The Beauty of Spring

Definitely feels like spring is here even though there are times I still feel the winter chill. More than the vibrant mood it brings these last few days  I am also totally turning on my spring mood, that’s for sure.  An all time favorite season because the weather is so lovely, it’s not too cold and not too hot and those beautiful flower-blossoming trees are blooming only in the spring season together with the lush trees and I tend to go a little crazy with all the pretty colors.

It’s definitely a must-have to start the spring time with gladness, let’s bury the coldness of winter and fall in love with all of these amazing picturesque views of nature.

I don’t want to miss going out and taking some shots of God’s wonderful creations and sharing the beauty of spring.

Life's too short. Let it go and live, keeping the memories tuck in our hearts.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. (Genesis 1:31)

33 Things about my Life on my 33rd Birthday.

Today, I turn 33.

 

On a good note, I SO LOVE my early thirties.

I have been thinking a lot about what I have learned over the passed 32 years. How God blesses me each new day. 12,045 days of living on earth (whoa!) as I open my eyes welcoming my natal day, alive and well, I can say all my days are all new every morning. How great is God’s faithfulness.

Since I turn 33 today, I love to share 33 things about myself, my life in the world of blogging.

33 Things about my life on my 33rd.

1. I’m a Christian, a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ. I strive daily to keep my life centered on Him. I am in love with our Creator and cannot imagine myself doing anything without Him in my life. I’m able to write this post because of the skills He had given me. I am alive and have found the true meaning of life because of our Lord Jesus Christ. I thank Him not just for the blessings at the same time for all the challenges I faced, I’m facing and will face, for He’s continuously changing and shaping my life. He hones me to be a better testimony of His goodness and faithfulness although I don’t deserve it. The salvation that He has given me I know is the greatest gift I have ever received or will ever receive in my entire life. All the many wonderful people, things, moments, experience both ups & downs and countless blessings. I owe everything to Him and I pray that whatever this life brings me; He will find me faithful, strongly standing on my faith.

In my life, being a Christian is the main thing that best defines me.

 I really pray I can live and practice my faith for His greater glory.

I am nothing, without GOD.

Sharing this wonderful poem.

2. I love my family so much they are my priceless treasures. 2012 is quite a challenging year for me. This year I become an orphan. 1989, my Papa, in his 40’s passed away and this year my Mama in her 60’s, they finally went back home to be with the LORD. I terribly miss the feeling of having both of my parents alive. The more I realized their value in my life and my responsibilities of being the Ate. I miss Mama’s preparation for my birthday and everything about her, I miss her terribly.

3. I’m the eldest child, I have 3 younger sisters. So in our family, it’s Girl Power! My childhood memories with my siblings and cousins – one of the sweetest.

4. I admire most two women in my life. My Mama and my Aunt Agnes, they are God’s wonderful blessings. I thank God for using them to hone me to be the kind of person that I am now. A big part of who I am, it’s because of them. I have my flaws and imperfections but these two are the most kind, humble, understanding and generous women I ever met. In all my ups and downs, struggles, dreams that I fulfilled, they incessantly help and support me all the way. I will be forever grateful and I know I can never out give what they shared to me and with tearful eyes I want to express how much I love both of you.

5. I love reading and writing so much. I really miss doing it frequently. Most especially keeping diaries started penning when I was 10. I still try to write some journals but usually only when I travel. My favorite books of course the best book ever written – the Holy Bible and Amazing Results of Positive Thinking by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale.

6. I really miss all my long distant friends and family members. They are the ones that I don’t talk to often enough, but when I do it feels like we spoke yesterday. I have only a few true friends in life so I embrace special friendships.

7. I love laughing. I thank God for blessing me a natural sense of humor, I’m not bragging that attitude but if you’re that close to me, you’ll see that I have my funny side. I blurt out jokes without any intentions of joking. I can laugh really loud. Humor-tried and tested, it’s truly an effective method to lighten up; I also use it when I’m teaching.

8. I badly want to be a better writer, it’s my frustration. If I have a chance to choose another profession, I’ll choose to be a writer/journalist or maybe a lawyer.

