Nhemskie's Haven

Winners and Losers

I just came from my family's weekend trip to the Northern region of South Korea- 경기도. My sis-in-law and her family arranged a ski trip (Daemyeong Resort- Vivaldi Park) with the whole family. It was really, really fun but tiring... really.  This is my second ski experience and I found it to be very interesting and worth the hurt... Ouch~

So I thought of those good things that money could do to make people happy. We stayed there for three days and two nights (thanks for my sis-in-law's membership benefits~) and although staying there is quite fun, money is what you'll always need there.

Then I thought of my fellow teacher who just luckily won in lottery (320,000,000 won approximately around 338K USD) and thought of the good things she could get.... She told me before she left the school that she'll travel around Europe with her family, buy a new new house, buy an imported car and give some cash to her family... Hmmm... I'm very green with envy!

I went first by an express bus because of my work. My work starts at 1 p.m. so, I had to leave Chloe with my in-laws and my husband drove all the way from Kyeong GI Province (it takes around 6~7 hours of driving).  So they came home first.

So when I got home the atmosphere was different, my two sister-in-laws along with my husband was discussing about a serious issue. With a glass of beer and some chicken in front of them, my husband told me that Chloe was sleeping and I may sleep with her early because there were things that they had to discuss with my sis-in-laws.

I got a little upset about it, 'coz I always thought that I am now a part of his family. Should there be any discussion that may be in our house, I should also be there participating or the least, listening about the matter.

SO I stayed in our room with Chloe.

Maybe it was curiousity that pulled me to eavesdrop on their conversation (I know it wasn't right-.-) and found out that my other sis-in-law has been all the while consulting at a psychiatrist about a childhood trauma.

I don't know exactly when and what happens but according to what I've heard, she had given much love to her family (my husband's family) and had shown much care to them but that love hasn't been recognized neither returned. Instead, the more they asked from her thinking, "anyways she kind and she'll understand" things like that makes that pain grow more and more over the years... She therefore doesn't meet her friends, her lifestyle too peculiar and much more she hasn't much to offer to her own family (Don't get this wrong, she loves her own family but in the other way she can't truly, naturally do it the way she wants it).

I felt a little sorry, It was indeed an  issue of the family. I never wanted anymore to listen so I went to the bed and lay beside Chloe.

Winners or lossers? who cares? that's life...

Present Perfect Thoughts

After more than a year. I've come to think of writing again here in my blog. My work in school and my baby, Chloe, keep me busy 24/7. It's quite a very hard work, being a teacher, mother and a wife... a daughter in-law, a friend... a family... in different times.

How I miss my singlehood! Where I have all the pleasures of being young! But this doesn't mean I hate my life right now. No, no..no. It's just that there will always come to a point in our lives that one would always think of some good things that happened in the past.

I miss surely my freedom. Late movie watching with friends, bar hopping, eating out... bowling, coffee shop with girlfriends, shopping in SM, texting and some thought of ...... ooopppps!

But here's the catch: If I'm gonna live my life again, I'd still choose my life right now even if things are not as easy as they are right now.

Voice Unheard

I lost my voice yesterday and I could hardly speak right now.

I feel I'm gonna die without saying any word. Tommy and I went to a nearby drugstore and asked for a medicine since it's holiday today so EENT clinics might not open. I thought of my class.. how could I ever go to school??? Oh dear me... I speak in whisper and the more I try, the more my throat aches. I just hope the medicine would help~ PLEASE.

I chat with my  sister last night and she's getting ready to go back to school this coming June. After stopping for almost 7 years she still has the courage to face what's ahead of her. And I'm quite curious of what would it be... sure it'll turn out good. As the two of us always say... we'll see each other in New York or in Paris... hehehe....

Last week we had an excursion trip to "Nuri Maru" or APEC house in Heaundae. Actually it was not really as special as I expected but the view from the house makes it a perfect place for conference- the sky, sea and the land form.

It's March and I've never enrolled to any morning sport yet. Winter mornings are still dark and I'm afraid to walk all by myself in the mornings... add the occasional rain showers that makes my mood so gloomy that all I wanna do is to stay in bed and never go to school at all.

