Irresistible charm of my husband completed my day.
I love this pancake with fresh blueberries.
Friday, January 13, 2017
Heavenly Saturday
There is nothing that can make my Saturday feels heavenly but spending it with my husband and having a nice breakfast. So, this morning we visited this restaurant which offers home-cooked meals and we were not disappointed.
The place has this homey feeling and there is no sense of busyness you usually get when you eat in a restaurant. The ambiance was relaxed and over-all, the interior offers a calming feeling which makes you want to savor every bite of your meal. Indeed, it was a heavenly Saturday.
Thursday, January 12, 2017
10 Amazing Michigan Discoveries/ Experiences
Generally, everything I knew about United States either came from International news agencies or Hollywood movies so to actually live here after being in two tropical countries is definitely a remarkable experience. Here are some of my amazing discoveries/experiences in more than two months that I have been here.
1. Sun, snow, wind, and rain can all come in the same day. Weather forecast is particularly important before you start your day. There are days I would wake up that the sun is so bright but before long, snow starts to fall. After a while, you would feel the chilly wind then the snow turns into rain. Not necessarily in that order. Sometimes you wake up that it’s snowing so heavily then suddenly the sun is shining brightly. Whatever you do or are planning to do, tune in for weather updates.
2. Cars in the ditch are normal. Well, at least during winter. I remember traveling with my husband going to Kalamazoo during a really heavy snowfall and seeing cars in the ditch and even witnessing the cars slide then helplessly skid at the side of the road. My husband always tells me, if you live in Michigan, you need a Dodge Ram.
3. Grace before meals. The first time we were invited for a dinner with my husband’s family, I was surprised when they held hands then started praying together. Then the following week, we were invited for a dinner again by a family friend and they did the same thing. Several invitations after that, the same thing happened. They do pray even in restaurants. I feel so sorry and naïve but news in International agencies has always something to do with mass shootings and Hollywood movies are not the best portrayal either. It is an important realization that not everything you watch or read is what it seems in real life.
4. Everything is instant. When I was in the Philippines, I needed to measure the flour, baking soda, butter, and other ingredients in baking. When my husband asked me to bake a cake for him, I opened the box with ready to bake cake, added eggs and water, mixed them all, then put in the oven. Then I made cookies by simply opening the box and arranged the cookie dough on the tray then baked. Want rice? Half-cooked rice which is ready in five minutes are available, too. The best is corned beef which is my favorite. Where I came from, you need to cut potatoes by strips if you want it mixed with your corned beef. Here, you open the can and voila, corned beef with potatoes ready to eat.
5. Almost everything is big. Imagine a 24-ounce steak in a single meal or an eggplant three times bigger than ours in the Philippines. In short, the serving is big. And I mean enormous. My eyes grew big whenever they bring my order in a restaurant. You will know what I mean about the difference when you visit MacDonald’s Philippines and here.
6. Eating ice cream while everywhere is covered with snow.
In fact, there is an ice cream place right around the town where we live. Even if it is snowing heavily outside, my husband has an ice cream stocked in the fridge. We could be shivering outside of Meijer or Walmart but we don’t forget to grab an ice cream when we get inside.
7. They love football. The first time I watched football, my husband’s sister explained the rules to me. But, that wasn’t what amazed me but the fact that families came together and we were out seated on a freezing bench and we had a lot of fun. They love football so much that the next time we watched it, we drove to Detroit which is more than three hours from where we live. Another three hours going back home at the middle of the night. After watching only twice, I have fallen in love with it hook, line and sinker.
1. Sun, snow, wind, and rain can all come in the same day. Weather forecast is particularly important before you start your day. There are days I would wake up that the sun is so bright but before long, snow starts to fall. After a while, you would feel the chilly wind then the snow turns into rain. Not necessarily in that order. Sometimes you wake up that it’s snowing so heavily then suddenly the sun is shining brightly. Whatever you do or are planning to do, tune in for weather updates.
2. Cars in the ditch are normal. Well, at least during winter. I remember traveling with my husband going to Kalamazoo during a really heavy snowfall and seeing cars in the ditch and even witnessing the cars slide then helplessly skid at the side of the road. My husband always tells me, if you live in Michigan, you need a Dodge Ram.
