My Home, My Reality ....

I drive up the driveway and lug all the grocery bags I can carry. I put down the bags on the kitchen floor, walk to my room as I make a mental note of who among my children are home. Coming out of my room, now dressed in my "housework clothes" - the piece of clothing I wear for just 2-3 hours and send to the hamper after it absorbs the smell of food I cook, I ask where the missing one is. I cook. While cooking, one or all of them take turns in asking what's cooking. I announce "Dinner is ready!" and when all of them are gathered at the kitchen counter or the dining table, we start sharing the highlights of our day.

While they relate their stories with names that are vaguely familiar, I start to attach "incidents" to the names. I confirm them by asking. "Alli is the Filipino Japanese girl who play tennis with Noy?" or "Kevin is the AAPIO friend of Fahad?" or "Chris is the friend of Bea?" This is how I keep up with what is going on in their lives. And even if they tell me that I have asked the same question more than twice before, they willingly answered me. An indication that they "tolerate" my presence in their lives :) For some, this may mean so trivial, but this means so much to me.

Smell of home-cooked dinner, loud banter about my memory lapses, opinions on subjects that just float, thoughts of what the future will look like. My home, my reality, my paradise.

My Love

Me: Hi!
Not me: Why did you call?
M: Just want to check how you are doing?
N: So you are not busy? You have nothing to do so you remembered calling?
M: Actually I am watching TV now.
N: So go ahead and watch TV.
(Pause)
M: (as if I didn't hear that) I want to make plans for the season. Are we going there or are you coming here?
N: I can't go there. I can't afford it.
M: Let me know what dates you will be able to take a leave and I will book the plane ticket.
N: Wow! Rich huh?
(Pause)
M: (again, as if I didn't hear that) You may want to come for Christmas and attend our office Christmas party.
N: When is that?
M: It is December 17 or 19. I will have to check.
N: You are unsure about the date? Sounds like you don't want me to attend.

This is a typical conversation between me and my love. Funny how we get to a point in our relationship when you know you love a person so much and nothing else matters. I believe he loves me too. Guess I love him enough to figure that out. It may be hard to see that in our usual conversation, but I'm an expert in reading between the lines. Between, over, under, front and back :)

Desert Dispatch - Barstow Local Newspaper

Lalaine, Rey and Carla sent me this link to the Barstow Local Newpaper, Desert Dispatch. The Filipino teachers were featured last October 17! Click here to read the article.

Lalaine wrote that after the article came out, local Filipinos were calling Barstow Jr. High asking how to get in touch with them and the teachers. A Filipino couple actually went to the school to meet the teachers and a local doctor called to invite them over to her house for dinner. Filipinos starting to be seen. Nice start! It seems the teachers found a home in Barstow.

New York, New York!!

Of all times, I feel the burst of energy to write about my recent New York experience at this time. Now that I am on panic gear because teacher interviews are coming up and I know I lack teachers to present. Now that our mail server and my internet connection at home are acting up and do not know if the emails I sent were really sent. And if they have been sent, did the teachers read it yet? The schedule? The change of venue? The list of requirements? Can anyone hear meeeee!!!

Anyway, New York.

My feet do not like New York. No shoes, sandals or slippers are comfortable enough. The teachers stayed at The New Yorker Hotel, corner 8th Avenue and 34th Street. My hotel is also at the 8th Avenue but 11 blocks up! I appease my complaining feet by clouding my head with coffee from Starbucks. It costs more than $3 but I close my eyes, take a deep breath and reach into my pocketbook! I think about how $3 converted to pesos is more than P150 and what that can buy: a Jollibee or a Max's Fried Chicken meal? Before I know it, I am already entering the doors of the hotel.

I heard a lot of "thank you"s and got a lot of hugs and dried mangoes. The most memorable "thank you" was Jun Buensuceso's. I felt his was the most heartfelt. I brought some teachers to St. Patrick's Cathedral. I taught them how to use the subway. Showed them how to get to the International Lighthouse where their orientation sessions are to be conducted. I helped some teachers look for houses and apartments but most did not need help at all.

Flor Sol Cruz and Joel Comendador invited me to have dinner at a Filipino restaurant and I willingly obliged. Flor brought her US-born daughter with her and she was soooo adorable!! I know so many other teachers wanted to treat me out and I wish I had more time to be with them. They just so wanted to make me feel that they have not forgotten. There are a few who still maintain contact and these teachers will never know how their gestures are appreciated. It feels good to still be remembered when their dreams are already fulfilled. Touching base with them makes me remember why I love my job. Because I tend to forget sometimes.

I also met with Leah and Tess. I have a lot of history with these two women. Back when we were still "languishing" in the Philippines :) And even if we seldom get together, I always feel our unique bond still going strong. I spent a night at Leah's condo and had dinner at Tess' new house. Wow! It was a true country home, located at the suburbs of New York. So proud of Tess. I know that their success as a family had a lot to do with her dreams and making them come true.

I did not get to meet Sam of the Board of Ed, who calls me Mrs. Balut. Before coming to New York, we set up a date ... dinner at Chinatown. Maybe next time :)

After a trip to New York, I always feel regret for not enjoying New York life as it is written about. But this time, the "regret feeling" was shortlived. I went home and found out that Noy and Nica have been sick for days. I am Mommy again. And my feet are deliriously happy.