Abaya here Abaya there

Friends and relatives back in the Philippines who have seen my pictures wearing an abaya has often commented that I wear it like a pro (not like a pro=poquita but like a pro=as if i've been born wearing one, let's be clear about that haha). Most say I look more feminine... now sometimes this statement gets me thinking... back in the Philippines did I look more masculine than otherwise? But surely my husband would not have fallen in love with me if I did. Unless he like masculine-looking girls. hahaha sorry but the four walls of our room plus 3 kids trying to get my undivided attention all at the same time is driving me a little nuts. 

Wearing the abaya is quite complicated I thought it was just a matter of wearing it everytime we go out. Hence, when my husband took me out for the first time to buy my own abaya, I chose one with a pretty design. However, while recounting to him some trivial stuff that I have observed while hanging our just laundered clothes on the rooftop, my husband asked me whether I went out wearing my abaya. I recall feeling a bit cold when I said "no, I was wearing my sleeveless sundress" and he replied (complete with his scary wide eye look) "you should have worn your abaya because the locals can see you from their own buildings."  Oops okay I never thought about that.... I thought it was safe for me to go out in the open on our own rooftop without the abaya on. So...

Now everytime I need to go to the rooftop to hang our clothes, I need to wear the abaya, which is actually such a hassle. First, because the abaya I chose does not have any buttons in front so I have to wear it like a shirt (meaning through the wide neckline). Second, because I have to take it off again when I enter the laundry room lest I wet the hem of my black long gear :)  

Well, looking at the bright side at least I look more feminine and plus the great thing is I can hide my love handles. No one would ever guess how much "skin" I need to hide underneath. hahaha

Tiktilaok

The next morning we found ourselves just lazing around, catching up and just plain doing nothing. The first meal I cooked in this country was Chicken Afritada for dinner, upon the request of my husband. The next day my husband decided to take me along to one of the shopping centers here to buy me and our daughter abayas. 

  

We went to the grocery too to buy some stuff that we would need for the whole week. I was so excited to see cheap fruits and vegetables; and everywhere I go I would see chicken, more chicken, lamb and beef. My husband does not eat beef nor does he eat lamb so I had no option but to buy chicken. That night I cooked spaghetti with red sauce and chicken meat the next day at lunch we had breaded chicken. And finally last night we had chilli shrimps for a change. I felt so filled with chicken that when I woke up the next day I thought I heard myself say “Cock-a-doodle-doo” instead of “Good morning!”

Since Thursday and Friday were considered as weekends in this country we were not able to enroll the kids in their new school. My husband and I decided to enroll them at IPSA, which was recommended to him by one of his officemates whose children are currently studying there. I hope they get accepted as we won’t have any other choice but to enroll them in another international school which, I heard could be quite costly.