Still in Limbo...

354 days have gone by since I started my job search last year. And still, there is no career to speak of, and no, the liar job as a promotions manager doesn't count! Although that is the case, I'm starting to enjoy life once again as things seem to be settling down after moving to Leipzig in June. Going to German language course has done wonders for my sanity since it has been key to having my own life.

Its brilliant really, I no longer rely on Christin and her friends to have a life of my own in this wild jungle called Germany. Having my own crew to hang out with, go to football matches with and the works makes me feel great at the moment. There is a future after all!

Anyhow, things are slowly falling in place. Friends check, wife-to-be check, fun times check. All I want really is a career, not a job, but a career. Hopefully that is the next one to be ticked off the list...

Back to School...

Since I don't much to do lately in Leipzig, I've decided it would be best to go back to school. My German lessons haven't been going too well despite the effort of my tutor and myself due to the lack of structure. So it makes good sense to go to one of their community college type school and get my language skill ASAP.

I thought I was finished with school, but here it is again. I have to admit I'm actually looking forward to it... I just need more $$$ or €€€!

Andrew Don't Know Football

I'm officially a football pundit. I'm officially "the enemy". I officially love it. Just the opportunity to write about football on a daily basis gets me excited about it. I'll end up focusing on the Bundesliga side of things since wedontknowfootball does not cover it much. Eversince joining the lads(and gal), ideas about the football culture here in Germany has been flying off my head. Lets just hope I get a ton of readers, that's all I ask. In the end, I just want to show another side of the game in the typically mislabeled "narrow-minded uber-stern" Germany.

Check it out: http://wedontknowfootball.com/

Ladies & Gentlemen... RB Leipzig!

Of all my travels in Europe, particularly Germany, I have never seen a football mad city so deprived of the beautiful game. For years Leipzig has been starved of the quality football it truly deserves. FC Sachsen Leipzig and 1.Lok Leipzig, the two "top" clubs in this beautiful eastern German city brought the town nothing but disappointment and embarrassment for close to two decades. From dodgy financial accounts, hooligan troubles and shocking football, there always seem to be another excuse on why they bounce up and down between the 5th-7th tier leagues of German football.

Whenever the discussion about local football came up, you will always find the normal Leipziger voicing his or her discontent. They are simply fed up with FC Sachsen and Lok's fan hooliganism, bankruptcies, terrible football and name changes that happens so often that they're not quite sure how to call their clubs anymore!

Since the city is currently in football turmoil, one investor is willing to take on the challenge of bringing this city out of football hell. Red Bull for years has been searching for an eastern German club to invest in and take on the mighty west. Due to strong fan protest Red Bull avoided pursuing investment in Sachsen and Lok altogether and settled for a much smaller club in SSV Markranstädt, a club in the outskirts of the city. Red Bull, a powerhouse in world sport picked Leipzig and SSV Markranstädt as it has 500,000 strong citizens ready to support a Bundesliga club.

With plans of a €100million investment over the next 10 years, Leipzig and its football mad people can only benefit from this injection of funds. It will take the new Leipzig club some time to build up its stature compared to its city rivals. Sure, RB Leipzig and its new supporters will be ridiculed for having no history, buying its way to higher leagues and all of the other insults that may come their way. Bottom line is that RB Leipzig will bring entertainment to the city and write football history while FC Sachsen and Lok Leipzig along with their 'die hards' rot on the side with jealousy and further football failure. As one Leipziger said, "Simply, they've had their chance, Leipzig can no longer put up with their incompetence".

Bavarian Beauty

Whenever I asked Germans from the north, west or Stuttgart area how Bavaria was, I always get the same response... "Ah, its Bavaria! Its not Germany!". I always thought it was a bit snobbish to make such claims almost instinctively. But after spending a few days in München for the Audi Cup, I came to one conclusion. They were right.

