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December 26, 2016
December 25, 2016
#2016inreview One of the major highlights of my year is attending an International Course: Neurology for Non-Neurologists hosted by Prasat Neurological Institute in Bangkok, Thailand. It was a great opportunity for learning and for meeting ASEAN doctors. This photo was taken during our field trip to Chao Phrya Abhaibhubejr Hospital where traditional and modern medicine meets.
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December 24, 2016
December 23, 2016
December 20, 2016
December 7, 2016
November 20, 2016
November 6, 2016
Today, we are celebrating the beauty of this life that can be appreciated only with contentment, inner peace and gratitude to the Maker. For everything I have and for everything I am, I am deeply grateful.💃🏻✨ #31st #novembaby #love #mycupisoverflowing #jaigulove Cakes credit to hubby and my ever-supportive sister @potretomanina.ar. Thanks for injecting more positivities in my life! Love you! 💟
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October 31, 2016
I walked into a bookstore and found so many books written by local celebrities as if writing has become a fad and just anyone can write a book. And then I found this. Since I was a loyal reader of her blog (was because I don't have the luxury now), I know this got substance and it's worth my hard-earned moolah. 🤓📖📚 #aireads
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October 30, 2016
Now at La Mesa Eco Park where my friends and I used to run in the morning during our board review days. The huge trees and the fresh air makes me feel like I am in my home nest, my beloved Mindanao State University. My dream house would be right smack in the middle of a forest like this. In shaa Allah. ✨🏡🌳 #dreamsdocometrue #dreambig #screwthatfilter
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September 23, 2016
Postgrad. Bismillahir rahmaanir raheem. #ailearns #learningneverends 🤓💙
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September 17, 2016
September 12, 2016
Eid mubarak! ✨🕌 May Allah bestow upon us His peace and blessings and may He accept from us our sacrifices. Ameen. 💕 #EidlAdha2016
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September 9, 2016
Super late upload. On my #AminaMariam's 1st birthday, we didn't have a major party because our family is simply not into those kind of things plus, I'm a lousy host. Haha! We brought her instead to Ocean Park Manila to make it memorable for her (eeerrr, more like for us!). Fortunately, my brother and his family were also in the metro that time so it was another mini-reunion for my siblings and I. 💕 #Ronsiblings #jairgulove #screwthatfilter
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August 21, 2016
August 18, 2016
August 2, 2016
May 31, 2016
We live in a temporary world where all things, good and bad, must come to an end. My #jagbkkliving has ended but along with my housewife stint, it has brought me countless beautiful memories. I can say that 2015 is by far best year of my life. Alhamdulillah. Meanwhile, I am enjoying the winter wonderland of my hometown. 😊 Exciting times are waiting ahead!
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April 23, 2016
April 20, 2016
April 16, 2016
Life has a distinct way of tossing at us incredible twists and turns that majorly disrupts our plans for the future. There are detours and setbacks which are, in retrospect, part of the Divine Plan arranged for us by The Great Force maneuvering our lives. We should always think of these segues as part of putting us on the right track. Other people would give an arm and a leg to catch what you were tossed with.
This time, I shall put on hold worrying/thinking about the future. I shall enjoy all these beautiful surprises, which are not part of my plan, but definitely a plan of my Creator. For He is the Best of Planners, I could never be audacious to ever question His plans. And yes, life doesn't get as exciting as now.
I am but a grateful creature.
April 11, 2016
April 5, 2016
Skinny No More
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| With my friend Mabi during an RC event. |
The photo above popped from my #timehop app. It was from 2 years ago when I felt fantastic in a 50kg body, an ideal weight for my 5'0 (actually, 5.02 feet!) height. Growing up, I have always been on the curvy side. It's in my genes to have wide hips and large thighs, thanks to my Mom whom I love so much. Haha! I struggled to put my body frame on the normal scale, such influence of TV and print media.
