Perhaps because of the stability of life and economy in Brunei, people here have been less hectic and possibly driven especially compared to the people in other Asian countries like Singapore or the Philippines.

I remember my mom me telling before when I was still smaller, education is the most powerful tool that you can have in alleviating poverty. And since poverty is a very pressing issue in the Philippines, students were really in to studying, almost behaving like soldiers in order to get their teachers’ attention and the edge over fellow students.

Here, that’s not the case. Children are children in this country. They’re more carefree and laid back than their counterparts elsewhere. I don’t blame them though. Children are supposed to be the picture of youth and exuberance. In that aspect, kids here are living the life any kid would love to live.

As teacher however, things are just a bit more challenging. Aside from the fact that you need to deliver the lessons as creatively as you can, you also have to have the same (if not more) exuberance than the kids have. It’s the only way that the kids will respond to you positively. I know it probably sounds tough, and it is. But, I’m slowly adjusting to the pace and starting to get the hang of it. In two weeks time, I’ll probably be passing the macanudo cigars to everyone. Hopefully, everything goes smoothly.

In the school where I work now, a staff house is provided for all expats. It’s just a fancy name for a rented house consisting of many rooms. Anyway, part of the privilege that each expat supposedly receives is a chance to let their families visit and stay in the same staff house for free, provided they stay less than 30 days. Sounds good right?

It would have been that way if not for the fact that teachers in the staff house nowadays are bunked together with roommates. No, I’m not talking about having bunk beds or cabin beds. We do have separate single beds but let’s face it. Who would want to let their family stay in if the room they’re occupying is not their own?

And since Andrea and the kids are due to arrive here in Brunei on the 9th of February, I have less than 2 weeks to find a suitable and affordable place for us to stay in. I need all the luck I can get until then.

Despite its green, luscious surroundings, and large open areas, Brunei’s fauna is mainly confined to wildlife species. The most abundant are of those arboreal types. Unlike in the Philippines, where the most common animals are stray canines, Brunei’s most popular are usually birds (egrets, storks, kingfishers), monkeys, snakes, and squirrels.

In fact, you’ll probably see squirrels more often than dogs here. This means that you can say goodbye to your dog training guide if you’re planning to reside in Brunei. That’s too bad though if you’re a dog lover, but a paradise if you’re a cat person.  Guess this means no pet for us for a long time then.

Back in the Philippines, when I headed the science department of my previous school, I learned how to depend on drink coffee. I had to. It was the only thing that kept me awake and gave me the boost I needed to finish checking all the other science teachers’ tests, proposals, drafts, and all sorts of documents. In fact, there was even a time when I was drinking more than 5 to 8  cups a day.

However, all that changed when I resigned from work. Staying home gave me some freedom to take naps in between article writing, or house chores, so I was able to wean myself away from coffee. Little did I know that I’ll be going back to it soon.

You see, when I got to Brunei, I lost once again in the struggle against coffee. Since the country is generally hot and humid, typical of a tropical location, most of the structures here are air-conditioned – classrooms, staff rooms, labs, offices. That’s a big plus. However, at the same time, it’s also a big disadvantage. Aside from the environmental impact of leaking coolants, the cold makes it so easy to fall asleep (especially after meals). That’s why I had to resort to drinking coffee again. Of all the diuretics that work, it’s the only thing that my body responds to. Now, I drink four sachets of coffee during breaks (two in the morning and two after lunch). At night, I usually drink another two cups to last. But what else can I do, really?

It’s been more than 2 weeks since I started working in Brunei. When it comes to teaching, things have been alright so far. Since I’ve had a lot of experience handling 10 year-olds, adjusting to the manner of delivery has been less of a struggle than I expected. Pickup however is not that good.

As of now, I can’t exactly pinpoint where the difficulty lies. Difference in accent, level of language sophistication,  and teaching techniques are currently my suspects. However, I still can’t rule out the lack of basic skills on the part of some of my students. In fact, I was quite surprised to find out that some are still not adept at subtracting and/or adding numbers.

