30 things that make me happy

I got the best greeting from my brother this year, he said “You’re not 30. You’re 18 with 12 years of experience”. That just about made my day and made way for that shiny, spangly, happy feeling I embraced myself in the whole time I celebrated my special day. So before this day ends, I thought about naming 30 things that make me happy, everything in general and some, just on this day in particular. Here they are in random order:

 

30.    Siblings. The thing about having an older brother and an older sister is that key word, “older”. To them I’ll always be the little sister, the baby in the family, the one everyone has to look out for and guide. I’m glad that it’s a lifetime contract.

29. Parents. My mom is really super. She mailed me a parcel containing gifts from the family and it just got in time, I received it on the day of my birthday. What a way to end the day, opening gifts like a little kid on Christmas morning. My dad was first to email me at work. In this age, emails come first before phone calls.

    28. Vince. I was so touched I got a home-made card from Vince, “It said Happy

Birthday  Tita Karen” in crayon and grade school pad writing paper. And when they called, he said “I’m going to Subic to see you this weekend and let’s go swimming”. Hahaha, kids. I wanted to tell him I’m not in Subic anymore, nut I figured he’ll remember that soon when he asks grandma on the weekend.

      27. Porty got registered. My license plate ends in a 7 so it should be in July. I miss
            him so. My dad said he’s all well and good and the AC problem I had trouble with
            last June was fixed already. Yay.

      26. “Pia”, my Sing semi-boss who I insist looks like Pia Guanio (you know my eyes),
            greeted me with a “Good job last week! Excellent report”. And I was all smiles all
            day. This was totally unrelated to this being my bday so it was a nice way to start
            the week.

      25. Today we weren’t busy at work, we just hung around, checked emails and chatted. Oh right, that isn’t so special. That’s what we do on most occasions. Haha.

      24. I got to eat dinner at Swensen’s. Loved their pizza and pasta. Especially the ice cream desert! Yummy!

      23. My sweet roommate got me a Chocolate Hazelnut Coffee Cake. All my favorite things in one!. I had to blow out the candles and make a wish. Yippee!

      22. Hmmm, could be one of the charming highlights of my bday. Talked to Adrianna
for about half an hour on the phone. Let’s just say she “found a way to make me smile….”

      21. I wore my smashing MNG top for the first time today, and I must say when I looked in the mirror today, I was pleased. Hmmm, a little b-day fabulousness to boot. (In the back of my head, secretly wishing that I got that coveted “second look” from hottie secretary “S”, who just smiled the day away, hahaha)

      20. In my best effort to look nice today, I wasn’t late. I made a buzzer beater dash for the MRT and got in time for my shuttle to work. Whew.

      19. In general, people are all really nice here. I haven’t met a single rude person yet though I have heard many people say Sing is full of them. I rather like all the people I meet, from the “aunties” and “uncles” I buy food from, see in the hawkers, meet at the shops, all have been kind. I guess a smile makes all the difference.

      18. There’s this elevator courtesy among the locals that I’m quite fond of – this is when the person nearest the control panel in the elevator, holds up the door and asks which floor you are going to take. The same person would hold the door for others, and would voluntarily be the last to leave the elevator to make sure everyone gets down safely. It’s the culture here. And when I practiced it, people usually stop and thank me because I assume most of the foreigners here never do that.

       17. Last Saturday when I watched at the National Museum, I offered this little girl my spot so she could better see he show. Her mom declined and said they’d put her on her husband’s shoulders later, to which  I overheard her say, “she’s so nice”.. Enough proof that they really are courteous too and show appreciation when due.

        16. The Fabulous Segar Twins. When I’m lucky and I chance upon to ride with them on the LRT, I get to see this pair of sisters who look exactly alike but am not sure if they are twins because one is taller, and the other one seem older. Anyway, hands-down they have got to be the best dressed people around. I mean generally Sing corporate wear is really up there but these two fashionistas knock the competition out. I guess they are subconsciously competing against the other and it’s a struggle to decide which one looks better in any given day. On one splendid day, one was wearing hot jeans, tight top, spaghetti straps, knee-high boots and a scarf and hoop earrings. The other one looked like she walked out in Audrey Hepburn’s classic black dress with the A-line skirt with the charming pockets, and I absolutely melted. They try to balance each other out. When one’s edgy, the other one is sophisticated and vice versa. It’s like they never have to decide what to wear –they just wear what they want best, and their second most favorite thing goes to the sister. And when they look in the mirror, I’m sure they’re both satisfied getting that look for the day. I know I am. Hahaha.