With my post-pregnancy weight still clinging on and my insatiable appetite, I know that getting back to my 50kg self is a thing of the past. I actually can, but I have embraced this figure and presently left with no desire to get that skinny again. I only aim now to have a healthy and fit body by eating healthy and doing a regular exercise. My husband and I enjoy running on the treadmill or jogging in the park together. Truth be told, I have never appreciated myself more than I do now. I love every curve on my waist because I know that no matter what shape I am in, I am absolutely accepted and loved. Alhamdulillah.
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| At The Sanctuary of Truth, Pattaya. A week before I learned I was preggers. I blogged about it HERE. |
April 2, 2016
Shopping Guide For First Time Moms
It is common for first time moms to buy quite a number of stuff which would turn out to be impractical when the little one is already there. I have started researching about baby needs by reading blogs and parenting magazines as early as I learned I was conceiving! In this social media age, especially with Instagram, we see a lot of stuff that we are envious to have (aminin!) but in truth, we don't really need. Therefore, I'd like to share my practical tips to first time moms, what you perhaps need or don't need, in buying for your little one. This is merely a rough guide as babies' needs are variable.
1.) NEWBORN CLOTHES
Scouting for cute onesies and floral dresses was my favorite past time when I was pregnant which even intensified when I was told that I was carrying a baby girl. Oh, how much do we love to imagine our little one gloriously looking in those tiny pieces of clothes, right? But mommies, don't get into the trap of buying so many newborn clothes that will eventually end up in the closet as soon as your little munchkin gains weight. Yes, babies grow up so fast! And, perhaps, you don't want to expose her outside in the first two months except for pedia visits, so you don't need fancy dresses yet (for baby girls). Believe me, your baby's cute dress is the last thing on your pedia's mind. Haha! Some moms I know bought bigger sizes for their newborns in preparation for the baby's growth spurt. For Amina, I bought her the following:
5 onesies (some stores have 3-5 onesies contained in a single pack)
3-5 body suits (you can find these in a single pack too)
2 caps
3 pairs of socks
5 pairs of mittens
1.) NEWBORN CLOTHES
Scouting for cute onesies and floral dresses was my favorite past time when I was pregnant which even intensified when I was told that I was carrying a baby girl. Oh, how much do we love to imagine our little one gloriously looking in those tiny pieces of clothes, right? But mommies, don't get into the trap of buying so many newborn clothes that will eventually end up in the closet as soon as your little munchkin gains weight. Yes, babies grow up so fast! And, perhaps, you don't want to expose her outside in the first two months except for pedia visits, so you don't need fancy dresses yet (for baby girls). Believe me, your baby's cute dress is the last thing on your pedia's mind. Haha! Some moms I know bought bigger sizes for their newborns in preparation for the baby's growth spurt. For Amina, I bought her the following:
5 onesies (some stores have 3-5 onesies contained in a single pack)
3-5 body suits (you can find these in a single pack too)
2 caps
3 pairs of socks
5 pairs of mittens
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| Photo from Pinterest. |
Actually, newborn clothes really depend on the place where you live. If you're in a tropical area, you don't need to put cap on your baby's head as this only traps heat and may cause damage. Onesies are the best to keep her cool during the day while body suits are worn during the night. When we had a vacation in Marawi late last year, I had my baby wear body suits day and night because of the cold climate we have up there in the mountains. I even layer her body suit with onesie underneath to keep her extra warm during the night. And before I forget, all your baby's clothes must be cotton to keep her fresh and cool. :)
2.) FEEDING BOTTLES AND BREAST PUMP
Buying feeding bottles and breast pump really depends whether you would breastfeed or not. Although for me, breastfeeding is a MUST but there may be cases when a mother has to stop breastfeeding for various reasons. My breastfeeding journey was the toughest I have ever encountered thus far as a mother. It was harder than I thought! I was really inclined to raise my daughter in an organic way (i.e., starting off with normal delivery to breastfeeding and the use of cloth diapers) but I had to accept that I have limitations too. I suffered from sore nipples to low milk supply so the breast pump was a major help! I couldn't stress further the numerous pros that breastfeeding offers so I suggest that on the 38th week of your pregnancy, first time moms should start taking breast milk booster capsules (fenugreek or malunggay) and start massaging their chest so you can latch your little one as early as possible. In my case, my milk came out on the third day so I had no choice but to feed her on a bottle first before introducing my breast.
