From Manila to Munich

Two Sundays ago, I spent a good hour conversing with my second cousin who came home from Germany. Meet our cousin, Kuya Harald.

He's not sad. He's posing. Now do you see a hint of similarity? ;)

He looks completely German but he is screaming PINOY. If he were on a billboard, the perfect tagline for him would be "I'm Filipino".

If you ask him if he could sing, he'd proudly tell you, "Of course! I'm Filipino!" Then ask him to sing "bahay kubo". I'm assuring you he won't do it. His mom, Tita Ning, made him sing it too much when we were kids. ;)

One time he went to Boracay with his girlfriend, Lina, who is 100% German but loves Pinoy stuff (balut, shopping at 168, and wearing tsinelas among many other things). I am even amazed by her Filipino sounding name.

While at the beach, Lina asked him to put sunblock and Kuya Harald's answer was (with pure kayabangan): "I don't need to wear sunblocker (yes, he really calls sunblock "sunblocker") because I'm Filipino. I don't get sunburnt because I'm Filipino." In Germany, he was proud of himself for being able to walk around under the sun and not getting sunburnt. He would just tell his friends, "I'm Filipino".

But no matter how adorable it was of him to say that he's Filipino and doesn't need a sunblock-er, Filipinos do need sunblock too (especially in the Philippines and at the beach)!
He learned it the hard way. After one day in Boracay without sunblock-er, his face started to peel all over and his pretty girlfriend had the last laugh. Hah, Pinoy pala ah!

Going back to my interesting conversation with him, we endlessly compared stories about our educational systems, language, currencies, telecommunications, work, travels, boyfriend/girlfriend, shoots, islands, and anything that you could think of (including the weather). Imagine not being able to talk to your cousin for several years. (He even thought I was my Ate Monica at the start. I told him I was Lala and he was startled. Yes, it was that long.)

And then I asked him if a lot of people blog in Germany. He said yes but from his tone, I knew that he wasn't a big fan of blogs. For him (and I must emphasize that it's his opinion, not mine), blogs are ridiculous and useless. He thinks that a lot of blogs are just ways for people to keep on writing about themselves (ouch!).

But really, I must say that there are A LOT of meaningful blogs out there. One just has to be discernful. And it's really a "to-each-his/her-own" thing. It's our Freedom of Speech!!! I am guilty of blogging a lot and sometimes writing vague or nonsensical posts that are only useful in the sense that they actually make me feel better afterwards. But sometimes they do make sense, even for just a few readers.

Going back to Kuya Harald, he's staying in Manila until August because he's doing his internship here. They were asked to apply for an internship overseas where the language is English. Among all the English-speaking countries out there, he chose the Philippines. See? How can you not love this guy? (Even if he is not pro-blogging, ;-p)

But really, I am proud of Kuya Harald because he is so proud of and happy about his Filipino lineage. I think he had always been raised that way and would stay like that for the years to come.

To Kuya Harald, although you're not fond of blogs, I'm sure you'd still be amused to know that among the many blogs in the world, you could find one blog post made just for you... And because you're so proud of being PINOY, it's even made in the Philippines!

At pagbalik mo sa Germany, mababasa mo itong pangungusap na ito at maiintindihan nang lubusan. :-D

it's the nikki post

Every now and then, I go back to Ateneo to do some research. The last time I visited the Rizal library however was some time last year.

Upon entering the library earlier today, I experienced much "tighter" security. Students nowadays don't just wear their IDs and show the security guards that they're wearing their IDs like we used to. Now, they swipe. Nakana. High tech.

And there I was standing with two heavy bags and a couple of bulky envelopes without an ID to swipe. Luckily one of the guards (there are now 2 of them) knew me by face (I think) because he asked me while checking a bag of another student: "Alumnus?"

I said yes and he asked me to go to the other side where there was a computer just for the alumni. Naks.

I started reading instructions from the computer when one of the manong guards said...
"Ibaba mo muna yung dala mo. Parang hindi ka naman Atenista eh."

"Ah ganun po ba? sanay kse ako buhat ko lang lagi lahat eh."

Nonetheless, I placed my things on the table because 1) they were heavy and 2) well, they were really heavy.

And now there's this computer in front of me asking for details. Hmm, this looks easy.
Step 1: enter details about myself -- name, year graduated, email address, home address, etc.

Manong Guard 1 to Manong Guard 2: "para siyang si Nikki Gil. Akala ko kanina si Nikki Gil."
Lala: "narinig ko yun manong ah."

Manong Guard 2: "Anong year ka na nga ba graduate?"
Lala: "2004 po."

Imagine, three years!

Step 2: choose the topic of query in the library.
Step 3: look at the camera and say cheese.

ERROR.

Manong asked me to type my surname again. I typed "Jara" and my full name came out along with another student's surname, Jaranilla.

"Nilagay na pala nila yung pangalan mo kasi may record ka na..." Manong said while pointing to the people inside the library.

Oh cool. I was already part of the library database.
Nerd.

Step 2 (again): choose the topic of query in the library.
Bakit po walang Psychology? Ok, sociology then.
Step 3 (again): look at the camera and say cheese.

There you go, Lala Jara, your name and face are now part of the Ateneo library database. Welcome to the Rizal Library. We're watching you closely.

And while I was entering through the second doorway, manong added... "Akala ko kapatid mo si Nikki Gil."

Well yes, I do have a younger sister named Nikki and her surname starts with the "H" sound too. Close enough, manong. Close enough.

Kami. Tayo. Sila.

I wanted to write a title in Filipino. And these three words just popped right into my head. :) It will make sense later on, you'll see!

