was darn thankful that at long last, the bus-size refrigerator has released me.
