Whispers between the Shadow and the Soul

     For some reason, I’ve had another attack of allergic rhinitis during an online job interview.  It is quite frustrating to live with the transient allergy.  It comes during the most inconvenient times.  I have long since determined dust to be my primary allergen.  But living in the Philippines, who can avoid dust?  The hot and humid weather in my home country is a veritable paradise for dust mites.

     I’ve had allergic rhinitis for as long as I can remember.  But it steadily worsened when I reached my late teens.  While people might think that it’s a condition which is relatively easy to cure, it actually is a bit more complicated.  To date, allergic rhinitis has no cure.  It can only be controlled through the ingestion of anti-histamines.  I have tried Claritin, Zyrtec, Virlix, and Aerius and all of them have worked fine.  The problem with A.R. is that as soon as one becomes exposed to the allergen, it recurs at once.

     My symptoms include a runny and itchy nose, and severely itchy and teary eyes which cause blurred vision.  If the runny nose persists for more than fifteen minutes, my sinuses get inflammed, and this eventually leads to a migraine.  It is definitely not a good experience.  A.R. has made the most basic tasks impossible.  Cleaning my room, reading books that have been on the shelf for some time, reading the newspaper, getting exposed to smoky places, or simply having the wind blow across my face could all cause an episode.

     Living with allergic rhinitis is not easy.  It gets mightily frustrating at times.  I do hope that someone finds a cure to rid people of this allergy.  That person would surely do the world a great favor. 

     For some reason I always get flustered at the prospect of job interviews.  It’s a weird mixture of being nervous, excited, and confused all at the same time.  I tend to get a bit talkative when I feel this way, and it sometimes works to my advantage.  But not always.

     Whenever things like this happen, I refuse to dwell too much on the outcome.  I just keep in mind that if something is truly meant for me, then I shall be given the opportunity to obtain it.  What matters is that I’ve done my part.  Well, in today’s case, I think that I did what I can.  I hope the outcome would be positive, but if it isn’t, then I still am grateful for the chance I was given.

     I prefer to be optimistic.  I believe that all people are given the chances that they deserve.  If something is not for me, I take comfort in the fact that there still is something else waiting just around the corner.

     My hubby and I woke up this morning with the sunlight streaming through our windows.  I was a bit disoriented though, because I distinctively remembered setting the alarm to 4:45 a.m.  I was surprised, to say the least, to realize that our alarm clock was not malfunctioning and it was, indeed, 4:45 in the morning.  It was only much later that I realized that today [or at least this time of the year] is summer solstice.

     Summer solstice is also called midsummer.  It occurs somewhere between June 21 and 22.  This is when we experience the longest day of the year.  Longest in the sense that it is the day in which we have the most amount of time with sunshine.  There are two solstices; one in summer, and the other in winter.  Conversely, winter solstice is when we have the shortest day.

     So have a happy summer solstice to everyone!  May the sunshine of this day herald a bright future for all of us.  Cheers!~

     I have recently taken an interest in relearning what little knowledge I had about the Japanese language.  It’s proving to be a challenge, but quite fun nevertheless.  I stayed in Japan for a year between 2006 and 2007.  For those of you who don’t know, atashi wa Eigo no sensei desu.  Nihon no ikara.  I used to teach English as a Second Language for a language school located at Sukagawa-shi, Fukushima-ken.  It was a fun experience, one that I wouldn’t mind happening again.

     I’ve started self-studying with some practical lessons on conversational Japanese.  As with any other language, I find it much easier to learn how to speak first, rather than to learn how to read and write.  That’s why I’m studying lessons in Romaji.  I do have resources on Kana, and even elementary Kanji, but I am still too intimidated to start on learning the writing process just yet.

     Why the sudden interest?  It’s too soon to say the primary reason.  But for one thing, I really miss Japan and all my former students.  Also, knowing several languages would always be an advantage wherever you go.  I am currently fluent in both English and Filipino, and I can speak conversational Spanish.  I’m at the lowest rung of learning Nihonggo, but I’ll go up the ladder bit by bit.  Seeing as I have some time in my hands, I don’t see any reason why I would not improve, albeit in small increments.

     I even took pains in researching on the JLPT or the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.  It is given once a year, every December, in various locations in the country.  the closest being De La Salle University – Manila, where I went to college.  The lowest level, which is level 4, requires an individual to have mastered at least 100 Kanji characters and at least 800 vocabulary words.  The test is divided into 3 parts: Kanji and Vocabulary [100 items], Listening Comprehension [100 items], and Reading Comprehension and Grammar [200 items].  The minimum passing rate for level 4 is 60% or 300 points.

     My friends Paul and Mherrie are also studying Nihonggo as of now, but unlike me, they’re focusing on Kana first, rather than conversation.  We’re all planning to take the JLPT this year if we feel ready enough to register by August.  Wish us luck!  For the meantime, Watashi wa Nihonggo no benkyo suru desu.  Yamenaide!

