Blog-o-sphere | witsandnuts

Category: Blog-o-sphere
- An expat’s advice to herself and other expats out there
  
  Posted at 5:16 pm by witsandnuts, on November 13, 2016
  
  Probably one of the most unique and stunning Starbucks outlets that you will find in the whole planet is in Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai, UAE.
  
  Keep track of your long and short-term goals. The UAE is an excellent country to learn and grow professionally, and on a personal level. At some point it tends to be a fairy tale due to indescribable blessings, temptations, and challenges. Whether you like fairy tales or not, it is up to you to write your own happy ending.
  
  Being an expat requires a certain amount of humility and assertiveness. Each day, look for opportunities that will make your home country proud of you by bringing integrity and cheer in your own ways. Do not forget where you came from. You are an expat on a mission, and you should have an exit plan – a graceful and respectful one.
  
  I have been interviewed regarding expat living in the UAE, integrating into a multi-cultural environment, pieces of advice for soon-to-be expats in the UAE and more. Thanks for the feature, Expat.com. Here is the link to the full details of the interview.
  
  Posted in Blog-o-sphere, UAE, Uncategorized | 1 Comment | Tagged Abu Dhabi, Expat Living, Feature
- Witsandnuts in InterNations.org
  
  Posted at 6:45 pm by witsandnuts, on July 5, 2012
  
  I want to thank the InterNations team* for picking Witsandnuts as one of the top expat blogs in Abu Dhabi (hence, the new badge on the sidebar). I also appreciate their interest to feature the blog and the person behind it on the Recommended Expat Blogs in Abu Dhabi page.
  
  The request for the feature was first communicated to me by its founder in March of 2012, however, I was able to address the request only recently. Those who frequent this blog can probably tell that I have been caught by ultra busyhood. Again, I thank the team for the patience and gentle reminders.
  
  Continue reading →
  
  Posted in Blog-o-sphere, UAE | 0 Comments | Tagged Abu Dhabi, Blogosphere, InterNations
- Wishes do come true, so here’s my Christmas wish list
  
  Posted at 8:20 pm by witsandnuts, on November 25, 2011
  
  How moments fly! It’s now round 2 of our version of bloggers Christmas exchange gift. Thanks to our gracious host, PM for sustaining this initiative. It’s given that gift-hunting and and wish-listing would be challenging since I’m too busy (the same old tune), but I willingly joined in again because I don’t want to miss the fun. I enjoyed last year’s entire process of exchange gift — stitching the set of surprises for my baby blogger and personally receiving the package sent by my ‘mommy blogger’ and exclaiming “yehey, she sent me Princess Leia and R2-D2 (Starwars) and all those things that made my 2010 holidays happier!” It was extra interesting because I got the package while I was vacationing in the Philippines in time for Christmas. So here we are again, I’m looking forward to have an ‘exchange of warmth and care’ with another blogger. Do we have the same wish list? (I did a strike through of those which already materialized. Yehey!)
  
  Something (1) small: artsy hairclift (2) big: new or old magazines which had a feature on Ely Buendia (3) cute: ~~earphones~~ (4) soft: socks with cat print
  
  Something (5) techie: ~~e-reader preferably a Kindle~~ (6) fancy: ~~a brown case for my Fuji X100~~ (I got two from my friends!) (7) fave color: right now my fave color is ginger because that speaks about our new kitten, Perdita; I’d be pleased to have the book “How to Live With A Neurotic Cat”, PM’s post piqued me (8) wearable: bracelet
  
  Something (9) I need: SLEEP. I’m always striving to increase my zzzzzs-time. As an alternate wish, I need Fuji films for my Instamax mini. My film stock is depleting soon and unfortunately, I can’t source anything within the UAE. (10) work: I miss those Panda pens with sweet scent and glitters from the Philippines, with blue ink as I recall (11) sweet: Lala candies from the Philippines.
  
  Wish-listing is challenging but fun. To my exchange gift partner, I hope this helps as a guide. Enjoy the hunt and stay cool because anything from you is going to be much appreciated, basta don’t forget my Lala candies (wish # 11). 🙂
  
  [Photo credit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11]
  
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  Posted in Blog-o-sphere | 0 Comments | Tagged Blogosphere, Kris Kringle with blog pals
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- About witsandnuts
  
  Marhaba! That's "hello" in Arabic. I am an expatriate based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). I started writing about my adventures and misadventures few months before arriving here at winter of 2008. I have 2 cats and a dog who live harmoniously together. I am also surrounded by kindhearted, crazy, funny and indescribable humans! I was a dormant blogger for almost 3 years because of countless reasonable justifications like watching football, postgraduate studies, sleeping, traveling, caring for the world, and more! :) I am just so happy that I am back! It is never too late to catch up with the people and things we really care about. Feel free to look around.
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  13 January 2020 Timelapse shot with an iPhone 7+ (pre-sunset, actual sunset, post-sunset). 🌅 . . . I have started practising a bit of Stoicism (branch of philosophy) since August of 2019. I liked its effect on my well being. Therefore, while I am quite far to being a real Stoic and I do not intend to perfect it, I joined the 21-Day New Year, New You Challenge. It is the 13th day... Well, I am proud to say that I have failed in majority of the challenges, so far. 😅 I like that some of those challenges seem easy, unreasonable and may trigger a “what the F”🙈... but whenever I fail, I do not feel upset but more encouraged to try again. In the process, I happily learn, know myself more, become better in many aspects, and more at peace. One of the challenges is to constantly watch the sunrise and sunset. I thought it is plain and straightforward, particularly that I like watching the sunrise (more than) and sunset. Hence, my IG bio says ‘Waiting for the sunrise’. Watching the sunrise is also more accessible to me because I usually do it at the parking area near the office or when I walk Clover (our furmily member) on weekends. So, I thought I would challenge myself more in finding quality time to watch the sunset. I tried something new. Without proper planning (out of character), I drove somewhere wherein there is a reflection pool to ‘experience’ today’s sunset. I was there 40 minutes before sunset. I was truly present and witnessed all of it — the ripples, changing colors, until the bottom of the sun reached the horizon. Wow, it felt symbolic and cosmical at the same time. I realized that this challenge taught a great practice — of renewal and rejuvenation. One day has finished and I look forward to witnessing the sun’s reappearance tomorrow, with gratitude and hope.
  
  “It feels like Christmas everyday because you are here.” #blessed #grateful #Jsjourney #abudhabi #christmasbreak2019
  
  Exactly a month ago, as we were sitting on this bench. 🕰 . . J: Mama, is there any shop you want to check or would you like to buy something from here? . . Me: No. I don’t feel the need to buy anything. I am quite happy about what I have... . . J: Is there anything specific you want to do while we are here? . . Me: Hhhm... I just want to sit and enjoy the moment. . . J: Wow. . . Me: Wait, I just want to take *this photo*, so I’ll have comparative photos in the same spot, of the times we visited Covent Garden together. #Jsjourney #conversationswithJ #lateupload
  
  The day we said “see you again”, “don’t cry too much”, and many other things, culminated with the warmest embrace of the century. #Jsjourney #blessed #graceatwork
  
  J: Mama, it’s amazing! Well, this and that (blah, blah)... What kind of magic did you do? Me: I prayed. I ALWAYS pray for you. Remember the book, ‘The Power of A Praying Parent’? #Jsjourney #thedaybeforemyreturnflight #blessed #grateful #graceatwork
  
  She’s a wild grass, she’ll survive anywhere. Very proud, I am. #Jsjourney #blessed #graceatwork
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