Cirque de Soleil

It has been 12 years since my first attempt to watch this circus. And finally, last Thursday me and hubby went to see Saltimbanco. I have read a lot of articles and watch a couple of you tube videos about it so I know what to expect. What I didn't realize is the things I saw are compilations of the best part of the show. I put to much expectations and got a bit disappointed and bored at some parts of the show while watching it live. Still, I am grateful to be able to watch it finally and looking forward to another show ...this time I'll be waiting for Alegria to come to town :) 

The Chinese way

As soon as I woke up this morning I cleared the curtains to greet the sun outside my window. Something unusual caught my eyes immediately. A woman carrying 2 dogs uphill, stopping every minute for a break and then continuing her climb up to the gate. I live way up in the hill and there is a compound below us with few houses that is only accessible by a private road that goes downhill.

My question is, why doesn't she let the dogs walk since obviously this dogs wanted to jump out of her grasps. It doesn't look like she's trying to do some lifting activities too, otherwise she would have done it in stationary position and not climbing uphill. She isn't that young either, in fact she have gray hairs and she look old. Dogs have four legs isn't it? Therefore, dogs are supposed to be good walkers. What's with this dog and dog owners in Hong Kong??? But whatever it is, I still don't get it!

In the afternoon, we went to Stanley for Miguel's playdate with a friend. We hang around the area for a while and then decided to drive down Shek O beach, 15 minutes away from Stanley. The beach is almost deserted except for a few tourists and some local kids on a school break. As we sat down the sand to relax, we saw this couple sitting on a beach chair. The woman wearing long sleeves, jeans and a cap and the guy is almost as covered up as his partner. We notice that they are sitting under a sunbrella which is under the shade of a very thick tree ...

Hubby: (upon seeing them, he asked me) " Could you give me any valid reason
why are they using sunbrella under the (shaded) tree ???
Me : Uhmm...sun protection the chinese way?
Hubby : it must be a quadruple sun protection,
Me : where's my phone, this one goes for the record,LOL!

Still,I don't get it!

Monday Blues

My little girl didn't go to school today and so my usual Monday routine is messed up. I set her up to do a little painting activity and went on to my yoga and meditation. Halfway through, she came and asked if she can have activities with me. I said come and join me do yoga, she refused. She said "Yoga is not an activity". I said it is, it's a nice activity that we can do together. She replied, no not an activity, I want a different activity. So I explained that Mommy have to finish her thing first and then we can do an activity. So she continue with her painting.

After my yoga, I decided to go to the sauna at the basement near the pool. I gave instruction to my helper and here how it goes....

Me: Nora, can you watch after Sofia, I will quickly go to sowna (That's how you pronounced it in english)

Nora: Where?

Me: Sowna

Nora: Wait, wait! What did you say?

Me: I said, I'm going down to the basement to use the sowna quickly.

Nora: You go swimming?

Me: (a bit annoyed) I'm going to SAWNA!

Nora: Ah! sawna ... i thought swimming.

Oh my! How are we gonna maintain the right english pronounciation if in most of the time we converse with people like Nora. I should have known better.

When I came back, my little girl followed me everywhere until I pay her my full attention.

So we started painting her nails with a red nail polish. She was so happy that I get plenty of kisses in return. Now, she leave me alone for the rest of the afternoon :-)

Nightlife....

I was out last night and for the first time in years I have more than 2 glasses of wine. Not having been partying for 5 years, I can't help but feel like an outcast. I don't enjoy the dark, loud, crowded place as before. Makes me wonder if it's because I've been out of the system or is it the age catching up on me?

Anyway, I stayed for barely 2 hours and was very happy when I left. It was fun while it lasted but I know I cannot do night life anymore .....

