V&A 101

I just had the first week of transition training and Norris is right. It's the REAL thing. It's really the preparation for the job that we signed up for. So far it had been a bit easy but it's serious matter. I started missing our V&A with Honorio Ramon. It was so much fun. Don't get me wrong. I have no problems with our transition trainer Abi. She's very good and she knows what she's talking about. Aside from that I think she's kind and cute.

But I do miss the fun and games of V&A. I miss the goofing around and the contagious laughter. I'm not saying that we just played around during the two weeks of V&A. It's just that Norris made it very light for us that we enjoyed every moment of it. Our almost 2-hour icebreakers were riot moments. We were like kids again. I particularly enjoyed the free speech because you know how much of a talker I am. Also I got to know my batchmates a bit more because of these activities and I learned from them as well. I just didn't like the tongue twister activities. It's one of my greatest flaws - tongue twisting. Hehehe!

Overall, the two weeks had helped us bond and I can say that Norris was instrumental for that. You gotta thank me for this one Ramone! Hehehe! Since I enjoyed the free speech activities, here are the topics/questions I answered and would have answered if it were given to me:

Explain the history of your name Rhaych.
My parents gave me the nickname RC for obvious reasons (Rachel Catherine). Growing up with a lot of lice, people called me RC. When I was in grade 5, I had a crush on a fourth year student who looked like Keempee De Leon back then. Since our names started with the same letter and the first syllable sounded alike, I patterned my name after him. Therefore I became Rhaych.

What makes you smile?
I don't want to play favorites among my nephews and nieces but Cholo never really fails to make me smile. He's now 9 years old and totally mature for his age. I just find him so smart and he can really say the most surprising things. He does well in school. He can be mischievous and all but he's excused because he's still a kid. I consider Cholo as one of my greatest blessings. He came into my life when I thought my world was going to crash down. He totally took my troubles away the minute he smiled at me when he was a newborn. I knew then that everything was going to be alright.

If you were to undergo cosmetic surgery, what part of your body would you want to change and why?
I would definitely have a rhinoplasty or a nose job. You see my nose is not so very nice. When I smile, my nose stretches and flattens almost to nothingness. It's one of the many parts of my body that I took from my dad. My brothers got their noses from my mom and they're darn good!

What did you enjoy most in highschool and college?
Highschool was the time of building lasting friendships. Going through puberty and
adolescence, we underwent a lot of changes not only physically but mentally and emotionally. It was nice to have friends around who understood the changes that I was experiencing. Aside from that, we tried to look beyond what was before us. College was a period of independence and making the right choices. It built my character and I guess college made me a tougher person.

If you were to write your wedding vows, how will it be like?
Just in case I get married, I'm going to put my wedding vow in a song. The title of the song? Secret! It sure made me cry when I heard it. It's not that popular but the message is so meaningful. I wouldn't sing it of course. I could have someone sing it for us while I play the piano.

How do you pamper yourself?
As much as I can afford, I try to visit the spa every two weeks to get a soothing massage. It relieves my body pains and the stress that slows me down. Also, I get a facial at least twice a month.

What is sexy to you and what is not?
Physically, I like a man who has a bulging but firm butt and a strong chest. I don't really like an ultramacho body with muscles and all. Just the right medium-built man. But a real sexy man for me is somehow who has something between his ears. He can talk sense and I learn from him. He doesn't have to be super smart, just someone who knows what he wants and stands by it. A man of principle. It wouldn't hurt if he also has a very good sense of humor that can add to his sexiness. I don't find a man in muscle shirt as sexy. Hello why not pick the right shirt size for you?! It's yucky to find a man with nail polish especially pinkish natural-colored ones. And please nip those nose hairs saying "hello". A man with halitosis (bad breath) should die!

If you were a TV character, who would you be and why?
I think I would be Grey's Anatomy's Izzie Stevens. I'm a goal-driven person and I won't stop unless I achieve that goal. I am also someone who looks after the welfare of my friends, constantly checking that they're okay and assuring them that I'm just around if they need me. Unfortunately, I can be like her sometimes when it comes to mattesr of the heart. I can give up everything for love. A bad thing for me!

And for the hotseat questions....
Nah! it was, is and will just be confined in the four corners of our V&A class.

As I've said in one of my free speech activities, I'm scared that I'm getting so fond of my batchmates. The thought of not being with them all the time at the office scares me. I told myself that i wouldn't be so attached to my new friends but it's hard when you have 14 people constantly backing you up. I love you guys!