“my all souls’-eid’l fitr vacation”: an informal composition in list form

november 9, 2005

11:45 PM

 

though it lasted nine days, that last vacation seemed shorter than usual, as if i hadn’t done anything at all. and to think i managed to stick to my resolve to not go on the internet and check my mail or turn on my computer for work that whole time.

 

but i suppose there were some noteworthy things about it, like:

 

1)      finally got my own digital camera! it’s a hand-me-down from my younger brother (so does that make it a hand-me-up?)

2)      spent two days watching kids and japanese practice aikido in loyal support of my youngest brother. i took a video of the whole exhibition, and now he wants to sell it.

3)      because taxis were few and far between (and because i thought it would be much more fun), took a motorized trisikad across town at 11pm to meet up with my father and relatives on my first night home.

4)      sped through the rain on the front of a habal-habal up a steep hill, with my father holding on to the driver’s back, and his larger-than-life Mt. Apo climbing bag strapped to HIS back.

5)      took photos of my lola’s family mausoleum for the first time. i’ve always loved how the afternoon light falls on the marble through the window grills.

6)      took photos inside the cinema in between screenings of “Legend of Zorro”--a rare event because the guards came and took my camera away after.

7)      made puto (the rice kind) and palitaw for the first time, based entirely on the experiences of other people.

8)      went to market by myself for the first time to buy flowers (because they always make me smile ) and freshly ground malagkit and shredded coconut meat for the puto and palitaw. had to call home because i ran out of money and the flower vendor wouldn’t take credit cards

9)      burned my nostrils making puto. the edge of my left nostril is still peeling until now.

10)  went to the arcade and introduced my father and brother to the hand version of dance revo.

11)  made leche flan from egg whites as an experimental by-product of the real thing. has lots of potential

12)  went to visit my lolo by myself for the first time and discovered after almost 26 years that he likes having his picture taken

13)  packed at 2pm for a 4pm flight on Sunday and forgot to bring my new photography book, guitar chord book, gummy candies, flavored instant oatmeal and vitamins

 

that’s all i can remember right now (the visual versions of these are in my photo albums, although haven't uploaded verything yet). i really feel like i didn’t do much. gained some flab in my cheeks, too

 

october, by the way, was a month when i learned to talk. because all i do is write (or maybe this is why all i do is write), speaking is one of the few things that get me extremely anxious. so i prayed for opportunities to teach and interact with more people. when it rains it pours. in one weekend, i facilitated a workshop for WILA to come up with our VMG, taught Sunday School to kids abandoned by their parents (2-6 year-olds), and gave a workshop on policy advocacy to fisherfolk in Bantayan (under some old acacia trees on the school grounds, because all the rooms were for the kids).

 

it was a bit stressful for me preparing for the three at the same time, especially because it was my first time for all (and i even got sick after the visioning workshop, but being with the kids at Sunday School the next day, and then being on the open sea the day after that helped me recover immediately). still i was just thankful God gave me the grace to speak. the Holy Spirit did the talking

 

after that, i was back to writing, doing SIX essays for my scholarship application at night until the wee hours of the morning, and doing a project proposal for a funding agency from morning till evening at the office. both involved writing to beg for money.

 

that was basically how october passed. but i’m really happy about the speaking parts. oh, and i’m on “hi” terms with mr. wolverine and the eternal street sweeper see? i really know how to talk now. and despite the busyness, managed to spend time bonding with the housemates, too, for the first time. AND buy my own guitar and start memorizing the chords of my favorite joey ayala songs.

 

haven’t been sleeping well since i got back from davao. it’s past 1 a.m. now and i’m wide awake. at least these days there’s more time to read and paint (dropped by National the other week and found a new supply of watercolor pencils at last!  ). was down with some bad hormones this morning, so was able to spend some time walking in the daylight. wind is getting cooler, shadows getting longer, even in the mornings. sunsets are more brilliant, the sun rounder and more visible and orange. november is my favorite month the world should declare a month-long holiday. days like these are a waste spent in the office.