something is scratching its way out.

Tito Chad (Richard “Chad” Chua, Jr.) passed away last night. He was taken to the hospital on Friday night because they thought he had a UTI, but was later diagnosed with pneumonia.

He was 49 years old and was diagnosed with Wilson’s disease when he was about 14 years old. As an early teenager, he became bedridden and lived in the Philippines with Lola Nena (sister of Lolo Dick, my mom’s dad) until about two years ago when the family finally was able to bring him to the US to be near his mom, my Lola Betty, and his five other siblings (Carisse, Jondi, my mom, Rita and George).

Though bedridden, and fed through a tube, he hasn’t had any complications in the past. His brain functioned normally, but he couldn’t speak or move. He was able to smile and laugh and respond slightly, could make noises that some of the family were able to interpret, and he was there for our family dinners (which we tend to have many of).

Thankfully, he passed away in his sleep and seemed very peaceful.

…

He ended up waking up early Saturday morning and was breathing ok, but then Mom got a call at around 3:30pm so we headed to the hospital right away. Frank was out with friends and Dad was out at a La Salle (his high school) picnic.

We arrived in the hospital and were allowed into the ICU to see him, and he was sedated and looked so conked out and bleary that it was so sad. He was also on a ventilator because his lungs were filled with fluid except for a small part of one of them. However, they said that the oxygen wasn’t being taken up by the blood very well. They were about to run him through a CAT scan so we were told to wait in the waiting room with the rest of the family.

There were about 14 of us, but a few more people came and went over the course of the afternoon and evening. At 6:15pm, everyone left to go to church but for my mom, Tita Rita and I. We stayed just so there was someone there. Shortly after they left, they allowed us in to see him. We stayed with him there for a while, staring at his monitor and watched as his blood pressure continued to decrease. It went from 90 to about 68 in the short period we were in there, maybe 15-20 minutes. The monitors seemed to alert the two wonderfully kind nurses, and then they called the doctor because the medicine they were using to try to bring up his BP didn’t seem to be working. They told us that Dr. Rosenthal was coming to speak to us so we should stay put.

I figured at the time that he was going to tell us the results of the CAT scan. Apparently not only was there fluid in his lungs, but there was something else in his abdomen shifting the organs to the side, and they weren’t sure what it was.

The doctor came in and looked around, asked us what our relations were with Tito Chad, and then asked where Lola Betty was, because he needed to speak with her. Mom and Tita Rita said Lola was at church and probably wouldn’t pick up the phone, so he told us what they’d found.

Yes, it was fluid in the lungs, but one lung seemed to have collapsed even before the fluid had filled it because it appeared as though the fluid had flowed to that side to create an equilibrium of sorts. Otherwise it would’ve shifted to the other side instead.

Anyway, he said that the ventilator didn’t seem to be working well and there wasn’t much oxygen going to his brain, and there must be another problem besides the fluid-filled lungs causing his body’s infection–apparently the infection had spread to his blood–possibly a tumor or something under the lungs. Lola and the others had decided not to begin any more aggressive treatment because Tito Chad was already in a fragile state.

Then the doctor said that he didn’t think that Tito Chad would last much longer, and that was just a shock. He was so calm telling us everything and that just came out of the blue, at least to me. Tito Chad had never had problems before, the only thing being his having to be prone in bed all the time, and it was so sudden, just the night before when he’d been admitted to the hospital.

Mom and Tita Rita took it so well though, kept asking questions, took it in stride. The doctor said that even the medicines to keep his BP up weren’t working, so he wanted to talk to Lola Betty to ask what she wanted to be done–more medicines? Or stop the medication and give him sedatives and morphine to make sure there was no pain?

Tita Rita texted Tito Jondi, assuming that they’d have their phones on vibrate, and soon everyone was coming back. Lola said no more medication, agreeing with the doctor that the signs were pointing towards Tito Chad’s passing. They’d all gone through this with Lolo Dick’s death a few years back–he also passed away in his sleep surrounded by his family. He’d had bi-pass surgery done, went home, later was readmitted and never woke. He hung on for a few days and then Lola said, “It’s ok, you can go now. Go with your mother,” and then he took a last breath like he was going to fall asleep and passed on.

…

Before the mass had begun, Lola had asked Father Howard at Christ the Redeemer Church where most of my mom’s side of the family go to church and sometimes sing to please have a priest visit my uncle. The priest arrived to perform the Sacrament of Anointing the Sick before the rest of the family arrived, but they arrived for most of it. Then he asked Lola if she wanted him to perform the Sacrament of Anointing the Dying, and I was shocked again when she said yes, please do. His blood pressure began to go up again soon after mom and Tita Rita told him that Lola was coming back, and they joked that he’d been trying to joke Lola.

He liked to joke her. When she was with him, he’d always make noises and be silly, but when with others he’d be calm and good. They laughed and said he always joked her.

Anyway, I was surprised because I thought that he was getting better and would keep getting better–would pass over this low BP business and then we could move on to getting him over the infection and pneumonia.

