April 15, 2009

Spring Awakening

Hell yeah, I’m still alive.

Tons of things had happened in the winter season, sans snow and layered clothing. The family repatriated back to Manila last December, just in time for the holidays (iba pa rin talaga ang Paskong Pinoy!). I went back to California alone in January to land our project’s first release/go-live (and spent Valentine’s day Riki-less and Evan-less), but flew back home just in time for the Eheads Final Set and the onslaught of the summer heat. We finally bought our starter home in January and is now in the process of sprucing up the unit’s interior with the help of professionals. Hopefully we can move in by the beginning of June and start enjoying the magnificent view! (Living in between houses is difficult especially if all your stuff is still in unopened shipment boxes).

Amidst all the relocation activities, Evan had gradually transitioned to his new home location (Makati for now), quickly brushed up on his Tagalog skills and have breezed thru Nursery in two months (he even grabbed the Most Obedient Award during Moving Up day and got perfect scores in his Science and Math exams!).

If two years ago, relocating to another country proved to be physically and emotionally draining during the first month (detailed story
here), going back to Pinas was the exact opposite. After a day or two of shaking off the jetlag, we are already in our comfort zone. It’s like we never left at all! Certainly there are a lot of things we will miss in the Bay Area – beautiful neighborhood and weather, speed driving in the freeway, outlets and shopping, zero financial worries, flexible working schedule allowing frequent family travels, the public libraries and community parks, and first-world facilities and services, among others. It was indeed a great family adventure and we are very grateful for the blessings. But believe it or not, we are genuinely happy to be finally back - to be with family and friends and always be present at their lives’ important milestones, to be able to eat all our favorite Filipino food anytime, and yes, even to drive in the exciting and traffic-stricken streets of Manila. Evidently, pilipinong tunay talaga kami and this is our home.

So, pictures and more updates coming up in my Multiply album soon, as I start to open my boxes and find my hard drive photo repositories. J

Mabuhey!

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