UK: One Year On

Today marks my first year in Great Britain. It's hard to believe that it has been a year ago since my 16-hour flight ended and I met my mother-in-law for the first time holding a coat and a pair of gloves to help me cope with the rain and temperatures thirty degrees below where I have just been whilst my father-in-law gets the car from the car park. The warm welcome I have received from James' family was more than enough to make up for the rather cold British weather welcome.


Things that I miss about the Philippines:
1. Filipino food
2. Tropical Fruits
3. Tricycle
4. SM (big shopping centre which is some 8-minute walk from where I lived)
5. Being able to wear only one layer of clothing
6. Staying up all day and night
7. Actually enjoying showers and not always rushing to dry myself (coz it's cold!)
8. Lovely weather (not our summer though as it gets too humid)
9. Jollibee!
10. Shopping for clothes that actually fits me! (Petite UK size 4s hardly come by here)
11. Pinoy TV
12. our Housekeeper

Things that I like in England:
1. Traffic system
2. People's professionalism
3. Snow
4. Fresh air
5. Pavements
6. The Allen kitchen ^_^
7. Castles and Stately Homes
8. Tintern Cheese
9. Healthcare

Of course these lists do not include family, friends and pets.

Things that have changed about me since coming here:
1. I eat cereals now because the milk is fresh and not disgusting (I loathe UHT treated milk, it put me off consuming any type of milk since I was like 5)
2. I know how to do ironing now. My mum would be proud.
3. I don't live on coffee, packet of crisps and tons of water anymore. I eat healthily now.
4. I actually like bananas now where as back home I didn't really eat bananas.
5. I use moisturisers now because I have to. It sucks but it's better than ending up with scales and flaky skin.
6. I make my own bed now and clean our own bedroom which isn't so bad cos it warms me up lol
7. I am 4lbs heavier since I got here (I blame the contraceptives, but I'd rather 4lbs than 40 for having a baby) but as long as I am under 7st then I am fine.
8. I do my own nails now!
9. I shape my own eyebrows now cos one time I had it done in the salon it was really bad.
10. I'm no longer scared to pay the doctor a visit.
11. I now have to wear glasses. It sucks but if I want to see people's faces and where I am going I have to wear them.
12. I no longer spam going to the Pictures because it costs a fortune here to watch one movie!
13. I prefer whole wheat bread to white bread now.
14. I now wear trainers -.-
15. I now enjoy watching the birds in the garden. All the birds did back home for me was to annoy me for chirping all the time, even at 2AM -.-

Things that WILL NEVER change about me wherever the Hand of God takes me:
1. I will always love animals.
2. My family will always come first.
3. I will always love computers and WOW.
4. I will always love to dance.
5. I will always wish for people who are cruel to animals spend the rest of their afterlife in the purgatory.
6. I will always have strong faith in God above all.



exactly one year on
(L: 11 April 2008 R: 11 April 2009)