Most of the things the rest of Deutschland told me were actually true, such as München is bloody expensive, that Bavarians speak with a funny accent, they do this and that etc. I had the impression that for the rest of Germany, this southern state is simply not "German" enough. But see, even though they may not admit to it, I felt that the place is still very much Germany, I just think that Bavaria is the exception to the rule. Most of it. Unlike the rest of Germany, most Bavarians will give you a smile. Unlike Saxony, München will not simply stare at you with a frown on their faces. Unlike Hamburg, München enjoys a warm and sunny weather. Unlike Berlin, München is a big city with a small town feel.

All I can say is visit München and Nürnberg before passing judgment to a truly wonderful place. Come hang out in one of their hip biergartens. Drink a freshly made hefe-weizen beer. Visit the Allianz Arena with FC Bayern's friendly supporters. And most importantly, enjoy the sight of a beautiful Bavarian girl in a Bavarian dress :D

Thank You, United States of America.

As most of you know, I have made a drastic decision to move on to Europe just about a month ago. I honestly don't know how things will turn out, it could be a wonderful decision or one big mistake. Although my life is uncertain at the moment, I must point out a similar situation exactly eight years ago to this date.

July 27, 2001. I got on an airplane setting off to the America. My flight took me from Manila to Detroit and finally to Saint Louis. I was very excited to be in America, I knew that the country will provide me with a lot of opportunities and new experiences one can only get by moving away from his home country. America did not disappoint. I must admit, it was very difficult at first. I had to adjust to different cultural issues and way of living. It was a bit tough to move around without a car, learn baseball(very confusing!), and adjust to high school life with a very funny Filipino accent. Thanks to a lot of people I was able to manage. Some friends in high school were really vital, from Matt who was very welcoming, Paul who has become one of my best friends, Chris who I learned from a lot when it came to American culture and others I will not mention(but will tag) because there were so much of you!

From a gains perspective, I really am grateful for the opportunities I was able to take advantage of. Having made amazing friends, the chance to go to University, and the freedom really shared by all living in the country. I could go on and on and on about how amazing the country really is, but there is one trait America has that no other country in the world has that I truly love... EVERYONE IS WELCOME. It is so unique how once you've set foot in the country(legally) everything is fair game. You can achieve whatever you'd want to put your mind in to as long as you're ready to put work in.

I might have left "Uncle Sam" but I will never forget the people, ideology and privileges I have gained from it. It was an amazing eight years of my life no doubt. Nothing can replace living with the most wonderful and nicest set of people in the western world. It will be tough to top America, but hopefully, I will be able to give the same praise to Europe in eight year's time...

And to all my friends, thank you for making my stay in your beautiful country all the better...

'till then!

Something Nice That Came Along...

At one point or another, things does not go a person's way no matter how dedicated or deserving one is. This has been the story that seems to have wrapped my life the past few months. Its been tough to be honest, I have no money, struggling with a foreign language and culture, oh and by the way, having to restart with the job hunting situation. Anything and everything seems to have been getting worse and worse...

But sometimes, despite the crap that is thrown into our depressing life, when you have been brought down and kicked on the teeth time and again, something nice comes along... On 29-30 July, I will have the privilege of watching Manchester United for two straight days in Munich. For a mere €30 and a train ticket from Christin, I will have the pleasure of watching United v Boca Juniors and FC Bayern v AC Milan on the same amazingly wonderful football day! To top that, I will get to see all four teams the following day as the winners play one another, while the losers fight for 3rd place.

To make things even better, I will actually get to hang out with my bestfriend Irene in Munich for a few nights. And lets give her credit in advance for letting me crash with her... Also, credit to Christin for this wonderful gift, I will stop telling the bike story from my birthday last year...

Anyways, like Christin said, maybe this is the start of a great streak for me, maybe things really do pick up from here on. If it doesn't, I will at least have a smile on my face for four days. I will be watching the club I love, singing my heart out, drinking Paulaner and reminiscing about the old times with my favourite Austrian...

So, if you're having some sort of trouble at the moment, chin up. Your break will come...