Life Is Beautiful

Moved!

2012-02-07T14:40:00.001+01:00

I may not be able to update this blog more often 'coz am maintaining a more positive site now!

Please follow my new blogsite.

Thanks! God bless!

Starting Anew Is Not That Easy

2012-01-30T00:13:00.001+01:00

I thought I was ready when I decided to apply for visa to be with my husband, but I thought wrong. Three months living here seems to be soooo long for me. I miss a lot of things am used to doing way back in the Philippines, and one of which is... WORKING.

I have been unemployed for 9 months now, longest I have no job since I finished my university degree. Though I worked for a freelance writing job for three months from my nine months and one month used for wedding preparation and wedding itself. So basically, it's really 5 months doing totally nothing.

I miss working, that's for real. Sometimes, I am thinking about going back to the Philippines and get back to my old life. But I know I shouldn't. My husband don't mind it at all, he said whatever I want, he'll support me all the way. But I won't do that. We had fought two straight years away from each other, and now that we are married, it is just not right to turn my back just because my life is not turning out the way I want it to be here in Germany. I definitely won't do that. I will stay here and take one step at a time. I know it will take longer time before I can establish myself here, my life and my career.

Starting anew as a foreigner is so tiring at times. But I just have to look forward and think positively. With my husband with me, I know this journey and hardship would all be worth it.

*Sorry, am just so emotional these past few days... Then I saw this advertisement about a training opportunity at Heraeus, and it made me feel more eager to get a job. But first, I need to go back to my Sprachkurs and pass the exams.*

Warum Ramona Nerra muss weiter und weiter gehen??? Ich kann das nicht verstehen!!!

2012-01-14T18:35:00.001+01:00

The Voice of Germany. At the beginning, their ad slogan says, "we search for someone who got it right (that is just my lose translation)." This is one reason why they have what they call, the blind audition, the coaches only listens to the auditionees and without seeing them physically, they choose the singer who they think fits their team. Thus, I got interested on this program. Most reality shows nowadays are so commercialized and I was in search of something new.

The Coaches. The coaches are award-winning artists of their own genre, hence there is a big respect. However, I am not sure whether the technical systems send out bad signals to the tubes or the coaches have bad ears. There are great singers that were sent home for no one from the coaches wanted them, and those who only have the capability to sing, but not something worth any price, got in further. It started to make me confused on what exactly are they looking for.

The Battle. After the blind audition, every contestant faces a battle against other singers on their team. The coaches choose six singers from their team to go on further. From hereon, I am going to speak about Ramona Nerra. She is one of the singers in Boss Hoss's team. She can sing, okay, but there are notes she cannot sing so well, she even gets out of tune at times. When she got in during the blind audition, I was surprised, but I did not give too much of a damn thinking she'll be out the next round. I and my husband were so excited when we found out that she will be battling against Cool Daddy, one of our favorited since the blind audition. However, we were wrong, Cool Daddy went home and this woman went further to the Live Shows. I started to say, "what happened there?" But I still chose to give this show a chance.

The First Live Show. Each singer are given their chance to shine and two singers go on further depending on the public's decision via phone call or SMS. Most of the singers I like went further since they got the most vote, and I was so happy to know most people share the same thought I have over these contestants. However though, the coaches will decide on the other two singers to go on their respective teams. If you're guessing what I will write next, yes, you are right, Ramona was one of the two singers Boss Hoss chose for their team. After this, I decided, I will just watch the episodes from Nena and Rea Garvey's teams, Boss Hoss decisions make me totally confused on what is their plan for their team, it seems like they want to be the biggest loser team in the history of The Voice worldwide.

The Second Live Show. Last Friday was the second live show for Boss Hoss and Xavier's teams. I did not watch it, I do not want to make my ears bleed from unworthy singers. I only watched the video upload when James Morrison sang with Xavier's team (thank God it was not with BossHoss's team). However, since I have subscribed on their FB andTwitter pages,I still was able to know who went further. By Xavier's team, I have big respect on Xavier, he knows what he needs and he did good, he wants to win against Nena and Rea. But then again, BossHoss's favorite went further. I don't have to say the name.

I really could not understand why this woman just keeps on going further on the contest. This made me lose my faith on finding a real reality show.

I hope though that this Friday's episode won't be frustrating, because I am a big fan from these two coaches, I hope they won't make decisions as confusing as the BossHoss's.

Winter Days

2012-01-12T13:56:00.001+01:00

...and it's making me feel more lazy and weak... How I wish I get to do more other things than just here at home and doing the usual chores. I miss working and going to school at the same time...

Oh well, maybe am just feeling a bit homesick here, I know this too, shall pass. :-)

untitled

2011-12-18T15:00:00.000+01:00

It took me a month before I get this updated, the reason: staying most of the time at home makes me lose all the ideas. There are times when I wake up and am filled with ideas, but there are household chores that I need to do first before hitting the keyboard. As a result, the ideas go out the wiindow as soon as I let fresh, winter air in.

Today is just one of those days mentioned. When I woke up, I saw tiny snow flakes falling. It has been two years since I last watched snow fall and it amazed me that lots of great ideas came into my mind. However, as soon as I went out of our room and greeted my husband a good morning, and he told me bad news about the Philippines today, all the thoughts were gone, just like how fast the snow melts on the still-warm-and-not-yet-ready earth, my thoughts melted as well. Hence, here I am, blogging non-sense a day before my birthday.

I wish I can write better on the next days.

Back in Hessen

2011-11-16T12:00:00.001+01:00

After a day of me whining and demanding, he spent whole Sunday with me, no TVs nor computer games. We went for a walk at a lake by the next city: Kinzigtalsperre at Steinau. Interestingly, the famous Brother Grimm had also lived there, and their old house was turned into a museum along the Deutschmärchen Straße (tranlated as German Fairy Tales Street). Since we are already there, we also planned to make a little tour around the Steinau Castle and Brother Grimm's House, sadly, cameras are not allowed at the Brother Grimm's House Museum and the Steinau Museum, hence, the photos I got were only at the little museum at the castle, telling a little about the Brother Grimm as well, and their famous Marionette plays.

We were given one great weather!

This is the biking/ jogging path along the Kinzigtalsperre

Welcome to Schloss Steinau!

