Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!

Maligayang Bagong Taon!

Medical System

I saw already some differences in Medical System here in Holland compare to Philippines... Here in Holland almost everyone have a medical insurance, unlike in Philippines ordinary workers don't really bother to apply for medical insurance... But here there's a big difference also with rules in going to hospital... Every person has Huisarts, or what we called family doctor... If you are sick you first have to have an appointment with your doctor before visiting the doctor's clinic... then if you need to go to the hospital, it's your doctor who will make a referral for you to have an appointment to go to hospital... Of course except for emergency cases, then you could go directly to the hospital without appointment...
Anyway, that's the exact procedure we are going through with my husband's situtation... Today, it's good, we received a letter from St. Lucas Ziekenhuis (hospital) in Winschoten, on January 7 (Wednesday) Ron will have his MRI scan....

Good Health

Lately, I don't really have so much in my blog although there are lots of ideas in my mind to write... we don't have internet connection also since 24 December so... At first, I felt a bit homesick before christmas... I mean, this is the first time that I would have my christmas here in Holland, I'm excited of course and happy because first christmas also for me and my husband together with our daughter..... But every now and then the christmas in Manila keeps on coming in my mind there's really a big difference with christmas celebration here....

But on Christmas day itself, I realized that we should always look on the blessings around us... more than receiving material things as a gift... we should not forget that having GOOD HEALTH is a gift itself... and to spend the christmas day just in the house together with your family is a celebration itself....

Actually my husband is on sick leave now because of BACK PAIN, sound simple and common pain but I think what he had is not a simple back pain... Last 23 December, while he is changing his clothes to working uniform, he felt suddenly an intense pain in his lower back while lifting up his left leg to wear his pants. After that, the pain in his back and leg stays but he had managed to still go to his work...

24 December, in the morning he felt that the pain in his back and left leg are still there but he could still walk and drive a car... We attended Holy Mass on 6:00pm then we went to the house of Klaas and Ivy (my filipina friend who's living near to our house).. Then at around 10:00 pm Ron felt such pain in his back and left leg to the point that he could not stand straight any more and could not almost walk, so we went home...

We don't have a chance anymore to celebrate for Noche Buena (Christmas eve) because we went to bed as early as 10:30pm. But actually we almost don't have sleep that evening because Ron's back and left leg was so painful then... I asked him to call his doctor but then it's not possible because of Christmas holiday so his doctor was also in holiday.... at 1:00 in the morning (25 December) he called a Doktersdiensten Groningen, because that's the only way he could talk to a doctor even it would cost (Euro) 0.10 cents/minute. Oh! I thank my sister-in-law Marjan, who came here at 3:30am and bought the medicines that the doctor recommend for Ron... so at 4:30am Ron finally take a medicine for his pain but it's sad that the medicines seems to be not working because the pain stays...

So on Christmas day, at 9:00 in the morning, Koos (our neighbor) brings Ron to the St Lucas Ziekenhuis (Hospital). They recommend Morphine (10mg) and Lyrica medicines so Ron would not feel the pain but actually the pain stays even after taking those medicines... So on Christmas day we put an airbed here in the living room for Ron to make sure that me, Ron and Mireille are together to celebrate christmas.... In the evening, we almost don't have good sleep again because even he took those medicines, it seems to have no effect to Ron's backpain and leg too.... so at around 4:00am Ron called the Doktersdiensten again to ask if it's okay to take 2 tablets of morphine and the doktor said okay...

Christmas day here are 2 days, and 26 December is what they called here the 2nd Christmas day... we have observed that taking 2 morphine tablets seems to have no effect so at 2:00 in the afternoon, our neighbor Evert brought Ron to the hospital again... They made some xray in his back and it's good. It seems to be just lower back pain but they suspect that it's possible he has Spinal Disc Herniation (or Lumbar disc herniation). So they gave a letter that Ron will show to his doktor to recommend an emergency MRI to detect if he had hernia and to know if Ron needs an operation in his back right away.

Somehow the medicines work good, Ron had a chance to have a good sleep although waking up every now and then because of pain, it is better than the past 2 nights then that he almost don't have sleep. But on 27 December when he woke up, he don't feel anymore in his left knee, then on lunch time, he got fever... So he called again a doctor, it's unbelievable, the doctor just said, oh fever, that could be a start infection, then oh you don't have feeling in left knee that could be a sign of hernia, please call again if you don't have any feeling also in the legs...

Yesterday, it's a bit better, because at least he don't have fever anymore.. At night he had a good sleep.. Today Ron receives a phonecall from St Lucas Ziekenhuis (Hospital) to say that they cannot promise that Ron can have an emergency MRI this year, so i hope at least next week, Ron could have a chance to have MRI or as soon as possible...