The Funeral

Today, I accompanied my husband to a funeral. A well influenced guy who spent his life in the fast track. I met him once in a sit down dinner. Already then I was amazed by his down to earth character after all of his achievement. They belong to the high society and almost knows everybody in town. That is why when we reach the church the line was so long and there's not enough chairs to sit all these people. Flowers lined up the entrance, people are well dressed, firm and proper. Eighty percent of them belongs to the age bracket of 60 and above. Prominent figures and influential people. Some seats are reserved for some, the others work their way through empty ones.

As the mass started, I started to realize that I haven't been to a proper mass for a long time. During the ceremony, I start to wonder what these people are feeling, well aside from grief of losing a dear friend. Do they fear their death or are they ready? Towards the reading of personal message, first from the son then a very close friend, I started to feel emotional. So touched by the moment so much so that I felt the embrace of grief. As if I was related to the deceased. People shed tears of sorrow and grief. It was painful yet beautiful. Beautiful because I haven't really experienced a funeral so solemnly celebrated as this one. Everyone is patiently listening, responding and singing through the hymn. A very well mannered crowd, acquaintances or maybe stranger to each other, united in that hour to pay respect for W.

I was moved by the affair, by the people and by the man himself.

Thankful to have been part of it, of his existence even if it's brief and for the life that I still have.

Now, I spent the rest of it recollecting and making the best of what I have.

Dear W, may you rest in peace.

Stage fright?

Today was one important school event. Pi will start her IB next school term and tonight they will make their choices. So we planned the day right and make sure we get there on time.

The busiest time started after I brought Miguel and Sofia to the movies to watch Yogi in 3D. We rushed home at 3 p.m., went straight to the kitchen and started preparing dinner. It was done by 4:30, so I have about half an hour to check Facebook ..rather my emails. Few minutes to freshen up or maybe just powder my nose, spritz some eau de toilette to cover up the kitchen smell and then run to the car.

Yes, we we're in the school vicinity by 5:29 but there's no more parking space and the seminar starts at 5:30! I left the car with Pi and hubby went to look for a parking space. We climb up floors and floors to get to the auditorium. We we're 3 minutes late when we reach the door. Inside, I can see a full house and the speaker started the program for the night. As I grab the door open, every single person sitting including the speaker turn their eyes on me and it felt like in one of those Matrix movies where time froze. I felt goosebumps and as soon as I came back to my consciousness, I step back and close the door. It's just then that I noticed people are queueing behind me trying to get in....

Coke

I don't feel energetic today. Aside from my period, restless night and helper's day off, I just don't feel like moving at all. So I thought it's time to have coke.

Don't get me wrong, I don't drink sodas. I'm not a big fan of it. But ever since coffee have an unusual effect on me, I resorted to drinking coke whenever I feel like I needed a boost of energy.

Since I will be dealing with the whole house on my own, I asked Pi to go get me a coke in the grocery, 2 blocks away from us. But...she refuse to!

Me: Pi, would you be so nice to go buy me a coke in the grocery?

Pi: No

Me: Please Pi, just a can and while you're at it why don't you put money on your octopus card?

Pi: No, i still have a hundred in it.

Me: So, you don't want your travel allowance for this week?

Pi: No, I mean I don't need to put money so I don't need to go to grocery.

Me: I'll pay you 10 dollars?

Pi: No

Me: 20 dollars?

Pi: No

Me: Well, it's not a request now, it's a command. You have to go buy me coke.

Pi: No, I don't want to go to grocery...

Me: Okay, since you don't want to do me a favor...next time you'll ask me to go to Muji, I will refuse to go with you...or do any favor you ask.

Pi: okay

Me: Okay what? You gonna buy me now?

Pi: No

Me: (in an angry tone) Look, I don't feel well and I need the coke to boost me. Okay, if you don't want to buy me a coke, you'll trade places with me and you work around the house!