I wonder if it is still safe to drink from here

This is not a large canvas, but rather the old walls of Schloss Steinau

Jacob Grimm is so cute!!!

The Grimm Brothers' job is really about dictionaries and grammar books, fairy tales are only their past time

Aside from fairy tales, they also enjoy painting during their free time, and these are just one of their art works

The Brothers Grimm signature laser-carved by their other brother

Old Bible of Family Grimm

Ludwig's Reisetagebuch

Hand-painted carpet once used at the Schloss Steinau

Old stuffs in the Schloss

Marionette plays

And to conclude the tour:

The Frog Prince and I... :-D

The First Bayern Experience

2011-11-11T12:49:00.002+01:00

I had been here in Deutschland for training about 3 years ago, and honestly, the only time that I could say I was in Bayern was when we made a short stop at a castle in Aschaffenburg (it was already dark to get a decent photo and the Weihnachstmarkt was not yet open) which lasted for only about 30 minutes. That is because it was just near the house of Frau Huth, and we just have to pick up some plants at a market on the way home. Therefore, this event was my first REAL Bayern tour.

Bamberg, according to their tourist book, is a city holding vast history of more than thousand years ago. They say it is a "historical stroke of luck", for it was amazing to find a city here in Germany where it seems like it was NEVER ravaged by the wars. It could be because the Almighty One had saved this city from turning into ruins due to the people's deep religious beliefs. It is fascinating to find that on six hills surrounding the main city, stands grandiose cathedrals and churches, of whose structures are as old as Bamberg can remember.

Sadly, we were only there for a day, I went there with some ex-colleagues from Emerson Manila and our boss and my hubby. However, no one can fund an overnight stay for the Emerson employees, hence, we have to squeeze in all that we can do in one day. The outcome was not bad at all, we went to only one hill, the Domberg, and strolled around the city center.

We all started at the Tourism Office of Bamberg. It was already quite a sight, for you can see towering Gothic buildings behind the houses and buildings.

A few more steps and we were already at the old Rathaus. It was built right at the middle of the river to serve as a link between the new town and the old town.

These frescoes tell the rich history of Bamberg. The artist immortalized himself by creating a sculpture of his knee.

Over the bridge at the old town hall, you can see the old town, the old slaughterhouse and the old boat that transported the goods in and out of Bamberg. This part of Bamberg is also known as the "Little Venice."

White-water rafting? Yes, you can also do it here.

At almost all the buildings here, secular or not, you can find religious sculpture just like what I found behind me. It is an old restaurant (not a chapel!) beside the old town hall.

The first church we went to in Bamberg. Let the stamp below tell the history of this St. Martin Church.

Inside was so magnificent! With all the golds shimmering over old structures.

Church ceiling of St. Martin Church

Maximilliansbrünnen at Maximilliansplatz

And the new town hall is here, right around the Maximilliansplatz.

A closer look at the old Metzgerei (slaughter house), sadly, there is a construction ongoing, and this pipeline destroyed the view :(.

The old trading boat.

More about the history of this part of Bamberg.

And now, the new boat traversing this river.

Empress St. Kunigunde. More about her here.

The Bamberger Dom at the Domberg. Here lies the remains of Pope Clement II, St. Cunigunde and her husband St. Henry. More of its history here.

The cathedral entrance for the commoners.

Simple, yet magnificent.

The mysterious horseman.

The cathedral's organ and the Baroque-ceiling

And now, the cathedral entrance for the noblemen.

The historical "Neue Residenz" (sorry, I cannot find something in English).

The old parking area. The place for horsemen and the cooks while the noblemen stay at the Neue Residenz.

The famous "Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier" of Bamberg. After drinking, you will "schlenkern". :-p

Yes, it's brewed in a cloister!

A Madonna on a residential building.

The "Gymnasium" from yesterday until today.

Me and U are planning to go back there, with other colleagues from Emerson, and this time, we are going to stay for a night or two to enjoy Bamberg more than ever. There are so many other places to see in Bamberg, yet our time is soooo limited! To learn more about Bamberg, you can read it here.

Everything Bieber

2011-10-31T11:32:00.005+01:00

Am not referring to Justin Bieber rather, I mean my new town, Biebergemünd. These are über late photos taken on my first week here in Germany, and I did not notice, am already 3 weeks here. It's getting colder and colder as the Winter season is approaching, the trees are slowly changing the color of their leaves and it's such an amazing view specially with a little sunlight on it! It is just WUNDERBAR!

Anyway, here are some photos, hope you will like it. =)

A sweet welcome of Germany for me: Snoopy and chocolates in one!

Then a week after came a welcome gift from Ohdee.

Along with me was a not-so-good weather. Germany made me feel its coldness as soon as I came.

My first German breakfast: Wurst, Brötchen und Krepeln! I missed Krepeln soooooooo much that I craved for it as soon as I went out of the airport.

And as soon as the weather became more friendly, we went out for me to see the country road of Biebergemünd.

And here, everywhere are horses!

One of the first place I searched and I found it! Just 5-minute drive from home: St. Johannes Nepomuk in Biebergemünd - Kassel

To sum up, am officially a Biebergemünderin since 7th of October. =)

Grüße von Deutschland!

2011-10-12T11:11:00.000+02:00

Endlich! I have waited soooooooooo long to have this for a blog title. Finally, I am blogging now here in my new home: Germany!

After 2 and a half years of struggling in a long distance relationship, we are finally together, me and my hubby. I must admit though, that this is not that easy. I have to adjust to a whole lot of things namely: household chores, weather, language and culture. There are also things that I had discovered only now, and it surprises me, one of which is that I AM A NATURAL COOK.

Back in the Philippines, I only cook anything for breakfast, and of course, rice, but here, I was able to cook chicken curry and bamboo sprout in coconut milk. I did not expect that cooking is easier than ironing, cleaning up and even doing the dishes.

I am only a week here, and I know, there is more I am going to experience and realize as I continue my journey as an adult.

For now, I am so happy and satisfied!