9. I realized that teaching is my passion. I never thought that this will be my bread and butter. I so loved it that when I teach most of my students and colleagues will tell me that I don’t need a microphone my voice is so loud that they can hear me from the other rooms, and when I explain things, it’s so vivid and full of spontaneity. They usually ask me what’s the secret for all the energy. No more, no less my Creator, never ending gratitude to my Creator for the gifts He graciously gives. I thank God for allowing me to discover and do the things that I love and working for one’s own passion is one of the most incredible opportunities one could ever had.

10. I wake up students who are sleeping in my class although it happens very seldom, if I caught one, I ask them to go back to their dormitory if they want to sleep, but of course there will be consequences if one tries to, anyway no one dares to do it or else…

11. I love traveling, who doesn’t? I’ve been to several countries, and it’s filled with unforgettable and fascinating experiences for me. I usually plan all my travel trips and I avoid going thru a traveling agency. I manage to try adventures by learning as much as I can about the place that I’m going before I get there so I can prepare myself. Thinking ahead is an essential key to navigating any country or any city without burning out. I love strolling when I travel. Until my feet get sore, I don’t give up. I realized traveling on my own is more exciting.Thank God for allowing me to roam  His wonderful creations.

12. I don’t like rushing. I walk using my baby steps; I take time to do things, slowly but surely. Through this, I try to enjoy and appreciate my surroundings.

13. I have learned how to budget my finances through the years of being God’s channel of blessing in my family; it’s a skill that needs a lot of practice and experience. Nowadays our present world is full of beautiful things to tempt and lure us to spend much and it will never run out for sure, so having financial freedom is so essential for me.

14. I don’t drink milk; I puke if I tasted it, sounds weird. For example, I don’t put milk on top of “halo-halo” but I do eat fruit-salads, ice-creams (except for vanilla flavor) and leche flan, some people find it strange.

15. I drink too much caffeine; admittedly I’m a coffee-addict. My fave- Frappucinno Java Chip with no cream and black coffee medium blend. Like what I mentioned I don’t like the milky taste so even creamer is a no-no for me.

16. I had 3 boyfriends in my entire life haha, now this is what you call a confession. No flirting, MU and whatsoever, my first one at the age of 15, (puppy love) I used to be one of those teenagers who belong to the hopeless romantic club, please don’t judge me, its part of teenage life. Most of the relationships lasted for years and then gone, remember if it’s meant to be it’s meant-to-be. Moving on with my life I’m happy and blessed the last one is now my better-half and we’re on our way, going to our 6th year.

17. My bed, hotel beds, on the floor, in the car, on the train, on the plane doesn’t matter where as soon as my head is rested I would knock out and fall straight asleep even ‘a brigade of guards could march but sometimes it would not wake me up’ (lol). I love lying on my cozy bed just sleeping and relaxing, feeling so mellow & comfortable it’s so nice to just stretch, feel the warmth of my bed just embracing the peace of mind sleep graciously gives. I can have 12 hours straight sleep when there are no morning classes or appointments and during weekends, for sure a lovely day awaits me!

18. I don’t like wearing sneakers or the so called rubber shoes I think it makes me look shorter.

19. My favorite color is sky-blue, powder blue and all shades of blue. So if you want to make me happy even a simple thing with shades of blue can put a smile on my face.

20. I really used to admire Winnie d’ Pooh because of its sweet, naive look considering it’s a bear, not sure though of its gender. I have a pink Winnie d’ Pooh designed casual dress that I’d loved to wear way back college days and almost 12 years had passed when I went back home to Pinas for vacation surprisingly, I saw one of my younger sisters still wearing it (good quality).

21. I really don’t like hand washing clothes and also washing dishes. I would rather clean the house for a day, involve my self in general cleaning projects at home but washing uhhmm, my grips are not too strong. When I was young my late Dad asked me to repeat the dishes that I already washed not just once but sometimes I have to repeat it thrice, I can almost see my own image on the plates (lol). He kept on reminding me that as a girl I should learn how to do household chores properly and washing dishes should be one of my trainings. So, I won’t miss this chance of extending my gratitude to the inventors of washing machines with automatic dryer and also dish-washing machines two thumbs up to both of you, inventors really make our life easier.

