Posted on by Orchid

Spring and Summer..

It is officially the fall season. The last time I wrote was in Spring. Needless to say, I have neglected my blog because I was just too busy with work, not even my dating life which became nonexistence for a while since I got my promotion, until recently.  Before I share where I’m exactly in my journey to finding true love, possibly in mid October, allow me to provide my experiences and what took place since Spring or since my last entry.

In May, I made the decision to listen to my supervisors and finally apply for a higher position at work. I also spent that month just focusing on my job and taking on most interviews scheduled from this job fair. It was like a project we had for a month which I did not enjoy.  In June, I started my new position. I ended up having triple work to do due to vacancies which I am still experiencing now. Due to work stress, I also decided to go back to Paris with my colleague. She invited me to go with her to Paris and Antwerp, and I said yes, of course. Our supervisors were probably not agreeing with us going out on vacation together, but our vacation requests were approved.

I booked my flight 2-3 weeks before my trip (last minute as always).  My colleague was leaving the night before the Fourth of July, and I was leaving the day after.  Amidst my never-ending workload and packing, I decided to go out on a date days before my departure to Paris.  This man I met in downtown Los Angeles last year, in July, about a year ago, texted me asking to have drinks with me to catch up.  The fact that it was after about a year, and he still remembered me was flattering.  He said he was traveling last year and was busy with work.  I never asked why after a year.  I remembered he was asking me to have dinner, but I didn’t respond or didn’t take it seriously.  Possibly, I was not interested at that time as I was busy making plans for my Europe trip in July.  We went to Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills.

We met on a weeknight right after work.  He was kind, respectful, and funny.  He works at his own firm in Los Angeles. I had a great time.  I suspected he was older, but I didn’t ask him.  He asked what I was looking for, or what are the most important qualities I’m looking for in a man.  I didn’t want to give him my long lists, and I was not expecting that question.  I remember saying that everyone can be nice when they want to, but the most important factor for me was the person’s maturity and ability to resolve any issues or conflict in the relationship and willingness to make it work.  I added that I prefer a man who knows to admit his mistakes and learn from it, rather than letting their ego take over him.  I explained further and used scenarios, etc.  He said it was the best answer he had so far.  It was my honest answer.  He wanted to get together again after my vacation.  Could he be the one for me?  He seems mature and grounded.  He also had bought a house (in renovation) in my city, about 5 minutes away from my place.  Could that be a sign?..

Posted on by Orchid

My first entry.. My Paris plan..

My vacation has been approved.  Because I took about two weeks of vacation just at the end of July up to the first week of August, I was worried that my work would say something about the vacation I requested for this October.  I rarely take a vacation and my work surely is aware of that.  I have so much vacation hours accrued that I always have to monitor my accumulated hours before I stopped accruing.  This always pushes me to take a long vacation, which means out-of-town, or out-of-the-country vacation.  Yes, I know it is kinda odd to go back to Europe, to the same city, after I just got back from a 12-day vacation (Iceland, Spain, France), but I just have to go back soon to Paris.  Why?  I will share that later.  

So as soon as I got my vacation approval, I spent the entire week last week searching for the best flights possible.  I need to get to Paris after 8 o’clock in the evening on a Friday, and I want a layover somewhere where I have never been.  After many sleepless nights spent on searching for flights, I’ve decided to go with Madrid overnight layover on my way back to Los Angeles.  I selected the London layover, to Paris, so I could explore the famous Heathrow Airport (I have been in London but never at the Heathrow Airport).  I had other good layover options to Paris, but I figured I should have a good rest so I would look fresh when I arrive in Paris.  I booked it two days ago, finally.  I texted my closest friends, who knew about my crazy idea to go back to Paris when I was just there in August, about my flight itinerary.  I was also relieved that I finally booked it, and I could now focus on other things such as events to attend in Paris, and restaurants/bars to try, etc.  

This morning, I received an email saying my reservation has been cancelled and I would be getting a credit back on my card.  My jaw just dropped.  I talked to the site specialist and I was told the flight I wanted wasn’t available anymore.  I searched different travel sites, and I couldn’t find the same flight I booked.  Needless to say, I have to start all over again.  I started thinking it might be a sign that I shouldn’t go at all.  My heart is saying I should go.  Perhaps it’s a sign that the flight wasn’t for me, and that I would find better flights with better time and layover.  I hope so.  I remember being excited when I got my vacation approved.  I was all excited that I was finally free to book my trip without any doubt that my vacation would actually happen.  Right now, I’m still excited, but I just want to move forward to planning for the rest of my vacation and also packing.  

So why am I going to Paris when I was just there in early August of this year?  During my recent vacation in July/August, we went to Reykjavik, Ibiza, San Sebastian, Bordeaux, and then our last stop, Paris.  Well, when I decided to part ways with my friend on our first night in Paris (with only 2 days/nights in Paris on our itinerary), and when I decided on that last day of our trip to explore Paris by myself, I met this man.  You see, I have been in Europe three times in the past.  This trip I would say was the interesting one as there were many unexpected incidents and negative emotions involved.  It was not a smooth vacation (I will probably elaborate more on this later, maybe in a month).  I have learned a lot from my experience on my recent trip, don’t get me wrong, but it got to the point that I was regretting going at all.  I wanted to go back home asap.  It was that unpleasant, but I think I did well in really putting efforts to soothe myself by staying positive, staying at the moment, counting my blessings, and being grateful.  

I believe that how I managed the situation led me to meeting this wonderful man.  Now, when I talk about or think of my recent trip, I can’t help it but smile.  Meeting him made my vacation even more interesting.  All the things that went wrong in that trip brought me to him, and I no longer have any regrets.  I was exploring the City of Love at a slower pace, with really no plan in mind where to go next, but just trying to enjoy the time I had left and taking my time that last night, and there he was.  I don’t know if its the right decision or something good will come out of this, but my heart is definitely saying to take a chance, get to know this man, and go to Paris.  Maybe, we can find love while traveling or while we are on vacation?  So, for the next two nights, I will be spending hours online searching for the best flights with best layovers so I can take a chance on love..