Getting your drivers license (Tips for dependent like me)

I got so scared in getting my driver's license that I have postponed it so many times.  Last Saturday, I finally took it and I passed!  What a breath of fresh air.  But it's not yet a happy ending for me as I was not able to get my license on the same day because it was already past 1 o'clock when they have done validating my permit after I took and passed the exam. What a bummer!  Now it's Monday but we are unable to get out because it's snowing.  

Anyway, here are some tips for first time takers of NJ Drivers License Exam:

• Be sure to read the NJ Driver Manual.  It's in PDF form but if you would like to get the handbook, go to the nearest MVC office and get a copy.  And yes, it's free.
• Try several tests online.  Here are some of the links that in my opinion, are helpful:
• Driving Test.org - They have several practice test.  They also give hints and answers too after you click on the answer.
• Accurate driving school - Their website will give you an online test and most of the questions there are in the exam.  But be sure to read thoroughly.
• Spicer's Driving School - It's basically the same as the 2 websites mentioned.  Whenever you hit retake, it will give you another set of questions.
• Read alot about the drinking and driving, the penalties, and %BAC allowable and what is illegal (Chapter 6)
• Parking, Defensive driving, Fines (Chapter 7)
• GDL, Special Permits, Basic Drivers License (Chapter 1)
• Cellular Phone Usage, Blind spots, Solid and Broken Lines
• Be early in the testing area.  My husband and I went there around 830 am last Saturday and there are already a lot of people who were falling in line in the Receptionist area to get their priority numbers.  (Note:  Bayonne Office is small and cramp; I may say, it's not that organized. )
• Be sure to have all your documents ready before going there or you'll just waste your time.  Since we are not Citizens and I am in dependent status, you may need to have the following:
• Fill out an application form.  If you have a driver's license in your country be sure to show it.
• Passport (with valid I-94); bring your I-797 (Notice of Action) Approval Notice if you have applied for extension.
• Bring your husband's valid I-94 too.  Since this is your first time to get a license, you will need to have your husband with you in every step (except if you are taking the eye test and exam).
• A letter from Social Security stating that you are unable to get a social security number as you are a dependent and not legible to have one.
• Bring your debit card and your insurance card
• Also bring your checking or savings account from the bank or print it if you have a paperless statement of account.
• For additional information, please refer to the 6 point of ID
• When you'll have the examination, make sure that your cellphones are kept.  If they will see you texting or holding a book, they can forfeit your exam.
• You will have your own testing station and the monitor is a touch screen type.  Make sure to read the questions carefully before answering.  You also have an option to use the headset and hear the questions.
• If you are unsure, you may skip and proceed to the next question.  Remember you need to get 80% to pass the exam.  When you have 40 points correct out of 50 question, the screen will stop giving you questions and you may now have your permit validated and get your license.  :)
• Just enjoy the process.  Don't be too nervous and excited as you'll not be able to think straight.
• Happy Driving!

A new year ahead of us

I must say 2014 is a promising year.  Hopefully it will be as good as last year.  There were so many blessings.  I can really feel the love from our families and friends.  There were new members added in our family -- my nephew Jamie (hopefully this year, it will be a little angel for us).  

I will seize the day!  I may never get the chance to embark on this adventure again.....  I'll be riding this roller coaster of life!  And to kick off, I'll share this Bucket List (from liveexploreclick.com) to all of you guys.  This got me to thinking that I had forgotten how to take beautiful things around me.  I'll surely post what I have taken here in the blog and will sure tick all in this list.  Hey!  I have the whole year ahead of me!

On relationships and crowns

Is it really fair to have a beauty queen being a partner of a lead singer of a famous band? And should we judge one if she breaks up with a commoner? Do we have a right to say she's a flirt or she's unfair?

I can't believe how people are judgemental. Just because Janine Togonon broke up with Jaypee, people made it clear to them that they have a say. For real?!? Funny how people can comment on how flirt she is, how she hurt the guy.. Ca she just say, I quit this is enough! People make some choices in life and to some this is their basis to be happy.

Pondering on this, I,too think that way- to friends, to family even to my husband. Sometimes we think we know it all, though we never take their emotions jnto an account. I tend to be judgemental and never even thought of knowing the real score... I guess, sometimes they tell me their delimma is not because they need my opinion, they just need someone to listen to them or --- accept them.

Pananaw ng isang iskolar ng bayan

Dahil ba sa walang pangmatrikula kaya nagpakamatay? Diba puwedeng LOA muna? Kailangan ba full load at Php 16000 ang babayaran sa isang semestre? Di ba pedeng kalahati lng muna? Kung iisipin natin napakaliit na halaga na para humantong sa kamatayan. Diko lubos maisip kung bakit ito agad ang solusyon. Nababagabag ako at diko malaman ano ang aking mararamdaman...ako ba ay maaawa o mayayamot. Sino ba ang aking sisisihin?