22. I used to join Math and Spelling quiz bees, declamation contest when I was young but when I reached college days I was so confused with all the long complicated symbols, numbers, combined with the letters of the alphabet and so on just like Differential Equations, my brain nerves bleed with all those mind-blowing never-ending mathematical equations which are common in engineering courses. Papa was my disciplinarian tutor in my studies most especially in Math, it’s his forte. When he passed away I realized the value of having someone to teach and guide me in my studies, ever since then I have to do most of the homework, projects, lessons on my own. People, cherish your parents remember they are also growing old (once a famous quote shared on Facebook).

23. I always carry my precious camera. I take it everywhere with me wherever I go and take pictures. Memories captured on it are priceless.

24. I’m an acrophobic, I’ve developed fear of heights like hiking on mountains, riding roller coasters, cable cars, and visiting highest skyscrapers but still I tried them, most of the time I agreed ‘cause of peer pressure haha. I thank God for sustaining me to overcome it.

25. Any kind of “ginataan” is my favorite food and also pasta dishes. I think I could eat it for lunch and dinner every day!

26. When a cuisine is so good, I keep on talking  how delicious it is for so many days, what a long hang-over, the people around me maybe will be annoyed haha, ’cause I’m so kulit, and pauli-ulit.

27. I always have 20/20 vision, though I’m such a book-worm and a computer addict. Since birth I have never tried wearing eye-glasses and also contact lens for the sole purpose of reading or seeing clearly, maybe in the future but hopefully not too soon.

28. I’ve been a procrastinator in some areas of my life, I want some changes, but I just keep putting it off. I’m not proud of it and sincerely I hope to overcome it.

29. My favorite alone time is spent at a store; it could be in supermarkets, malls, bookstore sometimes even a convenience store. I’m just like a hunter, meticulously hunting for treasures.

30. I’ll splurge on bags, shoes and techie gadgets – they are my weaknesses, sometimes feeling guilty on buying them until a few years later when I know I’ve gotten my money’s worth. One more thing I avoid wearing painful shoes. They’re just not worth it. I now prefer flat ones and kitten heels, 2 inches high won’t hurt.

31. I’m quite moody; sometimes I just don’t feel like talking. I believe we have our mood swings. If I suddenly change the tone of my voice in a lower tone it means I’m not in the mood, the worst if ever I’m silent it means I’m pissed off about something.

32. I’d been bankrupt. I experienced how to own and ran a business a few years ago together with my two good friends; an outsourcing company, we tried so hard to establish it and it’s never easy. I was a novice then, should I say the three of us. After a few years things didn’t turn up well; we have to shut it down. I realized and learned a lot from that humbling experience and I can say looking back that’s one of the lowest points of my life. That part of my life, had taught me so many lessons. It’s been years  by God’ graciousness in my life He helps me all the way to recover just like in Job’s story in the Holy Bible, He blesses me in so many uncountable ways that’s incredibly far more than I imagine it to be. I’m able to be victorious in all those trials because I have a Victorious God who stand by me. Though there times I’m haunted by my greatest regret – it’s not about the lost investments, it’s the reality that I lost friends, friendships I once treasured most.  and though I haven’t seen them and I still wonder where they are now. With all sincerity I do wish and pray that wherever they are their lives are better, peaceful and happy.

33. I don’t fear death.  An added year on my age is a celebration it means I’m getting closer to the dawn of life. I’m looking forward to going home to my Creator. Nothing compares spending eternity with Jesus. No one knows but no matter how painful it is I believe there’s beauty in death, we will all pass away. I’m being reminded of recent memories when Mama’s physical body was being buried deeply underground, I told myself we will all pass away, that it is just the physical body. I know our final destination is not of this world, I thank the Lord for giving me an eternal life because this world is just temporary it will not lasts. Having just one life isn’t so bad if you live it to its fullest, fulfilling the purpose of God in one’s life. We’re blessed enough to be born on this planet, at this point of time. I enjoy it while I can. So while I’m still alive, I learn how to celebrate life. Getting older is something to celebrate.

 So on my natal day, on being 33,

I’m happily embracing my age.

Life is a gift, a gift from the Almighty Powerful God.

To all my friends and loved ones thanks for being a part of my life, for celebrating with me,  each one of you is God’s precious gift in my life.

Let’s celebrate life, Cheers!

What Google Says about me?

When I’m bored I kill time, I mean we all do.

