Summer, So Far..

I've been delaying to write for the past 2 weeks. The thought that it's summer has kept my lazy self busy lazing around, especially during my bum-around Tuesdays and Thursdays, when I've got no work.. that I've found myself procrastinating again. Bad habits have a way of tiptoeing back into your life at times that you forget about them.

Rye, my number 1 and only fan, has been urging me to write for the longest time. And since sleep doesn't want to creep into my being for now, after an extended siesta earlier, I FINALLY turn on my idle laptop and begin typing. Thanks, Rye, for believing so much in me.

I can't believe that we're halfway through our summer toddler playgroup. Tomorrow marks the 5th of the ten sessions. Since my Cooking Program didn't fly off as expected, my racket has been tutoring kids with parents with overeager expectations for their children. Though I find tutoring children a bit of a headache, I am surprised that I am actually enjoying it. I am not sure if my kids are learning anything new or gaining something from it, but I find it pleasurable and fulfilling to see a child happy about learning. I am generous to give high fives and good jobs especially if I see the effort a child puts into what we are doing. Imagine, at age 4, you'd rather run around, scab your knees or talk to your dolls than be stuck in a classroom and have one-on-one sessions with a teacher, that doesn't include Free Play in the routine. To add, knowing that the personality of this particular child is far from the studious, sit-in-one-place type, makes it more painstaking for her to sit still and focus. But seeing her enjoying her time as I try the best I could to inject fun and to mask "learning" in our reading activities makes me giddy and proud of my student. This is what Richard Pausch, a professor who recently succumbed to pancreatic cancer at age 47, calls HEADFAKE, which according to his Last Lecture entitled "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" is "the one that teaches people things they don't realize they're learning well into the process." I want to be that kind of teacher who uses headfakes in my teaching explorations.

I told Rye after one tutorial session, "Ang sarap." I guess this is where I belong for now.

I haven't really blogged about my much-awaited trip to Naga. All I could say was that I had such a great time that I wish it didn't come to an end. You see, it somehow initiated me into independent living. Though I still live under my parents' rule, er.. roof, I can feel their grip lessening little by little and this trip was a reminder of that.

I felt so proud flying on my own. I remember Kitkat narrating to me how mommy was also proud about it as she blabbed about my travel. She also sent me the mandatory travel text - with the usual "May the angels guide and protect you..." followed by reassuring lines about me, deserving such break and that I am now an adult. Haha. I loved it.

Even if I had little sleep the night before because of blatant excitement and because we had to leave so early (yes, at 4 am) as I live in the mountains and would be utterly disappointed if I missed my flight, I couldn't sleep through the 40-minute flight to Naga. By the time we landed on Naga soil, I was so happy that I must've been smiling widely that those who noticed might have been weirded out by my evident extreme joy. Good thing I was able to fit everything into my backpack and rootote that I just made my way to the exit. Ah, the advantages of packing light. Then, I finally saw my love after 45 days - the longest we've been apart.. so far. On our way to the hotel, he kept on burping and breathing out air that smelled like longganisa. Haha. I missed the scents he lets out. Really. He told me that he got hungry ("Nangasim yung tyan ko e." haha) waiting for me and had longsilog to satisfy his tummy that was already hollering.

Day 1. I had to stay in the hotel the whole day because Rye had work. I had a great time being with myself. I missed it. I missed the quiet time. I missed the TV time. I missed just being me and being around me. Mommy was right, I deserved this break. The past year consumed all my energies as I finally decided to chase two of my dreams -- to learn more and to be around kids. It was a good and fun run, no regrets at all, but I just had to recharge. And that's just what I did. Rye and I also recharged our memories and refilled our love tanks once more. Yes, we busied ourselves with making lots of happy memories and taking on fun adventures in Bicol.

When I reunited with Rye after his work, we had dinner with Bjorn and Alison in Naga Wok Restaurant.

Day 2. We journey to Sorsogon.

It was a good 2 1/2-hour trip. I actually did not want to go anymore because I thought that we might as well spend the day being together in Naga than traveling on the road but good thing Rye somehow pursuaded me to go. It is what we planned to do afterall - meet up with his friends in Sorsogon.

