A little Light about me // Surprises

I used to have mixed feelings about surprises.

When I was a little kid, I loved it when my parents would come home with a new gift (ie: pasalubong) for my siblings and I... whether they were new toys, clothes, or junk food!  However, I did not like it when teachers surprised us with a quiz or a test in school.  In the Philippines, it was typical to write a surprise quiz after learning one lesson in almost every class.  Oh how I despised those.  As soon as the teacher announced that we were going to have a quiz, my classmates and I scrambled for either the 1/4, 1/2, or 1 one whole sheet of paper! (People who went to school in the Philippines would know what I mean by that.)

When I was in second grade, I remember hearing about one of the most exciting surprises ever --- my parents announced that we were going on a vacation to the USA in Los Angeles, which meant that we were going to Disneyland!  It was the first time I was going to ride in an airplane --- I mean, I did not remember anything when I was a baby when we were moving to the Philippines from the States, so that did not count. :)  I was both ecstatic and nervous, so I continuously bugged and asked my parents what it felt like to ride the plane!  My mom also surprised my siblings and I with new outfits to wear for the plane ride... mine was a long-sleeved navy blue dressy shirt with a bear on each collar. :)

Later in 1998, just before going into fifth grade, my parents surprised us by announcing that we were moving to Jakarta, Indonesia.  I mean, that was a big deal.  I remember feeling somewhat confused about it.  I was a little bit excited, but mostly, I was sad to leave my friends, our maids, and our house that we grew up in.  We (my siblings and I) had no choice, but to adjust to a completely different setting.  We had to learn the Indonesian language, and because we went to an international school (Jakarta International School), we also had to speak in English at ALL TIMES.  Oh my, I remember it was so weird at first for me to hear people speaking in English without the filipino accent.  I don't mean this offensively at all.  But my teacher was literally from Great Britain, so her English at that time sounded odd to me.  Then later on I realized that it was "normal", and that some English words that were taught to me in filipino-accented pronunciations were not quite right. ;)  Oh well.

After a year of living in Indonesia, we were surprised again about another move.  This time, it was going to be in Kobe, Japan.  Yup.  It was time for us to settle to another place again... another culture.  We had to say goodbye to our friends in Indonesia, and meet new ones in Japan.  We went to a school in Kobe, called Canadian Academy.  We also had to learn the Japanese language.  Surprisingly, it was not very hard to make new friends there.  Everyone was quite welcoming and accepting of who we were, and where we came from.  I actually think sixth grade in Japan was one of the best grade school years I've had.  I loved everything there - my school, my friends, the condo we were living in, the food, the country... I absolutely thought that, life was just perfect.  However, a year later, another surprise came along.  It was time to move back to Manila, Philippines.  This news was heartbreaking to me.  I understood that my father's job required us to move around, but I just did not want to leave Japan at all.  Of course, I had no choice.  On our last day in Kobe, we rode the coach bus from Rokko Island to go to the airport, and I remember just looking at the island one last time.  I cried my eyes out.  I tried to hold back the tears, but I couldn't.  My dad was sitting beside me and he tried to console me.

Almost all the schools in the Philippines started in June, so by the time we returned... (I believe it was around July-September)... classes had already started.  Therefore, my siblings and I went to BRENT International School in Mamplasan, since the classes began later.  After seventh grade in BRENT, my parents moved my sisters and I to an all-girls Catholic private school called, PAREF Woodrose.  They wanted to put us in a school that taught and practiced the morals and beliefs of the Catholic faith.

I must say, moving to four different schools in four school years, in three different countries was quite challenging on the social aspect.  Keeping in touch with my friends in the other countries was almost impossible.  I was disappointed because I could not keep up with my friendships.  My old friends and I gradually drifted from each other.
What was difficult too was that each school had its own way of disciplining students... and even the attitudes of students were different --- which I think, is one of the reasons why I started to become "cautious" and careful with my feelings.  Mainly, I did not want to get attached to people so easily because I knew there was a chance of saying goodbye again.  I literally took friendships very lightly. When I entered first year high school in Woodrose, I did not belong to a "clique".  Usually when people get into high school, they become really excited and try to find that "cool" group to hang out with... like in the movies you know, but, I chose not to belong to a clique.  It's not that I did not want to have any friends, but I chose not to feel a sense of belonging in any group, because I was anticipating that another surprise would appear out of nowhere.