I'm done with my take-home exam. I submitted it last night with my prof literally reaching out his hand at me as I entered the building. "There you go, sir. My exam all in blue ink..."

But things are just starting to roll. Each time I finish something, I breathe one long breath and say... "Next!" I can't do anything about it so I'm just trying to enjoy this busy-mode ;)

Blogging has kept me sane on certain days and it has turned into one BIG addiction. :) Some people are amazed how I find time to blog. Sometimes I'm amazed too, haha! But isn't that the way we are addicted to something? We just can't have enough of it.

To those who don't understand what I mean, it's ok. Don't worry! I don't understand how others are addicted to smoking either so I guess all of us have things that we don't understand. And sometimes it's ok to just let other things be.

The past months have been really busy and FUN! I spent my weekends and weekdays working my butt off so that I could spend time with my friends. Those were the best two months ever because an invisible hand seemed to make me work faster and more efficiently.

Knowing that we had limited time in our hands, I just had to finish things earlier than usual. And I did. My friends really bring out the best in me. ;)

So here are the things that we've been doing all those days and nights!

The story behind the name "CanadiaGirls" is sort of long. People actually laugh upon hearing it but we stand by that name (the more others laugh, the better). It was inspired by Cami when she and her family migrated to Toronto four years ago. Add that to the fact that we all love to joke around and sometimes talk in gay-chuvaness-language that I swear you'd get accustomed to when you spend time with these down-to-earth-cowboy-brutal-pretty girls...

As Sarah said, "Cami-inspired Cami (kami)". It's funny how our bond grew even stronger when Cami left. It was a wake-up call for all of us.

In this life, you find friends who will be with you through thick and thin and when you find them, you just know. The girls you see above are mine. :)

The Buzz

And I'm not referring to ABS-CBNs showbiz-intriga show.

Sometimes you want to not hear some things and just let things be. Sometimes you don't want to think anymore. You just want to keep on dreaming your happy dreams and to just let this irritating buzzing sound fade in the background. But sometimes you can't. It keeps on pestering you especially when you're happily sleeping at night.

Or so you thought.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
You're wide awake with your ears hearing amidst the silence and darkness.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
And you tell yourself this -- Someday, I'm gonna catch that mosquito and squash it between my hands.

Yes, you deserve it. After all, he's feeding on your blood.

* * *

Pardon my far-from-inspiring-entry. This is how I feel when I've not gotten enough sleep while feeling under pressure. Something deeper has disturbed me that only I shall know. And I hope to make something creative out of it soon.

Happy 1st Anniversary, Padawan!

I'm in another transition period, questioning myself about things that I've been doing, things that I am about to do, and a LOAD of other things that I still want to do! I've been discussing plans with my family and close friends for the past week or so. I just have simple and small plans at the moment but I think they'll be blooming in time. Watch out, Big World!

~ 0 ~

With research and papers piling up (plus a take-home exam in tow), I find sanctuary in my blog (even just for a few minutes please, I deserve this!). Today is the first day of March and although I wanted to write an entry exactly in between February 28 and March 1 to mark my blog's birthday, my schedule yesterday did not permit me to do so.

Anyhow, my title says it all... :)

To those who have been visiting my blog for quite a time, you would have noticed the reason behind the name. Padawan (our pet rabbit) is still very much alive, hopping around our house, sniffing almost everything in sight, and sometimes humping (uh-huh) visitors' legs. (Bad, Pada! ;-p)

There are lots of rabbits out in the world. Let's just attribute this to the fact that they cohabitate, engage in sex (a lot), and in turn reproduce lots of offsprings. Those in the wild live in the... wilderness. The domesticated ones find themselves caged for almost their entire lives. But a few lucky domesticated ones are given the freedom to run around.

I made some corrections in my blog as I have misused the term hare before. For the record, Padawan is a rabbit (not a hare). Kindly read the writings at my sidebar because I've updated my answer to the questions "Why?". Despite these changes, one thing remains. My blog will forever be named after our pet rabbit who has oftentimes been adorable, other times annoying (especially when you want to eat peacefully and he keeps on scratching your leg for food), but most of the time comforting.

I remember one afternoon when I was particularly sad and Padawan was still a baby rabbit then. He just hopped on my lap and kept me company. Priceless.

And then of course there were the memories of him almost dying but miraculously surviving. My sisters and I were watching him, helpless with a leg sprain, until he moved upon sniffing a banana. Unforgettable.

Rabbits actually love a lot of things and not just carrots as Bugs Bunny and the people behind Looney Toons made us think when we were kids. Aside from carrots, they love bananas, anything leafy, but they're not fan of citrus fruits.

As for Padawan, he also likes peanuts (like Franco), chocolates (like me), and oatmeal (like my dad). But of course he has to stick to a healthier diet so we don't let him eat everything that we eat. FYI: He got a taste of chocolate by accident. (Didn't we get the first taste of chocolate by chance as well? And look how many of us are now chocoholics!)

I know that we are taught not to attribute "thinking capacity" to animals. But really, sometimes I wonder if they do "think"... How big is the world for such a small rabbit? How many are the possibilities? Each day, they get to discover something new and you'd see how amused they are with each of these things. A man's trash may be an animal's treasure ;)... A ball of yarn. An old assignment. A newspaper spread. A basket of flowers. A wrapper of Chocnut. A wad of tissue paper. And the list goes on...

With all these small things that comprise their world, it's probably one enormous PLAYGROUND out there for them. How FUN life must be then.

As I often say, we learn a lot from those around us. Sometimes we learn from young people. Oftentimes we learn from the old. And sometimes, amazingly, we learn from animals. :)

Let us keep walking and exploring, people!

Happy Anniversary, Pads!