magic-SING adventure was originally posted on 15 august 2008.
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for the first time, i lived far away from home…well, at least that was the longest that i’ve stayed away from home - two months that is (and no, dorm days in college doesnt count since i stayed at sanLo for less than a month lang). it was a great adventure though. there, i was doing a lot of things on my own. i was crossing the street (confidently) by myself (kasi strict ang traffic rules so safe tumawid basta nasa pedestrian lane ka). i was having meals by myself (when friends are busy to eat with me). i was doing the laundry and ironing of clothes. i was commuting by myself - eto talagang milestone yan! as long as i have the two most important books with me - which was the map and the mrt/bus guide, check na. i can go anywhere. i also learned the art of riding the escalators there (haha). i have a thing about riding escalators kasi — for me to feel safe and stable, i have to stay on the right side and i have to wait for the correct timing of the step using my right foot. but there, i didnt have that luxury. people are always "on-the-go" so hindi pwede mabagal - wala ng timing-timing, step agad. plus, the right side is the "fast-lane" side, which means, if you want to just stand on the step until you reach the top or the bottom of the escalator, you have to stay on the left side. o dba? may ganun?
so in a way, i’d say that for a couple of months, i left my "comfort-zone".
some of my observations and personal opinions:
the rules.
> there, they follow the keep-left-policy as opposed to our keep-right-policy. right hand drive din so when crossing the street, it was a bit of a challenge to me [at first] kasi nakakalito which side should i watch out for.
> and speaking of cars, ilang beses din ako nabiktima sa pagtawid ng small streets kasi dba, una…watch out for passing vehicles, so…you look to your left. you look to your right. if its clear, you cross the street. but the moment i start crossing, may biglang susulpot na kotse! ay panalo shempre matataranta ako ng konti then for a split second there, maiisip ko, parang napanood ko na to sa cartoons! haha although in fairness, hindi ka naman sasagasaan ng mga kotse. ;]
> there, they follow the keep-left-policy as opposed to our keep-right-policy. right hand drive din so when crossing the street, it was a bit of a challenge to me [at first] kasi nakakalito which side should i watch out for.
> and speaking of cars, ilang beses din ako nabiktima sa pagtawid ng small streets kasi dba, una…watch out for passing vehicles, so…you look to your left. you look to your right. if its clear, you cross the street. but the moment i start crossing, may biglang susulpot na kotse! ay panalo shempre matataranta ako ng konti then for a split second there, maiisip ko, parang napanood ko na to sa cartoons! haha although in fairness, hindi ka naman sasagasaan ng mga kotse. ;]
safety.
> crime rate is only at 4%. some crimes are punishable by death penalty. at magaling silang manakot dun. some slogans: terrorism is real. be alert! o kaya naman eh, low crime rate doesnt mean no crimes. be vigilant!
> crime rate is only at 4%. some crimes are punishable by death penalty. at magaling silang manakot dun. some slogans: terrorism is real. be alert! o kaya naman eh, low crime rate doesnt mean no crimes. be vigilant!
lifestyle.
> mahal ang halos lahat ng bagay dun. ang rent, ang food, ang mga bilihin. in fairness though, pag sale ang mga shops, sale talga. for example, you can buy charles and keith stuff at Php 500+ and signature clothes at Php 150 and up ;] pati mobile phones. kahit sa 7-11 pwede ka bumili ng brand new na phone at Php 3K.
> mahal ang halos lahat ng bagay dun. ang rent, ang food, ang mga bilihin. in fairness though, pag sale ang mga shops, sale talga. for example, you can buy charles and keith stuff at Php 500+ and signature clothes at Php 150 and up ;] pati mobile phones. kahit sa 7-11 pwede ka bumili ng brand new na phone at Php 3K.
transportation.
> for me, very efficient ang public transportation. ang mrt at ang bus. ang cab, well, mejo mahal lalo na pag peak hours or wee hours na may surcharge.
> for me, very efficient ang public transportation. ang mrt at ang bus. ang cab, well, mejo mahal lalo na pag peak hours or wee hours na may surcharge.
the food.
> well, okay naman…since i like spicy food. but then again, filipino food has an engraved mark on my taste buds kaya i still end up looking for that pinoy taste. when it comes to fruits naman, i feel like almost everything is bland - banana, mangoes, lansones, atis, melon…parang bitin sa tamis.