2.) FEEDING BOTTLES AND BREAST PUMP
Buying feeding bottles and breast pump really depends whether you would breastfeed or not. Although for me, breastfeeding is a MUST but there may be cases when a mother has to stop breastfeeding for various reasons. My breastfeeding journey was the toughest I have ever encountered thus far as a mother. It was harder than I thought! I was really inclined to raise my daughter in an organic way (i.e., starting off with normal delivery to breastfeeding and the use of cloth diapers) but I had to accept that I have limitations too. I suffered from sore nipples to low milk supply so the breast pump was a major help! I couldn't stress further the numerous pros that breastfeeding offers so I suggest that on the 38th week of your pregnancy, first time moms should start taking breast milk booster capsules (fenugreek or malunggay) and start massaging their chest so you can latch your little one as early as possible. In my case, my milk came out on the third day so I had no choice but to feed her on a bottle first before introducing my breast.
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| Photo from Pinterest. I used this exact kind of breast pump. |
Breast pumps are available in different brands, either manual or electric. Thinking that I am a full time mom, I didn't splurge on the electric pump (man, it's costly!) so I bought the manual one. I had the Medela brand since it's recommended by the hospital where I gave birth plus it has excellent reviews. The downside of the manual breast pump, is well, it's manual. Late into my pregnancy, I developed carpal tunnel syndrome that manual pumping aggravated the pain on my wrists. But I endured for the love of liquid gold. Haha! Anyway, if you get the latching right, you wouldn't need a breast pump anyway especially when you're a full time mom. For working moms who are going to return to work after their two-month maternity leave, electric breast pumps are highly recommended so that milk supply is continuous even when they're at work. Therefore, I shall be saving for an electric pump for my next babies. In shaa Allah.
If you really have to use bottles, pick the BPA-free ones. BPA or bisphenol A is a chemical compound usually found in plastic materials, including baby bottles, and are proven to disrupt endocrine function when ingested. In other words, hazardous. For me, no particular brand is better than the other. So long as it poses no health risk for your baby and he/she is comfortable when feeding from it, then go. :)
3.) STROLLER
Buying a stroller really depends on your lifestyle. We live in the heart of the city where malls and parks are walking-distance away. Since we're always outdoors especially on weekends, the husband and I decided to get one. Strollers come in different sizes, weight and of course, price. There are those which are ridiculously pricey that will leave you with a gaping mouth when you see the price tag. Haha! We bought the Graco Full Size Travel System which comes in a six-wheeled stroller and a car seat which can also be used as a rocker. We got it at a very reasonable price (it was on sale!) that I think it was the most practical item I splurged on plus we even maximized its usage! We don't have a car here but the car seat was used as a rocker when Amina was little. We don't have the traditional duyan or baby hammock here that most of us Meranaos are raised in so the car seat-slash-rocker and even her stroller were her makeshift hammocks. Until she was four months old, she sleeps on her stroller before I transfer her to our bed.
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| Amina inside her car seat/rocker of her stroller when she was barely a month old. |
If you think a stroller will be of great use to you, pick the sturdy one. I am very happy with our stroller because it has huge tires than the regular ones so we can go mountain climbing with this! Haha! No, I'm kidding, but I also like its huge storage bin which can accommodate our grocery bags!