I’m torn between going full throttle and moving at the pace of the slowest ones. That’s as far as teaching is concerned.

In terms of living, things are not looking up either. Despite having lots of fellow Pinoy teachers in school and in the dormitory, I can’t help but feel lonelier as time goes by. I’m missing my family more and more everyday. In fact, the more I see the kids in school, the more I think about my son and my daughter.

I also can’t help but worry about my wife and how she’s coping up with 2 kids, house chores, and no help. Sometimes, when I chat with them online, I don’t want to stop. Never mind about the acne treatment, or the eye bags, or the hunger. Chatting with them every night is what provides me with the inspiration and the energy to get up in the morning and teach.

For two weeks, I’ve been getting pep talks and advices from people who have been here living the same life I’m living right now. Things will get better, they say. I can only nod in hope. For now, I’ll let autopilot take over.

What’s up with mobile phones nowadays?

More than a decade ago, a camera and an SD card would make your phone a high end model, and would probably generate you a significant buzz in your circle of friends for a considerable amount of time. Now, those things are nothing but standard features. Now, phones are reduced to really slim structures with nothing more than a screen interface. Touchscreen, I believe, they call them. Now, you can call your friends and talk to them face to face on your phones.

Technology really is a b**ch. Being slave to gadgets is something that I should really unlearn. And I promise I’ll start doing so right after I get myself one of those touchscreen phones. Promise.

With time slowly winding down, I only have a little over a month to prepare everything that we would need once andrea and the kids get to Brunei. No, I’m not even talking about step tools with handles. I’m talking about the basic stuff like stove, refrigerators, tables, and mattresses – things we’ll need for everyday living.

By the time they arrive, I’m supposed to have found a house or room already, and most of the basic necessities. I’m also supposed to squeeze in some visa applications, may be even consider licence renewal or upgrade, and some work adjustments.

I know it’s really going to be tough but I’d rather go through all that than let my kids grow distant from me. So please God, give me strength!

I officially started my first day of work earlier today. I woke up at around 5 and was ready by 6 for the 6:45 call time. The Brunei heat was no problem since the sun was just starting to show at around that time, so walking to school was easy. It was the road crossing that was more of a challenge. Thank goodness I had more than enough training in that field when I was in the Philippines.

Also, I’m very grateful for my co-teachers  there. Those in the same department where I was in and even those that weren’t were all very generous with advices and tips. So despite the difficulty with the names (Malay names are very difficult to pronounce), I survived.

When I finished my class at 1230, I ate lunch and sat in my little corner in the staff room. My subject coordinator interviewed me a little. She was surprised to find out that I’ve actually been married for 5 years now. She was even surprised to find out that I’ve handed out Baptism invitations twice already. She herself has a twin and a two year old to take care of. So by the time the clock struck 3:15, she was all ready to go home to her family.

I understood completely how she felt. I just wish my family was just a car ride away from me too. And just like that,  my first day in school was over.

The New Year celebration in the Philippines has always been the most festive celebration for most Filipinos. Some people would rather save on Christmas and spend on New Year than the other way around. This is because for us pinoys, the way you welcome the incoming year reflects how you’ll be living for the rest of that year. So we welcome the year with the most exuberant and extravagant celebration we could put together.

This is not the case in Brunei. Despite the number of pinoys and Chinese in Brunei, New Year celebrations here are very quiet… or at least the last one was. With the exception of a few firecrackers every now and then, everything was virtually quiet. The sky was dark and paled in comparison to the busy one in the Philippines, and perhaps everywhere else.

Some friends nearby decided to do some karaoke to liven up the mood and welcome the New Year with their own noise and sounds. However, the rest of Brunei was basically passing just another night.

Instead of joining in the small festivities, I decided to call my family and video chat with them. I miss the Philippines.