Author: Analyn

PULLED OVER

Posted on by Analyn / Posted in Expat life / 6 Comments

When life takes the wind out of your sails, it is to test you at the oars. ~ Robert Brault

Good morning my beautiful readers. I know it’s Monday so I am sending you all the positive vibes. I hope you all have a great week ahead.

Have you tried fishing? I did when I was young. We would go to the river with my childhood friends and do fishing. Now, I think it is good to share what I’ve learned from it. Everytime we catch fish we are very happy. There is a sense of fulfillment in it. But as you know the fish move a lot because he is not comfortable in his new place and if the fish manage to jump and escape the only tendency is to go back to water. That’s normal reaction right? The fish does not know what to do with his/her life in the land. The fish belongs to the water and he’s happy in that place. Why would we try to pull them out from their environment. For some reasons, we can do so as long we can provide them adequate environment that equates their former home.

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WHEN MARS AND VENUS ISN’T ENOUGH! CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

Posted on by Analyn / Posted in Expat life, ZZ - Everything else / 9 Comments

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love is blind. Love has no bounderies. Love has no race. True! When two people from the other side of the world fell in love both has to deal with the so called “cultural differences”.

Sometimes I find myself thankful to the Spanish and American colonization at least the culture where I came from is not much different from the rest of the world. My husband asked me about the giving of “dowry” because as he read about Asia he came across of giving “dowry” before marriage. He asked me if it is being practiced in the Philippines. I said no. (I should have said yes, maybe he’s willing to give dowry lol) As Philippines has many western influence and being an archipelago in south east Asia, we are far apart from the culture of our neighboring Asian countries. I guess even the looks I’ve always been mistaken as Spanish or “latina”. I forgot I have Asian nose lol. The only Asian thing in our culture I guess is eating a lot of rice and noodles.

My husband is Italian. I’m a Filipino. My husband is from a developed country and I am from a developing country. So here are our cultural differences.

TRAFFIC. When my husband is driving just 3 or 5 cars in front of him he starts complaining of traffic. Oh! we should have not take this road can you see the traffic. While on my end, where’s the traffic? My idea of traffic is when you are totally blocked and cars are not moving. lol He complain about too many traffic lights while on my end there are some places in my country that even needs traffic light but due to lack of funds or corruption cannot have it.

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THE ITALIAN WEDDING

Posted on by Analyn / Posted in ZZ - Everything else / 14 Comments

Hello beautiful people of the world! I hope you are all having a great day especially this Valentine’s day. Saint Valentine reminds us about love not only the courtly love but the kind of love everyone deserves and I want to share my life changing Valentine’s day two years ago.

It was a rainy winter, Valentine’s day of 2013 in Ancona, Italy (a city in the marche region central Italy) when I made the decision of getting married. I had my not so secret Italian wedding. 🙂 Feeling so hollywood right?! Yes, just the sound of Italian wedding. Mind you, it is a very simple celebration of love because we are planning another wedding in the Philippines that’s why we opted to kept it secret from our friends so that they will be there on our church wedding. It was magical and romantic. Just me and my husband, our solemnizing officer and our two witnesses.  After the ceremony we had lunch at my favorite restaurant along the port. The fact that I’m having an Italian wedding is the best of all. 🙂

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THE WEDDING ADVENTURES

Posted on by Analyn / Posted in Fashion, Wishes, ZZ - Everything else / 25 Comments

Happy Wednesday beautiful people! I just came from the gym and as I’m feeling all sorts of muscle pain right now I sat down and share with you my journey as a bridesmaid or just a wedding guest. I love weddings! Yes, I get so excited everytime I heard someone is getting hitch whether it is a friend or not! I am excited about the details, the themes and the wedding gown of course. As much as possible I don’t wanna missed a friend’s wedding. Before I became a bride, I’ve been to countless weddings. No, I’m not the most sought after bridesmaid or wedding guest haha just that I have so many friends and I love to enjoy their lifetime memories. I enjoyed every wedding I’ve been to.

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DENIM OVER LA GALLETTE DE ROIS

Posted on by Analyn / Posted in Fashion, Food / 25 Comments

Hello fab friends!

