So I finally got the energy to go out and stop by the internet cafe. My computer at home needs to be fixed. No Philippines picture yet. So I survived a 22 hour flight, 3 security checks (Hong Kong was the least efficient), 2 days of being stranded in Cebu due to bad weather (but we were pretty comfy at my aunt's guest house) and 2.5 smooth boat ride. With an active little boy in tow at that! One thing I can say, my portable DVD player was my bestest friend.

Quick Philippine impressions: was it my imagination or was Coke 500 really this small all along? And I was supposed to share it with 3 other filipinas. To think in the US I would sometimes would down soda in a "small" cup much larger than that in one sitting. Sometimes I'd do a refill too! I had to laugh when I saw french fries side dish for the Sunburst chicken meal were a mere 3 pieces. Really! The same with the 4 cubes of pork in Jollibee's Pancit Palabok. But hey, this is what food portions should be like.

Unlike the Sunburst chicken, the palabok lived up, even exceeded my expectation. The same with the diced ube hopia and warmed up budbud. Yum yum! So with the yema from Bacolod (courtesy of my brother in law).

As soon as I got out of the Cathay Pacific plane in Cebu the not cool enough airport aircon convinced me right away that indeed I was in the Philippines already. I am also struck at how so much narrower the roads were from what I remember, main streets included. The traffic, even Cebu traffic, takes a lot of skill to get through bumper to bumper vehicles, facing 4 different directions at times.

I finally managed to do 2 approx 3 mile runs early morning at our park along the bay. I got a few hecklers, had to deal with mud and drizzle on the first morning but it's not too bad.

I have a nanny for Evan but I have to train her to be more firm with my 2 year old and show him that she's the boss otherwise my son would walk all over her. We have to be extra vigilant when it comes to mosquitoes, my son is already sporting a few nasty bites on his face, arms and legs. Being fair skinned it stands out even more. I wished I had brought more organic mosquito repellant, I can only hope that I will find one in Cebu.

I am glad I have several cotton, light pants both from him and his cousin Rohan because no matter how clean the house is, since he mostly plays kneeling on the floor there are still dust, dirt (and floor wax) that would stick to his legs, I am just glad that it's on his clothes not on his skin.

Evan looooooves playing with his cousins even if they are older than him by 5 years or more. They lent him their Knex train tracks which he enjoys a lot. He sleeps and naps without problem,  He adjusted to the time difference in a day. Eating is another story. He is resistant with the first bite, has yet to eat by himself and is not eating as much. I think this is due to the newness, heat and distraction of having more than 2 people in the house

I am surprised at how much I miss my husband that it's almost painful to hear his voice on the phone. Evan has asked for his dad probably 3 times and exclaimed "Oh yes!" complete with pumping of fists in the air when I told him that his dad was on the phone. It was the longest time he spent talking to his dad, even singing to him the Little Einsteins song, telling him that he misses and loves him (with my encouragement of course).

But Tom will be there when we go back next month. Before I know it I'll be in Chicago once again, missing this place that I once called home.

Currently listening to: The Bonesetter's Daughter (Amy Tan)
Currently reading: magazines
Currently watching: Burn After Reading (Clooney, Pitt)