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Latest post Tue, Mar 2 2004 11:23 PM by Usenet. 3 replies.
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Scars n Patches    605595 Sun, 29 Feb 04 09:30 AM
My special thanks to Mxsmanic, John Ings, and Bill Bonde for the corrections and comments on my first text. I wrote it as if I was doing an English exam in a hurry because time is over – no reading nor checking what was written. However, I wrote a second text (below) again for everyone to correct and comment on, this time it was read and checked after typing. Your corrections and inputs are very much appreciated. Thanks a lot in advance.
Living in Manila
Coming to Manila for a new job offer, and not knowing what to expect, I was a little excited and terrified on the prospect of better opportunities in the company and a slightly different lifestyle, like maybe living in one of the tall buildings. Peering at the skyscrapers from the taxi, I thought they looked like odd-shaped arrows shooting from the ground aiming for the heavens. Not that I haven't seen tall buildings just not as many and close together. My imagination suddenly flew away and I was in one of the skyscrapers lending an eraser to my girlfriend on the next skyscraper. Is the gap between the buildings that close? Then I was led to one of the skyscrapers, and there it was, a big yellow arrow painted in the middle of the structure pointing skywards. Alas! I am going to live in one of these arrow structures. I already had had the feeling of déjà vu that entering the elevator of a skyscraper would be like turning into a cannon bullet and being fired into nothingness.
The climb was actually uneventful and settling down was a breeze. The job was simple and coworkers were easy to get along with. Of course there was the usual jealousy of subordinates who had been in the company for a longer period but it was tolerable. Everything was so smooth that falling to the routine does not merit mention.

Traveling along the Manila highways is the real challenge and a feat for the faint-hearted. The gap between cars on the road is a mere inch or two during rush hour, which is most of the time during weekdays. Aside from the usual jam-packed trains and buses, the FX taxis are quite comfortable for cheaper transportation except when obese passengers sit together in the middle seat, it is difficult to hold on to the seat while being squeezed.
Shopping and dining however, is fun in Manila. Many restaurants are in the malls or within the vicinity and are easy to find. The big malls are located just along the main highway (EDSA) and are accessible by any public transportation for those who want to go window shopping in all the malls. From the south are the Metropolis and Festival Mall, SM Makati, Glorietta, Greenbelt and Landmark in Makati, Shangri-la and SM Megamall in Mandaluyong, and Farmer's Plaza, SM Cubao and Alimall in the north. Bargain hunters will also have fun visiting Divisoria for all kinds of goods, Greenhills for electronics and Baclaran for all kinds of stuff.
Four years after, I am still here enjoying my stay, but not in a skyscraper anymore. I live in a modest unit in one of the residential villages. The neighbors see each others and are friendly. People say words longer than hello and will invite when they have parties. Ah, this is a side of Manila that only a few knew about and where the Filipino spirit still lives on.
Mxsmanic  , 5 yr 270 days ago
"My special thanks to Mxsmanic, John Ings, and Bill Bonde for the corrections and comments on my first text. I ... it was read and checked after typing. Your corrections and inputs are very much appreciated. Thanks a lot in advance."

It looks fine.

Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.
John Ings    605608 Sun, 29 Feb 04 01:41 PM
Changes in capitals as before...
"Coming to Manila for a new job offer, and not knowing what to expect, I was a little excited and ... this is a side of Manila that only a few knew about and where the Filipino spirit still lives on."

Some of your sentences are a little too long and would benefit from being broken up. That's a matter of style rather than correct English though. e.g.
Coming to Manila for a new job offer, and not knowing what to expect, I was a little excited and terrified at the prospect of better opportunities in the company. I was also thrilled at the prospect of a slightly different lifestyle, like living in one of the tall buildings.
Aside from the usual jam-packed trains and buses, the FX taxis are quite comfortable for cheaper transportation. Except when obese passengers sit together in the middle seat that is. It is difficult to hold on to the seat while being squeezed together!

Also some phrases, while correct, sound a bit stilted.

"Alas! I am going to live in one of these arrow structures." "Oh dear! It seems that I am going to be living in one of these arrow-like structures"
" I already had A feeling of déjà vu that entering the elevator of a skyscraper..."
" I had an uneasy feeling that entering the elevator of a skyscraper..."
"People say words longer than hello..."
"People stop to say more than just hello in passing..."

I think you are at a stage that studying English in a formal manner is becoming less productive. What you need to do now is to immerse yourself in the language. They say that you don't truly have a grasp of a language until you can think in that language. Watch English language television if it's available. Read English language books on subjects that interest you. Good books, bad books, trashy novels, science fiction, murder mysteries or whatever. English has too many colloquialisms, strange spellings and pronunciations, weird usages and bizarre conventions to be learned by rote. You have to live it.

And then of course there's elocution. How's your accent?
Scars n Patches    605729 Tue, 02 Mar 04 11:23 PM
"I think you are at a stage that studying English in a formal manner is becoming less productive. What you ... conventions to be learned by rote. You have to live it. And then of course there's elocution. How's your accent?"

Once more, I give my heartfelt thanks to you Mr. Ings for the corrections, comments and suggestions. Indeed, my English seems to be a little behind since I started with other languages.
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