What I'm getting used to...

While taking the boys for a hot early morning walk today, I was reflecting on the many things that I have become used to since moving here 3 months ago.  Here’s a few of them…

When we go for a walk, I get endless expressions of surprise and awe…. but I’m still not sure if onlookers are more impressed with my stroller or my cute white boys. Double strollers pretty much don’t exist here, so when they see a second baby sitting in behind they tell their friends and the staring and pointing continues! I am getting used to smiling and saying, “Opo, dalawa baby!” (yes, two babies!)

The heat. Or perhaps I won’t ever get used to this. I so envy all you BCers who are starting to get fall weather! I long for a cool breeze. I have to say, though, Manila is not as hot as Davao (where we lived 3 years ago) so I am thankful for that. I try to go for walks with the boys around 8 or 9am but I’m a sweaty mess and we can’t even play at the park…. too hot! I haven’t once worn a hoodie or anything warm-ish. Cody was SO excited to find a jacket in his closet the other day but as soon as he got outside he couldn’t stand it. We’re getting used to playing outside after 4:30 when everyone else emerges from their air-conditioned homes…. but it gets dark at 6:30 so it’s a short window of fairly comfortable weather.

I’ve very quickly become used to not having a car, as everything I need is in walking distance (there’s a big mall just outside our apartment complex) and taxis are easy to come by. And to my surprise, I’m even used to travelling with no car seats! Climbing into a taxi and holding the boys used to freak me out a little, but I don’t even think about it anymore. Crazy, hey! Once we buy a car we’ll strap the boys in again, but that might not be for a while still. In the meantime, pray for our safety!! :)

If you are addressing someone older than you, it is never simply by his or her first name. When someone is even just a year older, you call them Ate (big sister) or Kuya (big brother) before their name and for someone your parents age its Tita or Tito... there's also Lolo and Lola for grandparents. It takes a bit to figure out what to call people (especially when I can't tell if they're my age or 10 years older!), and then also what Cody should call them. Cody has gotten really good at it though…. when he greets people at the mall with a friendly “Good morning, Kuya!” he melts Filipino hearts:)

Last Saturday we had someone clean our house. Now that is not a hard thing to get used to!! I feel pretty busy and am realizing I need a bit of help. I am watching the boys full time, doing 2 or 3 hours of language everyday (while they sleep), cooking, cleaning, getting groceries, hosting (a lot!), writing budgets, reporting expenses and trying to blog and keep in touch with friends/family at home. And next week we’re having at least 15 people over for dinner and training (with Jack and Irene Suderman!) three nights in a row- lots of cooking and baking to do! When the boys are finally in bed at night, it feels like my work is hardly just begun. Being busy is hard to get used to, but having someone clean for me once a week is certainly not!

Busy malls. It’s like December 23^rd at Richmond Centre everyday, all day! At 10am, when the mall/grocery store opens (I really wish it opened earlier!) there is a long line up waiting to get in…. on a weekday! Here’s a picture of a weekend event at the mall and a taste of the craziness!

While we have learned so much about the Filipino culture in the last 3 months and also during our first stay here, getting used to a new culture takes a LONG time. Probably the most difficult thing is trying to understand the way people think and figuring out their worldview, beliefs and expectations. I am Canadian, so perhaps I won’t ever be fully used to the Filipino culture. But I enjoy the process and am excited for how it is shaping our family.