In two to three weeks it'll be Spring again. Warm and pleasant weather is coming ahead!!! What's the best hing to do??? Shopping new clothes!!! (^^,)

One Snowy Evening

You wouldn't imagine how unlucky I am in posting this blog... I was almost finished and about to click post when my computer just suddenly restarted... Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!

Anyways.....

Hello guys! How have you been lately and how's life goin'?

I have plenty of stories to tell but actually was..(I mean, I still am ) very busy for the last few weeks.

I gave up my bowling lessons and got a new job in Metro City.

There was another call last week offering me another office work but I declined the offer... I got the job that I needed.

Tommy and I moved into a new house and spent the Lunar holidays with my in-laws. We had a very busy holiday because my in-laws just remodelled their whole apartment and as "the one and only dutiful son and daughter-in-law," we had to help them moving the furniture in and out of the house. Remodelling an old apartment house is twice as difficult as moving into a new house... For Goodness sake~~~

I'm still working on the dissertation~ shit.

I'm stressed up and can't find some relevant materials and local dissertations that I needed... It's been almost a year!!!

And this morning, I was very hopeful that classes would be suspended because of the heavy snow... BUT.. it was only a wishful thinking... got the 9:30 subway to Kyeongsung University and arrived to my class 10 minutes late... ã… .ã… Poor me~

I was somehow broadcast in HCN channel... it was terrible. I was interviewed in Korean (life in Korea as a foreigner)... of course I should answer in Korean too, right? but then it turned out to be funny~ Tommy still makes fun of me after that.

I lost some weight they say, but I'm not yet so sure about that. But I am thinking of taking Yoga again this month or a combination of aquatic sports for a morning sport. I gave up bowling because I hear my bones cracking... do I somehow need glucosamine supplements???

Called back Philippines and had a word with my sis. Heard Cheryle will get married here in May. Tet is working for Doosol. Oh... how I miss them...

I wish I could spend some more time home and kill time with Tommy...just doing anything... just like before.

Hope all of you are well and in great shape. Be healthy and Be happy~

A Eulogy

I grieve today because we lost our precious niece.

Her name is Kurt Nicole, the daughter of my youngest sis.

She suffered too much pain at a very young age.

Little that we knew she would go away that early...

But we were very proud of her because she kept on fighting 'til the end.

We'll be missing you... mommy and daddy will surely do a lot.

You'll be at peace now... no more pain. We love you... and we're truly sorry that you have suffered much.

Goodbye.

The Awakening

It's good to be back here writing in my blog. Now where have I all been these days? Hmmmmm.. yeah, I was really busy. Time slips easily these days. Maybe it's because I had a lot of things to do... (I mean, I a ALWAYS HAVE a lot of things to do). I never notice that the year is almost ending. My dear~ I never even fulfilled my new year's resolution!!! There's a another year anyways... (too bad)

I guess some pictures in my photo album will tell what  I have done for the last few weeks that I never wrote anything in this blog. That would be my trip to Andong and Chungmu(the nappoli of Korea as they say). My trip to Andong was sponsored by The PWHL team where I attended some seminar about Korean culture, sex and violence, child rearing and the like together with different foreign wives here in Busan. The trip was actually more of a cultural experience more than the usual sight-seeing. They taught us to do some traditional charms and let us know more about the traditional house, its' different parts and and functions. It was interesting actually learning at the same time being with a bunch of new friends. Tommy was also with me that day.

Chungmu, on the other hand, was such a nice place to stay. It was Tommy's birthday trip this time. We went there with the rest of the family and stayed for two days. Actually we never did anything special but the place indeed made the trip very memorable and fun. We just drove around the downtown and had plenty of sushi on our first night. After the heavy and delicious dinner, we all went bowling... you won't believe it but even Tommy's 84-year-old grand mother played that night. It was really fun! Of course add some alcohol and that would be a great night-out.

Check these out:      

 

 

 

The rest of my days was spent studying, meeting friends, driving, bowling and bowling. By the way, The PIFF was also very nice (we met Jacky Chan and Kim Hee Sun in person).

I think my boredom has come into end.