But Father Archie performed the second sacrament and told us we’d all be in his prayers, and soon left. Then Lola let everyone have a moment alone with Tito Chad. Poor Tito George was crying so hard, kept saying, “Chady-Boy, why?” It was so sad. All of us were crying on and off, and the siblings, mom included, would start sobbing and then calm down and start again. Throughout it all, though, they kept on joking a bit, bringing up old jokes that they shared with Tito Chad.

LOLA: Isa (a cousin of the siblings’) is coming with Lance.

CARISSE: Watch out–she’s going to ask for another baby.

LOLA: Yes. When Papa (what they all called Lolo Dick) was passing away, she asked him to please give her a baby.

Tita Isa and Tito Lance soon got there and everyone laughed at that story.

LANCE: Well, if you’re going to help us have a baby, how about a boy?

Everyone was joking them about how they’d end up getting triplets–three boys probably, so be careful! Tito Lance joked about retracting his wish.

TITO GEORGE: Chady, can you come scare Malou (his wife)?

TITA CARISSE: You can come visit me, Chad, and bring Papa. But don’t scare me, huh!

Lola asked him if he could please open his eyes, and OMG, he did, he really opened his eyes. We all came around and smiled and waved and touched him and told him hello and it was the craziest thing I’ve ever seen and experienced. She just asked him and he did it, even under all the morphine and sedatives. And then after that he closed his eyes and went slack.

His BP soon started dropping and I could feel the tension start. They all were saying how he’s going now. His heart rate dropped to about 55 and two of the lines went dead, and it was just like a climax of strain in the room, but then it went back up, the lines came alive again, and we all relaxed for a bit. Lola was on one side of the bed telling him he’d see Jesus, Mary and God and Papa and he’ll be in a wonderful place and he’d be happy and thank you so much for making us happy and being here with us and we love you, all your family are here and love you and gosh, it was so sad. Tito George was sobbing so hard and running a hand through Tito Chad’s hair on the other side of the bed.

Lola was talking to Tito Chad so much that the family began joking her.

FAMILY: You’re keeping him here. He’s probably gone already and laughing at how we’re still here and talking to him.

The doctor said his organ’s would give out one by one, which is painful, so they were giving him lots of morphine. The doctor and the nurses came quite a bit and stayed for a while, and the night nurse stayed with us. They let us stay the whole day, even though visiting hours came and went. The doctor also said that Tito Chad had a young, strong heart and passing away may take an hour or so, or more, he didn’t know, but he knew it was coming.

Poor Tito George was distraught.

TITO GEORGE: Chady-boy, wake up.

LOLA BETTY: No! He’s already going up to heaven!

Everyone, Tito George included, laughed at that. And he even told Lola to stop talking so much, she was keeping him here to long. They told him afterwards that it was ok to go to sleep now.

Fifteen or twenty minutes later and Tito Chad’s HR slowed really quickly and went to about 45 or so and then stopped completely. Tita Rita was sobbing so loud and said, “Oh no, no Chad!” and all the siblings and everyone was crying and it was scary and sad and relieving. We were all staring interchangeably at the screen, and at Tito Chad. And then shortly the screen went to a screensaver and that was utterly terrifying.

…

I’ve always believed in God. My mom’s side of the family is very religious, especially my Lola who is a part of Opus Dei. But I’ve never seen anyone die, and always imagined that it would be like they were just trapped in their body still, not really trapped, but just sitting there, maybe until they were cremated or buried, just dead still.

But last night, after the monitor turned off, it felt the like the room was little emptier, and looking at Tito Chad’s body, I really felt like he wasn’t there any more, just was gone.

It’s renewed my faith in a surprising way. I’m not too sure how to explain.

There are also so many ways that Tito Chad’s passing seemed to be God’s wish, but I’m tired, and I’ll write about those tomorrow. It makes it all so much easier, and I’m wondering if that’s why I’m at peace with this and why it seems like the rest of the family is too.

Tita Carisse said as we were walking out of the hospital, “Can you imagine Chad running? Moving his arms? Talking?” After tonight and after everything, yes.

Goodnight.

I love you, Tito Chad, rest in peace, and I know you are in a better place. Say hi to Lolo for me please. :o)

It is almost 5am and Mom, Dad and I just ate a midnight breakfast with decaf coffee.

Jetlag and impromptu hospital visits

I woke up at about 3am, unable to go back to sleep, and then I heard the honk of our Honda Pilot locking up and my parents come in. My Tito Chad, who has been bedridden since he was a teenager from Wilson’s Disease, was taken to the hospital for fear of his having a UTI, but it turns out that he had pneumonia and both his lungs were filled with fluid but for a tiny portion of one lung. So my parents went to the hospital, and I heard them come back.

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Theives, ghosts, and memory-loss

I didn’t know this at the time and tried to go back to sleep, but then I heard a series of alarms going off periodically and decided to give up trying to sleep. I came downstairs, they told me about Tito Chad, and then showed me the footprints on the sill of the stairs that lead from the basement to outside that we can see from the kitchen.

