Bagaholic: Are You One of Us?

I read news from home last night and can't help but say "waaah" about this news article: Manila store offers fix for bagaholics on a budget.

Still, I wouldn't spend that much on bags alone.

They are good investments though.

On my first 2 months here, doing nothing but read news online, climb mountains or exercise to lose weight (to no avail), I came across an article about Korean women selling or pawning their luxury bags to get through the hard times. They would just bite their lips at the low offer of the pawnshop owner for their bags or shoes or jewelry. They had to give in, with no hopes of being able to get their goods back.

Coming to Korea made me realy realize the true meaning of this: while we are alive and see things, we can't be content and wish to possess everything we see. But when we leave (die), we actually bring nothing with us. With the total of 27Kg. luggage limit, I thought I made the best decision making in choosing what to bring here. When I got here, I still wasn't satisfied with the stuff I brought.

All those years, I would go to shopping malls or ukay-ukay just to look for bags. I'm not into expensive or branded bags. As long as I find the bag cute or unique and affordable, I'd buy it. In ukay-ukays, I would search for as long as I could just to get a cute bag. (Now my companions, even Alex, would complain they're already tired walking around yet I'm still on the go.) Bags with defects that are sold for P50-100 didn't matter to me. I'm good at sewing (uh) and when I see I could repair it (example having the zips replaced), I'd still buy it.

When Alex first entered my room back home, he immediately said I was a "bag maniac" coz he immediately saw them in small hangers arranged by color and size. (Oh the hangers were arranged by color too...freak? addict talaga?)

When I came here, I just brought about 7 bags and still, I always say I need bag(s). Among them are 3 ukay finds that I think are really great.


A slightly used Giordano Overnight Bag (@P250), Naturally Jojo black bag (HongKong brand? for P160--it looked plain for the seller but it looked fabulous to me. I was at that time processing my documents for my visa,kkk) for my documents, and a Japanese bag (that came with convertible straps. It looked unattractive because of the dust but when I washed it, waah, even my mom wanted me to leave it behind) that's really useful in the airport since I stuffed all I could use while traveling.

I'm easy to please and want so much value for my hard-earned money. Growing up in Baguio, I don't say yaiks to ukay-ukay we fondly call "wagwagan"... I gave away most of the bags I purchased and just left at home some I received as gifts.

Besides, other's trash is other people's treasure. One thing more, what you can't find in shopping malls may actually exist in ukays.

At this trying times, being married but still having my own income, I now cut down my purchases and see to it that I really need what I buy. I learned my lesson well.

Rest In Peace, President Roh Moo Hyun

Last Friday night, Alex and I planned to start early from the house the following day to go climb a mountain. It was already about 3pm yesterday when we returned home. While I busied myself to cook Paksiw (sword fish), he turned on the computer to check his email. He suddenly made an alarming sound and went out to the kitchen ashen-faced. I asked him why and he said ex-President Roh died that morning. He was really surprised because he liked the ex-President a lot. I felt sad too for I really liked President Roh's smiling face--so pure and honest.

I went to meet Anne this afternoon to give her something and when we were on our way back to the Yeokgok Sta., we saw an Altar set up for the late ex-President. Offered flowers, lighted candles and hang sash surrounded his pictures.

When I got to my home station, I was surprised with the bigger Altar set for him. It wasn't there yet when I headed to Seoul around 3 this afternoon. A long line of people, who couldn't personally go to Mr. Roh's hometown, were eagerly but silently waiting for their turn to pay their respects to him and bow to maybe a close family member looking on from the right side of the altar.

The attendant had to clear the altar of the offered flowers for they were covering his lower picture already...
Just among the families paying their respects to the ex-President...

"Come to me, all of you who are tired..............I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest".... Matthew 11:28

God is a merciful God, He is a just Judge.

Who am I to judge his actions? I still believe in life after death and that we are rewarded for how we lived. He may have left unanswered questions with his untimely death, but people only remember his good deeds...

Rest in Peace Mr. Roh...

Who Didn't Love Madam Chung of Dae Jang Geum?