On The Road

Today I drove past Jurye to Seomyeon and then back home. Tommy said I've been doing quite well (the confidence to be exact) but I'm lacking the basics- taking sudden and quick glances from the rear and side mirrors, braking (Break! break! bre-aa-kkk! like what he always yells..)and merging another lane for some distance. It was stressful and difficult...(being beside him while driving) because he was really tough on me (NO EXCUSES and RISKS like what he says) unlike my driving instructor in Socialites. It makes me feel stuffy at times..and annoyed... how come he would expect that much from a beginner. I sometimes wonder too If he would be exactly like that If I were still his girlfriend. Maybe he would be soft-spoken and a little careful with his tone.

Why is it when our loveones try to correct us with our mistakes, it's too difficult to swallow our pride and say.."yeah I was wrong..and you were right." That makes things much more complicated. Especially me, where PRIDE is all that I've got.

On the brighter side, I always thank him for correcting me. At least I've got to think about myself, my character and the way I accept or deal with criticisms. Honestly speaking, I've never known myself better than before 'coz I always do my stuff on my own way...I never heed advices from anyone (I'm the living example of the word "stubborn"). Maybe because I grew up like that-- taking risks and managing my own. Sorry for that baby~

However, people grow and change through time and experiences.

Am I correct or just.... Maybe??

A Crash Course in Cooking

Everybody has a talent.

One may be good at singing, dancing, playing sports, baking or cooking... but for me I feel cooking filipino food is really not my talent.

Last Sunday after going to mass, my feet took me infront of a Bonggo Truck loaded with Philippine goods. My eyes were filled with much  happiness to see all my goodies being sold in the truck- the cheese, nata de coco, polvoron, Red Chippy, condensed milk, nido, some fresh vegetables and a lot more. To my cravings, I thought it woud be best If I'll try to cook something for the whole family since I've never tried cooking filipino food here in Korea. So I bought a bundle of string beans (sitaw), a bundle of Kangkong, three pieces of bitter melon (ampalaya), 2 pieces of Tilapia, a sinigang mix and a tomato sauce.  With the smiles I wear on my face I was really confident I could do a nice sweet and sour tilapia and a side dish of ginisang ampalaya.

So I did what I had to do. Cleaned the fish, fried and sauteed all ingredients in the sweet and sour sauce. Then cut the ampalaya and sauteed with tomatoes and egg. Presto! Done.

Then the tasting began. The Sweet and Sour Tilapia looked pretty much delicious... when tasted.. bland. I forgot to put salt on the fish before frying. Then I tasted the sauteed ampalaya. Mmmmmm~ remember the feeling when you bit a lansones seed? it was the very same feeling. The problem? I just found it out when I asked Ate Nympha why it was bitter. I never mashed the ampalaya with salt before I sauteed it. Poor me! My ambitious attempt of a perfect dish went nothing. (To justify my deeds, I rarely cooked way back before)
And so, I still have remaining hope.. to cook a perfect sinigang this weekend. But before that, I had already called Ate Nympha on how to cook sinigang in details( She was really bursting with laughter when I told her the results of my cooking).

Lessons that I've learned:

1. Get to know the procedures.
2. Get to know the taste.
3. Get a lot of practice (visualizing is one but trying is much challenging)
4. And lastly, prepare some good reasons when everything turns out bad-- "Actually, I wasn't good at that!" or "Hmm, it was my first attempt" to exempt you from criticisms... hehe

Changing Lenses

I couldn't believe somehow how fate have been not so great but nice to me. Yes, I usually complain how my life changes drastically from one situation to another but fortunately there are good times instore right after. Recently, I got to meet some friends here in Busan and had regained a piece of being "me" with other people. I cracked jokes, smiled a lot and even laughed with them. Remembering my old days as a teacher in a Language Institute... It was such a relief! I wonder how I've been so pre-occupied with things that are not really worth the stress yet I am really stuck, stuffy and so stressful. (Is that being a korean in any sense?)So I got new friends... and I believe my life has changed anew again.

Moments

                   I enjoy being alone lately. Taking a walk, reading a book, going on shopping and drinking my favorite blend of coffee. Although my life has totally been  with Tommy the whole two years, I seem like feeling anew with the hopes of having myself improved this Spring. Yeah... being a wife of a korean makes a lot of pressures to me. Cultural differences and language barriers to name some... But with a positive outlook and patience I can do it! Yes!!!! I CAN...