While we’d been gone, my cousin Camille had been getting our mail and taking care of Comet, my golden retriever brother who unfortunately couldn’t accompany us on our family vacation. One day she called us while we were in Kauai and reported that somehow, the lights, different ones from the ones she left on, had been turned on. She usually leaves a couple of lights on for the appearance of the house being inhabited, but when she came back to the house the next day, it was a different set of lights that were on. The laundry door was open too.

Mom joked that it was a ghost, and that Dad shot her a look because he didn’t want Camille to get scared. She’s about 4′11 and 18 years old. Shorter than me!

Here’s an interjecting anecdote that I found hilarious that is her worst short-story (forgive the pun!):

She and her friends went to a restaurant and the waitress gave everyone regular menus, but served her a kids’ menu! She said they probably thought that she was the younger sister of one of her friends! Oh man. And she says that while she’s in line, people cut her sometimes because they apparently think she’s with someone else, as a child or younger sibling! Jeez. Poor kid!

Anyway, my parents were setting up alarms on the doors, just cheap ones that if the door is opened when it’s on, then they’ll go off. We though briefly that someone had stolen Dad’s work laptop, but left all our cars and tvs and the precious Wii, but Dad just found the laptop. So now it’s either just a ghost or Camille forgot which lights she left on and which doors she left open.

.

Near-arrests

So we ate a midnight breakfast. Hunger was the main reason I pushed myself out of bed in the first place. However, we had no eggs so Dad, as energetic and ADD as ever, decided he’d go to the 7-11 in Sully Plaza to fetch some.

Eggs in hand, he walked out of the store and was stopped by two humongous, white policemen.

They said that there had been some activity in the area and the suspect was an Asian male. They asked for his ID, and he was so worried that he double-backed and told us later that he thought that that may have made him look guilty or something, which made him even more worried. He was also worried because he’d heard of people being mistakenly arrested, and he also worried that he had ::ahem:: a certain substance in the car.

Anyway, they ran his ID through a database, saw his age and said, “Oh, you’re 48? The guy we’re looking for is a lot younger.” At this, Mother and I both laughed because he’d been getting a lot of words about how young he looks, and this was the first time that it was in a rather negative situation! They asked where he worked, to which he replied, “I’ve worked in the World Bank for about 23 years.” The cops raised their brows at that, apparently, and said, “Oh, so you really are pretty old!”

Then they returned his ID and let him go saying, “Thanks for your time!” And off he went.

Poor thing came back a bit frightened and edgy.

Anyway, going to try to get a bit of shut-eye and then wake up tomorrow. Mom and I are going to make apple pie (my FAVORITE; we have a family recipe and it’s a little bit DELICIOUS), and since I know I’m going to be exhausted, I’m going to help her make dinners for the week (chop and stuff), and sleep early. No naps!

Aloha.

“He’s a legend in his own mind.” This is a sentence that describes Frank and was coined by Tito (uncle) Rolly.

I’ve mentioned Frank’s egotism, but it’s fun to laugh at. He’s also taken to wearing his sunglasses almost 24/7, so one night in Kauai I played “I Wear My Sunglasses At Night” and told him it was the theme song of his life. I don’t know if that was a mistake or not, but he took to it very well and plays it quite often.

+++

We got back today after a 30min, a 7.5hr, and a 2hr plane ride, which took up the entirety of about a day if you include changing time zones, and was a rather horrible day. I actually like traveling, but I don’t want to set foot on a plane for a long, long time. I still like the sound they make in the air though, and will once again miss the sounds of night flights passing over our neighborhood when I return to Tech.

Also, we saw a mouse in Minneapolis. Mom pointed it out. It was a small one, looked like the kind you’d feed to a snake, and was about four rows ahead and diagonally to the right of us at our gate. Nevertheless, Mother Dearest jumped up, proclaimed rather hysterically that, “YIKES, there’s a mouse! Pick up all your things! There’s a mouse!” She pointed and then started stomping her feet despite the fact that the disgusting creature was far away and not heading toward us.

It was kind of hilarious. Though I do understand the hysteria. If I hadn’t been quite so exhausted or disinterested in everything around me at the time, I probably would’ve picked up my feet along with all my belongings. There are two animals that I hate: pigeons and rats. Sometimes mice though, because I associate them with rats. And pigeons are rats with wings. They are disgusting, disease-carrying creatures. And we all know how I’m something of a germophobe (thanks to Pop), and am paranoid about getting diseases or parasites and stuff.

I had a passing desire to join the Peace Corps. It lasted about an hour. I was really enthusiastic about wanting to go abroad to help people, immerse myself in a different culture, learn a new language, rough it out, but then I thought about it practically and I have issues with going without a proper shower for more than a day, I can’t sleep if I’m worrying about how sanitary the drinking water is, I have a phobia against bugs (especially huge ones), am paranoid about parasites, and can’t sleep well if not in a comfy bed with five pillows.

