Sep 12 2008
After 21 Years On The Floor, Finally I Will Have My Own Room!
When I was a kid I’ve been very curious of many things. My older cousin who used to babysit me have told me now that I’ve grown up that if there was a thing I would not run out when I was still a kid, it would be questions. She said I have so many questions about the people, and a lot of whyfors about things that revolved in my world. Why would I not ask, I saw other kids (my childhood cousins and friends) playing with their toys and have comfortable rooms while me, I struggled to sell cooked bananas on the streets under the heat of mid-day sun in the villages just to bring a little comfort to myself? I even massaged other people’s feet just to convince them to buy the food that I sell.
Now that I’m beginning to be capable to have the things I’ve missed in my childhood, I’ve decided to start making a change in my life by breaking a record that I would always remember and never forget. This week, after 21 years sleeping on the floor on a mat, I’ll finally have my own bedroom (hopefully)!
Last month was the advent of one the most busiest months I’ve ever experienced and will still experience since I decided to work at home last year. And I have some few gripes: I realized working at home isn’t necessarily be the most comfortable place of work — at least not for me. Unlike in the office, there is no air-conditioning here and temperature surges up to 35C in midday and 29C in nighttime. I’ve endured that for over 365 days while working at most 18 hours a day including weekends and holidays. And for all the efforts I exerted in the past months, I feel that I don’t deserve anymore to be sleeping on the floor. So, I’ve decided to use a good fraction of my pay to finish the rooms of our house — and I will call one of them as mine.
Here are the pictures of my room before it was worked on. This used to be our clothes room. No one sleeps here because there are lots of tiny, crawling and flying insects and large geckos you’d never want to know.
Here are the materials that were needed for the room work that I have paid. The sand and gravel is free (because my father’s siblings own a small quarry), the 10 bags of Holcim cement cost Php 2000 ($45 USD), and the labor is Php 3000 ($70 USD).
The partial completion results…
I’m not expecting the rooms shown in the pictures to be completed this month since I run out of budget for the paint. Would you like to sponsor a gallon? 
I also don’t have a bed yet, so I guess when the painting of my room’s walls is completed, I’ll sleep on the floor for a while.
In addition, I want to get an aircon too because I really needed one. However, the price is beyond my budget so I think I’ll earn and save for it. Heat has been one of my work adversaries since I worked at home because I sweat a lot when the temperature is high and it aggravates my hereditary, high androgen level-caused body acne. Good thing I earned some few bucks to have a dermatologist’s checkup last month (something I really wanted to do before but can’t afford) and the doctor recommended me to use Duac gel. Good thing I’m getting positive results from it.
I am still thinking what color to be painted on my room’s walls. I like a very light skyblue color, lime yellow-green or cream — so I’m tad bit in dilemma deciding which one looks best for me. I just can’t wait to occupy my room. At least I made a record and I can have the experience of having a room in my own family’s house before I go abroad one day — and the best thing is that it came from my hard work. Surely it would be worth another blog post once the room is fully complete!
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September 12th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
OMG! I am SO happy for you John! This is BIG! I know it is from what your showed me on video!
This is AWESOME!
Hold on to your cash because when we get the, “You know what site” completed, in January, the money from that should pay for that A/C and more!!!!
This really makes me happy for you John. You know how bad I felt when you showed me the video right, so I UNDERSTAND how great this is for you and just how much you have put into it!
Good on you!
September 13th, 2008 at 5:33 am
Thank you so much, John A. MacDonald (a.k.a MacBros)! Hopefully, we’ll bring more money someday. I just can’t wait to sleep in a bed staring up the ceiling and recalling that the efforts in work I exerted paid off.
September 13th, 2008 at 6:30 am
I am very happy for you John.
As one of your best friends, I consider you one of my most beloved one of all. Why? Because you constantly work hard just to have food on the table not only you but your family. A true “tough guy” is one who takes care of his family with hard work.
You will get what you deserve to you soon, you work really hard and i promise you will get what you deserve for your hard work.
I consider you as a brother now since we got to know each other and i have to say:
“I will always cherish you and your thoughts, because there are many few people in the world as thoughtful and unique as you.”
-Gerardo
September 13th, 2008 at 6:57 am
Thanks Gerardo. I appreciate your words a lot. I don’t know what else to say. Thank you so much.
September 13th, 2008 at 9:44 am
I found this site on stumbleupon.
This is a great story, it made my day.
Enjoy your room, John. I’m bookmarking your blog.
September 13th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Thanks for reading, Bobby.
September 13th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Hi John,
I’m personally one of your best “FAN” and everything that you have done so far is very amazing, you are a “Hulk” for me, bringing lights in my life with everything happends, I have to say like Gerardo “you are a tuff guy”, don’t give up.
You have your own room in 2008, imagine now in 2009 what the life can bring you. Your work and effort will bring finally and hopefully what you deserve.
Thank you for sharing this evolutive live that you have, you are an example for all the planet.
You know
September 13th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Thanks to you. I don’t know what to say Dasylva because you already know everything from my thoughts and my words, of what I’m capable of and what I’ve done.
You know
September 13th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Great stuff John … go go go
September 14th, 2008 at 6:58 am
Hahaha, great story man!
September 14th, 2008 at 7:33 am
Wow!
that’s GREAT to hear!
Well done
Now all you need is a slightly faster internet connection :p
September 14th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Thank you Chris!
September 16th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
hi john great work mate
September 16th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
[...] read more | digg story [...]
September 16th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Thanks, Brad!
September 21st, 2008 at 11:23 am
[...] Hosting About People, Not About Gigabytes"Assemble Yourself An External Mobile SATA DriveAfter 21 Years On The Floor, Finally I Will Have My Own Room!Google Strikes Hard With Chrome But "Oh No, Not Another Browser Again!"Show Off Sound [...]
September 22nd, 2008 at 3:46 am
Hey John! Its must have been a great feeling having your own room built from your sweat and tears huh? I imagine this is just the beginning of a good thing for you. Possibly after 5 years you might have your own house with little kids running around the garden
I know that for a fact because we were schoolmates in college and I have seen you struggle and sacrifice for your selfless cause and that is the reason why I look up to you because you are independent smart and a kind-hearted person.
Keep it up! You are going the right way.
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:10 pm
@Richard
LOL at “Possibly after 5 years you might have your own house with little kids running around the garden” — lol.
Thank you for your wonderful comment though! Good luck on your career too and do your best all the time.
December 19th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
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December 26th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
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January 2nd, 2009 at 12:18 am
[...] After 21 years, I got my own room (no bed yet so it can’t be called bedroom - LOL ). [...]