Kim Sam Soon and Dae Jang Geum (Jewel in the Palace) fans will always remember her as a pillar of strength and wisdom... Madam Chung (or Jung)... Who didn't love her and her characters?
Just a few days ago, I read about Yeo Un Gye battling lung cancer. But after seeing her picture on yahoo korea tonight, I asked Alex to translate the news for me. It said she passed away today at age 69...

Oh, I marathon-watched Dae Jang Geum for about 3 times and still watched some episodes whenever I missed seeing the historical drama...

You'll be dearly missed Madam Chung...

The Seoul Friendship Fair I Attended Solo....

Up until now, I really haven't learned my lesson yet: not to leave the house without a camera....

Tessa invited me for last Sunday's Seoul Information Fair for Expats... both of us not knowing it was also the Seoul Friendship Fair 2009 day (I've watched last year's from Arirang). From the Seoul Station, I was greeted by a catchy Mexican music. I already saw the sign going to Tessa's company's booth but I still followed the direction of where the sounds were coming from. Okay---it was from the Seoul Plaza. After watching their final act, I crossed the street to (finally) see the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony at Deoksugung (Deoksu Palace).

After that, I finally went to meet Tessa and her hubby, Min. She led me to the booths of Philippines where I got stuck for about 30 minutes talking to a Korean who said he'd visit Cebu next month. Tessa had to leave for their booth, giving me directions going there.

Philippines' booths were really popular among Koreans and other foreigners. I just love how they'd say "Oh, look, the Philippines!!!" and line up for the bananas or pineapples (which came with really pretty shopping bag for those who bought). The Sabutan purses, semi-precious stone accesories and other handicrafts were also popular.

The fair was until 5 pm only. So after rounding the booths from Asia to Africa to South America, I went back to Philippines' booths about 3:30 to buy bananas but unfortunately, there were none left. I tried lining up for the pineapples but the lady before me bought all the big pineapples left and had them peeled and sliced for her. How unlucky could I get? grr...

I also went back to Tessa's booth to bid her goodbye. Before finally leaving, we went to the other booths packing up to say "Han-ge juseyo" for their gifts or give aways, haha!

I loved the most Ecuador's booth for their lively music--- I stood there forever as I munched on my Shawarma (Iraq--I liked it a lot because it didn't have strong onion aftertaste) and sipped on my Bandung drink (Singapore--and preveted myself from eating Laksa again)... I somehow wanted that happy tune to forever stay with me since the week before that day was a sad one for me.

There were lots of food to try but I was traveling alone so I prevented myself from eating unfamiliar food for fear of allergic reactions.

It was a congratulatory day (hehe) for me too. It was my first time, ever, since coming to Korea, to travel to Seoul ALONE!!! with my "big" subway map in hand...

See You in Friendster...

My youngest sister made friendster accounts for my second brother's 3 daughters. In one of our conversations, I just suggested I'll fix their friendster accounts during my free time if they liked. Okay, they got excited and asked me to change their background with anything 'barbie'... and so I did. But dana, the youngest one, likes Narnia a lot, especially Lucy, so I searched for Narnia pictures... My sis in law said they now fight for turns using the computer and Dana, as always, is the boss...

But just last Sunday, they told me they wanted to change their backgrounds already. I said I'm busy lately and the eldest said "It's okay auntie, just do it if you have time already"..

But the youngest said ""Ah basta!! See you in Friendster Auntie!!!!!""
Pictures taken during their trip to Pampanga for my first brother's 2nd baby's Christening... Girl in dress is my first brother's first baby Lysha...

Of Children's Day, Parents' Day and Teacher's Day..

This first week of May was a real trial for me. Oh, it drained me mentally and emotionally (for some reasons that are not related to the title,hehe).

Good thing there was the children's day program we had last Monday. It was fun and exciting to see the students play and have fun, scream, dance, jump around and hug you anytime they wanted...

With the Korean English Teachers...
At least I wasn't asked to dance in front of the kids or lead the dancing (or wear Ginny's mascot)... I was just asked to make picture descriptions...
The other teachers were considerate enough not to give me heavy part on the program...