It would be great to do I think, but I don’t know if I’d live through it.

Though I’d suffer it all if I could do it in Kauai, but no one really needs help there.

+++

Frank zipped right out the door once we got home.

Dad and I want to see The Dark Knight tomorrow. He suggested tonight, but I thought ahead and said I might accidentally pass out at 4pm, so let’s shoot for tomorrow. He ended up passing out on the couch in a drunken, black-out kind of sprawl that made me laugh a bit, and even after being the one to say try not to sleep until later in the evening! Haha! Mom and I laughed at that too.

Mom and I also laughed together at the two boys of the family saying our lives would probably be pretty uneventful and boring without them being difficult, annoying, frustrating, or just plain ridiculous.

Dear Bear

Today Dad and I went horseback riding at the Princeville Rance on the north shore of Kauai. I’ve never been on a horse before, or near one really, so I was very excited! After everyone decided they didn’t want to go to Tagaitai in the Philippines to ride ponies, I was rather disappointed at missing my chance. When we went so many years ago, I got too scared (I was about eight), so I didn’t try it when Dad and Frank went.

However, I’m very glad that Dad decided to go with me this time around!

Oh yeah, I forgot. We were signing release papers or something and one of the ranch hands said, “So, are you two on your honeymoon?”

Oh my goodness.

I stared at her for a second while Dad choked on laughter, and then I said slowly, in a rather horrified voice (because I was feeling quite horrified), “No. He’s my dad.” Pointblank in a dead voice.

Dad laughed and the other ranch hand laughed. The other hand said, “Haha! Did you see the look on her face?” And then she mimicked me and I thought, Yes, that’s a very fitting expression.

Anyway.

My horse’s name was Bear! It was really just meant to be I think. When our guide lead me over to Bear, told me his name, and then told me to mount up, I thought: Bear Grylls and Grizzly Bears! Bears are my favorite animals, and I also <3 Bear Grylls from Man vs. Wild! Bear was brown with a black mane with brown highlights, and he was built pretty big–larger than Dad’s horse, and looked tough…also had a bit of an attitude. I was essentially just a passenger and he the driver as he didn’t really follow my orders, but that was just fine because I liked him quite a lot.

Dad’s horse’s name was Walker and he was a black/gray and white speckled horsey who was very calm and sweet.

Bear and Walker were friends and nuzzled one another’s faces when we took pictures by the cliff.

Bear also had to pee a lot. I didn’t realize he was doing so the first time because we were listening to Robin’s (Robin was our guide) instructions, but I heard a faint hissing sound and when I looked down, there was a huge puddle under Bear. What a silly horse!

Robin told us a lot about the Kauai mountains, showed us where parts of Jurassic Park were filmed, told us Michael Crichton lives nearby (COOL–I just read Next ; he’s one of my favorites because he writes about science and has scientific explanations :oD ), and told us about some of the families who own a bunch of the property in Kauai. Some of these people bought some properties just so people could not build on them so as to preserve the land. Very decent, no?

Robin also picked us strawberry guavas, small, cherry-sized guavas with lots of seeds that were very tasty and yummy.

Now we’re going snorkeling in Tunnels Beach on the north shore where sea turtles are apparently prevalent. Yay! Very excited :o)

+++

Sea Turtles

So there were many turtles indeed at Tunnels Beach. They seem like such peaceful creatures. I think I would like to be a turtle. Plus, they’re pretty and rather graceful as they swim and munch.

The first school of fish I saw were right on the surface of the water and they were tiny and silver. Very skittish too. There were also a ton in rather large groups eating from the coral reefs, and some little plant/coral thing littered the reefs and looked like brains. We also saw a bunch of fish that looked like baby barracudas, and we also saw some needle-looking fish with sharp tails and rounded noses.

I loved the turtles so much though.

We plan to go back tomorrow to snorkel some more, swim, and picnic.

+++

Kayaking

I forgot to mention that on Saturday we went kayaking to the bay. It’s so gorgeous. Frank and I paired up and Mom and Dad paired up. W kayaked to the bay, waded, took pictures, enjoyed the view, and then kayaked back. Frankie and I were very much in sync.

I love kayaking so much. I wanted to go for longer, but Frank doesn’t like doing stuff and the parents got tired. I wanted to do the long kayak trip to the Fern Grotto, but again, the parents were tired just thinking about it. Ah well.

Tonight we’re grilling steaks by the pool :o)

Instead of the Fern Grotto kayak trip, we may take a boat over there instead. The last time we did that, Frank and I were so small that I don’t remember it really.

.

Aloha!

Aloha!

So far we’ve been perfecting our relaxation technique.

We went back to Secret Beach on Kalihiwai Road for a bit, and yesterday we went on a hike to the Pools of Mokolea for a short but sweet shorline hike with lots of lavapools. It turns out that that was a beach we’d been to before, the first one we thought we were going to on our first day out!

