Jamie Ortega
 
Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas. -Dale Evans Rogers

This is gonna be my first Christmas in the Philippines. I miss Bahrain, the cruel winter wind in my face, the annual routine Christmas parties, my 2 oldest friends, my aunts, and the whole family. It's the first Christmas we won't be together. 

Our family setting is very very complicated. I know a lot of things I wish I didn't and there are a lot of questions I would like answers to.

I have wondered if I didn't transfer schools, would I be celebrating Christmas with them? 

I am really annoyed at spoiled teenage kids not because they are pampered and get everything they want but because they don't seem to be grateful at all.

The whole family situation upsets me not because of limitations but because I'm being a burden 'cause of my decisions. I just want to graduate quick so I can ease the financial pressure on my parents and sister.

No matter how crazy the family is, we always spend Christmas together but I guess we have to make sacrifices. I love my family and it kills me to be away from them but it can never be about me every time.

Christmas is celebrating the birth of Jesus. We forget that sometimes. It's a holiday so commercialized that sometimes we forget that giving and loving can be done 365 1/4 days not just on Christmas. 

We usually have this melancholic feeling days before Christmas. I think that's because of Christmas break, when our minds are off work and school. We have time for brooding, for realizations, and the lucky people find maturity - in love, in their relationship with God, in responsibility.

This year, I hope the best for the Philippines. (2009 wasn't such a good year)
For my family, I wish for prosperity, strength, health, and love.
For my friends and for the rest of the world I quote a song:

"No more lives torn apart, and wars would never start and time will heal all hearts. And everyone would have a friend and right would always win and love would never end. This is my grown up Christmas list"

For myself I just wish that I do well in school. I hope I won't be such a burden. And I hope that my boyfriend won't get tired of this drama I usually tell him about. :p

I have been blessed with a very kind family, thoughtful friends and a loving boyfriend. I'm blessed with love and when I think of this all my other troubles seem shallow. =) Thank you so  much God. 

I wish you all a Merry Christmas. 
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Don't you love Sunday mornings? Well i'm not really sure this was a Sunday but I'm pretty sure this was in the AM. Rare are the days that I actually wake up in the morning but I guess I'm a morning person (oh the irony!)


So I took this picture a few minutes after i woke up, and read tweets generally because i was in such a pleasant mood. And when I'm in a pleasant mood in the morning I ALWAYS listen to Ain't No Mountain High enough. You know, the song in Stepmom. =) It makes me feel dance-y and well, just puts me in a good mood and starts my day right.


I wish all mornings were like this. Especially school mornings :|


It's 6:20PM where I am right now but for the rest of the world who's day is just starting, have a lovely morning! :D



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AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH TO KEEP ME FROM GETTING TO YOU BABE =)

 
I was born and raised in The Kingdom of Bahrain. It's this tiny island in the middle east. It's more of like Dubai than Saudi Arabia.


I graduated High School in Philippine School (Bahrain). High school was bitter sweet but definitely the greatest. Teen movies always have stereotypes. Those stereotypes don't actually apply to all places so let me tell you about our "groups".


1. THE COOL GUYS
-they are part of a band
-they scare/intimidate the freshmen and sophomore boys
-they hit on the freshmen and sophomore girls
-they like to cause trouble yet the teachers still love them
-they like to keep to themselves, stay in their group outside school
2. THE TALL GUYS
-they are also part of a band
-along with the "cool" guys they are either all sweaty or late for first class because of basketball
-they get hit on by the freshmen and sophomore girls
-they are sociable people
3. THE SINGERS/BAND GIRLS
-most of them can play the guitar or the piano
-they are always always singing in or outside class
-they are also part of a band
4. THE TEACHERS' FAVORITES
-they are usually part of the honor roll
-they get to cut classes because teachers always excuse them for favors
-they will always win the awards at prom night
-they never get in trouble
-they share gossip with the teachers
5. THE GOSSIP GIRLS
-the topic of gossip
-or the ones spreading gossip
-are out every weekend
-carry a makeup kit when going to the toilet
-usually start catfights
-host most of the year's parties
6. THE QUIETER GIRLS
-usually have the unknown gossip
-make the best quiz cheats!
-are actually fun to talk to
7. THE COMPUTER NERDS
-recommended seatmates during computer hands on exams
-go to computer class ahead of everyone else
-stay in computer class later than usual
-call on the rest of the people bunking computer class
8. THE DANCER GIRLS
-mix of teachers' favorites and gossip girls
-usually the bitchiest
-cause catfights especially during cheerleading practice
-also consists of the vainest people
-always get excused for PSB's numerous dance presentations
9. THE COUPLES
-target of teacher gossip
-always get in trouble
-have made the rooftop and the place under the staircase popular
-teachers are extra strict with them
10. THE GAMBLERS
-stay in class during recess
-always have a pack of cards
-have been caught by the principal atleast twice
-get in trouble with the Student Council and teachers
-a mix of all the other stereotypes

Jamie Ortega