fine and dandy and california

I'll try to say some stuff about my trip as hard as I could. Those who have seen my Facebook pictures at least have an idea how it went. We were with old people obviously and that made it extra funny because B and I were considered extra special. But anyway, I'm also having fun being back in New York. The school is fine, I got into an Art class and it's gonna be fun trying to draw as fcking best as I could. And work is fun! I already miss my workmates. I hitched a ride with someone yesterday on my way to work and he told me, "I've never met anyone complaining about going to work late." Well that's me, you know. And anyway it's freezing here, morning classes were cancelled today because of the snowstorm, I'm lucky it's a Wednesday.

On another note, California is heaven for sun lovers like me. Perfect weather, perfect everything else. And for Filipinos like me, it's like you're in the Philippines. They have this city they call Little Manila, and you can go out at 3 in the morning and eat Goto or Tapa. They also have a place like Kokoy's Grille where you can eat Adobo anything. We also had breakfast one time at Chowking and I bought my mom pastillas from both Red Ribbon and Goldilocks. They have Seafood City, a grocery store as big as Rustan's Supermarket in the Philippines. We don't have that here in New York. Philippine stores here are as small as any ordinary deli in the neighborhood. And I won't forget Jollibee! There's not one but a couple of stores around. Crispylicious! =)

Goto. =)

I tried the famous In-N-Out Burger from the West, and my favorite Jamba Juice and although the city isn't as hectic as it is in New York, San Fran's still good. The Crooked Avenue, the ups and downs in the road, the cable car, the bay itself, and other good stuff like going up the hills and taking a view of the whole San Francisco. I also noticed the diversity in California where Whites are no longer the majority of the population, hopefully people would mix because something's not right with exclusivity. I get it, people of different races have different backgrounds but hopefully in the long run, differences could all be weaved together. 

Pictures!

And I won't forget my plane trip on my way back home. I crush my seatmate! He looks like Paolo Nutini. We talked and I learned he's from Brooklyn and he came from Utah from the Sundance Film Festival and he was talking about how he misses his dog and that he's finally gonna rest after parties of selling himself. He's a writer and when we weren't talking yet, he had this sketchpad where I think he writes his poems or something. I love one-time magic! Ha ha. We didn't ask for each other's names. We just talked trying not to bore ourselves out of the five hour flight from Phoenix to New York. 

Until next time. I will travel solo again sooon! (i hope)

odd one out

I was doing the register yesterday when I saw this shirt from a white guy wearing "Aparador, Bikul Philippines". It was funny. And I can't help but ask if he's been to the Philippines. He gladly said yes, he's been there five times and pointed at his wife at the table who is Filipina.

There is some satisfaction whenever someone wonders where I come from and whenever I tell them where I actually come from. Like yesterday, someone greeted me with "Ni Hao" and the other time when someone asked, "Do you speak Mandarin?" I'd just laugh it off, shrug and say, "I'm Filipino" or a friend would do the honor of saying "She's Filipino." Generally, from the eyes of Westerners, Asians look the same: slanted eyes, black hair and fair skin. When we moved into our house today, our neighbors instantly thought we were Chinese, maybe because of my brother and dad who kinda look Chinese. Weird, when actually, when we were in the Philippines, I was usually the one with bigger eyes and that I am not chinita, and that generally, I am not attracted with chinito guys except for Chris Tiu, that heartthrob not just in my school but around the Philippines too.

Anyway, apart from my workmates who ask a little bit language from what I speak, I just get surprised when out of the blue, a customer would say "Maganda ka!". I'd just smile and flatter myself a little and my friend would look at me and say, "What?". Ha ha. I can't believe I gave in to that guy quick as I was smiling up my ears. 

On other news, my Filipino friend who grew up in the States told me there will be a Jollibee branch in Queens soon. Isn't that cute? Ha ha. My dad said we gotta visit because he misses the same old Jollibee taste. That Jollibee branch is just proof of how many Filipinos live in New York, especially in Queens. Actually not just in New York. Filipinos are spread all over US. Did you see the ABDC finale? It's all Filipino. They were even waving the Filipino flag and screaming "Filipino, babbbby!" There are too many talented Filipinos. We gotta do something!

