first two weeks of work

My work is more complicated than I thought: my “colleagues” are all over the world; I do my work at the International Rice Research Institute, but I’m not an IRRI employee; I’m required to fly to other countries soon and I am not required to stay in the office.

It’s as if somebody saw my Job Wish List and gave it to me when least expected. I must’ve done something divine to humanity.

Of course, as good as it sounds, the work entails hardships. But I call it ‘good stress.’ The level of effort demanded of my skills and expertise builds me up, professionally, intellectually and emotionally. Living in Los Banos for two weeks has been doing me good as I wake up every morning to the sight of majestic Makiling, and eat breakfast in front of green fields, and walk to the office full of interesting and kind people, and walk back to my room at the guest residences to watch cable TV after a long warm shower.