the whole world is busy.

no cheesy caption for this one, picture says it all, i am missing halo-halo!

Hi all,

This is resurrection. And this is the new year too.

Updates, yep, I am now a six month old immigrant on the fourth coldest place here on earth. Outside, the wind is blowing and wow, snow is falling! I light up when I see snow, you couldn’t blame me, I am a six month old giddy baby. However, i still havent done my first snow angel, nor tasted the snowflakes. That’s another story which I will share once things are confirmed and well.

So what have i been doing for the past six months. Let’s enumerate! I read a survey that people like to read things in bullets or in tabulated manner.

1. Cooking is like second nature to me now. Not! Hehe. But at least, I am more comfortable in the kitchen and in the supermarkets now than the first month I was here. I don’t think I will ever be a good cook; as long as my husband gets satisfied every meal, then I don’t think I should worry right? 🙂 I still cannot cook paella, or bake muffins, cakes, what have yous. But, basic Filipino recipes, I can. Lechon Kawali seems like a scary meal to prepare- imagine the hot, boiling, splashing canola oil – but, yeah, i can do it now. Fried Chicken ala Max’s Restaurant, home-made, crispy, golden brown, no breadings, yep, i serve it here in our cozy apartment. My Sinigang na Baboy is my in-laws favorite. They say they like how the broth gets really sour and refreshing at the same time. 😉

2. I got a job and lost that job! Well, it was only a seasonal job, just for the holidays. But during those months, I learned a lot, enjoyed every moment of it, and it was very nice to meet new people too, especially when you’re in a foreign country. I used to be really shy around them, I felt different, powerless, etc. Husband said, I should not see myself like that. So, I tried looking for a job ,to overcome that – and after some weeks, I got a call and they hired me. The greatest thing was, I got to do what i’ve been planning to do here – to be a photographer! Wish I could stay longer there, but, oh well, things happen for a reason.

3. I still havent taken my road test here. I was supposed to do that last december 4th, but i cancelled. It was snowing hard that day, and I am not, at all, experienced driving in snow. So, this spring, I am going to take my road test. Hopefully.

4. My birthday, christmas, and new year. They were all filled with love, fun, and gifts. But, the heart aches and misses familiar people. I remember, Christmas back in my island, it is always the busiest and the happiest. People from other towns go visit the city, riding their jeepneys; going to the market and doing some christmas shopping. Kids dressed in their Sunday dresses, wearing their new rubber shoes too! Traffic is not very common back there, so when there’s traffic, it’s probably the christmas season. Sidewalks are filled with vendors, from fruits to dresses to toys to firecrackers! (my favorite!). Some people might not like the hassle of long travel because of the traffic, but me and my family, oh we love to see the commotion! we love traffic! It sort of gives us a natural high. 😀

By the way, I still was able to complete the 9 Misa De Gallo (Christmas Night Masses). Online! 🙂

5. The picture above, yep, that’s a Filipino merienda or snack. Halo-Halo, that’s how we call it. I’d like to have some soon, and all the other Filipino foods I cannot seem to find here.

I miss you Pilipinas.

So far, that’s all i can think of. I am gonna write better soon.

Take care everyone.

And her new universe

Hello friends, meet me here at the other side of the world. 

That is correct, for more than a month now, I have been living here up north (see the picture for a more detailed location). And finally, I am reunited with my husband. After a year of separation, we are now together. My visa has finally been approved; after all the tedious paperworks submitted and processed, we finally got our go-signal from the embassy.

And what did we do next? Book a one way ticket!

No.More.Waiting. 🙂

Leaving is of course difficult. It is not as if I have a ready luggage and can jump to the next flight available. It has taken me a month and a half to digest that I am finally going to where the four seasons are and will actually leave my tropical island for a while. Leaving the only home I’ve only known, leaving the coolest family behind, leaving that exciting and stress-filled job. All these have made my move bittersweet.

Anyway, I wouldn’t fill up this entry with my ramblings, but instead, tips on how to get ready, what to do when you arrive, and then, well, what to do later 🙂 This is for you, future immigrants!