It’s been ages since the last time I updated my blog.

Hubby and I are so busy packing up our things, we’re moving soon on our new flat. From ground floor to top, yippee bird’s eye view.

Looking on the bright side –   taking stairs is one of the good ways to exercise .

So to relax after the hectic day of sorting out our stuff, while browsing Facebook I tried an application on fb, well I find it quite amusing.

A good laugh, alone.

Giggles. Someone’s sleeping. Ssshhhhh. I’d better be quiet.

What Google says about Riz?

Inspiration.

I love this shot and the inspiring  words.

 Heightening  desires to step on those places yet unseen…

Traveling is truly an awesome inspiration.

New Addiction – Black Jelly

 I’m addicted.

Addicted to what? Black jelly.

We have “sago’t gulaman ” in Pinas, the Americans have Jell-O, here they have  black jelly also known as grass jelly. It is a black, slimy blob, does not look palatable at all. The jelly has a mild herbal taste since it is made from boiling a Chinese herb commonly  as chin chow.

Grass jelly (Chinese: 涼粉 liáng fěn or 燒仙草shāo xiān cǎo; Minnan (Hokkien): 仙草 sian-chháu;  Malay: cincau) is a type of food with a Jelly -like consistency that is used in China and  Southeast Asia in drinks and desserts. 

Interesting it is also a drink known as Michael Jackson in South East Asia.

Today I bought some at the convenience store. It is sold in cans or packets in Asian supermarkets.

I tried to do  my own recipe.

It is some very firm black jelly bits with some softer white nata de coco bits and  ice cubes. It makes for a refreshing dessert especially after eating such tasty meals having  a kind of herbal taste.  A good choice for merienda.

Surving Long-Distance Relationships

According to Wikipedia

” A long-distance relationship (LDR) is typically an intimate relationship that takes place when the partners are separated by a considerable distance.”.

Ahem. Ahem.

Raising both hands, presently I’m in it but not forever.  🙂

How to survive an LDR?

Being across thousand of miles  is never and will never be an easy task.

Those of us who’ve tried, still trying and still on the same situation,

know how diiiiiffffffffficcccuuuuuuuuullllllllllllllltttttttttt  it is.

So for those of you who are on the on the brink of trying your hands into it remember…

It needs LOTS of EFFORT , TIME, PATIENCE, UNDERSTANDING, TRUST

AND MOST OF ALL LOVE

and PRAYERS.

Building a happy and peaceful ambiance in a relationship will need a lot of those factors written above in order to maintain and nurture the relationship.

There are moments wherein long-distance situations are sometimes unavoidable, so I don’t have a blanket opinion that waiting is a bad idea.

Well like the famous saying goes…

” Absence really does make the heart grow fonder.” .

Been reading some articles online and had a good encounter from  -columbia.edu , click on this to go to the site.

” To consider the future of your relationship, it might be helpful to take a few steps back and evaluate your own feelings.

Do you still care deeply for him or her, or have your feelings waned after six months apart?

Is your relationship still fulfilling, or would you be happier on your own?

Depending on how you feel, it may provide clues to a future direction.

Despite how hard it is be far away from someone you care about, distance can be a blessing in disguise.

Proximity can lead us to take people for granted, whereas being apart allows us to know someone in a truly different way. The extra effort you both make to keep in touch, whether through phone calls, email, or snail-mail, can foster a special intimacy. In the end, you may learn more about each other’s personalities, values, ideas, and dreams than folks who spend time together every day. Face-to-face relationships can grow stale and filled with superficial conversations and few, if any, meaningful heart-to-hearts.

Have you considered talking with your partner about how you’re feeling? Maybe s/he is wondering about the same things you’re considering in the future. If both of you want to be together, then you can begin to strategize about ways to make this happen, to make things possible.

• Will you need to wait until you achieve your individual goals?
• Can one of you transfer locations? Or change jobs? Also leave the possibility open that you may continue in this long-distance arrangement for a while, and that would be okay, too.

Before being in a long-distance relationship, take time to think about your feelings and ways to make the most out of being apart. There are many “right” ways to be involved in a loving relationship, and only time will tell if yours will last.

 Ours did and with God’s help I’m hoping it will stay strong and stand  the test of time.  We have a joyful ending  but not the so called fairy tale finale love story “wherein the characters lived happily ever after ending.”.

