Charged To Experience

Yesterday, I went to Pantip Plaza to have my new HP notebook's battery replaced because it wasn't charging at all. If my notebook is not covered by the warranty, then it will be too expensive to buy a new one. They said it would cost me around 5,000 baht just for that thing. It was like half the price of my notebook when I bought it.

Going to Pantip Plaza from Ramkamhaeng 150 will take you two hours because of the traffic jam. It was ridiculous indeed as I stayed for only 10 short minutes to talk with them regarding my two concerns. However, the travel time was 4 long hours, back and forth. My two main reasons were: 1.) to complain about the VAT refund for tourists, which I wasn't able to claim because of their *BS* tricks. and 2.) to ask for a battery replacement.

First, when I went to the 3rd floor of the CSC Electronics store. I brought my passport and the official receipt with me so they could validate my identity and the notebook that I bought from their store last December 22, 2010. I asserted that my notebook was under warranty and they told me to go to the 4th floor (the store's service center).

While I was on the 4th floor, I also complained that I haven't got my VAT refund for a tourist last time that I went to the Philippines because they (the store) didn't give me a yellow form when I asked and they said that I should get it at the airport. Duh~! I told them that I went to the airport and explained to them the same but they were saying that the store was not listed as "accredited" to distribute the yellow form.

The staff/technician who speaks English asked me if I know the person who told me that, of course, I didn't know her personally but I remember her face. He said, he would try his best to help. He left for 3 minutes and then when he came back he told me that I wouldn't be able to get my refund because the receipt was addressed in Thailand where I am staying and it was almost 3 months when I bought it, so there's no other possible way that I could get it refunded. I thanked him for his effort in explaining it to me. But then, again... it's a charge to experience.

Moreover, he accompanied me to the 3rd floor of HP's Authorized Service Center and he turned me over to the staff in charge. In fairness, they were so accommodating and friendly. They found out that my battery was not charging. Since it is still under warranty (less than three months old), they will provide the replacement at their expense. My HP notebook is under one year warranty and it is really a good help. But, I wish for the best.

They said that they will get my notebook because they need to replace the battery. But, I told them how can I use my notebook if they'll get it from me. They smiled and said, "Oh okay~ so you're using your notebook every day! No problem, we will just take off the battery so you could still be able to use your notebook while waiting for the replacement".

Finally, they told me that I will call them or they will call me after 3 working days, to know if they have the new battery for me. I gave them my mobile number, passport details, email address, and home address. They asked me to sign the incident report before I left. They gave me a copy of it, which I will show when I claim the replacement.

Important Tips During A Family Interview @ The US Embassy Applying for Newborn Passport

This image is not mine, photo credit from www.rd.com/Google images

My hubby said that personal appearance is very, very important for applying for a US passport/Citizenship. We weren't aware of the questions that they might ask. I was a little nervous because it was my first time being interviewed at the US Embassy in my whole life. But I pretended to be calm so that everything will be okay (somehow).

When we were called, my hubby handed the forms along with our passports. The one in charge told us to go to the "privacy room" where nobody could see or hear what we were discussing.

The Family interview has two parts:

1. Questions about the validity of the documents, the officer in charge scanned our documents if they were completely and correctly filled out. It also mentioned about the process of getting the Certificate of Live Birth Abroad, Social Security Number, and Passport.

2. Questions about personal like:

*When, where, and how did you meet? (This question is included probably because of child trafficking and mail-order bride, the US government would like to make sure that I am not selling my baby for illegal adoption or probably things beyond my imagination.)

*Tell me something about your relationship. (I already gathered some pictures of us together as a couple, like the first time we met and our love letters from email and registered mail when my hub was still writing me. Good thing, I am a very sentimental person. I gathered all his letters and pictures as proof that we have a relationship.)

The following questions were too personal.

*Are you married? If not, then why not? Are you planning to get married? Do you have previous marriages? 

*How long have you been together? How many years have you been together, before you got pregnant? When and in which country did you get pregnant? 

*How many children do you have?

*Do you have plans on going home to the US, just in case? Are you going to bring your newborn? When and where? Are you going to take your wife, too?

*Do you wish to apply for your wife's visa, in the future. if ever? What is her educational attainment?

*Do you work? What is your job in Thailand?

I hope these questions help you with your family interview. These are some of the questions that they might ask you when you apply for a newborn US passport. They would even check the pictures of the newborn and the parents. If the baby does not look like his/her mom and/or dad, they might ask for DNA through a saliva sample.

For more information about US Visas and Passports please visit - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html/

Happy Anniversary To My JTH Blog

Whoa! I didn't realize that this month is my Journey To Haven blog's 1st anniversary. Not so much active last April-August because I had so many activities during those times.

I have 43 posts (including this) here in JTH. I've also created 4 other blogs in the same account, in the same year. I have another confidential blog but it was created this year.

