uncle van’s cabin

Hi, I’m Van Kristine. Just call me Van, thank you.

I grew up in the sleepy town of Duenas but practically lived in Iloilo City all my life.

I am currently working as a high school critic teacher and a college English instructress in West Visayas State University.

I also work part-time during evenings as a tutor in Jinsoo Institute where I have friends and students I love to laugh with.

I have no desire of working abroad but I’d like to get a scholarship for a Ph.D in Literature or Linguistics outside the country. If that isn’t possible a CHED scholarship in UPD will do.

I basically know what I want in life. I’d like to have that full professorial position and work my ass off as an academician. I’d like to learn the ropes of commerce and go into agri-aqua business and be a farmer cum fisherwoman, too.

Right now, I have a partner whom I love to fight and make-up with. He loves me even during my most unlovable moments so I love him to pieces, too. I do not know what’s in store for us in the future but I’d like him to be there.

My immediate family includes my mother who is working in Hong Kong, my father who is a schizophrenic and is now living as an hermit in Capiz, my sister who is pre-school teacher in that sleepy town of Duenas, and my little niece who is just the cutest three-year in the whole universe.

My life is routine. On weekdays, I wake up at 5:30 AM and start classes at 7:30 in WVSU. I end my day job at 5:30 PM and at 6 I usually meet up with my partner and eat dinner or in most cases I go directly to Jinsoo and eat dinner with my friends there. From 7-9 PM I have man-to-man classes. I then go home and bedtime is usually 10:30 or 11. I find it exhausting at times but man, I won’t trade this for anything.

Weekends, I spend with my partner, schoolwork, errands, church, and rest.

That pretty much sums up everything about me.

Oh, and today is my 26^th birthday! So, I’d like to thank my partner, family, friends, students, and colleagues who greeted me.

I love y’all!

After a 1-hr nap this afternoon I woke up feeling blessed that I decided to write a prayer…

Dear Lord,

                        Thank you so much for the countless blessings.

                        Thank you for letting me live. Thank you for letting me wake up every morning and letting me see the beauty of life. Thank you for the small and big miracles you let me experience each day.

                        Thank you for giving me the right partner in life. May I always be reminded that he has been your special gift to me. May you also continue to strengthen our relationship and may we always grow in your love and protection.

                        Thank you for my family. It may seem quite late now but I’ve only just realized that they made me a better person. I have rejected and denied them many times in the past for they brought me many bad memories and painful experiences but they are and will always be a part of who I am.

                        Thank you for my friends, colleagues, mentors, classmates, batchmates, students and for the many acquaintances who have made so much impact in my life. Their kindness and their gift of friendship will always remind me that there is something good in everyone. Truly, relationships are what matter most in life.

                        Thank you for leading me to the teaching profession. You had been a teacher yourself and I thank you for giving me this opportunity to touch lives. May you continually give me the faith and strength to teach what is true and essential.

                        Thank you for letting me experience You in the Eucharist. O, how the angels must envy me.

I have been such a terrible person for sometimes taking You for granted and for not giving You back Your worth but today may my little prayer makeup for my grievances.

Amen.