We hiked up and climbed some rocks to see the gorgeous panoramic view of the river and the sea, and the bay area between which we had to wade across to get to the hiking part. The water was very warm and calm on the river side, because it was the end point, but the sea on the other side was raging. Yesterday was a very big wave day around the island with waves as high as 5-7 feet in some areas.

That night we ate in a little Chinese hole-in-the-wall and then went to a bar/cafe to listen to a live acoustic guitar player sing great songs and have drinks.

Today Dad and I may go horseback riding and then get Mom and Frankie and go snorkeling in Tunnels or Ke’e on the north shore, which is apparently the best shore dive on the island with lots of turtles, reef sharks, lava tubes, caves and nice underwater relief, according to our very wondrous Kauai guidebook. This is the best book ever. It’s called The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook, Kauai Revealed.

:o)

K, bye!

+++

Some mild brunch/linner hilariousness ensued over omelets and toast.

DAD: My camcorder broke. Stupid.

FAMILY: Aw, we’re sorry!

DAD: And I was going to tape while we were kayaking!

FAMILY: Oh, boo!

DAD: It’s like when I got a flat tire in Edsa (in the Philippins). I was like, ‘Really. Why would this happen to me?’

Looks so utterly despondent that it’s quite funny. Mom spit up a bit because she couldn’t contain her laughter.

MOM: (placating) Sometimes bad things happen.

DAD: If I stood on the balcony, I’d probably fall over.

MIKA: It’s ok, Mom’s camera can take video!

DAD: No, that’s ugly. The camcorder was HD.

FAMILY laughs.

DAD: When we go kayaking, my kayak will probably tip over. Pause. My omelet doesn’t have any bacon. Sad face. Looks at Frank’s omelet when Frank gets up, spears a tomato with his fork and makes a face at Frank’s back.

Oh, dear, dear family. Frank wore his sunglasses at breakfast. It was quite funny–I was laughing a bit and kind of choking, but I can’t tell if he noticed or not because I couldn’t see his eyes.

day 1 in kauai and counting = 12 bug bites in kauai and counting

eight days to go

After a full day of traveling and no sleep, I passed out early and woke up late today. It’s been wonderful. We ate a full breakfast that mom cooked, including my long-awaited pancakes, and it was bliss. Then we headed to Secret Beach (that’s it’s real name!) down a very Hawaiian-named street, Kalihiwai Road, excited to go back to a beach we thought we’d been to before.

However, it turned out to be different. It did include a bit of a hike, but not the easy one we remembered. This one was rather arduous, but a great workout, though it did put a strain on my very weak knees. The beach was empty and gorgeous, had a very deep and wide shore and was in the shape of a bay area. To one side we could see cliffs and the lighthouse, and to the other we could see solid, black lava pools and a couple of pretty homes nestled into yet more cliffs.

We stayed for a bit: Dad and Frankie swam and body-surfed, my swimsuit wasn’t clean so I decided to wait until tomorrow to frolic in the ocean, Mom read, and then we walked around the lava pits. Not too impressive, but nice to look at–like black coral on the beach, enough of it to make it look like a bit of a stage, an uneven, sponge like one as there were pock marks all over the frozen lava.

We didn’t stay long as Frank got bored and wanted to go back to the condo. On the hike back up, Mom and Dad struggled, and Mom and I were eaten alive by mosquitoes. My legs make me look like I have a birth defect. When I get bug bites, they turn into hives, huge, round, Australia-shaped hives, and these ones had Dad worried for my life.

Tonight we’re grilling ahi, mushrooms and kilbasa sausages, and then we’ll go into town to get halo-halo, a Hawaiian dessert that we’re hoping is much like its Filipino namesake, and we’ll go listen to music somewhere I think, then come back, have drinks and play a board game that Frankie likes.

I forgot to describe the condo! It’s in the same area as the one we stayed in two years ago, but this one has three bedrooms, each with their own bathrooms, and Frank’s room has two twin beds. I nabbed the one with the full bed and am loving it. The beds have therapeutic matresses, which makes sleeping like heaven, and the condo has ac and a wondrous balcony on which the rents will grill tonight.

I love Kauai and wish I could live here. I wouldn’t mind not having money because money’s not so important here. Well, unless you want to live in a pretty community and a gorgeous home, but the island itself is so gorgeous that there would really be no need to live anywhere.

We stopped by one beach that we struck off the list because there were better ones around, but beside this beach was a campground with a bunch of tents where people were staying, and when I saw it, I thought it would be a lovely place to take a vacation after college for a while. That would require money, however, of which I have none.

Anyway, I’ve decided that Kauai is my favorite place on Earth, including all the places I traveled to while studying abroad. I love the sense of relaxation and no worries that we were positively bombarded with once stepping off the plane. I love the laid-back fashion style and lifestyle. I love the weather, hot, but survivable, and it’s gorgeous year-round. At night it’s cool and beautiful. The environment seals the deal because it’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen in my life, and every year we come here I’m always amazed over and over again, and each and every morning when we step outside.