Kerstmis (Christmas)

Prettige Kerstdagen!
Merry Christmas!
Maligayang Pasko!

May God Bless you and your loved ones with a truly Blessed Christmas!
___________________________________________________

"Today our Savior is born". These words of St. Leo the Great ring out with great joy in churches across the world this Christmas morning. Today, He is born. We do not celebrate this day as the anniversary of the Lord's birth, but rather as the solemn commemoration of His presence with us this very day. --- Reflection from Daily Gospel 2008, Dec 25

16th December

On 16th December or 9 days before Christmas, there's no really especial occassion here in Holland. But I cannot deny the fact that I MISS the Filipino Christmas traditions especially today starts the SIMBANG GABI or MISA DE GALLO ("Night Mass") the nine-day dawn masses (usually every 4:00 in the morning from December 16 to 24). Oh, I remember the filipino kids in the evening will be busy going house to house to sing christmas carols... And I can imagine how busy the shopping malls now because everyone is busy buying christmas gifts...

I know i would miss Christmas in Philippines....

Kerspakket (Christmas package)

Eventhough I'm working on non permanent basis, I still received Kerstpakket (Christmas Package)... It's very common here, in every company to give away kerstpakket every Christmas season as part of bonus gift.. Nice ha!..

I remember in Manila only big companies give Christmas package... I've worked for more than 5 years as accounting clerk in different private companies... Then I've worked more than 6 years as secretary of the Director in Government office in Philippines... but i've never received as much as what I've received here from my kerspakket... but it's okay... The Christmas party every year in Phillipines was always a nice and happy experience for me... Here it's not common to have christmas party... unlike in Manila, every christmas season, I'm attending Christmas party at work, in the school, in the Parish church and different organization I'm member with.. there are even christmas party before among the neighbors... so nice! I miss it!

Sinterklaas Cadeautjes (Gifts)

Mireille is busy now with the Sinterklaas cadeautjes (gifts) she received on our pakjesavond last December 6.

Kerstboom (Christmas Tree)

They say normally they put the christmas decoration after Sinterklaas (5th December), but for us, as early as 1st day of December, we put already our christmas decor. Ofcourse, I'm here in Holland, some would say we should put the decor also after Sinterklaas but I think there's nothing wrong if we put the decor just a week earlier ha. This would be the first christmas for me here in Holland, and I know there's a big difference with Christmas season here compare to Philippines. And for sure I would miss my family and friends and all the christmas activities I'm used with before in Manila...

But for course i'm happy and excited because this would be the first christmas that me & ron and our daughter will be together.... By the way here is our Kerstboom (Christmas Tree). It's my husband who put the christmas tree and almost all the christmas balls in it. I thank him for supporting me, when I said I like the christmas decoration on 1st day of December. I don't have a chance to help him much with decoration of christmas tree because I feel that I would miss my family sooooo much on the moment that I would be busy with the christmas tree so i choose to just put another christmas decoration in the house then.... Merry Christmas!

Pakjesavond (present's evening)

Yes, it's yesterday night the pakjesavond (present's evening) but we decided to celebrate it today because everyone is free from work. As I've mentioned yesterday, 5th December or Sinterklaasavond is the occasion for gift-giving here. My mother-in-law's idea was just to buy gifts for the kids. We are four givers, Mama Gea & Papa Willem, Marjan & Greg, Marieke & Michele and me and Ron. Then each giver will buy 3 gifts for each kid. There are 5 kids to whom we're going to give a gift, Sharon, Nienke, Deniz, Tim & Mireille. I'm happy to see how excited they were to open their gifts. Imagine receiving 12 gifts. I'm happy also that during those moment, my daughter feels a bit better, although at the end of the day, she feel not good again maybe because she was so tired then. So the kids thought all the gifts are from Sinterklaas, hehe! funny! By the way, I receive a gift too, a book titled "Baby's wil is wet". Thank you Sinterklaas!

Mama Gea cooked two kinds of soup, Cheese soup and Vegetable soup. So after the openning of the gifts, we have a delicious dinner. I don't have a chance anymore to made some photo of our dinner food, because at that moment Mireille is not feeling good again.... But for sure, everyone enjoyed the pakjesavond.

Dag Sinterklaas tot volgend jaar! (Bye Sinterklaas till next year!)

Sinterklaasavond (St. Nicholas' Eve)

This evening is called Sinterklaasavond (St. Nicholas' Eve) here in Holland. It's the evening before the St. Nicholas feast day which is tomorrow. They called this evening also as pakjesavond (present's evening) because now is the chief occasion for gift-giving here.

