Isang taon na kami sa Kiwiland

Agosto 2009

Isang taon na pala ang nakararaan nang lumipat kami sa Kiwiland. At ano naman kaya ang nagbago? Kahapon lang sabi ko sa isa sa mga pinakamalapit kong kaibigan, nag-iba na ang pananaw ko sa kahulugan ng pag-asenso. Dati kasi, katumbas ng pera, pag-angat at pagkilala sa trabaho ang pag-asenso ko. Pero ngayon, alam kong mas umasenso na ako kasi alam ko na paano maging kuntento.

Mas may oras na ako para alagaan ang pamilya ko. Sa loob ng isang taon, natuto akong magluto at maging "hands-on" sa lahat ng bagay -- ngayon nakikipaglaro na ako ng soccer kay Marius, kahit hindi ako marunong. Naglalakad ako sa tabing-dagat at sinasabi ko sa sarili ko, "salamat sa malinis na hangin na nalalanghap ko." May bahay kaming natutuluyan, kumakain buong araw at nagliliwaliw paminsan-minsan. May oras na kami para maging pamilya.

Alam ko parang napaka-simple pakinggan, pero ito ang nagpapasaya sa akin ngayon. Masaya maging kuntento sa buhay na meron ka. Yung trabaho na gusto ko? Makapaghihintay yun. Sa ngayon, pamilya lang muna ang aasikasuhin ko. Kasi may paparating na anghel ulit sa buhay namin -- ito na marahil ang pinakamalaking "blessing" sa amin. Salamat ulit kasi todo-todong pag-asenso na ito. :)

Of IDs, San Miguel beer and Public Holidays :)

Tomorrow, April 25, is Anzac Day -- a public holiday in New Zealand and Australia. It commemorates members of the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I.

But that's not what this blog is all about.

Thinking that all shops will be closed tomorrow, I went to the supermarket to do my shopping. Earlier, Ariel had asked me to buy him beer and as luck would have it, I saw a familiar brown bottle...San Miguel Pale Pilsen! The 6 bottles costs $12+ (around Php300) but what the heck, it's SMB in NZ. At the checkout, the lady asked me for my ID before scanning the beer. So I gave her my driver's license, but it took her a while to figure out where my date of birth was so I pointed it out to her. This is the second time it happened to me -- the first when I was shopping with Marius, looking so much like a mommy...unless I look like a teenage mom? Ha!

I've heard some people complain about producing an ID to verify their age -- well, not ME! I mean, it's good that supermarket staff are doing what they should. But more that that, it makes me feel so UN-MANANG :) Just what I need as I turn another year older. 

So...ID kung ID!

Not a Kiwi!

Scenario: Ariel and Kala are watching a news piece about Kiwi soldiers leaving for Afghanistan. Marius sees the patch on the sleeves of the soldiers -- a Kiwi bird patch. 

The following conversation takes place:

Marius: Look...a Kiwi!

Ariel: You're like that too, you're a Kiwi.

Kala: No, you're a Filipino.

Marius: I'm not a Kiwi...I'm a human being!

Ayos!

31 Goals until April 15, 2010

Got this idea from my dear friend, Naidz, who is also struggling with her 30+ goals from last year. Let's see how far I'll go with mine :) These, I think, are realistic goals, desires, wishes, and all the things that I want to accomplish before I turn 32. 

1. Have a baby girl.

2. Buy our first house.

3. Find part time work.

4. Study photography. Or learn by myself, if I can't afford the 2-year diploma course.

5. Learn to sew and make girl's dresses.

6. Get NZ license (w/o any retest).

7. Lose weight - it might take a miracle (or liposuction) to go back to size 8, so for now I'll pin it down to losing 10 lbs.

8. If #7 fails, donate all size 8 clothes to the salvation army.

9. Do all the other Wellington Walks (also to support #7).

10. Encourage Marius all the time.

11. Go bungee jumping.

12. Read the newspaper (or even online) every day. Seriously.

13. Understand Kiwi slang.

14. When I have spare money, buy a Louie Vuitton bag or an IMac (I think the gadget lust is stronger than my fashion lust. But first, how do I get that extra $$$?)

