Pleasant day to you all dear Hivers,
I wish to introduce myself since it is a requirement as a newbie here on this platform.
My full name is Aidelei Joie Cimafranca Paje my friends call me Joie, my nieces and nephews call me mamajoie, my very close friends call me Aides
while my parents and my siblings call me Ai-Ai. I am the eldest of eight children. Really funny had to share to you, our parents couldn't get much of us, me and my siblings that we are named twice (example from me Ai-Ai, Ja-Ja, Jon-jon,Jan-Jan, Wa-wa, Wel-wel, Jok-jok and Ta-ta)haha, funny right!
I was born and raised from the queen city of the South, Cebu City. Hello to my fellow Bisdaks out there!
I had my elementary and high school years in Cebu where my roots are and after graduating high school we moved to Luzon in Olongapo City because our father landed a job on the then US Naval base here in Subic Bay. I pursued college in Luzon. I took up Bachelors of Science in Accountancy.
I am happily married for 25 years now and still going crazily in love with my forever, my soulmate, my hunk of a husband, Joseph.
We were blessed to have a wonderful son who is 19 years old now and on his way to College. Who loves biking so much. So we support him.
Work Experiences
I used to work before, had my fair share in the corporate world, working at the Finance Department on a five star Hotel and casino here in Subic Bay.
I've worked there for almost 10 years then had my baby and needed to resign because of baby sitter problems. Had to stay at home and be a full time mom for five years.
When my son turned 10, I started working again at a Retail company as the Store Operations Manager. I handled three shops here in Subic and another three shops in Pampanga. Running a store specially a designer outlet store is not easy specially when all the items are branded and imported. I was literally married to my job because of the big responsibilities that I had. I handled 35 personnel's in Subic alone. Aside from running a store I had to do importation works as well since almost all the goods that we sell came from abroad arrives directly in the shores of Subic since it is the Seaport hub.. Then from our branch the head office will delegate the goods to be delivered to all the Duty Free shops nearby. The delivery comes from us. I had to oversee everything. I give trainings to staffs as well. Basically I became the Human resources, the finance officer, the Manager all in one.
On this photo, the staffs gave me a surprise gift for my birthday.
I worked in the company for almost seven years. I opted to resign because the pay does not equal the work load. I must say, I learned a lot about running a business since I do all the permits and other paper works pertaining to the business laws inside the freeport. It felt like I own the company since they let me decide what's the best marketing plan just so we can always meet our monthly quota's which we always exceeded. We became one of the top ten highest sales among all the stores in Luzon area during my tenure with them.
Sad to say, everything has an end. I loved my job so much, I love all the staffs but the company did not take good care of me, for two years only promises, so I have to say goodbye. Close the book and move on to another chapter.
After my resignation, February 2016, I then tried looking for work again because I am used to earning my own money and of course I wish to also give my share on the expenses even if it's just the three of us in the house. That's when I came across 51talk company that hires ESL (English as the second language) teachers. June 2016 after a month's training, I became a teacher. I teach English to non-native English speakers. All of my students were Chinese. I was so happy because I was the boss of my own time. There were a lot of advantages working online and one of them is not waking up early, not running after time, not wearing fancy, corporate clothes not to mention high heels. During bad weather you don't have to wrestle with the floods and the traffic.
Not to mention the earnings was pretty good too depending on how many slots or lessons you will do for a day. It's entirely up to you. Imagine earning my previous months salary in just two weeks. From 2016 to 2020 I've conducted more than seven thousand plus lessons. Hew! All were done happily and fluidly.
As a teacher you need to be engaging so students will love you and will book you regularly. You had to be fun and I guess Joy is really my innate quality. Never a dull moment on all my classes.
The mom on one of my student even sent me a gift. An original silk cloth bought from one of the oldest makers of Silk cloths in Beijing, China. I was truly surprised and touched by her gesture because I received it during my birthday and I have no idea that they were sending me something. Plus it is not allowed, Here is a photo of the mom and Mandy. Her mom was so happy because her daughter can already speak English very well when I became her teacher. Those are one of the best compliments a teacher can have. Seeing your students advance, develop and grow.
Here are my fellow teachers as well, All mothers with different fields before working and teaching online. We get together and help out each other, discussing lessons and students, giving tips on how to be a more effective teacher.
During these times my hubby had his early retirement at the age of 47, working for 25 years at the local water district here in our city.
He started his own company. He opened a building maintenance services company. We do building maintenance, ground maintenance even river maintenance also some vehicle maintenance. Currently we have ten regular employees but we add or hire some casuals when we have long and big projects. Since mainly our client is the local water district here, hubby's previous employer. It's were most of our work/projects come from. He opened the company while I was teaching since he can't handle all the technical and the admin/accounting all by himself I had to help him. March of last year 2020 I filed a leave of absence from teaching so I can assist him on running the business. The leave then became a resignation. I was really sad leaving my students because it felt like I was leaving my children since majority of them were my regular students since I started. I watched them grow and evolved but I have to weigh things so I resigned.
Currently, Me and hubby are partners. We always go together, we are like shadows of each other which was really my long time prayer.
To be able to just live life, spending time to be with each other often. To make and carry out decisions together. Living a life of simplicity with the people you love because what is the purpose of living when you don't have a life of your own, you don't get to live and enjoy life specially the small minute details, the priceless moments which are the essence of truly having and living a joyous, wonderful life. We are not rich but we have enough sufficient for our needs.
Having our own business really changed our lifestyle. We were able to go and have our much awaited travel vacation. We were able to go to Palawan for 18 days and spent 3 days in El Nido. We never had the luxury of time when me and hubby were still working because we are both needed in the company. We play very important roles.
We visited the underground river, we went zip lining, had fun island hopping in El NIdo. We really had a blast! We brought our mother-in-law with us. It was our birthday gift for her. We celebrated her 69th birthday there.
Now, I am as free as a bird, during our free time we can go and have adventures with my family. I am not hindered anymore. Which I am truly grateful for.
I love singing, dancing, reading and now I am into blogging thanks to my mentor, my gorgeous mom 
I am into photography now as well, capturing beautiful things that are worth sharing. Like this beautiful landscape that I captured on one of our adventures.
Plus so many things I wish to share but that will be on my next posts. So, stay tuned for more of my life stories, experiences, adventures, life tips and many more.
That's about it. I am excited to be a part of this awesome platform.
I hope you are eager to know more about me as I am eager to meet new friends and support each other and be like one big happy family.
I wish to mention my friends who are already members of this platform namely
Ecstatic to be your friend.