This evening, we found a gift in front of our door. It's for Mireille but we don't know who gave this gift. But of course here when kids receive a gift, they would expect it's from Sinterklaas. I'm thinking maybe it's from our neighbor but I'm not sure yet. But for now, I will call the giver Sinterklaas and I just want to say "Dank u wel" ("Thank you") for the gift.

Mireille was already sleeping when we found the gift, so I will just add the photos here when our daughter will open the gift.

By they way, she's a bit sick this week. Starting tuesday night, she got fever, then wednesday till today, she don't really feel good. I think there are two teeth coming out. Also she had common cold that's why I don't have a chance to go to school this wednesday and thursday. The doctor says it's common now the sickness here because of the cold weather now here in Holland.

KFG Christmas Party

Yesterday, we've attended a KFG (Kapisanan ng mga Filipino sa Groningen) Christmas Party. There you'll see more dutch-filipina partners with their mestiza kids. I don't know yet every Filipina here, especially around Groningen. And it's the first time for me to attend in a Filipino organization party here. In the program they show different Filipino Tribal Dances, as you can see in 3rd photo. In the 1st photo you'll see "my filipina neighbors", as I always say although they are living in different street near to us. Ivy and Rhoda are my classmates too but they are in another group (higher level na sila). In the 4th photo you'll us with Inday between Ivy and Rhoda... The past weeks, we made schedules to visit each other's house, first at Rhoda's house, then at Inday, then in our house. Last friday was at Ivy's house...

It's a bit busy in the party, we don't really have the chance to meet more Pinays, but it's okay for sure we've enjoyed the night.... Mabuhay!!

Docent (Teacher)

****
Lang zal zij leven
lang zal zij leven
lang zal zij leven
in de gloria
in de gloria
in de gloria
Hiep hiep hoera
hiep hiep hoera
hiep hiep hoera

***
Dag Marjan,

Hartelijk gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag!
Ik wens je een hele mooie dag.
Heel veel bedankt voor alles.

Groetjes,
Margaret

***
Marjan was my docent (teacher) in my Dutch Language course... She's really a good teacher for sure... It's sad because she had chosen to teach in another school (near by to where she lives). So just last November 25, she was no longer our teacher anymore. Still, i wish her success and I hope to see her again.
In the first photo you'll see Marjan our teacher, then on 2nd photo you'll see us together with my classmates in our group. Then on 3rd photo you'll see our classmate from other group (they are on higher lessons). By the way, those photos were taken last 11th of November, it was Joana's birthday then, the beautiful girl wearing white long sleeve. She's from Venenzuela, Belated Happy Birthday Joana.

Reclamefolders (Adverstising brochures)

By the way, EVERY WEEK we receive RECLAMEFOLDERS (Advertising brochures) from different stores. So imagine, receiving about 30 to 45 advertising brochures everyweek and about 5 newspapers too... Everykind of store has advertising brochure, from supermarket, clothings, shoes, gardens, pet stores, cosmetics, computers and mobile phones, bicycle stores, automobiles, optical clinic, furnitures and many more. It's nice, you don't need to go to each shopping store here because you can just look on the reclamefolders everyweek. Then you can see also, which stores have big discount for that week.

Sneeuw (Snow)

Yesterday, there's a weather forecast of early Sneeuw (Snow) that will fall in Holland. The funny thing is, in almost every part of Holland there will be snow, except in North-East of Holland, and that is where we live... So I'm thankful to Mama Gea who sent photos (1st and 2nd photo here) from their area where the snow is about 5 cm high...

And then, this morning it's a bit late when I remember to make photo also (3rd and 4th photo). Last night snow start to fall here also in our area... It is still autum but it seems winter is coming early too...

Hagel (Hail)

Last friday evening some Hagel (Hail) or some kind of little ice balls fall here. So yesterday morning we made some photos... At first I thought those are snow already, but not yet ha...

Lang zal zij leven

Yesterday we've celebrated the Birthday of Mama Gea, my mother-in-law. She is still recovering from recent operation of her back, still she came so we can celebrate together her birthday... We did some singing in videoke as you can see in 2nd and 3rd photo.

In the first photo you'll see me with Mama Gea. That's our photo way back in Manila, on January this year, she came in Manila together with Papa Willem to accompany me and my daughter as we travel going to Holland because on those months my husband can't have vacation leave anymore... Anyway, that's how sweet Mama Gea is... Actually that was her 2nd visit in Manila, February last year was the first time she came in Manila also with Papa Willem, to meet my parents and also to see her granddaughter (my daughter) whom I just gave birth then.

I remember the first time I met her over the internet as Ron introduced me to her, i feel so shy then... And I remember the first time I received an email from her, I got tears in my eyes then because I felt right away that she's accepting me and she's happy for me and Ron... She even told me then in that email how happy was Ron when he got his ticket going to Manila to visit me for the first time in 2005...