3. Grace before meals. The first time we were invited for a dinner with my husband’s family, I was surprised when they held hands then started praying together. Then the following week, we were invited for a dinner again by a family friend and they did the same thing. Several invitations after that, the same thing happened. They do pray even in restaurants. I feel so sorry and naïve but news in International agencies has always something to do with mass shootings and Hollywood movies are not the best portrayal either. It is an important realization that not everything you watch or read is what it seems in real life.
4. Everything is instant. When I was in the Philippines, I needed to measure the flour, baking soda, butter, and other ingredients in baking. When my husband asked me to bake a cake for him, I opened the box with ready to bake cake, added eggs and water, mixed them all, then put in the oven. Then I made cookies by simply opening the box and arranged the cookie dough on the tray then baked. Want rice? Half-cooked rice which is ready in five minutes are available, too. The best is corned beef which is my favorite. Where I came from, you need to cut potatoes by strips if you want it mixed with your corned beef. Here, you open the can and voila, corned beef with potatoes ready to eat.
5. Almost everything is big. Imagine a 24-ounce steak in a single meal or an eggplant three times bigger than ours in the Philippines. In short, the serving is big. And I mean enormous. My eyes grew big whenever they bring my order in a restaurant. You will know what I mean about the difference when you visit MacDonald’s Philippines and here.
6. Eating ice cream while everywhere is covered with snow.
In fact, there is an ice cream place right around the town where we live. Even if it is snowing heavily outside, my husband has an ice cream stocked in the fridge. We could be shivering outside of Meijer or Walmart but we don’t forget to grab an ice cream when we get inside.
7. They love football. The first time I watched football, my husband’s sister explained the rules to me. But, that wasn’t what amazed me but the fact that families came together and we were out seated on a freezing bench and we had a lot of fun. They love football so much that the next time we watched it, we drove to Detroit which is more than three hours from where we live. Another three hours going back home at the middle of the night. After watching only twice, I have fallen in love with it hook, line and sinker.
8. Nice people especially neighbors. I lived in three places in the Philippines and several in Indonesia before moving here. I have never experienced a neighbor coming over to welcome me and bringing me cookies. The next day, they brought me chicken pie and reminded me that whatever I need, I can always go to their place. In addition, everyone I met so far has been really kind and welcoming. I have never met these many people in a short time who can be so warm and kind to a stranger like me.
9. Traffic is almost non-existent. Whenever the traffic light turns red and there are about three cars in front of us, my husband would joke that traffic jam is so bad. From where I came from, traffic jam is a daily occurrence and something that you need to endure wherever you go out. It’s amazing that everybody here has more than one car but there is no problem with traffic. No wonder there is such thing as American time. They don’t need to deal with traffic jam.
10. Lastly, the place is stunningly beautiful. In fact, I am in a complete awe that a place like this exists. I came right around fall and the color of the trees was amazing. I lost myself in trance soaking with the beauty all around me. My husband brought me near the lake where you can gaze at beautiful big birds. It was so surreal being so near with them. He also brought me in another lake where the sunset was so beautiful and the sound of the waves was like music to the ears. It was truly a magical experience. I will never forget also the first time I experienced looking all around seeing nothing but white while the snow falls and listening to Christmas song. There is just simply no words to describe the experience.
In one of Time magazine’s best books, In Arabian Nights: A Caravan of Moroccan Dreams, Tahir Shah wrote that, “Settling into a new country is like getting used to a new pair of shoes. At first they pinch a little, but you like the way they look, so you carry on. The longer you have them, the more comfortable they become. Until one day without realizing it you reach a glorious plateau. Wearing those shoes is like wearing no shoes at all. The more scuffed they get, the more you love them and the more you can't imagine life without them.”
My husband once asked me what my thoughts were when I was in the plane on the way here. At first I was scared, but, there was nothing that I wanted but to live a life with him. So, I jumped out of my comfort zone- a familiar place, a stable job, friends and family left behind, and finally realized how blessed I am living in a new place I call HOME.
I've talked to her on the phone before coming here. She works in one of the stores
where my husband buys his sandwich.
They were amazed that I'm finally here after two years of processing papers and listening to my husband talked to me on the phone.
