A Serious Case of Allergy

I mean, just look at these...

They say, old habits die hard. That's absolutely true. "Once a paranoid, always a paranoid" - this is also very true.

I was used to handwashing my undies. When I first came here, my husband told me to just put everything in the washer and it will take care of everything for me. It sure did of course, but until I noticed I was too uncomfortable wearing my undies. I had no idea, was it just me? Or did the machine not clean my stuff very well that I thought I was feeling itchy down there. From then on, I went back to handwashing my undies.

Detergent soap here in America, majority of them that I tried, do not bubble! It is too uncomfortable handwashing your stuff using a liquid detergent that you feel doesn't clean your stuff anyway. For some time I thought I could use a Tide, so my husband bought me a box of Tide (which by the way is expensive here) and I had my last powder last month and it was then that I started using the below liquid detergent:

... and sweet lord, thus this nightmare.

In a place where health insurance is a must, and that which I unfortunately waived from paying out of ignorance, I am suffering right now for the terrible itchiness and I've been shedding for almost three weeks now. Sure I couldn't do anything but use gloves every time I use strong detergents, and just patiently applying my mother in law's prescription ointment.

Grossing out.

I Can't Wait for Winter!

Who would've thought about this sudden change of heart?

First time I was here I kept on telling everybody I couldn't wait for summer to come, here comes summer already and guess what, I am hating it! For one, the heat in here is different, it is humid and it bites! There is no moisture in the air and it is really exhausting! I couldn't handle riding a car mid-morning with the AC on, it just freaking gives me instant headache! One Sunday morning I decided to wash the car, barely 9 a.m., right after 30 minutes I burned! Seriously?

The brighter side though is that I could already use majority of the clothing and accessories that I brought with me all the way from the Philippines, but I could really use a polka dot umbrella!

I couldn't imagine myself going to my room straight from work at the end of the day, when its about 95 degrees and up, I'd rather stay outside because inside my room its just so terrible I couldn't catch my breath.

The good part is, this week the weather is cooling down, at least we could sleep comfortably again during the night. Using the AC is just way too luxurious! I hope the weather continues to cool down, a 100 degrees is really unimaginable right now.

American Food

During my early days in America, I could always find time to cook me a decent meal - by that I meant, a meal with rice.

Recently, for the lack of some diet planning, I came to rely on convenience food, which by the way come very cheap. For instance, I could now use the following for breakfast:

Oatmeal


Or:

Cereal

I am quite surprised how my tummy just accepted the above instant meals. My body isn't actually looking for rice anymore as I am good with just any of the above meals nowadays.

During my early weeks at work, I always see to it that I cook something before my work week so that I could bring it with me for lunch, like pasta or cake. Recently, since after my discovery that I am good with whatever now, I stock up on the following for lunch at work:

Microwaveable Pie

And

Cup Noodles

Added to that, I also bring cookies, skyflakes, or coffee. I could also use this heavenly chocolate for my snack...

Slowly becoming Americanized, don't you think?

Driving in America: Do Not Ride on the Pick-Up Bed

As part of the defensive driving rule, contrary to what we were used to in the Philippines, utilizing the pick-up bed for use of additional passengers is strictly prohibited in California, if not in the whole of America. The pick-up bed is for the use of cargo only.

Customer Service in America

People in America are nice, that's the thing that keeps me wanting to stay here. People who knew I'm a newbie in this place would ask me this question, so how are you liking it here? Nothing beats my genuine answer, I am liking it here a lot! People are just so nice! Topbox answer.

Imagine yourself walking in the street and you meet somebody, most often than not they would greet you and smile at you and ask you how's your day going. Imagine yourself window shopping in the mall and an attendant would come up to you and ask you, are you finding everything alright? Imagine yourself going at any establishment and you will find everybody making sure that you are treated special by engaging you in a conversation in a nice, genuine, and upbeat manner. Looking back the way it was in the Philippines, customer service there is a far cry! People here are very enthusiastic and would just want you to feel good and make your day by saying something nice, and well, it sure is a good thing which makes the world a happier place to live in.

Chips for Lunch

Still on my first week at work, being in an all new location in what seemed to be like a completely different world, I decided to try to bring chips and just bought me a Mocha Freeze at the gelato place nearby and I was off with my lunch.

I had lunch under this beautiful shade...

Trees in America are just so adorable, they are all beautiful and so inviting to the eyes. First few weeks I was here I fell in love with cherry blossoms that I wanted to have one in the garden at home - but then, it was winter. Spring is currently kidding everybody as it still gets cold from time to time, but I bet I could make the cherry blossoms my project at last, if only not for the flowers popping out from everywhere in the garden.

Anyway, here is how my lunch looked like...

Lately, my tummy has been getting used to the idea of just eating chips or a slice of cake for lunch, and surprisingly it doesn't complain! This is a good sign, I could just pack me a sandwich and a little side dish everyday - no sweat - and I'm good to go for my lunch, I'm glad this is working for me because to be honest, bringing lunch to work is way too economical! I just have to make sure that I eat heavy breakfast, preferably with rice so I could avoid passing out!

Mr. Pickle's Sandwich for Lunch

So I was recently accepted in a part-time job in a cozy place, and thinking about lunch is the last thing that I would want to bother myself with. Across where I work, there is a Mr. Pickle's sandwich shop where people in Los Gatos are crazy about. Yesterday I had a slice of cake and a glass of mocha freeze and I paid $10 inclusive of sales tax for lunch, and for a Filipino what I had was not even lunch at all! So today I decided to try to have at least a decent lunch that is worth my every dollar. Sure enough I had it when I bought some unexpectedly huge American tuna sandwich at Mr. Pickle's for almost $7.

Working 24 hours a week and spending an average of $10 for lunch is not good based on my level of lifestyle in terms of what I could afford! Plus I couldn't help myself from converting my expense to Philippine Peso!

I could probably prepare a regular sandwich which I'll bring with me at work for lunch and just buy me a drink in that little cozy gelato place - PLAN. Mr. Pickle's is a good choice but it is way beyond what I should be spending, I have to be practical in here. Again, this is America, I mean, food is affordable at the rate I am earning but I couldn't just afford the luxury to spend that much for lunch!

I am still in the lookout though for a restaurant around Los Gatos that serves rice.