15. Edit long-overdue home videos.

16. Write more blogs. 

17. Keep in touch with family and friends.

18. Wear gloves every time I wash the dishes.

19. Be more creative in making beaded jewelry. Join summer festivals.

20. Go back to swimming. Improve endurance.

21. Finish reading Stanley Karnow's "In Our Image: America's Empire in the Philippines" - it's been in the bookshelf for 3 or so years. 

22. Learn more dishes to cook. Ugh! 

23. Water my apple and lemon trees consistently :) 

24. Sleep early and wake up early.

25. Do something good, all the time

26. Not get a credit card in NZ. Manageable. But keep the supplementary card for "emergency use" from my Super Nanay.

27. Drive less, walk more. 

28. Teach Marius to speak Filipino.

29. Borrow more books from the library. Buying books are on-hold, unless absolutely necessary.

30. Do more word puzzles to improve my ailing memory.

31. Do everything from 1-30 :) Ha!

Funny Marius

Kala: Tomorrow I'll be older.

Marius: How old?

(Kala holds up 3 fingers in right hand, 1 in left)

Marius: 4 years old? Like me!

Kala: No anak, it means I'll be 31 tomorrow.

Ang cute mo anak!

Earth Hour according to Marius

"It's time to turn off the light and save electricity!"

This is what my 4-year old son, Marius, has been bugging everyone in the house about. We're taking part in this year's Earth Hour and I'm glad that my son is aware about this. It's true what others say, start them young and they'll keep it with them 'till they're old. I hope Marius will :) 

Lights out now!

"O" Day In History

Today I woke up early to watch Barack Obama's inauguration on CNN. Though I'm not a big fan of the US, I must admit that the American people made the world proud by electing their first black president. Martin Luther King Jr. must be listless in his grave, hoping to join in today's historic celebration. Perfect timing too, because last Monday was a national holiday in memory of the civil rights leader. Who would have thought that after four decades, his "I Have A Dream" speech would become a reality...

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

He was Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963 and a Nobel Peace Prize recipient. Wow.

Even his son, Martin Luther King III, was hopeful about the 44th US president. He said in an interview yesterday that all the suffering paid off and that for his daughter's generation (and generations to come), having a black president would be a norm, nothing out of the ordinary. I can't imagine how it was decades ago, when black people can't eat in the same restaurant as the whites, or pee in the same toilet. After all the unrest and countless deaths, things are finally looking up for the African American community. But that's not to say that Obama got into office because he's black -- from what I've read and heard, he's a smart guy with high morals. I mean, after Bush, what else could you ask for? We're done with Bushisms.

Reports say an estimated 2 million people gathered at the National Mall to watch the inauguration. They cheered, they clapped, they cried. It's a feeling that I've never felt for any president back home, which is sad. I wish one day I'd say "oh that's our president and I'm very proud of him/her." I was too young to appreciate neither Marcos, Aquino or Ramos; old enough to know that Erap was not cut out to be a leader; and mature enough to know that honesty and integrity is not part of Arroyo's vocabulary. One day, our time will come when we'll be ecstatic to see a leader who will take the Philippines out of the dumps. America showed us that it's possible. One day.

Today is O Day. Did you see the way the first couple walked and waved at the crowd? They did it like ordinary citizens, with Mrs. O even giving the thumbs-up sign. Not at all like the poised royalties who sit on their bottoms and wave like robots. And the best part is, Obama got into office because the people put him there, not by "royal" bloodline. 

Together with the whole world, I'll be watching and waiting for President Obama's next move, especially his first 100 days. Today signifies a new change and hopefully, for the better.

Anything is possible now.

Library Affair

A visit to the library is one I consider fun and stress-relieving. It might sound geeky but it's true, Ariel and I love to read and we're trying to share this with our son, Marius. Fortunately, the little tike proved to be bookish at an early age -- Dr. Seuss' classics, The Rainbow Fish, The Giving Tree, etc. -- he really loves books! Now he's fascinated at anything and everything about dinosaurs. 

