My first month in the Philippines

1 month already. Country with 90 mil people and 7000 + islands became my home for 1 year. As a intern in company called Headway I started 1st of September 2008.

How it is to be thousands miles away from home.
I did not want to go...September, the best month to hang out with friends, wine period, still sunny...why am I leaving actually? What am I missing here, why do I not stay, just find some nice job in Slovakia/Czech Republic, be with people I already know and understand.
...I know I would miss this experience in 10 years from now. Being 1 year = 12 months = 52 weeks away in totally different culture, destination, having first real job after graduation before I decide to settle down and decide what to do with my life. THIS 1 YEAR I would miss later.
So with these reasons I do not miss home so much now (will see in some months:)). I just know I will come back.

WHY Asia, Philippines, Headway, 1 year.
> Asia - who are those people living there? I just wanted to get to know way of life of Asian guys.
>Philippines - randomly - now I see it was the best decision. Religion means a lot for living standards, habits, way of life. (Only Christian country in Asia I think.)
>Headway - company with perspective with good references from interns there, interesting job description and selection process.
>1 year - when internship then long enough to experience yourself, company, country, people.

My first month
Company
Headway Business Services, consultancy company. My position: Consultant. After 1st week of induction planning weekend happened. First responsibilities for me came as well. My first role was to create feasibility study and business plan for opening a new restaurant. DDL in 2 weeks.
Well, my first thoughts: What does it mean to open a restaurant? Which type of restaurant? What Philippines` people eat? How to price the menu? What are legal needs to be fulfilled? How many people should I hire? How to write a business plan?!?...well, my boss just told me: "In 2 weeks I would like to hear from you YES or NO for the restaurant according to cash-flow, ROI, BEP...Hm. It seems I managed and restaurant will probably open soon. (I hope till that time I will be back home so nobody could blame me if I screwed it:))....now next even more challenging tasks are coming. I LOVE IT, so far MY COMPANY rocks!! Young but smart people, everyday development, nice atmosphere, space for your personality and big responsibility you were given.

Living.
Manila, Makati City, Kingswood towers, 17th floor, own room and almost own bathroom. 2 other interns in the flat. Swimming pool at the ground floor, McDonald`s, KFC and Chowking around. 10 minutes by jeepney ride to work. (Jeepney - "minibus").

My usual day.

6:40 wake up. Swim for 40 minutes. Take a jeepney to work. Breakfast at work. Work, ad hoc meeting, lunch, work, merienda (snack), work, dinner, work. Back home at 8 pm. Having beer/watching movie/playing chess/speaking with friends back home.

Exploring country and culture.

• Visiting great waterfalls.
• Flying to Negros- place with black send and Apo Island - adventurous trip in small boat trough the sea with heavy rain.
• Watching sunset at Manila Bay.
• Having beer every Friday after work.
• Singing karaoke.
• Attending birthday party of rocky Filipino twins.
• Buying peanuts from small poor children, having fresh mango juice on the street.
• Eating Balut - kind of egg - almost duck.
• Standing in line for train. Doing Filipino usual Sunday activity "to mall".
• Being seen as a white girl which will be greeted "Welcome to the Philippines" even after 15 years of staying here.
• Buying so cheap clothes and shoes.
• Having "small German" inside and not understand of the "filipino manana culture" - coming 20 min late for the meeting and do not apologize (and I was said I was lucky just with 20 min)

This is my experience so far. Let`s see what 2nd month of my "being on your own for 1 year in foreign country" will bring...