Summer 2009 in NYC

This (bike carrier which can be turned into a stroller/jogger) made seeing NYC on foot with kids a lot easier. Although, we did ditch it on our last day when we discovered how cheap (in comparison to Frankfurt/Euros) going around by taxi is.

This may be my 5th time in the city but this is the first time for me to really see everything as a tourist. Last year, my friends took me around for a day but we did not see much. This time around, with my boys, I…

saw Central Park (at least, half of what it has to offer…)

saw an old friend’s studio in Soho. It’s gorgeous! You can rent it out for a day, as well - see end of post for the details

Veered away from scary screaming teens who were waiting for the Jonas Brothers at NBC

Went to MY toy store, B&H Photo/Video Shop to check out wide angled lens

Experienced Brooklyn Bridge on foot

Got fleeced by the driver hired from the Ground Transportation desk in JFK

Ate 250% of the required Calorie intake each day

got soaked on the second day

met the GE people again. Case is not yet closed. Even J agrees

Unfortunately, unlike my usual trips to the US, I did not make a mad dash to the stores to do some serious shopping. J is not exactly the companion one needs when making irrational purchases. The consumer in me was sad but at least I got to spend time with my boys… and I will be headed back to NYC in a couple of months anyway.

More pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinayexpat/sets/72157620379085044/

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Nihongo ga wakarimasen

“I don’t understand Japanese”.

I have been saying that a lot. Or pointing to myself saying, “Gaijin. English only, please.” That has not happened before. But probably because my hair has been up and I have been wearing my glasses the whole time that the people (from the Japanese JAL check-in staff to a lot of the locals I met) think that I am also Japanese.

It’s nice, though. This has proven to be the easiest way for me to break the ice with several people… as I use my very, very limited Nihonggo to explain myself.

Anyway, I am back in my hotel room here in the Shinagawa district of Tokyo. It has been a gruelling 4 hour trip to Suzuka. But it was worth it. Not only did I learn a lot to help me in my duties for SCM but I have met quite a few interesting characters as well.

I am soo tired. Jetlagged. But I still can’t sleep. Apart from travelling a lot for the past days, I have also been doing a lot of things that I am not that accustomed to doing in BULK: bowing and intently studying people’s name cards.

I sooo want to go to Shibuya and Shinjuku but I think I do not have any time until I leave on Friday. Ugh! Next time na lang. Anyway, here are a few shots I took. I dared take them whenever my boss is not looking. hehe Nahiya ako. I’ll be adding more until I return to Frankfurt on Friday.

Facebook

I like the fact that it has provided me ways to communicate with friends. I love love that it has helped me find (or be found) by old friends. I enjoy reading little tidbits about my family and friends’ lives. Peeking at their posted photos satisfies the chismosa in me. I find it convenient that I can just click “Like” whenever I want to say something but just don’t have the words. I lurve that I can choose who I can be friends with and choose who can read my thoughts (although, I need to trim my friends list down to 200).

Facebooks fits all the requirements (I need) to make it easier for me to keep in touch with real people scattered all over the world who are important in my life.

And as soon as I have convinced my parents and older brother to set-up (and regularly check) their own Facebook account, I would probably stop blogging. I used to update a lot here but now I have to be reminded to post pictures here so the rents are reminded that they need to check my Flickr account. Blogging has run its course… at least for me.

Of all the social networking sites ever invented, I like Facebook the most. Who cares if it’s for the un-cool over30s.

Travel During H1N1 Virus Scare

There’s H1N1 virus going around and yet…

We were in Hamburg (where the first case in Germany was found) last weekend. And now, here I am with 2 major trips scheduled.

In a week, I am off to the Land of the Rising Sun for a Plenary meeting.

Anyway, 3 weeks after which, the boys and I will be NYC bound for our 3x postponed visit, courtesy of GE headhunters.

I am actually looking forward to both trips so I hope the spread of Swine Flu dies down soon. I am constantly checking WHO’s travel advisory. No travel bans for now.

No other travel plans after that. We’re staying home in the summer because the rest of the Atienza family (who are based in Asia) will be Europe-bound once again. After a very successful Chistmas in Europe 6 months ago, they’re all itching to come back.

Roller Coaster

2009 is giving me my life’s major ups and downs. Unfortunately, I cannot truly celebrate the ups because I constantly have the downs in the back of my mind.

It’s life’s cruel way of reminding you that you cannot get everything in life.

What a difference a (day) haircut makes…

Can you believe the difference a haircut makes? Every 2-3 months or so, JP would ask to get that Euro-hairstlye cut off. We like how cute he looks with longer hair but my heart skips a beat every time I see him again with his ultra-short hair cut. My firstborn is growing up.

Oh yea… we went to the kids section of Zara (the uniform of Frankfurter kids) and he chose on his own what he was wearing that day (right picture).

Click here for more Black Saturday 2009 pictures…

Good Friday 2009 in Bad Soden

Due to several reasons (my asthma/allergies, work that needs to be done, an impending trip to Japan, my mother in-law’s birthday and the new car’s delayed delivery), we were left with no choice but to stay in town for Easter. It wasn’t as bad as I thought.

My sister came in from Bavaria to spend her Spring Break with us and to forget about grad school for a couple of weeks. My other sister arrived with her boys to spend a day with us, as well. At 6pm, we packed the kids in our chariot and walked to the playground. I, of course, had my camera with me.

Warning: We’re all sporting the no-bath-on-a-holiday-at-home look. Most of us were wearing yesterday’s clothes. My other sister and I tied our hair back to hide our bedheads.

For the whole set, click here.

Taking the time to enjoy spring

My sister is taking a break from Grad School by spending 2 weeks with us. A full day with her gregarious nephews and I think she is just about ready to take the train back to Bavaria. hehe

Spring has sprung!

And in order to make sure that we all get our fair share of outdoor entertainment (and avoid working on a weekend), we decided late last Friday to drive to Strasbourg, France. It’s only 2:15 hours away but rather than just make our usual daytrip, we chose to stay until Sunday.

I actually prefer quaint Strasbourg to Paris, if I am traveling with the boys. Paris is fun, if with partner, sisters/mom or girl friends.

To see the whole set, click here.

have you seen my gumption?

If I was addicted to alcohol or drugs, I would probably be reaching for them now. I so need to clear my head and calm myself down. As of now, I have loud music blasting in my ears, a load of laundry running and am gulping huge amount of Coke Zero. It’s not really working.

See, the email/memo I just read was from Japan, stating the new policies that should be implemented in all foreign subsidiaries, in order to fight the crisis. The priorities have changed. And I am not even at liberty to discuss it at work. At least, not yet.

And now I finally understand why, even in this crisis where several in the company are losing their jobs and/or getting paycut, I am getting an additional staff and even offered a bonus.

And for the first time in my 8-years with F, I am very afraid. I hope that when the economic crisis has hit rock bottom, we will all still be standing.