Dedication

We went to the dedication of the daughter of a friend of mine tonight.  She is married to a Filipino and it is always interesting to get an insight into different cultural ways of doing things. It was a separate ceremony in a function room with family and friends and, of course, involved a meal.  While we were eating, Rose was bopping along to the music on her chair and another of my friends said it reminded her of someone else!  Who could that be?! 

It is always good to be reminded that our children are God's and not ours.  How blessed we are that God has chosen to give us the privilege of parenting.  And how much it teaches me about my Father God in the process.

100th day

Rose has been counting down the days till 100th day (as has all the class!) and was very excited as she went off to school yesterday with a bag of 100 shells.  When we picked her up she had 3 balloons to take home - so we ended up with 6 in the car as we were taking Nathan and Katherine home too.  They were filled with helium so floated.  

At home, Josh asked if he could have the balloons tied around his waist so he could float!  I explained there were not enough of them for that to work but could imagine him drifting off over the roofs!

I often learn things from my children and while we were trying to separate the three balloons I suggested we get the scissors and cut but that was not acceptable. I had to take my time and untie the knot.  It did make sense as the string was longer then, but it made me reflect on how often we choose the "easy" path over spending more time and effort on something.

Look, mum, no pants!

My kids love wearing their pyjamas. Rose used to spend as much time as possible in her nighties the year we were in England and now Joshua has taken over her obsession and wears his pyjamas as much as possible.  There are times when I draw the line though - like when we go out in public.  So, yesterday, Josh and I went through the usual song and dance to get him in clothes before we went to the mall to do some chores before picking Rose up from school.  At one point he grabbed his pants and threw them in the toilet.  I'm not sure if it was a protest or if he thought if they were wet he wouldn't have to wear them.  So, I simply went up stairs and got another pair!

The Safety Checkers

Two ladies appeared at our gate (with ID) saying they were the fire hazard checkers.  I had a guy come last year so I knew what to expect.  They came into the house and checked we had our safety nozzle thing attached to our gas bottle (for the cooker).  They told me (well actually most of the talking was done through Lea as they felt their English was not good enough even though Lea kept telling them to just try and speak English!) it was an imitation nozzle, which I explained I had bought off the guy who came last year. They told me never to trust a man claiming to be from their dept. as they were all women usually. I said, "Well it still works doesn't it?".  But they showed me that it didn't really as it didn't automatically shut off when the bottle is shaken.  I cannot imagine any scenario this would actually happen in, but fair enough.  They could tell I wasn't going to buy a new one, however, so they offered to fix it, which I accepted.  Lea told them to get a move on as we foreigners eat early and I would want to start cooking soon (that made me laugh, perfectly true - we eat at 5 and most Filipinos eat about 7 or later.).

When they had gone, a different team turned up so I told them we had already been checked but they said they were the supervisors and wanted to check their work and they asked for the receipt and were most disgruntled that they had done a fix job rather than selling me a new one. They disappeared off and 5 minutes later we had another team who were the managers! They, too, came in, checked the bottle, asked for the receipt and in typical Filipino fashion managed to extract my nationality, why I was here, how many kids I had and how old I was inside 1 minute!  They went off tutting about the receipt too and I think those poor first two girls - who I think were pretty astute - probably lost their job.

Driving with Babies

Just in case any of you were wondering after yesterday's post - we do not have rules regarding children travelling in cars.  Firstly, because Health and Safety do not dominate here like they do in the UK (one day I am going to take a good photo of scaffolding here).  Secondly, because it is only the affluent who own cars and most of them have a ya-ya (nanny) for their children.  It reminds me of when Rose was a little baby.  I went to collect a puzzle we had had framed at the nearby mall.  While I was picking it up, the shop owner asked me how I had arrived - did I need her to get a taxi for me?  I said, "No, it's OK. I drove our car."  Horrified, she asked me, "Where did you put your baby? On your lap?". I had to suppress a smile as I pictured trying to drive while Rose was lying on my lap and put her at her ease when I explained I had a car seat for her.

Family photos

Sit on Your Bottoms!

