j a n s e n. i. s. m.

• You wouldn’t find anything in a bookstore that tells you exactly how to survive living in a foreign country, and if you were like me who lived 25 years with family yet never considered himself domestic, you’d need hands-on training and not just reference materials from someone who has been there and has done that. Thankfully, my housemates here offer their help: Laundry 101 (how to operate a washing machine/dryer and appreciate liquid detergent), Commuting 101 (with basic how-to-cross-a-street and how-to-ride Sky Train and public buses) and Shopping 101 (actual price is equal to tag price multiplied by 1.12 where peso conversion, is ‘cannot be’), the list goes on.

• One of my mother’s advices to her children growing up was not to take a bath at night. She’s neither a doctor nor a witch doctor but she told us that this will decrease blood pressure level and could cause “pasma”. The bathroom in our current apartment here is small but has bright lights on top of the mirror (think celebrity make up rooms), has warm and cold shower (the control is annoying at times), a tub (except that it doesn’t have a stopper for bubble bath). Nonetheless, it was just hard to pass on taking baths at nights. Here, I learned to appreciate toiletries better. I enjoyed citrus scented body wash at nights, nut-flavored scrubs or cream soaps during day baths. Undeniably, this bathroom inspires me to be more hygienic and makes it worth disobeying my own mother’s advice.

• I rarely wash the dishes back home, but here since I don’t cook meals and I don’t want to eat on the same dirty plate everyday, I volunteered that I’ll do the dishwashing and befriended Palmolive (yes the shampoo brand is a dishwashing liquid brand here). This is the household chore I enjoy the most, my hands are busy yet it gives my mind free time to think, reminisce and travel. I have tried cleaning the bathroom as well. Although this was more laboriou, it gave me a sense of fulfillment a regular dishwashing can’t whenever I’m able to get rid of a difficult stain.

• There’s a tradition amongst the Filipino IT employees at CHQ– the ice cream treat. I was lucky to be oriented about this before coming here, it could be a form of celebrating a birthday, a milestone or as trivial as random peer pressure, but the subtle kind. I have not seen an ice cream that says on its label “No therapeutic claim” the way most food supplements do, but I eat ice cream almost everynight (Bryers, Haagen Dasz, Nestle, Ben&Jerry), both for comfort (in the absence of good friends) and belief (that eating lots of them will make me gain weight).

• I was able to take a break from suburbia and experience city living for 5 days and 4 nights. I accompanied a fellow assignee here who moved into a high rise condo unit along Cambie St. in Vancouver about 20 minute drive form Burnaby. I must say that I enjoyed my stay (the bathroom is bigger and better than ours, the bed was nicer) but I was careful not to make my stay too comfortable because I knew every moment was fleeting. Highlights: getting lost in the parking area, entering a fire exit of the building and almost getting trapped, buying groceries in SaveOnMore without a shopping list, exploring the city streets by foot and finding a place to have dinner at, the Bento meal at that Japanese restaurant, being on a passenger seat with Maggie (short for Magellan the GPS).

Day One.06.27.09.Sat

I was relieved to see a familiar face in a sea of strangers as I exited towards the greeting area of the Vancouver International Airport. The tall and nice Rico, an officemate back in Manila, here on assignment as well, called out my name and a few minutes later I was greeted also by Agnes, one of our counterparts here, who was kind enough to drive out here to the airport and fetch me. Summer “here”, the sun was shining high above but the feel of wind against the skin reminded me of my recent visit in Baguio while the lack of traffic made me realize one thing I don’t miss in Manila.

In the car, Agnes and Rico did a little chitchat with me while I was trying to absorb the reality of my new surroundings and the fact that I am now in a foreign country. I was trying to shake off the weird feeling that I arrived in Vancouver two hours earlier than the time I left Manila even after the 12-hour flight. It was like spending the longest Saturday of my life.

Minutes after driving, we reached the blue and white house, second from the corner of an avenue. Finally got to see again some of the other assignees who have been here in a while: Jell (who will be my housemate slash roommate), then there’s Twit and Mitzelle who received “pasalubongs” from me, mostly “pancit canton” that they requested.

As if I didn’t have any jetlag, we left the house and searched for a place to eat. I had my first try of Canadian meal at Tim Horton’s – i.e. sandwich and soup. Afterwards, Twit and Mitzelle invited me to their high-rise apartment and taught me Crossing Streets 101. Upon reaching their flat, they were cordial enough to let me borrow their phone and card for me to call mom at home.

Mom and I usually don’t speak long on the phone, that’s why it felt strange hearing her voice again and knowing how distant home is from where I am at now. I could feel the worry in her cracking voice and soon I felt warm tears flowing on my cold cheeks. I tried to call dad as well who is on another part of the world, but he must be asleep as no one’s picking the phone.

Back at our apartment, I opted not to go watch Transformers 2 with my new housemates and Grace, another assignee. I hope Shia and Megan won’t mind but I had to arrange my clothes in the closet and rest myself on the bed (both closet and bed I inherited from Mel, the assignee I replaced). I had the house all for myself and I took advantage of it by video chatting with family, relatives at home.