5.) BABY CARRIER
Some parents would opt out buying baby carrier when they have strollers already. But again, this would really depend on your traveling style or your lifestyle per se. On Amina's first week of life, we brought her to the pedia and we were kinda frustrated that her stroller didn't fit inside the taxi compartment! Blame those huge wheels add to the fact that taxis here use gas for fuel so the tank uses up much of the space. We had to squeeze her stroller inside the passenger seat. That's when I decided to get a baby carrier. I frequently see babywearing Thai and Japanese moms here which I find so cute. There are many types of carriers as well and varies in price. I initially wanted the baby wrap which is made up of a stretchable cloth material and is appropriate for newborn babies (plus, plenty of cute designs to choose from!), but when Jabar and I were inside the store, the saleslady demonstrated how it is being used. Jabar find the wrapping process so complicated that we looked for an easier alternative. There's a caveat in using baby carriers though, make sure that you use inserts in the first three months to prevent hip dysplasia. I didn't buy an insert for Amina's carrier but I used rolled blankets where she can sit on. I removed the rolled blankets as soon as she can already straddle.
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| At Suvarnabhumi Airport as we wait for our flight home. |
Apart from being light and hassle-free, babywearing increases your bond with your child as you carry her closely to your chest. I so love it that we frequently use her carrier more than her stroller now. I have proved that babywearing is more practical when we went home to the Philippines for a short vacation. It was easier to squeeze in the crowd and the baby feels much more secured. Additional tip: if your baby finds it hard to sleep at night and wants to be carried and swayed, put her in the carrier. Amina sleeps faster this way.
6.) PLAYPEN OR CRIB
Again, this depends on your choice to co-sleep or not. We bought a playpen instead of a wooden crib because we are thinking of something that can be disassembled easily and would fit inside a balikbayan box the moment we return to our bayang sinilangan. On her first two nights with us, we had Amina sleep inside the playpen but we couldn't sleep well because we are so paranoid that even her breathing wakes us up! Hahaha! So we decided to co-sleep so it doesn't need much effort when we attend to her needs in the middle of the night. Also, I can just open my eyes when I need to check on her (if she's still breathing) and then go back to sleep again. No need to get up. There are also co-sleepers available now, it's like a crib that can be attached to your bed so it feels like you're co-sleeping and it minimizes the risk of you rolling over your baby. But it's pricey for my standard so it was off my list. Haha!
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| Taking a nap inside her playpen. |
For me, a playpen or a crib should not be on the must-buy list. Amina got to use her playpen when she was five months already, that was when she was already moving using her tummy that she no longer stays put in one place. To keep her secured when I'm doing household chores, I put her inside the playpen so she can do anything she wants. If you're quite strained on the budget, a playpen or a crib may come later.
7.) ACTIVITY GYM
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| Amina at 3 months |
You don't really need to buy an activity gym before your baby pops out, the same goes for baby bassinet and all other cute baby stuff you see on Instagram! Haha! I only bought this one for Amina after reading that it offers tremendous developmental benefits for the little munchkin. The brightly colored dangling toys provide cognitive, visual perception and motor skills development. She enjoyed it so much that I used to leave her on the activity gym while I do household chores. But when she started kicking the arches forcefully that some of the toys are falling off and she started to roll over and explore by crawling on her tummy, then I thought it was time to keep the activity gym for her next siblings. Haha! She got to use it for two months only, that's when I would put her inside the playpen for her safety.
8.) THERMOMETER, DIAPER CREAM
These two are must-haves in every mommy's stash. As soon as you brought home your newborn, there are cascading illnesses that may manifest as hypothermia rather than fever. Dehydration from inadequate milk intake, common among exclusively breastfeeding moms with low milk supply, may cause fever. Before panicking, make sure that you've monitored her temperature with your trusted thermometer.
However inevitable, diaper rashes can be prevented by keeping you baby's soft bum dry and frequently changing her nappy. When you can't avoid a diaper rash, make sure to apply a diaper cream on the affected areas before putting on a new diaper. I cannot recommend any brand here, I guess so long as it contains moisturizing agent like lanolin then it will do. I heard some moms put petroleum jelly but I think it's too sticky.
