Just wanted to share a little bit more before the end of the year about what we've been up to here...
I have been enjoying being able to drive around the streets of Manila once again. It's been so much fun! The traffic around here hasn't been as bad because of all the holidays (a nine-day holiday had been declared so there is no usual rush hour), but there's still a feel of the manic driving that no other country can beat. I've been to a good amount of countries and I have yet to see another country that can turn 2 lanes into 4, with no straight row of cars. Everybody just seems to be in their own little lane, following their own set of rules. It amazes me how many streets I actually remember. I start to take off not having a clear picture in my mind as to where I'm going or what the streets in the vicinity look like anymore, but as I get closer it all seems to fall back into place. So I haven't gotten lost yet! My dad mentioned that I still had the groove down even after four years of peaceful streets. Driving around parking lots here is more challenging than navigating the streets of Corvallis. I love it!!!
BEACH
We recently visited my grandparent's beach house to see what condition it is in now. My family has been going to this beach ever since the 70's and this is where I have the fondest childhood memories. We would spend long breaks here with everyone in my dad's side of the family, sometimes even including my grandmother's brother's family as well. This is where I learned how to hunt for hermit crabs, collect shells (which I still love to do), how a pig is killed to be roasted (long-time family tradition -- we have a pig killed on our last day so we could feast on it for the most spectacular lunch), how fishermen caught fish and octopus at night, and play card games. Best of all... This is where I learned how to love gazing up at the stars. We would spend hours just staring at the skies for shooting stars and trying to count as many stars as we possibly could. Growing up in the city, we never got to see that many stars. This is where we got to make up for lost time. To this day I think of this beach whenever I look up at a sky full of stars. The house is uninhabitable now. We no longer have family gatherings there. Walking around the area brought back so many vivd memories. It almost felt as if I would see myself with my siblings and cousins any minute now running up the stairs after collecting a pocket full of hermit crabs and dumping it all in our sandbox. I am thankful for these memories, yet saddened that we will never have anything like this again.
BRIEF REFLECTION
I've been away for four years. I will never stay away again for that long. Something about being back in Manila, even if I don't like the city, has made me realize how much I love being back home. There's a feeling of belonging here that I can't fully explain. I have friends here, but not many. I am overwhelmed by the number of people and the constant noise outside, but also know that this is the pulse of the city. I don't feel as if I fit in with the society we seem to be a part of, but I am still one of them. Yet this is and always will be home. I don't feel like I stepped into another world. I feel like I've come back to my world. I wish I could say that this is the most suitable environment to raise a son with special needs, but I honestly can't.
For now I am enjoying the willingness that people have to make time to get together -- to leave their routines behind to catch up with friends. I find myself turning down invitations from people who just want to spend some time catching up because our schedules have been so full. This is not just something that happens when one comes to visit. This is probably what I miss the most when I'm in Corvallis. When I was still living here I would get phone calls and text messages from friends just to see how I'm doing. It was easy to invite people to just get together to "make kwentohan" (to tell stories or to catch up), have dinner, and watch a movie. There was just more time to be with people.
We are now heading into the New Year, which means tons of fireworks shows around us and another family gathering. There's going to be a huge party in front of our building and another grand fireworks display. We will most likely go to my grandparents house (a 10-minute walk from our condominium) for Mass and noche buena (a late evening meal that we eat as we wait for midnight to strike) and then walk over to the street party.
I pray that you all have a festive and Happy New Year!!!
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