I went to bed before midnight but I felt like I was cheating on myself because I was half-awake the whole time. I was aware when Jell and Rico arrived home past 12. Then at 4am, I felt hungry, rolled out of bed, dug out some food in the pantry area and even opened my laptop wishing there would be people awake that I could still chat with.

Returning to bed, I was missing the familiar structure of my own bedroom, the feel of my own pillows, the peace that comes with knowing that your family members are just on the other bedroom. I wasn’t sure if this is nostalgia or what they call the jetlag but one thing for sure, one day has gone in the one year that I will stay here. And so far, it’s been good.

Day Two.06.28.09.Sun

The blue and white house is just a 15-minute walk from the mall called Metrotown, which I find quite convenient and a potential danger financially wise. Jell volunteered to accompany me to the mall and made sure that I won’t get lost. It was sale mall wide: the upside is that branded clothes are in great discounts. The downside is that searching for XS size clothes for me is like finding collector item pieces.

Day Three.06.29.09.Mon

Rico accompanied me on my first day to work, it felt like an elder brother (just because he is taller) accompanying me to first day of school. He taught me how to ride the public bus, the bus stops, the weird bus schedule.

The office is located in what seems to be like a business park. Rico signed me in as his guest and led me to my cube where Mel used to sit. It’s definitely my seat as read in the nameplate located above the cubicle next to Mel’s nameplate. The high ceiling and high cube dividers were a bit overwhelming but no one was there yet in the team when I arrived. Shortly, my onshore lead/supervisor dropped by and gave me a little tour of the two-floor building. It’s like walking in a United Nations office. All races seems to be well-represented and working harmoniously.

There was a town hall meeting after lunch and even if I gulped many times my coffee, I was super sleepy and it seemed that the jetlag was just kicking in late. The rest of the day seemed to have ended fast. I didn’t feel exactly productive but I guess I have that first day excuse.

After work, Rico accompanied me to buy a cheap phone and a 16GB iPod touch which I purchased guilt- free with the assurance of reimbursing them in my relocation allowance. Afterwards, we met up with Jell for some serious grocery shopping.

Day Four.06.30.09.Tue

At the office, there’s a welcome party for me. Sort of, since it’s an advanced celebration of Canada day. Lunch was free taco bowl, MJ music was on the background and there were lots of games prepared in the parking lot. Free cotton candies and snow cones were being served and even if there’s a long line ahead, we managed to be patient just to have ourselves caricatured. Jell said mine looked like Archie.

Back at home, there’s the regular household chore I have been getting used to: dishwashing. Leave the cooking to my other housemates and I think we all will get along well. Then there’s the lesson for today with teacher Rico on Laundry 101. My first attempt was quite successful. Clothes were clean and dry, best of all, still wearable.

Day Five.07.01.09.Wed

My first sightseeing happened today with Rico in Downtown Vancouver, had to take the Sky Train to get there. Various activities were going on simultaneously and continuously throughout the day at Canada Place. One of the performers is named Elise Estrada, who happens to be full-Filipina and a famous pop star here in Canada. Reminded me of Miley Cyrus in disco mode.

Day Six.07.02.09.Thu

I’ve been quite dependent (but very thankful) to Rico for the past few days, so today it’s time to apply what I learned from the teacher and do stuffs on my own. Took the shuttle to office solo, met the other counterpart who was back from vacation, attended first team meeting here. Then after a quick lunch I took a cab (which in here you have to book either by calling or online) and went to Canada Way to get my social insurance number. Taxi fare is expensive, well transportation in general is costly especially if you do the conversion. So I rather not make currency conversion a habit.

Day Seven.07.03.09.Fri

Agnes is off today but made an early invitation for the Saturday field trip – we’re going hiking. I felt like I needed the right kind of shoes for this activity so I went to Metrotown solo, entered several shops and tried several running shoes on. But then I realized, some things are just not meant for me: running shoes.

Day Eight.07.04.09.Sat

I ended up looking like a tennis player going on hiking (lilac collared shirt, above knee indigo shorts, comfy grey sneakers). We were in Baden Powell hiking trail that I noticed there were people dressed more inappropriately than I was – there were some on denim jeans, a lady in a sundress and there were even few-month old babies dressed in regular infant clothes and diapers.
I wasn’t exactly sporty but I enjoyed this hiking. Plus, I guess I have overcome my fear of heights a little bit, because I was able to stand up straight in the finish line of the Baden Powell trail several feet above the ground and it didn’t take me an hour to cross the suspension bridge at Lynn Canyon Park.

As a bonus, Agnes drive us off to Queensburough (spelling checker this please). Enjoyed the fresh raspberry cheesecake ice cream at Marble Slab Creamery and was ready to go shopping but unfortunately, shops were closing early on weekends.

One week has passed and so far I’ve been adjusting here well although undeniably I miss a lot of things and people back home –mom waking me up on weekday mornings, instant coffee, niece making ‘kulit’ if ever I come home early in the evening, dinners with Shen and Arem, chatting with my cousin Sheena, boneless bangus, lunchouts at office, ice cream and/or beer on Saturdays with friends and the list of things and people goes on… and on. Till the next blog, take care.