And even if I should turn as black and wrinkled as a prune from being outside and playing and relaxing all day with a deformed body from all the mosquito bites (Note: the count has been upped to 13 since I began this post), I never want to leave.

Raves

I was reading something today and a quote struck me as awfully insightful:

“I am much less afraid to remember than I am to forget.”

I guess that is much like what this blog is like for me–I knew my time abroad would be something amazing, something completely different from anything I’ve ever done, possibly life-changing. Studying abroad in Sheffield, traveling around Europe and getting to know everyone in the Annexe was more of everything than I imagined and definitely life-changing.

And after reading this quote I realized that I tend to write things down because I have a horrible memory. Ever since they made us use planners in elementary school my planner has been my best friend. I rely on it perhaps more than on my friends. In it I prioritize the things I need to do, the things I need, and basically everything that ever needs to be remembered. Later I do those things, get those things, or place those things I need to remember in places where I won’t forget them.

I like to write, usually short stories and I’d love to write a book or something, but my attention span is not long and I get frustrated easily, so I’ve told Jon that he must write a book so that I may live vicariously through him. Anyway, I have a Tidbits file on my computer where I write little tidbits (tidbits=anywhere from one sentence to a couple of pages or and idea, a plot, a description or a characterization) all together in one document so that I may remember them and go back to them. Usually I can regain that idea or feeling I have about whatever story or character that hits me all of a sudden by a tidbit to expand on, though sometimes even writing it down doesn’t bring it back entirely.

Anyway, this is all relevant to the blog because it’s the details that I can never remember. I do actually have a working memory, but the clarity with which I remember things is not often all there. I like to remember the details, the little thigns that people do and say, not just the general overall-ness of an event, but also what I was feeling, how people reacted, etc.

And I hope I’ve conveyed enough of that in some of these posts to remember them in the future with the same wonder that I experienced them with.

It’s the little things, isn’t it?

++++

We’re leaving the Philippines tomorrow morning at about 4:30am for Kauai. It’s a horrible trip ahead of us. 7.5hr plane ride to Narita, Japan. 8hr layover in Narita. 4hr plane ride to Honolulu. 30min plane ride to Kauaii.

A bit of a full day head of us again.

Anyway, nothing much has happened since the last post. More shopping…though I haven’t really bought much. Less eating–I think mother and I are pretty sick of food…who’d have THOUGHT?! Seriously, I don’t even crave anything. That is a very rare thing.

..

Fish eyes, black eggs, and shark’s fin dinner

Last night we went to eat dinner with relatives I barely recognized and couldn’t put names to, really, and they ordered a bunch of food. The ‘kids’ were set at an adjacent table and we were all very wary of each dish that came every so often-it was a set course meal with several dishes.

Anyway, to show you why we were wary, here’s a list of some of the ingredients of some of them: jellyfish, shark’s fin, fish eyes, fungi (weird stuff because I even like mushrooms, but this stuff was scary and unchewable), seaweed and black eggs. I’m not a prejudiced eater or even that picky–I’m rather adventurous! But I could not touch any of that.

Then, FINALLY, a chicken dish came out.

MIKA: Thank, GOD. I’m starving!

Begins serving herself.

TITO JONDI turns around from other table.

TITO JONDI: Oh, that’s pigeon.

KIDS’ TABLE: Say WHAT, man?

TITO JONDI: I kid you not. Haha, forgive the pun.

MIKA: I haven’t seen one pigeon in this entire country EVER. And I’ve been coming here since I was little!

TITO JONDI: Yes, well apparently pigeons rule the earth, and Filipinos eat them.

MIKA: Are you sure that the Filipinos didn’t get confused? I didn’t think pigeons were edible.

FRANKIE: I didn’t think jelly fish or fish eyes were edible either.

BEA: I still don’t.

TITO JONDI: Well, it looks like pigeon–look at it’s head.

KIDS’ TABLE: Let’s not.

KIDS ask waiter to take the pigeon away.

TITO JONDI: The adults are trying it. We’re more adventurous than you are!

KIDS: You’re also old and senile. Enjoy.

They didn’t, but it was funny to watch. Later, however, upon recounting the tale to Dad who hadn’t been present (as he’d been out drinking and partying with his rowdy group of old friends instead), Frankie and I were gagging and laughing, and then Mom suddenly said, “That was PIGEON?!” That was quite hilarious.

Though, come to think of it, perhaps that’s why she’s had less of an appetite all today. Who knows?

I suppose being in the Philippines has yet again been somewhat of an adventure, though I’m glad to have been less adventurous in regards to things such as pigeon dishes and other frightening legit-Chinese dishes.

Anyway, I’ve got to go get ready for bed. ‘Night!

According to my dad, there are three types of drivers:

1) the passive driver: one who lets people drive all over them

2) the defensive driver: one who anticipates the stupidity of others on the road and drives accordingly

3) the aggressive driver: one who cuts people off and basically drives as if they are filled with road rage with a baseball bat in the passenger’s seat.

