When I came to America, I started a little business where I'd buy USA products in online sites and then send it to the Philippines to sell. It was actually doing pretty good, until I got a full time job and I couldn't focus on it anymore. It died a natural death because that kind of business really needs time, I have to upload photos so that my resellers could see the product in advance and then on top of that I have to compare prices too. So I stopped.
So it started on a business sense, but then as I was doing online shopping on a day-to-day basis that it made me too comfortable on making online purchases. The convenience of it made me eventually do almost majority of my purchases online, I wouldn't mind doing it that way if I could because that would really save me time and gas, though I am missing a great deal on some walking exercises right there, if you know what I'm saying. Did I tell you that I have an ongoing room makeover project and I have a long list to accomplish in order to make that happen? The first and only thing that I accomplished on the list is the blown-up couple photo on our wall, and that's just about it. I have to move on!
Right now I am actually searching for little furniture to put in the room, as I have a long way to go on this room makeover project. I noticed that I am missing out something in my list because I definitely need night stand lamps. Now that my husband comes around two in the morning from work, I would definitely need one in my room instead of just letting the television on and put it on mute. The night lamp of course would go with a cute night stand. Two additions in my long list, and I am really in doubt as to when I am going to accomplish this! There are just a lot of nice and affordable stuff online and I am itching to buy them all! I couldn't avoid it if I go a little overboard and consider other unnecessary things for the house like a cute kitchen step stool chair and red panel ready refrigerators! I am literally one click away from all of these and I am holding my breath, I need self-control please!
The good thing about online shopping that I like too is that most sites offer free shipping and free returns, and sometimes they don't charge sales tax. It is really that tempting...
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Picking Up Some Accent
After 16 months in America, I notice that I have the right to at least agree a little bit to the compliment, "why I can't tell that you are Filipino! You don't have the accent!"... Okay?
Believe me, I still do have this very unique accent, people in America are just being nice, as usual. I was creating my voicemail greeting yesterday so I get to listen to myself carefully, and though I have picked up a little bit of the American accent, I still can tell for myself that I could only be mistaken for a Filipino!
Let's give this a couple more years and let us see where this would take me, accent-wise.
Believe me, I still do have this very unique accent, people in America are just being nice, as usual. I was creating my voicemail greeting yesterday so I get to listen to myself carefully, and though I have picked up a little bit of the American accent, I still can tell for myself that I could only be mistaken for a Filipino!
Let's give this a couple more years and let us see where this would take me, accent-wise.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Buffet A.K.A.
Yeah right, at first when I got here I thought somebody just got the reference wrong... but seriously, as opposed to how we call buffet places in the Philippines as "EAT ALL YOU CAN", in here its differently phrased, instead known as:
Sounds weird right?
Sounds weird right?
Thursday, August 4, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
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.
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.
Monday, July 11, 2011
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?
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:
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:
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?
Sunday, July 10, 2011
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.
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