Hi Lei!

Last December's exchange of letters among our barkada was timely. I was feeling acutely homesick then, and the letters really helped. As did attending the Filipino mass here. Thankfully, there's one every first and third Sunday of the month. And guess what: there's also a mini-Tiangge outside the church after Mass, just like in Manila. I bought some Dinuguan and found out that they don't use real blood in the recipe here, just coloring to make it Dinuguan-colored.

Regarding housework, I think I've pretty much gotten used to the normal chores around the house. I will never be Bree (Vandercamp--- you know, that neat freak perfectionist housewife on Desperate Housewives who knows how to remove the most obscure stains) but I can keep a relatively clean house. Cluttered, but pretty clean.
I dare say that I'm not scared of NOT having a maid in Manila anymore. After all, the only task I refuse to do is clean the bathroom. Other than that, everything else is fair game. It helps a lot that Wellington is a clean city. Not much dust anywhere.

Now I also know what some of our politicians meant when they said that traffic decreases productivity. Yes,it's a no-brainer---but I have seen the effects of minimal traffic first hand. There's hardly any traffic here, and I'm amazed by how much time we have. There's more time to do the laundry, more time to cook, more time to play. We can be out in the city all day, then come back in time to cook dinner then still have time to watch a DVD. There's just more time for everything. We don't have to allot at least an hour to go places (unless we're going 5 suburbs away). It's pretty amazing when I compare it to life in Manila, where it takes me at least 25 minutes to get from White Plains to Megamall. The only downside to not having traffic is not getting to nap when riding in the car. Remember how I used to get my best naps in between going from Valenzuela to Libis everyday?

Christmas was quiet here. We celebrated by going to midnight mass (which was actually at 8pm, Christmas Eve) then eating a modest pork roast dinner. I managed to find some frozen suman at the Yan's- an asian store in the city, and I bought some coconut cream and a mango (Thai) to serve with the suman. The next day, Christmas, we got invited to a friend's house and we joined a lot of other Filipinos for a barbeque. Plenty of food, desserts, Pinoy faces, and karaoke too: it felt a lot like Pinas.

Likewise, New Year was a quiet affair too. No noisemakers and firecrackers, gunshots, bawang, watusi, not even luses when it turned 2007. Nevertheless, I didn't miss the fireworks at all (I stopped enjoying the smog-filled air they came with several years ago). We spent New Year's Eve at another friend's place: old friends, new faces, a gorgeous fondant cake that someone baked, garlic mushrooms, paella and a mishmash of other dishes plus the requisite karaoke equals a fun way to welcome 2007.

Of course I missed my family and you guys. Chatting with my siblings, parents, cousins, and aunts for hours via YM helped a lot. As did seeing my pamangkins on webcam. Know what else I missed? The midnight mass at our chapel Christ the King in Libis. And my old choir. The songs we used to sing. I also missed attending A's choir----he always had a solo especially for Christmas eve and Christmas day mass.

I hope you guys had a grand time at our post-Christmas get together. How is everyone? I saw the pictures that M posted and you all look great! Isn't it amazing that M's already interning at hospitals. When I left she was just starting nursing school. And you seem to be so busy, but enjoying what you're doing. Don't work too hard, though. Take a break sometimes!

Happy New Year to you all, and do Keep in touch!

Much Love,
Sassafras