9.) CLOTH DIAPER VS DISPOSABLE DIAPER
Like I said earlier, I wanted to go organic with my baby and because I sympathize with the environment I prepared for cloth diapering. I bought cloth diapers aka lampin and diaper shells/covers but not too many, just enough to test the waters. My siblings and I were raised using cloth diapers, so it's not unusual for me and I perfectly know how to use it because I did change my siblings' diapers way back. Hehe. But, when you're a new mom without any helper at all, the last thing you would want to do is the laundry every single day!!! So after a week of cloth diapering, I gave up. Screw the environment. Haha! I'm kidding! Really, it's a lot of hard work. I salute every mom out there who survived cloth diapering and doing the laundry on their own. Salute to my Mom!!!! Yes, Mama did everything way back when we were small. Our house helps wouldn't stay with us longer due to the heavy work load. Those were my training years too as I would help Mama in everything around the house. Without straying far from the topic, I use disposable diapers for Amina now simply because I'm lazy when it comes to doing the laundry. Haha! It's my least favorite household chore but I still do it anyway. As for the brand, I tried Mamypoko (here in Bangkok), Pampers (when we were in the Philippines) and Huggies and I go for Huggies. It holds more pee than the other brands I've tried. My issue with Mamypoko was that there's a chemical odor emanating from the diaper as soon as my baby pees.
The bottomline of this entry is to think twice or even thrice before buying baby stuff which might only end up in the junk. You should tailor what you are going to buy according to your lifestyle and most importantly, to your budget. Think of what YOUR BABY NEEDS not what YOU WANT FOR YOUR BABY. Most importantly, consult other moms who have wide experience in child rearing and can provide an objective perspective. Also, never forget to ask your hubby if he's okay with the things you buy. :)
Happy mothering!
March 27, 2016
Long Weekend Feels
I love how random moments become extraordinary when captured through the lens. *insert camera emoji here*
I hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend!
March 23, 2016
3/22
I laugh at you when I watch you devour your food with all that chewing sound and perspiration trickling down your forehead. You eat as though you haven't eaten for days! Look, you've influenced me so much that I became your major competitor in our "eating-game" (save the chewing sound though)! Now I have you to blame for these extra curves on my waist. I love you, birthday boy! You're officially four years older than I!
Ad Interim
Jabar came home today carrying empty balikbayan boxes. Balikbayan literally means repatriate and these huge boxes are privileged duty and tax free when sent to the Philippines by OFWs. The sight of these boxes signals that we are about to leave soon. That would be less than two months from now. I will have to say goodbye to my comfortable Bangkok life and say hello to chaotic Manila and God-knows what's in store for me there. I feel nostalgic about this city as early as now. Thinking about it, this is nothing new to me. I have been a nomad since I started medical school in Iligan City. I haven't stayed in one place for at least 5 years straight since then. I have lived in Iligan, Manila, Cotabato, and then back to Marawi for less than two years before I moved here in Bangkok. It's always a cycle of heartbreak from leaving the customary life I got used to (including saying goodbye to the people I got fond of) and then eventually settling into an unfamiliar environment. I never liked goodbyes. But this nomadic life teaches me a thing or two.
A Temporary World
Collecting things was a fad in my teenage years. I had friends who had likings for cute mugs, stuffed toys, note pads, note books, colognes or anything so long as we had a "collection" to call in order to fit into the circle. I collected colognes in high school and then started my book collection in college. I buy them from my school allowance so that means skipping a meal a day. Some of those in my circle elevated their collections into bags, shoes, make-ups and perfumes. Seeing my properly arranged cologne collections back then and my perfectly stacked books on top of my tiny cabinet brought so much satisfaction. Until I started moving from one place to another. Naturally, I only take with me my basic needs leaving everything behind back home. While I am away, some of my siblings like to take over my room and rearrange my stuff to accommodate theirs. Through the years, some of my "prized possessions" got lost (except the books which I usually leave inside my father's library so nobody touches them) and eventually realized that collecting unnecessary things only add up to the mess. I cannot take them wherever I go anyway. Hence, moving from place to another made me let go of "collecting" material things.
Islam strongly emphasizes that we, earthlings, are but travelers on this world. Someday, we will perish taking with us into our graves nothing but what our souls have acquired. We are always reminded how temporary this world is. This lessens my hold on material things by discriminating what I really need from what I only want (thus more savings for the husband? lol).
