Since we brought nothing but our clothes here, we needed to buy everything that we need for the house. Right now, the house still lacks a lot of things; one of which is a TV. Although not having a TV was perfectly okay with us, we have started missing it after half a year of not having one. Still, we consider it a luxury for now since we still have a lot of things that we need for the house. Aside from this, we will have to look at tv mounts as well if we do decide to buy a TV. Not to mention that we need cable subscription (which will be another cost!) if we want to watch channels that we can understand. But we are hoping to get one next year even without cable. We can always play DVDs or download movies and TV shows that we can watch.

In the Philippines, the street has become a regular market place – where vendors take up space anywhere and anytime they like, encroaching on road space and causing traffic jams in areas all around the busy metros. I know it’s kinda annoying and down right troublesome especially if you’re driving. But so far, it’s a real hit for Filipinos.

I know because I used to buy in places like these as well. Who wouldn’t? They’re goods are cheaper than those in the malls and other fancy supermarkets, but of the same quality. So I thought I would miss these things when I left.

Imagine my surprise when I saw the stadium where the Sultan’s birthday was to be celebrated. It was packed with street vendors all around, selling everything from foods, to toys, to fabrics, to cheap sunglasses, and so many other things. Heck, it’s not so different after all here in Brunei. Now, I just have to learn how to haggle in Malay. hehe!

In Brunei, the best time for buying or shopping is during the Hari Raya, or the End of Puasa. During this time, everything in malls and other shopping areas go on sale at absolutely low prices – food, clothes, house appliances, and even electronic gadgets like mobile phones, e readers, and computers.

And since I’ve only been in Brunei since December last year, I have never experienced the popular celebration before, nor the crazy low sale that takes over the whole country during the season. This is the reason why Andrea and I are quite excited to take part in this year’s Hari Raya celebration. I hope this year’s gonna be good and really inexpensive so we can finally buy some of the other stuff in our big item  list.  Crossing fingers!

For the first time, my family and I had gone out at night to go malling and to check out the local scenes in the country after dark. We went to the country’s most famous mall, the Yayasan complex, and checked out out the whole place. Since today is the Sultan’s birthday, the place was stuffed with cars and several stalls outside.

However, we didn’t get to spend the night outside since it started drizzling early. Instead of checking out the celebration, we opted to enjoy the mall and inspect everything there for sale. From clothes to bulova watches, we saw so many things that we wanted to buy. But because we’re saving up for dependent bonds and december plans, all we did was to look around. It was unexpectedly pleasant and relaxing.

I hope we get to spend more nights like that. Hopefully, we’d have a car by then so we don’t have to worry about transportation. hehehe!

Aside from the fact that it saves me from gas, one other good thing about walking to and from work is that it’s a good enough physical exercise. Since we live close enough to the school, I always get 10-15 minutes walking to work in the morning, another 10-15 minutes going home for lunch, and another 10-15 minutes going back to work. Yup, I know. I take the service going home in the afternoon, but I don’t consider it as cheating. It’s just that I have several books to bring home so taking the car service home is the most practical route for me.

Anyway, the 30-45 minute daily exercise I get from walking is enough to keep my weight down. It’s quick, convenient, and obviously free. Not only that, because I don’t spend any money for additional exercises in the gym or for any hcg weight loss program, I get to earn more for other things. I can also eat as much as I want without worrying about adding any extra pounds. Hehehe! Go!go!go! walking!

I have lost some weight since I got here. My daily routine of going to work has forced me to engage in some light walking that has served as regular daily exercise.

Every morning, I walk to school then I walk to and from our house during lunch time. It is only in the late afternoon when I take the service back home. The three walks that I do every day seems to be great fat burners because it has made me lost a few pounds. Now, if only I do not have to do all those walks with a bag, books, and the hot Bruneian sun.

Make overs are necessary for a new image. And new images are important for credibility. That’s the reason why institutions, companies, and even schools undergo make overs.

And the school I work for is no exception. In fact, it is now brandishing feather flags, hosting a logo design competition, and enforcing new systems to show a new and refreshing image to everyone. It’s a bold but needed move, in my opinion. And I think it’s a step toward the right direction.

It’s just a matter of time before everyone accepts the changes and rides with the new flow. It just hope we survive the transition.

The last six months still make up a continuous story of adjustment. You would think that I would have gotten used to the language barrier, the work load, and even the sleepless nights (when my baby girl would just refuse to sleep the normal hours) after half a year, but no. Just when I think I’ve adjusted to the routine already, a few things here and there would change.

Take my work load, for example. The subject coordinator that I’ve gotten used to for the past 6 months has just announced that she’s leaving in two weeks. Yup! This means readjusting to another system and to another supervisor obviously.

Also, after several months of almost routine weather (hot all day with rains in the evening), now it’s heavy and consistent downpour. Even the animals that are usually seen scurrying around the place are now gone because of the rain, or are at least in hiding.  Believe me, you can’t see them even if you have steiner binoculars.

Even the school where I’m teaching is currently undergoing traffic rerouting as mandated by the traffic police.

I guess there really is truth to the cliche, change is the only thing constant. Just hope I manage to somehow get used to it though.