Next, since it's a new month, new students are coming in. I received a cake from a mother who asked me to put extra attention to her daughter since she wants her daughter to be really good. Well I really appreciated the gift. But for me, I readily give "extra special" attention to new students who I know are also still adjusting to the new system, classmates and surroundings...

I already read about Korean parents still spending on gifts for teachers either in cash or kind... I just didn't expect to experience it (in a hagwon,ㅋㅋㅋ). Parents mean well though. We consider it as an advance Teacher's day gift for the 15th(?).

On Tuesday, the Children's day holiday, instead of going out on a date, Alex and I decided to treat again his niece and nephew. At a nearby park, I saw Korean children acting as adults--ready to fight and get dirty. Ah, I again remembered my "poor anger management days"...

For the Parent's day, I bought flowers for my mom in law. Aside from that, she requested we bring her to Seoul Grand Park (AGAIN)... So off we went yesterday to this southern part of Seoul... Since I wasn't in the mood to really go, I realized I didn't take much pictures...

My Boys....

Since I started teaching last January, I also handled 4 boys under the Guided Writing Skills class. It was a challenge I took at heart. As I mentioned earlier, I always told Alex of my desire to quit the hagwon but his insistence I must get experience and just my desire also to make a difference in these boys' writing skills made me go on. We finished 1/3 of the book on the first month. I was thinking they'd give us more time by February so I still did my best not to resign yet. However, I was only given 1 meeting a week with the boys, so too in March. In April I was given 2 meetings a week with them so for the month of May, I just have 2 more chapters, meaning 5 meetings to go to finish the book.

Wednesday last week, the boys nagged again about us going out for snack. I actually brought them snacks already the previous week. We had a party before the lesson. So for the following day, I just told them we all buy snacks so we can have a party before proceeding with the lesson, being able to eat what they wanted to eat.

Thursday came, last day of April, one of the boys' mom brought pizza for the class and the rest of the teachers (to my surprise), one bought soda, one bought cookies, one bought cups and I bought them ice cream...

The wonsaengnim agreed to the party because.... 3 of my students were transferring for May to another hagwon... yeah, I thought it would be Tim (the tallest boy and the best we have in the hagwon) only...

Picasso (who will stay), the shortest of the 4, would always tell me he was bored with the lessons already. Sometimes he would imitate me and I always thought he was doing his best to irritate me. I was surprised though that for the 2 parties we had, he set up the tables where I could sit next to him and he even served me my food and drinks, asking me to eat all he gave me...

John, the second tallest, is always busy "inventing" things. But he really answers well when called upon and gives me good write ups after the discussion.

Armstrong is the most attentive....

I will always miss these boys... They were among the reasons I stayed. It was a reward seeing the improvements in their writing week after week. Sometimes, when they're asked to write something, they would go to my classroom just to ask me if were they doing it right. I would always be glad to help them, for their improvement... I will miss their endless talks, the way they make prank calls on their friends or family during their free time, the way they brag about the progress of their guitar lessons and singing in the church, the way they say thank you and appreciate extra help I can give them, and the way they call me Teacher...


Yes, they wouldn't smile for the camera because unfortunately, the girl I asked to take our pictures was the 2nd best student in the hagwon, who they claim, make them look not good enough, hahahaha!

A Wedding and A Funeral=Reunion

On my way home last Saturday from the academy, I was thinking of trying to call our home in La Trinidad. Darkness greeted me outside---meaning mom in law wasn't back from their outing yet. After some minutes, our landline rang. Spice, Alex' dog was howling because I wasn't answering the phone, thinking the caller was just from here... When I checked the screen for the number, I was surprised to see our home number. It was mom.

She immediately talked about her recent trip to Pampanga... then relayed to me a happy news and a sad news...

First, she talked about my cousin Karen's upcoming wedding. I was so happy to hear my cousin finally getting married to her high school sweetheart Aristotle. He was my classmate and one of the batchmates who made engineering life also enjoyable. I entered college at age 21 so he'd always call me "manang"... I liked his group of friends---quiet, studious, helpful in solving math problems, well, you can sometimes see in them the typical style of engineering students but they still look cute walking to our 7-floor building hands in pockets braving the cold, hehe... Congratulations and Best Wishes cousins...