My first time to embrace this French tradition of La gallette de rois. It is the French three kings tradition, Epiphany that is celebrated every 6th of January. During this period in France, all the patisserie sell this cake called La gallette de rois. It is delicious I have to say. Inside the cake is a treasure of something gold or silver or bronze  and if you happen to get it you’ll be wearing the crown. If you buy the cake a crown is included. It is definitely a fun activity after Christmas. And if you are in France what a sight to behold,  you’ll see some kids coming back from school wearing crowns and oh some random people too not just kids. Now, I don’t have to wonder what’s the crown for? A nice tradition! 🙂

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My Italian Christmas Holiday

Posted on by Analyn / Posted in ZZ - Everything else / 3 Comments

Hello beautiful friends! I hope 2015 is giving you joy and laughter. I wanted to share my Christmas away from home with my not so new family. 🙂

This is actually my third Italian Christmas and I’m getting there. You know Christmas in the Philippines is very similar to European and American Christmas as we are under the colony of Spain and America but still Italian Christmas is a little different. I can say different because it’s way more formal. Yes, in the Philippines it is like a super big Holiday that starts in September and ends like February lol. I know it’s already very commercialized that way but that’s how crazy we are. We love Christmas Holidays to bits.
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BLESSED 2015

Posted on by Analyn / Posted in ZZ - Everything else / 6 Comments

Hello beautiful people! 🙂

Finally, I was able to squeezed time writing a blog. I missed you all and I missed blogging. I have to blog about a lot of things from my Holiday in Italy to my thoughts and my fashion choices for 2015.

I don’t have new year’s resolution but I always strive to be better than the last time I am. I am learning French language and I’m getting there. I just need to be more patient with the pronunciation and the accent will come next. Oh! c’est difficile (it’s difficult) really but I’m not giving up. I’d like to think, I’m one level away to fluency. 🙂 (tap on my shoulder)
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DEAR SANTA

Posted on by Analyn / Posted in ZZ - Everything else / 2 Comments

Hello my fabulous friends! I just recovered from horrible flu and I’m glad one of my wishes to get rid of it before Christmas came true. Thank you God and Santa hey I’m here.

Christmas is for kids and of course for adults who has kiddie hearts 🙂 just kidding.  Seriously, Christmas is for everyone. My favorite time of the year. If we look at it,  it is really of pure joy looking at the children getting excited about the season. The letters they are writing to Santa and the wishes. Setting up the Christmas tree and the lights. Oh I’m feeling so Christmas. Since I moved to Europe I never decorated the home because we are on travels every Christmas. I miss being a kid especially during this season.

Ok, I just want to make some wishes if I am a kid and my grown up wishes. Oh another oh-uh I’m sorry Santa it is only now I was informed that you are from Finland. I guess my wishes will have fast accomplishment as I am living inside the European Union. 🙂
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MY DREAM JOB

Posted on by Analyn / Posted in ZZ - Everything else / 2 Comments

Hello friends! I am very busy lately with many things, my students, my french class and the holiday rush. Christmas is here!

Despite of the schedule hiatus, I always have time to ponder about my future here in Europe. I am doing well in my Australian law firm job before I moved here. In fact, I am a permanent employee of the law firm which I worked with the Managing Solicitor with the cases and clients. I love the job, I love the people around me, I love my Australian colleagues they are the best! and most of all I love my lady boss! I guess really few people can say they love their boss. Yes, I love my boss and I can say it over and over again. She’s just the best! I missed them. I missed my work a lot.
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WELCOME TO MY NEW HOME!

Posted on by Analyn / Posted in ZZ - Everything else / 10 Comments

Hello beautiful friends!

It’s been a while since I wrote my last blog on my other website. I’m very excited about this new home. Of course, I cannot do this all by myself. I am thankful I have a very supportive, equally smart and genius husband who worked up to wee hours to make my new website pleasing and beautiful. 🙂

WELCOME TO MY NEW HOME. I welcome you with my bright big smile and you can talk to me anything and everything. Just feel at home. Relax and be my guest.

My new home will just be the same as my old home but I will make sure this will be more fun, more interesting and relaxing that you can chill all day when you visit. 🙂 I am still the same bubbly girl behind who will accommodate you with utmost importance.

Come inside. Sit down, grab a drink and relax. Feel at home friends. 🙂

Sincerely,
Anne

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