To make the whole story short, it is sometimes okay to be part of the minority because you're the odd one out and the only sour cherry from the fruit stand. Because you know, you definitely have something else to offer.

Englishbusters

I realized that Filipinos really are such overly dramatic English speakers slash writers. I am kinda guilty of this because admittedly, Filipinos love picking out the minutest grammatical errors imagined whenever reading English. There's no arguing on this. I am one of those who laugh at basic English errors like, "I love kikay STAFF" and everything simple. But no, I cannot say I am an English language pro because I'm definitely not. I hate doing the complicated tenses boo boo.

 

Ironically, the native speakers don't give a damn. 

As long as they understand what you are saying, then you're good to go. The only thing they care about are accents because a different pronunciation is a different word. But when it comes to writing things away, who cares. I found out spelling is the average American dilemma.

Last Thursday, I felt like a teacher and put 're after my work mate wrote Your Fat on something while we were bored waiting for the restaurant to close. He was like, "Ha ha" and asked what other language do I speak. I said Filipino and he suddenly became interested to learn it. He was shocked to find out I've only been here for eight months because he thought I've been here for years. That's the same reaction I get every time I tell people I didn't move here when I was 3 or something. And they're awed to find out I've been studying English nouns, verbs and pronouns since Kindergarten. 

I also notice the dilemma on Facebook. How misspelled words appear to be common. And also in school, when my school planner has a page allotted for Commonly Misspelled Words which I think are rather easy for the average educated Filipino.

Blame it on Filipino mentality I guess, which equates a firm English knowledge to superiority.

And I think that this is, funny.

First New York Christmas

One thing that I realized this Christmas season is the bigness of Christmas in the Philippines. We have always celebrated this day extravagantly not only with our immediate family but with our cousins, Titas and Titos and the pamangkins and the lolos, lolas, apos and everyone else. It's so big that we get so busy catching up with our cousins, kidding arouond the babies and asking pamasko from our ninangs. We would also conduct games not only for the kids but for the kids-at-heart as well. There's the famous Newspaper Dance for mommies and daddies and creative-whatever-you-can-imagine relays for the kids. Although sometimes there were no prizes at stake, the idea of winning drives the competitiveness of everyone. That's why I would always be happy by the end of the day because of the people around the house making lots of noises: the crying babies, the loudness of the music from the player, the fighting kapatids, the laughter of the oldies and the inumans of the (young) adults. Everyone's busy doing what they usually do on family reunions celebrating Christmas, awaiting the main event of the party: exchanging gifts. This is the part when everyone makes a circle holding on to their gifts and one by one, someone sits on the center describing the person he picked before giving it to that person. This is my favorite part because sometimes, my cousins would make fun of the person they picked by imitating gestures which are completely outrageous.

For this year, now that I am in New York, it has gone on a complete turn. But although I was only with my immediate family, it was still good. It is also funny how Pinoys really try to generate families everywhere we go. The other day, we had our small "Christmas Party" with family friends here who are also Pinoys. We may not be actually related to one other but we try to generate that family feeling we miss from our country. It feels quite good when you know you have found a common denominator with someone else which Americans won't ever have.

Christmas 2007

So how did my first New York Christmas go? On Christmas Eve, we had our simple Noche Buena with the usual talks with the family and we also talked to our extended family through webcam. Fun. By morning, we celebrated mass then went to the Frye family for lunch, a family friend. Remember Jack? Ha ha. Then by afternoon, we watched Will Smith's I am Legend. Talk about suspense Christmas. Lol. And then dinner. Quite simple but still meaningful to me. I just missed Simbang Gabi because I remember always wanting to complete the nine masses every year but always missed.

Can I just share? Finally, our Internet's wireless. I can have internet in my pocket through iPod Touch. Wala lang. ;p

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone!