4 September 2006.  arrived in Laoag city via Partas. 

5 September 2006.  first day of work. still worried about whether i can do the job...

8 September 2006.  first day of fieldwork.

so far, these are the significant dates that refer to my job.  although my current job is a bit tiring and difficult, still i get to enjoy it.  i get to encounter different people, and be in different places.  i get to talk with aspirants, and assess them.  i get to test the accuracy of my research. 

...exciting...tiring...happy...

conclusion: social sciences at work

i am undergoing training.  i will be stationed in the south.  by then, i will be just all by myself.  all by myself.  if i will be deployed there already, i don't think i am that confident yet.  i know i am still raw, especially with regard to the real conquest of this new job of mine.  i need time to grow and develop further.  i have to prepare myself.  i need to be armed, fully armed. 

...conquer fear...

so far, the difficulties that i am suffering right now has to do with culture and language.  i can't speak the Ilocano language of the Ilocanos here.  because i can't speak, i can't transcend that much.  or perhaps, i am not that talkative, really. 

...i need to be sensitive... especially that i am with different people...

i really wish i can do this... i really hope i can...

22 days have passed...and still counting...