Pi: (grabbing the money) ...but I don't want to go to grocery ...*moan...*moan...*moan

10 minutes later .... she came back w/ a coke :-)

*****

Okay, let me talk about coffee. Whenever I have coffee, I turn into "Tazmanian Devil" like (according to my husband). I get really hyper, I start to clean like crazy, zoom in and out, here and there, work like there's no tomorrow. And the worst part is, after all this whole day activities that I did, I stay up until the wee hours of the morning coz I can't sleep. I'm fully charged and even if I do fall asleep at around 4 or 5 a.m. it will be a light sleep...a restless one. The withdrawal effect lasts up to 5 days. For the next few days, I will feel extremely tired, sluggish and less energetic. So now you know :-)

It's dirty!

Yesterday I caught Little S drying up something in the hand towel.

Me: What happened Little S?

Little S: It's wet!

Me: What is it?

Little S: My cookie... I washed it...

Me: Why did you wash it?

Little S: It fell on the floor and it's dirty!

Me: *grin*

Apparently, that's one of the last two cookies left from her box and she doesn't want it to go to waste, so she cleaned it up :-)

My poor little 3 years old girl is running out of cookie.

The artist in her....

Sundays are always busy. It's when everybody is home and it's chaotic. Getting up late, rushing to prepare food, taking time for activity with every single one of my 4 kids, chores, preparing school stuffs for the whole week, planning for the whole week - including errands, school related activities, social activities, Spanish class, so on and so forth. Sunday is when i gasped for air :-)

Today, one of the things I need to finish is the greeting cards I need to send tomorrow. Together with the gifts for a friend who just gave birth few weeks ago. Getting everybody to sign the card is such a total chaos. The two toddlers are competing for space, pen colors and drawings. The eldest one took just seconds to finish it but the artist, who is responsible for the artwork, took forever. She's very good though...she can draw a character of you by just looking at your face. She completes it with shading to bring out the beauty of the drawing.

And then the artist got annoyed, with my meddling, just because I wasn't quite happy with how pale the shade is. I went to look for a marker that is pale peach (skin color), but then when I started shading... it turned out orangey. I wasn't gonna show her, but she caught me and she got really disappointed that I have to edit her work. So now, I'm the silly Mommy that wasn't satisfied with her work. And she threatened that she'll never gonna draw for me again :(

I took pictures of it and it looks perfect for me. Not for her though, she requested to write a little note saying "drawings by P, colors by Mommy" ...hahahah!

Welcome back ...to me!

I have been hibernating for a long time. Life passes by me and I'm aware of it. I have survived one of the biggest obstacles so far. I'm mending a heartache at the moment. But still life goes on, and may I say "Life is still beautiful" for me amidst the roller coaster in my life.

My hands are still tied up, busy with my family. Now raising four kids, 17,13,5 and 3. We came back to our favorite place in the world and everyone is enjoying in their own way. Me, particularly, is on the verge of recovery and hopefully will pass the 5 years period to get to the safe stage.

I'm in my favorite place, comfortably living, surrounded by dear friends who care for me deeply and most of all cared by my family. What more can I ask for?

Now, I'm back...now I'll start to blog again...I'll start telling my stories or maybe a journal about life, vicissitudes, maladies and indoctrination...the lightness in a sense and the profoundness of sensibilities :-)

Shopping List

Mari - my helper - has been working for me for quite a while now. During the first few months instead of help, I get headache from dealing with her. She doesn't know anything, not a single way of organizing. After a few years my hard work paid off. She can do a task in no time, no sweat, but one thing never change up to now - her shopping list. I taught her how to minimize work by listing down items that just run out. And so she doesn't need to do another inventory before I leave for the supermarket. Her shopping list is divided into four. I'm not really sure why and I dare not to ask her. Here's one of her list (actual words/spelling):

1. Baby - meat
2. Butter - yellow
3. milk - fresh
4. butter cooking
5. juce & J & R & sir
6. Poppadumb
7. Snacks & J & R chips
8. chicken nagets
9. baby brekfast
10. light soy kikkoman
11. cofe ni sir


1. carots
2. sili pula
3. potato


1. still wool
2. disinpektan


1. bred -mari

In the first few times it was hard coz I cannot decipher it. Spend most of the time on the phone asking her what she meant. And then I told her to copy the label so it's easier. It worked for a while but then maybe she got lazy again and thought that she's right so here goes. Nowadays it's one way to make laugh which made me look crazy while shopping alone in the supermarket.