 But I can say we feel happy and blessed.

 It’s not perfect we’ve been through trials, ups and downs but we stayed solid together having faith in GOD that our relationship will be a work in progress.

Both of you should  be willing to make a commitment to help your partner work through the things going on in his or her life.  In any relationship it’s a two-way thing, it takes two to tango but it takes three to work it out to have the best  relationship, why three?  

you, God and your partner.

The happiness I feel  when I and my partner pray together is the best feeling, encouragement and expression of love I ever experienced and will always love experiencing.

 It is still and always be God who decides on our future.

He will not just  give you someone who’s good nor better,

He will bless you the BEST. If you only let HIS perfect will be done in your life.

So have faith in Him and seek our Father even in our relationships no matter how across the miles it is.

Yes, Long-distance relationships do survive,

with a grateful heart ours did.

Stay happy and blessed.  Remember this, it’s between…

you, God and your partner.

You and I with GOD

The Best of Chinese Cuisine

Whilst my experiences in China have been overwhelmingly positive, I’ve tried and tasted the best of Chinese cuisines over the past years.

Posting some photos of the best, delicious  and healthy cuisines I’ve gladly enjoyed and tasted.

More to explore…

Riz – enjoying Chinese Cuisine 🙂

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Home – Touch Down Soon.

* I’m coming home soon, excited to go back twice this year to experience more of the things I’d written below, the last time I visited , Mama’s still alive and with us.

 Ma, how I wish you’re still there on my visit, I miss you so much.

Home sweet home.

Home is always there deep inside the heart of every living individual just like the famous saying “There’s no place like home.” . It’s been exactly a week since I went back here abroad and I still  feel kind of homesick. I miss home, my hubby, my Mama, my sisters, my adorable nephew Hanz, my cousins, my nephews and nieces, my Aunts and Uncles, my family and close friends, my loved ones. It’s been a long time since I felt like this. Up to now I still have a vacation hang-over, I miss a lot of things, people, moments with them. Do you ever have those times in your life where you wish that you could go back to the days that you really enjoyed most. The time when everything was not so simple then but looking back on it…..it was? I am having one of those days today.

Being an expat in China comes with a lot of advantages – you experience a completely different culture, meet people you’d never normally meet, learn a new language (well, maybe) and basically have the adventure of a lifetime. But no matter how much one loves China, there are always going to be those certain things from your home country that you miss the most. Family and friends obviously top the list for most people. But many expats find themselves missing things they had never even considered before. Homesickness can strike at the weirdest times, but when it does it can be a powerful force. And no matter where you’re from, there are certain things that you would really miss just like I do.

Not to go into too much but I miss home so I rush through my journal to pen the “lists” of the things that I really miss!