I would say that my dad is somewhere between defensive and aggressive, and here in the Philippines, I would say he leans more toward aggressive. But he has to lean that way, otherwise we would stall in the middle of the highway, being fender-bendered until my uncle’s car became just a hunk of metal (blue).

It’s safe to say that drivers here are stupid–stupid to the point of murdering or being murdered. Thus, Dad’s tip of the trip is: “Kill or be killed.” His words, not mine.

People here do not let anyone turn ahead of them, do not let people merge, do not stay within the confines of the lanes, do not drive in the right direction, do not park in parking spaces, do not consider other cars as un-hittable, and do not abide by any existing driving rules or laws.

It also doesn’t help that the policemen and other authority figures are corrupt, as is the government. Instead of paying a fine and/or getting one’s license revoked, policemen will take a bribe–actually, it’s considered a norm to pay off the police rather than be punished by the law. Someone, and I shall not say who, recently got caught and pulled over.

HE-WHO-SHALL-NOT-BE-NAMED: Oh, darn, I’m caught.

POLICEMAN: Yes, sir, I have caught you. Ahem.

HE-WHO-SHALL-NOT-BE-NAMED: Oh! Oh right.

Pulls out wallet and pushes 500 pesos toward POLICEMAN.

POLICEMAN: Sir! Looks around aggitatedly. Not in broad daylight, sir!

HE-WHO-SHALL-NOT-BE-NAMED: Oh! Haha–I see.

POLICEMAN’ gives pouch and gives it to HE-WHO-SHALL-NOT-BE-NAMED who then sticks bill in it.

POLICEMAN: There we go. Thank you, sir.

HE-WHO-SHALL-NOT-BE-NAMED: Oh no, thank you.

Drives off.

There have been times when we have almost run over tricycles or been run over by a jeepney.

Above: Filipino tricycle–almost like a cab. They have these everywhere. Below: Jeepney–main form of public transportation; takes the place of buses.

It’s all very exciting and sometimes like riding a roller coaster. As a passenger in car in the Philippines, you experience many quick turns, immediate stops, lots of swerving, and the ride inevitably comes with many sound effects: honking, swearing, and the occasional slap on the hood of the car by a furious pedestrian.

++++

Primped and pampered, the immense gap between classes

Our time here has not been filled with mere brushes of death, but also with lots of pampering.

We got massages and manicures and pedicures. It was almost like being in a car wash in which you are the car and many different women are the different types of washer: hands with one lady, feet with another for the manicure and pedicure. The massage was wonderful and a bit odd, but very relaxing and soothing. The entire spa was a nice place filled with yoga-like music and earthy colors, lots of mini-waterfalls and fountains, and wonderful scents.

We’ve been staying in my aunt and uncle’s house–my aunt is pretty well off and has a nice little mansion (it’s a mini-mansion). Tita Lorna lives half her life in Singapore where she works, and pretty much commutes from home to work every few weeks. My cousin Sam (Samantha) is five years old and the most adorable, young adult child ever.

The household has two maids, Minda and Sally, to maintain the home and to cook and serve food. They are basically like a hotel-service, they’re so good! They make breakfast for us every day, and when we don’t go out for lunch and dinner, they make that too. They also get us water and stuff and cut mangoes for me, which makes me love them. They’ve been with my aunt ever since I can remember. Bobet is Sam’s nanny. She basically is Sam’s shadow–she does everything with her and all three maids live here in the home in the maid’s quarters. Bobet is always with Sam–while Sam is in pre-school, Bobet sits in the school until the kid is let out (school goes from 11am to 2pm).

Isn’t that crazy?! But that’s how it is here.

There is an immense gap between the classes here. There are people who are so incredibly, disgustingly rich, and then there are people who are so horribly poor. When I look outside as we drive to places, there are many shanty-towns with so many poor people. In the evenings and at night, little kids walk around with flower necklaces, peering into windows and trying to sell them to people in cars that stop at traffic lights or in traffic.

Also, the service here is incredible. Waiters and waitresses, gate-guards, maids, shop-keepers, sales associates in clothing and other stores are super accommodating, friendly, and helpful. It’s a bit weird, and most people here take it for granted if they have money, because that’s just how things are done. Everyone also wears uniforms when they go to school, but there is also no law that makes children go to school.

There is an incredible amount of traffic here as well. However, as gas is about 6-7 US dollars here, fewer people drive. Also, they have a system in which people with license plates ending with a certain number cannot drive one day out of each week. For example, 0-1 cannot drive on Mondays, 2-3 cannot drive on Tuesdays, etc. This is the one law that people abide by because the repercussions are very strict.

++++

We also went to watch Side A, a famous Filipino band from a few years ago, in a night club. It was so great because I grew up listening to their music!

Dad, Mom and I watching Side A at the nightclub.