Warning: this post is a long read. Sit properly, rest your back.

tip #1. Before anything else, ask yourself this: “are you really ready to move? your heart, your mind, your pocket, your whole being?” If you have qualms, please think twice! thrice! and then over and over.  Go ahead, say your prayers. 🙂

tip #2. Be patient. Paperworks and requirement compliance are no joke. Take them seriously. Follow instructions. Be organized and file them neatly. Sometimes your papers will be handed back to you for different reasons (incomplete requirements, medical condition, wrong forms), please do not panic and work on it fast. Usually, submission of requirements has  a deadline and if you’re not sure you can submit the files on time, please call the embassy or write them an email notifying them about the delay. If you have questions, please call the embassy. However, sometimes, the embassy doesn’t have any customer hotlines for visa applicants. The best way to answer your confusion is to read through the information kit you can easily download through their website. All the answers are there. Again, don’t panic.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index-can.asp

tip#3. “Good things come to those who wait”. Well, after you have completely submitted all the necessary documents for your visa application, the only thing to do now is wait. And while you are waiting, please check your email all the time. The embassy won’t call you on your landline nor on your cellphone. They won’t send you a mail too. So please try to open your email from time to time, including your spam. Sometimes, they would ask for additional documents. In my case, they asked for an Advisory on Marriages or a Certificate of No Marriage. You can get this from the very reliable National Statistics Office. NSO is quite fast and organized now. At least in my island that is.

tip #4. When you finally have your VISA, the embassy will also enclose a short orientation on what else to do. This may include the things and money you are allowed to bring. It may also include a few reminders before your departure. You may have to attend Pre-Departure Orientation Seminars. If you are a Filipino Citizen, you are REQUIRED to attend the PDOS. Do no miss it. Click this link for more information: http://cfo.gov.ph . You may also attend orientations sponsored by the country you’re migrating to. If you have time, or please do make time, please attend. They’re very helpful. I attended the orientation sponsored by Canadian Orientation Abroad. It’s Free. Go attend, it’s very helpful. It would include everything – from country’s history to the things you need to do when you arrive.  Canadian Orientation Abroad site: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/partner/bpss/COA.asp

tip # 5. Prepare the things you are going to bring. Make a list. Do not forget your original documents. Keep them handy and dont file them inside your check in luggage. Make sure you have a duplicate copy of your documents and put them in your check in luggage. Do not overpack. Based from my experience, the most important things to pack are: jammies, jogging pants, socks, sweater, sweatshirts, thermal shirts, rubber shoes, slippers.

tip #6. Relax. When you have all your docs, especially your visa and your passport and that PDOS sticker, i think you are good to go. Bring some money too. Have them converted to dollars beforehand. Do not buy dollars from the airport as they’re a little higher compared to banks and money changers.

tip #7. Pray. Go to mass. Smile. Cry a little. or a lot.

Coming Soon: What to do upon arrival and what to do later! 🙂

and the heat is on

can you remember your favorite childhood summer memory?

Today is a sizzling, blistering, ovenbaked 33°C. Wow.

My thought — > Summer is now sitting comfortably under a colorful beach umbrella ; doing her job heating the island whilst sipping a cold lemonade . Ironically, Mr. Sun looks so cool doing just that.

Anyway… Now that school’s over, and the kids (and the nannies as well) are all engrossed with their tablets and all their other one-way-no-interaction-to-other-beings gadgets, I try to come up with some exciting and “memory-making” things to do during this season. Wouldn’t it be so nicer to grow up, looking back at one particular summer when you did something else, rather than using up all your time in front of your laptop, TV sets, tablets, the works… ?

Plus I think, Summer is the best time to create and build more memories with your kids and your families and your friends 🙂 .

What memories to create within 2 months of Summer vacation:

1. If you are a parent who is on a very tight budget, no need to book a flight to the most famous beaches. Aside from eating a huge chunk to your savings, those famous beaches will probably be too busy, too crowded and too noisy for you and your family. If you guys really want to go swimming, research and ask around about a nearby beach resort. Those resorts aren’t just cheaper, they’re also manned by the best staff; people who will have their 90% attention to you and your needs. These resorts also offer activities you and your family can do together (snorkeling, trekking to waterfalls, beach volleyball, island hopping, food trip) – a chance to make memories!

Top Beach Suggestions – Taramindu Beach, Laiya, San Juan Batangas ; El Canonero Resort, Talipanan, Pto. Galera (i’ve been to these two resorts before, they’re peaceful, they’re heavenly, they’re affordable, they have GREAT FOOD!)