Schelmenmarkt in Gelnhausen 2011

2011-10-08T12:47:00.004+02:00

I honestly did not enjoyed it because I was so afraid to try on the rides, and the shops were not really that interesting since they are selling stuffs that are so common in the modern shops. We were busy looking around for a shop that sells items that can only be found in(or part of the history of) Gelnhausen. Sadly, we found nothing. Hence, we spent our three hours eating bratwurst, nuts and trying on various flavors of schnapps. Few reasons why I only got one aerial photo of Gelnhausen and where Schelmenmarkt is taking place.

I Saw A Glimpse Of Heaven

2011-09-21T06:34:00.001+02:00

Not only that, I also saw Jesus.

How did it all happen? It all happened while I sleep.

This morning, I still feel heavy in my head, so I decided to sleep a little bit longer. As I go back to sleep, there are a lot of things on my mind, that it was a little difficult to get back to sleep. And as I twitched and moved on to a different side of my bed, I fell asleep and I saw myself standing in front of a golden door. Around me are beautiful bushes and the weather was wonderful, no rain nor scorching heat of the sun. In front of me stands a man and his dog.

Man: No, not yet your time. Why are you here?

Me: I only have one question, why is it taking too long?

Man: I am not sure for the answer. Anyway, let me take you inside for a while since you are already here.”

Then He opened the small golden door. It was so small that we must get inside one by one. And as we entered, I was amazed on what I saw. It was huge, the view from the outside cheated me, for when I was outside, it only looks like an ordinary house, but the inside was GRANDIOSE! Everything glows for everything’s made out of gold. As we walk to the middle of what seems to me is a “lobby”, a voice boomed above us.

God the Father: Jesus, why is she here?

Jesus (the man with the dog who welcomed me): She said she has a question.

God the Father: Cy, have a little patience, it will soon come.

Me: But why is it taking too long? It’s already a month.

God the Father: Everything happens for a reason. Do not think that I have forgotten about what you asked of me. I am doing something for you, just wait and see.

Me: When will it come? How long should I still wait? Please tell me, so I can inform my husband.

God the Father: That, I cannot tell you, there are far more important events that I put on the top of the list, but yours is already on queue. It’s on its way, just wait.

Then the voice went out and I am left standing and staring at Jesus. He looks like nothing of the photographs that I grew up looking at. His face illuminates in glorious light, that there is no exact word can describe how He looks like. Saying that He is handsome is not enough, He is more than being handsome, He is a face of all beauty.

Then I looked at His dog. He too, is wonderful. He sits patiently beside Jesus and looks at Him and I. I then thought that dogs do have souls too. And when their time comes to an end, they, too, enter heaven and reunite with their masters. I suddenly remember my grandfather and his dog, Puti. Maybe as of this writing, they are already together and having great time together in the Kingdom of Heaven. This thought made me think that, when my time on earth is up, there are three dogs (or maybe four, if Cuhcuh happens to die ahead of me) waiting for me at the gate of heaven, my first dog, Brownie, my dear puppy who never got a chance to grow up because of a disease, Miko, and the last dog I had before Cuhcuh named Patrasche. Maybe as of this time, my grandfather takes care of these three dogs of mine.

Afterwards, Jesus smiled at me, and then I am back on my bed. I don’t know I was I able to get back, the path leading back to the now-world was blurred in my memory, but the encounter I had with Jesus and God the Father is as clear as a crystal. Maybe God wants me to remember what He said so that I will learn.

Few things that I realized out of that dream:

1. The door of Heaven is really small. As mentioned by Jesus in the Bible, the door is small and only a few can enter. It is both a metaphor and a reality, based on what I have seen in my dream.

2. Lord loves everything that has life. Hence, everything and everyone has a chance of entering Heaven, including dogs.

3. Jesus’s face as we see on photographs and on crucifix are wrong. Jesus’s face is more beautiful than the face that my religion introduced to me.

4. God is always at work, and we just have to learn the virtue of patience. Waiting can be painful, but it keeps a beautiful promise.

5. The Kingdom of Heaven is not as artistic as fairy tale castles, but it is more beautiful. Hence, we must all strive for goodness to be able to enter the narrow door of heaven.

Disclaimer: The thing that I asked God was not about my time on earth, but about the status of my visa. :-D

Realizations

2011-09-03T14:56:00.001+02:00

At 21, I had my first serious boyfriend. I know for some, I am a late bloomer, but it is all because out of fear from my mom. I grew up with the greatest fear that if I entertain a guy, my mom would throw me out of our door. I honestly had liked a guy at a younger age, but my mom showed me her steel fist, hence I waited until I graduated from the university. However, this guy turned out to be not the right one for me, in short, a nightmare. I threw away my life because of this guy, putting myself and my mom’s life on the edge. I was so blinded, that I was ready to turn my back from my mom. But the 21 years that mom and I shared cannot equate our year-old relationship. Truly, blood is thicker than water. When mom got sick all because of my one year upheaval, I turned my back from love. I told myself it is going to be me and mom until the end of time.

Three years after, I was determined to reach for my dreams, for me and for my mom alone, and I was determined never to love again. I changed my lifestyle, changed my environment. Everything is going on smoothly, though honestly, I was never happy. I was longing for that love that I know is different from my mom’s love, but I am afraid to love again. Afraid that if I do, I will lose my mom forever, and I am afraid to be alone.

At 25, I closed my heart, but for some reason or another, somebody was able to unlock it. Little by little, he was able to get me out of my comfort zone. He was able to open my life back to the world. He showed my mom that I too, need some love, a love that is different from a parent’s love. Little by little, he was also able to transform my mom. And I could not explain how happy I was that time.

At 27, I am married to a 42-year old guy. I am a proud wife of my husband. He who deserves all the appreciation there is in the world. At 27, I realized how lucky I am to have found a guy as loving and understanding as my man. Though we do have misunderstandings, he never fails on showing me that at the end of the day, I am the only woman he loves and he will love forever. He proved to me that not all guys are the same, that there is one guy meant for me to love and be with for the rest of my life. I cannot imagine my life if I did not meet my husband. I cannot imagine what kind of life I have if I continued on my revolt.