• I miss waking up in the morning wherein there’s already breakfast served on the dining table with yummy-licious foods like toasted hot pandesal with all kinds of palaman especially my all-time favorite tender juicy hotdog haha, or sinangag (fried rice) with eggs, tocino, tapa, tuyo or all sorts of breakfast ulam (dishes), most especially we eat altogether as a family.
• I miss my Mom asking me to  buy things, stuff for her early in the morning from all those “tindera/tindero na naglalako” around our subdivision whom she happens to know all since she’s a popular, regular suki, I really miss the way she takes good care of me.
• I miss my younger sisters and their kakulitan, for being with me in almost all the “lakads” that I had. I miss our shopping galore,  whenever we go out, being their Ate, “daya, ako ang laging taya lolz.“
• I miss the adorable sweet smile of my dear nephew Hanz, this baby never fails to brighten up my day, I miss seeing him in his crib early in the morning and  playing peek-a-boo with me saying ” Wah” but now my sisters taught him to say ” Bah”… haha ( I hate them for that, just kiddin’).
• I miss Mommy Becca, Tita Agnes, Tita Aida, my Titos’ including their family, the way that they would show their hospitality, for making me feel home, for the  delicious home-made recipes whenever we gather together and for inviting me over to their home and all our talks about life.
• I miss my cousins spending time with them, going out with them, I remember our gimmick days and our photo taking sessions and never ending chikahan.
• I miss my love’s relatives, Joseph’s family for always making me feel welcome and part of the family especially to Tatay, Ate Beth, Ate Belen, Ate Maydee, Kuya Wakali and his youngster kids Lee Anne, Kim, Zsara Fiel as well and the rest of  Conde family, for their support and hospitality whenever I and hubby will have a visit in Quezon. Thank you so much.
• I miss the kids, baby generation in our clan all the babies ” Hanz, Jaeden, AJ, Angel, Macoy, Iya, Bea, Mark, Abbie, Janna, Marvin, Dominique and the rest.”. 
•  I miss my best friend Thine and her hubby Ver especially their baby, my cute inaanak Yuan.
• I miss the noise of being with my family, shouting here and there as if the person you’re talking with is at the other side of the mountain, our laughs and all the happiness and excitement of being surrounded with people that I love.
• I miss our videoke, KTV moments, singing out-loud.
• I miss the huge malls in Manila where you can find almost everything that you want from a bunch of restaurants, things to buy, cinemas, gimikan. I miss SM Baliwag, Walter Mart our regular hang-out. I miss the traffic in EDSA, I miss shopping and buying groceries with a very long list haha.
• I miss having long drive on the highways of SLEX, NLEX, EDSA traffic jam together with my Joseph kulit.
• I miss going to church for the Sunday service, singing Filipino worship and praise songs.
• I miss the warm, tropical weather wherein I don’t need to wear a lot of thick clothes.
• I miss the breeze, nature, awesome view, food, restaurants in Quezon and Bulacan especially Buddys Restaurant which I would strongly recommend to everyone for its authentic, delicious Pinoy recipes.
• I miss sleeping late at night, watching telenovelas and our midnight snacks.
• I miss all our adventures, food trips like the tapsihan, pasyal trips, kulitan moments, I miss being surrounded by all of you.
• I miss kissing my Mama, my younger sisters, my nephew Hanz,  my love, my hubby. I  miss being hugged. I miss being taken care of. I miss their presence.

     (this post is really a tear jerker for me…)

 I just simply miss being with all of you, There’s nothing like being with family and loved ones in the place where you grew up and will always love. I am never the type to wish to rewind time to change things, but I just want to daydream a little about yesterdays. I miss those times. Family, friends, places, memories. Most of the time…I miss it, terribly.

I still remember how excited I am, having the thought of going back home after a long time, from the time the plane had touched down on NAIA up to the time my one month vacation was over, I never had a dull moment. Now, I’m again counting the days until I have my next vacation, adventures in the Philippines.

My sincere thanks  to all the people, my family and friends who made my stay, my vacation a blast, unforgettable, worthwhile,  fun, fun and truly remarkable. A million thanks to all of you, for all the love and care.

To my dear friends, people that I’m not able to meet and see, my apologies, hopefully on my next visit I’ll make it up to you guys, for it always feels like time isn’t enough to do all the things that I want and see all the people that I miss.

Most of all I want to thank God for answering my prayers. I know, I believe that He’s the Only One Who has willed for me to spend time with my loved ones, to be finally home after all these years. He knows that’s something in my life that I longed for to be with my family. That’s one of my prayers, dreams. He knows, understands the longings of my heart.

Thank YOU LORD for fulfilling my dreams. Thank you for blessing us close family-ties.

How about you? What is it in your life that you used to be excited about? Are there dreams that you’ve pushed down, goals that you’ve let go of? Too often, because those dreams seem to be taking a long time, or because we’ve been through some disappointments, we become complacent. It’s easy to just accept the fact that “it’s probably not going to happen for me.” But just because you gave up doesn’t mean God gave up. Remember God never aborts a dream. He always fulfills His promises! That dream He placed in your heart may be pushed down by disappointments, setbacks, failures, or rejection. But know this; the seed is still alive. The promise is still in you. You just need to get your fire back! That dream may look like it’s dead in the ground, but really, it’s just been planted. That means it’s coming back. It’s going to flourish! Our attitude should be: This may be taking a long time, and maybe I don’t see how it could happen, but I know God already has the completion date. Let’s not give up on our dreams, our prayers. Let’s not to go through life without goals, passion, or enthusiasm. Let’s get our vision back because God fulfills His promises, truly He fulfills promises.