Change Is Constant
I should have known this gazillion years ago but I admit to have oftentimes fear change. I think I am the least person adaptable to change. I need plenty of time to acclimatize before situations finally sink in to my being. But I cannot stop it from happening. The universe is in constant motion of changes so does our nomadic life and I must accept that fact. Jabar usually finds me looking at old photos and tracking down physical changes or reminiscing the past. It's not a healthy habit, he told me. Frequently looking back on the past hinders you to enjoy your present, he reminds me. There, hard truth shoved right on my face. I guess I need to delete my timehop app.
Allah Is The Best Planner
Hardly a day goes by without me thinking of what tomorrow would bring. If a telescope is drilled inside my head, you will see my mind thinking like a domino. Rarely do I not ponder on the consequences of every action or circumstance. So I always have a plan at hand, always an A and a B. The bad thing though is, I am not a flexible person. I get frustrated once my plans didn't push through. I would like to be spontaneous but I have difficulty getting it into my system. One thing that I keep forgetting is the presence of a Great Force that arranges the sequence of my life in a suitable manner.
Hellos and goodbyes should have been incorporated in me by now. This is the life that we will live for as long as Jabar stays in the Foreign Service. We will have to raise multilingual third culture kids who will struggle with fitting their identity into their community. Alright, that's me thinking twenty years ahead to the future. What I mean is, I should get used to this.
A Temporary World
Collecting things was a fad in my teenage years. I had friends who had likings for cute mugs, stuffed toys, note pads, note books, colognes or anything so long as we had a "collection" to call in order to fit into the circle. I collected colognes in high school and then started my book collection in college. I buy them from my school allowance so that means skipping a meal a day. Some of those in my circle elevated their collections into bags, shoes, make-ups and perfumes. Seeing my properly arranged cologne collections back then and my perfectly stacked books on top of my tiny cabinet brought so much satisfaction. Until I started moving from one place to another. Naturally, I only take with me my basic needs leaving everything behind back home. While I am away, some of my siblings like to take over my room and rearrange my stuff to accommodate theirs. Through the years, some of my "prized possessions" got lost (except the books which I usually leave inside my father's library so nobody touches them) and eventually realized that collecting unnecessary things only add up to the mess. I cannot take them wherever I go anyway. Hence, moving from place to another made me let go of "collecting" material things.
"Know that the life of this world is only play, and idle talk, and pageantry, and boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children; as the likeness of vegetation after the rain, whereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller, but afterward it drieth up and thou seest it turning yellow, then becometh straw. And in the Hereafter there is grievour punishment, and (also) forgiveness from Allah and His good pleasure, whereas the life of the world is but matter of illusion." Holy Qur'an (57:20)
Islam strongly emphasizes that we, earthlings, are but travelers on this world. Someday, we will perish taking with us into our graves nothing but what our souls have acquired. We are always reminded how temporary this world is. This lessens my hold on material things by discriminating what I really need from what I only want (thus more savings for the husband? lol).
Change Is Constant
I should have known this gazillion years ago but I admit to have oftentimes fear change. I think I am the least person adaptable to change. I need plenty of time to acclimatize before situations finally sink in to my being. But I cannot stop it from happening. The universe is in constant motion of changes so does our nomadic life and I must accept that fact. Jabar usually finds me looking at old photos and tracking down physical changes or reminiscing the past. It's not a healthy habit, he told me. Frequently looking back on the past hinders you to enjoy your present, he reminds me. There, hard truth shoved right on my face. I guess I need to delete my timehop app.
"[...]but it may happen that you hate a thing which is good for you, and it may happen that you love a thing which is bad for you. Allah knoweth, you know not." Holy Qur'an (2:216)
Allah Is The Best Planner
Hardly a day goes by without me thinking of what tomorrow would bring. If a telescope is drilled inside my head, you will see my mind thinking like a domino. Rarely do I not ponder on the consequences of every action or circumstance. So I always have a plan at hand, always an A and a B. The bad thing though is, I am not a flexible person. I get frustrated once my plans didn't push through. I would like to be spontaneous but I have difficulty getting it into my system. One thing that I keep forgetting is the presence of a Great Force that arranges the sequence of my life in a suitable manner.