Whatever happened five years ago, I am thankful. If all those nasty things did not come along my way, maybe I am still the same old me, blinded at the wrong love, or worst, maybe I am alone struggling in life. If those painful things did not happen, events that led me to change my life, I just do not know where I might be right now. I am thankful for all the tears that I had to shed in the past, the painful words I had to hear from people, and I am thankful to all the wrong people that hurt me in the past. Because of them, I learned to be strong. Because of them, I learned how to face the world. And because of them, I met the guy that God had created to love me unconditionally.

And I will surely give him back the love that he deserves as long as I live.

2011-09-03T11:54:00.000+02:00

Happy September everyone!

It took me a little while before I get my fingers back on the keyboard. It seems like years since I wrote my ideas and shared it to the world. Honestly, when emptiness strikes me, I really feel empty and cannot put even a single sentence together perfectly. But now, I am back! Not the usual me with great thoughts though, I am just back, period.

The past few weeks had been stressful weeks for me. I always have to drag my ass off my couch and hit the road. First with my passport renewal (I needed to change my last name), then my visa application (sadly, I come from a Third World country who cannot travel the world that easy, I always need to apply for my visa), and then just two days ago, have to go and get my NBI clearance (NBI stands for National Bureau of Investigation, a localized FBI, I guess) and then head back to the embassy to submit that clearance. Visa application for a family reunion is not that easy, and really, it is very tedious! Hence, my mind's always pre-occupied with lots of stuffs, plus the fear of me not being granted the visa. The waiting for my visa is not yet done, I am still waiting for that precious call telling me that I can already get my ticket and fly to my loved one, but I decided to blog now to at least help me de-stress a little bit.

September is here. In the country where I am, September marks the beginning of CHRISTMAS. Yes, we hardly celebrate Halloween, hence, as early as September, Christmas decorations are already on sale, and everywhere, Christmas songs are being played. And because my mom thinks that I will not be here on Christmas (their hopes are high that my visa would be granted, whereas I know that the probability of me getting the visa before Christmas is of the same probability of me not getting the visa at all), she dragged me to update her iPod (yes, it is already hers, and sadly, I do not have any, not even my phone, I exchanged my Jet with her Cherry Mobile phone, don't ask me why) and put on Christmas songs there. So while the house across our street is trying to make us (us means the whole block during weekends!!!! Nobody can rest perfectly with all their noise!!!) deaf with their 4-week-long "Time of My Life" song, she put on the iPod on the dock and played her Christmas songs as loud as she can just so she can dissolve the sound from the house across our street. She said we better play the Christmas songs now while I am still here, than she playing it on November or December with only her and Cuhcuh, my dog, in the house.

That line made me sad. Honestly, this is going to be my first Christmas away from my mom, for the 27 years of my life, we had always been together on Christmas and New Year, whether we have a fight or not, and on my 28th Christmas (and birthday), we would be apart. It is a sad realization, but I guess, we all need to learn how to let go, because I cannot be forever her daughter, the time has come wherein I am needed more by my husband and my service is already for my husband, and for my own family. I hope we can get through this smoothly. Firsts are always the hardest, but I know in years to come, this would not be that difficult for us.

Now My Heartbeat’s Back To Normal

2011-08-16T05:30:00.000+02:00

- Visa interview’s finally over. On to waiting and hoping for the best result to come. I wish that the Standesamt will not require for an investigation anymore.

- One thing I regret forgetting: my sunglasses. There is sun here in Manila!!!

- Out from PCCI and off to Batangas in a while.

- Now boarding the bus on my way back to Lipa City!!!

101 Ways To Score Points With A Woman

2011-08-05T14:58:00.001+02:00

I am currently reading “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” and I am already at this chapter where Dr. Gray tackles about scoring points. These tips are, I think, worth sharing to everyone. I honestly think this helps keep any relationship in good harmony. Surprisingly, most of the things that my husband do to please me can be found on this list. To all men out there, read this and do it, your girls will definitely love you more.

