Grey hairs
I have long been contemplating about getting a rocking chair or something similar because I miss ours back home. So after Christmas, I got this lovely rattan chair + the dramatic sheep skin for it from Ikea. It feels like I am in the Philippines while I am on this throne. Haha. While comfortably sitting on it and assessing my face value (through a mirror) as to how much it depreciated or appreciated (accounting terminology to connote decrease or increase in value, respectively), seriously, I was checking my scalp and I noticed that I have 3 grey hairs. So freaky. That was how it felt to see it for the first time. 😉
Major homesickness
I survived the homesickness. Wohoo.
I am rarely melodramatic and homesick. But I really dreaded celebrating my first Christmas and New Year away from home. I think I found it as a big issue because I came from a family who does celebrate it hugely. Last Christmas, it felt much the same though especially when we were talking over the phone. I had two obvious realizations: (a) per my standards of celebrating Christmas, here in UAE I would need much effort to feel the air. While in the Philippines, without stretching much, Christmas spirit will embrace you because it is contagious and (b) I should stop expecting that I will always be in the Philippines during December, that will just be a bonus.
First new year without lighting a firecracker
I kept some of the easy traditions like wearing anything with polka dots to attract money, not to have a chicken dish so that the new year would be bountiful (and not isang kahig, isang tuka as associated with it), and to have anything sticky like the kakanins so that family and relatives would stick together, etc. I know these do not matter much for some people now. But these were my means of reconnecting with people back home.
A visit to the hospital on 1st of January
The truth is I am so sickly as 2010 kicked off. Incidentally, my fourth wisdom tooth is popping. The pain became unbearable that merited seeing a dentist. This aching molar of wisdom affected me much since 31st of December that I was not able to eat more than the normal expected. Talk about bad timing. As the dentist said, “the molar has no mind, it didn’t know it was New Year’s Eve”. I am yet to complete taking these antibiotics and probably before this workweek ends, I would know if my newest wisdom tooth needs to be extracted or not.
Chipmunking on the the 1st of January
In the Philippines, we observe the tradition of not spending any peso on 1st of January, unless it is very necessary. That is to be frugal the whole year (Lol). So before that day, we ensure everything we might need are in place. The best precaution is to just stay home. After the dental check up and because I was so pissed by my aching tooth, we watched Alvin and the Chipmunks 2. It is so entertaining that I forgot all my worries and (tooth) pains. Not planned, too, I saw that Avatar game is already available for Wii and PC and so I bought. That makes it double non-compliance with family rules. Lol. Frankly, I don’t believe in all the traditions we observe, but it is good to observe some in a way just to keep the family tradition alive while maintaining my being reasonable. Being frugal is a decision and is relative. And it can be exercised anytime of the year.
Accepting another blessing
Rather than calling it a challenge, I will term it as a blessing. I was invited to teach selected topics for the board exams review for those based in Abu Dhabi. After checking possible conflict with work schedule and other commitments, I said yes. It is gratis though. It is about time to give back/share to the community.
Something unusual
Considering the good and not so good things that transpired the past days, I can feel that my 2010 is already taking its shape. This old statement is echoing to me since New Year’s Eve: if you want something more than the usual to happen, you have to exert the right amount of effort that you have not done before. It is like a fair equation. What you give out bounces to you.
I bet you are as excited, too, to do something more and better. 😀
0 thoughts on “There’s always a first time”
kate
Congratulations on surviving homesickness! That is quite a feat 😀 Happy 2010 to you 🙂 I’m very excited too because I know it will be a really great year for all!
.-= kate´s last blog ..2009 and a really old wish =-.
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cza
Congrats!!! 😀 It’s gonna be a great 2010! despite all the homesickness and the sickness. 😀 Promise yan! 😀 Hehe. Nice chair as well!
.-= cza´s last blog ..Look at what made me smile today… =-.
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dyanie
woot woot for the another blessing! happy 2010 Jo! 🙂 cheers!!! 🙂
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upto6only
seems a good year ahead of you 🙂
Happy New year
.-= upto6only´s last blog ..PHOTOHUNT: Lick =-.
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luna miranda
sorry to hear about your wisdom tooth…bad timing nga. my sister had “singaw” during the New Year, di halos makakain—buti pa sya (LOL). don’t worry about grey hairs, comfort yourself that they don’t hurt.:p
your rattan chaise lounge makes me long to be in the beach! can’t wait for the summer.:p
.-= luna miranda´s last blog ..Sizzling Tofu =-.
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Daphne
Well even though I’m sure your dental visit was quite painful at least it wasn’t a hospital visit where you lost some limbs due to firecrackers. I read that so far almost 900 people have firecracker related injuries. Tsk tsk we never learn.
May 2010 be the year where you get everything your heart desires and more!
Happy New Year =)
.-= Daphne´s last blog ..Happy 2010 =-.
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renin
I love your rattan lounge… Just three grey hairs? Count your self lucky I started to have my own share of grey hair since I don’t know when (genes… genes… genes…)
A Happy and fruitful 2010! ^_^
.-= renin´s last blog ..Pussy moment # 1: Like you, I am hungry =-.
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angeli
sarap magrelax sa chair! 🙂
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Em Dy
Happy new year. Not spending anything on New Year’s seems a good idea. I just racked my brain trying to recall if I spent anything then. I’m not sure but the only thing I remember putting out cash for was the collection during the mass.
