…LiU’aN eMbRaCeD mE tWiCe

Liu’an is one of the most promising cities of Anhui Province, where Jean, my best friend and ultimate partner here, is residing and at the same time teaching as of the moment. Such a gorgeous and benevolent fellow! Thanks for knowing her. I’ve been to this city twice before and I can truly say, it’s also a fantastic and progressive city, one must not forget to visit to.

My first visit was with Mary, another Filipino teacher here. That was National Holiday, after we arrived from our 3-day tour in Huangshan. We roamed around the city, to its resplendent park, highly developed one, surrounded by water, ate in a great restaurant, went shopping and bought some souvenirs. I stayed there overnight. The following day, I went back to my place. T’was indeed a corking experience. I enjoyed a lot with my best friends. We perfectly had a howling time together.

Last Christmas was the second. Their company organized a speech contest and, of course, headed by Jean. They invited me to be one of their foreign judges. Since we were not working that time, I absolutely said yes after confirming everything that I could have a 3-day holiday. There were eight judges during the contest, four of which are Chinese and the others are foreigners. I did enjoy the event. I’ve learned a lot. I was totally amused by the performances of the students. I greatly saluted Jean for such a successful event, for a job well done. The company actually booked a hotel for the foreign judges, but we didn’t stayed there for we also had to celebrate Christmas with some other Filipinos and other foreign friends in Hefei, who were waiting for us. So, we left after a wonderful dinner.

I heartily thanked Jean for such a wondrous experience I’ve had as well as to her supportive boss, Searching, a Singaporean, my earnest thanks to all of you for the trust and for giving me the chance to go through such a great event. I didn’t experience being a judge of a speech contest in the Philippines. So I really felt elated and honored. Once again, thanks for everything.

…LoNeLiNeSs

The song, Shape of my Heart by Backstreet Boys says, loneliness is tragical. Is it? Why? How? Is it that serious? But is it normal to be lonely sometimes? Are you lonely? How do you fight loneliness? What do you do to overcome it?

Many of my Chinese friends here, they can’t stand my situation. They kept asking me whether I’m lonely or not. Even my students did. They said I’m alone, the only Filipino in the city, though there are around nine foreigners, but we don’t have chance to meet because they’re working on weekdays, I am not. I am working on weekends, they’re not. Only recently that I met them through an English corner established by the English lovers here. I said I usually go to Hefei, the capital of the province once in a while to meet my Filipino friends and some other foreigners. I added, as long as there’s internet, there’s no problem especially there’s music. I wouldn’t feel lonely. I am also praying all the time to overcome it. And I proudly said to them I did. With this situation for more than six months, I have lived a normal life. I just watch TV, movies, listen to music, surf the internet to amuse myself, I told them. They were not so convinced because if they were in my shoes, they said, they wouldn’t be able to make it.

Frankly speaking, I also feel lonely. I am lonely most often. But I don’t show it. I have no choice. I have to tell myself I am not lonely ,or else, I won’t be able to stay this long here. I have to be very strong to fight this loneliness, this boredom, so as to live a normal life. And here I am, still kicking. I have fought a good fight against it. I am no longer new to this situation.

Well friends, though we, as gregarious beings, need to be with others, but there are times that we have to stand on our own feet. There are moments that we're alone. Are you ready for that? Are you prepared by that time? If it happens, what would you do to amuse yourself?

…BoTtOmS uP

In the middle of the day, enjoying my off, I received a call. A Chinese teacher, telling me that the parents of my student invited us, all teachers to a dinner. She asked me if I would be available in the evening and told me it’s okay if I would not come. I responded that there’s no problem. She added that she’s going to meet me at the school at 5:00 pm. But later in that afternoon, she texted me that parents moved the time for they are working, so she’s going to pick me up at 5:30. I was sleeping when I received the message, though.

The time came and we went to the restaurant together. It’s just five minutes walk from our school. We arrived there earlier and we proceeded to the reserved section. I still have time to take photos around. We had a great chat before they arrived. A little while later, our student arrived and we asked her where her parents were. She replied they're at the parking lot. Then they came and started ordering. Both of her parents can’t speak English, as expected, good that my colleagues were there to translate for me.

Food was served a short while afterwards. Cheers and bottoms up, the father invited me as he gave me a glass full of beer. I had no choice. It’s a Chinese practice to drink first before eating and we’re not used to that. We usually drink in the mid of eating or even after. I felt something strange inside. I knew it’s because of the beer. Then we started savoring the mouth-watering food, absolutely delicious. I was actually sweating due to the beer and ate no rice yet. My colleagues asked me if I was alright, I just pointed my stomach and they understood what I meant and I asked for rice.

Cheers and bottoms up came every now and then. My colleagues explained to my student’s father that I am still young and not used to drinking. He was expecting that foreigners are good at drinking because of what he has experienced with a German guy. What a pity for me!

I was stuffed. I ate a lot to somehow reduce the effect of the beer. Everybody also was. The food really is very tasty. As a whole, Chinese food is so luscious. My head is falling, I felt. I still have one glass left. The father wanted me to finish it before we would go. I slowly consume it and ate some more. At long last, I made it. Then we left. I really was 85% drunk. If we stayed longer and ordered more beer, I might not be able to go home alone. I was just fortunate that he understood. And I was very happy because they were truly friendly. Thank you for the bang-up dinner.

…mOrNiNg ExErCiSeS

Exercises are important to our bodies. Do you agree? Do we really need to exercise? Why? If so, do you do exercises regularly? What kind of exercise do you often do? How often do you do it? Do you go to a fitness gym? How often? What time do you often do your exercises? Have you seen an effect on your frequent exercise? Are these good only for adult people, especially fat people? Who should do exercises?

Scientifically speaking, exercise is a process whereby the body performs work of a demanding nature, in accordance with muscle and joint function, in a clinically controlled environment, with the constraints of safety, meaningfully loading the muscular structures to inroad their strength levels to stimulate a growth mechanism within a minimum time.

Lately, I discovered that my weight increased dramatically. I was shocked as I checked it. I could hardly believe. I also easily get tired as I observed. It’s somewhat a sign that I indeed get fatter and fatter. I don’t want it to happen. Actually, I stopped doing some exercises during winter season ‘coz it’s bloody cold outside. I guess it’s the reason why I gained weight sharply. Since it’s not that cold now, I’m starting to do some exercises early every morning. I jog for around five to seven rounds in an oval near my flat, a sports complex. Then walk around it for two rounds to come down. Afterwards, I do around 30 to 50 set ups, around 20 push ups and weight lifting. I’m hoping I would deliberately lessen my weight, for I don’t want to be fat, ‘coz it’s in our race. We are a family of fat people.

Now, I’m getting healthier as I monitor myself. I feel so light everyday, energetic and happier. I guess these are the products of my exercises. I don’t get tired easily now. I felt like I look younger these days, fitter and fresher than ever. Many even are saying I’m blooming. Am I? They even added whether I’m in love. I always am.

Friends, exercises are significant to our lives. I just hope you are doing some. We need them even if we feel we are strong, young and slim. We still have to do some exercises to maintain them. Learn from me and stay healthy. That’s how life should be, to enjoy it fully.