not wonderful wonderland

Last night, I saw Alice in Wonderland the Disney animated version in DVD for the first time. I have read the book and saw illustrations so many times in the past. When I was young, I thought it was amazing and I have dreamt of falling down the rabbit hole a couple of times over.

But seeing the whole story on film, I’d say I am quite disappointed. My 4 year old was amused, obviously, as she is chuckling from scene to scene. However I find that the Mad Hatter’s tea party scene was too much. There are too many pranks and violence in it: throwing of tea cups, spoiling food, burning with hot water, destroying the White Rabbit’s precious possession. I didn’t like it and I feel a little bad that was the movie me and my hubby came up for the babe on Christmas. The story revolved endlessly on mostly nonsense that would not qualify to call it a wonderland, at all. At least not in my standards.

Have you seen the movie too? What do you think of it?

The internet and me, then and now

Every now and then we hold a conference, chat conference online that is, my 5 other siblings and I. One brother chillin’ in Tokyo, 3 brothers in the Philippines (different locations) and my only sister in my parent’s house also in the Philippines.

I say I have to thank the internet so badly. It is saving me lots of airplane tickets as well as scary telephone bills. Eleven long years ago, I always find myself sulking in my school dormitory with nothing to do on weekends. I don’t count tons of Japanese language as “something to do”, it was “something to do or die thing…”

Oh, I wish blogging is as hip then as it is now!

On Friday nights then, I would phone home and act surprised every time I get my phone bills. Whoa! almost half of my meager scholarship allowance goes to my telephone bills. Weeks came and went and so were most of my money. But I did not complain, I don’t have any form of connection with my “other” world. That time, the internet and email was already existing and kicking in some popularity but in that part of the world that is called the Philippines, only well off individuals own a PC and back then my family is not among those individuals (we are not rich now but we were able to buy a PC already).

I would write letters in the middle of my boring classes and religiously send it every weekend but I still phone them. Nothing feels like hearing voices of loved ones on the telephone, made me feel I am not alone, that they are around me, only invisible.

Now, as I speak, the internet cafes in my once silent town is multiplying like mushrooms, looming here and there. The internet, what I call, the gateway to the rest of the world has found its way into the homes of the common people even not rich nor famous.

I chat with my family, I hear their voices over IP phone, free! I am forever grateful to this technology. I plug in my webcam and they see me, they love looking at my growing daughter and I don’t know if they will ever know how much it means to me to see them even in my PC screen.

My family and I have electronic proximity. Much as I want to take the next available flight home, money matters matters alot especially now that I have my own family so the internet is the next best thing there is.

I am thinking: if internet was this active then, I would have saved on all that telephone bills and become one of the richest girl in the world now.

This writing exercise is fueled by the writing prompt “now and then” at Sunday Scribblings.

warm christmas

Christmas has passed and I am still writing a post about it. I guess I am still reeling with the Christmas I never get to celebrate because I was so sick this year, I actually slept through Christmas eve.

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Back home where my parents and siblings live, the countdown to Christmas starts as early as September.Christmas in the Philippines is the longest time of the year. It begins in September.

Houses of excited merry makers are decorated with Christmas ornaments and office Christmas parties are already planned ahead. Carolers arrange Christmas carols and choirs practice yuletide songs. In the malls, the Christmas music is played loud, though I can never understand why the song “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas” is played so often. Usually sweat is running down my back as I hear it played. I suppose they play it because there, one can only dream about it.

My friends in Japan (where I lived for more than 10 years) are baffled why we celebrate Christmas like it is main big event. In Japan, December 25 is a quiet day for lovers. Time for candlelit dinner dates, ski trips and other private getaways. On the contrary, in the country where I was born, Christmas is taught as the time for families. The season for love and to give love, a season for forgiveness, a season for togetherness. In some ways Christmas is like Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, and Christmas all together.

My friends said they could not imagine Christmas in summer. Christmas without snow, without snowman on the hill and no big pine trees. But Christmas without snow is still Christmas, with all the essence of it. Even if Santa had to change costumes when visiting the Philippines (or Dubai, where I am now for that matter) from heavy winter coats to sleeveless shirt and shorts (or maybe come naked), he still do visit, in the hearts of innocent young children like I was before.

Whoever gave most people the idea that Christmas is only made up of snow and cold, winter nights spent in front of the fireplace while waiting for Santa?

Christmas is so partial to the countries in the northern part of the globe. It may be the American colonization in the Philippines for more than 20 years that brought the idea of a ‘winter, white Christmas’ and we normally embrace it every year without questions asked. Taking the trouble to shred white foams to pieces to resemble snow, tear gold and silver foil papers to resemble icicles.