We may not have the best of everything we can possibly imagine and desire, but we are all given the opportunities to earn them for ourselves, if we just let go of  bitterness, hopelessness; anything is possible and attainable. As you make it happen, learn to value and be contented of what you have foryou are still better and blessed more than you’ll ever know. How blessed we are on this side of the world, we have our family and loved ones, most especially we have our God, our Almighty Father.

So follow your dreams, create direction, be inspired, believe and always have faith in God, always have Him as your partner in everything that you do.

 Before I end this post I would just like to share some words of wisdom:

 “ Don’t forget that God has filled your heart with dreams. When you choose God’s path to those dreams, the doors will open. God wants you to be happy more than you do. ” .

 

Take Home the Bacon – Who will?

It’s 2011, Happy New Year!

First post for the year and it’s all about economy. Honestly,I had written some post for my birthday, about the Holiday season but it’s not yet done so I haven’t posted it yet. My background is not about business nor economy but I always have a general  interest about it however not it’s nitty-gritty.

First and foremost let me clarify my reasons for posting this issue, I’m not trying to imply who’s on top of the world’s economy is just that it’s been an eye-opener for me hearing a lot of here-say’s here and there from people around me , foreigners that I met along the way from all walks of life. Usually during a conversation sometimes I humorously called it exchange of intellectual thoughts, ideas. I observed people when they shared their views on wide array of topics, sometimes it would come to a point that I would research the authenticity of the stories that they’re sharing of course I do that after the talk. For some they may think it’s just a waste of time or somehow nonsense  but it’s been my past time to research on different things just like now. It’s been one of my hobbies to search for truth, for knowledge. I remembered way back my primary school days it’s my dream to be a scientist, lol. But you know I later realized that as we grow up we change our views in life.

It’s all over the news about the battle of worldwide currencies nowadays. And this has been an eye-opener for me after I have watched this video on yahoo news.

http://news.yahoo.com/video/politics-15749652/a-new-day-in-congress-23764704;_ylt=AoAfU34zc_Fu0pGckOskCfWz174F;_ylu=X3oDMTExdWM1aGl2BHBvcwMxNgRzZWMDY2xpcHMEc2xrA2FuZXdkYXlpbmNvbg–

So I still did some research with the help of the search engines…

according to Wikipedia;

Starting in late 2008, the U.S. federal government is guaranteeing large amounts of obligations relating to mutual funds, banks, and corporations under several new programs designed to deal with the problems initiated by the Financial crisis of 2007–2010. Guarantees are off-balance sheet and therefore excluded in the calculation of federal debt. The funding of direct investments made in response to the crisis, such as those made under the Troubled Assets Relief Program, are captured by the debt totals.

Foreign ownership

 

Map of countries by foreign currency reserves and gold minus external debt based on 2009 data from CIA Factbook

The US debt in the hands of foreign governments was 25% of the total in 2007,^[19] compared to 13% in 1988.^[20] Despite the declining willingness of foreign investors to continue investing in US dollar denominated instruments as the US dollar fell in 2007,^[21] the U.S. Treasury statistics indicate that, at the end of 2006, non-US citizens and institutions held 44% of federal debt held by the public.^[22] About 66% of that 44% was held by the central banks of other countries, in particular the central banks of Japan and China. In May 2009, the US owed China $772 billion.^[23]

In total, lenders from Japan and China held 44% of the foreign-owned debt.^[24] This exposure to potential financial or political risk should foreign banks stop buying Treasury securities or start selling them heavily was addressed in a recent report issued by the Bank of International Settlements, which stated, “‘Foreign investors in U.S. dollar assets have seen big losses measured in dollars, and still bigger ones measured in their own currency. While unlikely, indeed highly improbable for public sector investors, a sudden rush for the exits cannot be ruled out completely.”

On May 20, 2007, Kuwait discontinued pegging its currency exclusively to the dollar, preferring to use the dollar in a basket of currencies.Syria made a similar announcement on June 4, 2007.In September 2009 China, India and Russia said they were interested in buying IMF gold to diversify their dollar-denominated securities. However, in July 2010 China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange “ruled out the option of dumping its vast holdings of US Treasury securities” and said gold “cannot become a main channel for investing our foreign exchange reserves” because the market for gold is too small and prices are too volatile.

