New Years Luck

A new years eve tradition in my family. It has Chinese origins and the point is to have about 13 rounded fruits. It is supposed to connote good luck. It is apparently not that easy to find 13 rounded fruits because my mom bought apples and cherries. close enough, i guess.

The fruits include:

1. pineapple (ananas)

2. pomegranate

3. pear

4. orange

5. kiwi

6. peach

7. apple

8. mango

9. cherries

10. grapes

11. grape fruit

12. clementine

13. apricot (not a fan of this fruit)

cherished moments

Me: Hey! It's so good to see you.

Relative(s)/Friend(s) from Hawaii: You too... So, I hear you've been all over the world.

Me: Not really. [uncomfortable reaction]

Relative(s)/Friend(s): How many countries have you been to?

Me: Not that much. [continued uncomfortable reaction]

Returning after 2 yrs to Hawaii, this has been the main conversation starter with practically every friend or relative I have met. Ah, those cherished moments.

Home for the (tropical) holidays!

Mele Kalikimaka from Hawaii! My first warm Christmas in awhile (80 degrees (26*c)). It is also my first Filipino Christmas in awhile.

Magnets Galore

Returning home after 2 years, I finally witness what has become of all the magnets I sent to my mother of the places I have visited. During my travels, it did not matter to my mother what I got her as long as it included magnets. Magnets are part of an array of collections our family gets into including currency (coins in particular) and porcelain kitsch (particularly ones with religious connotations). I have magnets ranging from Hungary and Czech to Thailand and Morocco. I have sent her about 30 magnets from close to 20 countries. Other magnets are from my siblings travel experiences. Looking at them is just another reminder of how exciting my life has been for these past few years (at least I think so).