"[...]they plan, but Allah also plans; and Allah is the Best of Planners." Holy Qur'an (8:30)Allah has proven to me many times over how a failed plan lead to a more productive alternative. Never did living abroad passed through my mind, but marrying someone in the Foreign Service is a consequence of my choice. When Jabar accepted the posting in Nigeria (he was an adventurous single guy then), he was assured of crossposting to Pakistan after two years. His travel order was already made but circumstances further delayed his crossposting. We almost lost hope and I already settled my mind of a life in Africa. Nothing's bad about that, Abuja is a great place for expats. But when he caught malaria for the fourth time, it pushed him to write a letter to their home office to recall him if crossposting will not take place. He was then crossposted to Bangkok few months before I end my DTTB stint. Subhanallah. Indeed, Allah knows what's best for us.
Hellos and goodbyes should have been incorporated in me by now. This is the life that we will live for as long as Jabar stays in the Foreign Service. We will have to raise multilingual third culture kids who will struggle with fitting their identity into their community. Alright, that's me thinking twenty years ahead to the future. What I mean is, I should get used to this.
March 15, 2016
Coffee With Diana
I kick-started publishing my thoughts online and whatever that goes around on a so-called "blog" nearly ten years ago. Friendster introduced it to me until I moved to Multiply. Those now-defunct social media platforms started it all for me, until eight years ago I decided to "formally move" here in Blogspot. I did not intend to have a particular theme to write about, nor did I intend to be known through blogging or writing. This is the closest thing I do to talk to myself. In fact, none of those in my closest circle knew about this secret business I have. Most of my friends were like, "Friendster, yeah..but, blog? what? what blog?". I didn't bother them about it again. Haha! Until in 2006, my childhood Ate, Ate Diane, came back to MSU for good and one of the things that we talk about enthusiastically was blogging. Finally! Someone can relate to my inner nerd that was kept hidden under the rug. Blogging, as I've learned from her, was a huge thing in the Metro. In reality, it was quite dwindling already when I was barely starting.
I love reading stories, fictional or not. I love reading in general, so blog-reading is something that I enjoy so much. I've met a known a lot of people through their respective blogs. Some of them became friends of mine in real life. :)
One of the blogs that I take pleasure in reading is that of Nessreen Diana whom I always refer to as Nessreen but she then told me that she is known to everyone as Diana. I came across her blog through Ate Diane's as they're friends in UP. I particularly took interest in her stories about growing up as a Meranao, as a woman, and as a Filipino in Jeddah. Growing up in the bukid of Mindanao State University, I had an impression that my cousins and relatives who were living abroad lead a glamorous and fabulous life. But, her Jeddah stories made me aware that they are also regular people and that we, in inged, live a much more normal life. Although they have an easy access to all the things we mostly yearn for like fast-food shops and malls. Haha!
The Meranao community is so small that we are connected one way or another. Ate Diana happened to be a cousin of my good friend Mabi, and later on, I met her brother Adnan (through Mabi, of course). I remember meeting Adnan and after finding out they were siblings, I was thinking that this guy might be one of those "characters" I read on his sister's blog. Haha!
Several days ago, she dropped me a message informing me that she's in Bangkok and asked if I want to meet-up. Of course I want to!!! She's some sort of a "celebrity" in my blogging world so how can I say no to that?! We met and talked over coffee at a mall near us. I hope she didn't mind commuting though. Hehe. We talked for almost three hours about her job, about her life in Jeddah (yeah, you cannot shut her up about Jeddah!), about my life here and about the people we commonly know. Turned out, we know A LOT of people in common! Small world indeed! It felt surreal to finally listen to her speak Meranao fluently. I guess that's how it feels to meet your favorite writer or author, that you're convinced that, yeah, they're real people too. I had a "Diana-hangover" a day later, replaying our conversations over and over again in my head. Haha!