Our snowman may be made of Styrofoams, our candy canes melting in the sun, Frosty dying in the near 30 degree C temperature and we could not sing let it snow, let it snow without working on our imagination, but our Christmas is no less than heart-warming and joyous than that of the northern hemisphere.

celebrating Christmas late

The babe was thrilled to see so many gifts under the tree. She had been prodding me to open every one of them every single day since the gifts were placed there. Thankfully, she is no longer a baby and can fully understand now the meaning of the word wait.

Yesterday was her big day, we finally opened all the presents much to her delight. We opened a couple of presents on the 23rd, her birthday and then on Christmas morning and the rest we opened yesterday since I am only home on Fridays. I know, my job schedule sucks.

I feel strange having a get together at home and having a party after Christmas. It’s just so different if only we were able to do the festivities on the actual Christmas day. But now is not the time to complain as we intend to stay here in Dubai for at least 5 years so chances are, we will be celebrating Christmas at an ‘off date’ again next year and the next.

Aloha Friday #7

Do you keep a list of New Year’s resolutions?

Yes I do and I keep coming back to the list to check how far I am progressing.

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Aloha Friday is a weekly posting all in the spirit of fun and relaxation. No heavy, brain-stormed posts, just ask a simple question for readers to answer in the comments. Visit the Aloha Friday HQ @ An Island Life.

Why I almost didn’t have a T13 this week

Thanks to Harlekwin for the T13 banner

1. I usually write my T13 post on Saturdays and Sundays and this weekend was just crazy. The babe was sick on Saturday and I had to do errands for her birthday on Sunday.

2. It was her birthday on Sunday and I have limited time on the internet at home due to some company policy. As much as possible, I don’t go online at home.

3. It’s Christmas week! I had cards to write and give out.

4. I had a tough time looking for the post office location. Seriously!

5. I had to buy a Christmas gift for our family Christmas party where we will exchange gifts.

6. I slept really late on December 24, waiting for something to happen. Nothing happened.

7. I was busy thinking of strategies how to get an excuse to be absent on the 25th; consistently peeking on my boss’s cabin and analyzing his every move.

8. I had to replace lights outside because our Christmas lights in the balcony decided to die three days before Christmas.

9. I was busy chatting with my many brothers and my sister, scattered around the globe (ok, exaggerating — 3 are in the home country though one is in a different place and one brother is in Japan. My lovely sister is left in the family home).

10. Instead of blogging and making a T13 at night, I slept early at 9 pm on most days this week. I’m never functional enough to write a decent post at late nights anyway.

11. I became too immersed in doing another Thursday Thirteen list at my other blog.

12. Year 2007 will soon be over and I was busy making my new year’s resolutions.

13. Everyone is busy for the holidays to even read TT’s!

Meeting Santa for the first time

I sure want to know what she wished for!

Merry Christmas to All!

May the spirit of Christmas bring you good cheer and lots of love. Merry Christmas, from my home to yours.

birthdays, friends, toys

The babe had a blast on her birthday. Straight from the office last night, we hurried home to find three kids seriously having loads of fun!

~ the girls blowing balloons; Shawn said he’s a bunny; I am amazed at how simple it is to make kids happy~

My aunt’s ward, two other kiddies from Australia (now living in Dubai) came, brought gift of toys and girly things like a cute bag, a stuffed toy and lots of hair clips.

Pristine and her friend in the picture, Alani were inseparable.

~ Pristine (4) and Alani (7). They get along really well! ~

A friend of mine came with a toy castle with lots of miniature princes and princesses on it. Lots of toys in a day than what she can have for a year! But then she does not have that much penchant for toys (except for bikes, obviously!).

Our gift for her was a bike, a book, an origami kit and a Little Mermaid DVD.

When the guests went, we are in bed reading the book for more than 5 times and singing Ariel’s song. The other toys are neatly tucked, the princess castle is standing still beside our tree, almost untouched. I guess at the end of the day, all the babe wanted was some company (us and her kid friends). Oh, and the bicycle, too!

Happy 4th Birthday, (not so) little one!

Four years ago today, at exactly 4:36 a.m., my life changed; I became a mom! Four years. Wow, where did the all the time go?

Since I really had an overwhelming labor, I thought it was the ultimate challenge to become a parent and I survived. Truth is, it was just the start. My life has never been the same since I brought our little bundle of joy from the hospital one cold winter not too long ago. From then on, everyday was a challenge on its own. 

But although parenting comes with sleepless nights, some heart racing moments and the worries when babies get sick, the joys of being told “I love you, mama” , the wet sweet kisses and warm fuzzy hugs everyday makes being a mom my favorite role in life.

Happy 4th Birthday, my sweet and thank you for making it easy for me to slide into parenthood with the little skills I have. I know you can’t read yet but some day when you can, I want you to know that I love you more than anything and anyone in the world! I live for you!

Who knew someone this small could influence me so greatly?