101 WAYS TO SCORE POINTS WITH A WOMAN¹

Upon returning home, find her first before doing anything else and give her a hug.
Ask specific questions about her day that indicate an awareness of what she was planning to do (e.g. “How did your appointment with your doctor go?”)
Practice listening and asking questions.
Resist the temptation to solve her problems – empathize instead.
Give her 20 minutes unsolicited, quality attention (don´t read newspaper or be distracted by anything else during this time).
Bring her cut flowers as a surprise as well as on special occasions.
Plan a date several days in advance, rather than waiting for Friday night and asking her what she wants to do.
If she generally makes dinner or if it is her turn and she seems tired or really busy, offer to make dinner.
Compliment her on how she looks.
Validate her feelings when she is upset.
Offer to help her when she is tired.
Schedule extra time when traveling so that she doesn´t have to rush.
When you are going to be late, call her and let her know.
When she asks for support, say yes or no without making her wrong for asking.
Whenever her feelings have been hurt, give her some empathy and tell her “I´m sorry you feel hurt.” Then be silent; let her feel your understanding of her hurt. Don´t offer solutions or explanations why her hurt is not your fault.
Whenever you need to pull away, let her know you will be back or that you need some time to think about things.
When you´ve cooled off and you come back, talk about what was bothering you in a respectful, nonblaming way, so she doesn´t imagine the worst.
Offer to build a fire in wintertime.
When she talks to you, put down the magazine or turn off the TV and give her your fill attention.
If she usually washes the dishes, occasionally offer to wash the dishes, esp. if she is tired that day.
Notice when she is upset or tired and ask what she has to do. Then offer to help by doing a few of her “to do” items.
When going out, ask if there is anything she wants you to pick up at the store, and remember to pick it up.
Let her know when you are planning to take a nap or leave.
Give her four hugs a day.
Call her from work to ask how she is or to share something exciting or to tell her “I love you.”
Tell her “I love you” at least a couple of times every day.
Make the bed and clean up the bedroom.
If she washes your socks, turn your socks right side out so she doesn´t have to.
Notice when the trash is full and offer to empty it.
When you are out of town, call to leave a telephone number where you can be reached and to let her know you arrived safely.
Wash her car.
Wash your car and clean up the interior before a date with her.
Wash before having sex or put a cologne if she likes that.
Take her side when she is upset with someone.
Offer to give her a back or neck or foot massage (or all three).
Make a point of cuddling or being affectionate sometimes without being sexual.
Be patient when she is sharing. Don´t look at your watch.
Don´t flick the remote control to different channels when she is watching TV with you.
Display affection in public.
When holding hands don´t let your hand go limp.
Learn her favorite drinks so you can offer her a choice of the ones that you know she already likes.
Suggest different restaurants for going out; don´t put the burden of figuring out where to go on her.
Get season tickets for the theater, symphony, opera, ballet or some other type of performance she likes.
Create occasions when you both can dress up.
Be understanding when she is late or decides to change her outfit.
Pay more attention to her than to others in public.
Make her more important than the children. Let the children see her getting your attention first and foremost.
Buy her little presents – like a small box of chocolates or perfume.
Buy her an outfit (take a picture of your partner along with her sizes to the store and let them help you select it).
Take pictures of her on special occasions.
Take short romantic getaways.
Let her see that you carry a picture of her in your wallet and update it from time to time.
When staying in a hotel, have them prepare the room with something special, like a bottle of champagne or sparkling apple juice or flowers.
Write a note or make a sign on special occasions such as anniversaries and birthdays.
Offer to drive the car on long trips.
Drive slowly and safely, respecting her preferences. After all, she is sitting powerless in the front seat.
Notice how she is feeling and comment on it – “You look so happy today” or “You look tired” – and then ask a question like “How was your day?”
When taking her out, study in advance the directions so that she does not have to feel responsible to navigate.
Take her dancing or take dancing lessons together.
Surprise her with a love note or poem.
Treat her in ways you did at the beginning of the relationship.
Offer to fix something around the house. Say “What needs to be fixed around here? I have extra time.” Don´t take on more than you can do.
Offer to sharpen her knives in the kitchen.
Buy some good Super Glue to fix things that are broken.
Offer to change light bulbs as soon as they go out.
Help with recycling the trash.
Read out loud or cut out sections of the newspaper that would interest her.
Write out neatly any phone messages you may take for her.
Keep the bathroom floor clean and dry it after taking a shower.
Open the door for her.
Offer to carry the groceries.
Offer to carry heavy boxes for her.
On trips, handle the luggage and be responsible for packing it in the car.
If she washes the dishes or it is her turn, offer to help scrub pots or other difficult tasks.
Make a “to fix” list and leave it in the kitchen. When you have extra time do something on that list for her. Don´t let it get too long.
When she prepares a meal, compliment her cooking.
When listening to her, use eye contact.
Touch her with your hand sometimes when you talk to her.
Show interest in what she does during the day, in the books she reads and the people she relates to.
When listening to her, reassure her that you are interested by making little noises like “ah ha”, “uh huh”, “mmmmhuh” and “hmmm.”
Ask her how she is feeling.
If she has been sick in some way, ask for an update and ask how she is doing or feeling.
If she is tired offer to make her some tea.
Get ready to go to sleep together and get in bed at the same time.
Give her a kiss and say good-bye when you leave.
Laugh at her jokes and humor.
Verbally say thank you when she does things for you.
Notice when she gets her hair done and give a reassuring compliment.
Create special time to be alone together.
Don´t answer the phone at intimate moments or if she is sharing vulnerable feelings.
Go bicycling together, even if it´s just a short ride.
Organize and prepare a picnic. (Remember to bring a picnic cloth.)
If she handles the laundry, bring the clothes to cleaners or offer to do the wash.
Take her for a walk without the children.
Negotiate in a manner that shows her that you want her to get what she wants and you also want what you want. Be caring, but don´t be a martyr.
Let her know that you missed her when you went away.
Bring home her favorite pie or dessert.
If she normally shops for the food, offer to do the food shopping.
Eat lightly on romantic occasions so that you don´t become stuffed and tired later.
Ask her to add her thoughts to this list.
Leave the bathroom seat down.

As much as I want to share the list about men giving points to women, I cannot because it is written in quite a complicated way, so I rather suggest that you grab your own copy of the book and learn from it.

1 Gray, John Ph.D., 203-209, Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus, 1992 Harper Collins Publishing

Life Without Social Networks

2011-07-14T12:37:00.003+02:00

Life with social networks all started from Friendster, well at least for us in the Philippines. I started to have an account in Friendster by the year 2003. I could still remember it clearly, I was doing my on-the-job training at the province, and since we do not have internet connection in the province, I was a bit late from all the fuzz going on in the city. My girlfriend sent me an SMS and told me that I am the only one in our class who does not have a Friendster account, and I can still remember my answer: “Why would I need one, you guys can contact me anytime in my cellphone!” She forced me to better be back in the city as soon as possible and create my account, she said it was fun, we can exchange testimonials for other people to see. I was really against it, I cannot find any benefit from it, so what if I receive testimonials? These things, I told her, they can also tell me when we meet again at the university, or they can send me e-mails or snail mail. There is really nothing special from it. Then came the end of my training and start of my last year at the university. When the classes started, all I can hear from my classmates were, “Hey, you haven’t written me any testimonial yet.” or “You promised me a testimonial, better make it sound great!” Then they all forced me to start my own account. I said to myself, “what the heck, these testimonials are not real, they are forcing one another to write something beautiful about themselves, this thing is totally crap.” But I ate up all my words. During one of our thesis session, and while we were waiting for the experiment to finish, my girlfriend opened the laboratory computer and began creating a Friendster account for me, and forced me to open my email to confirm my membership. During the first week of me being a member at Friendster, I never opened it at home, my girlfriend is the one opening it and confirming friend requests, until one unexpected friend request came and that started my addiction with Friendster. I was a Friendster addict from 2003 until the end of 2007. I stopped checking my account since I started receiving virus testimonials and one of it got into my laptop. However, I was not able to say goodbye to Friendster that easily, though I deleted it, I honestly had 2 accounts. It is because it is the only way for me to keep in touch with my high school friend who is now in Germany, she never called us since she left in 2006, Friendster was our only way to keep in touch with her. Since 2006 until just recently, my second account in Friendster was active, without any real testimonials there to see. I used it only for Ella, that was all. Also, during this time, my eyes were already on Facebook. I think it was in 2008 when I blogged at Multiply that I am bidding my first Friendster goodbye, and told everyone that I am still keeping two other accounts, not in Friendster, but in Multiply and Facebook. I have only started public with my Facebook account that time, hence I announced it and my Multiply. But aside from the two, there is also one network I am tied up with, until now, my MySpace.