.-= Em Dy´s last blog ..Nobody, Nobody But Juan =-.
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Jeanny
Congrats Wits. I know 2010 will be another fruitful year for you. CHeers!!!!
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dong ho
im actually impressed to those who conquer homesickness. kaya kahanga hanga ka kasi alam mo na ganyan talaga pag nagtrabaho sa labas.
.-= dong ho´s last blog ..eskapo turns two =-.
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kayni
great to hear you managed well spending the holidays away from family and home. i kept myself busy and attended a few parties. i think i did well too. like you, i wore polka dots on new year’s eve…polka dots pjs…lol.
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Photo Cache
I am so enlightened by some of the NY traditions that are Filipino in nature, like not eating chicken. My family did not put too much emphasis on following these traditions, so to me learning them now is great.
Sorry about your pain. You know when you get some tooth ache your whole mood changes.
When I first saw my first grey hair I said, I have arrived, I have matured (really not feeling my actual age). The lone grey remained solo for 2-3 years until mid 2009, I noticed that there’s 3 or 4 of them on top of my head. Then I got panicky 🙂
Happy New Year again.
.-= Photo Cache´s last blog ..Gaudi: Mi Casa Es Su Casa =-.
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kg
your rattan chair is so nice! it’s so pinoy! siguro pag nakaupo ka dyan it’s like being home! 🙂
congrats on surviving your first holidays away from home!
.-= kg´s last blog ..Total Coke ban =-.
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eds
happy new year wits! and congrats on surviving the homesickness. uy, ganda ng chair mo ha. uhmmm… pwede makihiga muna jan. hehehe
.-= eds´s last blog ..welcome 2010! =-.
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aLine
YAY… happy new year!
.-= aLine´s last blog ..Welcoming 2010 =-.
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docgelo
so glad to know you’re also doing now review lectures! so for what exams are these? (sorry for being still clueless with your line of work)., and btw, that rattan chair is really inviting.
.-= docgelo´s last blog ..TEN THINGS YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT US =-.
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witsandnuts
For the CPA Board.
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redlan
*Grey hairs
feeling reyna ka kapag nakarest ka sa lovely rattan chair + the dramatic sheep skin na yan tas bigla ka na alng tumayo at kumanta ng single ladies or nobody. joke lang. Speaking og grey hair, ako andami na. oh my. kapag magpagupit ako tinatouch ko yung nahuhulog na buhok and almost 1/3 na ng buhok ko ay puti. Kaya huwag mong bunutin ang nakikata mong grey hair mo. Sabi nga ni Donita about sa hubby niya, happy daw ito ng makita na may puting buhok na siya kasi daw mas closer na siya sa Diyos.
*Major homesickness
Hindi ko man naranasan yan, I understand you kasi first time mo mag celebrate ng christmas away sa family mo and not to mention away ka sa family mo talaga.
*First new year without lighting a firecracker
Ako takot talaga ako sa paputok. Pero yung tradition ko every new year is to be with my family. Baligtad kasi kapag Christmas I prefer na hindi ako nagcelebrate sa kanila.
*A visit to the hospital on 1st of January
Ako noong new year’s day, nasira ang cam ko. Masakit talaga yang mag tubo ng wisdom tooth sobra!
*Chipmunking on the the 1st of January
I missed to watch Avatar huhuhu
*Accepting another blessing
Blessing talaga ito plus you are earning. Sarap ng feeling niyan. Kaya goodluck
*Something unusual
Ganun pala yun? Ako tinamad nooong new year kasi nga na-disappoint ako medyo dahil nasira ang cam. Hindi nga ako nakapag reply ng text noong 3 kings ko lang nireply-an.
Happy New Year!
.-= redlan´s last blog ..GUIMARAS ISLAND HOPPING PART 2 =-.
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Nebz
Happy New Year. Life is ‘a fair equation’…I like that. Thank you. And yes, I believe in that too.
Hope you’re feeling okay now.
My New Year is simple, and unlike you, I strictly stuck to old traditions of:
1. No chicken on New Year (in fact until after Three Kings);
2. No money will come out of my wallet on New Year’s Day;
3. My flatmate steamed an ube-flavoured sapin-sapin;
4. For ‘long life’, we had pansit and spaghetti (never mind that they are really not a pair);
5. And finally, we threw coins and candies at the struck of New Year.
(My flatmate put some coins atop a bowl of munggo beans. Ask me no question because I really have no idea why).
And yet with all our preparations and traditional antics, I still felt empty and sad and wanting that New Year’s Day. Haaay naku. I told God: Sya na ang bahala sa lahat…
(Siguro holiday blues lang because I’m quite upbeat at this moment…)
.-= Nebz´s last blog ..I work here =-.
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Rach (Heart of Rachel)
That’s a lovely rattan chair. Looks like a ‘comfort chair’ perfect while reading or watching TV.
It must not be easy surpassing homesickness but glad you did.
We don’t light firecrackers anymore. We just watch the fireworks in the neighborhood.
Hope your tooth feels better. Take care.
.-= Rach (Heart of Rachel)´s last blog ..Happy New Year! =-.
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maan
Love the rattan chair! Sheepskin reminded me of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe queen, hahaha 🙂
.-= maan´s last blog ..Resolutions 2010. =-.
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