Dierencrematorium (Crematorium for Animals)

Last year I made a video of Mireille offering noodles pack for "Droopy", the pet dog of my mother-in-law.... I look back again to this video which i posted in Youtube last year.... "Droopy" was such a nice and sweet dog... But now she's gone already... Last week she just got an injection to die... She is about 9 years old i think... And since January, she got sick and the Veterinarian found out that she had Ovary cancer... Last February, she already had a schedule for injection to let her die, to avoid her from suffering with pain, but it was cancelled and after that she seems to get a bit strong but the last few months seems to got worst so there's no choice but to give her injection to die... sad...

By the way, the photos you see were the document of the Cremation of Droopy. She was cremated in the Dierencrematorium (Crematorium for Animals) in Delfzijl... and the ashes were in the jar as you can see in the photo....

We'll miss you Droopy....

Schilderij (Painting)

After showing photos of our house, some gave compliment for the paintings that hang in the wall. Well actually we have four paintings and each one came from different person, as a gift. The first painting above where you can see there is written Azian dream, that was created by Daniel Stuttje, he made it especially for us... Last year, he gave that painting as birthday gift for me and my husband... Daniel is a good friend of Ron for about 20 yrs. already. Mijn compliment to other paintings he made... and you can see more of his works at www.popcircus.nl and click the Schilderijen Daniel on the right side among the headings.

Then 2nd 3-pcs. painting is from Ivy Tan, a filipina friend of mine, she created and gave it to me last Chrirstmas as gift.... The first time I came to Ivy's house, I saw that 3 pcs. painting and I said right away that I like it. That's why she gave it to me... nice!

Then the 3rd 2-pcs painting was given to me by another filipina friend I have here named Tessie Spelde... Actually that 2-pcs painting was created by Raimunda Spelde, the daughter of her...

Finally the 4th photo of painting was given to us from Josefa Katuin or "Ate Josie", she's also a filipina who came and live here in holland for about 20 years already, that's why she's like a filipina mother here for me.. And that painting, she said was the first painting she bought here in Holland 20 years ago...

Thank you Daniel, Ivy, Raimunda and Ate Josie for giving those paintings for us.

De Jurk (The Dress)

Last Saturday, my filipina friend Cathy who is living in Schiedam (about 3 hours drive away from us) came to our house with her Dutch parnter, to bring some pasalubong... She just came back from Holland after her 2 weeks vacation in Philippines... And my family in Manila sends some small things for us here especially for Mireille... It made me proud that now, Mireille have her first jurk (dress) made by my Mama (as you can see in the photo)...

My mother is a dressmaker eversince and we grew up wearing clothes made by her, all our school uniforms from kindergarden to college level. And even on our teenage days when wearing casual dress or bestida (in tagalog) is not usual, she never get tired making clothes for us... not to mention all the dresses she made for me and my younger sister on special occassions like birthday, graduation day, recognition day or if we are going to attend special occassion.. And one of the special dress she made for me was my Wedding Dress...

As of now she still likes to make clothes and this time those are for her grand children like my nieces, Red and Steph... And the jurk (dress) for me daughter could just be one but for sure it's a VERY SPECIAL ONE... My daughter didn't realize yet that it was made by her Lola Berta but to see how proud she is when she wears it, could mean that for her it's also her special dress...

Boodschappen Cadeau Pakket (Groceries Package Gift)

Last year in August I wrote about spaarzegels (dutch my life: Spaarzegels (Trading stamp)) where I did tried to save stamps and if I'll be able to complete the spaarkaart then I'll get special prize...

In January this year, I did completed the whole spaarkaart of C1000 Supermarket and I received a Boodschappen Cadeau Pakket (Groceries Package Gift) worth 50 euro...

Then this Summer the C1000 supermarket once again had a promo on Spaarzegels (Trading stamp). Of course I get busy with it again, why not? We are regular customer of C1000 and everyweek we did our weekly shopping there... It's the same last January, for every 10 euro you'll get 1 spaarzegel but this time it's not much... S0 last Saturday, I claimed again a Boodschappen Verrassingspakket (shopping surprise package) worth 20 euro... This time I did not really have the complete stamps needed, my filipina friends here Ivy and Rhoda and Tina (from Indonesia), share some of their extra stamps... Dank je wek! (Thank You!)

NT2 Niveau 1 (A1) - Dutch as 2nd language Level 1

Today is the first day of school... Yes, I'm not yet done studying dutch language... With my status here in Holland, normally I'm required to take Inburgering Course and pass the Inburgering Exam before I could apply for Dutch passport...

But then I have another option and that is to take Staatsexamen NT2 course and pass the Staatsexamen exam... I choose Staatsexamen... Inburgering is much easier and more on studying culture, but with Staatexamen is to really study the dutch language till Level 4... It's a bit harder and higher level so if I will pass the exam (please pray for me) then I don't need to take Inburgering exam anymore... And with Staatsexamen I could go to school here to study another course or better maybe to refresh Accounting course, but if it would be hard then I have option to study Boekhouding (Bookeeping) here... I hope I could really do it so I could have a good job in the future...

By the way, the photo above was taken last March 2009 with my Verklaring (Testimonial) on NT2 Niveau 1 (A1) - (Dutch as 2nd Language Level 1). It's like a certificate and I'm really excited and proud that I'm done with Level 1, as of now I'm preparing to take exam for Level 2... :) Succes to me!