Last night Frank (18) and I went out with our cousins who are also visiting. They grew up and lived here until about…let’s say eight or so years ago. They are Nicky (20, turning 21; my age!), Bea (16), Bella (Ysabella, 11), and Marco (5). We went out with them and their cousin Carisa (23?) and saw a bit of the Filipino night life and clubs around Manila. It was neat! There are really nice places everywhere and, as I mentioned earlier, the service is superb. The first place we went to showed us to a balcony area where we were seated outside and waited on for drinks. That was cool :o) The view of the city from there was phenomenal and gorgeous. The weather wasn’t too hot or humid, and the breeze was cool, so it was just perfect. We got a few martinis, then headed on to another club where we drank beers and had shots! Yum, Petron tequilla!

Then we went back to Carisa’s house where our parents picked us up.

++++

Other than that, all we do is eat delicious food. They have the most amazing food here! Lots of Asian food, which is Dad’s heaven. We eat tons of Filipino food, and a bit of Chinese. There are so many Filipino foods to eat though, but I’m getting a bit sick of it all. However, we get there and it’s time to eat and it just looks so good that I can’t stop myself.

The deserts are so good too! I always drink mango shakes because mangoes are my favorite things on Earth, and we get sago’t gulaman (which is a dessert drink), and halo halo, which is like the Korean bing-soo that Hannah takes me to get at the Korean bakery. I like the Filipino version better ;oD

We go around the mall a lot, watch movies (Hancock and Wanted, great movies, very exiting!), shop, etc. It’s nice to walk around and people-watch and get watched (though that’s awkward sometimes). Frank was very paranoid at first; he hated how people stared and worried that we would get kidnapped. It’s a viable fear, yet so funny to see him so worried all the time!

Frank + concern/worry = cranky-pants.

We went to the Greenhills tiangge, which is a large market or bazaar. They sell everything there and it’s fun to walk around and see all the cool stuff.

Greenhills tiangge

We also went to eat at The House of Mini’s, the restaurant of my mom’s family. They created the restaurant and all my mom’s family, including my brother and I, own a small part of it. It’s become a franchise around the Philippines and is known for their steaks. It’s tradition for us to eat there whenever we come to visit, and we set a lunch date with my mom’s cousin who owns the one nearby along with my visiting cousins. Yum! Delicious ripe mango shakes here.

++++

That’s all I can remember right now. No Boracay Island trip or Singapore trip this time. :o( However, we leave the Philippines for Kauai, Hawaii on Tuesday!

Tomorrow we’re staying at Somerset hotel in Makati city because my parents have a dinner and night out planned with some family, and it’s too far away for Dad to drive buzzed so we’re staying in a hotel. It’s really nice too! We had time to kill today and went to go see if it was nice and it was suPERB! So I’m very excited. It’ll be like we’re tourists for the weekend!

++++

Sige (goodbye in Filipino)!!

:oD

So I haven’t written for a long time again. Oops!

This that have happened: Michael Franks concert with the family + Hannah, been a lazy bum, have been nagged at incessantly about losing weight, visited Blacksburg and Tech while taking Frankie to and from his Radford orientation numerous times…not much to speak of really. 

I’m currently sitting in gate B23 in Dulles Airport. Frank is passed out holding his book open to page eight, mom is wandering around trying to find information, and our flight to Detroit is delayed.

Here’s our flight itinerary:

Washington-Dulles to Detroit = 1.5hrs

Detroit to Nagoya, Japan = 13.5hrs

Nagoya, Japan to Manila, Philippines = 4.05hrs

Whoo. I dread it SO much. I get restless and cramped, uncomfortable and cranky, and it’s not fun when Frankie is the king of crabbiness himself. He’s been going out every night drinking and not sleeping much, and this morning he wakes up snapping at everyone and saying that he feels sick. Go figure. Now we’re the ones that have to deal with his cranky self on these awful plane rides. It’s sure to make a memorable trip. Perhaps not so memorable for Frankie though, if he continues to be annoying because I’ll punch him and knock him out.

Anyway, I’m very excited to go to the Philippines though! We’ll be there for nine days. Our cousins are there so we’re planning on going out at nights to clubs and bars with them, and I hope to go to Tagaitai, the place we went to when we were little with miniature horses/ponies that I was too afraid to ride the first time around. I’m ready this time! Though I admit that I’m still a bit frightened of horse-like animals (ponies, donkeys, whatever–they can kick really hard).

We’re also planning on going to either Singapore, Hong Kong or Bangkok for a couple days.

After that, we head to Kauai, Hawaii! Probably in my top three places in the world. It’s one of the smaller Hawaiian islands that we’ve been going to for the past several years. It’s quieter, quainter and easily navigable. The beaches are gorgeous, and we like to find the hidden ones. This time we want to go on a hike to hidden waterfalls. We also like to go kayaking to the grotto, snorkeling and maybe Dad and I will try surfing, parasailing or scuba diving (or all THREE)! We’ll be there for 10 days and usually just relax before it’s time to head home.

Urgh…so dreading the plane ride from Detroit to Nagoya…