As for me, one of my unspoken resolutions for 2009 is to read as much books as possible, thanks to the library of course. Here's my January read so far:

1. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch (a gift from Ariel)

2. The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards (another gift from Ariel)

3. The Making of Mia by Ilana Fox

4. A Girl For All Seasons by Camilla Morton

The first book is meant to inspire readers to live life to the fullest, to seize the day. Love it. The author passed away last year, but his memory lives on with his book. 

Reading the second book is like watching a drama movie, but what a nice read! What would you do on a stormy winter night when your wife is about to give birth, you're the only doctor available, and then you help your wife deliver twins -- a healthy baby boy and a baby girl with down syndrome? 

The third book is a no-brainer, kinda lika Ugly Betty and The Devil Wears Prada. No harm done. 

Still reading the fourth book and enjoying it. It's all about history, arts, culture and fashion made more interesting. Can't wait to finish it so I can go back to the library :)

February read: Sepulchere

March read: Perfume : Story of a Murder

April: Some Like it Haute

Kiwi by choice?

Yesterday, Ariel and I checked out a house for sale in our neighborhood. It was an open house, and the real estate agent was very welcoming and chatty. He recognized right away that we're from the Philippines and then babbled about himself being in Manila a few times in the 80s. Our conversation turned into us migrating here and suddenly, he told us that in his view, we're more Kiwi than him. Why? Because we're here by choice, while he's here by chance.

Now what do I make of this? 

Yes, it was our choice to be here. The US was out of the question for us, Ariel and I just don't have that great big American dream, period. I like Germany and Austria (at least I had friends there) but the language barrier just might be too difficult for us. Okay, so we were fascinated by the amazing adventures and jaw-dropping sights that NZ has to offer, plus of course everything LOTR :) 

It's been 5 months (6 for Ariel) since we moved here and we're doing fine -- by this I mean that we are healthy and we are positive about the future. I'd be lying if I say that I've nothing to complain about but in general, life here is good. Efficient. Lately, we've been taking Marius to different playgrounds so he can play and practice his bike-riding skills. Once, we were on the pavement with Marius biking ahead of us, and I casually mentioned to Ariel that we could not do this back home (or I'd be scared to death that our son could be run over by a jeepney or tricycle or just about anything). Ariel replied, yes we could, if we live in a posh village in Alabang. I agree. Back home, you have to pay a high price just to enjoy simple things. I remember bringing Marius to Gymboree so he can play at their nice, colorful playcentre. But if you belong to the lower-middle class income bracket -- good luck na lang. That's what I enjoy here -- waking to the sound of birds singing, playing with Marius at the beach, taking walks and appreciating every good thing that I am experiencing.

I remember Fr. Luis Halasz, a Hungarian priest that I met in 2002 while I was still working at Probe. He was assigned in Mindoro as a missionary for about 40 years. He speaks Filipino like a local, and is loved by his parishioners very much. He applied for Filipino citizenship many times, and got rejected every time. Later on, he was recalled back to Hungary and at the time that I met him, he holds masses for the Filipino community. God knows why he wanted to be a Filipino, but it made me feel proud that this foreigner, who spent more time in the Philippines than I did, loves the country and its people so much. In the end, he told me that it didn't matter that he's not a Filipino citizen, it's just a piece of paper anyway. In his heart, he is a Filipino.

So are we Kiwi by choice? Let's just say that we are Filipinos enjoying the Kiwi lifestyle. We are immersing ourselves into a new culture, the "Kiwi" way of looking at things and all the opportunities that come with it. It's not hard to fall in love with NZ, that's for sure. For now I consider this place our "home away from home." No, we're obviously never going to be official Kiwis unless we apply for citizenship 5 years from now. Do I want to be one? I'll cross the bridge when I get there. But that's not the point. For me, it's not a question of citizenship. I don't have to be of any ethnic origin to "belong" to a country. I am Filipino by chance, like the real estate agent is Kiwi by chance. Maybe he's right, at least we chose to live here with an open heart and mind. I love being Filipino but I also appreciate this new, unfamiliar place that I am falling in love with. 

Someday I'd also like to live in Germany, Tibet, and the North Pole :)