After a short stopover at the Olbes' residence in Sorsogon City, we traveled for another 1 1/2 hours on the road and about 45 minutes on water. Getting impatient about the time we're wasting traveling, I was thrilled to see the white sand and the clear aqua water bellowing at me from a distance. After almost 5 hours of travel (yes, we could have been in Baguio by now), we've reached our destination. The beach is simply gorgeous, the water is pristine, the sand as fine as boracay's. All the waiting and complaining came to an end. We spent the day making love to the sea and sand. Fantastic.

We stayed in Sorsogon for the night and journeyed back to Naga early in the morning. Rye promised to bring me to Cagsawa ruins for a better view of Mayon Volcano. He must have felt the sheer excitement in my voice when I got a glimpse of the majestic cone on our way to Sorsogon. I was like a Grade 1 student who was astonished by the fact that she is seeing the stuff she studied in class and saw in textbooks, live.. for real. The feeling was amazing. Yes, it's the nerd in me trying to overcome my being at that very moment.

Day 3. My last full day with Rye. It's CWC day today. We head back to Rye's pad and don our swimsuits.

Because there were so many people in CWC that day (hello, it's holy week!) and all the traveling got us tired, we decided to just enjoy and relax at the newest man-made lake in Camsur - Lago del Rey. Actually, the people were just an excuse. I figured, wakeboarding is so intense that my weak body might not be able to take it. Thus, the fun-er alternative is the inflatables abundant Lago del Rey.

Rye and I had so much fun in the lake. We had so much fun making fun at each other's weakness - we can't even carry ourselves to the platforms. We were bouncing all over the place, racing obstacle courses (of course, I lost!), jumping on the trampoline, climbing and climbing and climbing. When we finished going through every inflatable, we decided to rent out a boat. Since the kayak was not available, Rye had to do all the rowing. I just couldn't. haha. Yes, I am so weak. When Rye got so tired playing Goma (remember that bench commercial? hehe.), we called it a day even if our 3-hours has not expired. Haha. We actually just got so tired. But it was fun fun fun.

Since we had Brunch, we were so hungry after our Lago experience. We ordered so much food for 2 people but ate everything anyway. We had laing pizza, beef curry with rice, lasagna and french fries. Yum Yum. The food in CWC was really good. After which, we waited for the sun to go down while watching the wakeboarders do their stuff on the ramps. Galing!

Day 4. My last morning in Naga with Rye.

Since rebooking my flight to sunday would cost around 5k, I knew I had to leave on the day I planned to leave. Hay. I hate goodbyes. I cried the moment I woke up. Rye cried too. The drama. Hehe.

When we got to the airport, I didn't want to go down... If only that's possible. I went ahead inside as Rye made pakiusap with the guard to let him into the canteen so we can have breakfast. The guy wouldn't budge at first but then let him in, with his license as collateral. I would have been so sad if he didn't and if I was not given the chance to properly say my farewells. Anyway, what else would we eat but longsilog? Needless to say, I was burping the meaty scent all the way home.

The time I was dreading finally came. Rye and I had to part. He said he'll stay for a while and wait for me to board. I sat near the window and saw him seated on the sidewalk, looking kawawa. I was crying behind my sunglasses, all alone in my little corner. It was like a scene plucked out of a tele-serye, I tell you! When I was about to board, Rye called one last time and said he'll go now. He needed to unload at home - Rye stealing thunder as usual. Then, his voice became shaky and he finally erupted into tears. This made me cry even more and twisted my heart a little more. Okay, this is sounding too cheesy and melodramatic. I have to stop now.

In a matter of minutes, I was on my way home. I was surprised to learn that both my parents are picking me up, just for the sake of picking me up. Not just by Mico as planned. They must've missed me. Hehe. When I got to the car, they seemed happy for their not so little girl.

I was finally back - darker (go lite has it's downside - no liquids meaning no sunblock!) and definitely happier!

Another countdown begins... Can't wait till May. =)

Ciao!

April 23
12:46am