The Third Culture Kids: Global Nomads

“A Third Culture Kid (TCK) is a person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside the parents' culture(s). Although elements from each culture are assimilated into the TCK’s life experience, the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of similar background. ”

Who is a global nomad? A global nomad is an individual who, spending a significant part of their developmental years in another culture, develops some sense of belonging to both the host culture and the home culture, while not having a sense of total ownership in either. Elements from both (or multiple) cultures are blended, resulting in the third culture.

Third Culture Kids <--- My kids are one of them. I have a Filipino culture, they we're born in another country where I lived for 15 years, now moved to a different country and will continue to do so in the next 20 years or so.

I have been reading articles about TCK and found out that there are many factors and advantages belonging to this group. Most TCK kids who have survived the countless transitions from birth til adulthood have embraced the lifestyle and determined to pass it on to their kids. Few of this people I met earlier in the workshop sponsored by the International School where my kids go. They we're sharing experiences on how restless they become when they get back to their country of origin. They explained the difficulty of relating to their local friends and how shallow the relationship is.

I will buy the book and read more on it, just for me to be able to help my kids get through this stage of their life. Afterall, it's my solemn duty to guide and raised them the best that I can :)

The calm after the storm

It's been half a year since my last blog. Time stood still in this pages while I weathered the storm with great courage and lots of patience. I didn't really noticed it that long and I never even get the chance to log in during that time. Lots of funny incidents and interesting stories to tell ,but where do I start?

Let me give you a short review of what had happened since then. After the birth, I got busy preparing for the next move. Few months afterwards, we're trying to settle in ... in this strange place. Put the kids into new school, registered with health clinics, try to search for a perfect place to settle in at least for a couple of years. Next thing is finding foods that are available, adapting to new weather and surroundings. Blending in with the crowd, expats and local alike. Building social circles for everybody,from teens to tots. Then came the burden of adjusting to living conditions - pollution, traffic, illness etc. Everyone suffered from culture shock and homesickness. Having troubles communicating and expressing yourself due to language barrier. Life's been full of adventure for the last six months. Stressed out and exhaustion are the most common thing for me. The only consolation I have is that nobody got sick , thank God!

Now it seems that we are slowly settling in. The atmosphere at home is more relaxed. I, for sure, am beginning to love the calm after the big storm :)

About Marriage

This is a very good article. read it.
Those who are still single may learn something from here....
Those who are already married may take it as a guideline to improve your
marriage....

DID I MARRY THE RIGHT PERSON?

During one of our seminars, a woman asked a common question.
She said, "How do I know if I married the right person?"
I noticed that there was a large man sitting next to her so I said,
"It depends. Is that your husband?" In all seriousness, she answered "How do you know?"


Let me answer this question because the chances are
good that it's weighing on your mind.


Here's the answer.
EVERY relationship has a cycle. In the beginning, you fell in love with
your spouse. You anticipated their call, wanted their touch, and liked
their idiosyncrasies.


Falling in love with your spouse wasn't hard. In fact, it was a
completely natural and spontaneous experience. You didn't have to DO anything. That's why it's called "falling" in love...

Because it's happening TO YOU.


People in love sometimes say, "I was swept off my feet." Think about the
imagery of that expression. It implies that you were just standing
there; doing nothing, and then something came along and happened TO YOU.


Falling is love is easy. It's a passive and spontaneous experience.
But after a few years of marriage, the euphoria of love fades. It's the
natural cycle of EVERY relationship. Slowly but surely, phone calls
become a bother (if they come at all), touch is not always welcome (when it happens), and your spouse's idiosyncrasies, instead of being cute, drive you nuts.


The symptoms of this stage vary with every relationship, but if you
think about your marriage, you will notice a dramatic difference between the initial stage when you were in love and a much duller or even angry subsequent stage.


