My Rocking Cradle

It’s 5am in my part of the world! And I woke up at 4am. Before that, my sleep was unpleasantly disturbed by the arrival of my husband at 2am. He was out with Korean and Italian colleagues who are here in Seoul for a business trip. I excused the weekend absence. I am a supportive [...]

I first arrived here in Seoul three years ago. It was three years ago today, to be exact. I came over to live with my husband, who came in here on the first week of March of the same year. I left my work as an International Roaming Coordinator with Smart Communications, Inc. I also left law [...]

Some days ago, I received a notice from the Mapo Post Office with the bill for residence tax(?). Last Tuesday, I went to the Post Office which is just a few buildings away from where I live to pay for it. The amount is very minimal so I didn’t make further inquiries regarding the bill. [...]

A Korea Times article dated yesterday reads “Obama Lauds Korea’s Education for Children“. I clicked on another article… then… wahaaat? I clicked THE article again.  Picture this: 7am in school, home by 9pm (lucky child) or home by 10pm (normal child) or home by 11pm (are you still a child?). For a normal competitive Korean family, [...]

I was in the Philippine Embassy in Itaewon last Sunday to apply for the renewal of my passport. The place was filled with people. How do I illustrate how full it was? I arrived there at 10am and left the place at 2pm. Aside from the slow processing, the place was really crowded. Sunday is [...]

My son plays very well even without me. He had been used to being left alone with my part-time nanny that all I have to do is to tell him I have a surprise for him when I get back. He nonchalantly says “Bye” when I leave. So, I happily leave when need be. Tomorrow [...]

As an expat family here in Seoul, holiday gift shopping is no longer just a question of who to buy gifts for. When before I would just list down all the people that we want to give holiday gifts to (and cross out some names lest we come out penniless after the holidays), this recession [...]

When I first came here (Korea) in 2006, my husband told me that refusing an offered drink is impolite. Even alcoholic drink. My saving grace? I was pregnant. I knew about this excessive Korean drinking habit back in the Philippines. My husband was with the company for five years before he was asked to come over. [...]

For more than a month, I volunteered to teach English to toddlers in the LGCNS nursery. The nursery has more than 30 toddlers ranging from 1 to 4 year olds (2 to 5 years old Korean age). I only taught the 3 and 4 year old toddlers as I think the younger ones are too [...]