Balikbayan Box

It’s my first (and probably the last) time to pack a balikbayan box. Ang hirap pala! I must say, labor of love talaga s’ya. My back hurts because I had to do a lot of bending to make sure that I put enough masking tape (or should I say “more than enough” because my box looks like a giant plastic covered book?) for safekeeping purposes. Nakaka-paranoid kasi. Mahirap na. Like my Nanay always tells me, better safe than sorry, diba? ;D

Labor of love nga talaga s’ya. Everything about the box (from the hard-earned money that was used to buy all the much-thought-of handpicked gifts inside it to the fingerprint-covered masking tape used to secure it) can prove that point. It’s a huge box (45x53x60 cm in size), so it’s not very easy to securely package it. Not only that, because it’s huge, mahirap din s’yang punuin, but since you pay the same price regardless of how heavy your box is, your tendency is to buy more things to fill it and make sure that you don’t waste any space. Sounds impractical? Well, para lang ‘yang credit card commercial, the toys + the chocolates + the clothes were worth “something-something” dollars, but the smile on my nephew’s face when he sees all of my presents for him? Priceless. :)

Well, now that the “ripping-off-scotch-tape” sound no longer dominates my room as my balikbayan box is now completely ready for tomorrow’s pick-up, I can rest and just enjoy imagining the smiles on my loved ones’ faces in about 45 days from now. Yes, it takes that long to have the box shipped to Manila. Pero, sabi nga nila, all good things are worth the wait. Hmmm... Parang ako? Tama ba? Sana. :P

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Spring, Pasalubong, Escabeche, Atbp.

It feels more like spring lately. I think the temperature will no longer drop to 40s (Fahrenheit) starting today. Spring feels like “Baguio weather” to me. It’s still cold, but it’s no longer cold enough to jump into those thick winter jackets that make you look twice bigger than your real size. Actually, I’ve already placed my winter jackets (along with my gloves) in a shelf and for the past few weeks, the old sports jackets that I’ve brought with me from Manila have been keeping me warm. Also, it already feels okay to just wear slippers/sandals (instead of rubber shoes) when going out. I’m sure Chicago locals feel just the same or should I say, they’re more thrilled about this “winter is finally over and summer is coming soon” weather that you actually see them sporting their skimpy swimsuit tops on the streets? :P

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I’ll be home in a little over a couple of months from now. I’ve already started buying pasalubongs for my family and friends back home and I’m planning to have everything shipped to Manila by June. I can’t wait to see their smiles when I personally hand those things to them! Just to manage everyone’s expectations, the things I bought are not luxurious items, okay? They’re just little things that say -- “Hey, you crossed my mind while I'm away!” I remember one of my teammates telling me that I should only bring home something for those people who remembered to say “hi,” “hello,” or “how are you?” while I’m here. Hmmm… I’d actually like to apply a stricter “pasalubong guideline.” I’d only buy something for those who said “I miss you” without mentioning the word “pasalubong.” I think that’s fair enough. :D

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I’ve learned a lot of things while I’m away from home. I know I’ve already mentioned something about learning how to cook adobo and nilaga in one of my past entries. Just an update, my latest recipe (or should I say experiment?) is called “finding Nemo.” Why? Well, the recipe is actually called “escabeche,” but I think I poured-in an overwhelming amount of sweet and sour sauce that my housemate had to do some digging before she gets to see the fried fish! Ever heard of the “happy trail, happy meal” concept? Let’s just say the sauce was the “happy trail” and the fish was the “happy meal.” Hehehe! By the way, I didn’t ask my housemate if she liked my “escabeche.” You know what they say -- what you don’t know, won’t hurt you. ;D

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I had dinner with my lady bosses a few weeks ago. My direct supervisor, a Filipina who is already based here and is married to a Filipino, said her husband was going to pick her up and drive her home when we’re done. Everyone, except me, said “Awwe!” and someone even said “My husband will never do that for me.” No wonder why there is divorce in a country where making sure that your partner gets home safely is “above normal.” Well, I must say, iba pa rin talaga ang Pinoy! At another dinner, someone from our table said that getting the chance to stay in the US for a while could either (a) make you want to leave Philippines or (b) make you appreciate Philippines more. Didn’t I just say “Iba pa rin talaga ang Pinoy?” Need I say more? :)

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Spring in Chicago

Spring is indeed the best time of the year! Here is how Chicago's Michigan Avenue looks like right now --

More spring pictures coming soon! Cheers everyone! :D

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Sharing my Latest Adventure

After getting a lecture about enjoying our stay in Chicago from one of Accenture's senior executives at a dinner last night -- Malou, Cors and I all decided to go out and see the Shedd Aquarium today. Although we boarded the wrong train at first, we were able to get to the Lake Shore Drive after taking the right orange line train and a short bus ride. The place was jam-packed! The dolphin show was entertaining! The sea animals were amazing! I wish I was able to experience all of these with Erwin (my road trip partner) and little Gio (my nephew who adores Happy Feet). They would have loved it too... Well, who knows? Maybe someday we'll have the chance to be at the same place together. For now, I just hope that this entry (especially the pictures posted in it) makes them feel like they were a part of this recent adventure.

The long wait outside the freezing cold entrance of John G. Shedd Aquarium at the Lake Shore Drive!

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The dolphin show which somehow made the long wait worth it!

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Happy Feet LIVE!

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Photo op with Cors...

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Photo op with Malou...

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Finally, a photo op with Cors and Malou! Thanks to the Indian couple who were so nice to take this picture for us!

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Off to Chicago

Despedida dinner at Seafood Island in Cubao

I'm glad Ipe, Kris, Adrian, Carli, Feli and A all came when I had a small going-away dinner a few days before I left. I knew I was going to miss them so badly! Now, I'm being a little sentimental and really missing hanging-out with them. For sure, I'm going to miss-out on Varsi-Amihan events for the next 4-6 months, especially this year's Visita Iglesia and "the" birth of Felipe III! Awwwe! Don't forget to send me some pictures guys! I can't wait for our next dinner and coffee together. Take care everyone!

Keeping in touch!

Erwin and I talk almost everyday. Thanks to MSN, Skype and Chikka! I've never imagined being in a long distance relationship. The distance and the time difference can really make things a little bit difficult to handle BUT we're holding on and we're keeping it strong! Hopefully, we'll be back driving-around, eating-out, watching movies and having coffee together soon.

Onshore...

Some interesting things that I've gone through in my first week here in Chicago --

• staying-up until 4 in the morning just watching One Tree Hill episodes in YouTube because of jet lag;
• cooking (So far, I've already cooked corned beef, sausage and soup!) so that Cors (my housemate) and I would have something to eat;
• doing my own laundry (all of it!); and
• finding the best solution to extremely dry skin and chapped lips (baby oil + lotion + petroleum jelly + chapstick).

I bet more things are coming my way! Hopefully, I'd be able to adjust soon. For sure, I am going to learn a lot of things while I'm away from home. More stories coming-up!

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