2. To families who are adventurous and even to those who seek adventure, you should try to hike and climb up those beautiful northern mountains. Believe me, you and your family or friends will be talking about it for years and years to come. 🙂

I therefore suggest – Mt. Pulag / Sagada (nope, they’re not a walk in the park, but the sights you’ll see are far better than parks! hehe, corny i know) Take a lot of pictures!!!

3. Learn a new language. Do you watch movies and TV series in foreign language, with no subtitles, and still watch them??? Then this might interest you — > Language Learning Center of Miriam College

Admit it, there’s something really sophisticated with someone who speaks more than two languages, isn’t it?

4. Okay, so if you really do not want to spend some money this summer, then try this fourth tip:

“I want to ride my bicycle, i want to ride my biiiikke!” – Queen

Go get your old bicycles in your garage, give it some oil, call your friends and be like these young boys at a local plaza. They look like they are really having fun right? I’m envious. 😀

5. If you dont want your kids to bike around town, as you live in a really urban zone, read my fifth tip.

Make them do some household chores. Do them together. No, don’t let them carry your heavy pales nor let them mop your hornitex flooring. Make them do the dishes, or make their own beds, or arrange all their toys and organize which are to donate and keep. Sort out your numerous stuff – from clothes to toys. Keep some, lose some.

Doing chores together, not only improve your marriage (ehem), but can make your kids more competent and responsible. It would all boil down to them building their character, and making them independent and strong.

If all the chores were done, and two months of vacation stiil wasnt over yet, exercise. 🙂 Run. Be free. or climb up and down the stairs. Dance. Challenge the strength of your legs! 🙂 Believe me, not only this tip would make you feel stronger, more alive, but it would be so habitual, even during school days, your kids will squeeze in some time to exercise. 🙂 a much healthier you. great memory i suppose. 🙂 (ah this tip i should do more often!!!)

6. Cook. Or learn it. Careful with the knives and the stoves though. What a rewarding feeling it would be for the kids to host the dinner for your family. a beaming memory in the making.

 

So there goes my 6 tips. Remember, do something new every single day, no matter how petty it can be – or at least every other day. Let us try to break our and our kids’ “techie savvy” habit. We are a little bit more consumed now with technology, let’s try something new once in a while. By new, I mean something that can make your kids’ eyes off that tablet, and off that chair too 🙂

PS:

The child in the picture is my nephew. This summer, he will make hamburgers and paint aprons. But on regular days, he tries to be like Spiderman – wear his uncle’s socks on his hands as his gloves and an old bonnet on his face as his mask. He runs around like that. He doesn’t own a tablet, but he does play Fruit Shoot and Basketball using my sister’s phone.

 

and the never ending seasons

hello summer. 

From where my husband is, winter’s already over – based from his stories, it was a tiny bit longer winter than the past winters. He said winter could put a gloom into someone. I don’t know what he meant, I haven’t experienced winter before. Tropics and monsoon – that’s all i have.

But yes, another season is over. And yes, your guess is right, no visa yet pour moi. Hindi uso ang express passes at whirlwind romances sa mundo ng mga nasa embassy. In other words, there’s no word yet from them about our application.

I hate to be melodramatic, but, when you wait, it feels like you gather up all your power and your strength, put them in a jar and then afterwards, put a lid on it . Like most lids, they are going to expand after some time; all contents would come pushing and pushing, until there’s no more strength to push. But the lid still, and as always, remains shut. It exhausts us, and it breaks down our every spirit.

Have you felt that before?

And then all the seasons come and go — summer begins, and then it rains, and then it snows once again.

Here you are still– left with the thought of when.

you jump, i jump

Today feels like that giddy bus ride to Sagada. AJA!

Hi.

2013. Wow. I suddenly wonder, “how many bloggers and writers have started their posts with ‘2013”? A LOT probably. 🙂

Anyway, this year, my husband and I, plan to work on some serious income-generating projects. Right now, for us to fully grasp the idea and really “oil” this future machine, our skype and bbm conversations have turned into mini-brainstorming sessions. No more facebook for me now, as I “google search” everything there is to know about the project. Hubby does that too. Too many information you can find online. Thank you to the sources, hehe. Slowly, we are going to build an empire. 😀

In relation to this, one of the most important things I have learned from having my dad as my boss is, the love for your work. He said, when you love what you are doing, you will never get tired no matter how much effort and time you’ve poured into this job. True enough, the only thing that tires us is a poor sales performance or an efficient staff leaving her job.