I want to thank Mama Gea for everything... I wish her fast recovery from her back operation. Just take it easy and have enough rest... My family in Manila and my Papa in Saudi are sending their warm greetings too...

Happy Birthday Mama Gea and Gefeliciteerd to Papa Willem!

I dedicate this Dutch Birthday Song to Mama Gea....

Lang zal zij leven
lang zal zij leven
lang zal zij leven in de gloria
In de gloria, in de gloria!
Hiep hiep hoera!
Hiep hiep hoera!
Hiep hiep hoera!

Intocht van Sinterklaas (Arrival of Sinterklaas)

Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas of Myra) is a patron saint of Children. You might think maybe I mean Santa Claus but actually Sinterklaas is the basis of the figure Santa Claus in America and other parts of the world. But Santa Claus is well known for Christmas, while here in Holland they celebrate Sinterklaas on the feast day of St. Nicholas itself which is every 5th of December.

Sinterklaas has a long white beard, wears a red bishop's dress and red mitre (bishop's hat), and holds a crosier, a long gold coloured staff with a fancy curled top. Sinterklaas carries a big book with all the children's names in it, which states whether they have been naughty or nice in the past year. While the well known Santa Claus with his white beard, red and white outfit is recognized here in Holland, but he is more known as "Kerstman" (Christmasman)....

Anyway, my blog now is about the Intocht (Arrival) of Sinterklaas... Traditionally He arrives each year in November (usually on Saturday) by steamboat from Spain, and is then paraded through the streets, welcomed by cheering and singing children. Invariably, this event is broadcast live on national television here in Holland in NPS Sinterklaas Journal. And his Zwarte Piet helpers throw candy and small, round ginger bread-like cookies, kruidnoten or pepernoten, into the crowd. The children welcome him by singing traditional Sinterklaas songs. Sinterklaas also visits schools, hospitals and shopping centres. After this arrival all towns with a dock have their own Intocht van Sinterklaas (arrival of Sinterklaas). And that's what we have today here in Winschoten as local arrival.

Domino Day 2008

Amazing! it's the first time i've watched Domino Day.... Weijers Domino Production is known for Domino Day, is a world record attempt for the highest number of falling domino stones which is shown in TV Program "Domino Day" at the same time showing the Domino project in different designs. They say the Domino Day 2008 was their Biggest Domino Project, because this year is the 10th Anniversary of Domino Day.

I've watched it in TV Chanel SBS6, actually before they erase the World Record of Domino Toppling 2006, the Domino Day (TV Program itself) already made a record-breaking television programs in Europe and around the world with over 85 million viewers this year.

They made it! They break the World Record Domino Toppling (2006- 4,079,381 fallen domino stones). This year there are 4,345,027 fallen domino stones from 4.5 million stones they built. I was amazed really with different designs and different ways the dominoes falls...

Congratulations to Mr. Domino, Robin Paul Weijers
and all the Domino Builders

Happy's Birthday

Yes, you've read it right, Happy's Birthday. "Happy" is my sister-in-law, she's the wife of my brother Jon. Her real name is Anne Blythe, and blythe from word "blithe" which means "happy". She is younger than me but I've learn many things from her. Like when I got pregnant she thought me things about pregnancy. There are times then, she accompanied me on my prenatal check-ups. And when I gave birth to my daughter. It's her also whom I always ask for some advises in taking care of baby...

By the way, she's the one who serve as our wedding planner in 2006. I remeber, it was just 2 months preparation but she's really a good wedding coordinator. She made our simple wedding to come out as "Grand wedding" as my friends say also... Till now, i'm still learning things from her, even I'm here already in Holland, this time it's about raising child... I understand how busy she's been lately especially her eldest daughter has started going to school.

I'm happy to see in the photos they sent me on celebrating her birthday. In the first photo, you'll see Happy with Stephanie (her youngest daughter). Then in 2nd photo, their latest family photo (Jon, Happy, Red and Steph). Last photo, you''ll see my her with my brother (Jon).

Again Congratulations! to Happy and Jon, because their eldest daughter (Red) won 1st place in Reading and Spelling Bee contest.

Happy thank you for everything... May God continue to bless you and your family.

Happy Birthday! Happy

Sint-Maartenfeest (St. Martin's feast day)

Every 11th of November is Sint-Maartenfeest (St. Martin of Tours feast day). Here in Holland in the evening of November 11, children go to houses with their paper lantern and sing Sint Maarten liedjes (St. Martin songs) then after singing they would receive candy's, chocolates or fruits.
In the photos you'll see my daughter with her cousins Deniz and Tim.