UP naming mahal
Pamantasang hirang
Ang himig namin
Sanay inyong dinggin
Malayong lupain aming man marating
Di rin magbabago ang damdamin

Ang institiusyo ba?
Oo, para sakin isang state university ang UP bakit pagkamahal mahal ng matrikula? Mahirap man ikumpara sa aking nakagisnan noon pero nung isang libo ang binabayaran ng mga kaibigan kong Atenista, mahigit tatlong daan lang ang aking binabayad sa bawat unit ng aking semestre...ang pinakamalaking nabayaran ko at full load nako noon ay mahigit walong libo lamang. Di hamak na mababa kung ikukumpara sa binabayaran ng mga isko't iska ngayon. Pinilit namin itong tutulan noon pero naipasa parin ito sa panahon ni GMA. Kung ating pagnilaynilayan, ang laki ng endowment para sa subsidiya sa UP system...saan na ito napunta? Sa bulsa? Ooops, wala akong pruweba kaya't magkikibit balikat na lamang ako.

Ang estudyante ba?
Masasabi kong mahina ang loob ng batang ito. Isa lamang sa milyon milyong pagdadaanan pang problema pa sana ng batang ito. Sa UP, mas marami pang kakaibang problema tatahakin ng bawat isko't iska. Anjan na ang homesick, ito ay kadalasan nararanasan ng mga malalayo at ngayon lamang mawawalay sa magulang. Ang bumagsak at mabigyan ng 5.0 sa class card, ito ang isang problemang kay hirap lusutan lalo na kung mauuna itong matatanggap ng magulang kesa sa marinig ang iyong paliwanag. Ang makick out ka sa UP system dahil 75% ng kabuuan mong units ay nabagsak mo at nagpapareadmit ka sa president ng UP SYSTEM. Ang pecha de peligro dahil wala pang padala galing sa probinsya. Ang mapalo ng isang miyembro sa sinasalihang org dahil di mo namemorize ang preamble. Ang pagautomatic drop sa iyo ng terror mong titser dahil me 7 late ka sunod sunod dahil 7am ang pasok mo at lagi kang nasasarhan ng pinto. Ang di matapos tapos mong thesis at ang pressure na nararamdaman mo dahil lahat na ng kabatch mo at mga roommate mo ay graduating na at ikaw ay nagpapangalawang tanim ka ng phalaenopsis kase nangamatay lahat ng controlled specimen mo. Ang mabuntis ng di inaasahan at nasa 2nd year ka pa lamang at ang masaklap ay di mo kayang sabihin sa magulang mo at pito pa ang iyong maliliit na kapatid. Ilan lamang yan sa nakakapressure at mga problemang nahaharap ng simpleng iskolar ng bayan. Pero ang pera....di sapat para maging batayan na kailangan mo ng sumuko. Para sa akin, napakamakasarili ng isang tao na para magpatiwakal. Hiram lng natin sa Diyos ang buhay natin. Isa pa papaano ang mga taong maiiwan mo at mga kapatid na umaasang maiaahon mo sa kahirapan kapag ika'y nakatapos.

Ang mga magulang ba?
Kay rami kong kaibigan na ang mga magulang ay nagdodoble kayod para lamang makapag aral ang mga anak nila at makapagtapos. Isa na din ako doon. Hindi kami mayaman ngunit iginapang ako ng aking ama upang makapag aral sa UP. Ang isang papel ng isang magulang sa buhay ng anak ay napakalaki at napakaimportante. Sila ang huhubog kung anong klaseng tao ito pag laki. Kay hirap man sabihin pero hindi naovercome ng bata ang takot, na kung iisipin natin di nahubog ng magulang ang katatagan ng bata na humantong sa pagpapakamatay. Naniniwala ako na ang unang mga guro ng bata ay ang magulang. Kung tuturuan mo ang bata ng pagseselos lalaki syang inggitera. Pagituturo mo sa bata ang kahihiyan, matutuo ang bata makaramdam ng guilt. Kung lagi mong tinuturuan ang bata ng encouragement,lalaki syang may tiwala sa sarili. Kung tuturuan mo ang bata ng pagtanggap lalaki syang mapagmahal. Ang dami pa sanang bagay na dapat naituro ang mga magulang nya na para lumaking matapang at kayang makipagsabayang sa hamon ng buhay.

Luntian at pula
Sagisag magpakalaim man.
Ating pagdiwang bulwagan ng dangal
Humayot itanghal giting at tapang.
Mabuhay ang pag asa ng bayan!


ISKOLAR NG BAYAN---NGAYON AY LUMALABAN!!!

Academic Excellence

One of my friend's post for today is about a certain speech delivered in UP Diliman Hall from a DLSU College of Engineering.  It was "The" Summa Cum Laude Speech.  I find it odd to have a DLSU gather in Diliman for their commencement exercise.  Though, I've researched a little bit and some say that it was from UPD student.

The gist was all about a student, who was inadvertently been insinuated by professors that he can't make it; a student who is trying to prove himself to the world that even if he just had some flunked some subjects, he rose  to be the Top Notch of his Class.  He also said that he'll cast a middle finger to everyone who said he can't.  It was his rebellion.  He questioned as to why nobody gives an award for hanging on, but only for those who has been the Best.