So, when my husband told me about this project, I right away felt there’s going to be future in this. This is something that he loves, one of the many somethings that he does best. The only flaw would probably be time constraints. But as we all know, when you love something or someone, we all make time for it. Plus, there’s never going to be a time limit. Charot. 😀

I cannot wait for Step One to start. The “about-to-take-off” state, usually, is the most crucial – it’s when you gather up all your data, and back it up with a full blown marketing plan. But, we have done this before. This is, in a way, similar to planning a wedding, or opening a new branch.

Everything must start from scratch. 🙂 So that Steps 2 to  Steps 1000 will immediately follow 😀

So, year of the snake, please be nice to Mr. and Mrs. May luck be on our side this year.

Updates soon!

Silly Walk Poem

who knows, maybe we can really knock out the moon

Hello,

I’d like to take some walks with you.
You know those quiet walks that don’t seem to be awkward at all.
Yeah, that kind of walk.
I’d like to have that with you.

We can hold hands,
I can cling onto your arm,
Or we can simply walk side by side.
I wouldn’t really mind.

Let’s just walk, please,
Let’s see what’s across the street together.

Let’s walk,
’til the sun starts to set,
and until the sky turns to my favorite orange.

yeah, that’d be awesome-great.

I miss you. I miss you so much.
Please come to me.
Walk with me.
You, you, you.
Now, now, now.

patiently waits

from time to time, we feel like the fishermen waiting for a good catch. 

Hello,

The picture was taken two years ago I think. I went to the beach with my high school best friends. It was a very fun-filled picnic afternoon. Before we headed home, we caught this wonderful golden sunset. Automatically, I thought of my husband, then my fiance – how it would have been so nice if we were together, appreciating the low tide and of course this very dramatic view — lone boat, vast sea, sunset. He would have taken a much more beautiful shot of this scene. And I would have posted that here. But, as you very well know, me and hubby are in two different countries — there are so many moments we wish we were together. Countless times we wish and hope.

I guess everybody does hope and wait for something once in a while. You apply for a position and then you patienly wait for them to call. You hope for love to come and you patiently wait for it. You wait for the bus, you wait for your turn at the ATM, you wait for your food delivery to arrive, etc etc. Everything is about waiting.

Everybody sometimes feels like the boat in the picture – we hope and wait for the good catch. However, sometimes, not all can patiently wait like most fishermen. Not all can hope. Some lose it and give up. We cannot blame them. Waiting has no assurance. Waiting only involves a strong amount of faith.

My  perfect catch is at the other side of the world. And yet here we are still, in the middle of the sea, still waiting and hoping for the moment we could be together.

I hope to sail with you soon, love.

Love,

J. 

went to Sagada and loved it

Hello,

Today is a very rainy day. The main street is flooded and the rain still doesn’t want to stop. This has always been the case whenever it rains hard. I’ve lived in this area ever since my childhood. It did flood then, but the flood nowadays seems to get worse and a whole lot deeper. A day of rain equals flooded main street. It would take three days for the flood to subside.

When some people enjoy the “bed weather” and the hot cocoa during rainy season, there are also some people, i.e. my neighbors and I, who pray to the High Heavens to make the rain stop. I have never enjoyed the drops of rain on my roof or the moment when you wake up in the middle of the night and it’s raining and all you’ve got to do is curl up some more. When I wake up in the middle of the night raining, I say a prayer and wait for the rain to stop. And then I wake up in the morning, hurry to the window and see if we’re flooded again. True enough, students from nearby elementary school are walking barefoot and treading along the dirty and cold floodwater. That’s not a very nice picture. How can they learn something from school when their feet are wet and their clothes are damped from splashes of floodwater? Minds preoccupied, a little chill from time to time…

Here’s to the future.

So yes, we are flooded again. A local leader gave up on us already, he said ever since he was a kid, our street has always been popular to be like this when it rains. Hmm. I cannot wait for the time when a real agent of change would come up and accept the challenge. This isn’t really a challenge. This is just a very short street. I’m sure finding solution for this wouldn’t be that costly. I try to be hopeful. So i think of Sagada.

Sagada — the whole new world up North. The mystical land hiding behind those mountain ranges.Those mountains , that I’d like to think,  have minds and eyes of their own that seem to follow you whenever you, a stranger, walk around its town or its forests.