Yesterday, on the way to picking up Rose from school Naomi asked to go in the boot.  (As in the seats in the very back, not a conventional boot!)  Sometimes I do let her but she is pretty bad about sitting still so I warned her she had to sit on her bottom or I would have to move her.  So, anyway on the way up she occasionally stood and I kept reminding her to sit on her bottom.  After a little meltdown in the car-park at school I forgot that I had told Naomi she had to sit in her car seat on the way down because I was so busy dealing with Rose and Joshua so she managed to get herself in the boot again.  Every so often she would stand then shout out "Sit on your bottoms" and promptly plump herself back down.  Then when she stood and I caught her in the mirror she sang out "Sorry, mum" (sounding just like Joshua, I might add) before "Sit on your bottoms" and sitting down again. It was very amusing.

Time again!

Rose and I went to the hairdresser this afternoon.  There was a lady and a girl in front of us but we chose to wait (no advance appointments in our local salon.)  Well they were having make-up put on and hair styled so it took a while.  I realised there was no clock in there (there did used to be). I did not have a watch on and no-one else had one on to sneak a peek at.  It turned out we'd been there nearly 2 hours by the time we got back to our house (it's only round the corner).  Time really does not have the same pressure here.

Rose had done really well- we spent some of the time looking for her sight words in the magazines and "I Spy" and leafing through magazines and watching the hair being styled.  As my hairdresser was finishing the lady's hair Rose whispered, "that's a lot of pins".  I whispered back, "I was just thinking the same thing!".  I was thinking how nervous I would be if it was me about the pins falling out.

The hairdresser was merrily explaining to the lady that I was a missionary and worked at Faith Academy and I had been going to him for 11 or 12 years - a slight elaboration but never mind!  I have been going there since we arrived and it is only 70 pesos (about 1 pound) for a haircut.

Pirates and knights

Last week Rose was invited to Nathan's birthday party which had a pirate theme. (I think she was the only girl!) She wanted to dress up and we found this T-shirt in the pile "for Joshua when he's bigger" that I brought from England.  Now it is one of her favourite shirts.

Naomi, not to be outdone, donned the hat after Rose got home.

Joshua was invited to his friend Ian's party this morning and it had a knight theme.  Ian's mum did an amazing job of making shields, chain mail and balloon swords (which Josh refused to model) for each kid.

Watch Shopping

Something reminded me today to write this anecdote. 

Over the Christmas period Wendy wanted to buy a new watch so, along with Bonnie, we went shopping.  Admittedly, we were in the poshest mall in Manila (although we also went into another mall too) but even so for the cheaper range there were few choices of watches.  In the more expensive range there was more choice but still not much when you think how many pages of watches there are in the Argos catalogue for instance.  However, if we had wanted sunglasses they were a pair a penny.  I thought it made an interesting and very cool comment on the culture here: time is not that important, it is more of a status symbol. (Relationships are very important so time is subjective to relationships). But the sun is ubiquitous!

Where do Monsters live?

This is the question I was asked this morning by Joshua.  At first I wasn't sure how to answer it but I said Monsters don't live anywhere because they are not real.  So Joshua said, "I don't mean in the Philippines.  I mean in the jungle". (Note: the Philippines can mean Brookside - our subdivision - or Manila. They are not quite sure of the whole country concept yet!)  I wasn't sure whether to laugh at this point but decided it would not be helpful.  So I said again, that they weren't real and therefore did not live anywhere. Joshua spent quite some time trying to convince me otherwise but I think I won!

Cultural Contradictions

I have been trying to instill in my children some kind of road safety sense and obviously I have been successful to some small degree as now whenever we are out driving Rose or Joshua or both will say - that person didn't look both ways before they crossed!  

However, now I am faced with an interesting conundrum because actually in the Philippines it pays not to look both ways or you won't get across the road.   The point here is just to make a path across the road or it won't happen which involves avoiding eye contact with drivers - pretending they are not really there - so they have to stop for you.  So, how can I tell them that what I have taught them is actually "wrong"?

I have been bumping into this conundrum in a few different cultural circumstances where what my children need to know for behaving in England is quite different to what they need to know to behave here.  Sometimes it is merely a case of letting go of unimportant cultural attachments and trusting we can pick things up when in England, but sometimes it is a genuine dilemma.

Happy Families

The other day I was saying to someone that Naomi plays with trains more than Rose does because Naomi follows Josh. However, I added, Rose will play with them as long as they are in families.  I am going to let you be a fly on the wall to prove my point!!:

Situation:Tonight I am having a massage in our study. Steve is putting Naomi to bed and Rose comes in to sit by me.  Josh arrives carrying his car transporter and a few cars.