9. Traffic is almost non-existent. Whenever the traffic light turns red and there are about three cars in front of us, my husband would joke that traffic jam is so bad. From where I came from, traffic jam is a daily occurrence and something that you need to endure wherever you go out. It’s amazing that everybody here has more than one car but there is no problem with traffic. No wonder there is such thing as American time. They don’t need to deal with traffic jam.
10. Lastly, the place is stunningly beautiful. In fact, I am in a complete awe that a place like this exists. I came right around fall and the color of the trees was amazing. I lost myself in trance soaking with the beauty all around me. My husband brought me near the lake where you can gaze at beautiful big birds. It was so surreal being so near with them. He also brought me in another lake where the sunset was so beautiful and the sound of the waves was like music to the ears. It was truly a magical experience. I will never forget also the first time I experienced looking all around seeing nothing but white while the snow falls and listening to Christmas song. There is just simply no words to describe the experience.
Fall is so beautiful!
My first time to ride a four-wheelers. It was awesome!
Sunsets are so beautiful in Michigan.
My husband once asked me what my thoughts were when I was in the plane on the way here. At first I was scared, but, there was nothing that I wanted but to live a life with him. So, I jumped out of my comfort zone- a familiar place, a stable job, friends and family left behind, and finally realized how blessed I am living in a new place I call HOME.
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Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Chihuahuas Like Bathtub, too!
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
The Best Buffet Restaurant in Muskegon
Indulging with food always comes with guilty pleasure. However, my husband loves bringing me to buffet restaurants whenever he can since I have more choices.
First buffet restaurant that I’ve been was Golden Corral. It features mostly American cuisines but I love their crispy chicken and meat loaf. I also like Red Wok restaurant which offers mostly Chinese gastronomies and I prefer it more since they have pancit cooked similarly in the Philippines. When food is unlimited though, you need to watch your diet or else it can go out of control and you have no way but the road to 500 pounds.
Kidding aside, our last visit in Golden Corral was with dad, Dianne and their friends. It’s one of the long list of unforgettable memories I am having here in Michigan. Sharing some of our pictures.
First buffet restaurant that I’ve been was Golden Corral. It features mostly American cuisines but I love their crispy chicken and meat loaf. I also like Red Wok restaurant which offers mostly Chinese gastronomies and I prefer it more since they have pancit cooked similarly in the Philippines. When food is unlimited though, you need to watch your diet or else it can go out of control and you have no way but the road to 500 pounds.
Kidding aside, our last visit in Golden Corral was with dad, Dianne and their friends. It’s one of the long list of unforgettable memories I am having here in Michigan. Sharing some of our pictures.
My husband and I love food.
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Monday, January 09, 2017
Lost and Found After 23 Years
I often wondered how Facebook and other social media enable people to reconnect with their long-lost friends and families. Much more amazing is the fact that the same platform also facilitated reunion of misplaced belongings to their owners even after years of losing it. The story of my husband and how he got back his class ring through Facebook was totally mind-blowing.
Early last week, he mentioned something about his class ring which I just simply shrugged off since I never really saw it. Initially, he thought that he lost it for 25 years then realized it was only 23 years. Then after several days, he received a message from somebody.
My husband decided to cancel most of our appointments that Sunday and we just stayed home after church to make sure we didn’t miss it. However, around 7 p.m., he started getting disappointed that he did not hear anything back from him. Around 8 p.m., he received the message telling him to check our mailbox. Finally, after 23 years, my husband was finally able to hold again the ring he lost for 23 years!
You see, there are still good people out there who are willing to do something honorable without asking anything in return. Buried under snow 23 years ago and finally found it through Facebook!
Early last week, he mentioned something about his class ring which I just simply shrugged off since I never really saw it. Initially, he thought that he lost it for 25 years then realized it was only 23 years. Then after several days, he received a message from somebody.
My husband decided to cancel most of our appointments that Sunday and we just stayed home after church to make sure we didn’t miss it. However, around 7 p.m., he started getting disappointed that he did not hear anything back from him. Around 8 p.m., he received the message telling him to check our mailbox. Finally, after 23 years, my husband was finally able to hold again the ring he lost for 23 years!
You see, there are still good people out there who are willing to do something honorable without asking anything in return. Buried under snow 23 years ago and finally found it through Facebook!
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