At this point, you and/or your spouse might start asking, "Did I marry
the right person?" And as you and your spouse reflect on the euphoria of the love you once had, you may begin to desire that experience with
someone else. This is when marriages breakdown. People blame their
spouse for their unhappiness and look outside their marriage for
fulfillment.


Extramarital fulfillment comes in all shapes and sizes. Infidelity is
the most obvious. But sometimes people turn to work, a hobby, a
friendship, excessive TV, or abusive substances.


But the answer to this dilemma does NOT lie outside your marriage.
It lies within it. I'm not saying that you couldn't fall in love with someone else. You could.

And TEMPORARILY you'd feel better. But you'd be in the same situation a few years later. Because (listen carefully to this):



THE KEY TO SUCCEEDING IN MARRIAGE IS NOT FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON; IT'S LEARNING TO LOVE THE PERSON YOU FOUND.


SUSTAINING love is not a passive or spontaneous experience. It'll NEVER just happen to you. You can't "find" LASTING love. You have to "make" it day in and day out. That's why we have the expression "the labor of love."

Because it takes time, effort and energy . And most importantly, it takes WISDOM . You have to know WHAT TO DO to make your marriage work.


Make no mistake about it. Love is NOT a mystery. There are specific
things you can do (with or without your spouse) to succeed with your
marriage.

Chaos at dinner time ...

Dinner time is always fun. With all the members of the family sitting and feasting on a great meal. Foods are served freshly cooked and steaming hot. In the midsts of the munching are conversations that will make you laugh and choke at the same time. Here goes....

M : Wow! Wat dat ? (pointing at a hot bowl of food , M is 2 yrs. old n just started talking)
Me : it's a smoke M ...
K : Mum ... it's condensed water vapor !
Me : K , i think that term is too complicated for M to speak, too long and technical
K : okay then ... M say ssstteeaammm !
Me : In my thoughts ...." i always get corrected "

M refuse to say steam so K with his perseverance managed to make M speak the words " condensed water vapor", without knowing what it means of course :)

I'm learning !!!

My daughter invited her bestfriend to a sleep over tonite but her parents didn't allow her. Instead, they allowed her to spend the rest of the afternoon and eat dinner with us. So as soon as they arrive from school they didn't waste a single moment, they change from school uniforms to swimwears and jump in the pool. After an hour in the pool, they came up dried themselves up and went online. In the meantime, I was in the kitchen busy preparing food for dinner when I overheard their conversation (kitchen door is open).

• Xn : "Wow! your mom's cooking smells good"
• Pi : "she's a very good cook"
• Xn : "Your lucky she cooks, my mom doesn't know how to cook"
• Pi : "Really? Who cooks in your house?"
• Xn : " My Dad, my auntie (helper) and me I'm learning!"
• Pi : "I'm learning too!!"

I cannot help but comment .."Really, since when did you have the mood for cooking?".She gave me a sharp look so I decided to just shut it ....

Few months ago before I gave birth to my youngest one, she declared herself the Princess of the house. Everytime you ask her to do something may it be a favor or a command she refuse to respond to it. She always say this line - " I don't do chores I'm a princess".

Now I guess is the perfect timing to train her in the kitchen. Maybe I can take advantage of this show off thing and teach her few things around the house. if she refuse I can always say "You said you're learning".

Changes ...