Sagada is beautiful. She is a happy thought. The town is filled with rice terraces made by its industrious and hardworking people. Sagada is green. Sagada is an inspiration and a symbol of hope.

That’s why, in times like this, when I’m frustrated with our street, I think of Sagada. It seems to carry on its everyday life without any difficulty nor complaints. It may be a hard to get there, but its victory is the entire town. No matter how far they are from the capital, they seem to be more successful than the rest of the upscale towns of this country. The success that i’m talking about here is not the success that you have in mind. Success can never be always about getting a larger market share, or winning the elections or some sports competitions. Success can sometimes never be the result of head-on competition. Success for Sagada is its kind heartedness, its unity, generosity, simplicity and hardwork. They have another meaning of success there.

They say there is no shortcut to get to your dream or to achieve your goal, to be successful, or to simply, get rid of your frustration (like what I have now). You really need to go through all risks, dangers and bottlenecks. Sagada is a dreamland, yes, but it’s not easy to get to Sagada, you must endure six hours of “super” zigzag roads from Baguio City to get there. And it isn’t also easy to leave Sagada. It has limited and a first come-first served basis bus departures. Sometimes, trips are cancelled because of landslides and soil errosions. So when we finally reached Sagada, I thought I made a little dream come true.

Then we wanted to see more of Sagada — we hiked up to Marlboro Country. For someone like me who doesnt have regular exercise, it was very exhausting. When we got to the top, I said again, I made a little dream come true. All forms of nature rolled into one — the fog, the clouds, the sky, the rows of mountains, the rice terraces below. It was really a whole new world.

When we hiked going down the Bomod-ok Falls, they said it was the most crucial and selfish trail in Sagada. It really was. One hour of going down the steep trail, it really tested my legs and my character. Promise! heheh. I was this close to giving up, but i thought if i gave up, how could i ever get out of there. So you see, there really isn’t any shortcuts. You must go through it, no matter how much you don’t want to. Plus the scenery when we got to Bomod-ok is worth the walk. And the view back to town was also very beautiful. Rice terraces that seemed to be endless… 🙂 Very nice. R said it felt like he was in a 50s Japanese movie. 🙂

This is why Sagada is an inspiration and a tall heap of hope for me. It’s walked up and down the narrow trails of the mountains, has braved the strongest of rains, and yet, it still proves to be self sufficient, productive and enterprising. It still proves to be strong. Ang galing. It amazes me just how Sagada does it.

Anyway, I can go on and on. Before i go, here are some pictures we took of the beautiful Sagada.

The trail going to “Marlboro Country”. There used to wild horses in the area. The views were breathtaking nonetheless… 

The placid and very green Lake Danum. 

Vegan malunggay chips at Gaia

My favorite potato wedges and pancit bihon of Masferre. Cooking Oil overload. 

The “5 seconder” lemon pie of Lemon Pie House

Too bad, I had no shot of my favorite Eggplant and Tomato Pasta of Yoghurt House.  😦 

Market day is Saturday.

Spend a little time with me… 

The beautiful Sagada. The Japanese movie of R. 🙂

Love,

J. 

PS. All pictures taken by R and I.

“hope is a bottomless well… part 2”

RCM taking a very beautiful “back” shot of the newlyweds, somewhere in Quezon, summer 2011

A year after this shot was taken, R and I got married. But before the Mr and Mrs story, we have gone to the highs and lows  only a long distance relationship can “provide”.

This is part deux.

I guess it really is true, that cliche, “when you know it, you just know it”. I just knew it.

I knew the moment I opened the gate for him; i knew it was going to be me and him forever. I said it before here somewhere, it marked the beginning of everything.

He was wearing a brown shirt and a newly bought P. pants, a garrison belt to hold it in place and a borrowed running shoes from his dad. 🙂 (He also had his Islander slippers, those 3 inch thick rubber slippers, in his hotel room.)

I can vividly remember his messed up hair (which i found out to always be the case, hehe) and the packs of M&Ms he brought along (which my brother was very excited about). In return, I asked him to have a seat and have a Royal Tru Orange. 🙂 (Orange! the color of the wedding!)