Wow! not bad, after all! I've made it somehow. I wish to write more blogs that will be interesting to the public and will enhance my networking skills to increase traffic. Most importantly, I wish that I would be able to inspire, help, uplift someone's spirit, and entertain while reading my blog. Happy 1st Blogging Anniversary!

Misa De Gallo in Bangkok (Day 3)

Third day of my "nine mornings", I was awaken at 5:00 in the morning. Yeah, five o'clock and the mass will be at 5:30. I was afraid to be late again, so I hurriedly went to the toilet to wash my face and brush my teeth. I checked on my baby and she pooped her diaper. I changed her quickly and I hurriedly dressed up without taking a bath (ewww!). I was almost running to church. I was a little late again, but not so bad.

When I was sitting there, at the back row seat, I heard a guy (or gay?) who was talking to his seatmate (woman). He was saying something in "bisaya" (dialect in the Philippines) and I understood what he said. Heard him saying, "I couldn't be able to attend a holy mass without taking a bath". I looked at him and he was smiling at me (pretending that he did not say something bad). I was so surprised that he is my neighbor. I smiled back and focused myself on the mass. I looked around and I found out that I was the only person who did not take a bath (yikes hahaha).

I just thought, why this kind of people would even think that way going to Church. Well, I just don't care about what he thinks of me because first of all, I was there to attend a mass and not to criticize people about how they look or if they take a bath. I consider it too petty, so shallow to think about. If I take a shower before going to church at that time, obviously.. I will miss my day 3 of my novena. But because I love to complete the nine days, I went on.

On the hand, It's my fault, I woke up late. Instead of getting angry or annoyed by his unpleasing comment on me, I just take it positively. At some point, he is right. Why would I go to church without taking a shower? I know that I should look more presentable in the eyes of God by taking a bath, by dressing up neatly and properly. We have to treat God as if we are on a DATE. It's like we are dating a very, very, very important person... THE LORD.

I feel partly guilty by that. If I don't like being criticize by my neighbor, I should have not gone to church without taking a shower and I should have not woke up late so I was able to take a shower and I should have not sleep late so I woke up early... Regrets? NO! I don't have to take it as regret, but it will be a MAJOR LESSON to me.

Come to think more about it, what's even worst is that our outward appearance is ready, but not our soul, mind and heart. When we go to church we have to focus on our purpose why we are attending the holy mass. This is another subject to blog about and I will write about this next time.

Deep in our hearts, we know how sincere we are when we pray. We may be deceiving ourselves but not God. He knows well our faith, he knows well our mind, our sins, our prayers and EVERYTHING about us.

A friend of mine quoted, "Our religion is what we do when the sermon/mass is over". Moreover, we define our faith and religion by what we think, say, do. That is before, during and after our prayers.

Misa De Gallo in Bangkok (Day 1)

Literally, Misa de Gallo means "rooster's mass" in Spanish. We call it "simbang gabi" in Filipino which means "evening/night worship, nine-day dawn masses, or the nine days". It is a very important Christmas tradition in the Philippines. 16th of December is the start of nine-day mass.

The schedule of English mass here at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish Church in Soi 184 Rhumkamhaeng, Minburi, Bangkok is at 5:30-6:00 am only. The holy mass should take an hour, but because the Church has made some considerations to those people who are going to work and school. Our Reverend Father Leo Travis, C.Ss.R. There is a free breakfast after the mass.

I have attended the first time with my family, today. I was surprised that my hubby attended with me, since, he was telling me that he has no religion (in my knowledge and was stated in his profile online).

We were trying to come early but were late for 3 minutes. When we were inside the church, I noticed that there were only 20 people more or less in the church and that included us. The 30 minutes mass was solemn for me, my mind was relaxed and I was able to pray wholeheartedly.

When the church choir sang, the Christmas song "Silent Night", I had goosebumps and I felt very sad because I remember my family and relatives in the Philippines. I missed the way we celebrate Christmas at home.

While we were all singing the song, I heard his sad voice. I glanced at him, I saw him almost crying but he was holding on to his tears... I could feel his sadness, he hasn't been home for long four years! He could only phone his mom and dad in the US. The tears finally fell from his eyes, he immediately wiped them so that nobody would noticed (even me). But, in the corner of my eye I witnessed how emotional he was. I pretended that I didn't know.

The mass had ended by singing a famous Filipino Christmas song "Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit". I miss singing this song very much. When I was a kid, I was always singing this on Christmas caroling.

We were invited to have breakfast with other attendees. My husband refused to eat because he was in a hurry to work. I kissed him goodbye. I was so glad that I could be able to motivate him to go to Church without even arguing or asking him.

Our baby and I was left at the church chitchatting with fellow Filipinos while having breakfast. I made a hot coffee and grabbed two pieces of chiffon cake. I had fun not only because we had some pictorials. But most of all, I had fun because I had attended the day one of nine-day dawn masses, with my family.