79 Days

79 days. 11 weeks. A little less than 3 months. Yes, people, I'm counting down.

Three-point-something years in Malaysia and I still get waves of homesickness hitting me every now and again. Waves of "why does everyone have to be so far away???" and "can I go home right now and never come back?" and "God, remind me why I decided to come to Malaysia in the first place???" ebbing and flowing like the waters in the Pacific shore.

Don't worry about me, those feelings come and go. There are just days when they are more intense than others. Like last night. I think I just slept everything off.

I love Malaysia. I love what I'm doing here. I believe there is a purpose and a reason why I'm here right now, in this very moment in time. Pinili ko ito. Desisiyon ko ito. Paninindigan ko ito. Kayang-kaya ko ito.

Drama.

Well, I'm looking forward to going back home for a short break. I've got a wedding to attend to, you see. Hmmm. More people should schedule more weddings so that I'll have more excuses to go home. I'm game as long as I have money to spare and my passport at care. Yikes. Those were very bad rhymes. I get like that when I'm all sentimental.

Oh well. 79 days to go.

Counting down.

How to Survive Homesickness and Alone-ness

The house is empty again. It gets like this every once in a while. Every other while it's packed full of people, packed full of guests, packed full of family and friends.

But tonight is one of those nights again. One of those nights when all I have are God and words to keep me company. But I happy with God. I am happy with words. Yet sometimes...

Alright, people. Here's how you survive homesickness and frequent bouts of alone-ness:

1. Be productive. Find a hobby. Create. Do you like cooking? Do you like painting? Do you like photography or gardening? Bake a cake. Paint a picture. Experiment with lights and textures, produce your own organic vegetables. I love to write and I find joy in playing around with words thus this blog and my other blog at www.mariscribbles.com. Now you know why I'm able to write so frequently even though I also have a full time job!
2. Be lost in wonder. Ride a train (when it's not rush hour). Drive forever. Read a book and find yourself exploring a whole new world.
3. Surround yourself with friends! Online and offline ones. Laugh no matter how disgusting your lunch topic is (armpit hair, anyone?). Cry no matter how far away the people typing the words into your chat screens are.
4. Be thankful. Count your blessings. Praise God in every circumstance.
5. At the risk of sounding too spiritual, communicate with God. He is our ever present Friend and Comforter. 
6. Do the things you're supposed to do! If you have a mission in life, do it! Don't idle around. Don't procrastinate. Don't dwell in your pity party. "Delays are costly!" so just get up and walk. 

Well, that's all I can come up with, so far. How about you? Any tips and trades to make homesick folks unblue?

Puppydog/Pussycat Eyes. Drama lang to. See? I'm not blue.

Pasko na Sinta ko

Two days before Christmas. Two days before Christmas. TWO DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS. 

I am currently playing Christmas songs to get into the holiday mood. Noisetrade provides a lot of cool, free, unconventional ones. Check out Merry Christmas Goodnight, Paste Holiday Sampler 2012, The 12 Songs of Christmas, and Celebrate the Season if you want something more than the usual Jingle Bells and Frosty the Snowman.

I should be sleeping. We'll be watching The Life of Pi later this morning -- a pre-Christmas celebration if you may. I'm kinda excited to see the displays in Midvalley. Sigh. Here, you'll only get to feel the Christmas Cheer when you step into big shopping malls. I miss the Christmas atmosphere in the Philippines. There, you can see parols everywhere, lights in every street corner, and --

I will not got homesick. This will be my first Christmas in Malaysia. I am determined to make the most of it.

A friend and I will be cooking up some stuff (macaroni -- as requested by her, smores, hot choco, whatever  -- as imagined by me) for our Noche Buena. We'll be having a Christmas Movie Marathon, too. I hope she has already found a copy of Home Alone 1, 2, & 3. 

So how bout you? What may your plans for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day be?

Christmas at the Mall. Part of the KLCC Suria Display.