It's been more than a month since my last blog .The last time was when I gave birth to my little angel. She was just a few days old and it was during my few days stay in the hospital while I was recovering from a surgery. Since then I got my hands full day and night. Life has been good to me lately and I'm just so grateful of all the blessings that have been given to me. I am now back to my old self (well almost). Working on a new project and preparing for the big move (to another country). Yes, once again entering another big change in my life. I like change, change is good and I'm very excited about it. I'm excited for my teens joining a new school and my tots for their new playgroup, my husband for his new workplace and for me ... new adventure.
Amidst all these excitement, I'm also feeling nostalgic for leaving. This place where I've spent fourteen years of my so called life. This place taught me lessons in life that I will never have gotten otherwise if I didn't get out of Manila. Things that will help me and prepare me for the next half of my life ( you do the math ). This place that I have learned to love for these past few years (yeah just few years ago, I use to hate it before). This place where I learned to be independent and valued my selfworth. This place where I met my husband, gave birth to my children, build my circle, where I have attained and accomplished a career just to quit and pursue a more rewarding job - to be a mother and a wife. This place that served to be my playground. Aaaaahhhh! this place ... I will miss it big time, but I can always come back .. yes I will and I have to for some important reasons.
I'm anxious about the move, about the new place. Mostly because I have kids and I fear for their welfare. You see that is the mother in me talking like any typical mother that aims to protect her children. This restlessness is adding another wrinkle on my face but then again it's also my age. Nowadays, I worry about my children and their needs more than my Versace sunglasses or crystal wine glasses. Maybe because there are so many changes in such a short period. The new baby, the move, my son have his first pimples outbreak, my tot is now a chatterbox, my hairdo's straight and new wrinkle lines, my bestfriend with her new image -silicones,tummy tuck andVictoria Beckham hairdo. Hahaha!

Little Angel

Today she enters this world ....

The doctor sigh..."You don't look like a baby, you look like a Prime Minister ..my goodness"

For me ...she's a little angel ......

My Heart

Just when I started believing that there’s no more chance finding a perfect guy /relationship …. our paths have crossed …. I met my bestfriend, the greatest lover and the best husband in the world.

Dearest Mahal,

You have been my all time favorite Valentine’s date ever since you miraculously transformed from morning sickness-sufferer into a Goddess back in Taipei….

It seems that every other Valentine’s Day you are pregnant – but ravishing as ever nonetheless! I’m looking forward to spending today’s and every future Valentine’s Day to come with you. I love you so much, Mahal !!!

Signature

It was written inside the card in a bouquet of pink tulips, big enough to cover my big tummy as I carry it on our way to the restaurant.

Love … is a many splendoured thing, Happy Hearts Day !!!

Life is Good

A lush vegetation, rolling hills and the sea surround us. So far, I could not think of a better place to live. This peninsula once was nothing but jungle. Legend has it that pirates operated from here. Colonization, world war, occupation and liberation followed. Today the ancient fishing village is a major tourist attraction. A scenic stripe of land at the end of a vast country. In this sense I am living on the edge.

The beach is right around the corner. So is the coffee shop and the flea market. There is a church, a police station and a few other low rise buildings. Sounds like your typical village in the middle of nowhere? Well not exactly. Millions of people live just a short bus ride away. A busy metropolis lurks on the other side of the hills - which is both a curse and a blessing.

Let's start with the good things. A brand-new seaside promenade. Restaurants (indoor and al fresco) offering international cuisines and sea views. A few beautifully restored historical buildings. Colorful temples and sand beaches. Hiking trails with breathtaking views from hill tops. Bargain hunting at the flea market. A library and a bookshop. Indoor and outdoor playgrounds for kids. Easy means of transpo like buses and cabs. Quiet weekdays.

Every weekend, however, things get hectic. Not only inside but also outside of the house. All family members are at home and the entire world flocks to this village. Streets are flooded with hordes of tourists and beachgoers. Not to mention water sports fanatics roaming with either a billabong short or speedo (yuck!), sweaty hikers and Lance-Armstrong-wanna-be-cyclists taking a coffee break from their activities, picnic goers flooding the isles of supermarkets for BBQ items. Local residents go to church, parade of lovers, kids, and dogs. Some visit inmates in nearby prisons.

The lazy frog hated weekends and holidays. She longs for Monday where she can have peace and quiet and the serenity she deserves. With the empty street, spacious supermarkets, coffee house and other facilities plus a quiet house (husband and kids are away during the day except for my cute little tot – well, he’s amusing ) LIFE IS GOOD. Don’t you agree?

Until the next weekend frenzy that is…