You can check out her blog on my blogmates list, on the right side of this page, so you'd know what I mean. She's Nessreen there. :D
March 9, 2016
Love Is A Verb
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| Walking around MSU Campus with Amina on a carrier last December 2015. |
Jabar and I are celebrating our third anniversary today. Alhamdulillah. We're a newbie in the marriage department, in relationships in general, and we're still on the process of figuring out the ingredients that make up a blissful lifetime marriage. Our three years was quite a tough ride and the toughest was the LDR part. Jabar and I didn't know each other when we first met, not even our shadows. It was a blind date set up by a common cousin of ours. After several visits, he was resolute that I was "the one". I wholeheartedly accepted the marriage proposal which was facilitated by our parents. Being both relationship neophytes, we never anticipated how unbearable it would be apart from each other. Shaytaan (the devil) always comes to me with whispers of doubt against my husband. With a whirlwind romance like ours, who wouldn't have possible doubts in mind? However, Jabar stood patiently for me and proved that all my doubts were baseless accusations created by the shaytaan inside my mind. Astagfirullah. May Allah forgive me. Those days played a major role in the development of my quarter-life crisis but it left a huge mark on me. It taught me patience and gratitude. It taught me to be more understanding and to see people from where they are coming from. Most importantly, it strengthened our marriage by building our trust in one another. Marriage is a two-way process, as cliche as it may sound, indeed it is a give-and-take relationship. One cannot be staying only on one side of the scale. Both husband and wife must be flexible and must be wearing many hats in the relationship.
Jabar and I grew up in a contrasting family and educational background but what binds us are our core values and the firm decision to put Allah in the center of our relationship. Whenever I go through something, I always seek his advise and he never fails to listen with an open mind and provide a sound and unbias take on the matter at hand. Sometimes I tease him that he belongs to the generation of my father! Haha! He always reminds me of Papa with his train of thoughts. He's been through lot of pains and struggles in his life that molded him into the way he is now. He takes matter seriously and decides resolutely. He's always the stronger one. He's my rock. I am more than grateful that God gave him to me as my husband and the father of my child(-ren). With him, so long as Allah guides us, I know that nothing can go wrong. In shaa Allah.
Sometimes I wish we have met earlier. I think it would have been better, more romantic and cuter if we had had some movie dates or dinner dates before we got married. (But he said he wouldn't marry me had I permitted to go on a date with him before marriage. Ugh. KJ. Lol!) But God has a wonderful plan of putting us two together. He made us go through trials first until we found our suitable respective niches on this world. Allah has shown me, through this marriage, that His timing and His plans are perfect and I wouldn't have it any other way. As Jabar and I work to strengthen our faith in Allah, He consequently strengthens our marriage. We still have a long road ahead and many challenges to hurdle, but with Allah being the center of our relationship, we would go just fine. :)
Dinner date at the newly-opened Paul restaurant in Emporium. The only Paul resto near us was at the Central Embassy Mall, but now we have it walking distance. Yay! :D
March 8, 2016
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| The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan, a must-read. |
Reading break.
Sitting here and sipping my coffee while reading rants. Funny how some people can get so cowardly by posting harsh words on social media which they cannot tell someone directly. Well, well. I'd rather focus on my own life rather than stick my short nose on other people's lives.
Kthanxbye!
P.S.
If you take social media seriously, it will effin' drive you nuts. So. Ignore. Move on. Continue living your awesome life. :)
February 22, 2016
via Instagram http://ift.tt/1RVTyX9
This power couple has given me that much needed "nudge" to kick off my career goals. Thanks for sharing the story of your struggles and trials that enabled you to be where you are right now. I pray to have the same support system too and of course, I will never forget how much Allah loves me. Haha! Thanks Ate @dr_omielove and Kuya Jay, I hope you enjoyed Bkk! 😄❤️
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