And We’ve Pitched Our Tents August 16, 2008

The Philippines.  I never dreamt I would be living in a busy city in a far off island in Southeast Asia. We have been here a month and a half and are calling our condo home and keeping as busy as I can handle, which really is not as busy as the average person because I like to enjoy  what I call the spice of life, the simple pleasures of playing with my children, reading to them, cooking, trying to feel normal in our presently abnormal lives. And we are liking it. I think we are adjusting surprisingly well to our new lives as wandering, new world nomads. We will be here at least two years, so it’s not as romantic as all that, we won’t just pull up stakes and leave whenever we get the wanderlust. We will go to the next diplomatic post and have a totally new experience, I’m sure. I say I am surprised, but I shouldn’t be, we prayed for at least a year in preparation for this move, for grace and strength to endure and enjoy as well, for us as well as the children, for godly protection and people to be in our children’s lives and ours. God listens, o does he, and he provides as he best sees fit! We hired a woman to help me ( a lengthy discussion for another day, what a blessing!) and of a nation of mostly Catholics, all of which are bit superstitious, we get a born-again believer who goes to an evangelical church, what a wonderful God we have. 

Daniel playing in our new living room in his pajamas

 

What have we done since we’ve been here? So much in the last month and a half it feels like so, so much longer. I have been reflecting on why we have done so much more here than when we lived in Virginia. Well, one, obviously, we are still tourists, we are seeing the sights and shopping; it’s all so new. Two, it was so expensive to do most anything there, not here; the dollar goes a little further. Three, the community has been kind to us, inviting us to join in and share rides (since we do not have our car yet, our shipment is not yet here). Three, the embassy social organizations plan events often. 

 

 

The boys have been going to playgroups; swimming with arm floaties in the big pool (what an accomplishment!);  toured Krispy Kreme and dipped donuts in chocolate and sprinkles, complete with hats and gloves; explored new parks and interactive sculptures and have a impulsive, reckless fascination with the many, many beautiful fountains around town (i.e. like to fall in or jump in and get wet) .

  

 

 

 

 

Daniel at High Street in a camera.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David on our "green noodle" as we call it at High Street, an interactive sculpture. Talk in one end and hear in the other.

 

Bouncing on our "magic carpet" at High Street. Mom joined in. The guards watched. I didn't care. I'll take a magic carpet ride with my kids any day.

We’ve been to a children’s hand on science museum (a must repeat!), new aquarium/ocean park, toured Intramauros in a horse and buggy (and saw a wedding in the Cathedral built in 1571, amazing!), bought handicrafts made in the provinces: a gorgeous basket, a wooden spoon/fork salad set and purchased my first Filipino pearls. I’ve gone to high tea at a posh Thai hotel. I’ve seen Imelda Markos’ shoes in a museum, bought high quality artisan straw hats and a 12 place setting of bone china for less than a tenth of the US price. 

  

 

 

 

Glass bottom boat ride at Manila Ocean Park. We saw the rays, sharks, fish and human fish too in the huge aquarium below. The boys loved it too.

  

The boys are so surprising. David got away (no surprise) and I found him kissing this statue bigger than he is at the Ocean Park.

 

 

A whirlwind of activity for a bookish, nature loving, homemaker that prefers to stay at said home with children? Carpe Diem.

 

 

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