Jaime Update
It is a truism that we get messages from relatives and colleagues
because somehow they need something concrete from us, or just wants us to
know. Our colleague Herman Greene had to
qualify a mailing done on behalf of CES that gave a particular impression. We will forego such precision. I am sending this mail on both.
It is now September, a month after the island got devastated
by the unexpected fierce winds of typhoon Soudelor. In addition to the stress on power and water
(with the whole of the Pacific coming out to restore us to normal), we do not
expect to get our ordinary lives back until another month or two in Saipan,
says the Commonwealth Utilities Company.
They do assure us that buying Christmas lights will not be in vain.
Meanwhile, I have to deal with a recalcitrant US immigration
to make sure members of my family have legal cover (they denied my four year
old petition on a technicality because I had three addresses - Saipan, China,
Hawaii, and unheeded notices in Hawaii resulted in an "abandonment"
of process).
A consequence of the typhoon is the delay in the opening of
the public school system and a widespread destruction of facilities and
equipment. My expectation to teach
Social Studies at the High School level has, I suspect, been sidestepped by
HR's choice to engage cheaper entry-level personnel rather than the slightly
more expensive returning vet. I have yet
to hear from the public school, one way or the other.
Which is to say, I am back to square one. Colleagues in Alaska, Houston, Tar Heels and
NYC came through with substantial assist when I had my transition from China to
Saipan. SS declared I was two years
short of qualifying for benefits so I thought I would get back into the
workforce for at least two years. I
could not be gainfully employed in China due to my age (60 is retirement for
locals, 65 for foreigners) and the income I earned (meager but enough) was
ineligible for SS credit even if I paid the necessary taxes.
Earlier, I registered for a license dba Waterbear Language
Studio, focusing on teaching folks how to learn and get a lingo in the
process (so far, I've only been more like an ICA extension office to the
numerous menial contract workers needing to improve on their communication
skills), and Earthbound Enterprises that
promote, inter alia, eco-friendly
tourism of choice spots in this island paradise looks like an HDP in Mactan. The logo for Waterbear is the planet with
network spheres; Earthbound is a geo-physical image of islands, landmass and
ocean trenches in the western Pacific.
The following samples were from an earlier draft, with the
columnist for ST excised since I am not strictly an ST employee, and the word
on the logo with the spheres that of Waterbear Language Studio. The address and phones remain the same. The email address of PinoyPanda2031@aol.com, which appears in my Saipan Tribune opinion column, was also included.
(image would not send so I am attaching the card drafts.)
There is no pitch, just an invitation of those who might
have something to "invest", to use an old metaphor, prayerfully
so. I am looking at chunks of $1K and if
you are inclined, please get in touch.
Jaime R Vergara
Saipan
PinoyPanda2031@aol.com
j'aime la vie
yesterday, appreciate; tomorrow, anticipate; today, participate! in all, celebrate!