Before the “eyeball”, you could just imagine the tension I had in my shoulders going up to my neck. I was verrrry nervous. Here was the guy, whose face I’ve only seen in pictures and on webcam, and who was actually going here to see me. A bit creepy, don’t you think? What if this turned out to be something like the headlines I’ve read on newspapers, where everything turned out violent and traumatic? Yikes! However, I was more nervous with how I was supposed to act around my new friend. I was scared it would be awkward and that could be the end of it.

Anyway. That night, we instantly became really good friends. Well, we are friends already. We have been having our online conversations for the past three months before that night. But meeting him in person made everything clearer, made all these tangible and real. It was completely a beautiful experience. And yes, we fell in love. Yun na.

On February of that year, he went back to C. I did not see him off though. But it became the second beginning of our story. Like any other beginning, ours is very hopeful and positive. With different time zones, we managed to get by. After a day’s work, I would eat my dinner and would go straight to my computer, log in and wake him up. I end my day with him, he starts his with mine. HAHAHAH. It felt funny writing that one.

We celebrated whenever weekends arrive. It marked the start of  a new week- in other words, little by little, we were getting nearer to the time we would meet again. We would only “really” see each other annually — imagine the longing, the wishes of beging together during holidays or during those lazy evenings. We never had those. In fact, up to this day, we havent spent Christmas and New Year together. It was hard — to celebrate good times and go through the bad ones without each other; but I guess, R and I were built and borne to be dreamy. We thought and still think, nothing is impossible in this world, as long you put your heart into it. Everything will be alive, and will come true if you really desire them to. No distance, no time difference can be an excuse for giving up.

When a moment of sadness come to us, or when we think we are completely missing a whole lot of everything about each other, we go through it. We talk about it. Online. R is a very open minded person, he always sees the positive. He never complicates the talks like some guys do — raising their voices and telling their girlfriends they’ve had enough of this, etc etc. Parang pelikula lang. Nakakainis ang thought. Anyway, when sadness come to us, we reassure each other. I guess sometimes, nothing beats the feeling that someone has your back; that no matter how day your went, at the end of the day, a smiling messed up haired man would appear on your screen and you will soon forget about the downpour of unfortune you’ve had. Reassurance. That’s a very confident word. 🙂

However, the challenge of being miles and miles away isn’t over for R and I. We are still separated even though we are married already. Every single day we are faced with the longingness to be together, start a life together, work on our “dream” chart, build a home for us.

Mahirap. Mas nararamdaman ko ang hirap ngayon kaysa noong magnobyo pa lamang kami. Ang mag-asawa ay nararapat na magkasama — hindi dahil sa ito ay isang obligasyon, kundi dahil sa… kayo ay mag-asawa, yun lang. I sometimes think about the wives whose husbands have to work overseas to earn a living or vice versa; that must have been very difficult and heartwrenching for them. Paano na sila gagawa ng mga memories, paano kami gagawa ng memories?

Anyway, there’s nothing we can do as of this moment, but to be patient and wait and stay hopeful.

After all, “hope is a bottomless well and faith is an unshakeable thing”.

We’ll have our chance soon.

Love,

J.

 

“hope is a bottomless well”

R, Dagupan City, 2012

Hello,

I had my first boyfriend when I was 16. His name’s K. Our love story only lasted for a year. Why? He went to a different college in a very far place. We wrote letters every week (which I still have inside an Our Tribe shoebox) and at the prime of my teenage life, I was already saving money from my allowance just to pay off my long distance phone bills. It lasted for a year and then we called it quits. We remained friends though. I guess we were just too young to be doing adult responsibilities. I don’t really know.

After that relationship, I told myself, I would never ever believe in long distance relationships. They’re very difficult to maintain and they require your utmost patience, hope and trust. At 16, I only had a vague explanation about these things.

More than ten years after, when internet has boomed and when webmasters have developed various social networking sites, I have received a very short email in my Multiply website. The sender was R. He said he followed a series of links and ended up there and that he never thought he would ever read an entry that was devoted to Jon Bon Jovi.

During that moment, I only gave our correspondence a month’s life. It would die a natural death and we would soon move on. After all, he lives thousands of miles away from my little island. There was no way this could work.

My 30 day deadline came, and we were still talking. It seemed like I would be eating up what I’ve said.

And 3 months after that first message, R came back here in P. Our first actual meeting was here at home. I gave him a very vague instruction on how to get here; and one night of January, he was in front of our house.

The moment I opened the door for him, that was the moment I knew my 30-day deal was forever over.

To be continued…