more firsts this summer eversince i arrived in ohio almost a week ago [actually, eversince the summer started], i have done several substantial things for the first time. aside from being in this state and seeing my pretty little niece sophia for the first time, it was also my first time to actually be responsible around the house and stop being apathetic when it comes to household chores. back home, of course i [like most middle class people as lazy as i am hehe] would leave everything to the maids. i could stay inside my room the whole day and still be able to have 3 square meals and have washed and pressed clothing ready in my closet. here, i have to actually help around, wash the dishes, do [some of] my own laundry, carry the grocery bags, set the table, cook [hehe i have neil to thank for this one] without help from anyone, etc. without maids, it's difficult not to care. although sometimes i feel like i'm burdening others than helping them because of my relatively lagged speed in doing things, it still makes me proud to perform some household chores here and be able to say that i am not entirely clueless [at least not anymore hehe] when it comes to running a household. before, i used to envy some of my friends because their minimum to non-existent reliance on maids. but now, kaya ko rin naman pala yun. hehe. someday, this will all be useful. all of this makes me feel like an "extra challenge" contestant - 20 something girl pulled out of her walang pakialam lifestyle and placed in a situation where she has to fend for herself all the time. hehe. 'makes me inspired to learn how too cook other dishes. naks.

today, i drove here for the first time [to patrick's work and to the mall]. in a way i'm glad that man.leiya and patrick asked me to, since i don't think i would ever get the opportunity to do that, considering my parents' paranoia. i was apprehensive at first, and i was probably trembling inside while driving even if i've had my license for 5 years already and i'm driving the same kind of car i'm usually driving in the phil [the old crv], for the reason that i don't know how to drive with rules and that they're really serious about following them. in the phil.,i'm not even aware of any strict rules; the only standard i follow is using the seatbelt. other than that, everyone can have his/her own way. [especially with the conversion of intersection with stop lights into u-turns all around the city thanks to mr.bayani fernando] you can change lanes whenever and wherever you want, there is no such thing as right of way, and getting caught by an mmda officer does not mean anything at all. maybe it just means having to shell out a few hundred bucks, but there's really no strain on your future driving capacity. here, a single violation could lead you to jail; and no, there are no tongs or lagay [which, i think, is very dignified] or other easy ways out [not that i'm wishing there was]. point is, i don't want to violate a law here because i would be in deep crap and i don't want that to happen. but, it was an enlightening experience to drive on such an orderly road that i want to become a good driver wherever i go. i hope i would be familiarized with the traffic system here through our stay; that is, if mama still allows me to drive. i dont' want her blood pressure to shot up. hehe.

i also joined the american idol bandwagon when i watched an almost complete episode for the first time awhile ago. usually, i would just listen to a few comments and change back the channel to nickelodeon where spongebob is being aired, but this time, i actually finished the entire show. maybe because they're down to the last three already, and everything's getting tensed. well, it was entertaining, and i was seriously contemplating the thought of voting through text until laziness hit me. results will be out by tom., and surprisingly, i look forward to it.

some more pix... [hehe pasensha na sa pagiging conceited]

Labels: family, ohio, sophia, trip

  ¶ 10:33 AM