> well, okay naman…since i like spicy food. but then again, filipino food has an engraved mark on my taste buds kaya i still end up looking for that pinoy taste. when it comes to fruits naman, i feel like almost everything is bland - banana, mangoes, lansones, atis, melon…parang bitin sa tamis.
the people.
> konti lang ang maganda at gwapo dun.
> kahit lolo na or lola, nagttrabaho pa din and some of them even live alone.
> there’s a big age gap within their population. people marry late and most of them raise only 1 or 2 children. tapos legal pa ang abortion at may divorce. although the government encourages the people to raise more children. may baby-allowance pa nga eh.
> sa personal kong opinyon, ang ibang mga locals, amoy kusina; ang mga indian naman, well marami sa kanila ang hindi mabango; at sabi nila, ang mga pinoy daw may amoy din - amoy kanin (in fairness, ang kanin eh mabango pa din, dba?)
> another observation is that, they are not as warm [compared to pinoys at least]. i feel like they are so detached. as if everything is just business and nothing personal. although contrary to that, public display of affection there seem to be very normal and "accepted"; teens would hold each other in the mrt’s or malls as if they should just get a room but then again, they are too young to get a room so you’d feel like saying "hijo,hija, umayos kayo!" :P
> madalas ang mga tao dun eh nasa mall o gimikan que ber kung weekday. que ber kung may pasok the next day. tapos parang lagi silang harassed. parang laging may hinahabol na oras! ay! nakaka-stress!
> konti lang ang maganda at gwapo dun.
> kahit lolo na or lola, nagttrabaho pa din and some of them even live alone.
> there’s a big age gap within their population. people marry late and most of them raise only 1 or 2 children. tapos legal pa ang abortion at may divorce. although the government encourages the people to raise more children. may baby-allowance pa nga eh.
> sa personal kong opinyon, ang ibang mga locals, amoy kusina; ang mga indian naman, well marami sa kanila ang hindi mabango; at sabi nila, ang mga pinoy daw may amoy din - amoy kanin (in fairness, ang kanin eh mabango pa din, dba?)
> another observation is that, they are not as warm [compared to pinoys at least]. i feel like they are so detached. as if everything is just business and nothing personal. although contrary to that, public display of affection there seem to be very normal and "accepted"; teens would hold each other in the mrt’s or malls as if they should just get a room but then again, they are too young to get a room so you’d feel like saying "hijo,hija, umayos kayo!" :P
> madalas ang mga tao dun eh nasa mall o gimikan que ber kung weekday. que ber kung may pasok the next day. tapos parang lagi silang harassed. parang laging may hinahabol na oras! ay! nakaka-stress!
bloopers.
> madami akong bloopers dun. especially given the language barrier. isang example eh yung pagtanong ng isang uncle sa kin after ordering lunch. he said "carry?" so i thought he was asking me if i was taking it out so i said "yes" then he poured almost a whole cup of "gravy" on my rice! ‘nun ko lang na-realize…gravy ang sabi hindi carry. beri gud.
> madami akong bloopers dun. especially given the language barrier. isang example eh yung pagtanong ng isang uncle sa kin after ordering lunch. he said "carry?" so i thought he was asking me if i was taking it out so i said "yes" then he poured almost a whole cup of "gravy" on my rice! ‘nun ko lang na-realize…gravy ang sabi hindi carry. beri gud.
but all in all, my stay there has been great. i learned a lot, built a bit of self-confidence, experienced a degree of independence and to an effect, had a good rest - a couple of months away from stress and "unpleasantness" of some things in manila. although, i must still say that there is really no place like home. i would even wake up in the middle of the night with a slight panic attack [and maybe with a little brink-of-crying-episodes] for no apparent reason because i would find myself asking "where am i?" - my mind struggles to convince myself that i am "home" but the truth of the matter is, i am not. i am away from home…so after much thought - now, i am back home.
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comments:
it’s been a long time before i read your blog again..remember i used to be an avid fan…heheheh..pro i am back..sobrang busy lang..anyway..i am so glad you’re home…don’t go to SING again…me utang pa taung reunion sa isa’t isa..kelan ba matutuloy yan?!
i miss you shombs..one of the best people i’ve known..
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