     I have always loved to pen out my thoughts.  Writing often came easy for me, especially when I’m touched by that brilliant flash of inspiration.  I’d like to think that I am knowledgeable enough to write on a variety of topics.  I’ve tried my hand on essays, biographies, fiction, and poetry and everything turned out prety much okay.  I have also tried to nourish the writer in my by regularly writing entries for this blog.

     I have never thought of writing as being difficult or taxing.  Never, that is, until now.  Well I guess it’s because I have never been required to write a certain number of articles on a certain topic within twenty four hours.  It was interesting and quite enjoyable at first.  But after several hours, I think I am now officially experiencing a writing drought.

     It’s not a pleasant feeling.  It’s similar to having all your thoughts sucked up into a vortex.  It’s like all my creative juices have suddenly and unexpectedly stopped flowing.  Now my head is throbbing and my eyes are all blurry.  I guess this is my signal to take a break.  @__@

     I have no doubt, however, that I could get free of this stump.  Maybe catching a few winks would do the trick.  I think I’ll try that right now. 

James, me, Martha, and Mommy at the Palace in the Sky [Joselle was the one who took the photo

     Having a long weekend is quite rare for our family, more so because James is a nurse frequently assigned on the night shift.  But last June 11th – 14th was one such occasion for us.  We left home at around 5:30 a.m.  It was a long drive going to Cavite, where we went to visit my sister and my new nephew.  After having lunch with them, we decided to go to Tagaytay in the afternoon, since it’s just a 15-minute drive from Silang.  James has never been to the Palace in the Sky so we decided to go there first.  The view was breathtaking.  Palace in the Sky is located at the highest point in Tagaytay, and you could see parts of Batangas, Cavite, and Laguna from the viewing areas.  We had a lot of fun just sitting in a hut and enjoying the fantastic view and the cold air.  We also took lots of photos!

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Martha and Ardain: the cute cousins

     Mom and I were at the office waiting for James to arrive when we received a text message from my sister.  The message said that she is already in labor and would be scheduled for a C-section later in the afternoon.  Since we know that the baby is due on June 18th, we were quite surprised at the news.  We waited for James and immediately prepared to go to Cavite to be with my sister.  Unfortunately though, Martha would not be allowed to enter the hospital due to the proliferation of Influenza A-H1N1 cases and other infectious diseases.  So, James and I had to stay at home and just wait for any news from mommy.

     Ardain Theodore Espiritu Oliva was born on June 5th, 2009 at 3:35 in the afternoon.  He’s a healthy baby boy who weighed in at 6.93 lbs.  His dad was still in Australia when he was born, but Kuya Arnold was able to catch an earlier flight to the Philippines and arrived last June 7th.

     June 11th, we were ablt to visit Ate Ains at their home in Silang, Cavite.  It was a tiring 3 and a half hour drive but it was well worth it.  I was able to see my new nephew and he was adorable.  He was more behaved than Martha was when she was a newborn.  As for my sister, I’ve never seen her look happier.  And I do understand, it’s a feeling that all mother’s share.

     I haven’t been able to write any entries the past couple of days.  There have been a lot of things to do concerning the business.  I had to accompany James several times to NKTI and LCP, and we went to visit my sister [who recently gave birth to a cute baby boy] at Silang, Cavite.  It’s been hectic and tiring, but the weather did a lot to lift my spirits.

     We’ve been experiencing several rainy days in succession since last week.  And contrary to the popular belief that rain dampens the spirits, it has an opposite effect on me and my family.  Thank God for rainy days!

     James and I are currently staying at different houses.  And that is definitely not by choice.  Circumstances have conspired to draw us apart.  Despite this, we have found ways to be with each other, albeit for very short periods of time.  Nevertheless, each stolen moment is filled with much happiness…

     Being married and being in love are two completely different things.  One is a legal and voluntary act.  The other is involuntary and knows no laws; it simply is.  Some people, by unfortunate circumstances, can never have both in perfect harmony.  While the luckier ones experience the best of both worlds.

     On the surface, there seems to be little or no difference between being boyfriend and girlfriend and being husband and wife.  Going deeper though, there is a world of difference.  Love deepens and matures.  It acquires so many different facets that there is no single angle by which your view can encompass all of it.  Heady bliss becomes quiet joy.  Exciting dates become simple togetherness.  Petty fights become mutual growth.  Reluctant giving-in becomes willing self-sacrifice.  Yet love remains love; strong and steadfast.

     James and I have experienced a lot of growing the past year.  Our married life has been full of challenges.  We both have cried countless tears and we’ve had our share of arguments.  But at the end of the day, we still are each others’ shelter.  We have become so much a part of each other that being apart almost seems to cripple us emotionally.

     I love my husband.  I love being a wife.  And no matter how difficult things may be for us sometimes, my love remains and grows deeper each passing day.