we've been here in cebu for a little over 2 weeks and we're slowly falling into a nice routine. i usually wake up @ 4am (!!!). i thought this was due to being jetlagged, but i think that this is now my regular wake-up time... it's really not that bad because it allows me to get a lot of work done. plus, if any of my kids are online at that time (1pm in LA), i have a nice chunk of time to chat with them before the day starts in earnest.
sometimes, dan and i eat breakfast together, but more often than not, i just make myself a cup of coffee and drink it while i get caught up on my emails. we do, however, eat lunch and dinner together. dan cooks (cuz he's better at cooking filipino dishes than me...!) and i'm responsible for washing dishes. my day is usually loaded with work for EL Theological Seminary or EL International, in general, so i'm usually glued to my laptop from the time i wake up to the time i finally fall asleep!! dan's responsibilities, however, are not as time-sensitive as mine, so he's able to work on things around the apartment (like more organizing and putting away of our stuff) and, as needed, take care of issues relating to the ministry as the Facilities Manager for EL International Church, Inc.
it's interesting that in the States, we only saw each other during the ride to and from work and at night, while here, we're together almost 24/7!! and yet, it's hasn't gotten old or stifling. probably because our perspective has changed and we realize that we have to be partners in this new adventure that God has given us...
a couple times a week, we will go out to one of the nearby malls. we usually end up eating out during these times and we've discovered something funny but sad: the portions at the restaurants and fast food places are TINY!! this has been especially exasperating for dan who didn't realize how much he had become accustomed to the portions they give you back in the states.
this became quite evident last week when we decided to have dinner at bigsby's, a fairly nice restaurant in nearby ayala center. dan ordered a fish dish and when it came, he was very disappointed with how little it was. i guess he thought they would have portions like claim jumper...!! when the server came around to ask us how our food was, i'm sure he was expecting "it's good." instead, dan replied, "not enough." the poor guy! he didn't quite know how to take that!! after we finished our meal, we ended up going to the pancake house where dan had his second & third courses. still, he was unhappy with the portions, especially the pasta which was 1/4 of what macaroni grill gives...!!
then, just the other day, we were back @ ayala center as dan was getting "cabin fever," and we thought we'd eat chicken for dinner. i reminded dan that the cuts of chicken are NOT like el pollo loco or KFC, so i was surprised when he ordered ONLY 1/4 of a chicken from kenny roasters... it turned out to be even smaller than a drumstick...!!! i had to remind dan that the WHOLE chickens we see in the supermarket are just a little bigger than the cornish hens back home. that's why his 1/4 was as tiny as it was...!!
so, if we ever eat out, we'll probably go to those all we can eat places where we will definitely get our money's worth. barrio fiesta has a great all-you-can-eat merienda from 3-6 for only P110 (less than $3!). the hotels all have buffets. i'll have to take dan to the one at the waterfront and we want to try the grand majestic's lunch buffet... i know dan will get FULL at those places...!!
so, it's been interesting getting adjusted to our new life here. EL Theological Seminary begins its new school year on saturday, so we're busy preparing for that. next tuesday, i will start teaching my first class at the Seminary, Hymnology. also, next week we'll be in davao for dan's mom's 80th birthday celebration, so that means we will miss our 2nd Intro to Hebrew class which we are both taking as part of our graduate studies, and i will miss my 1st thesis writing class -- the 2nd subject that i'm responsible for. the week of the 14th, dalila defiesta and her girls will be here to work on elizabeth house and we will take time to take them around the city during our days off. so, already, july is turning out to be a little bit out of the ordinary and routine for us...
well, it's now 5am on friday, july 4th, for us! to those of you in the States, HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!! be safe and remember how blessed you are to be living in a country that allows so many freedoms!! let's pray that it continues to be that way for a long time to come! i will be forever grateful to a country that was my home for more than 30 years!! i'm happy to FINALLY be an american citizen!!
God bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her through the night with the light from above
From the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam
God bless America, my home, sweet home...
that was one of my favorite songs that i learned at Bannockburn Elementary School in Illinois -- i love the melody!! And, yes, may God continue to bless America!!
sometimes, dan and i eat breakfast together, but more often than not, i just make myself a cup of coffee and drink it while i get caught up on my emails. we do, however, eat lunch and dinner together. dan cooks (cuz he's better at cooking filipino dishes than me...!) and i'm responsible for washing dishes. my day is usually loaded with work for EL Theological Seminary or EL International, in general, so i'm usually glued to my laptop from the time i wake up to the time i finally fall asleep!! dan's responsibilities, however, are not as time-sensitive as mine, so he's able to work on things around the apartment (like more organizing and putting away of our stuff) and, as needed, take care of issues relating to the ministry as the Facilities Manager for EL International Church, Inc.
it's interesting that in the States, we only saw each other during the ride to and from work and at night, while here, we're together almost 24/7!! and yet, it's hasn't gotten old or stifling. probably because our perspective has changed and we realize that we have to be partners in this new adventure that God has given us...
a couple times a week, we will go out to one of the nearby malls. we usually end up eating out during these times and we've discovered something funny but sad: the portions at the restaurants and fast food places are TINY!! this has been especially exasperating for dan who didn't realize how much he had become accustomed to the portions they give you back in the states.
this became quite evident last week when we decided to have dinner at bigsby's, a fairly nice restaurant in nearby ayala center. dan ordered a fish dish and when it came, he was very disappointed with how little it was. i guess he thought they would have portions like claim jumper...!! when the server came around to ask us how our food was, i'm sure he was expecting "it's good." instead, dan replied, "not enough." the poor guy! he didn't quite know how to take that!! after we finished our meal, we ended up going to the pancake house where dan had his second & third courses. still, he was unhappy with the portions, especially the pasta which was 1/4 of what macaroni grill gives...!!
then, just the other day, we were back @ ayala center as dan was getting "cabin fever," and we thought we'd eat chicken for dinner. i reminded dan that the cuts of chicken are NOT like el pollo loco or KFC, so i was surprised when he ordered ONLY 1/4 of a chicken from kenny roasters... it turned out to be even smaller than a drumstick...!!! i had to remind dan that the WHOLE chickens we see in the supermarket are just a little bigger than the cornish hens back home. that's why his 1/4 was as tiny as it was...!!
so, if we ever eat out, we'll probably go to those all we can eat places where we will definitely get our money's worth. barrio fiesta has a great all-you-can-eat merienda from 3-6 for only P110 (less than $3!). the hotels all have buffets. i'll have to take dan to the one at the waterfront and we want to try the grand majestic's lunch buffet... i know dan will get FULL at those places...!!
so, it's been interesting getting adjusted to our new life here. EL Theological Seminary begins its new school year on saturday, so we're busy preparing for that. next tuesday, i will start teaching my first class at the Seminary, Hymnology. also, next week we'll be in davao for dan's mom's 80th birthday celebration, so that means we will miss our 2nd Intro to Hebrew class which we are both taking as part of our graduate studies, and i will miss my 1st thesis writing class -- the 2nd subject that i'm responsible for. the week of the 14th, dalila defiesta and her girls will be here to work on elizabeth house and we will take time to take them around the city during our days off. so, already, july is turning out to be a little bit out of the ordinary and routine for us...
well, it's now 5am on friday, july 4th, for us! to those of you in the States, HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!! be safe and remember how blessed you are to be living in a country that allows so many freedoms!! let's pray that it continues to be that way for a long time to come! i will be forever grateful to a country that was my home for more than 30 years!! i'm happy to FINALLY be an american citizen!!
God bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her through the night with the light from above
From the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam
God bless America, my home, sweet home...
that was one of my favorite songs that i learned at Bannockburn Elementary School in Illinois -- i love the melody!! And, yes, may God continue to bless America!!
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