I started my MySpace a year after I had Friendster. The same unexpected invite told me about it, and he said it offers the same things that Friendster offer, but is more fun. Honestly, I still have this account, weird but for now, I could say that this is my longest running social network account, though these days, I got friend requests from various indie music groups in the US and Europe. It became more as a viral network for people who are trying to get into the limelight. Most of my real friends there are no longer using it, maybe I am the only one using it as of this time, because everyone is on Facebook.

Multiply, on the other hand, served more as my another blog site. I remember in 2008, I even paid for a premium account there, for the reason that I only wanted to keep the quality of my photos from Germany at its best. I used the most when all I want to do was to blog, and when my topics were a bit private. During this time, I was still gaining friends in Facebook, and Multiply gave way for me to share more about myself to my old Friendster friends who also got pissed off with Friendster and moved on as well.

Facebook, now the leading social network in the whole world. One of my classmates from the University sent me an invite at Facebook in 2006 and yes, I am one of the first people who had an account with Facebook as early as that. I used it mainly to keep a private collection of photos, one option that Friendster could never offer. I was in my darkest days that time, doing stuff I am not supposed to do, hence the birth of Facebook. It is my only way of expressing myself truthfully, without the all-knowing eyes to judge me. Facebook that time was boring. All you can do was upload photos, decide whether you will let the world see it or only for yourself, send messages to your friends and share photos with them. In 2006, I had around 10 people as my friends in Facebook, same people I have on my friends list at Friendster. Maybe we were the same people who got tired of writing testimonials, which some of the things you say are just for sugar coating, sad but true. It was only in 2008 when my Facebook account reached the same number of friends I have in my first Friendster account, and was even able to exceed it. Up to this time, yes, I am still in Facebook, but I am already thinking of saying goodbye to it, the same way I bid goodbye to Friendster 3 years ago. I think their systems are growing old on me. I no longer enjoy what I am seeing and what I am capable to do with it.
Five years with Friendster (plus three years only to check on Ella), seven years with Multiply and MySpace, five years with Facebook. I am tired of all these social networks. Even though I got a chance to get in touch with my old friends from first grade up to my Emerson days, everything just feels like all worn out on me. I am thinking, if I let go of these still existing social networks, how can I keep in touch with my old friends? I don’t know. Maybe I have to start a poll for all of them before I delete it all.

I miss the old days. My life was less complicated and quiet when I was not yet a part of the cyberworld. I wish I can turn back the time, at least ten years ago, when Friendster nor Facebook were still unknown.

Should I Be Thankful or Should I Be Afraid?

2011-06-23T12:43:00.002+02:00

… that my download is STARING at me…

Globe WiMax: UMAYOS KA!

2011-06-20T17:15:00.001+02:00

Mula nung Bagyong Chedeng, binibwisit mo na ko. Pinagbigyan kita nang mga nakaraang araw dahil sa ilang dahilan:

1. Wala akong time, namatay ang one and only sisterette ng lola ko at busy busy-han kame noon, kaya di ko masyadong feel ang pag-iinarte mo.

2. Lumuwas ako para umattend ng Guidance Counseling Seminar chorva ng CFO, kelangan ko yun para ma-renew ko ang passport ko. Dahil dun, di na naman ako nag-internet at di kita na-feel.

3. Finally, nakapag-net na ko, at nakita ko ang kalokohan mo, BUT! Pinalampas ko, kasi naman ang lakas ng hangin nun, may kulog at kidlat pa, needless to say, may bagyo, at kahit naman TV namin umaarte nang mga panahon na yun, kaya feeling ko normal lang ang pag-iinarte mo. Take note, second bagyo na pala ito, dumating kasi si Chedeng nung nasa deads kame.

Two weeks ko din di namonitor ang pag-iinarte mo. Tapos nung tapos na si bagyong D, gora na naman ako sa net, at eto na ang walang katapusang problema ang binigay mo sa akin. Alam mo ba na Chemistry ang major ko at hindi ComSci o IT o ECE o kung anuman? Lahat nang alam ko sa computer napulot ko lang sa SNS Club ko sa Canossa, at nang mga panahong yun, sobrang baby pa sa Pinas ang Windows, kaka-shift nga lang ng Canossa from Wordstar to Microsoft Word noon eh. Kaya wag mo ko gagamitan ng jargons mo na di ko naiintindihan! Kausapin mo ko nang maayos at wag mo akong sabihan lagi nang “DNS Failed.” Malay ko ba kung ano ang DNS.

Please lang umayos ka, else mapipilitan akong palitan ka na naman! Di mo lang alam, may nakita kong bagong promo ng Sun Broadband, naglelevel up sila sa yo, may bundle din sya na telepono. Sige ka, wala pa man ding available na VOIP para dito sa area ko, eh for sure ang Digitel may VOIP pa na available, pwedeng pwede kitang ipa-cut at palitan ng Digitel anytime. Kaya kung ako sa yo,

UMAYOS KA!

< Sinuswerte lang ba talaga ako ngayon o talagang umayos ka na nga? Nai-publish ko kasi itong blog ko eh. >

Randomness

2011-06-19T15:25:00.000+02:00

I tried to start a new blog at Wordpress, but then, am not satisfied. There is something about this theme I have here at Blogger that makes me very unsatisfied with Wordpress. I am looking for this same theme there, but I only got disappointed. I love the combination of blue, green and white here, it describes perfectly what I want to express on my blog.

Anyway, that blog would probably remain private, I won´t share the link to anybody, I am going to use it to practice my German, and when I am good at that, and edited all the posts there in the future, I would share it to the world as well. But for now, it´s going to be between me and my hubby… :-)

It Is Time You Start To Believe In Them

2011-06-04T18:01:00.000+02:00

Since I was a small kid, I am always the person who my family turn to for help. In return, they always reward me with something I like, one time it was a watch, sometimes it was a simple book, or a doll or a kitchen play set, and one time, the costliest of all, an organ. That is the reason why I made sure I am at my best at all things, expecially with my studies. The more I get my grades high, the better the rewards were. But I failed to see and feel how my cousins think about it. I used to always have the "me, myself and I" thinking. I never realized that my cousins, their real kids, were hurt.