Josh:Daddy said I could play because he is putting Naomi to bed. 

Rose: Can I play with you? Which ones are the babies?

Josh:Yes [you can play with me], but the cars can't talk.

Rose:Oh, Josh. Please?

Josh:Alright, the girl ones can talk but not the boys.  (I am chuckling) These two are boys. (pointing) That is a girl.  This one is the dad. No mum.

Rose:(misunderstanding) It's a mum?

Josh:No, it's the dad. No mums.  (moving transporter away) Dad is going to a meeting

Rose:Oh, no he can't go yet. There's no-one to look after us.

(A little bit later after negotiations over who is "grown up" and can look after them etc.)

Rose:Oh daddy forgot his phone. (This makes me chortle as this is typical of Steve!) Now he can't check on us.

I Say a Little Prayer for You!

The other night when I was putting Josh to bed I asked him if he wanted to pray for anything and he said no. I had already tuned out when I realised he was actually listing off our family members this is what he said: "Granny and Grandpa Guille, Granny Taylor, Uncle Tim and Aunty Ali and everyone else in England 'cos they miss us".  So we prayed for everyone because we miss them too.

I'm a big boy

As we get out of the car to go to church, Joshua announces that now he is four, he is too big to call people names (I don't believe this will last for more than the 5 following minutes).  This is actually prompted by the fact that Naomi called him one of his favourite insults. This upset him and I told him she had only learned it from him in the first place.

He also added that he was now too old to hold anybody's hand to cross the road.  This was not last long either as my son is highly tactile.

It made me smile that he thinks he is so big because even though he is growing and changing he stills seems so young to me! 

New Year's Day

We celebrated New Year's Day with a cricket game!  It was really fun although I took a tumble and messed up my leg as were playing on the undercover playground because the field was too wet. It felt good to do something that feels familiar.

As for resolutions, I don't think I can do more than my "Kingdom Come" (School theme for 2008/9) T-shirt says:

P.S. It's meant to be kinder as in Kindergarten but it works as a fruit of the spirit!

P.P.S Note the "correct" spelling of mum which I deliberately sp

ecified for the printing!!

New Year's Eve

We decided as this night is so noisy anyway that we would all stay up and meet up with friends at school for cheese fondue, games and then watch the fireworks display over the city.

Josh fell asleep on me just before the grand build up approached but woke with the noise and Naomi really did not like the noise and kept asking if she could go home although I told her it would be just as noisy (if not worse) at home. The fireworks were impressive although it was a bit cloudy so we couldn't see as far as we sometimes can.  We watched until the star shining at the top of the house closest to Faith Academy had been obscured by the smoke! 

Then we navigated the streets full of debris from the firecrackers and thick with smoke to get home!

Christmas Day

We had a lovely, relaxed day and Steve and I almost forgot to open our presents because we were enjoying watching the children open theirs so much!

We had friends over for an evening Christmas dinner which was great - with stuffing mix from England! Once the children were in bed we played a game and enjoyed each others' company.

One of the hardest things about Christmas in another country can be not sharing it with our family. We are privileged to have special people in our lives that we consider family.

Christmas Eve

Bonnie's parents were here for Christmas so they came for lunch today which was really fun. Rose immediately monopolised Bonnie's dad!  

It is always interesting when our two lives bisect - home country and Philippines.  You see your friends through a different prism to everyday and see them as daughter or sister as well as your friend that you really only see in this context.

In the evening we went to the Christmas service at our church (churches here do not do Christmas Day services) with Wendy.  It was at 5:30 p.m. but we had our lunch so late we didn't bother to eat beforehand. 

The service was a Children's musical which was good but our kids got restless as we weren't moving much and Wendy and I had to try and manage the girls as they contrived to take over more and more of the seat (we have pews) and the woman next to us appeared to be pushed further down.  However, typically of the Filipinos she was very gracious.

During "Silent Night" each individual had a candle and Wendy was convinced Joshua was going to light the hair of the woman in front.  Naomi decided she wanted to hold hers by herself ad as it began to wave wildly in the air I quickly blew it out but she was most indignant about that.

After the service we planned to go straight home but the kids decided they were hungry so we went and got food.

Then we drove down Ayala Ave and took in the lights.  I love how Christmas is still centred on the birth of Jesus here - almost all of the corporations had huge manger scenes on or in their buildings.