Clap!  Clap!  Clap!  Bravo for expressing such.  I was happy to know one could really say this infront of the crowd and from a Catholic Private School.  No offense meant, what I am just trying to point out is, it is rarely to see a student coming from ADM or DLSU to say this stuff and God knows why it was a speech with Tagalog as the medium.  Unlikely.

While I am reading it, I rode back to my memory lane way back when I was in College.  Oh, all the cramming and deadlines,  org dramas and dorm issues, gimmicks and homesick with heartaches along the side, it was really a dooms day for me.

I, too experienced the unwary words coming from my professor; telling me that I can't make it.  But that's the beauty in UP System.  They will tell you to strive for the best even if it takes to break you into pieces.  They want you to be on top; to excel because they too came from the same system and they are also proud to know you've strive.  Yes, they can't give you a Best Hang in award because we strive for excellence and if they do that, I am certain that Isko and Iska will be stoic, just accepting a mediocre life.

" Ayoko nang puntahan yung pwedeng mangyayari sa mga Cum Laude. Baduy. Alam mo namang may patutunguhan ang buhay nila e. Pero dun sa mga lumagpak, ano ang meron?"

Yes grades are very important.  But knowing my fellow Isko and Iska out there, they continued to fight.  I fought, I have flunked numerous subjects but I've achieved.  I became a Program Director of an International Company.  I have few friends who were not just flunking but really a delinquent one; but where are they now?  They did not stop.  They are in Singapore, Australia, and some are in the Philippines working for a prestigious Landscaping Company.....Ayala, BTG, and what have you's.  UP cooked us to be strong and stand even when everything else fail.  It taught us that whenever you fall to the ground with your face first, you can still stand up and say to everyone, "ok lang, nakatayo pa naman ako".

To all Isko and Iska, I am soooo Proud of you.  Continue to strive for excellence and continue to battle the world!

Iskolar ng bayan, ngayon ay lumalaban!!!!

the Character

Earlier this morning, as I browse through the shouts in FB I stumbled upon a post that is somewhat like a loudcry. It was about a gift given to someone and there was a complaint about the gift.

On a first thought, you can say this is so "lame"; a petty thing because it is just a gift, about kids, about a small stuff.

But when you try to ponder on it, it's really not a small stuff, it is something big. The reason--- it's about RESPECT.

Nowadays, when the younger generation can stand up on their feet, make a living for their family, they think that they are on the same page with their dads, moms, or even their neighbors who are in their 80's. they speak as if they are just buddies; just dudes. I am not saying that is bad; what the crummy part is, this younger generation tends to forget the whole essence of being mindful; mindful about the feelings of others, mindful of how you treat others.

Let's just say it is just a gift, it can do no harm. But giving a gift like movie character parodying a wierdo James Bond nemesis to someone whose parents are so sensitive with their child's well-being (hmmmm how should I say this, not sick but slow learner and has speech problem), is really disconcerting.

And for the mother of the kid, I wished that she had kept it to herself. She should also understand that not all people will comprehend to their brain cells of their situation; if you say disability. As what Buddha said: do not speak, unless it improves silence!

Good thing me and my husband were thought by our beautiful parents to keep our feet on the ground, to have our lives in private though we have social media around us, to be mindful of others and be cautious of the words being thrown upon and lastly to respect not just the elders but to the people around us!

To them, it's such a shame that no values were instilled to them.

#justsaying

50 shades fifty

It's all about a hunk named Christian Grey whose powers are ultimate, nope guys not the super hero thing but reality powers, like so nice eyes, pretty face, demure man, silent type, tall with a fat, thick wallet and has his own Company that is named after him. Sharing the limelight with him would be Anastacia Steele, brunette, tall, oh so sexy lady, and her goddam wits!  Such a nice description of these two!  Everybody got hooked up!  Forgive for this blatant confession and I know many would despise my comment by it's just a threelogy of Fifty shades of blah.

It's the same story. 2 people fell in love, with dark secrets unveiling and there would be people trying to set them apart and oooh, there's the climax, either someone has been stabbed or nearly died with a gun! then heroic kiss and saving either the guy or the lady.  Then live happily ever after.  phew!  it's a 5 second story of the 3 book of shades.

I can't deny that Christian Grey is the ULTIMATE "crush ng bayan", a good looking man with a fat wallet and whose heart only beats for -- Anastacia.  To be honest I got a crush on him too.  But, reading and understanding more about his behavior; this guy is a beast, making every woman with hair like his mom as SUB (subordinate); treating women like a toy or just a puppet! for crying out loud I don't need a man who can do all his stuff!  I don't need to be descriptive but all those whip, those buttplugs, it makes my stomach twitch.  I am not apt for that even for an experience.

Women, even if she's your wife shares an equal of respect.  Women should not be perceived as an object; they too have feelings and should never be deprived to have herself dignified.  Letting her crawl into you if you would snap and say: hey let's have sex! It's like a dog obeying his master when being told -- FETCH!

This goes out to each and every woman out there:  never let anyone treat you as their subordinate, never let someone make you feel the second best.  We may be frail physically but we should not be treated as weak.  After all, study shows that most geniuses are women! ;)

For this best seller book, I give 3.5 stars.  It's a nice storybut definitely not a must-have for me.