De Band Nuchter in Apeldoorn

Yesterday we went to Apeldoorn and attended the BBQ Party... De Band Nuchter (Ron, Fred, Dick and Harm) went there also and gave live performance... it's the first time I've watched them live, I saw them performing only on practices but everytime they have a performance I can't be there because I have to stay home with my daughter... It's good, last night we can sleep there too so there's no problem... We did enjoyed the night even Mireille every now and then dances with other kids there... and the BBQ food were delicious :)

Ahh, Summer vacation is over, back to school again... the past weekends were such busy days... 1st weekend we attended a birthday party, then on 2nd weekend we went to BBQ party here in Winschoten, then this 3rd weekend BBQ party in Apeldoorn... the coming weekend, no schedule yet, maybe it's time then for us just to stay home and relax, but for me it's time to give full attention again with my dutch lessons... party is over!

Filipijnse Lerares en Klasgenoten (Filipina Teacher and Classmates)

Last Wednesday, my Filipijnse Leraares en Klasgenoten (Filipina Teacher and Classmates) came to our house for a visit... In the photo you'll see me, Rhoda (my classmate), Ate Josie (assistant teacher), Ivy (my classmate) and Inday... It may seem funny to see Filipina studying dutch language but for me I'm proud in school, that at the same time, it's possible that a Filipina like Ate Josie could also be a teacher of dutch language...

Today, we did have a nice day... Ivy brought Binagnit (especially made by her with coconut milk) in Manila this taste like Ginataang Monggo... Then we ate Macaroni cooked by my sister-in-law Marjan... And because I'm so busy and don't have time to cook... I just prepared fruit salad... easy and delicious! lekker!

Mabuhay!

Corazon Aquino, Filipinos Tita ng Bayan

Last Saturday, i first heard from my husband that Corazon Aquino, the Ex-President of the Philippines, died... Actually I was not yet even a teenager when she lead the PEOPLE POWER and became President of the Philippines... so I don´t really have a chance to go out and participate in political activities like the People Power...

She´s known as `Tita Cory´ among Filipinos... or Tita ng Bayan (Aunt of the Nation) with that we felt close to hear almost like a relative to her... That´s why now, it´s no wonder why thousands of Filipinos did fall in line for 3 hours just to have a chance to see her in her coffin, pay respect and offer prayers...


Today, the holy mass offered for her at 9:00 in the morning in Manila Cathedral then thousands of Filipinos went out to look as it travel going to Manila Memorial Park ,Paraňaque for Burial Internment which was held at 8:00 in the evening... My brother gave me the link for livestreaming of Cory´funeral... I did cried and cried and cried while watching.... just sad that we lost our Tita Cory, our Tita ng Bayan... the person that leads people for revolution by holding on candles and rosary beads with the power of prayers in it, she's our true icon of democracy that's shows the world that Peaceful Revolution is possible... A simple housewife that became the President... She was even became the cover of Time Magazine and hailed as Woman of the Year in 1986...

Goodbye Tita Cory and Rest in Peace...



Photo from Inquirer.net

Fotolijst (Photo Frame)

I'm always fond of photos that's why our house will never be complete without fotolijst or photo frames in the wall... The first photo was in Mireille's bedroom, the photo of my family in Manila which you can see before the window so my daughter will be familiar with my family even they are in Philippines...

Then the 2nd fololijst (photo frame) is hanging above the computer with all the Grandfathers and Grandmothers of Mireille. Also her cousins are in the photo...

Then the 3rd photo is in the Living Room... the Mulder Family, Ron, me, Mireille end Sharon en Nienke... Also our wedding photos are there too...

Openbaar Vervoer (Public Tranportation)

I've been here in Holland for one and half year already but it's my first time now to take an Openbaar Vervoer or Public Transportation... Normally, everytime we have to travel we are with the car so we don't really need to take a train or a bus to go somewhere... And of course, I have my bicycle to go with if i have to go to the center to buy something and if i have to go to school as well... But this summer vacation, I got a chance to have a Summer job, just for 3 weeks working in the Canteen in one of the Company in Nieuwe Pekela, that was about 10 km or more away from here in Winschoten, so going with bicycle is not possible for me that's a bit far...

I have no choice but to take bus going to work because my husband this week have early work and there's no chance for him to bring and get me from work.... Anyway, I'm thankful, it's not really so hard because there's a website here www.journeyplanner.9292.nl that could guide you if you want to take an openbaar vervoer or public transport.... Just fill in the address where you will leave then the address where you will arrive, then the time and date you want to leave from your place or fill in the target time you want to aarive in particular place.. then choose if you want to travel with the bus, train, tram or taxi then click the Admise me to get the result... It's easy, you will even be guided if you need to walk in some particular place and could even show the duration of your travel also the estimates of how much it would cost you the bus ticket. I think this website is even useful for foreigners as well... try it!

In Philippines, I began travelling with public jeepney when I'm just 11 yrs. old and together with my 2 younger brothers and younger sister. Oh! what a responsibility I have then, my parents were working that's why we travel alone... Anyway, that was a nice experience of us too, imagine 4 of us kids travelling together, that's fun! Travelling with public jeepney in Manila is not really a far drive maybe just about 4 to 10 km in distance...

But I began travelling with the bus when I started working because taking public jeepney is not enough anymore... That was so different with my experience here in Holland.. Here was so easy, not so loaded with passengers and you can only take and leave the bus only in bus stop station, and you have to look good with the schedule because if you miss the bus, the next will come after an hour... Unlike in Manila, hahaha! you have to be strong and firm during rush hour, you have to learn how to run tried hard to be in front of the door of the bus when it arrives so you can get in or else you will be left because it's fully loaded already with passengers as in jam pack, that was an experience!