Second, she relayed to me that my Dad's older brother passed away already just last Saturday too. I believe my Uncle passed away with peace in his heart. He passed away looking over the rolling mountains and hills trails of Asin and the beaches of Aringay (La Union) or the Lingayen Gulf... I took his death positively. Uncle had been under medication for years. I hope he gets the rest he well deserves. Rest well and be at peace Uncle...

This sad news also made me really busy yesterday--calling home and my Uncles (my dad's siblings) in the US. I volunteered doing so since calling them from here using my calling card is really cheap (uh, I find it cheap). It is the time for all relatives from far flung places to come together. They immediately asked if will ate Donna (in Singapore) and I go home too... I said I wasn't sure yet... My sister also said she isn't sure yet... We haven't seen my Uncles for almost 4 years now. Last 2003-2005, they went home to represent the Fil-Am community in California for the International Golf Tourney. Uncle Roy really looked good in the newspapers with his striking pose when he made a hole-in-one.

Pines of San Diego’s Gilroy Cachero shot the tournament’s fifth hole-in-one dating back to the seniors’ event last week—and the first one of his 10-year golf career—at the par-3, 153-yard hole No. 15 of John Hay to share the spotlight in yesterday’s round.

“This is the best feeling I have ever had in my life,” said the San Diego-based La Trinidad born Cachero, who used a Taylor Made Adidas #9 Iron and Strata 1 ball for his feat.

Ah... I wish to bear hug with my family, Uncles and cousins again...

..Alex, please read....(^,^)

Wow ni Dana

I was watching pictures from home a while ago when I again stumbled upon this short video my sis-in-law was able to shoot when her daughter suddenly made a cute "wow".... and later in the video she said.."mommy i like....."

Waah! I really miss my nieces: their chatters, their screams and footsteps, their hugs--their little bodies and arms they so much want to put around you because they miss you a lot or because they are scared of the thunder or lightning, the way they ask my permission for them to see my bag and its contents, they way they tug at me to accompany them to the store--- uh, their store, etc...etc... and most especially the 3rd one's (Dana) deep husky voice..

April Gone....

Ah, April went by so fast. As I was writing the date on the board on my first class last Thursday, I thought to myself that old students might be going away again (to another hagwon) and new students will be coming who would always ask me "Where are you from?"

Month after month, I air to my husband my desire to resign from the academy. He'd push me to my limit by always saying "One month more" to get that "teaching experience" I so lack... Ahh... I said I will resign by May 5th but now, I'm the one having to push myself for a month or two more... I'm done with 4 months, 2 months more won't hurt a lot. My dear friend Anne even asked me yesterday if would I really resign this month... haha, shame on me... But when I saw my schedule yesterday, that I'd be handling more challenging subjects with middle levels, I said I have to teach this month.

And the last time we met, I also told her and Thessa that I still wanted to practice my field. But with my lack of motivation to really study the Korean language, I realized later that I might as well invest on what is "good at hand" and get TESOL certificate. My co-teachers say they like the way I teach (using my engineering side??? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ) so I thought of having to really get that training I so need too...

Like someone said, you are not a Teacher if you stop learning. I think every individual must not stop learning, life is a process. Times advance and past practices and beliefs change. What were believed to be bad for health are now suddenly good for health... things like that... What's applicable in my country is not applicable here. What you've learned today may not be applicable tomorrow or what you have in papers are not actually applicable at all... It's your way or their way and adjust and compromise to whichever is effective and efficient...

Oh, I hope for a very warm May... April's weather was "crazy" like another foreign teacher called it..

My first Spring is also good... When the season started and the trees began to bloom, I always stood at a distance before them just to admire the blossoms. I always told myself I'd take their pictures the following day. Now the petals have all gone off, and they're now covered in green but I haven't taken their pictures at all yet. Haay... At one weekend, Alex and I rode a community bus to see another side of Incheon. The cherry blossoms were really nice. I thought then it was just a joyride so I didn't bring our camera. The view was really nice. I enjoyed the 3-hour drive without thinking much of the time.

Anyway, here is a couple of the pictures I took when friends and I went to Yeouido....