The following is a list of the Foreign Owners of U.S. Treasury Securities as listed by the U.S. Treasury:^[24]

Leading Foreign owners of US Treasury Securities (July 2010)
Nation/Territory	billions of dollars	percentage
People’s Republic of China (mainland)	846.7	20.8
Japan	821.0	20.2
United Kingdom	374.3	9.2
Oil exporters1	223.8	5.5
Caribbean Banking Centers2	150.7	3.7
Brazil	162.2	4.0
Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region)	135.2	3.3
Russia	130.9	3.2
Republic of China (Taiwan)	130.5	3.2
Grand Total	4065.8	100

¹Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Libya, Iran, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Ecuador, Indonesia, Algeria, Gabon, and Nigeria

²Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Netherlands Antilles, British Virgin Islands and Panama

Why am I concerned about this? Simply because I’m one of those people who work overseas and we should be somehow in touch, aware on what’s happening around the world we live in. Like what they always say ” Change is the only permanent thing in this world.“.

I hope and pray that for the year 2011 , all nations no matter which country, all people no matter what’s your origin will unite for the betterment of the living standard of the people around the world. We all share one world, one planet at least we could even just try to do our own initiative to change our lives for better. Well, I may sound like a politician here but I won’t run for any position in the near future ( wide grin), lol. Definitely this is just one of those vicious thoughts of mine.

Battle of worldwide currencies, who will take home the bacon???

Let’s just wait and see …

A Blessed New Year to everyone! Cheers!

– xiexieni- RIZ

I’d been Hospitalized- I thought it’s just an Injection

I was hospitalized last Tuesday because of severe abdominal and stomach pain, I even puked quite a number of times.  In my entire  adulthood life I’d been hospitalized only once before this incident occurred. At first, I just did some self-medication, I’m the kind of person that if I could still tolerate the pain and still deal with it, I’ll do it on my own however after a few hours I feel that I’m getting worst, I decided to call my assistant and  see a doctor.  You’ll never really know until you have it.

The findings quoting exactly what my Chinese Doctor who specializes in Internal Medicine said ” intestinal toxin” or should I say food poisoning.

He prescribed that I should have an injection to remove the toxins out of my system.  At that moment I thought okay I will just have an INJECTION, thinking that the syringe will just hurt a little like an ant’s bite, in Filipino Language  “parang kagat lang ng langgam“. Surprisingly,  it’s not just a simple injection it’s IV (“intravenous”) and four bags of medicines should flow thru my vein.

I am quite scared, it may sound funny or over-acting that a 30-year old adult like me was acting like a child when the nurse did put the syringe.

But I’m just being me. I thought it’s just an Injection, I’m afraid of IV.

So I felt like posting it here, what is “intravenous“. It  is quite properly an adjective. In this guise, it entered the English language around 1849. It means, according to Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, “situated, performed, or occurring within or entering by way of a vein.”

Some examples of the use of “intravenous” as an adjective:

• Intravenous antibiotics refer to the administration into the venous circulation of a solution containing antibiotics;
• Intravenous immunoglobulin is a sterile solution of concentrated antibodies extracted from healthy people given straight into a vein;
• An intravenous injection is just that: the giving of something such as drugs into a vein through a syringe.

The accompanying adverb is “intravenously”, as in: “The glucose was given intravenously.”

In more recent years, the word “intravenous” has taken on a second role: as a noun. Thus, “an intravenous” refers to an intravenous fluid drip, a solution (usually a balanced electrolyte solution) administered directly into the venous circulation. Also called a drip.

Above all, I thank God . I’m at home now and just taking some medications. I’m experiencing the effect of the medicine that’s been given to me ’cause every now and then I need to go to the restroom and you may already have the idea what will I do next. Restroom is now my sanctuary( laughing out loud).

Thanks to the doctor and nurses who helped me, my assistant Shanna who patiently stayed with me the whole time I’m at the hospital and assisted me with all my needs. Shawn, our college department director, who made sure that everything that concerns about me is being well taken care of. My family, friends and students who’d been so sweet on checking my condition. I am not trying to make  a big deal out of it, I’m just so thankful and grateful to all the people that God has blessed me especially in situations like this.

It gives me enormous joy that I have them in my life.  Thank you.