Well, I was right.  The next thing you know... a year later, my parents revealed that we were moving to Toronto, Canada.  This time, FOR GOOD.  It was a surprise that brought me mixed emotions.  First of all,  I thought to myself that it was certainly going to be a tremendous change.  I barely knew anything about Canada.  I remembered meeting a classmate back in Indonesia and when she said she was from Canada, I asked where on earth it was.  So the only things I knew about Canada at that time were that it was not in Asia... and that it was on the other side of the world, up north... with lots of snow. :)  I was really affected by the fact that, we were going to be leaving our maids and relatives in the Philippines, for good.  I had a really nice relationship with our maids by the way.  I treated them like they were my close friends.  I would even hang out in their room and help them do the chores in the house.

OK so.....what is really the point of this post now?  I will get to it in a minute :) .....

So... because of all the sudden surprise moves in my life, and the quick adaptations to new changes and friendships for five years, I was indeed quite a closed up type of person.  Coming to Canada, I was already in my mid-teenage year and I did not have a really close friend.  We were not in school yet, because it was summer time.  My siblings and I were close, but other than them, I did not have any body else who I could talk to, trust, or hang out with.  Those were the times when I would write down all my thoughts and feelings in a journal, because it was an outlet for me.  My pen and notebooks were my friends.  This may sound depressing, but I honestly did not think it was at all.  I still don't think it's depressing.  I was a happy teenager, thankfully.  I enjoyed writing in my journals.  Although, a part of me did feel like something was missing.....

Little did I know that being in Canada would bring me even more surprises, but in different and more profound ways.  We've been living here now for eleven years - longer than the number of years I've lived in the Philippines.  I can honestly say that I am happy and blessed that my parents decided for our family to move here.  My parents are devout Catholics and I believe them that after years of sacrifices and prayers, both of them knew in their hearts that it was God's will for us to move here.  Their prayers were answered.  They took a leap of faith.  It was rocky in the beginning, but this leap of faith overflowed our lives with wonderful blessings.  I honestly admire the faith my parents have for God.  I would not have met my friends and my loving husband, if my family had not moved to Canada.

Yesterday (June 5th),  I was utterly surprised by my cousin, close friends, and cousin-in-laws.  My cousin from Orlando, sent me a gift for my birthday from all the way in Florida and I happen to receive it yesterday.  And then, my good friend, Denise, was suppose to come over and chat with me... but she,  along with my other friends, and cousin-in-laws showed up at my condo to surprise me for my birthday.  I was in my comfy dress down clothes with no make up on, smelling like food because I was cooking (ha!). As soon as I got to the door, they were all smiling, wearing their colourful party hats, and holding cupcakes, drinks, and appetizers, AND in unison shouting out, "SURPRISSSSEEEEE!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!"  My first reaction was, "Oh my goodness!  I look terrible right now!"  Instantly, I was reassured that my appearance did not matter to them.  What mattered to them was to celebrate my birthday with me.

I realized that despite the many friendships I lost from my grade school and teenage years, I have my family and close friends now who show that they care about me. These are people who know me very well, and who have been with me for a long time, especially during two significant milestones of my life, like my graduation and my wedding.  To be surprised by them in a simple and endearing way, meant a whole lot to me.  I am twenty-six years old now, and even though they surprised me with party hats and disney princesses on cupcakes and gift bags...it made me smile even more!  They know how much of a "kid at heart" I am and that I do still appreciate things that little children appreciate. :)  A part of me wishes that I can rekindle the friendships I've drifted from, but sometimes, we are meant to move on and be where we are suppose to be.  And when a friendship is suppose to be rekindled, it will find its way back together, because God will make it happen.

I meant what I said on my previous post.  I really do appreciate the birthday greetings from everyone, including the people who I have not seen or spoken to in a very long time.  It made me reminisce about my life and it just shows that the simple and quick messages you sent me truly ignited a light in my heart.  Also, I really did not expect the surprise package and celebration at all..... but I really appreciate it from the bottom of my heart!

So once again, thank you, I am very grateful for everything you have said to me and done for me in the past few days.

God bless you all!

Love & prayers,
Elena / Mayen

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” 

- Mother Teresa

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PICTURES FROM YESTERDAY (June 5th):

A cookbook that my cousin gave me from Florida!  This is amazing... I can't wait to try it! :)

My lovely ladies that surprised me...thank you so much! The party hats honestly make me smile! :)

E L E N A cheese :) ...thank you Ekah!!!

Rapunzel, my favourite disney princess.

I love florals.  

Bible quote card.  

Blessed Pope John Paul II medal and rosary from the Vatican... I was honestly shocked when I got the medal... I have been praying to him a lot, and my friend happen to give me his medal as a souvenir from her trip!  Coincidence???... Naaah, he wanted to greet me a happy birthday as well! ha ha :)

Oh the simple things and little surprises make me happy.

Disney princess cupcakes :) ...love the pinkness!