       15. I can jog on weekends. I think the happy thing about it is that I do. And I’ve never missed it so far.

       14. Grocery shopping in the local shopping center and community market. It just is therapeutic to go out and shop to stock the fridge up for the week. We even bought an “auntie” cart to push our  shopping goods around. Is it the secret joys of early middle- aged suburbia? I hope not.

        13.Was able to watch a wind orchestra play an original symphony one weekend, and another one spent watching Italian ballet soar above 50 feet in front of a beautiful building. Now those two things I can’t ordinarily do back home. I think there’s more opportunity to appreciate music, art, theatre and to grow culturally.

         12. I get to read an English paper for free given at the MRTs. It’s not a substantially read as it’s more of a genex type blogging and not really serious journalism, but it gives a good conversation starting point for officemates who devoutly read the news there every morning too.

      11. The joys of bargain shopping. I just came in time. Just smack in the middle of the Great Sing Sale. Although it ended last weekend, I got a feel of how exciting it was when they really lower down the prices. You’ll be absolutely nuts not to buy anything. Nuts, or no salary yet in my case. Well, we’ll get there soon.

      10. Watching the roads uncluttered, unpolluted and full of new model cars is absolutely eye candy for me. Some of the truly rich drive the most modern European and Japanese cars and I’m glad to be a spectator. One day in September, F1 cars will pass through the main streets too. Got to prepare for that one.

      9.  We live in a nice place, in a highly residential neighborhood. Our landlord is a young, nice Chinese couple without kids. And the other room is occupied by an Aussie-educated Chinese accountant who’s really cool. Me and my roomie are the only pinoys in our house, and they have been really accommodating. We can cook a lot and roam freely so-to-speak and in effect, we really don’t feel homesick here. And it’s a haven for de-stressing. Plus I learn a lot about Chinese culture when there is a lighted Buddhist in our living room and kitchen.

      8.   I got to learn a couple of essential Mandarin words, which is mainly how to order food and I haven’t got a wrong order yet.

      7.   I have a job and everyday I am thankful for it. Been living a happy bum’s life for about 2 months and I guess I missed the daily head spin. I have been working for almost a month now, and I haven’t found a reason to complain yet.

      6.   Although man-made and incomparable to the beautiful beaches at home, I thought Siloso beach at Sentosa was a relatively cool hang-out. Or is it because when we went there one Saturday, we chanced upon the “Cleo bikini photoshoot”..Hmmm, I wonder.

       5.  Making new friends out of old friends. I tell you when you’re away from home, and you meet somebody you know before, it’s almost like a tearful reunion. I guess people that are here would generally bond more given a common ground of missing friends and family. You and me, sticking together, and keeping each other company is the thing that matters.

4.      Fantastic friends. Really in these times of joy and sometimes in deep sorrow, one really has to have that support system in place. I'm glad I picked a good tribe :-). And our tribe is increasing. Thanks to you, I even have baby supporters now. Hehe. Thanks guys. For always being there for me through thick and thin. Let's have a drinkfest when I get back. Woohoo.

       3.  We have TV after a month. We got a TV tuner and are getting to watch some Sing channels for free. I never thought I could survive without TV. But I’m glad that’s over. On the good side, it spared me from watching Mr. Federer lose in grass at my favorite grandslam tournament. I wouldn’t have wanted to see that at all.

        2. Vowed to take things only on the positive side, so I’m surprised that for the first time after 7 long years, I can legitimately say to myself everyday since Saturday over and over again until it sticks, “Single and fabulous, single and fabulous, single and fabulous”… ;-)

         1. I always thought 30 was scary. But now that it came and went, maybe it wasn’t that scary as I thought it would be. To sum up, it’s best to quote Abe Lincoln at this point “And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years”. Hear, hear!

  Thanks to everyone for remembering and celebrating this day with me. Cheers to all!!!