To all my beloved friends,

Christmas is upon us and this season, this year, this moment is the perfect time to remember wonderful Christmases of the past and reflect on how we want to make this Christmas just as joyful.

I hope and pray that your holidays will be filled with thousands of little joyful happenings that bring you peace, comfort and happiness.

With all my love,
Tita Beng aka Tita Poorshya

Well anyways, natuloy din ako sa madaling salita. Hubby made it possible for me to travel but not by car but by plane. I flew from Schönefeld, Berlin to Basel, Switzerland and arrived on time in Freiburg for the Gala. There I met several familiar faces from good old days and people whom I did not expect na makakadalo doon like Mr. Andy Pador, the President of Bicol Varsitarian in Cologne. As usual, nadoon yong beso-beso at picture taking. Para baga kaming true celebrities (ngehehehe). But the real celebrity that evening was Archie or known as Matt Ranillo III with his lovely wife Linda Tupaz. He was invited to co-host the beauty contest show with Joyce. Joyce was a former fashion model in the Philippines and now an Ambassador’s wife. The Gala was successful and well attended.

It is a very long story mga kapatid kaya hindi ko nalang isulat ang mga detalye dito. I decided to let pictures speak for themselves this time, so that you can get your own impression.

With my compadre Reverend Luis, the President of Works of Mercy Association in Offenburg.

A stage pose with some of the beauty contestants.

An awardee? Nope hindi akin yan kundi sa kaibigan kong si Tessie (hehehe).

Ayan na sila…

With Linda Tupaz this time.

Past midnight na kaya some are getting ready for the Halloween.

This was taken the next day as we went to Baden-Baden

Around February this year, I am sure you remember that I wrote an entry about going or migrating back to the good old bayan kong (nating) Pilipinas. The preparation and everything went smoothly. First week of June, Kathleen was enrolled in Ateneo de Davao H.S and Gillian in Circular Home Pre-School.

Right after the enrollment stress, I went to my birthplace Butuan City to manage my kapiranggot na lupa while waiting for the result of my queries regarding our planned business. Yes, hubby and I has planned to put up a clinic in Davao for tourist and expat patients. Siyempre, kong manirahan kami doon we need a source of income to live. Di vah? Akala ko/namin dahil may mga kaibigan kaming naka upo sa may talampakan ni GMA, (who promised to help us) things will be easier for us. That is what we thought, but later I realized that almost everything is different in real. Every move that I made means dukot sa bulsa, which was tiring in the long run at nakakaloka dahil slow ang feedback. Sa madaling salita, bago natapos ang June…95% ko nang alam na hindi matutuloy ang aming plano due to several ek-ek. Kids were sad as I told them that we have to go back. Siyempre nalungkot din ako but I had no choice. Anyways, THEY put stones on our way and make it hard for us to achieve success, so we left. Hindi sa pagmamayabang but we were ready to invest €XXX,XXX.XX, an adequate amount to operate a modern clinic with own laboratory. Well sayang, but it’s not our loss but theirs…

“FROM THE WEST PART OF GERMANY…TO THE EAST”

In spite of everything, hubby still decided to pursue his plan…dito nga lang sa Germany. Dito naman sa Germany, hindi basta-bastang makapagbukas nang clinic ang isang doctor sa kong saan niya gusto. Doon lang ito maari o posible sa lugar na may bakanteng “Niederlassung Stelle” or let say “Area of Need” where there is a shortage of specific medical practitioners. We actually had three (3) choices: 1. Usedom 2. Lindenberg-Allgäu and 3. Brandenburg. We decided for Brandenburg dahil mas malapit ito sa sibilisasyon, Potsdam and Berlin for instance.

We have to move din sa lugar na ito of course and so we found a new place to live. Ito ngayon ang aming bagong tahanan.

It’s a 284 sqm. country style house, with 6 bedrooms on the second level, 2 bathrooms and one dressing room. While sa ground floor naman, we have a huge kitchen and dining, storage room, spacious and comfortable living room. There is also a sauna, a fitness and laundry room and an office space din pala which is occupied by my better-half.

Our clinic started its operation last October 1. Now, let me show around…

Below is the former “Landes Ambulatorium” (outpatient clinic) building, where our clinic is located.

The reception area…

The waiting room…

Laboratory…(not done yet)

Consulting Office 1

Consulting Office 2

…and the two medical assistants

The couple behind it.

Certainly mas masaya sana ako kong natuloy ang lahat sa Davao dahil makakasama ko na ang pamilya ko doon. But I think it was not yet the right time, so until then…I have to wait by the edge of my seat nalang muna.

Did I say comedy bar? Hindi lang yan ang meron doon kundi ukrayan at kantahan din. Kahit desentonado ang boses ay pwedeng kumanta. Pero kinakailangang hindi ka pikon at humanda ka sa pang-uukray nang kanilang tatlong host na si Ahbet, Rikki at Gretchen. Desentonado po ang boses nang Tita Poorshya niyo pero nagpumilit pa ring kumanta. Pero hoy take note ha, hindi nila nakuhang ukrayin ang byuti ko. Say? Siguro natakot silang hampusin ko nang aking matulis na sapatos. Or baka naawa lang sila sa akin. Well anyway, maayos naman talaga ang trato nila sa aming magpamilya. Buti nalang orelse walang tip. Ah basta’t kami ay nag-enjoy to the max at halos mapaihi ako sa kakatawa.

With Gretchen and Rikki.

Front left: My niece Grace, sis-in-laws Sharon and Marilou.
Back left: Yours truly, Rikki and my sister Teresita.

From the left: My sister Teresita, sister-in-law Sharon, yours truly, Ahbet, my nieces Gladys, Grace and sister-in-law Marilou holding Gillian.

Ahbet the famous host in Studio Onnie.

With Rikki (Ahbet’s co-host)

When?:_______________

Where?:________________

Click thumbnails to enlarge.

This morning was the Kinder Carnival parade here in Hinsbeck. Kindergarten kids and elementary pupils went marching together on the street. Kindergartenkinder und Grundschüler waren gemeinsam auf dem marsch. By the way, the clown (on the bottom left) is my son Gillian. His first carnival parade ever! He enjoyed it very much and was proud to show us his bag full of sweets he gathered.

Carnival is a festival season. It occurs immediately before Lent, the main events are usually during February or March. It typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations.

Source: Wikipedia

Let us talk about something not really very German. Namely, Halloween. Few years ago, there was no sign of Halloween in Germany. Now, the trend is spreading and it is getting more popular over here. Traditionally, we don’t celebrate it here but some clever business people imported this idea from the USA. It’s a slow spread, but maybe Halloween will be more popular in few more years. It’s a fun time for kids though, they enjoy putting on costumes, and going door-to-door to get sweets. There are also some Halloween parties organized by some groups (Verein) or discos where people wear wild Halloween Costumes. I said wild because there are several people, mostly women who are so daring to wear odd costumes that expose excessive amounts of skin. Like the one I saw on TV, that particular costume was a Sailor Girl Pin Up inspired costume. Which consist of faux sequin crop top, fringe boy shorts with tie sides and garters, sailor hat, riding crop, stockings and boots.

Call me a prude, call me conservative, but this has nothing to do with Halloween anymore. It is in fact just another excuse for some German adults to go wild again.

There is so much to be said for the good old days, but sadly I can’t turn back time. How I wish I’m home…

P.S
Tita Beng is currently enjoying the FLU, so pasensiya na muna kayo ha?