Call me selfish, I am aware of that. That is the reason why I am trying my best to change things these days. In fact, I had started this when I was in college. I know that each of my cousins have their own talents and intelligence, hence I try to divert their attention to them, let them know that it is not only I who can do things for the family. However, they would not believe me on that part. Honestly, I would always decline even things about leading the rosary, because I know there is someone in my family who can do it better than I, someone who had been in love with serving the Lord the best way he can. They never realized how much it means for him, that it would require them to let me do the talking too. Maybe that was the time when they realized that someone in the family is craving for the attention as well, and that someone in the family can also do the things they thought only I can do. Even if the process was a bit painful, I am happy that they learned how to trust him regarding the religious matters, I can now sit silently at the back and enjoy quiet moments with the Lord.

Technically, they would also always think that it is only I who knows the things. "Computer problems, leave it to her, she had been using the computer since DOS times," that is how they think about it. How many times did I try to explain to them that not because I had started using the computer with Lotus 1-2-3 or Wordstar already means that I am the expert on this thing. Fine, I might me the oldest, but it does not mean that these younger guys, these cousins of mine, can also do the tweaking and could even be better than I (saying better is still a humble description, they are in fact the best! I do not know how to read those C++ thing-y!). That is why, just the other day, they all went here at the house to ask me technical things or two again. I guess I did a better way of explaining it, and thanks for my cousin for tagging along, I started explaining simple things and looked at my cousin for other terms. He did answer me! They all realized that they do not need to drive that far to ask stuffs like that, he can help them out. I simply told them one thing why he is an expert, "of course, he knows it,he's an engineer in the making!" Today, my uncle came back here, not to ask me some more technical stuff again,but he came to check on their house, if the construction is on going. I guess my cousins would love me again for giving back what is really due for them.

I am bad at speaking towards my relatives, especially those who are older than I (generations older, actually), but then I guess it is about time for them to learn to trust the talents and intelligence of my cousins. In few months I might be out of the country already to be with my husband, I want them to have a life that is independent from me. I want them to have a normal life even if I am miles away from them. There are my cousins, they are experts of their own fields, two of them already started working as well, I wish they would start to believe in them with all their hearts and trust that they too, know all stuffs.

It is overwhelming to know that they trust me and believe in me despite all the crazy things I did in the past. I like the feeling, but I do not want to take away the credits and the everything from my cousins, who I know had always been loyal to their craft and are experts on their own fields. I do not want them to feel bad against me for taking away the applauses that should also be directed to them.

We are all good at everything that we do, I am thankful for trusting and believing in me, this time let my cousins feel the same way I am feeling.It is time for you to start believing in them.

On To The Next Step

2011-06-03T08:33:00.001+02:00

After marriage, the secretary of the judge, who is also a family friend, submitted our contract the next day. She sent me a message saying to be there on Tuesday to apply for endorsement of our contract. It is one option we heard from friends because if we wait for regular processing at NSO, it would take us 3-6 months before we could have our marriage contract available. But since we went for an out of town with our family, I was not also able to go there to start the processing. We went there Wednesday, and sent the contract to NSO as well. The clerk at the city hall told me to go at NSO two weeks after and follow up on our contract. Two weeks of waiting is actually on June 2nd, but I decided to just go there today, and guess what? Yes! I already have the contract! I could not believe that it IS possible to have the contract in just TWO WEEKS!

Next plan is to attend the CFO Guidance Counselling, I need the certificate to renew my passport. My passport renewal is scheduled on July 18th, so in between today and July 18th, I am going to CFO for the seminar, then renew my PRC ID (with my new last name, of course), then request for my new TOR and Certificate of Graduation (authenticated). So much to do for June!

On to the next steps! Thank God for making the road I travel smooth.

The Journey Has Begun

2011-06-03T08:18:00.001+02:00

As most of you had already seen the photos from our simple civil wedding, I guess it is about time to narrate what we had been through to get there and start the journey together, a journey for the best.

Well, the Presiding Judge had already told my story during the marriage, so I guess there is nothing to hide here anymore, this is my site, I'm free to tell everything!

It all started when I asked for the list of requirements needed for application of marriage. Since I was still working that time, I asked my mom to go and ask at San Jose Municipal Civil Registry. The supervisor there had given my mom this list:

1. Birth Certificate
2. CEDULA
3. CENOMAR
4. Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage (for my German spouse, I would discuss this later)
5. Photocopy of Passport of my German spouse
6. Copy of Divorce Paper of my German spouse

(Disclaimer: The list was specific for me, to see complete list, please refer to another blogger at http://pinoyingermany.blogspot.com.)

Afterwards, she said, we should wait for 12 days before the release of our marriage license. I thought the 12 days wait was a little long, so I asked mom to go and check at Lipa City Municipal Civil Registry, and the guy there asked for the same requirements and he said he would do his best to shorten the 12 days wait. I thought it was a better deal, and told mom to go on at Lipa City. However, I CANNOT FILE ALONE. We need to wait for U to come. Until we received another suggestion, and it is faster as any of the two. The other one is that the secretary at San Jose Municipal Hall would make a certain statement and will be notarized and we could get married on that same day too. The catch? We must declare that we had been living together for five years. I had second thought about it, because I believe there would be documents to be asked to confirm that we are together for 5 years. But they say there would be no problem, no one would ask about it. So we set our hopes high that 3 days after U's arrival, we could get married. Until that day came...

So as suggested, we go and visited the secretary and asked for the specific document. Afterwards, we made an appointment with the judge we prefer to have for marriage. She was not yet there, so what we did was to process the remaining documents and paid the necessary fees. In the afternoon, the judge asked us to stay and she would give us a short counselling. She came and reviewed our documents and she changed her facial expression. She did not accept the document we brought from the secretary, she said she would accept it IF we could prove to her that we really lived together CONTINUOUSLY. That is something difficult to prove, because my visa were only for tourist and his as well. She said we need to go on the regular way. That moment when she said that, I cried...

I am not exactly sure why I cried, it was a mixture of emotions. First, he could not understand the reason, he already believed and hoped that it would be that fast, and we were already having arguments, right in front of the judge and right in front of the clerks. Secondly, I felt frustrated as well, like U, I already set my hopes high too. Thirdly, my relatives had already invited people on the wedding, just how frustrating could that be. It took me hours before I felt a little okay. Then we both realized, that we have no other choice. We processed the documents the normal way, and asked that his Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage* be submitted at a latter date. Lucky for us, the civil registry agreed. That same night, we packed our things and booked a hotel at Manila, because we have to process his legal capacity early the next morning. Because it was already late, there were only 2 hotels with available room for us, GoHotels.com and New Horizon Hotel, both at Mandaluyong. These two were not your typical 5-star hotel, but we have no choice. I booked at GoHotels, being loyal with Robinsons Corporation. In the end, it was worth all worth it. We paid only around Php3600 for two nights (without breakfast), but we are satisfied with the cleanliness and the accessibility of the hotel (it's just across Robinsons Pioneer), plus the coffee at the cafe (Tokyo Cafe) was superb, the only coffee that U enjoyed in the Philippines.

Now, to talk about Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage (Ehefaehigkeitzeugnis auf Deutsch). We left Lipa City at 7am and was at Makati at 8am. First adventure: the taxi drivers were asshole as always. They would not drive us to RSBC where Germany Embassy is located because of heavy traffic jam along Ayala Avenue. I told them I know that since I am working at Makati as well, and that is the reason why they have the meter. They asked for a fixed price between Php 150 to 200 just to bring us there, I gave them the BIGGEST NO as an answer. Luckily, one cab came, and took us, the fare was only Php 80 from Magallanes MRT station to RSBC Tower, but I gave him Php100 for being an honest driver (imagine how much it really cost, even with the new flag rate of Php40). We arrived at the Embassy half past 9am, thanks to those asshole taxi drivers we were not able to get there at exactly 9am. Still, we were thankful that we are early and the first one to be at Window 5, the window where one submits the pending documents, and where the Germans go when they need something from the embassy. The woman asked us where we are from and I said from Batangas. She asked if we are going to drive back to Batangas or we would be staying in the city. U said we had already booked a hotel, I did not know that they have an option that they could release the Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage in the afternoon IF we are not staying in the city. But since we are staying, she scheduled the release for the following day. For more details on what legal capacity is, and how it looks like, visit pinoyingermany again.

We were finished for the day, so I asked him to go with me at Goethe Institut to claim my SD2 certificate (by the way, I passed it again with flying colors and got a new shirt!). He met one of my favorite teachers, Donn, and the admin assistant, Nana. It is so sweet that these two people told him great stories about me as a student, so sweet! In the afternoon, we went to see Thor at Shang Cineplex. It was really not in our itinerary, but since we cannot find the kind of shirt he is looking for (a shirt we found ONLY at Duty Free), we watched the movie instead. After the movie, we went out for dinner with my cousins at Robinsons Pioneer. The next day, after we claimed the legal capacity, we went to MOA to check for his shirt again, sadly, we did not find it there as well. So I called on my cousin and her girlfriend to join us the whole day, and we went to Fort Santiago instead. It was again a day of facing those asshole taxi drivers.

The next day, we drove back to Batangas to attend the Counselling and Family Planning seminar.

I asked the person in charge if it is okay for us not to attend and I'd have the copy as well because he does not understand anything anyway, the seminar's being taught in Tagalog. He is not so good in English, what more in Tagalog. We were lucky that they agreed! After that day, the waiting time for marriage license had begun. They released the license on the 13th of May, and we scheduled our marriage on the 15th. We were so lucky to have people who are willing to help out even if everything was in a rush. We were lucky too to have someone who knows the judge and agreed on a special appointment for our marriage. Imagine a civil wedding on a Sunday, isn't it so unusual? Thanks to Judge for making it possible.

And that was the start of a journey I had long been praying for. I am now on the second step and thank God everything is going on as planned.

Guten Morgen, Philippinen!

2011-05-24T04:28:00.000+02:00

Ich bin wieder allein.

Mama went out to attend a funeral of a friend´s father. I am alone with Coco again, but I feel so lazy to play with him today. So I locked myself here in the room and blog. I still have this paranoia, because he scratched me yesterday and his tooth hit me as well, I got a little wound, so klein wie ein Moskitobiss. See how paranoid I am? I know he´s clean for he never had any fight with any stray dogs all throughout his 4 months of life, I am just so stupid and paranoid, hahaha!

I guess, I need to spend some time with him now, enough of me staying indoors and doing nothing. I´ll bring him to visit his mom, maybe? His mom is just one block away from us.

When will I be able to blog with a title: Guten Morgen, Deutschland!

Is It Already the End?

2011-05-21T12:17:00.000+02:00

I kept on seeing these big posters along highways of great cities during Uwe�s vacation, I was thinking it was only some sort of an upcoming concert of someone big. Honestly, during the wedding preparation, I haven�t seen the television and never heard any news. I was even barely in internet. Anyway, I really waited for 6pm here in the Philippines, but nothing happened, though there was heavy rain and thunder. I fed my dog instead.

I turned on the television and watched the news and listen for any excuse about this hoax prediction, but the anchor said, it was actually 6pm US time, so I have to wait for 2am of May 22, 2011. Funny, maybe I�ll just sleep then. I don�t think God would reveal the end of time anyway, how many times did I heard it in mass and read it in the Bible, that He won�t reveal His second coming to anyone, not even to Jesus Christ, His Son.

I guess we all deserve a good night sleep tonight and thank God for giving us another chance to enjoy life on earth and when we wake up tomorrow, why don�t we start to change the world instead? Who knows, maybe that is what the prediction is all about, the end of old worldly ways and the coming of new Godly lives among each and everyone of us.

Good night everyone! God bless us all!

Untitled

2011-05-11T05:22:00.000+02:00

I cannot think of any good title to use for this blog, I just wanted to write. Honestly, I even do not have any grand idea what to write. It's just that I feel so torn apart. I am excited and at the same time afraid. Today is already Wednesday, and in four days, I am going to say bye-bye to my singlehood. I am going to venture into a new status. I do not know what I should feel, all I know is that my mind is full of thoughts, different thoughts that I cannot sort out properly. Everything just seems to be in a rush.